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“How do you know this?”

Why does the instructor know about this? More importantly, the view count of the video is unusual. Has it become somewhat famous?

“Isn’t that right?”

As I nodded in agreement, the instructor had a knowing look on their face.

“No wonder you didn’t dance!”

*Clears throat.*

Well, it’s not like I could have danced in that video.

Honestly, it wasn’t much of a video. Just Kim Yuna (15) dancing while I sat at the back on the stairs cheering her on.

But still, isn’t there a bit of charm with my beauty and the Chuseok vibe?

Just a very pretty cousin cheering on her middle school cousin’s dance.

I thought it would resonate with people, and it seems it did.

“By the way, how did my cousin end up watching it?”

Did she just stumble upon it through the algorithm?

“Oh, she signed up for my class.”

“Excuse me?”

“Actually, I was recruiting for new classes targeted at middle and high school students, and she signed up. So I was checking out the students, and surprise, I saw a familiar face.”

Ah, so she signed up for classes? Finally, she got permission from her parents.

But this kid… if she signed up, she should have reported it to her sister right away. I gave her allowance last week, and now I feel a bit foolish.

“By the way, is she a good dancer?”

Curious if she had improved over time, the instructor nodded and said,

“If she keeps working hard, she’ll improve quickly.”

Hmm, so she’s not extremely good yet.

“Yeah, after all, it hasn’t been long since she started properly.”

“Oh, no. I’m not just saying this; she really is working hard.”

“Really?”

“Look at the number of videos she’s uploaded.”

Look at the number of videos?

I tilted my head as I looked at the smartphone screen the instructor showed me.

How many videos has she uploaded?

“Wow, what’s this?

It hasn’t been that long since last Chuseok, yet there are a surprisingly high number of uploads.”

“When she feels like it, she uploads like five videos a day. That’s some serious dedication.”

“Oh…”

I hadn’t said much, but it turns out she’s really putting in the effort. I feel proud.

“Wow, is this Soo-hyun’s younger sibling?”

At that moment, the members eavesdropping on our conversation slowly started to gather around.

“So cute~”

“How old is she?”

“She’s in middle school.”

“Really? What a great age…”

Anna, who said that, looked at Kim Yuna (15) with a hint of envy.

Honestly, if I were 15, I would be envious too, so how much more would Anna feel?

In moments like these, age really is a powerful thing.

“Does she dance better than you?”

“Right? She dances better than us!”

“Is that so?”

I don’t remember her dancing so well back then. The instructor didn’t even say she danced well.

With that thought in mind, I watched the video of Kim Yuna (15) dancing.

But for sure… she is good.

What’s this? She’s improved so quickly?

“Maybe it’s because she’s young; she’s bursting with energy…”

Just as Anna muttered that, the dancing Kim Yuna (15) was full of vigor.

“Right? It’s not like she’s technically perfect, but her passion is commendable.”

“Oh…”

Still, since she’s my cousin, it feels good to hear her receive compliments.

“By the way, did you say there’s a video with Soo-hyun in it?”

“Oh, yes, there’s a video with Miro in it…”

The members ended up gathering around to watch the video I appeared in.

Feeling embarrassed with everyone looking at me.

“Wow, you look pretty even in the video.”

“It doesn’t seem like you’re wearing much makeup; it’s insane.”

“It looks like a scene from a drama or something.”

Afterwards came a barrage of compliments, and I felt a bit bashful.

It’s really nothing special, though.

“By the way, Soo-hyun, why did you film the video? I didn’t think you’d do something like this.”

“Oh, well…”

Now that they’ve seen it all, I explained my situation to the members.

“…and that’s how it turned out.”

However, the members looked at me in disbelief as if they couldn’t accept it.

What? Why are you looking at me like that?

“Really?”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

Is there any reason for me to lie about this? It’s all true.

“Are you really 21?”

“Wow, you’re quite the deep one.”

“Why don’t you share that depth with us too?”

Ah, am I too mature for just being 21?

After all, with my memories, I have technically lived a hybrid 42 years, so it’s hard to gauge this depth.

“Everyone, just erase half your age when you come here. Then I’ll treat you like my cousin.”

“…Is that something to say?”

“Ah, I wish that were the case.”

Oops, was mentioning age a mistake?

But it feels a bit ridiculous that everyone in their early twenties, or at most late twenties, is sulking about their age.

Even the instructor next to me isn’t saying anything.

Or maybe… they look a bit bitter?

“By the way, Soo-hyun’s cousin is pretty impressive; I wonder what I was doing in middle school?”

At that, Mile murmured a bit absentmindedly.

But aren’t middle schoolers usually living life without a care? No, wait, it’s puberty, so they might have lots of thought spirals.

“I was following 2NE1’s songs back then.”

“Really? In middle school?”

At that moment, Anna spoke as if recalling her middle school memories, while Haru opened her eyes wide in surprise and asked back.

Um… I was a bit surprised too, but I didn’t show it…

“Huh?”

“Ah.”

A silence followed.

Is Haru tone-deaf? Just let it slide, why make Anna feel glum by emphasizing the generation gap?

“Ahaha, Miro, what were you doing in middle school?”

Just as the moment of silence was sinking again, it was Maho who broke it.

“Me? Hmm…”

In middle school, the boys went to comic book stores, and for girls…

“I stayed home watching anime.”

“What? You didn’t play outside?”

“I got along fine in class, but afterwards, I went home.”

“Since when in middle school?”

“Yeah, well…”

Thinking back, Female Kim Soo-hyun seems to have been cooped up then too.

I didn’t show it, but during puberty, while everyone was caring about how others perceived them, the pressure from everyone looking at me made me feel like diving into a 2D world.

In that world, no one looks at me; I was just another observer.

Of course, after puberty, that pressure vanished, but I couldn’t escape the 2D realm.

“At that age, you should have fun though.”

“Since I watched anime back then, I became a VTuber now.”

I think that way.

Even the time that feels vain now ultimately became a path, didn’t it?

Of course, I’m living a life I’m satisfied with, which is why I’m thinking like this.

“Hmm… was it a good thing?”

“No, Soo-hyun, you’re… no, as long as you’re satisfied, that’s all that matters.”

However, it seems the members thought differently as they glanced at my face, unsure of what to say.

What they were thinking is all too obvious.

They probably think it’s a waste for me to be a VTuber, right?

“I’m a VTuber chosen by the instructor, so could you stop looking at me with that expression for not being selected?”

But if I didn’t have what it takes to be a VTuber, it wouldn’t matter, but the instructor here even used to watch my broadcasts among our members, right?

I think of it as my calling.

“That’s cheating!”

“Yeah, take away the face.”

“Also maybe the voice.”

“Then what’s left?”

“Uh… my gaming skills?”

*Snort.*

“Did you just laugh at me??”

“No, it’s just that the results came out yesterday.”

If relying on gaming skills got me noticed, just yesterday Haru was utterly crushed by me.

Remembering that, Haru looked blankly.

“Huh? What do I even do better than Soo-hyun? Maybe VTuber Haru is just Miro’s sub-par version?”

Well, looks like she fell into a momentary pit of self-doubt.

Sometimes, shock therapy works better than awkward consolation.

“Another way to say it is ‘unlucky Miro’.”

“Eek!”

And just like that, I knocked down Haru.

“Soo-hyun, you!”

“Haru! Get a grip!”

I stood up, leaving a collapsed Haru behind.

Now, I feel revitalized enough to get back on my feet.

Standing up, I could finally look down at those sitting around me.

“Now I shall stand tall in the sky!”

“What sky?!”

“Ugh!”

Just like that, I got caught by Maho and fell to the floor.

“Apologize to Haru right now!”

“Ahh!”

“Alright, let’s hurry and finish the dance lesson!”

Thankfully, before I could get in any more trouble, the instructor clapped her hands to gather everyone.

Has break time already ended? What a relief.

“Alright, let’s give it our all for the remaining time!”

Thus, the lesson concluded smoothly.

Of course, it was exhausting, though.

After the lesson, I showered in the shower room, changed into my pre-packed clothes, and approached the instructor, who was tidying up.

“Excuse me, instructor.”

“Oh, Miro, what’s the matter?”

“So, what about my cousin?”

I was a bit anxious since I missed it during break time.

In my personal opinion, the instructor is an excellent mentor.

It means I hope Kim Yuna (15) could learn to dance from the instructor.

“Oh, I’m not putting pressure on her. If she’s lacking, she doesn’t have to take it.”

Of course, I’m not making demands.

As I thought before, shouldn’t she have to earn it and become independent?

I can’t just help her forever.

“Even if you say that, isn’t it a little demanding? Hmm….”

The instructor, who jokingly replied, thought for a moment and then nodded.

“I’m thinking of taking her in. Her enthusiasm is off the charts.”

“Oh, that’s great!”

“But how about you, Miro? Don’t you want to learn more dancing?”

“Excuse me?”

“You have talent. Even if your stamina is lacking, you learn quickly.”

Huh… all of a sudden such an offer?

“What do you say? How about trying it out together with your cousin? If you do well with your visuals and talent in dancing… wow, you could overshadow even popular celebrities! Plus, we could use you as the face of our academy.”

“Is that the main point?”

“Just a little? So, what do you think?”

Though she spoke playfully, the instructor’s eyes looked serious.

“If you promote us a few times later on, I’ll give you free lessons. This is not an easy proposal.”

Then, she stepped a bit closer, looking at me with a hint of aspiration.

Oh no, that’s an ambitious gaze.

Sort of like the look from Moon Chang-sik or Hyeon-su.

I’ve been caught in such proposals twice now, but…

“Eek! Get away from me!”

Am I crazy?

I’m already dying from practicing the celestial realm live dance; I can’t do more dancing here.

I immediately turned around and fled.

“Miro!”

I ignored the voice calling behind me.

 

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