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“Ah, sis, you’re going back alone today.”

“Where are you going?”

“Yes, I have somewhere to be.”

After the dance lesson, I decided to take a different subway and let Maho go back alone.

Well, since I was already out and about, I figured I might as well swing by Hyeon-su’s Workshop for some recording.

I needed to finish a song quickly, as the music video would be planned around it.

No matter how you look at it, even with a guide vocal, my manager said that without a main track, everything was just theoretical.

I needed to give them the song so we could properly create the music video.

Being on the subway, I soon arrived at the building for Hyeon-su’s workshop.

I went down to the basement, opened the workshop door, and found a man sitting on the lobby sofa.

“Oh.”

However, my brows furrowed as I was expecting to see either a band member or Hyeon-su, but instead, there was someone entirely different.

“Ah, fancy meeting you here?”

It was none other than the idol Lee Hyun-jun, plopped down on the sofa.

What is he doing here?

“Uh… what brings you here?”

Caught off guard, I asked, and Hyun-jun pointed to the side.

“A cocky junior from middle school called me here.”

On the side he pointed to, Hyeon-su emerged, holding a small drink bottle.

Is it just Hyeon-su? Odd that the other band members aren’t around today.

“You’re early!”

Hyeon-su spotted me and handed me the drink he was holding.

“Oh, thanks.”

“Hey! Wasn’t that mine?”

“I’ll get you another. You can sit.”

I vaguely dismissed Hyun-jun’s glare at my drink and sat down on the opposite sofa. Did they change the sofa? It feels fluffier than last time.

“…”

“…”

It’s a bit awkward sitting next to each other, isn’t it?

Where’s Hyeon-su?

I’m not good at enduring awkward silences.

“Um….”

Just then, Hyun-jun seemed unable to bear the silence anymore and spoke up first.

“Yes?”

“What brings you here?”

“Oh, I came to record.”

“Recording?”

“Yes.”

At the mention of ‘recording,’ Hyun-jun narrowed his eyes for a moment.

“Aren’t you the one who paints?”

“Ah.”

Now that I think about it, Hyun-jun was under that impression?

I had totally forgotten.

“Well, I also do some drawing.”

“Uh… right? I know you’re into drawing.”

“Yeah, I drew something for you last time.”

After that, an awkward silence settled between us.

He probably didn’t expect this from me.

I’m the one who had my artwork terrorized because of him on the Bluebird account, after all!

But suddenly coming here to record might leave him stunned.

“That’s right. Soo-hyun unnie came to use our recording studio.”

Hyeon-su’s timely arrival put an end to Hyun-jun’s confusion.

He placed the drink—rightly belonging to Hyun-jun—on the sofa in front of him and sat down as well.

“Really? Is she featuring too?”

Is she too?

Does that mean Hyun-jun is also involved?

“Hyun-jun is featuring too?”

“Yeah? Of course. Hyeon-su picked me up.”

“Oh… unexpected? I didn’t think of that at all.”

In reality, I hadn’t listened to Beastz’s songs, so I had no clue.

Maybe I’d heard one sometime during my life but just couldn’t remember.

Reacting to my curiosity, Hyun-jun puffed out his chest, confidently grinning.

“Believe it or not, fans call me a vocal beast.”

“I don’t know about the vocal beast part, but fans seem more like beasts themselves.”

I jested, recalling the Bluebird incident, and Hyun-jun’s smile faltered.

“Well… I sincerely apologize for that.”

“It’s alright; I got beef from that, so I can let it slide. Let’s just say it was noise marketing.”

In reality, it wasn’t something worth dwelling on.

It’s not like I make a living off of that incident; it was just a passing annoyance.

“Should I send you more beef…?”

“Increase is always better, so I won’t refuse.”

“Uh, that… to what extent.”

As I casually refused to be modest, Hyun-jun seemed a bit flustered, but Hyeon-su jumped in.

“Sis, you’re really making him awkward.”

“Free beef means someone being awkward is okay.”

Only then did Hyun-jun realize I was just joking, wearing an incredulous expression.

“I’ve noticed for a while that you’re really good at making people uncomfortable with your jokes.”

“Me?”

“Did you forget?”

Did I pull some prank before?

Ah….

“That time?”

Thinking back, I did run into him at the dance lesson room.

I had completely forgotten about it.

“I can’t believe you actually forgot… Do you know how awkward I felt back then?”

“Sorry about that time…”

I readily apologized, acknowledging my previous mischief.

“Shouldn’t I feel petty if I accept your apology right away?”

However, as I immediately bowed my head in apology, Hyun-jun became paradoxically uncomfortable.

…What do I do now?

“Then just be petty. Boohoo, how could you press me over such a trivial matter? Is this suitable behavior for an idol? I’ll be posting this on the community.”

“You’re absolutely crazy….”

Hyun-jun flinched at my words and subtly edged away.

Well, communities can be terrifying these days.

“Have you two met separately before?”

Just then, Hyeon-su, who had been listening to our conversation, chimed in.

Now that I think about it, it must be surprising for Hyeon-su to hear we had run into each other before.

There’s barely any connection between us, after all.

“Well, last time the agency was under construction, I had to rent an outside facility for dance practice, and she happened to walk out right in front of me.”

At Hyun-jun’s comment, Hyeon-su looked at me, astonished.

“Unnie, you also dance?”

I guess he found it surprising.

Honestly, even I would have laughed it off if someone told me months ago that I was learning to dance.

“The company set it up for me, and I just finished my lessons earlier.”

I pointed at the bag I had set down on one end of the sofa.

“I just showered and changed. I had a brutal time.”

I’m feeling okay now, but I might end up turning into a stiff mess with muscle aches by tomorrow.

“Company? You’re talking about your agency?”

At that moment, Hyun-jun interjected upon hearing me mention ‘the company.’

“Oh, so you’re a potential idol?”

“Nope.”

“Then what’s the deal? A singer?”

“Not that either. I’m not even from their agency, but rather a different one.”

“…Uh, what exactly are you?”

Hyun-jun paused to think before asking.

Now that I think about it, it does sound strange.

I’m learning dance but not trying to be an idol, nor a singer, and I’m recognized as a famous artist on Bluebird yet here I am to record a song at Hyeon-su’s workshop. What on earth am I?

What else could I be?

“I do broadcasts.”

I’m a VTuber.

Dancing, singing, gaming, and drawing.

“Uh? Internet broadcasting?”

Seeing Hyun-jun’s puzzling expression, it looked like he had a very narrow view on internet content… I better clarify before he gets the wrong idea.

Well, since Hyeon-su knows me, I can share since I’m recording song work with them today, anyway.

“Well, I’m more of a VTuber.”

“Pardon?”

When I pulled out my phone to show him my channel, Hyun-jun was left dumbfounded.

“Uh, you’re a VTuber?”

“Do you know VTubers?”

“No, I mean… I’ve heard of them, but you’re actually doing that?”

Oh, he knows? Why?

The surprised look on his face contrasts sharply with how he seems not to know anything about it.

Did he catch my confusion? Hyun-jun awkwardly chuckled.

“While I was active in Japan for a bit, I lost first place in streaming to a VTuber for a while.”

“Wait, lost first place?”

Wasn’t he a major idol who sold over a million albums? How did he lose to a VTuber? That’s insane….

“Yeah… it was a bit shocking back then.”

Is this for real?

“Who was it?”

“Oh, you don’t know? They’re pretty notable in this field.”

Saying that, Hyun-jun took a moment to search and showed me a VTuber.

“Izakaya Sake? Oh.”

I know who that is. Isn’t she the top Japanese VTuber?

Didn’t she have something like 3.2 million subscribers? Absolutely dominating the scene.

She was with the same company as Tenshi too, right?

Her songs were deafeningly popular; I’ve listened to them a few times—so that’s the level of skill?

“Actually, my stats were a bit down back then, but I remember how shocking it was to let first place slip away, especially as I had a lot of fans in Japan.”

“Um….”

“Cough.”

That’s something, but wouldn’t K-pop idols sell a good amount in Japan?

Yet losing almost like a brief moment to Izakaya Sake is substantial.

“Anyways, I’m surprised to hear that you’re doing VTuber stuff.”

“It’s my calling.”

“Yeah, well… if those people are VTubers too, then that’s quite the bombshell.”

At Hyun-jun’s question, I hesitated.

Uh oh, I seem to have let the whole Celestial Realm red pill group slip through.

“Well… you have to keep it a secret.”

“What… yes.”

Honestly, there’s no way Hyun-jun would spill it.

Why would a popular idol want to blab about that?

“Are you featuring with your VTuber name too? That sounds fun.”

Seems like he respects VTubers more than I thought due to the interactions we had today, huh? But I’m not here for just that feature!

“Oh, that’s not the case.”

“Huh? Aren’t you here to feature?”

Hyun-jun asked, and it was Hyeon-su who answered from the side, having quietly listened in.

“Oh, she came to record the song I gave her. The featuring part is mine.”

“What? You mean the song is for me!”

Hyun-jun exclaimed, shocked, as he shifted his gaze between me and Hyeon-su.

Yeah, it’s a valid reaction. I was surprised too.

“It’s a piece that matches Soo-hyun unnie perfectly; you’ll see when you hear it.”

“Then the release will…?”

“It’ll be my original track.”

“Uh… that.”

At my reply, Hyun-jun pondered for a moment before speaking.

“I know this might be annoying, but how would it be to publish under your personal name?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m not undervaluing VTubers, but I haven’t heard of you in Korea. If you publish as an individual, won’t it skyrocket with Hyeon-su’s name attached?”

Hmm… that does make a point.

Surprisingly considerate of him, huh?

Well, I appreciate the thought, but…

“It’s fine.”

How could I possibly pass on Miro’s first original song?

Plus, the Celestial Realm Project will definitely rise.

Just look at the investments; once the second and third generation players come along and grow nicely, won’t they carve out a respected position in Korea’s internet broadcasting scene?

This is the very first original song from a member of the Celestial Realm Project.

The more attention it gets, the better.

Of course, the following members will feel the pressure, but… isn’t it better than not getting any recognition?

“And besides, I could soar up as a VTuber, right?”

“Uh, well that would be nice.”

“Then let’s see if I can fly with the penalty of being an unfamiliar and minor VTuber in Korea.”

With that, I stood up from my seat.

“Are you all set to record?”

Noticing my intention, Hyeon-su also placed down the drink he had been sipping on and got up, prompting Hyun-jun to rise as well.

“Sure.”

“Then let’s head to the recording studio.”

And just like that, the recording for Miro’s first original song, ‘Calm Lake,’ began.

 

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