Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Christmas Special Broadcast Filming (2)
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I changed into the Santa cosplay outfit and returned to the waiting room.
But Yerin was still changing in the dressing room, leaving the waiting room completely empty.
Instead, the TV mounted in the empty waiting room was broadcasting the view of the studio where filming was underway.
'The filming's already started.'
With nothing much to do until Yerin arrived, I sat down in a chair and watched the studio feed.
It had only just begun, and Kenjo, Lina, and Shiromi—all dressed as Santa—were chatting back and forth.
Kenjo was clearly no amateur; he was skillfully steering the recording, living up to his status as a special guest host.
Lina and Shiromi were pros too, supporting him perfectly and building up the energy.
As I watched the broadcast, the waiting room door soon opened, and in walked Yerin, now changed into her Santa outfit.
"All changed?"
"Yeah."
"How's the Santa getup feel?"
At that, Yerin spun around once to show off the outfit.
"It's a cosplay costume for TV, so the exposure's way less than I expected. Kinda nice, actually."
"Good to hear."
"Right? Oh, looks like Senior's about to kick off the main shoot."
I glanced at the TV, and sure enough, just as Yerin said, the cast had wrapped up their chat and were introducing the merchandise about to go on sale.
"They're releasing all that merch? That's sooner than I thought."
"If anything, it's a bit late. Some of it was pre-ordered at Tokyo Game Show, after all."
"Oh, right... that time."
While Yerin and I chatted about the merch, the broadcast kept rolling with more product intros.
As I watched, I glanced sideways and saw Yerin staring blankly at the screen.
"Why the space-out?"
"Oh, no, just... realizing how much time has flown by already."
"Yeah, time does seem to slip away like that, doesn't it?"
Yerin nodded at my words.
I sometimes still marveled at how over two years had passed since I left the company to start Girls Memorial.
Seemed like Yerin felt the same.
"You regretting switching jobs on my suggestion or something?"
"Regret it? Why would I? Pay-wise or career-wise, following you was the best decision I've made in years."
"Really?"
It made sense from her perspective.
Subculture mobile games put more weight on art than online games did by nature, so her treatment here at ND Soft was inevitably better than before.
"What about you, Senior? Any regrets?"
"Regrets? Why? I'm way happier now, making the game I always wanted to."
"Right?"
"Obviously. If I hadn't made that call to switch two years ago, I'd probably be out there frying chicken by now."
Yerin looked shocked at that.
"It was that rough? You never let it show at the company..."
"Not rough exactly, but... I was losing motivation, stuck making games the company wanted—sales-focused stuff."
"Switching was a godsend, then."
"Yeah."
As Yerin opened her mouth to reply, a knock came at the door, and a studio staffer entered.
"Ji Hojin Director and Yi Yerin Director, right?"
"Yes."
"That's us."
"Part 2 starts soon—you'll need to head to the set. Follow me, please."
We trailed the staffer and soon reached the studio entrance.
"Here, take this."
The staffer handed me a pager.
It looked just like the ones cafes use, but about a third the size—nice and compact.
"It'll buzz when it's time to enter. Come right in then."
"Got it."
The staffer went inside, leaving us alone in the quiet hallway.
Soundproofing must've been good—no studio noise, just Yerin's breathing audible.
"Yerin?"
Her breaths were a bit ragged compared to back in the waiting room.
I turned and saw her face looked more anxious than usual.
"Y-Yeah?"
"What's up? Nervous?"
"W-what do you mean?"
"You seem tense right now."
She flinched.
She probably didn't even realize how wound up she was.
"I'm not nervous..."
"Really?"
"Well... my heart's kinda racing. First time on TV and all... Sorry."
"No need to apologize. Here, take this."
I pulled a Yeonsin tablet from my pocket—the ones I'd brought from Korea just in case.
Yerin looked stunned to see it emerge.
"Where'd you..."
"Brought 'em from Korea. I took one before my first live stream."
"Oh."
"Go on, swallow it. It'll kick in faster."
At my urging, she nodded and downed it.
"Want some candy too?"
It must've been brutally bitter chewed up like that—she just nodded, speechless.
I grabbed a candy from the waiting room stash and handed it over.
She popped it straight in.
The sweetness seemed to cut the bitterness; her expression visibly relaxed.
"Tension easing up now?"
"Y-yeah, feels like it."
I checked her over—breathing steadier, symptoms mostly gone. Good.
"Dodged a bullet there."
"Yeah..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Right on cue, the pager buzzed.
I showed it to Yerin.
"Ready to go?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Yerin and I entered the studio, where the cast greeted us.
"Cameras are off, so don't worry—just come on over."
Following Kenjo's lead, we headed to the central table.
"Ji Director, take the seat next to me. Yi Director, between Lina and Shiromi."
We sat as directed, and Kenjo passed me a water bottle.
"This shoot won't be too long, so relax. Director's as cool as ever, though—makes it easy."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. Newbies usually freeze up, can't even talk straight."
I glanced at Yerin, remembering her earlier nerves, but the tablet had done its job—no issues.
Relieved, I chatted with Kenjo until noise came from the entrance.
[Part 2 broadcast filming commencing. Kenjo, please start the countdown!] "We'll handle the opening—follow our lead after. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Great. Here we go—three, two, one!"
Kenjo's countdown ended, and the lights flared up, signaling the start.
"Hello! Nakaoaka Kenji here, hosting Part 2: Developers' Dialogue, following Part 1."
He bowed to the camera and continued.
"For Part 2, special guests! The directors of Girls Memorial! Please introduce yourselves one by one!"
Kenjo handed me the mic.
"Hello, Managers. I'm Ji Hojin, General Director of Girls Memorial, thrilled to join the Part 2 Developers' Dialogue."
I bowed to the camera, just like he'd done.
"Great intro from Ji Hojin Director. Next... Yi Yerin Director?"
This time, Lina passed the mic to Yerin.
"Hello, Managers! I'm Yi Yerin, Art Director of Girls Memorial, here for Part 2. Nice to meet you!"
She bowed too, greeting the audience.
Intros done, the real shoot kicked off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ About 30 minutes later, Yerin and I exited the studio.
"Good work, Senior..."
"You too, Yerin."
Yerin looked utterly drained as we left.
My face probably matched hers.
Filming solo with a script was one thing,
but live with hosts? Endless headaches.
Especially their questions.
Those off-the-cuff ones mid-broadcast.
'Nearly NG'd on the character dev secrets and tastes...'
Like why Operator's dress was so revealing,
or what outfits I'd want the students cosplaying in—the stares from Yerin and the voice actresses were...
Lucky I deflected with wit, or it'd been a disaster.
"But Senior, were you serious about that earlier?"
"Huh? About what?"
Yerin sidled up, teasing tone.
"Your cosplay taste being nurse outfits..."
"N-no, total broadcast concept! Concept!"
"Hmm... sure?"
She eyed me suspiciously but kept her composure.
"Fine. If you say so, Senior... I'll believe you."
"I mean it!"
Chatting idly with Yerin, we reached the waiting room before long.
No sign of it, but I was beat inside—she flopped straight onto the sofa.
"Senior... no more schedule today, right...?"
"After-party's optional."
She pondered, then decided.
"I'll go. Tough, but not that bad..."
"Okay."
I nodded and took a seat.
"Senior."
"Yeah?"
Her beaming smile caught my eye.
"Good work today."
I nodded back.
"You too."