Haa…
…
Haaaa…
… Da-eun.
Hmm?
Even if you sigh like that, the ground won’t collapse.
Unless it’s a dragon’s breath, of course.
It wasn’t just her sigh but also the worry all over her face that made it seem like she was shouldering the world’s every concern.
Of course, I was curious why Da-eun was sighing. It wasn’t just today; she’d been like this for three days now. Wouldn’t that spark some curiosity?
If it were just one day, I could think, “Oh, Da-eun is acting weird again,” and move on.
But when a day turned to two, and then two became three, it was impossible to ignore.
Is there something on your mind?
Hmm?
You seem like you have a lot of worries.
Da-eun scratched her head awkwardly.
… Did you catch me?
How could I not? You’re literally broadcasting it with your whole body!
As I sat there silently staring after tossing the question, Da-eun sighed again and plopped down across from me.
Thud.
It’s nothing serious.
It doesn’t sound like nothing serious.
Really, it’s nothing. …Just a bit of a headache.
Should I say it or not? It felt like Da-eun’s scales were finally tipping to one side after being in balance for a while.
Remember the day Kana broke the plate?
… Yeah.
It had been just a few days since that incident; anyone who didn’t remember was either a scoundrel or really forgetful.
Unfortunately, I didn’t fit into either category.
… Why are you bringing that up?
Surely she wasn’t going to say something about it now…
…I mean, that dish set I bought yesterday was pricier than I thought…
That realization hit hard, but I said I wouldn’t get mad.
Like they say, a thief feels the pinch of their own foot, and I waited anxiously for Da-eun’s words while grasping my pinched foot.
Ah, I’m not blaming Kana.
Noticing my mood, Da-eun waved her hands.
You know, during that stream, when the plate broke, the sound mixed into the broadcast. I covered it up by saying my cousin broke it, but ever since, they’ve been insisting I bring this cousin of mine! No matter how many times I ban them, they keep popping up….
Ah!
Only then did I understand the meaning behind Da-eun’s sigh.
They wanted to see the hidden side she didn’t talk about during her fiery streams, and ignoring it wasn’t an option.
But while the show can be controlled, it’s more complicated with the fan café and community. There are plenty of people saying I’m hiding a boyfriend…. As the crowd grows, so do the weirdos.
If it were back in the day, having a boyfriend wouldn’t have caused such a stir.
Da-eun muttered.
If it were a real boyfriend, at least I wouldn’t feel wronged.
Hmm, I agree with you there.
Agree with what?
I wished I had been born a man too. It’s unfair.
…
Da-eun’s eyes, half-squinted, scanned my body after I let that half-serious comment slip.
Then she shook her head.
That’s something I won’t accept! Kana is perfect just the way she is!
Why does Da-eun get to decide that?
Whatever, that’s the situation. Sigh… but I can’t just take a break either.
If you want to rest, just take a break.
I already took a break for a few days; the public opinion hasn’t settled down at all. If I suddenly stop while they’re talking about boyfriends, it’ll be chaos!
That’s tough.
In this regard, maybe Silia had it better.
… No, maybe not?
While I thought that, I quickly denied it.
It wasn’t exactly the same, but similar dramas often unfolded in Silia among the nobles.
Someone’s gaze would suggest they liked someone, and someone from somewhere had a hidden lover…
What was so interesting about gossiping like that?
Given the power some people hold to bury others, it was downright dastardly.
Looking at it this way, it seems that humans simply have a penchant for talking about one another.
If it were me, I would’ve just taken a break.
And left the aftermath to Aaron.
Da-eun’s response to my somewhat irresponsible comment was this.
But then I wouldn’t be able to buy delicious chocolate for Kana.
Well, if that’s the reason, I guess there’s no helping it.
Why didn’t you say that sooner?
As I nodded, Da-eun looked utterly baffled.
But that didn’t last long as her worry-filled face returned.
Anyway, unless I plan to quit this job completely, taking a break is the worst choice.
From that remark, it seemed Da-eun wasn’t thinking about quitting just yet.
Then again, how easy would it be to abandon a job that ensured one’s livelihood without any backup plans?
While I was pondering Da-eun’s dilemmas, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Is this really worth all the worry?
In the end, what the viewers wanted was simple.
To see the cousin Da-eun mentioned on the stream.
If that was the case, the solution was obvious.
I’ll help you.
… Kana?
Yeah.
But you said you’d try to hide it as much as possible. Have you changed your mind?
No, not at all.
I shook my head lightly to deny it.
You don’t actually need to show your face, do you?
Pointing dramatically.
As my finger indicated something, Da-eun followed its trajectory with her eyes.
… Ah!
She gasped in surprise.
What I was pointing at was a mascot costume.
With it on, not even a strand of hair would be visible.
I had no idea why I even had that lying around, but right now, it was the perfect item for this situation.
I can tweak my voice a little.
With that, I figured there wouldn’t be anyone who would think of me as Kanaaria.
Even if someone did, saying so would just make them look delusional.
… That could work!
Finding it reasonable, Da-eun showed a positive response as she rested her chin on her hand.
I didn’t want to put the burden on you, but if Kana is okay with it, could we do that?
I’m fine with it.
Since I suggested it, it would be weird to deny it.
Without showing my face, there was nothing to get caught on.
More than anything—
If the sponsor disappears, I’ll be in trouble too.
… Kana, your true feelings are leaking out…
It’s not true feelings!
What does that even mean, Kana?
But even a seemingly perfect plan had its blind spots.
What if they still don’t believe us even after we go on air?
If that happened, wouldn’t all of this be for nothing?
Curious, I asked, but surprisingly, Da-eun didn’t seem bothered.
That’s fine. I still introduced you, right? We have a solid justification, so I can suppress them if needed. And those who don’t believe it, well, they wouldn’t believe anything anyway.
This shouldn’t have even escalated to this point.
There are those who love to burn the world…
Da-eun remarked that this whole thing was likely fueled by them.
With my opinion accepted, we put our heads together to come up with a fitting story.
– Though, the main storyteller was Da-eun.
Having come to Earth not long ago, I still didn’t know the culture well or Da-eun’s family background, so it made sense.
How does this sound? Doesn’t it seem quite plausible?
Da-eun, were you dreaming of being a writer?
What? Hahaha, not at all! As I mentioned before, I can’t stand sitting on my butt for too long!
Da-eun waved her hands as if she heard something ridiculous.
Though, her storytelling skills were quite impressive.
Maybe it’s thanks to watching a lot of shows or reading books?
She spoke of the power of vicarious experiences.
Nevertheless, with Da-eun, our small scam was formed.
When should we introduce her?
Worried I might forget, I kept rehearsing what we had written when Da-eun asked me.
When, huh?
I tapped my lips thoughtfully, tilting my head.
Strike while the iron is hot, right?
If I drag it out any longer, all I’d do is see Da-eun sigh for another day.
With her sighing every second, it wouldn’t have been odd if a sensitive person slapped my back by now.
While I could brush it off, it still took a toll on me.
Let’s do it today.
… Where did you learn that?
In my past life.
That was something I could never say.
I shrugged casually.
*
It’s surprisingly not that rare for viewers to want to see a broadcaster’s family.
There are various reasons.
They might think they could learn about a past the broadcaster hasn’t shared, or perhaps they hope to see a more unfiltered side of them.
Or, they might desire to witness the chemistry that stems from familial relationships.
The demand for Da-eun’s cousin was largely due to such reasons.
Though it may be the work of troublemakers igniting the flames, the fact that the topic has persisted suggests there are many who share that desire, knowingly or unknowingly.
So, when Da-eun announced she would reveal her cousin,
– We won!
– I’m so hyped for today’s stream!
– Whoever disliked this is dumb 😂
Many cheered.
It was an opportunity to meet her elusive cousin.
There were bound to be various tales, even if not as tightly knit as immediate family.
I wonder what her cousin looks like???
If she takes after the host, she must be pretty!
Her cousin probably looks like a total dork;
If she were pretty, she would have been the first to come out anyway. No doubt she’s a total shlump.
Just because the upper one is pretty doesn’t mean they want to show off!
That’s because you’re ugly!
Aren’t you scared of getting sued? She’s just an ordinary person, and you have some guts! 😂
Expectations for appearances were high as well.
Da-eun doesn’t often flaunt her looks on the stream.
However, one cannot ignore the influence her appearance had on her rapid rise to fame.
Objectively speaking, Da-eun had an outstanding appearance, attracting many subscribers.
Her cousin must be pretty because they share the same blood!
Naturally, thoughts were drawn to this.
It was more hope or desire than logic.
Honestly, whether Da-eun’s cousin was pretty or not had nothing to do with them.
But loving beauty is a matter of instinct, so what does it matter?
While all this anticipation grew, the ticking clock kept passing, nearing the broadcast time Da-eun had announced.
Although not at her peak, a significantly high number of viewers were eagerly awaiting the stream to start.
Finally, the tightly shut door opened.
[Joanie has started the broadcast.]
[Cousin guest appearance]
– I’m here for my fix!
– Let’s dive in~~~
– I’m first!
– (Hey Joanie, what’s up?)
The chat flooded in.
The sudden influx of viewers caused the chat to lag momentarily.
Typically, Da-eun would display a waiting screen at the beginning of her stream, but this time, perhaps feeling the crowd, the internal camera of the soundproof booth streamed live.
Without any preamble, the show began, prompting cheers from the audience again.
However, one minute, two, even three passed, and there was still no change on screen.
As the chat began to buzz with questions, wondering why neither her cousin nor Da-eun appeared,
Creeeak.
The soundproof booth door opened.
Thud.
A child wearing a cat mask entered and sat down.
The moment they saw the obviously childlike form, the chat momentarily froze in confusion.
That was when the cat-masked child tilted her head as if signaling for the pent-up words to flow forth.
– ??????
– ?
– ??
– ?
– A reunion?
– Lol.
– No meow 😂😂😂
– Hehe.
– Could it really be???
Gazing at the swirling river of confusion, the girl in the cat mask—Kana thought inwardly.
This is hell.
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