199 - I Unknowingly Rejected My Favorite

EP.199 #199. Exposé I was grateful that I'd still be able to watch Closer, but the process made me genuinely want to strangle the CEO. "Oppa!" The moment the door opened, I was waiting outside the studio for her broadcast to end, and I enveloped Doa in a tight hug. "Congratulations!" "Ugh... Oppaa... I..." The mature demeanor she'd shown recently vanished, and she clung to me like a child, sobbing loudly. "Ugh... The CEO... he's so mean... waaaah...." "You weren't the only one who felt that way." In reality, there was an uproar brewing across chat rooms and various communities. Although public opinion was overall positive. After all, it meant everyone could continue enjoying Closer, a group they adored. However, wasn't the way they delivered the news too extreme? No, seriously, what kind of corporation conducts a surprise like this? It's not like they're pranksters among small-time streamers; what on earth is this? "Here, take this." Even so, it was her graduation, so I handed Doa the bouquet I had prepared. "...What's this?" "It was supposed to be a graduation gift, but it somehow turned into a first-anniversary present." She sniffled and looked up at me. "But... really... no lie... we didn’t know either..." "But what if they didn't offer you a contract after that? You might not have been able to do it even if you wanted to." "About a month ago, we each had private interviews... asking what we'd think about an extension... if we could do it or not... but after that, they said it was just going to end... so I had given up... sniff..." According to Doa, it seemed the company had already aggregated the members' intentions beforehand. "Doa, it turned out well, didn't it? Come on, stop crying. It's a happy day, why are you crying so much?" "No... I'm happy, but... it's so embarrassing... damn it... I already said my goodbyes to everyone... and then at the end..." The CEO may have been wicked, but I, too, was innately a malevolent viewer. I hesitate to say this, but frankly, the Closer members' reactions were quite entertaining. The five avatars' dumbfounded expressions. Rhea blinking like a fish. Humuline looking around, not understanding a word. Clover collapsing on the spot, weeping. And Jennifer comforting her. Lastly... [...Is this for real?] Our own Doa-ttang directly asking the CEO if it's real. Even while we were chattering away here, the "Is this for real?" clip was likely spreading across the world. "Hey, does this mean you guys still have the farewell party tomorrow?" "I don't know... but we did make a reservation... so I guess we'll have fun..." Even through her sniffles, she seemed filled with thoughts of playing with her fellow members. "Alright. Then play with me today, and go have fun with your favorite unnie tomorrow." "...Humuline isn't an unnie." "Let's just move on, if you misunderstood anything." Embarrassed, Doa lightly tapped my head with the bouquet, and I playfully tousled her hair. * * * Later on, it was officially announced by YM that Closer would draft new contracts to continue operating as a permanent group rather than for a fixed period. This made the audition program for the second generation a bit awkward, but it seemed they planned to proceed with the same format under a different name. It appeared they intended to push the concept of Closer as a senior group to the new generation. Just how far is this Vtuber fever going to go? Just three years ago, such a thing as Vtubers didn’t even exist. "Taemin!" The door suddenly swung open, and the teacher's voice echoed. "What now? It's not even mealtime yet." "Hey, I'm not an alarm for meals, you know." "Then why are you here?" Whenever I'd get called urgently for no reason, it was usually to go smoke, head to a convenience store together, or grab a meal, which is why I respond like this. Honestly, sometimes the teacher felt more like a friend than my actual school friends, but he would explain that it was all because he was lonely and trying to be nice. "A request for an interview came in. Want to do it?" "Our team? Or just me?" "It's our team, but I was thinking of sending you." "...Shouldn't you, as the team leader, go?" Isn't it obvious that the team leader should attend such an occasion? "Taemin, let's think about this." The teacher sat heavily into the chair in front and began his persuasion in his characteristic lecture tone. "Would it look better for the company's image if an out-of-shape middle-aged guy like me goes? Or if a handsome MZ-generation guy like you goes?" "Wouldn't it be more meaningful for the well-known Ae-shib-leok teacher to attend?" "Wrong answer!" A swift rebuttal came immediately. Don’t ask if you’ve already decided on an answer. Seriously. As I stared at him with a "I've been fooled again" expression, he grinned broadly, commencing his gaslighting practice. "Taemin, shouldn't you repay all the nurturing and shelter I've provided?" "...So you want me to go? But what kind of interview is it?" "You know Closer's third album was a massive hit." "True." "So YM is planning to film a documentary-style thing about managing metaverse idols." "Ah, so you’re saying they’re going to film those who collaborated, not the members themselves?" "That's right. It's probably going to feature how the modeling was done and things like that under the narration." The intention wasn’t bad, but I honestly wasn’t too enthusiastic. I’d rather they create another piece of content for Luca or the others in that time. However, filming it might mean that, 100 years later, it could become a historical clip. The history of K-Vtubers. Ah... "Anyhow, please take care of it. It's next Wednesday. Location: YM headquarters!" "...Are you serious?" "Isn't it something easy for the youngest to handle?" I suddenly remembered Humuline getting playfully ganged up on by her older members and nodded, somewhat reluctantly. "Oh. Yes... well... I'll give it a try." "Great. Go out there and brag about yourself~ like 'I'm awesome~'" "I'll be humble." "That's fine too. Do as you please." "Okay." The teacher disappeared after saying what he wanted to say. I wasn't sure how popular the interview would be, but there were people who knew my face. They'd probably find it surprising. Thinking I was a bit-part actor, only to find out I was composing music next door. Around 3 PM, after wrapping up my tasks, I dialed Doa’s number. Since it wasn’t work time, she was likely at home. Or was she out somewhere? [Hello?] [Oh, Oppa! Where are you?] [I'm about to head home. What about you?] [I'm having coffee with Humuline near home.] [What? Humuline came all the way to our neighborhood?] [She wanted to explore after partying with us that day, so I invited her.] [Oh, I remember hearing about it, but I didn't know it was today. Got it. Have fun.] [...You have to come see me.] [...Huh?] You said you were playing outside. Why are you telling me to come see you? [Humuline wants to see you too. Hurry up and come. We're at Bong's Cafe~] It was a cafe frequented by our school kids. [Hey, Doa.] [Ah, I'll hang up~ Oppa! Hurry!] The screen turned crimson. I sighed deeply and trudged down the subway stairs. Why was everyone sending me to strange places today? It usually took about 40 minutes to get home, but as soon as I reached the cafe entrance, I recognized familiar faces through the glass. "Ah! It's Oppa!" Doa waved at me from inside. Humuline turned around and nodded politely at me. "Oh! Mini Oppa, hello~" It was the first time someone called me by my stage name, Mini, like that. "Hi." "Oppa, you look even more handsome!" "No, I look the same as before." "Really? Doa unnie said otherwise, though?" Looking at Doa as if asking what that meant, she drew a line with her thumb, signaling to keep quiet. "Our Humuline can't keep her mouth shut, huh~" "Ah, unnie~ You should be nice to me, shouldn't you?" "Hmm? What's that supposed to mean?" "Our party night, unnie was so drunk she doesn't remember, does she? You talked a lot about Mini oppa." Doa froze as if caught by an ice spell. "D-did I talk about Taemin oppa? To you all?" "Ah, did no one tell unnie about this?" "Hey, wait. What did I say? Tell me, Gahee." "Ehhh~ Mini oppa, well, Doa unnie~" The two Closer members bickered playfully in front of me. Regardless of the content, witnessing this was fascinating. I used to avoid talking to girls, but now scenes like this had become quite familiar. All thanks to Doa. "Hey, don't. Don't say anything nonsense to oppa." "Why not? It's a compliment." "...It was a compliment?" Kim Doa, could it be you were out spreading gossip about me at gatherings? Seeing my slightly shocked expression, Doa shook her head vigorously to prove it wasn't the case. "Oppa, you know everything she says is nonsense, right?" "So was that nonsense too?" "Oh, what is it. Just tell me, what did I say?" "That you're really happy living together with Mini oppa." At Humuline’s whisper, Doa's ears turned bright red.