I Want to Be a VTuber

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“I knew it.”

Yeo-hee told Seo-yeon about her past.

How she ended up with her parents.

How she fell in love.

“Sometimes, a person’s dream can be determined by something surprisingly trivial.”

Yeo-hee was the same.

Until then, singing had merely been a hobby for her.

She had never thought of making it a profession.

“I was in the gaming club, but I never thought about having my song in the OST.”

But then, someone suddenly intervened with those words.

“You sing well, don’t you? It would fit perfectly in the OST.”

Yeah, it really wasn’t a big deal.

“Yeo-hee, you really sing well.”

That was all it was.

Without even realizing it, she was holding a guitar, and by the time she came to her senses, she had become a singer.

“Of course, who says it matters is important as well.”

He never said anything meaningless.

Because he seldom praised others, it seemed to have a bigger impact.

When he said she sang well, it felt like she absolutely had to do well.

As if she were going to become someone incredible.

Perhaps that’s why she continued walking this path.

“I never thought I’d still remember those words.”

Yeo-hee looked at Seo-yeon.

Her face seemed to be filled with thoughts.

“Isn’t it tough?”

Seo-yeon cautiously asked.

Honestly, it didn’t really feel real to Seo-yeon.

But she felt like she somehow understood it.

As if it were her own past life.

Recently, she learned something.

Seo-yeon actually really liked herself.

But she never expected that included her past life as well.

For Seo-yeon, the past didn’t hold many good memories.

“I don’t know about that.”

Yeo-hee replied with a puzzled expression.

Is it hard?

Maybe it is.

But the nature of love varies from person to person, so it’s hard to define it.

What’s certain is.

“I just can’t forget it.”

To the point of foolishness.

“When I see happy faces, I feel a certain joy.”

To be honest, Yeo-hee didn’t think she could see him again.

But after watching the aired <Golden Duckling>, she began to rethink.

Watching them on TV, she felt a ticklish sensation.

Seeing everyone looking happy brought her relief and joy.

She thought about wanting to meet them again.

Of course, without revealing the lingering feelings she held.

“Just this much.”

Yeo-hee could only provide this much of an answer to Seo-yeon’s question.

As mentioned, the nature of love differs for everyone, so the rest is something one has to think about themselves.

Certainly, she must have asked such things because of the role she was taking on this time.

At Yeo-hee’s answer, Seo-yeon slowly nodded.

Somehow, she felt like she understood a little.

Not just Yeo-hee’s story, but perhaps she felt a similar emotion too.

She realized this during <Masked Singer>.

That there’s really no need to rush.

And that impatience ultimately came from Seo-yeon’s past.

It stemmed from her old self.

Just as Yeo-hee had lingering feelings, she too had her own.

‘It’s the complete opposite of the past.’

Seo-yeon dressed up as ‘Kasugayama Yuina’ from <Gyeongseong Young Lady> and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Her face, painted beautifully with makeup.

As she looked at Yuina’s face in the mirror, which was not Seo-yeon’s, she thought.

It was a one-sided love.

Of course, it wasn’t a romantic love.

It was a mother’s affection.

She had raised a child who couldn’t empathize with that love.

A never-returned love for a lifetime.

And Seo-yeon thought perhaps she realized this after being reborn.

“The teacher said.”

When she closed her eyes, the words she heard long ago came to mind.

“Usually, other people can’t even express it.”

She recalled that phrase, spoken while embracing herself with both arms.

“You can’t decorate yourself or even mimic others to act.”

Not only does not understanding emotion mean you also don’t know how to express it.

It’s not something one can simply say they’ve seen a lot.

“You’re special.”

She might not empathize with that emotion, but perhaps those words left a mark.

Just like Yeo-hee said, a simple comment can move people.

Surely, her mother must have hoped that Seo-yeon would become an ordinary person and reflect on herself.

And now, it’s the opposite.

Seo-yeon, in a form of an actress, is doing the same thing.

Lingering feelings.

Seo-yeon had certainly held onto that emotion from a young age.

She just hadn’t realized it.

‘I think I understand a little.’

Of course, Yuina’s feelings are different.

It’s not the love between parents and child, but between lovers.

A desire to become a lover.

A longing to possess and monopolize him.

That feeling was something Seo-yeon still couldn’t fully understand.

But the essence of love takes many forms.

Seo-yeon decided to interpret it her own way.

Yuina’s feelings.

Why she decided to let Yeon Seon-ye go.

Why she wished for the happiness of Michiko, whom she should have hated.

‘Perhaps.’

She just wanted her to be happy.

What reason could there be?

Seeing someone cry is sad.

Especially since she had seen it so much.

Even though she didn’t realize it then, she knew now.

“You’re right.”

Thus, Yuina says.

“It was my lifelong wish. To take revenge on my parents who betrayed me, and to kill that girl who took everything from me.”

Amanabi Michiko.

The hateful woman who took everything from her.

She wanted to take everything from her too.

Perhaps even her life.

But now, that was no longer possible.

“But, she keeps haunting my mind.”

She had originally brought that girl over for that very reason.

A slightly frivolous girl who didn’t even know her place.

She brought her knowing it wouldn’t be surprising if the girl died at any moment.

She was merely a disposable pawn.

“The girl who buzzes beside me, with her annoying chatter.”

Yuina gripped Isamu’s arm as she staggered.

“The face that used to smile at me keeps coming to mind.”

Even if that smile wasn’t directed at her.

Even if it was meant for the woman who took everything from her.

Yuina couldn’t bear to see that smile vanish.

When did it begin?

Was it from the moment that girl, unaware of her position, helped her?

“I know this isn’t how it should be.”

Since revenge was something she had been carrying for a lifetime.

Yet, she felt the fire of vengeance that had been blazing hot slowly extinguishing.

Hatred no longer surged like before.

“But.”

Yuina looked at Isamu and smiled sadly.

“I can’t do it.”

That was the only thing she could say.

Her mind was filled with thoughts, yet those were the only words she could manage.

Isamu’s eyes shimmered as he watched her.

He realized.

Yuina can no longer turn back.

He had witnessed the moment an intricately nurtured doll had broken.

Seeing that, Isamu couldn’t empathize with Yuina’s emotions.

His chin trembled, and there were blood vessels bulging in his wide eyes.

*Thud!!*

He shrugged off Yuina’s hand gripping his arm and turned his back.

The impact caused Yuina to crumple to the ground, but he didn’t look back.

He just stepped out briskly.

If she couldn’t do it, then it was his turn.

“Isamu.”

And the pitifully collapsed Yuina watched his retreating figure, her previously tearful eyes now sharply focused.

Staggering to her feet, Yuina glared in the direction he had disappeared.

“Yeah, Yeon Seon-ye. You were right.”

In the end, the one who helped her in the last was probably her.

She had trusted Isamu too.

But she could only be sure of one thing after seeing how he behaved.

Who the true enemy was.

What her task was.

And so.

One scene came to a close.

Finally, with Director Baek Min’s shout of ‘Cut,’ a momentary silence fell over the filming set.

It was because the performances they just gave had been so heated.

In particular, the child actor Jo Seo-hee widened her eyes in surprise.

The emotion was much stronger now than when she had seen Seo-yeon’s ‘Yuina’ before.

Long ago.

And the starry performance she had seen in Cha Seo-ah’s acting.

She never expected she would witness something like this today.

What had merely been a string of dialogue felt like a climax.

Of course, this didn’t mean it was only Seo-yeon who performed well.

“Actor Lee Sang-soo’s performance… was exceptional as usual.”

Today, he was even more incredible.

In fact, Sang-soo didn’t have many lines today.

He vividly expressed Koto Isamu’s rage purely through expressions and actions.

That wasn’t just Seo-hee’s perspective.

Lee Ji-yeon also wore a face of astonishment.

It was Ji-yeon’s first time witnessing Seo-yeon perform in such a manner.

Having seen many performances until now, this was her first experience with such profound emotional acting.

“I think it was method acting from the middle of it.”

It was rare for Seo-yeon to immerse herself in this way.

Especially after growing up, she often found method acting unnecessary and stopped utilizing it.

“I don’t think it was intentional, though.”

Seo-hee thought as she vaguely observed Seo-yeon, still standing in the filming set.

She seemed to be gathering her emotions, standing still with her eyes closed.

Surely, Yuina hadn’t shed a single tear just now.

But everyone present must have felt it.

Yuina’s stance moments ago felt like she was wailing.

Especially, Director Baek Min had no choice but to be amazed, repeatedly playing back the recent scene.

It was an important scene, but.

“I didn’t expect it to turn out this well.”

There wasn’t even excessive action, but the director found himself immersed as if watching a musical or play.

“Seo-yeon, are you okay?”

Sang-soo quietly approached Seo-yeon to ask.

Actress Jeong Eun-seon had asked him to keep an eye on her, so he was quite concerned.

“Yes.”

Seo-yeon quietly opened her eyes, her expression unbothered.

Her eyes were a bit red, but that was nothing unusual.

In reality, Seo-yeon wasn’t in a bad condition.

She simply felt a bit mentally drained.

She felt slightly unpleasant emotions surge due to being emotionally stirred.

“In particular, this next performance takes place in the past.”

If the scenes aren’t shot in order, things can get a little complicated.

Thanks to that, Seo-yeon needed to gather her emotions.

It felt like she had plunged deep into the ocean after a long time.

Not a swimming pool, but the actual sea.

It had been a long time since that happened.

“Joo Seo-yeon.”

Lee Ji-yeon and Jo Seo-hee appeared behind her without her noticing.

Especially Ji-yeon wore a face that seemed to have a lot to say.

“You have to perform like that when it’s with me too.”

What a strange comment.

As if she was saying that Seo-yeon hadn’t done well when they performed together.

Of course, Seo-yeon had never been half-hearted while acting with Ji-yeon.

She had always been sincere.

That was Seo-yeon’s motto.

“Uh, shouldn’t we see about that?”

Seo-hee was the one to respond while quietly observing their conversation.

She knew very well what kind of performance Ji-yeon was referring to.

In other words, it referred to a romantic performance.

Later, Ji-yeon and Seo-yeon would share a rather passionate romantic scene.

However, she also knew that Seo-yeon was struggling quite a bit with the romance aspect.

Would it be fair to say she found it difficult?

So, Seo-hee was worried that Ji-yeon might think that Seo-yeon was being careless.

“Don’t worry.”

Unlike Seo-hee’s concerns, Seo-yeon looked quite confident as she smiled.

“I’m confident.”

“……”

Does she really have confidence in romance?

Seo-hee felt a sense of unease.

“But.”

Seo-hee recalled Seo-yeon’s performance from just now and smiled.

Surely, the performance she just displayed was truly remarkable.