Now That I Have Become a Woman, I Am a Vtuber

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The height of the sky is high, and its color is blue.

Occasional clouds partly obscure the sunlight, but still, the sun boasts a vibrant presence in the afternoon.

I find myself at the festival grounds, which are bustling with preparations.

“It’s just the same as ever.”

“Have you been here before?”

“Yes, I’ve come a few times.”

And beside me stands Park Kang-seok. The other band members are busy preparing for the rehearsal.

The festival is tomorrow, but there are already some people around.

Most of them seem to be singers and their entourages who have come for rehearsal, or staff members.

Thinking that this place will be packed with attendees enjoying the festival in just 24 hours feels a bit strange.

“More people are coming over there.”

“Yes, more will arrive.”

“Wow… there are really a lot of teams.”

“It should be packed with rehearsal teams until tonight.”

Well, with the festival lasting almost all day and running for two consecutive days, it makes sense that there would be many teams rehearsing today.

“Let’s go to the waiting room for now.”

“Okay, everyone will be waiting.”

Anyway, after looking around a bit, we returned to the waiting room.

“Hey, you’re back?”

“Hey, where’s my guitar string?”

“That’s over there….”

As we entered the waiting room, I noticed the band members getting ready.

Hmm, has Hyeon-su always seen this scene? It’s reassuring, and the crowded waiting room feels nice.

Seeing things like that makes me want to start a band too.

…Doesn’t Hyeon-su’s enlistment mean everyone gets a bit idle?

Should I propose to borrow them for just a year when that happens?

No, wait.

The band members need to take breaks too.

Besides, I’m not exactly active as a singer either.

If I do get serious about it, I can always form a band then.

“By the way, where did Hyeon-su go?”

Anyway, while I was thinking about such things, I suddenly noticed that Hyeon-su was missing.

Where did he go? He was just sitting there with his cap pulled down before stepping out for a moment.

“Oh, Hyeon-su?”

In response to my question, Kang-hyeok answered, sporting a slight smile, indicating something had happened.

“He went out briefly and got caught.”

“Got caught? Caught doing what?”

Did he do something wrong? And who caught him? Hyeon-su isn’t someone who would just get caught…

“He ran into the festival’s head person.”

“I see.”

“When he declined the invitation so firmly and then ended up coming as a guest, they caught him saying it’s disappointing, and they can’t just let him go now, can they?”

…That’s just how it is.

With someone like Hyeon-su, the festival organizers must have extended numerous offers.

After all, isn’t he a rare singer performing in a band in Korea? He’s definitely the star of this festival.

So, when such a person firmly turned down an offer and then suddenly showed up, it must be surprising for the festival officials.

“I guess I’ll have to treat him to a meal later.”

Saying that, I felt grateful for Hyeon-su coming as a guest, but Ah-young chimed in.

“Hyeon-su is going to the army soon, so I’ll probably treat him in two years.”

“…I’ll just treat him on my leave.”

Or maybe I can just treat him to a meal during visitation?

But it’s true that he’s really going to the army now.

Thinking that the high schooler I saw at the café is going to become a soldier makes time seem to fly by.

Well, since three years went by quickly, I believe a year and a half will too.

…Though Hyeon-su inside will likely feel time differently.

“Still, he’ll probably show up before we start, right?”

“I think so. Hyeon-su is good at keeping time.”

Before we know it, it’ll be our rehearsal time, so I should start getting up, but it makes me a bit anxious that he’s not here yet.

“By the way, Soo-hyun, you should take care of that well.”

While we waited for Hyeon-su to arrive before the rehearsal, Kang-hyeok pointed at the guitar I was carrying.

Just so you know, I still haven’t managed to get a second guitar.

So this time, Kang-hyeok generously lent me one of his cherished guitars.

As expected of a famous band guitarist—his spare guitar is really nice too.

“Don’t worry. There’s no one who takes care of instruments like I do.”

“…I hear you lost one.”

“I went out with the perfect execution.”

If I played my last performance on the rain-soaked streets and ended my life there, maybe my first Miro guitar had a decent life?

“It was a bit short, though.”

“….”

Well, as Kang-hyeok said, it was indeed a bit brief.

Still, up until the end, I had been managing it quite well.

Thinking back, I feel a bit regretful.

I had cherished it quite a lot, and it’s sad that it went so suddenly.

I wonder if the reason I still haven’t gotten a second guitar is that I have lingering feelings for the first one.

Anyway, as we chatted more, our rehearsal time was approaching.

“I might have been a bit late, huh?”

“You arrived just in time.”

Hyeon-su, who had been out, appeared just in time, and we all stood up from the waiting room.

“Take good care of that guitar.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. Am I going to mess it up during rehearsal?”

“…That makes me anxious.”

“Trust me, Soo-hyun.”

“I don’t trust you, that’s why.”

After that, we engaged in a lively conversation while gathering our equipment and left the waiting room.

We walked through a considerably long hallway reserved for staff.

Upon opening the door in front of us, a well-set stage appeared.

“Well, the drum set looks good.”

Ah-young said that first as she sat down at the drum set that had been prepared by the festival staff.

Gradually, the other band members took their places.

“Hyeon-su, as a guest, is staying back at the entrance.”

I walked straight to the center of the stage.

As I gazed out at the space in front of me, aside from the staff or those preparing for the festival, an empty area lay before me.

It’s empty now, but by tomorrow, it will be filled.

“Ha.”

Still, even though it’s currently empty, I spoke confidently, looking down.

“I’ll start now.”

This marks the moment we begin the last rehearsal for the festival stage that we’ve prepared for a long time.

**

“Alright, that’s it!”

“Thank you all for your hard work!”

After the rehearsal was over, I lightly wiped the sweat from my brow with a towel as I stepped off the stage.

Hmm, it really wasn’t too tough.

Maybe because there weren’t many songs?

Aside from feeling a bit hot, it wasn’t exhausting at all.

“What should we do now?”

“Shall we go eat?”

“That sounds good.”

Anyway, after actually performing on stage, I realized something.

The band members are amazing.

The sound is completely different when playing in an open space compared to a workshop.

Thinking about how later staff members and other singers were all captivated by our performance makes me excited for tomorrow.

Well, now that it’s done, I was thinking about finding a restaurant after escaping from the festival when…

“How about we not go straight to eat and check out the festival for a bit?”

Ah-young, who hadn’t seen anything due to setting up earlier, spoke up.

“The festival? Do you want to see it?”

“Yeah, we can’t really see it properly tomorrow.”

Hmm… that’s true.

Moreover, while they’re still preparing, it feels almost complete now since it’s the eve of the festival.

It might be a good opportunity to check out the festival buildings fully prepared sans the crowd.

“With no one around, what kind of festival can we see?”

“Do you want to die?”

“Then shall we take a quick look around?”

“Well, if Hyeon-su wants to.”

Well, though Kang-hyeok was grumbling a bit, as Hyeon-su approved, it naturally turned into a brief festival exploration.

This band seems to follow Hyeon-su’s lead surprisingly well.

Even though they are quite younger, they seem to view him as a proper leader.

“Wow, look over there, they might have chicken skewers.”

“They aren’t selling, though.”

“…That place is selling alcohol.”

“That place isn’t selling either.”

“Kang-hyeok, shall we go fistfight?”

Anyway, as we casually popped around the festival under Ah-young’s lead, I noticed a crowd in the distance.

Another team seems to be arriving.

I wonder who it could be.

Since it usually seems to be singers or idols coming, it piqued my interest.

If it’s someone famous, maybe I can get an autograph…

“Oh?”

They are indeed famous, but… they seem familiar.

“Soo-hyun, what’s up?”

“Just give me a moment.”

I asked my companions for a moment’s grace and approached that way.

Though I was a bit concerned about potentially passing through the crowd, it felt awkward to walk away after spotting them.

“Excuse me….”

As I moved closer, all the gazes of the gathered crowd turned towards me.

“Whoa.”

“Whoa….”

As I looked at the people, surprised staff surrounded a familiar face.

“Long time no see.”

I waved my hand towards the familiar figure in the middle.

“Whoa, Soo-hyun? You’re here too?”

The person I greeted was none other than Han Se-ryeong.

The active idol appeared genuinely surprised as her eyes widened at the sight of me.

It’s genuinely been a long time.

When we filmed with Sera a year ago, we saw each other often and became quite close.

However, after filming ended, we hardly kept in touch.

“Wow, it’s so nice to see you. Have you been well?”

“I’ve been well, thank you.”

“Thank goodness. Oh, by the way, how’s the manager?”

“Oh, he’s briefly at a different place right now.”

Seeing her ask about Park Kang-seok right away shows that Han Se-ryeong hasn’t changed at all.

Does she still hold feelings?

Typically, feelings change quickly at that age.

“Soo-hyun?”

“Oh, I thought I recognized you….”

But am I interrupting too much?

The gazes of the girls who seemed to be part of Han Se-ryeong’s entourage shifted strongly towards me.

Um, uhm…

“Ah, hello. I’m Kim Soo-hyun.”

All the pretty faces that looked familiar indicated she indeed had the same group of idols.

“Nice to meet you.”

“I enjoyed your song!”

“You’re that guy who acted in the same drama as Se-ryeong!”

The famous idols nodded as they recognized me from my greeting.

It’s quite a strange feeling to be recognized by celebrities.

…Honestly, I’m now somewhat accustomed to it after many variety show shoots.

But when a popular girl group gathers as a complete unit, it feels somewhat intimidating.

Is it considered aura?

The vibe is entirely different than when the members of the celestial realm are all together.

“I heard a lot about you from Se-ryeong.”

“Eh, about me?”

“Yeah, she praised you a lot.”

Whoa… My compliments made it into girl group talks? What an honor for my family.

“And by the way… I hear Kang-seok is your manager?”

“Ah, yes.”

“What a coincidence!”

Thinking about it, since she’s in the same group as Se-ryeong, she probably knows Park Kang-seok.

This guy Park Kang-seok… even as a substitute, he’s working as a manager among beautiful girl groups.

It’s quite the lucky situation for him.

“Do you want to say hi? He’s right over there.”

This is an opportunity, so it wouldn’t hurt for us to have a chance to meet.

Fortunately, Park Kang-seok is nearby too.

“Uh… should we?”

“We’re fine with it.”

Hearing that, the girl group members nodded their heads.

Han Se-ryeong… was outright showing a teasing smile.

“Then follow me.”

Anyway, we guided the crew and walked towards the band members and Park Kang-seok.

Since things had come to this, I thought to introduce them to everyone, and just then, it seemed Park Kang-seok and Ah-young were also coming our way.

Did I talk for too long?

“Soo-hyun, who are those…?”

“Uh, who are they?”

As they approached, Park Kang-seok and Ah-young exchanged surprised glances at the group I brought along.

They seemed startled for different reasons.

“Oh, it’s been a while.”

While Park Kang-seok showed a mix of happiness and a hint of hesitation,

“Whoa… I’m a fan!”

Ah-young seemed genuinely amazed by the girl group.

“Oh, these are….”

Just as we were about to introduce them…

“…Soo-hyun, who are they?”

From behind, Han Se-ryeong asked in a somewhat lower voice.

“Oh, um… they’re my band friends.”

“Oh, a band….”

“Yes, yes. She’s the drummer.”

“Oh, a drummer… Kang-seok used to play that too….”

“Yes?”

In that moment, with the drastically different atmosphere than the usual, I was curious why Se-ryeong was acting that way…

But, looking at Park Kang-seok and Ah-young in front of me, I began to understand.

They seemed to look a bit familiar to each other.

Given that I spent much time in the workshop recently, as Park Kang-seok and the band members formed a bond, they naturally grew closer…

From my perspective, there was zero romantic notion between the two, but it seems that Se-ryeong is seeing it differently.

“Oh, so do you two know each other?”

“We’ve worked together a few times as a substitute road manager.”

“Impressive!”

Well, I guess it seems a good pairing from an outsider’s perspective.

Park Kang-seok, with his gruff demeanor, and Ah-young, who may appear tough but has a good personality—they do look okay together.

So, it seems Se-ryeong is misunderstanding the situation…

Well, this is something.

“I’m Ah-young!”

“Ah-young… nice to meet you.”

Ugh… I wonder if there’s any popcorn lying around?

This looks entertaining to watch.