Chapter 61: New Friends

“Is it delicious?”

The girl who savors the cheese that stretches out, with a lot of sprinkled powder around her mouth.

The sweet and salty taste of the sprinkles, the stretchy mozzarella cheese, and the crispy texture of the fried food.

There aren’t many children who dislike this.

As expected, the girl momentarily forgot why she came to me and enjoyed the orchestra unfolding in her mouth.

Then, she came to her senses and brushed off the sprinkle powder from her lips.

“It’s delicious… but! More importantly! Seo Sua! You’ve finally shown your true colors!!!”

“Is that so. Thank you for enjoying it. It was worth buying it for you.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you for buying it. No, that’s not it!”

It seems that it will be difficult to ignore it.

“First, calm down. I bought you something delicious, so you’re not going to not listen to me, are you?”

“I, I was going to listen to you anyway! Go ahead and make your excuse!”

She was huffing and puffing, but it seemed that her excitement had subsided to some extent, and she was in a state where she could at least listen to me.

It was a good thing I quickly stuffed a hot dog in her mouth before talking.

“First of all, I don’t like men. Especially Heo Jintae, I don’t like him even more. He’s just sticking to me on his own. Earlier, he was just taking off the petals that were stuck in my hair.”

“Hmph, that’s too bad.”

“D, don’t lie! You let him follow you around all day today and take pictures! You usually go somewhere with Jintae!”

“That’s why I said. Heo Jintae is sticking to me on his own.”

“Then you’re saying that Jintae likes you?!”

The girl shouted with a look that was almost crying.

At that shout, passersby glanced at us and passed by.

It seems that she is deeply mistaken, so I was about to sigh deeply and tell her, but Heo Jintae took the lead first.

“Hey, no. I don’t like Sua. I’m not really into childish body types.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“I prefer people who are taller and more glamorous, like older sisters.”

A sudden coming out.

My and the girl’s mouths were stunned by that remark.

Seeing Heo Jintae spreading his chest with a proud expression, I was momentarily stunned, but I quickly regained my senses and continued.

“…See. He’s not interested in me. So don’t misunderstand.”

“Th, th, then why are you two hanging out together….”

The girl finally regained her composure and had an obvious question.

I told her the truth.

“He said his dream is to be an idol, right? To be on TV.”

“Yes, he did.”

“My uncle works at a broadcasting station. So he’s sticking to me to make some connections.”

“Ah….”

The girl made an awkward expression as if she understood.

At the same time, she pointed to the camera next to Heo Jintae as if to check something that was still uncomfortable.

“Then, why did he keep taking pictures of you today…?”

“My uncle personally asked him to. He’s taking this as an opportunity to follow me around so diligently and take pictures.”

“Why did he ask Jintae to do that?”

“Because he’s the only friend I talk to?”

“Aha….”

She nodded as if she had finally fully understood everything.

She must have known well that I had no friends because we were in the same class.

The girl sat down next to us to organize her thoughts and wrapped her head.

Meanwhile, I whispered to Heo Jintae, questioning him.

“…Jintae, you know that the girls like you, right.”

A sudden love quarrel.

A girl in the class suddenly came and said something close to a confession, but this guy didn’t even blink and acted calmly.

He even made her flustered by talking about his taste.

Even if this guy is a dull guy, there’s no way he wouldn’t have noticed when she was talking so directly.

That means, he knew and deliberately flirted with me.

When I questioned him, the guy smiled like a villain who had been caught in a secret.

“Pretending not to know about popularity is also an idol’s virtue, you know?”

“…Was your coming out about your taste earlier to get rid of them a little?”

“There was some intention of that, but it wasn’t a lie.”

“Just in case you’re wondering, you can’t date that kind of older sister just because you become an idol.”

“I know, okay?”

Heo Jintae laughed as if he was saying something obvious.

Then he put his index finger to his lips and said.

“So, for now, this story is a secret from the other kids. Okay?”

“…Okay.”

He winks.

He was doing these things on purpose.

Kids these days are scary….

I feel it again.

“Okay, I got it. Then let’s do this.”

After finishing her thoughts, the girl jumped up from her seat and said something as if she had made up her mind.

“If you guys keep hanging out like that, someone like me will come out again. In that case, I’ll hang out with you too.”

“Together?”

“I thought about holding the camera, but then Jintae won’t be able to appeal to your uncle. But if I let you two hang out, someone like me will come out again. Then it’s better to just hang out together as three.”

It feels like she hastily made an excuse to be with this guy, but it was a surprisingly good suggestion.

If we hang out as three, we won’t hear rumors that I’m dating this guy, and since we’re hanging out with peers, the attention towards me will probably subside a little.

Moreover, the mission given by Lee can be cleared naturally.

“I like it. Then, let’s hang out together. But are you okay? Don’t you have friends to hang out with?”

“I do, but my friends don’t care about that, so it’s okay.”

“Hmm, if that’s the case.”

I thought that girls made groups and were wary of each other, so I wondered if this child would be bullied if she was involved with me, but if she says it’s okay, I have nothing to say.

I jumped up from my seat and landed on the floor, and held out my hand to the girl.

“Then, we’re friends from today. But what’s your name?”

“…We’ve been in the same class for over a month, and you don’t even know my name?”

“I’m not good at remembering the names of people who are not related to me. Ah, my name is Seo Sua.”

“I know?! I have a feeling I know why you don’t have friends….”

The girl sighed deeply and held her forehead.

“I’m Son Hyeji. Remember it.”

I shake the outstretched hand lightly.

When I heard the girl’s name, I paused for a moment and remembered something.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, no. It’s….”

I guess it’s better to tell her as a warning?

“Don’t ever play LOL later? (TL NOTE: hyeji refers to enchanter supports that are usually hated by ADCs and need to be carried)”

“Huh?”

Her name is that, of all things.

Good grief.

“But why did your uncle tell you to film you like this? Not even photos, but videos.”

After the day’s schedule was over, a short free time before going to sleep.

Son Hyeji, who had just finished washing up, came out to the hallway and asked me.

“My uncle started a vlog this time. So he needs video to use there.”

“A vlog? Is it uploaded on YouTube?”

“It’s uploaded… yes.”

One video containing my embarrassing moments.

Out of embarrassment, I beat and bit Lee, but I decided to leave the video as it is.

It’s not like he broke what I said, and this work was solely Lee’s.

Even though I was a little annoyed, I forgave him with a generous heart.

‘Ah, I have to think about Osorin’s content. I forgot.’

What are some famous games at this time?

“Then tell me your YouTube too. I’ll subscribe.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“Hmm, really? Ah, he’s passing by. Jintae!”

Heo Jintae, who bought snacks at the convenience store and was going into his room.

She gestured for him to come here and asked.

“What’s the name of the channel where Sua is vlogging?”

“Search for Bear Uncle.”

“How do you know?!”

“PD told me.”

Agh!

That guy!!

I tried to punch Heo Jintae in the back, who told her casually, but the guy smoothly dodged with a flexible movement and went into his room.

And he peeked his face out and made an evil expression.

He’s really annoying.

“Ah, I found it. Is this it?”

“Um, um. Hyeji?”

“Wow—.”

“…….”

“I knew Sua was cute, but she acts this cute in front of close people?”

“Can you please stop watching…?”

“There’s a small game room in this accommodation, and there’s also a coin karaoke room. Do you want to go together?”

“Stop…!”

Son Hyeji, who is giggling while watching the video.

Fortunately, she was considerate and turned the volume down so that other people couldn’t hear it.

My flushed face was emitting serious heat, so I covered my face with my relatively cold hands to cool it down.

Nevertheless, the heat on my face did not subside due to the ongoing embarrassment.

“I thought you were a bit cynical because you were always expressionless in class, but you’re not at all. You’ve been hiding this cuteness well?”

“I’m a chic and cold person. It’s natural to react like that because people around me tease me.”

“Yeah, right. You were so chic that you wanted to show off your sheep head towel to your sister.”

“Be quiet.”

She was a little tall for a 6th grader.

About 155cm.

I, who barely exceeded 140cm, had to look up when I was in front of her.

So I raised my eyes and glared at her fiercely, but for some reason, she couldn’t lower the corners of her lips.

‘People usually don’t feel good when they’re glared at. Why are they all smiling like this.’

Is it possible that I just look funny?

I need to think of another way.

“By the way, Sua, is there anything you watch on YouTube?”

“Suddenly?”

“No, since we’ve become friends. I’m curious about things like your taste. It’ll be easier to talk if we watch the same thing. Or do you want to keep talking about vlogs?”

“No…. What does Hyeji watch then.”

I quickly take the lead.

The only areas I’m interested in are VTubers or streamers.

I sometimes watch dramas or variety shows, but it’s not to the extent that I would bring up the topic first and talk about it.

I can just listen to what she says and agree with her.

Son Hyeji turned on her cell phone and showed me the things that appeared on the screen as if she was a little embarrassed.

“I watch things like animals or variety shows. And…”

“Oh, Osorin?”

“Yeah…, internet broadcasts too…. Huh? You know Osorin too?”

As she scrolled down, Osorin’s YouTube video suddenly appeared.

It wasn’t the latest one, it was a little old video.

“Wow, this is amazing. I thought I was the only one among my peers who knew Osorin.”

“I also enjoy watching internet broadcasts.”

“I didn’t think so…. This is amazing.”

“It could be. Then, you must have seen Osorin’s VTuber recently?”

“Yeah! VTuber is when the picture moves like a person, right? It’s really amazing!”

She smiled brightly and entered Osorin’s channel and showed me the record that she had watched all the recent videos.

She also said that she always watches live broadcasts because they turn on after school.

To think that a female viewer, who is less than 5 percent, was in front of me.

Son Hyeji looked around and whispered in my ear.

“…Actually, I want to try VTuber later too.”

“VTuber?”

“Yeah, I originally dreamed of being a YouTuber, but if I can do it without showing my face like this, it’s safer. I won’t be criticized for being a kid.”

From what she said, it seemed that she knew about VTubers and YouTube to some extent.

Of course, she can’t be a VTuber right now, but in a few years, she might really be able to do it, so I didn’t show a negative reaction.

“Even if you do, do it from middle school or high school. By then, there will be some demand for making VTubers, so you can do it easily.”

“You know quite a lot? Are you interested in VTubers too, Sua?”

“I’m interested.”

“Wow, then later when we’re in high school, do you want to do it together?!”

Son Hyeji, who brightens her eyes and shoves her face.

I pushed her away and said.

“I’m not going to be a VTuber.”

Where are you trying to recruit me?