Chapter 21

Chae Arin.

Born in 2003.

Eighteen years old this year.

“Haaa…”

Today, as usual, she stretched her body after spending time learning animation techniques using a program called Spine. Arin is currently a student at a Meister High School located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Though her major is Content Design, you can simply think of it as Animation.

“It’s killing me…”

Like any other animation major, she was buried under an overwhelming workload and was spending yet another exhausting day.

Since Meister High Schools prepare students to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, majors like animation, where the speed of execution is crucial, offered almost no breaks even during vacations.

“Just should’ve gone to a regular high school and studied…”

Ugh…

Chae Arin groaned in frustration, briefly minimized her Spine window, and turned on the internet. It was already six hours of self-study today.

Her eyes were starting to feel like they might pop out, so she decided to freshen them a bit by browsing through some cosplay photos on Instagram that she usually enjoyed.

“Beautiful…”

Actually, Chae Arin had not been interested in cosplay for very long.

She only started last year—so it hasn’t even been a year yet.

Still, the reason she was able to participate in cosplay at last year’s AGC and Super Peace events was because…

“Is this person like me, all tired during regular days?”

This stemmed from accumulated dissatisfaction.

While her peers were having fun, going out, and squealing with joy, Chae Arin had fallen into the trap of choosing the wrong school and major. Now, she spends more than half her day glued to animation programs, her eyesight getting worse, and her stress levels rising.

Thus, to summarize:

Cosplay is a form of liberation for Chae Arin—a hobby that gives her the chance to escape from her daily grind.

She doesn’t have the leisure to dress up nicely or party often, but every year, for about 3-4 days, she can do intense makeup, wear beautiful costumes, and go out to have fun.

Those are her cosplay days.

Since she already enjoyed browsing cosplay-related Instagram accounts, there was no real barrier for her to start cosplay.

Chae Arin thought it was a pretty good hobby overall.

Then…

“Hmm?”

For some reason, the number “1” appeared in her message notifications.

Someone had sent her a direct message.

“Who could it be?”

Who could it possibly be?

Her middle school friends barely kept in touch after going to completely different schools, and her high school friends only maintained superficial relationships.

“Hmm…”

With no clue who it could be, Chae Arin tilted her head in confusion and opened the DM window.

There, she found the following message:

“Hello, sister.

The other day at our booth, you bought some goods and also left your Instagram handle.

I’m not quite sure why you did that, but I’d like to meet you and have a chat if you don’t mind setting up a time?”

A lengthy message had arrived.

Judging from the mention of the booth, it was someone she’d met at Super Peace. And given that they mentioned her sharing her Instagram handle, it was undoubtedly from that girl named Hayoon she’d interacted with that day.

However…

“Sister…?”

Sister?

Could it possibly mean that someone younger than her was running a booth alone, doing cosplay, and promoting her Pixiv account?

Before that even…

“Is that… artwork done by someone younger than me?”

Chae Arin was left utterly astonished.

“Kids these days are really fast…”

It was something that left her in disbelief.

And yet…

“But she mentioned meeting up?”

Truthfully, Chae Arin had impulsively shared her Instagram handle during the transaction. That day, Hayoon had appeared exceptionally beautiful.

She figured such a person must surely post cosplay photos on Instagram, so she simply wanted to find her handle and occasionally browse through her content.

When she shared her Instagram handle, she thought it was a low-risk move—if Hayoon reached out, she’d just explore her cosplay pictures.

She never imagined an actual response.

Moreover, who would have guessed Hayoon would suggest meeting in person?

It was something Chae Arin hadn’t dreamed of.

After a brief moment of pondering what to do…

“A cosplay younger sister might not be bad…”

Recently, it was vacation season, and she rarely saw her school friends, leaving her feeling incredibly lonely.

She was filled with a desire to have a normal conversation with someone.

So…

“To make an appointment means to meet face-to-face…”

She sent a reply.

“Of course. It’s up to you, Sister. Please let me know your convenience; I’m available anytime.”

A reply came back a few hours later.

And Chae Arin…

“It’s been a while since I’ve put on makeup.”

After sending the address of a nearby Sae-Dae-Moon Station cafe, she began contemplating what to wear for their meeting.

If it were a regular school friend, it wouldn’t matter, but Hayoon was someone she met at AGC and Super Peace.

She didn’t feel like going with no makeup.

“I’ll wear something pretty too.”

Naturally, she also planned to dress nicely.

During cosplay events, her outfits and accessories sometimes lagged in quality, and she didn’t want to come across as lacking even during this ordinary meet-up.

How should she put it?

It was a matter of female pride.

#

Meanwhile, at that moment, Hayoon…

“Sae-Dae-Moon Station? Closer than I thought.”

After checking the cafe’s location through a map sent by Chae Arin, she used a map app to see how long it would take.

“Huh?”

Maybe due to some confusion in the bus route, it was only a 10-minute walk, but by bus, with transfers, it would take 20 minutes.

“I should walk.”

Even though she thought it might be convenient since the distance was close, things were never that easy.

Sighing, Hayoon contemplated what to wear…

“Coat?”

Her gaze suddenly landed on her closet where a beige coat hung. She put it on and checked herself in the mirror.

“Wow.”

The saying, “Clothes make the person” wasn’t just an idiom. It was true. With her pretty face combined with her excellent figure, the coat naturally complemented her.

“Time to buy some new clothes as well?”

Saying something loaded under her breath, Hayoon grabbed her phone and headed out. Seeing this, her mother, Yusoohee, reacted.

“Daughter?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Are you… going out?”

“Yes… I’m going out.”

“Ah…”

Yusoohee sighed deeply, visibly moved.

It made sense.

“Really… I thought you were sick or something.”

“Yes?”

“Because… you were always talking to yourself in your room, and I couldn’t say anything because I was scared of you…”

Since December 31, when Hayoon went out with her parents to a restaurant, she hadn’t stepped outside once. The broadcasting had also started, so she found herself talking alone in her room even more.

It was mid-January now.

In such a situation, any parent would naturally worry about their child.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you? If so, don’t skip meals; come out and eat properly. Stop pulling all-nighters.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Alright, are you meeting a friend?”

“Sort of.”

“I see. Come back safe.”

“Yes, I’ll come back safe.”

With these words, Hayoon reassured her worried mother and stepped out to tend to her responsibilities.

Chae Arin…

She’s the only person Hayoon currently knows who can animate illustrations.

No matter what, she would get her on board.

#

Had it been because she hadn’t been outside for almost 10 days?

Or because it was rare for her to walk through the city in casual attire?

“Unbelievable…”

Hayoon was acutely aware of the attention she was drawing as she walked. She’s a girl, but not just any girl — a very attractive one. People of all ages were looking at her, and among them were quite a few who were leering at her.

Despite her young age, Hayoon radiated maturity in her presence.

“Is it the aura of an empress?”

If it was due to that, she would’ve loved to give the status window back.

But it wouldn’t take it.

Because it never does.

“Haa…”

Sighing again, Hayoon entered the nearby cafe, ordering her usual cold brew, and took a seat where the entrance was clearly visible. This way, she could spot Chae Arin the moment she arrived.

“I’ve thought everything through… If she’s a second-year high school student, born in 2003, convincing her shouldn’t be too hard… I will definitely persuade her.”

Actually, while live 2D technology is not essential for creating a visual novel or a galgame, Hayoon still wished to integrate it through Chae Arin.

As an illustrator, she wanted to see her own artworks come to life.

As a planner, she desired to create as perfect a product as possible.

As an avid fan, she wanted the visual novel genre to evolve even further.

Even in the mid-2020s, live 2D technology hadn’t fully taken root in domestic visual novels.

Therefore, Hayoon intended to be a trailblazer.

To become the first and help this market advance further.

– Tink.

At that moment,

Her potential partner in all this—

Walked into the café.

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