I May Be a Virtual Youtuber, but I Still Go to Work

The plan was simple.
I would badmouth Darami to the three members, and we’d observe how they reacted after hearing it.
I arranged a meetup under the pretense of introducing the second-gen members to someone new during tomorrow’s scheduled group day off. Darami wouldn’t be present, which would naturally steer the conversation toward her.
The idea of disguising themselves so people wouldn’t recognize them? That was so Darami could secretly tail us and eavesdrop on what we were saying.
Sure, we could’ve just left a call open and let her listen in that way. But the second-gen trio—who had spent the whole day planning how to make a new member feel welcome—would absolutely try calling her the second they noticed she wasn’t there.
And if they called and found her line busy?
They’d just assume something urgent came up and drop the topic altogether.
But I was planning to frame it like, “She’s avoiding your calls on purpose because she’s uncomfortable around you,” so that kind of scenario was no good.
That’s why I met with Darami earlier than the others—to see if her disguise was convincing enough.
And honestly, I was shocked.
“Gia-nim? I’m right here, you know?”
“...?”
Just yesterday, if you squinted, she could’ve passed for a pretty boy.
But now, with her long hair down, Darami looked like a completely different person.
“You’re really Baek Daram?”
“Yup, it’s me!”
“Lower your voice.”
“Ahem, yes. It’s me. Want me to show you my ID?”
“No, I saw you talking on the phone earlier. That’s proof enough.”
Even in her natural state, Darami had inherited Cha Seong-gyeong’s perfect beauty and Baek Seok-gyu’s chiseled features—she’d always been stunning.
Now, with makeup on to conceal her identity and dressed in bright colors and heels she normally never wore, I couldn’t help but say, “That’s Darami?”
You know how some people look good even with a basic selfie camera?
A sculpted beauty from legend.
Darami was exactly that.
On top of that, she’d set her chest free, just barely covered by a thin T-shirt, which drew sidelong glances from nearly every passerby.
Didn’t matter if they were men or women—everyone’s eyes wandered to her chest at least once.
“Well, yeah. If you’re living alone, it’s definitely safer to stick with your usual look.”
“Why? Is it that bad…?”
“You’re kind of careless, Darami-nim. I’m just worried you’ll get stalked walking around like that.”
“Eek, stalked?!”
“Anyway, today’s look should be a one-time thing. Are you planning to show this to the others too? Or will you change partway through?”
The idea was, once it was clear the second-gens weren’t planning to backstab her, she’d join the hangout right away.
Honestly, it was pretty much guaranteed that this one day would deepen their relationship more than the entire past week.
Once her guard dropped, the emotional distance would shrink too.
No way I was letting this chance slip by.
“Changing’s a hassle. Let’s just go with this. I’m sure there’ll be other times I’ll run into them dressed like this anyway.”
“Sure. As long as you’re okay with it.”
“Oh, right. By the way...”
“Yeah?”
“When are you going to speak casually with me?”
I tilted my head and furrowed my brows.
“You were the one who had a hard time with it in the first place, weren’t you?”
“Was I?!”
“Should I switch back to Tia for you?”
Darami looked around nervously and shook her head vigorously.
“Are you crazy? People are staring!”
“They’re going to see you act as Darai anyway.”
“I know, but it’s embarrassing!”
I pressed down the smile creeping onto my lips.
Unlike the boss, who rarely took the bait anymore, Darami was like a fresh sacrifice served on a silver platter.
Everything I did got a reaction out of her. She was like one of those dolls that yelled “I love you!” when you squeezed them.
Of course this was fun.
But still, she’d been through trauma. I needed to go easy on her—at least until she fully recovered.
“Kidding. I’ll talk casually. I don’t sound like Tia now, do I?”
“Nope, that’s just right.”
“See? Should’ve done this earlier.”
“Well, I mean, how do I put it… You seemed really intimidating from the outside, so I felt like I had to be careful.”
“Intimidating?”
Darami slouched and sighed.

“They call you the shadow power in Parallel, basically the vice president. That kind of thing.”
“Didn’t I tell the second-gens they could relax around me?”
“You did. But even my peers are a little intimidated by you. Hehe.”
“What a flex.”
“Eek.”
Maybe I was picking up habits from the boss.
I didn’t even realize I’d reflexively bonked the top of Darami’s head until after I’d done it.
Crap. I shouldn’t be using violence.
Darami’s not the brightest even without acting—any more hits and she really might lose it.
“Anyway, go hide. We’re starting as soon as they get here.”
Whether it was the head bonk or just the relief from dropping honorifics...
Darami retreated, briefly slipping into that Darai persona I’d once seen in Blitzlight ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) City.
“Fine, fine! Don’t hit me!”
***
About ten minutes after Darami started wandering around, keeping a wary eye on her surroundings—
The three arrived, just barely on time, almost simultaneously.
Maybe Darami had finally relaxed a little, because she tried her test by passing right by them—almost brushing shoulders.
I watched nervously, but thankfully, no one noticed. They walked straight to me.
A few glances were thrown her way, but that was it.
To begin with, Miho and Orca never paid much attention to people’s looks. Only Ena watched her a little longer than usual.
…Or so I thought.
“Didn’t that person just now look kinda like Darami?”
“Who?”
“Someone looked like her?”
“Maybe not? I guess I was mistaken.”
I didn’t show it on the outside, but I was pretty startled.
Ena had nearly recognized the disguised Darami.
Even though her chest looked completely different than usual, how did she notice?
Is it because of her idol trainee background?
Most idols are used to making themselves up. So distinguishing between a bare face and a styled one probably comes naturally to Ena.
Anyway, since the crisis passed, I struck up a conversation with Ena.
“Where’s Darami?”
“I thought she’d have met up with you already.”
“She didn’t message me.”
“Really? That’s odd. I’ve been trying to call her, but she’s not picking up... Wonder if something happened?”
“Why’d the three of you come together?”
“Oh.”
Ena smiled warmly.
A pure, clear smile—like gentle spring sunlight—and…
“We thought she might feel awkward if we arrived separately.”
A sweet sentiment that instantly warmed the heart.
“We’ve spent the whole week together, but she still seems unsure around us. If we came one by one, she might’ve stiffened up saying hi to each of us over and over, so we decided to show up together.”
That’s Ena for you. Always considerate.
Her ability to manage group dynamics—honed since her Lapits days—still shone.
Once Darami opened her heart, she’d probably fall for Ena’s kindness completely. After that, she’d have no reason to come to me anymore.
“I’ll keep trying to reach her. You three just hang out.”
“How can we let you do that alone? Let’s take turns.”
“No, I organized this get-together, so I should be the one to contact her.”
Ena pouted and slid into the seat next to me on the bench.
I’d been sitting dead center on purpose so the three of them could sit together on the bench next to mine—but she wedged herself in anyway.
A little cramped, but I scooted over and dialed Darami.
As agreed, she didn’t pick up. It rang, but wouldn’t connect.
Twice, three times, I called in a row, then said loudly enough for everyone to hear:
“Looks like she’s not coming today. She’s ignoring every call on purpose.”
“Huh?”
“Seriously?”
“Was she... avoiding you all last week?”
Ena murmured, frowning.
“More like... she was a bit on guard?”
Miho chimed in.
“No, that counts as avoidance. We were being super friendly, and she never really responded.”
Orca spoke with a serious look on her face.
“Maybe she just doesn’t like us?”
“Wooo~ Wrong N.”
I seized the timing to jab in a line.
“Maybe she really doesn’t. Maybe she hates people getting close and you three came on too strong, so she got defensive.”
Ena immediately refuted that as if it were obvious.
“What are you talking about? Rami never gave off that vibe.”
“You never know. Maybe she hated it inside but was good at hiding it, or faked her expressions.”
“I’m telling you, no.”
Ena stared at me, eyes narrowed.
“You’re being kind of sharp today, you know?”
“I’m saying it because it could be true. You spent a whole week trying, but if the distance is still there, I’ve gotta report it to the boss.”
“No, don’t. What if she gets kicked from second-gen because of that?”
“She won’t be kicked. It just means she won’t debut with the second-gen at the Manae Festival. She’d join as third-gen instead.”
“That’s basically getting kicked…”
“Delaying a debut isn’t necessarily bad. If she’s not ready, neither I nor the boss plan to push her.”
Ena’s expression turned grim.
Seeing my chance, I pressed the issue further.
“Let’s just have fun without her today. People dislike each other for no reason all the time. Maybe she just feels like she doesn’t fit in with you guys.”
Ena’s hand clamped down hard on my shoulder.
“What are you talking about? Darami never once said anything like that.”
“Didn’t I say already? Maybe she didn’t say it to your face but talks behind your backs. She acted sweet the whole time in Blitzlight City, but maybe she’s actually got a nasty personality.”
“Mag—!”
I immediately clamped my hand over Ena’s mouth.
“If you shout my name like that, we’re all getting exposed. Be careful.”
“…”
Once she calmed down, I let go of her mouth. She looked at me, clearly angry.
“No matter what, we’re not going to believe it unless we hear it from Rami herself.”
Miho and Orca nodded in firm agreement.
Seeing that, Ena sighed and released my shoulder.
“What’s up with you today? You’re not acting like yourself.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You’ve never talked badly about our members before. But today, it’s like you’re doing it on purpose...”
She trailed off, narrowing her eyes and leaning so close our noses almost touched.
“This is a hidden camera thing, isn’t it? Knowing your personality and how you usually act, it’s way more believable that this is a prank.”
Honestly, Darami had probably figured it out by now.
From that exchange alone, she’d realize how hard these girls were trying to accept her as part of second-gen.
No matter how badly I spoke about her, Ena and the others defended her like she was already family.
They were ready to become four instead of three.
Except for one.
Darami, the only one still chained to her trauma.
If she’d been watching this unfold, then surely she’d feel the sincerity of—
“Ah! Seriously!”
But before I could even message her and ask how it went, her voice suddenly rang out across the plaza in front of the mall.
“What’s your problem? I said I’m with someone!”
“You’ve been standing here alone this whole time. Don’t want to give your number? Just say it. Why lie?”
“Ugh! You’re the one lying, accusing me! This is insane!”
The moment those words hit, Ena shot up from her seat.
“So it was Darami…”
I slipped behind her and gave the back of her knee a gentle nudge.
Then, as she sat back down on the bench, stunned, I turned to the other two.
“Don’t even think about interfering. Your voices are too unique. If you all move together, we’ll get found out.”
“Got it.”
“Okay!”
Ena protested—she couldn’t just sit there while Darami was clearly in trouble.
“But Darami’s really in a bind right now—”
“I’ll handle it.”
I placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.
With my eyes, I told her: Trust your manager.
“…Okay. If you need help, say so, got it?”
I nodded once, then turned and walked directly toward Darami and the two men who’d clearly approached her to flirt.
All eyes followed me as I marched forward.
Staring straight at the guys, I reached out and took Darami’s hand.
“Mom, who are they? Are they strangers?”