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“First, let’s eat.”

“Thank you!”

…How did it come to this?

“I’ll order three more servings.”

“Eh, you really don’t have to…”

To put it concisely, we’re at a barbecue restaurant.

And it’s one of those expensive ones with private rooms.

“Wow… Hanwoo.”

Tenshi, who usually preferred home-cooked meals, is drooling over the Hanwoo beside me…

“Bon appétit!”

“Please pass me the tongs!”

The five juniors in front of me are diligently grilling the meat I bought.

Earlier,

It felt a bit bad to just leave the aspiring juniors who greeted me with such enthusiasm, so since it’s dinner time, we came here together.

“By the way, why were you at the company?”

“Oh, we were having a meeting about the debut broadcast…”

“Wow, you guys do that too?”

“Yup, we plan ahead and practice.”

Wow, they’re already practicing for that?

…They’re really putting in the effort.

Munching on a piece of meat, I complimented, “This place is really good.”

Or is it that they’re just good at grilling?

I noticed a junior who seemed to be the youngest, awkwardly holding the tongs.

Even now, they’re busily flipping the meat while the other junior next to them gratefully accepts the pieces being handed over.

“Everyone seems to get along well?”

I commented on this scene.

They really seem close—like sisters.

“Oh! We’ve been close since the moment our debut was confirmed.”

“The manager said it’s good to be friendly with each other.”

Oh… Did the third generation have that too?

Or maybe it started back in the second generation.

When I was around, it was a total jungle—getting close beforehand was a non-issue.

“I was really awkward at first.”

“Oh, really?”

I wonder how it was back then…

I think I first spoke with them on Discord and even sang together.

Now that I think about it, those times were indeed quite awkward.

“We only exchanged numbers after debuting.”

“Wow….”

Saying it like that makes it sound like it was ages ago.

In reality, I’m probably the youngest among them here.

I’m still only twenty-three.

…Wait, am I twenty-four now?

Time really flies.

“How old is the youngest here?”

I asked, feeling the disparity in my age.

Considering that there was Seo Eun-ha, a plump little one from the second generation, maybe there’s one here too…

“Oh, I’m twenty-two.”

…So there is one.

The junior who had been flipping meat with tongs answered that.

Twenty-two, huh… So they’ll be twenty-three when they debut?

That’s relatively early in the virtual YouTuber industry.

Only Loa, Seo Eun-ha, and I debuted earlier.

“Then just call me ‘older sister’.”

“Wha, don’t say that….”

Jokingly saying it made the junior freeze in shock.

Seems like they really see me as a distant senior, huh?

Well, considering there’s a three-cycle gap, it’s understandable.

“Should I call you ‘older sister’ too?”

Tenshi, who was munching on the Hanwoo beside me, said that, but I just pretended to ignore it… for now, I just wanted to eat more meat.

It really is delicious.

The juniors are also scarfing it down ravenously.

…Did they all skip meals?

I heard The Six didn’t feed them, so…

After filling our bellies a bit, I placed the meat slowly on my tray and said, “Is there anything you’re curious about me?”

Since I’m treating, how about a little Q&A time?

From the juniors’ perspective, the two people here are legends of the domestic virtual YouTuber scene—Kim Dami and Murasaki Tenshi, who stands at the forefront of the Japanese virtual YouTuber realm.

They must have a lot of questions for me, considering they haven’t debuted yet.

“Uh… is that okay?”

Sure enough, the juniors’ eyes lit up at once.

…Even though they’re older than me, they’re treating me like a junior, which feels kind of cute.

Typically, juniors should look up to their seniors, but… since they’re pre-debut, I’ll be nice and indulge them.

“Anything.”

Thus, we started the questioning session in earnest.

“What’s the hardest part about broadcasting?”

“The hardest part? Hmm….”

And right from the start, the questions were a bit tough.

Hard parts, huh…

I’m not really sure.

If I had to point something out, it might be the chat…

Broadcasting doesn’t feel hard for me because I just turn it on whenever I want for just a few hours at a time.

I’ve seen others struggling with community reactions, but honestly, I don’t really care that much.

Huh?

What’s this, is this an incredibly easy and sweet job?

Lost in my reflection on the ease of being a virtual YouTuber, I barely noticed—

“That’s so hard!”

Tenshi, feeling the urgency, spoke up instead.

“Really…?”

The juniors’ gazes turned towards Tenshi at her words.

“I have to take regular lessons… prepare what we’ll do for today’s broadcast… I worked hard for five hours, only to see hate comments afterwards… It isn’t easy at all…!”

Hearing the serious note in her words made me naturally admire her.

Considering all that, it does sound like a tough job.

“Um, isn’t there a way to make it easier?”

“We have to focus on the good parts.”

Saying that, she spread her fingers and began explaining one by one the perks of being a virtual YouTuber.

“Earn a lot of money, the viewers love you, and though there are tough points, there’s no easy job in the world, right? As long as this job succeeds, it’s wonderfully rewarding and joyous.”

At that, both the juniors and I were impressed.

“Wow….”

“Why are you in awe, Miro?”

“No, would you like to be the heavenly realm’s first-generation?”

Why is she so good at Korean?

Does she have a knack for languages or something?

“Are you attempting a talent drain right now?”

“Then let’s swap. I’ll go to your side.”

“Eh?”

At my comment, Tenshi froze momentarily.

She seems to be pondering the idea of a trade…

“Don’t go around saying stuff like that!”

“Why not?”

“I think I’d feel hurt if it actually happened…”

“Eh.”

Could that even happen??

There’s no way the celestial realm would trade me away.

As for Japan… Hmm, still, isn’t Tenshi strong enough to be in the first league?

If I were to propose a swap…

Nah, well, whatever…

“Shall we order naengmyeon?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“Bim Naengmyeon?”

“Mul Naengmyeon….”

After ordering naengmyeon, we continued the Q&A session.

They wondered how to deal with nerves before their debut broadcast or worried about a potential lack of viewers and so on.

…Truthfully, considering I was bravely fielding questions, I realized I didn’t have much to respond with, but I did my best to give them decent answers.

As we were slowly finishing off the grilled meat, we wrapped up the questioning.

“Let’s head out now.”

“Understood….”

“Today was delicious…!”

The juniors seemed a bit reluctant to leave, but what can we do?

Well, today isn’t the only day, and they can ask other people later.

In fact, it might be better for them to ask someone else.

At least they would probably provide more helpful answers than I did.

As I reluctantly paid the bill, feeling a bit trembly at the cost, we stepped outside.

“Thank you so much for today!”

I sent off the juniors who suddenly seemed a bit formal and approached the road to catch a taxi.

Since the juniors had all left, it was just Tenshi and me waiting for the taxi called via the app.

“Soo-hyun.”

“Yes?”

“You really seemed like a senior today.”

“…Because I am a senior.”

A bit of an odd thing to say.

I’m about to reach my third year since debut.

Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen the third generation other than Rain, but I’ve met the aspiring fourth gen first.

How lucky these fourth generation kids are to meet me and Miro before debut!

“A taxi’s here!”

“Oh, it is indeed.”

Afterwards, we hopped into the taxi we called via the app and headed home.

Late evening.

Since I had already told Mrs. Jang I would be home for dinner, on entering the house, I saw Mrs. Jang and Manager Kim enjoying fruit for dessert in the living room.

“We’re back!”

“Oh my, the first and second have finally returned.”

“Go wash up, and we’ll eat some fruit together.”

Instead of me, Tenshi stepped up to greet them, and the parents welcomed us warmly.

It’s a scene that feels more familiar after just a few days.

It’s even strange to think that Tenshi will be leaving tomorrow.

After washing up, I decided to skip the living room and return to my room.

Before heading back home, I took out the snacks and drinks I had bought during my taxi ride.

“What movie shall we watch?”

As mentioned earlier, we should watch a movie.

Since sleep probably won’t come until late tonight, I should probably watch a couple of films.

“Recommend one, Soo-hyun!”

Tenshi, in her pajamas, lay down on the bed nonchalantly, showing she was open to anything.

Hmm… A recommendation, huh.

How about an action movie?

Since Tenshi likes shooting, an action film about guns should do.

As I was looking for an apocalypse-themed or some foreign action film…

Ding-ding.

The cellphone I had placed on the bed rang.

“Soo-hyun! You have a call?”

“A call?”

I got up from my desk where I had been searching for a movie and stepped out of the soundproof booth.

Tenshi, quick as a snap, offered me my phone.

“Thank you.”

I took it and checked the caller—Manager.

What could it be at this late hour?

Generally, if it’s late, they’d usually send a message.

“Hello?”

Still, I answered the call.

[Ah, Miro.]

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

[Um, I was wondering if….]

I inquired, but heard hesitation in the voice from the other end.

Just what is going on that’s making Manager hesitate like this?

“Just say it.”

[That is… today, did you establish discipline with the aspiring fourth-generation juniors on the first floor?]

“Excuse me?”

That was a shocking statement.

[When I was out on a task and then returned, someone said they saw you on the first floor… .]

“No way, what are you talking about…!”

Me, establishing discipline??

The heavenly realm’s first-gen angel, Miro, establishing discipline???

[…I take it that wasn’t the case?]

“Of course not.”

Could that even be true?

I actually bought them beef instead.

[Then how did this rumor…?]

“Well, here’s what happened…”

I was about to explain the situation and clarify when I suddenly felt something odd.

“…More importantly, Manager.”

[Yes?]

“Why are you returning to the company at this time?”

Now that I think about it, it’s nighttime.

Outside has turned pitch-dark, yet they’re heading back to work instead of home?

[….]

There was silence on the other end.

“Oh.”

I then realized how The Six was managing to prepare for both my solo concert and the fourth-generation debut at the same time.

“…Hang in there.”

Ugh, guess I shouldn’t dive into work life.

 

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