Chapter 112

To Jee Hye-min, Ha Eun is a kind of comfort doll.

Of course, unlike an actual comfort doll, she doesn’t carry her around and hug her at every moment.

Just looking at her evokes a sense of affection, much like a comfort doll.

In some ways, this is only natural.

Ha Eun has been a loyal viewer of Jee Hye-min’s broadcasts longer than anyone else, and she is also the Deus Ex Machina of the Fantasia.

‘…Why did I mistakenly think it was natural?’

Despite being the youngest among the Fantasia members, she dove into the Virtual YouTuber scene the most.

If there were a model answer for the concept of a Virtual YouTuber, it would certainly be Ha Eun’s Diah.

Thanks to Ha Eun firmly establishing herself as Diah, Fantasia was able to take root even more firmly.

Ha Eun’s talent as an entertainer blossomed as a Virtual YouTuber, providing immense help in various ways.

There were plenty of times when she would pop up on other members’ streams, playing the role of the comic relief, even when she wasn’t broadcasting herself.

While a little incident did occur in the process of casually keeping in contact without any noticeable distance, nonetheless.

However, even Jee Hye-min subconsciously depended on Ha Eun, which made her realize far too late that Ha Eun was excessively enthusiastic about her broadcasts as Diah.

‘I should have noticed a bit earlier.’

When Ha Eun first revealed her health issues just a few days ago, it felt like a blow to the back of the head.

Looking back on the past days, when she hadn’t seemed to be struggling at all, now felt foolish.

Of course, it’s a relief that Ha Eun’s health isn’t in a dangerously critical state.

However, if the already busiest Ha Eun overexerts herself a bit more, there will surely be various problems, both big and small.

Even if there are currently no clear warning signs about Ha Eun’s health, that is only relevant to this moment.

From Jee Hye-min’s perspective, Ha Eun’s current state seems just one slight push away from crumbling.

For Jee Hye-min, who cherished and depended on Ha Eun, there was no longer a way to sit idle.

It was for this reason that she proactively suggested a notice broadcast with her.

“Since we are already doing a notice for the break, let’s also adjust the broadcast schedule.”

“Hmm… Is that alright?”

“We need to adjust the broadcast schedule for Ha Eun to have a long run. She isn’t a superhuman after all.”

Looking back, it’s apparent that it was abnormal for busy Ha Eun to broadcast nearly every day.

Thus, rather than deciding Diah’s broadcast schedule according to Ha Eun’s will as it had been until now,

Jee Hye-min wanted to intervene now to find a balance.

“Above all, it might cause misunderstandings if we take a four-day break less than a week after mentioning health issues.”

“Misunderstandings?”

“Right now, it ended with a four-day break, but if she gets sicker later, she might stop broadcasting altogether. The sustainability of the broadcast decreases. It’s more or less misunderstandings like that.”

These misunderstandings were things that Jee Hye-min, a veteran who had over ten years in the online broadcasting world, could anticipate.

Therefore, she tried to prevent Ha Eun from unnecessarily garnering misunderstandings beforehand.

So, with Ha Eun sitting right next to Jee Hye-min, they began the broadcast titled [!!Important Notice!! (with special guest)].

With the unfamiliar title not seen before, not only Da Ramji’s regular viewers but also quite a few other viewers logged into the broadcast.

Thus, they faced a staggering viewership of 34,000.

Even now, the power of the three letters that represent Da Ramji was impressive, and Ha Eun felt once again the lofty reputation of Jee Hye-min.

Finally, it was shortly after that when Jee Hye-min began to discuss the notices related to Diah’s broadcasts.

“Our youngest is going to Japan for a trip. She will likely need to take about four days off.”

– Another trip?

– What happens when a sick person goes on a trip?

– Four days? Are you telling us to freeze to death, Ram Ji?

– Can’t she do a late-night broadcast from Japan?

“Late-night broadcasts are a no-go. She is going to rest, after all. She needs to go and come back well-rested to keep broadcasting hard.”

Next was the discussion about Diah’s tight broadcasting schedule.

It was soon added that continuing to maintain a tight broadcasting schedule could negatively affect Diah’s health.

“Everyone wants to see our youngest for a long time, right? Let’s have a little understanding for Diah’s sake.”

– Is she really that unwell?

– It sounds like she has an IV while broadcasting.

– Sickly beautiful girl? Oh no!

– As long as they don’t graduate her, it’s all good.

“Adjusting this is to prevent Diah’s health from worsening. For now, she’s healthier than I am, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

After that, a notice about the adjustment of Diah’s broadcasting schedule followed for about ten minutes.

The new schedule, considering Ha Eun’s [The Sunshine] filming and the [Infinite Challenge Music Show] recording schedules, was conveyed through Da Ramji’s broadcast.

After that, Jee Hye-min, fulfilling her responsibilities as the head of Fantasia, answered questions about Diah’s new broadcasting schedule on her own.

– Tap tap.

Ha Eun received a subtle nudge from Jee Hye-min, indicating that if she had something to say, she should say it now.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Ha Eun cleared her throat and moved a bit closer to Jee Hye-min’s broadcast microphone.

“I’ll do a travel story broadcast right after I come back from Japan, so just wait a little bit─☆”

She announced her intention for a travel review broadcast in Diah’s signature high-pitched voice.

Ignoring the sight of Jee Hye-min facepalming at Ha Eun’s addictively enthusiastic comment, they finished Diah’s farewell messages and transitioned to the second part, the Battle Island broadcast.

Technically, Ha Eun didn’t need to sit next to Jee Hye-min any longer.

However, she remained by her side because she wanted to watch Jee Hye-min’s broadcasting.

From Jee Hye-min’s perspective, there was no particular reason to kick Ha Eun out.

However.

– Toodoodoodoo─!

[Just looking for a flare gun>>>☠Da Ramji]

“Oh, what a shame. I was able to win.”

At that moment, as Jee Hye-min’s avatar was killed after a continued firefight with the opposing player,

“Hmm, that’s not how you shoot.”

Ha Eun’s somewhat meaningful muttering was picked up by the broadcast microphone.

Afterward, following being helplessly shot by other players in the second and third rounds, she completely repositioned herself.

– Doodoodoodoo─!

– Pervung!

– Bang!!

[Senior headshot>>>☠Da Ramji]

“Wow, CEO, you really can’t do it─! Are you shooting while watching?”

“D-Diah, can’t you be quiet?”

“Why would someone who can’t even do a side comment want me to be quiet~?”

– Ha ha ha ha.

– Now you’re even teasing the CEO, Diah!

– The youngest matches the CEO!!!

– Indeed, if you can’t do a side comment, there’s no need to be quiet.

– Ram Ji’s teeth are currently being sharpened live ㄷㄷ.

– What’s funny is that Ram Ji knows Diah’s skills, so she can’t say anything.

No matter who said what, Ha Eun was a fan who had been watching Jee Hye-min’s broadcasts for over ten years.

She knew better than anyone what words would irritate Jee Hye-min and which advice would provoke her.

Above all, she felt she couldn’t let such a rare opportunity to collaborate with Jee Hye-min in reality slip away.

“So much like a walking golden goblin. No, more like a golden chipmunk.”

She aimed to make Jee Hye-min’s mentality waver little by little.

At the same time, she chose to spit out lines that would crank up the noise in the broadcast chat several levels.

However, right at the moment when Diah’s teasing reached its peak.

– Crack.

Ha Eun made a gesture of pulling her own cheek slightly with her hand and gave the “OK” sign with her other hand.

Upon this, it was only natural that Jee Hye-min was startled.

– Crack!

Before long, realizing Ha Eun’s intentions, she lightly pulled Ha Eun’s cheek as well.

And almost simultaneously, the broadcast microphone picked up.

“Ouch! My Battle Island aim is shaky, but why is my finger aim so accurate─!”

Diah’s youthful scream.

As Diah went through her broadcasting life and for the first time was brutally punished by someone else, the broadcast chat began to get even noisier.

– Diah (1st gen): I’ll speak up even if I get yelled at.

– I feel like she might actually get yelled at, haha.

– Originally, the loyalist who can’t lie was sentenced to death ㅇㅇ.

– Oh no, today might be Diah’s last broadcast ㅠㅠㅠ.

– May she rest in peace.

– She was a good Virtual YouTuber…

From then on, after Jee Hye-min’s non-punishment but still punishing remarks, the same situation repeated.

Viewers flooded the chat with ‘ha ha ha ha’ responses, truly capturing the essence of a collaborative broadcast.

“No, if you picked up a thrown item, you should be thinking of sneaking home while waiting. Why do you keep going out─”

– Swoosh.

“Ah! I won’t say anything bad like I think I can do better than the CEO!”

As usual, while joyfully teasing Da Ramji, Diah immediately shrank and begged forgiveness with just one of Da Ramji’s threatening gestures.

And just a few seconds later, she began commenting again, teasing Da Ramji lightly.

This Tiki-Taka between Diah and Da Ramji eventually resulted in more donations and viewers than usual by the time the broadcast was completely over.

Most of the donations and chat content were praise for Diah facing Da Ramji, but that didn’t matter much.

Eventually, as time flowed on and on.

At the moment when Ha Eun felt that today’s collaborative broadcast was fulfilling in many ways and finished preparing to return home.

“Um, Representative.”

“?”

“Is it okay if I drop the honorifics? It’s just a bit strange to keep using them only during broadcasts…”

Ha Eun shared her personal request with Jee Hye-min, who had just come to see her off.

What followed was Ha Eun’s wish to narrow the gap between herself and Jee Hye-min a bit more.

Of course, Ha Eun knew that Jee Hye-min’s respect was for the sake of valuing her.

However, it felt unnecessarily awkward to drop the honorifics during the broadcast and then revert back to them afterward.

No matter what, Ha Eun was a fan of Jee Hye-min who had watched her broadcasts for over ten years.

She didn’t want her relationship with Jee Hye-min to be fixed in a purely business-like manner.

If possible, she wanted it to be a more friendly relationship.

“Alright. But, there’s one condition.”

“A condition? What is it?”

“Call me unnie, not representative. I’ve wished for a younger sister like you for a long time.”

“Hmm, going by our age difference, calling you unnie would be like calling you aunt…”

“What did you say?”

– Chills.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Hye-min unnie.”

For a moment, a chill that sent shivers down her spine was felt—was it just a momentary illusion?

Subconsciously avoiding Jee Hye-min’s gaze, Ha Eun immediately began to refer to her as unnie and watched for her reaction.

After a brief silence passed.

– Snicker.

“Have a good trip.”

Unable to suppress her laughter at Ha Eun’s cautious demeanor, Jee Hye-min finally treated Ha Eun like a real younger sister.

Just after Jee Hye-min reached out her hand behind Ha Eun, the entrance door opened.

Finally at ease, Ha Eun smiled with a slight grin, wishing her safe travels.

She also made sure not to forget to mention she would buy souvenirs for Jee Hye-min.

“I want to buy things for the other members too. Is that alright?”

“Yeah, they will all love it.”

Thus, after lightly waving her hand and wishing Ha Eun well, Jee Hye-min slowly turned away.

Climbing into a pre-booked taxi, Ha Eun completely departed from Jee Hye-min’s home.

Ha Eun’s contact for Jee Hye-min had somehow changed from “CEO Ji” to “Hye-min unnie.”

***

“Now, let’s check if we forgot anything one last time before we leave!”

The voice of Narae’s second-grade homeroom teacher filled the airport waiting room late in the morning.

At that, the students of class two were checking their own belongings, finishing the last checks before their trip to Japan.

However.

“Ah, I think we’re about to leave. Well then, see you later!”

– Have a great trip~!

– Don’t forget to visit Beauty and the Beast at Disneyland!

– (Airplane emoji) x2

– I want to go to Japan too~~

While Ha Eun was briefly conducting an ‘Instagram Live Broadcast’ instead of checking her luggage, she waved at the phone camera.

‘…This is fun too.’

Ha Eun’s introduction to Instagram Live came just a few days ago when she learned more details about her Instagram account.

She also discovered that other entertainers used Instagram Live as a communication platform with their fans.

‘I should do it more often from now on.’

Unless she was a Virtual YouTuber like Diah.

Until now, as an actress, Ha Eun hadn’t been very active in communicating with fans.

So this morning, before departing for Japan, she decided to try a casual Instagram Live broadcast as a test.

The fact that there were more viewers and better reactions than she expected made her interested in Instagram Live.

Anyway, it was now time to really board the flight to Japan.

Pressing the airplane mode button firmly first, she followed her homeroom teacher’s guidance and boarded the flight to Japan.

After the plane took off, there weren’t any issues, except for her heart fluttering slightly.

After about two hours of flight, when they arrived in Japan, nothing particular happened either.

But upon arriving at the hotel where they would be staying for the next three nights and four days.

After Ha Eun and her roommates briefly organized their belongings,

More specifically.

“Excuse me, teacher. There’s a convenience store right in front; can I go for a moment?”

“You must be back in the hotel lobby by 2 PM~.”

“Sure!”

When Gong Hye-yeon and the other roommates received permission to go out from their teacher, they headed to the convenience store near the hotel with Ha Eun.

At that moment, for some reason, Ha Eun felt an odd premonition.

And, to prove that her strange premonition was not unnecessary,

“Ha Eun, Ha Eun! Look at this!”

“Huh? What’s… Aaaah!!”

– Crash─!

A loud noise echoed as Ha Eun stumbled and fell to the floor of the convenience store, her shrill scream filling the spacious place.

Her heart raced, speeding up every second.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

“Uh, I was just trying to give Ha Eun a slight scare with this. I didn’t intend to startle her like this.”

“Ah, I thought something serious happened… Regardless, that’s disgusting. Put it down!”

With no expression of panic, Gong Hye-yeon returned to the drinks aisle right after.

The friend who had just thrust the adult magazine at Ha Eun also casually put it back in its original spot.

To put it bluntly, it felt more embarrassing than ever.

Whether it was facing the cover of an overly skin-colored magazine or the fact that Ha Eun alone among her friends had been so startled, it all became an unforgettable black history.

With Ha Eun’s face now reddening, her expression mixed embarrassment with humiliation.

She silently scolded herself for the few minutes before, when she decided to head to the convenience store with her friends.

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