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“Uh… you met in person?”

This question came from Tenshi.

Indeed, Sake was so surprised that his mouth hung open.

“Oh, um, yes.”

“Did you go to a fan meeting or something? I thought Soo-hyun doesn’t really follow idols?”

“Ah.”

A fan meeting… should I say I just asked there?

No, do I really need to?

There’s no reason to lie.

And isn’t it good if I’m friends with an idol?

“Not exactly, just a friend of a friend.”

And there’s just the right expression to explain the relationship between me and Lee Hyun-jun.

A friend of a friend.

An ambiguous relationship that’s neither too close nor too distant.

“A, a friend of a friend…?”

“That’s… well…”

Just as I was about to explain to the still confused Tenshi…

“Ah!”

Finally understanding, Sake’s mouth fell open.

“Oh, you were an idol?”

“Oh dear.”

Of course, he misunderstood.

****

“And that’s how it turned out.”

Afterward, I accidentally gave something like an explanation.

“Hee… Soo-hyun has quite the connections, huh? I often see Hyun-jun from Beasts on TV…”

Tenshi looked genuinely surprised, while Sake…

“Eh, you know me…?”

Realizing that Beasts recognized him, he froze for a moment before…

“Haha! Hahaha.”

He started laughing by himself.

Is that what it means to be a virtual YouTuber?

What is the future of the industry looking like…?

“I’m feeling better now.”

“You seem to be.”

Feeling good and laughing alone.

He looks normal but has some peculiar aspects.

Then again, a regular person can’t just become a virtual YouTuber.

“So, are you treating us to dinner then?”

At that moment, Tenshi swiftly seized the opportunity from Sake, who was in a good mood.

So that’s how I end up getting a free dinner; all those FPS games weren’t in vain.

“Sounds good! I’ll treat you!”

Caught off guard, I ended up getting treated as well and gave Tenshi a thumbs up.

Not that I’m in need of money, but free food is always delicious.

Afterward, we had dinner and sprawled out on Sake’s living room sofa.

Now that the timing is awkward for anything else, and having already wandered around downtown in the afternoon and done some recordings, neither Tenshi nor I had much energy left.

Just lying on the sofa like this, and if I fell asleep under the blanket Sake provided, my day would come to an end.

By the way, it would normally be around the time I’d start broadcasting.

Now that I think of it, I did say I might log on sometimes.

I can’t even begin to express how chaotic it got when I announced my vacation to Japan.

Where are you going? Come back within three days! You can even do Romance of the Three Kingdoms, just don’t get too comfortable!

Thinking of all those chats from the viewers made me chuckle.

These guys… they only behave when I’m not around, but when it comes time to leave, they hold me back.

“Why are you laughing to yourself?”

As I was lost in thought and laughing, Tenshi, who was slouched next to me on the sofa, asked.

Wasn’t she on her phone earlier? So she somehow caught my expression.

“Just thinking of my broadcasts before coming here.”

“Oh, right. Soo-hyun used to stream almost every day, so you took a break to come here?”

“Right?”

“You stream every day?”

This question came from Sake, who had just finished showering and was now joining the conversation.

“Oh, yes, I do.”

“Hee— that’s amazing.”

Well, considering Sake’s perspective, it could seem that way.

Japanese virtual YouTubers put in a ton of effort for each broadcast.

“I’m a bit more casual about my streams, so it’s not that hard for me.”

“Casual?”

“Um…well, how should I say this.”

Since I was thinking about how to express the nature of my broadcasts, I stumbled for words, and then Tenshi raised her hand.

“Eh— I’ll explain it to Senpai!”

“Tenshi will?”

“Yes!”

Well… Tenshi should be able to explain it well, right?

She seems to watch my broadcasts often enough.

So after nodding as permission, Tenshi began explaining to Sake in Japanese.

Um, what is she saying in Japanese? Is her explanation a bit long, though?

What I thought would be a simple explanation under a minute turned out to be much longer, and during that time, Sake’s expression changed dramatically.

What on earth is she talking about?

Once the explanation ended, Sake looked at me for a moment and said,

“Uh… that’s impressive…?”

…There’s no need to ask what’s impressive.

“Still, I really enjoy Soo-hyun’s broadcasts!”

Though this late defense is futile.

Sake’s expression is already one of how could such a broadcast exist…?

It seems like my kimchi virtual YouTuber might be a bit too spicy for him.

“Haha, you might be misunderstanding a bit, but that’s not quite it.”

That’s somewhat true.

Even I think my broadcasts are a bit… odd.

But I can’t just say that, can I?

“If you have the chance, you should watch one of my broadcasts.”

“Uh… okay.”

Well, I suppose it would be different from the viewer’s standpoint?

After all, Tenshi seems to enjoy watching them.

There are some things in this world that can’t be explained in words.

After that, I lay down under the thick blanket that Sake spread out.

It feels like I’m visiting a friend’s house.

It strongly resembles the feeling of sharing a living space with a friend’s parents who set up a blanket for us to sleep on together.

“Soo-hyun! Tomorrow we’re going to here, here… and here!”

Sake told me to relax in the living room and went to his room, while Tenshi lay next to me showing me a list of places she wants to go on her phone.

Among the things on the list, I’m somewhat interested in the goods shop.

I can buy some souvenirs from there.

The night passed on, and when Tenshi, who had been chatting about various things, eventually passed out,

Was she very tired?

I too had a schedule for tomorrow, so I tried to sleep…

But… the sleep didn’t come as quickly as I hoped.

Why can’t I fall asleep? Is the bedding strange?

I didn’t really feel that way.

After a while of keeping my eyes closed, I got up from my spot.

“Umm…”

When I woke up, it seemed Tenshi, who was sleeping next to me, also stirred.

“Did you wake up?”

I felt a bit guilty for waking her, so I asked, and she shook her head.

“No… daijoubu…”

“Um… I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.”

Even though the heating was on for winter, it was still a bit cold, so I covered Tenshi with the blanket and stretched.

Since I was already awake, I wasn’t going back to sleep.

So I thought of going to the kitchen to drink some water, but noticed a light on in one of the rooms.

Is someone still awake?

Knock knock—

Curious, I knocked on the door, and it opened right away.

“Oh, Soo-hyun?”

“What are you doing up at this hour?”

I wondered what was so engrossing as I viewed the monitor connected to a PlayStation for gaming.

“Playing a game?”

“Haha, no, I’m preparing!”

“Preparing?”

“I’m checking everything in advance for tomorrow.”

…You’re preparing that much?

It’s completely different from me, who turns on a broadcast and asks for suggestions from the viewers.

Well, I suppose everyone has their own styles.

If I were to prepare, it would probably be boring, right?

Maybe?

Since Miro’s broadcasts are made together with the viewers.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Um, yeah.”

I nodded in response to Sake’s question.

Since I couldn’t sleep, maybe I should go for a walk?

While also considering that I could start a late-night stream since I’m in Japan.

The night scenery here is romantic, and I’m sure the viewers would enjoy seeing it.

“Are you not going to sleep, Sake?”

“Uh… it seems I won’t be sleeping now.”

Hmm, I see?

“Then can I go for a quick walk?”

“A walk?”

“Yeah, I’ll just step out for a bit.”

Since there’s no extra key like at a hotel, if I come back and Sake is asleep, I’d be stuck outside.

So I asked subtly, and Sake looked at the monitor for a moment before nodding.

“Okay. But are you sure you’ll be all right alone?”

I know it’s risky to go out for a night walk in a foreign country, but isn’t Japan relatively safe?

Crime rates are similar to Korea, and besides…

This country has strict gun control, right?

For criminals, the worst-case scenario is a perpetrator with a knife.

I could just dash to the main street if something happened.

“Yeah, I plan to start a stream while I’m out.”

“Eh?”

Sake looked surprised at hearing about my late-night stream.

Outdoor broadcasting for a virtual YouTuber? What a strange notion…

Ha! This is K-virtual YouTuber power!

“Is… Is that okay? Regulations…”

Well, there probably were some regulations at first.

“But I’m fine!”

My manager already gave me the green light!

Once allowed, I can keep doing it.

“Then I’ll get ready to head out.”

Since Sake didn’t seem to be sleeping, I began gathering my outerwear.

I plan to take a stroll around the neighborhood, buy some snacks from a Japanese convenience store, and take in the scenery. I’m already getting excited.

The feeling of everything being fresh just because the country changed is exhilarating.

Just as I was about to start getting ready in the living room,

Sake slowly emerged from his room.

“Sake?”

When I asked what was up, he blatantly tried to look nonchalant.

…Does he have something to say, or is this animated behavior intentional?

As I waited in silence for him to speak, Sake hesitated briefly before cautiously saying,

“Uh… Can I come along?”

“Uh?”

He wants to follow me?

Normally, that would be fine, but…

“Um, I’m doing a broadcast. Are you sure about that?”

Since I’ll be streaming at night, is it safe?

“I want to see what it’s like. Is that okay?”

Well, “seeing” could mean we’re going to end up walking together anyway.

But if he’s okay with it…

“Then let’s go together.”

And well, Sake’s voice sounds different from what it does on stream anyway.

It’s more like having a local friend with me.

Who would think of him as Izakaya Sake?

And just like that, the duo for the night walk stream was formed.

 

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