Chapter 10: Hanami Eri

“Welcome. Have you read the character script thoroughly?”

“Ah, yes, yes. I’ve fully familiarized myself with it.”

It was smaller than the recording studio I saw on audition day, but still spacious and comfortable.

It’s definitely nice and comfortable, but apart from that, a suffocating situation unfolded.

A one-on-one session with the PD had begun.

The PD’s expression visible through the glass window.

And the PD’s voice coming through the headset.

I guess this is how nervous it feels to start actual recording.

The pressure of game recording was much heavier than I thought.

“Then, let’s start right from Chapter 1.”

Seo Arin, was the name of the main heroine I was playing.

A character who is bright and cheerful on the outside, but with deep inner wounds and loneliness, having the largest role.

Unlike other heroines who approach the protagonist, she starts by pushing him away.

After confirming the PD’s hand went down, I opened my mouth.

“Who are you…? D-Don’t come any closer.”

“…I am Seo Arin. So why are you here?”

Zzzzt-

Suddenly the talkback opened, and the PD’s voice came through the headset.

“Um, please raise your tone just a little bit.”

“Ah, yes! Understood.”

The role is definitely large.

“Actually… at first, I was afraid to trust you. I had been alone for so long.”

The PD made a satisfied expression and nodded slightly.

“But, from the moment you were by my side… the world started to change, little by little.”

The highlight confession scene. Perhaps because she has a complicated past, she was required to cry.

“The time I spend with you… i-it’s become so precious to me…”

In the past, when I acted out crying scenes, it ended with a tear or two, but now, I feel like I could really bawl.

“How special you are to me… how special I can be to you…”

I can’t just cry.

Even within that, I need to add variations, and in the final moment of confession, I must deliver a performance that moves the listener.

“I want to find out. For a lifetime. I like you. I like you so much. Can you be with me…?”

The message that penetrates the game’s title, and the final line related to the theme song.

I think this line is the most important of all the lines.

“With you, I want to walk through this endless time.”

The story of those trapped in a seemingly endless time.

This was the main story of this game.

Zzzzt-

“Perfect. For now, I’ll send this to the client as is, so I’ll get confirmation and contact you again later. You worked really hard today.”

“Thank you!”

I took off the headset and bowed my head repeatedly in greeting.

I believe if a re-recording request comes in, they give additional money for that.

Honestly, I hope there are no re-recordings.

Because as many re-recordings as there are, my reputation gets damaged.

The voice acting industry prefers people who can produce a perfect recording in one go.

Repeated re-recordings are tiring, and they inevitably cost more money.

Coming outside and breathing in the cool air felt like it cleared my insides.

“Kkheu~ This feels great~!”

After successfully finishing my first game recording, I started to look forward to future recording activities.

Moreover, the main heroine of a large-scale dating sim game.

Since the PD seemed satisfied too, couldn’t this lead to recording for other games as well?

If I gain popularity like that, it would also be a big help to Rumi Live…

I turned on my phone, which I had turned off for recording, to check if there were any missed calls.

“Huh? Rea called…?”

A missed call was logged an hour ago.

I hurriedly called her back.

Buzz-

“Ah, Eunseo? Are you busy by any chance?”

“Ah, I’m free now! What’s up?”

“The officetel (office/hotel) I mentioned during the contract signing, I’ve looked into a few. Would you like to see them today?”

It’s only been a few days, and she’s already looked into several properties?

The person who built Rumi Live’s success story isn’t a false reputation.

“I’d love to! I have no other plans!”

“Yes, then… I’ll come pick you up. Where are you, by any chance?”

“Ah, I’m at Seocho Station!”

“Okay~ I’ll be there soon. Please wait in front of exit 6.”

While waiting for Rea, I looked at recent officetel listings.

The deposit, is this really, is this the right amount?

Even if the company lends it to me, I’ll have to work for an incredibly long time to pay back the deposit…

After waiting for about 15 minutes, Rea came to pick me up in a nice car.

Driving in Seoul can’t be easy, she’s a really cool person.

Rea’s car was filled with the scent of a fragrant air freshener.

“First, I found 3 places close to the company. Also close to the subway station.”

“Oh, thank you!”

The first place Rea took me to was a medium-to-large officetel, almost apartment-grade, with a large living room and two bedrooms.

The windows faced south, and the water ran well, but…

Ultimately, I quickly came out. The monthly rent was not an amount I could afford right now.

“Then, let’s go to the second place~”

The second place was very reasonable in terms of price.

The size was suitable for living alone, and it was quite decent, but…

The fact that it was a duplex was a big concern.

I’ll put it on hold for now and think about it after seeing the third place.

“The third place is the smallest of the ones we’ve seen so far, but it’ll be fine for living alone.”

As Rea said, it looked to be about half the size of the first medium-to-large officetel.

However, it was the optimal size for living alone.

Two reasonably sized rooms, and I could separate the place for the soundproof booth and sleeping.

The price is reasonable too, but the fact that it doesn’t face south is a bit of a concern…

Well, since everything else is good, it should be livable.

“I’ll take this one!”

“Oh? You’re deciding very quickly. I thought you’d choose the first one.”

“Ahaha… This one seems the most suitable for living alone.”

“Yes, alright. Then, when are you planning to move in?”

“Well, I think it would be better after the soundproof booth and other things are installed…”

Rea took out her phone and made a call somewhere.

Is she looking for a moving company? I don’t have much stuff, so I could probably do it myself.

“The soundproof booth installation will probably be done within this week, and would you like to use the moving company the company usually deals with?”

“Ah, yes, yes! I’d appreciate that.”

Thinking about it, it would be difficult for me, in a woman’s body, to move all my belongings.

If it’s a company the company deals with, they’ll be trustworthy, so there’s no harm in entrusting it to them.

“Then, while installing the soundproof booth, I’ll have the equipment put in as well.”

“Heok, yes, yes, thank you!”

Rea’s work processing ability was truly top-tier.

It wasn’t for nothing that Miyu entrusted her with full authority and trusted her.

“Oh right, did you know that your song video will be uploaded before your debut broadcast?”

“Huh? Ah, no…?”

“There are things to discuss about that tonight, so please join the voice chat room.”

“Ah, yes, yes! Understood.”

Rea dropped me off near my house.

Of course, I have a driver’s license, but driving in Seoul has many problems, including parking.

Therefore, Rea driving like that seemed a bit cool.

Like the image of a cool career woman I imagined when I was young.

After returning home, I finished a simple dinner and entered the voice chat room.

Everyone except Sejeong unni was waiting in the voice chat room.

Ding-

“Welcome.”

“Eunseo unni~ It’s been a while~!”

Yujin and Suhyeon welcomed me.

Suhyeon’s positive energy is still overflowing.

“Well~ Since Sejeong can’t make it today, let’s start the meeting.”

Rea kicked things off, and the meeting officially began.

“Wow… everyone’s designs came out so pretty.”

“…I know. Lu must have worked really hard.”

The files Rea uploaded contained our virtual characters.

My design proceeded without significant changes from the number 3 I had chosen.

Yujin’s design, far from being overly revealing, was an expressionless character that didn’t expose any skin below the neck.

Should I say it’s like a fantasy assassin’s outfit? A thief? It seems like something in that vein.

It was a design that suited the 3rd batch’s theme, contrasting with the vulgar behavior she showed on broadcasts.

Sejeong unni’s design looked like a typical magician.

With moderate exposure, she looked intelligent, as if the setting of her being a graduate student had been heavily incorporated.

What surprised me the most was Suhyeon’s design.

Underboob, a short miniskirt. Yet her arms were completely covered.

She definitely looks like a nun with an idol-like appearance.

But her face looks completely exhausted. An image that looks like she’s about to smoke a cigarette.

Positive energy emanating from an exhausted face, is that what it means…?

Roughly connecting it to the theme, it seems plausible. But honestly, I’m not sure.

“First, since time is tight, the songs will probably be cover songs. We’re planning to do individual covers. Do you have any songs you want to sing, or any songs you’d recommend to others?”

“I’d like Eunseo unni to sing ‘Manchangok’!”

“Huh? Uh, uh?”

Suhyeon recommended huki.’s ‘Manchangok’, which was recently popular.

It’s a song that suits my voice, but isn’t it a bit too standard…?

“I also think that song would suit Eunseo well if she sang it.”

“What’s your opinion, Eunseo?”

“Um… Hmm…”

Originally, it had a sorrowful love story feel, but if I sing it demonically, fitting my character’s appearance, it might not be bad.

Since kids who sing well are recommending it.

“Then I’ll go with ‘Manchangok’.”

“Great~ Then next, Suhyeon and Yujin?”

“Uh, I’m thinking of Yoasobi’s…”

“Unni, wouldn’t a song like this suit you better?”

Suhyeon and Yujin’s heated discussion showed no signs of stopping.

Well, it’s a chance to imprint their first impression on the viewers.

Their discussion finally ended only when dawn arrived.

I couldn’t even properly hear what they decided on in the end.

Because I was so sleepy, I was barely holding onto consciousness and listening…

“Then… everyone worked hard… You can record the songs at the company, or you can do it at home…”

Exhaustion was seeping from Rea’s voice.

Like her, I was also incredibly tired.

“Yes~! Everyone worked hard!”

“Good job.”

Aren’t Suhyeon and Yujin tired?

Indeed, young people… ah, my body is young too.

I wish I could inherit their passion…

My mental fatigue overcame my physical body.

***

“Wow, the company recording studio is amazing.”

“Right? Sometimes, people’s equipment breaks down, so we set it up.”

With Rea’s help, I successfully finished recording ‘Manchangok’.

Since I finished recording the day after the meeting, I was able to move leisurely.

Although the music video was completed quickly, the quality was incredible, as expected of Rumi Live.

***

I’ve moved all my belongings, so I just need to unpack and prepare for my debut broadcast the day after tomorrow.

They said I can enter my personal broadcast after the Rumi Live cover song is uploaded.

I returned to my new home, tore open the boxes, and organized my belongings.

Most of the furniture was included as a basic option, and I could use the fridge I had been using…

No, but isn’t this computer too good?

It looks like it costs over 5 million won.

Surprisingly, there was an air conditioner installed inside the soundproof booth.

Because they provided such a large and good booth, I felt I could broadcast more comfortably.

“I pledge my loyalty to the company…”

I caressed the door of the soundproof booth and pledged loyalty in my heart.

“Huh? Come to think of it, isn’t my cover song being uploaded tomorrow?”

My personal YouTube channel had been created, and the cover songs would be uploaded to the Rumi Live channel.

Since it was scheduled, I could only check the comments.

[Manchangok / Hanami Eri]

–Open the door!!

–Wow, is this Sister #3?

–The design is insane;

Hanami Eri, was my future stage name.