Hobbyist VTuber-Chapter 233

In the end, it didn’t take long for Ha-eun to learn the truth about last night.

That was because the very first thing Da-yeon brought up—after being half-forced by Ha-eun to come eat breakfast—was everything that had happened the previous night.

“I’ve never seen such chaos in my entire life.”

“Ugh... um....”

But as Da-yeon listed out everything drunk Ha-eun had done,

she suddenly added one last remark that made Ha-eun’s heart drop.

“I’m telling Ajumoni everything.”

“M-Mianhae!”

“Hmph.”

Ha-eun’s face, already tense with anxiety, turned completely pale.

Meanwhile, Da-yeon nonchalantly chewed on her fresh salad, completely unbothered.

Perhaps that was why—

“Just once, can’t you let it slide just this once...? I swear I’ll never drink again.”

“Nope.”

“But if Mom gets mad, it’s gonna be scary. She might not let me go on trips anymore.”

“That’s your karma.”

Throughout breakfast, Ha-eun practically begged Da-yeon, who sat right across from her.

After all, no matter how she looked at it, everything that happened last night was completely her fault.

More than anything, if Na-yeon found out about her drinking, she would definitely scold her harshly.

“Please. I’ll do anything.”

“...Anything?”

Before she even realized it, she had pulled out her ultimate forbidden card—a free-for-all favor—yet again.

But she had no choice.

To Na-yeon, family members drinking was practically a taboo.

She had seen firsthand what happened to Seong-yoon when he secretly drank behind Na-yeon’s back.

"I’d rather play a VR horror game."

An angry Na-yeon was scarier than anyone.

The usually kind and gentle Na-yeon turning into a completely different person—

That nightmare mode from her childhood—was something she had to avoid at all costs.

“You definitely said anything, right?”

“Y-Yeah....”

“No take-backs. No changing your mind later.”

“Then... you’ll keep it a secret?”

“Well, I’ll see how you behave.”

“...Phew....”

Only after reaching a dramatic agreement with Da-yeon did Ha-eun let out a relieved sigh.

Right now, her top priority was covering up the fact that she had drunk alcohol—because to Na-yeon, a mistake was still a mistake.

It was only after that that they returned to their hotel room.

Since the trip was a 3-night, 4-day stay, and the remaining two days would be spent at a ryokan,

Ha-eun and Da-yeon had to pack their luggage.

That was why Ha-eun started helping Da-yeon first.

She figured that treating Da-yeon nicely over the next two days would improve her mood.

And there was also a slight tinge of guilt for forcing Da-yeon to socialize with the second-gen members.

“I’ll handle all the chores, my lady, so please rest comfortably.”

“Ugh, that’s so cringy.”

“Wasn’t that the right tone?”

“Just act normal, seriously.”

After packing up both her own and Da-yeon’s luggage, they headed to the hotel lobby together.

The rest of their group, including ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Ji Hye-min, had already gathered there, filling the space with noise.

“The youngest ones are here~.”

“Ha-eun, look over there! It’s snowing!”

“Oh.”

Beyond the hotel’s revolving doors, snowflakes danced in the air.

The sight of the world being slowly dyed white naturally brought a small gasp of admiration from Ha-eun.

Even as they loaded their luggage onto the bus that had arrived shortly after,

Even as the 12-person group, including the bus driver, set off toward Sapporo’s famous ryokan,

Even after arriving at the breathtakingly scenic ryokan and unpacking their luggage—

The snowfall still hadn’t stopped.

Thanks to that, the trip’s atmosphere felt even more vivid than before.

Perhaps this was the romance of winter.

"Well, it’s still November, but if it snows, it’s winter."

And so, they walked and walked through the softly fluttering snowflakes.

Sapporo, already famous for its natural scenery, was like a work of art with the snow.

Perhaps that was why—

“Everyone, gather up~! Let’s take a picture!”

When they reached a bridge, an excited Yuna led the group in taking a group photo.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time the first-gen and second-gen members had met in person.

But perhaps because they were so immersed in the trip’s atmosphere,

there wasn’t even a hint of awkwardness between them.

It was only after that that they all huddled together to look at the photos they had just taken.

“There were only six of us last year. It really feels a lot livelier with more people.”

“Yeah. It actually feels like a school trip.”

“Oh, right! The youngest ones haven’t gone on their school trip yet, right? Since you’re in senior year?”

“For seniors, it’s not a school trip. It’s a graduation trip.”

Mile, reminiscing about her own school days, turned to Ha-eun and Da-yeon to ask about Narae Arts High School’s graduation trip.

However, both of them had already been scheduled for other commitments on the trip dates.

“I have a concert. Da-yeon, weren’t you filming a commercial?”

“Yeah.”

They could only reply that it was a bit of a shame to miss it.

But in the end, since they were traveling with the entire Illusionary Realm group like this,

they figured this trip could serve as their substitute graduation trip.

“Ahh, both of you are working so hard.”

“Well, we enjoy what we do, so it’s fine.”

“No, let’s be real—it’s because you’re making good money.”

“...Min Da-yeon’s statement has nothing to do with me.”

“The world runs on money, Lee Ha-eun. Just be honest.”

Their lighthearted chatter continued as they finally arrived at a restaurant.

It was a famous Japanese franchise, and even the signboard was flashy.

However, there was one notable thing about this place—

“All of the staff are in maid uniforms?” freewēbnoveℓ.com

“Hey, Lee Ha-eun. Acting all fascinated is even ruder.”

“...I’ve just never been to a place like this before.”

“Neither have I.”

Right now, Ha-eun was fully experiencing the feeling of secondhand embarrassment.

The overly cheerful and bright atmosphere of the place wasn’t exactly helping.

Strictly speaking, Ha-eun had actually voted in favor of coming here.

Even when they held a vote on where to have lunch, she had chosen the maid café.

However, actually being here was a whole different story from just imagining it.

"I—I was prepared for this, but..."

Despite making the effort to come, she now sat stiffly in her seat, filled with tension.

Meanwhile, Da-yeon, who seemed perfectly unfazed, looked almost impressive in comparison.

Before long, a ridiculously cute parfait and a soft drink arrived.

Ha-eun’s omurice and Da-yeon’s hamburger steak were also served shortly after.

Most of the food at the other tables had also been served by now.

So, the only thing left was to eat and enjoy their meals—or so Ha-eun thought.

“Alright, everyone~!”

"Ah, right."

A bright, beaming smile filled the maid’s face as she began to chant a loud phrase.

It was one of those cringeworthy magic chants often referred to as a “deliciousness spell.”

The problem was that the maid serving Ha-eun and Da-yeon’s table also asked them to repeat it.

And to make matters worse, Da-yeon flashed a knowing smirk, pulled out her phone, and—

“Alright, Diah Maid. It’s been a while, so let’s get a special service today~.”

—At the same time, she mimed drinking alcohol toward Ha-eun.

“I’ll be watching to see how well you do.”

“Ugh... ughhh...!”

And so, under what was practically a threat, Ha-eun was forced to chant it alone.

To top it off, the maid standing right next to her half-forced her into a series of cute hand movements.

“Magic spell, make it delicious~!”

Her trembling gaze.

Her slightly flushed cheeks and ears.

Her fingers drawing a giant heart in the air.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Every single moment was captured on Da-yeon’s phone.

The moment the satisfied maid walked away, Da-yeon, who had been holding in laughter, burst into quiet giggles.

Seeing that only deepened Ha-eun’s embarrassment, but there was nothing she could do about it.

“Alright, Diah Maid. Could you cut my hamburger steak for me?”

“...Do you not have hands? Do you not have feet?”

“Hm? What was that?”

“A-Ah, nothing! I’ll cut it for you, so please wait a moment~.”

***

After lunch at the maid café, time seemed to fly by.

That was because the afternoon plan for day 3 was shopping at the department store.

“This one, this one is so pretty. Try it on, Ha-eun.”

“Hm, I think this one would look good on Ha-eun too.”

“Oh, Da-yeon, how about trying this one? And this hat too.”

“Wow... It’s like I’m watching a fashion magazine come to life.”

Since both Ha-eun and Da-yeon were actresses, they naturally became the center of attention.

Of course, everyone shopped for their own clothes as well, but they got so absorbed in watching Ha-eun and Da-yeon try on outfits that they lost track of time.

"This one’s pretty, that one’s pretty too."

"There’s nothing that doesn’t suit them."

"They say a great outfit is all about the face, and they’re right."

“Even if we don’t buy them, we have to take pictures!”

“Yeah, yeah. Gotta keep these as memories.”

“...Somehow, I feel like I should be getting paid for this.”

Like moths drawn to the instinctive shopping desires of a group of women,

the two youngest members were completely at their mercy.

—Click, click.

—Click, click.

"It really feels like a professional photoshoot...."

Before they knew it, they had spent hours being live mannequins without even realizing it.

Eventually, after hearing “You absolutely HAVE to buy this one!” from Nael and the others, they ended up purchasing a few outfits.

By then, the sun had begun to set in the late afternoon.

Having spent hours shopping, everyone was starting to feel hungry, so they decided to go for dinner.

The problem?

The group was split into two opinions.

One side wanted to go to an izakaya, while the other preferred a yakiniku restaurant.

“We just drank yesterday.”

“But we’re in Japan! How can we not go to an izakaya?”

“What about Ha-eun and Da-yeon? They’re underage; they’re not even allowed inside.”

“Oh, right. That’s true....”

After a long debate about the dinner venue—

“Let’s just go wherever we want. It’s hard to find a table big enough for a group this size at this hour anyway.”

They decided to split up.

After all, it wasn’t like they could travel to Japan anytime they wanted.

There was no reason to force themselves to stick together.

Everyone should just eat what they wanted.

Of course, Ha-eun and Da-yeon’s choice was already predetermined.

“You two can go next year when you become adults. Just hold on a little longer.”

“Uh, boss... Japan’s legal age is 20, so even next year, they still won’t be allowed in.”

“...Screw it. What’s one year? Next year, the year after—it doesn’t matter. Right?”

“Aha... ha....”

After about 30 minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the yakiniku restaurant.

Since Ha-eun and Da-yeon were underage, they joined four others who also wanted grilled meat.

Together, the six of them gathered around the table, savoring the sizzling cuts of meat.

By the time they finished eating, the streets had turned completely dark.

But rather than being unsettling, the darkness revealed a new beauty—the city’s breathtaking nightscape.

“Alright then, say cheese~.”

Just like earlier in the day, the “yakiniku crew” took a commemorative photo together.

This, too, was promptly uploaded to the Illusionary Realm group chat.

“Oh, it came out really nice.”

“Told you—photos are the only things that last.”

And so, they walked and walked, making their way back toward the ryokan in the distance.

By the time they arrived, they dragged themselves to their rooms and collapsed onto the floor.

The only variable?

The only person sharing a room with Ha-eun was still Da-yeon.

Everyone else was still drinking at the izakaya.

Perhaps that was why—

“There’s an outdoor hot spring here. Wanna go?”

“Uh... A hot spring?”

“Yeah.”

Ha-eun suggested they soak in the hot spring to wash away their fatigue from the day.

The soft, fluttering snow had stopped, but it hadn’t melted yet.

There was nothing more romantic than lying in a steaming hot spring, gazing up at the night sky covered in snow.

That was the only reason they made their way to the ryokan’s open-air bath.

—Slide.

—Splash.

—Ssshh...

“Ahh, this is amazing....”

“...Lee Ha-eun, you sound like a grandma.”

“Ugh.”

At Da-yeon’s comment, Ha-eun, who had been melting into the water, immediately straightened her posture.

Seeing that, Da-yeon let out a soft chuckle.

But after that, the silence around them felt almost deafening.

A strange, indescribable stillness hung in the air.

Was it because they were alone in the hot spring?

Or was it simply because the warm water was lulling them into drowsiness?

“..........”

A quiet night, the warm water releasing billowing clouds of white steam.

The only sound was the gentle rippling of the hot spring, making it feel like time had stopped.

Perhaps that was why Da-yeon suddenly spoke.

She had never been one for heavy or serious atmospheres.

And even more so when she was with her only real friend—though she would never admit it—Ha-eun.

“We’re really about to become adults, huh....”

A voice soft, dreamy, floating through the mist like a distant thought.

It was a tone uncharacteristic of Da-yeon.

Ha-eun let the words sink in for a moment before tilting her head slightly.

"Is she worried about something?"

Ha-eun, who had long since left childhood behind, didn’t feel the same weight.

But she could tell that Da-yeon wanted to say something.

So she waited, silently.

And then, another quiet voice followed.

“What do you think will happen after we graduate?”

“You said you’re going to college. On a performance scholarship.”

“...Not that.”

Da-yeon’s gaze drifted up toward the night sky, and she murmured:

“I know I’ll keep acting, keep standing in front of the camera.

But will that really be enough?”

“Do people like watching my acting?

Or do they just like actress Min Da-yeon?

I wonder about that sometimes.”

“...Are you going through puberty?”

“Hey, just—listen to me, okay? I’m actually being serious.”

For once, Ha-eun held back her teasing and simply listened.

Actors constantly slip in and out of different roles.

She had once heard, long ago in acting school, that the more you act,

the more you begin to lose sight of yourself.

But Ha-eun had never had a “real self” to begin with.

So she never experienced that fear.

“No matter what project I work on, I never feel secure.

Maybe it’s just my need for validation.

But every time people compare me to you, it gets to me.”

“Mm.”

“If I keep going like this, will I die chasing after your shadow?

Sometimes, I think about it.

Without you as my reference point...

Who the hell am I?”

Da-yeon had spent her whole life next to Ha-eun.

Spent her whole life thinking, comparing, and questioning.

Yet she still didn’t fully understand herself.

That was why she fell silent for a moment.

The path Da-yeon had walked wasn’t a failure—but something felt missing.

An absence she couldn’t shake off.

“They say adults should be independent.

But even after becoming one,

I feel like I’ll still be chained to you.”

Maybe if she finally beat Ha-eun at rock-paper-scissors,

this suffocating feeling would go away.

Or maybe, when they clashed head-on in the upcoming filming of Parasite Family,

she would finally find the missing piece.

But Da-yeon had always lived as an actress.

So even her struggles were the struggles of an actress.

Her lifelong goal was perfect immersion in a role.

Yet sitting right in front of her was someone who already had it.

“Maybe I should’ve prepared, like you did.

Instead of just spending my whole life on set.”

Time couldn’t be reversed.

That’s why it left behind regrets.

Had she taken a wrong step from the beginning?

She couldn’t even remember when she first started acting.

She had been called a child prodigy.

Had been praised by everyone.

Had believed herself to be special.

“...I think I was too full of myself.”

A frog in a well, who thought she could reach the sky

just by stretching out her hand.

Only to realize—the sky was blocked by the shadow of a giant.

“...Maybe I’m struggling now because I refused to admit that you were better than me back then.”

She had fought against the shadow.

Had desperately tried to escape the well.

But all she gained were scars and wounds.

Even now, after so much time had passed,

she could still feel the sting.

Of course, the giant wasn’t to blame.

The giant had merely arrived.

And in doing so, had shattered the tiny well

that the frog had once believed to be her entire world.

“...I don’t want to stay like this forever.

But what am I supposed to do?”

For the briefest moment, Da-yeon’s lips curved into a bitter smile.

She turned to the source of her struggles—and asked for an answer.

Even though, deep down, she didn’t expect one.

But even so—

“You’re not going to give up, are you?”

At the sound of the familiar voice, Da-yeon found herself unintentionally drawn to it.

Then, she met a gentle smile.

“There aren’t many people who’ve been acting longer than you.”

That day they first met—

Had the one looking up truly been a frog?

Or was it actually a giant?

Was the frog really wasting her time,

while she freely leaped through the muddy world

where the giant had once trapped herself?

...Probably not.

After all, the very first doll

that the giant crafted from the mud

was shaped like a frog.

Because that was all she could see.

“You know... you were good from the very beginning.”

“...If I was good, I wouldn’t have lost to you.”

“You lost because you were good. Victory and defeat only happen between equals.”

Ha-eun wasn’t good with words.

She had no flowery way to say it.

But what she wanted to tell Da-yeon was simple—

You’ve already reached the place you were aiming for.

Before you ever set your sights on someone else,

there was already someone aiming for you.

And that person is sitting right beside you right now.

“You are you. I am me.”

There was no need to struggle to catch up.

A shadow could only ever be a shadow.

“After all... who’s ever won a game of rock-paper-scissors against a mirror?”

Through the rising white steam, Ha-eun gazed at Da-yeon.

Her soaked hair, different in both length and color from Ha-eun’s own.

“You don’t have to copy me.

You already have your own thing.”

It was obvious.

They were two different people.

“But still, if you really don’t know...

I’ll show you.

Until you figure it out yourself.”

Imitation was Ha-eun’s specialty.

There was nothing easier than acting like a friend.

Than mimicking the person she had watched the longest.

“...Thanks.”

A quiet voice.

The surface of the hot spring gently rippled.

Was the return of silence a sign of relief?

No—

It was definitely relief.

Because—

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

There was no one better than Ha-eun.

Not a single person.

“Whenever that may be.”

Not a single one.

“...Just don’t take too long.”

“I won’t.”

She had relied on her all this time.

And so, one more time, she relied on her again.

Even if—

It was only so that she could stop relying on her.

Because they were friends.

And friends could help each other.

“The moon is... beautiful. I want to take a picture.”

“I didn’t bring my phone. Should I go get it?”

“...No. We can take one later.”

For once, she allowed herself to be selfish.

Because someday,

she would be the one to hold up the sky for someone else.

An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.

She had leaned on her for so long.

Now, it was time to become someone others could lean on.

It was a simple truth.