Chapter 88: Idol Recruitment

When internet broadcasters gather in one place, the topics of conversation inevitably become the same.

Broadcasting or games.

Or subculture.

And once a certain amount of alcohol has been consumed, all such things are thrown aside, and everything boils down to one type of action.

“Oboete nai koto mo takusan attadarou~ (There were probably lots of things you don’t remember~)”

The soundproof room equipped in the office.

Osorin and Guzuz sing in the soundproof room, which was made slightly larger for collaborations or official content.

“Kono fuzaketa subarashiki sekai~ (This messed-up, wonderful world~)”

For reference, even with a soundproof room, vibrations like singing can travel through the building.

Therefore, Osorin and Zuzu were listening to the music through earphones while singing.

“Ikke ikke ikke ikke ikke Panda! (Go go go go go Panda!)”

“Osse osse osse osse osse Panda! (Push push push push push Panda!)”

This place was designed assuming a two-person collaboration.

Naturally, there are only two microphones and two sets of earphones.

Which means.

“Kieeeeeeeek!!!”

“Oryaaaaaaaat!!!”

It meant we were listening to the two singing drunkenly, raw, without any backing music.

‘I want to go home….’

As they say, songs sung after drinking lack both skill and shame.

Being trapped listening to singing that bordered on noisy shouting (though calling it singing is generous, it’s closer to noise) for several tens of minutes, what is this if not torture?

‘Osorin unnie is always like this, but Zuzu unnie seemed a bit timid….’

But once she had a lot to drink, she gradually started getting clingy with me.

She kept kneading and stretching me around like I was slime, constantly calling me cute, and then her eyes met Osorin’s.

The two nodded silently, then picked me up, carried me into the soundproof room, and created the current situation.

Osorin, who had been singing excitedly, seemed to have sobered up a bit as she spoke with clear pronunciation.

“Zuzu, do you know about Sua’s family YouTube channel?”

“Hic, YouTube?”

“Yeah, it’s not Sua’s, it’s a vlog PD Lee does personally.”

“Look, this channel.”

“Oooh, 600,000 subscribers….”

“Ah, I think I’ve seen it once before.”

“If you watch the first video, there are tons of cute scenes of Sua, okay?”

“You absolutely have to watch this.”

“Got it?”

“If you’re going to talk about that, I’m leaving!”

Even if I don’t involve myself with Dad’s vlog channel, there’s no reason for me to listen to such talk right in front of me.

If I were to watch it, it would likely contain records of actions close to, or actually being, my dark history.

It’s best to leave such things unwatched and covered up.

Bang! Closing the door, I came out and sat next to Dad, observing the slightly quieter office atmosphere.

Chiro had fallen asleep drunk, and Jina and my parents seemed to be in the middle of a conversation.

“What were you talking about?”

“Mostly about the company.”

“And about a new project, I guess?”

“A new project?”

“Ah, the one Osorin unnie mentioned?”

The virtual idol project.

It was Osorin’s project not to nurture existing internet broadcasters, but to create idols who genuinely engage in musical activities.

“Well, when adults are left talking, what else would they discuss besides work?”

“We’re going to be working together from now on, so we need to know the direction the company wants to go.”

“That’s true.”

“So, what do you think, Dad?”

“About the virtual idol project.”

Dad touched his chin and opened his mouth.

“The intention is good.”

“Recruiting idols who couldn’t debut because of COVID and turning them virtual, right?”

“Then there shouldn’t be any problem with their skills, and debuting at this time itself will attract attention, so a certain level of popularity is basically secured.”

“Then, what are the problems?”

“Where to get such talented individuals is the biggest issue.”

“Even if they’re trainees who couldn’t debut, they’re still affiliated with some entertainment agency.”

“Recruiting them is the biggest problem.”

“Next, even if they do it virtually, as long as they’re idols, they need to gather in one place.”

“Then COVID could become an issue.”

No matter how careful you are, infectious diseases spread.

I caught COVID even when Dad didn’t.

There’s no choice but to think of that part as unavoidable.

“Setting COVID aside, finding talent really is the biggest problem.”

“Can’t you do something with your connections, Dad?”

“Even for me, I can’t just easily call anyone.”

“Besides, now that I’ve quit my PD job, how much influence do I even have left?”

“Gasp, Dad’s usefulness has decreased.”

“You little brat?”

Dad lifted me swiftly, sat me on his lap, and tickled my sides with all his might.

Only after being tickled to the point of breathlessness and sputtering out an apology could I return to my seat.

“Huuuugh… Then I guess we have no choice but to raise them from scratch, like this time’s unnies, by accepting applications.”

“Well, that’s the safe route.”

“It won’t be as perfect as real idols, but we can compensate to some extent technically.”

“What, were you talking about the project?”

“Ah, Osorin unnie.”

Osorin, having finished singing her heart out, came out looking refreshed.

Looking inside the soundproof room, Zuzu, like Chiro, was asleep with her head down on the desk.

Those two are supposed to be the youngest among us, yet they’re the first ones to pass out.

“It seems like the idol project will also have to gather applicants and choose them like the first generation unnies.”

“Considering practice and avatars, it might be slightly delayed.”

“Ah, was it because of the people?”

“Huh, did I not mention it?”

“What?”

“What is it?”

“I already found people who would do this.”

“……What?”

I tilted my head and stared at her.

Jina also wore an expression indicating she hadn’t heard this before, so it truly seemed like the first time she was mentioning it.

“I got to know quite a few people after becoming friends with Wooseok oppa, and when I mentioned the project, they said they were interested.”

“That’s why I started thinking about this seriously in the first place.”

“Ah, but even if they’re interested, they haven’t fully committed, so I need to ask them again.”

Certainly, when Osorin was contemplating the virtual idol project, she only talked about avatar and budget issues….

I can’t believe she built such connections.

You should tell us these things beforehand!

“What, what’s wrong?”

“Why are you both sighing like that…?”

“Huh?”

“…Should I keep doing this?”

The renewal contract papers in her hand.

She, a former idol trainee at JYH, stared intently at the contract along with the other members, contemplating.

It had already been 3 years since she became a trainee.

Although her seniors had spent much longer as trainees, their current situation was different.

They were constantly being pushed down the ranks by other trainees, with new rookies taking the top spots, and amidst that situation, COVID broke out.

Thanks to that, even the kids scheduled to debut were postponing their debuts.

Even if their debut was decided, there was no telling how much the schedule would be pushed back.

“…I think this is it for me.”

“Sorry, everyone.”

“Unnie…”

“I’m already 25.”

“It’s my 8th year as a trainee.”

“Other people my age are already employed, but I don’t have a single certificate because I was trying to become an idol.”

“Rather than waiting for an indefinite amount of time, I think it’s right to find another path now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“N-No, it’s okay.”

“It’s understandable, so don’t be sorry.”

Starting with the oldest unnie, one by one, they made their decisions.

The younger kids couldn’t let go of the thread of hope, while those of an ambiguous age, like her, were dominated by the thought of needing to find another path now.

However, letting go of the dream she had longed for so much right before her eyes brought unimaginable fear and pain.

That must be why the oldest unnie had been a trainee for 8 years.

Three members remained undecided.

All had just turned twenty.

The remaining three thought quietly inside the small practice room.

Then, suddenly, she recalled a peculiar person they had met before.

“Remember that unnie we met through Wooseok sunbaenim’s introduction a while back?”

“Remember?”

“Osorin unnie?”

“Of course, I remember.”

“We got close strangely fast.”

“Should we try contacting that unnie?”

She had heard Osorin talk about broadcasting and YouTube, so she had looked her up and watched before.

Broadcasting using a moving character.

She knew things like this existed because they occasionally popped up in her YouTube recommendations, but it was surprisingly fun.

Moreover, since it involved broadcasting without showing one’s face, it seemed to have many more merits.

She had once heard Osorin talk about wanting to create idols virtually.

Osorin had told them to contact her if they were interested.

She had no idea how one could possibly perform idol activities with a picture-like appearance like that.

But now, in this situation, that unnie’s words began to float up like clouds in her mind.

“…I’m good.”

“Honestly, the whole virtual thing still feels awkward.”

“I think it’s a better offer than what we’re doing now.”

“What about you?”

“Me…”

After watching Osorin unnie’s YouTube, she had occasionally started watching other VTubers’ YouTube channels as well.

Therefore, she knew a fair amount about VTubers.

She felt no aversion; rather, she had reached the point where she preferred virtual broadcasts over regular ones.

However, stepping into something completely unheard of like a “virtual idol” required a different kind of courage.

“……”

She placed her current situation with no guarantee and the uncertain virtual path on a scale and pondered.

After a little time passed.

“Let’s give it a try.”

She decided to step onto new ground.