166 - I Unknowingly Rejected My Favorite

EP.166 #166. Second Album Release! Mr. Ash Block was an incredibly busy man. As he scrolled down his phone screen, he suddenly slapped his forehead with a troubled expression. A sigh half-filled with air, half with sound. "Taemin." "Yes?" "Is it possible for us to have class tomorrow at 10?" "Morning 10?" "No, evening 10. If that's a problem, we can postpone it." "Uh..." 10? Did he mean 10 p.m.? We're not working a night shift at a convenience store; why start a class at 10 p.m.? "Then what time would it end?" "Midnight. I have to let you go before the last bus. What can I do?" After a brief contemplation, I clearly expressed my intention to him. "But that would be tough because I'd miss Luka's broadcast." This was something beyond my control. The teacher burst into a hearty laugh, looking at me incredulously before nodding in agreement. "Right. Can't miss a broadcast. I wasn’t thinking clearly." "You’re not messing with me, right?" "...Even I don’t hold classes when there’s a Lea broadcast." The only reason we could have this conversation was that the teacher was also an enormous fan of Closer. If he were entirely ignorant of and couldn't understand this culture, how could I possibly skip class just to watch an online broadcast? "Then let's do it during the day on Friday. Honestly, I’d be tired if we did it at 10 p.m. anyway." "You mentioned you don't live around here?" "About 15 minutes away by car from here." "Hey. Then why don’t you stay a bit longer today? I can give you an extra 30 minutes, so practice some at home." "Oh, yes, thank you." At a glance, it might seem like we were having a very diligent class, but our lessons were half chatting and half serious study. Usually, he'd introduce a song and break it down, teaching us about chord progressions and instrument arrangements—the fundamental framework—while weaving in stories too delightful to ignore. Stories like bringing someone in for recording only to have a hungover girl group member vomit on the floor. How working on an animation OST got him a huge figurine as a gift. Stories only insiders or those who've worked on specific tracks could share, kept us engaged, making us lose track of time. "Teacher." "Hmm?" While listening to the story about someone mistakenly putting an extra zero and donating a million won, I earnestly made a suggestion. "How about you start a broadcast too?" "What! You mean streaming?" "Yes. I think you'd be great at it." "Hey, what kind of world is it where someone with your looks is telling me that?" "...What's wrong with the way I look?" I thought I wouldn't get any viewers if I started a broadcast given my lack of charisma. "Honestly, with that face, you'd beat all the current top male streamers." "...You mean I should be a male streamer?" "Why, were you thinking of becoming an anime girl Vtuber with a voice changer and avatar?" It was a bittersweet thought. As some cases that the teacher mentioned actually exist. "Ah, I wouldn't. How could I stream with this personality?" "Actually, don’t the otaku love hikikomori concept Vtubers, saying they're cute and throwing their money at them?" "...Anyway, I can't. I mean, I won't." Besides not having the knack for it, if I started streaming, when would I watch Doa? "Still, if your music does well, there's significant financial gain. So go home and do your homework, okay?" "Heh..." Though I was just starting to take my first steps, music was a discipline quite similar to mathematics. There were parts you had to memorize like formulas, and when you applied them, sounds harmonized to create beautiful melodies. "I'll check on it next time." "Yes, thank you." Bowing slightly and stepping out, I pulled out my phone to check the time. "Whoa, hold on." I needed to hurry, didn't I? Or should I just take a cab? There’s always a reason to rush. Normally, I’d be fine watching the broadcast on my phone, but not today. Because today was the day Closer's second album teaser was being released. Though Doa might scold me if she heard about this, I immediately called a taxi through an app. With a quick plea to the driver, I boarded and scanned through the online community reactions. Despite being 30 minutes early, posts were flooding in. [Something big is coming.] [Sneak peek at Closer's 2nd album hints.] [Official music video release date announced instead of a teaser.] What the... is there really an official announcement? "Damn it..." As soon as I entered, I was bombarded with memes and couldn’t help but mutter a quiet curse. Though there was a brief moment of cold sweat when the car was stuck near the Han River, I managed to get home just on time. Without even changing my clothes, I sat down reverently in front of the monitor. [Hmm... hmm...!] The Closer members had started their broadcast to watch the teaser with the fans. On-screen, Luka was beaming, interacting with the viewers. [Oh, I'm so nervous. Right? Ah, the hype levels are through the roof, everyone.] We had reasons to anticipate too. The performances Closer had shown were a spectacle of investment. The quality of the virtual world created with money matched exactly the investment, leaving no room for disappointing expectations. Could the thrill felt during the Boundary album persist this time too? As the countdown began, refreshing the official YM channel showed [CLOSER] elegantly inscribed with a sleek font. [Let's go~] [Wow!] [Luka! We love you!] Even without clicking the video yet, the fan community was ecstatic. I too was relentlessly clicking the cheering sticker. [Then... shall we go...?] Luka's avatar smiled broadly. To make sure everyone could focus, Luka even turned off his avatar, holding his breath as he streamed the roughly 30-second video without interruption. The first thing to appear amidst the clicking of heels was the avatar with golden hair. Ah, that must be Jennifer. As she opened the door and entered, the camera zoomed in on each member one by one. It seemed their concept this time was students, given that all the members were dressed in the same school uniform. Clover smiled wistfully. Humoring winked playfully. Rea reached out a hand. And the final three seconds that captured our fan club's hearts. Her pink hair shimmered even brighter, catching the sunlight. Luka's eyes remained hidden. But we all knew what the shape of her lips wanted to convey through her silhouette avatar. [I love you] Ending with that scene, the video concluded with a group still shot, once again highlighting the name "CLOSER" in English, sparking an uproar of cheers in the chatroom. [So... how was it?] Luka's avatar reappeared. Her flushed face urged viewers to donate impulsively. [Ahhhh! Luka, I love you! Ahhhh!] [Thank you for the 10,000 won donation~ Ah, the teaser turned out so well. The atmosphere is on point. Heh.] The atmosphere was full of praise, but honestly, I felt a slight tinge of disappointment. Her eyes. There was no shot that showed Luka's entire upper body. Sure, the part where she appeared like a true heroine at the end, mouthing words, was great, but... Oh... wouldn't it have been better if her eyes were shown too? [Haha, when the full version is released next week, everyone will be even more thrilled, right?] It was pointless to complain. Even with just those brief 5 or 6 seconds, fans were ecstatic; when the full version is out, not only the fan club but the whole world will be buzzing. In fact, there were occasional English and Japanese comments spotted. Perhaps my girlfriend was truly on her way to becoming world-class. [Uh-huh, right, right. Ah, which member did you think was the best in this music video? Personally, I thought Rea was the best... she really nailed it. Yep.] [Ah~ if I say more, it'll be a spoiler, so later, later. Of course, Luka is super cute too! It’d be great if she appeared in front of everyone wearing the school uniform avatar from the teaser.] Resting my chin on my desk, I stared intently at the screen. What is it about this little entity in the corner of my monitor that's so irresistibly cute? This 2.5-dimensional being was captivating more than ten thousand people. [Oh, of course~ Luka loves all the fans too~] Smiling and speaking playfully, Luka's tone was much higher than when she said "I love you" to me. Both versions were so endearing that I couldn't take my eyes off her. Both Doa and Luka were simply lovable existences, I thought. Just as the teaser review stream seemed to be progressing smoothly. [A donation of 5,000 won was made by LobsterLuka.] [There's a rumor that Summer Records' RKRO is someone named Han Taemin. Is it true?] Doa's avatar blinked with a dumbfounded expression.