My past that I didn’t even know.
Two years ago.
It was the year when Higurashi Nanoka debuted.
At the time, I was still in high school, at the peak of being a loner, awkward, and a hikikomori.
Moreover, it was also the time when my memory was the most incomplete.
Like someone had cut the middle of a film with scissors, there are holes scattered throughout, to the point that I don’t even remember when I got expelled.
This is a memory that’s easy to misunderstand or manipulate.
“…Two years ago?”
“Yeah. I was surprised too. A high school freshman, doing a broadcast… Until then, I thought it was just about stripping and stuff.”
Glance.
Jiwoo’s gaze shifted towards my chest.
An unpleasant look, as if licking the melons attached to my chest.
I gave Jiwoo a disgusted look and moved away.
This crazy pervert… Does she think that’s all there is to broadcasting?
“Pervert.”
“A pervert?! Do you even remember what you said back then?!”
It wasn’t exactly an attack, but I must’ve been scratched quite a bit…
“After school that day, you showed me the broadcast equipment you bought, right? And when I asked you something, you started talking about how WFC champion is your older brother, saying strange things… Then suddenly, you said you were broadcasting. What did I know about broadcasting? Naturally, I thought it was… that kind of broadcasting.”
“Ah, I see~.”
After hearing this, Jiwoo blushed and started telling a long story about the past.
Probably because… she felt guilty?
Jiwoo originally had the cool beauty concept, so her reaction seemed cute with the gap.
“…Are you going to keep teasing me? Did you suddenly switch to ‘high school senior Kang Suhyun’ mode?”
Getting annoyed from the teasing, Jiwoo took back the lead.
Should I tell her I don’t remember the past? But that would sound like a forced, depressing development.
If my life were a novel, I should keep the tags to a minimum.
The more complicated, the more tiring life becomes.
“High school senior?”
If it’s high school senior, that would be a point where I’d been broadcasting for a year.
Hmm. I’m not sure, but probably when I was most active as Nanoka.
It would have been when I met and interacted with the most people.
“You’re pretending you don’t know. Back then, you were the most active. I was so surprised because I didn’t expect you to change so much after starting broadcasting.”
“Really…?”
“Yeah. You were joking around, teasing, and when you said you had a daughter, I was so shocked.”
“Ex…”
What?
Wasn’t Yui the first?
I feel a bit sorry for the first daughter.
I don’t know who she is.
I didn’t think about the completely blank memories before.
Just comparing the remaining memories, they seemed similar, so I thought it was just a parallel world.
“I thought the company and my sister’s idea of a virtual YouTuber were different. Sis, could you not say weird things?”
“I’m sorry. Mm, mm, mm-chan. I’m now…”
“Sis, you’re more important to other people than you think. Please don’t graduate.”
As I tried to recall the old memories, the images of films suddenly came to my mind. No, wait. A woman crying in front of me appeared in my mind.
Her hair and eyes were both light pink…? A bright color reminiscent of spring cherry blossoms.
Her eyes were dead like fish hanging in a fish market. Plus, she spoke in Japanese.
Maybe she’s a classmate? Or another virtual YouTuber.
…I couldn’t have seen such a person in my past life!
It seems the difference between female Kang Suhyun and male Kang Suhyun had a bigger snowball effect than I thought.
Living for a year with a completely changed way of life.
“…I’m glad I’m doing well now, but back then it was really… Are you listening?”
“Yeah. Huh? Ah, yeah. I’m listening.”
I answered vaguely while leaning into Jiw.
If I need time to think, I can just lean in.
“Ha…”
Then Jiwoo became quiet for a moment, probably to smell my scent.
Now I could think as much as I wanted.
In the current situation, I’ve confirmed that I’m Nanoka, so I’ll accept that.
But why is there no trace left? That’s the question.
The manager, or fellow virtual YouTubers.
Even a classmate should have had their phone number, right?
But there’s no trace of any of them in my house, and no evidence of me having broadcasted.
It’s suspiciously clean and perfect, like a hermit’s house.
“Hmm…”
Something feels bitter.
It’s like there’s a bad smell.
Nanoka, who overcame high school bullying while broadcasting.
Kang Suhyun, who erased all the phone numbers of broadcast-related acquaintances and erased her memories.
Which one is the truth…
“Jiwoo.”
“Yeah?”
Because my head hurts.
“I’m hungry. Do you want to eat out?”
I don’t want to think about this anymore.
After all, the past doesn’t really matter, right?
I’ll just explain it away and keep broadcasting stubbornly in the evening.
It might end simply.
“Really… You’re always so sudden. You.”
Jiwoo sighed and put on the coat she had hung up.
Yeah. Even though she acts cool, like Jiwoo, who still grumbles.
The viewers will easily let it slide.
What could possibly change?
Suhyun and Jiwoo’s meal out ended surprisingly quickly.
If you ask why, the reason is clearly Jiwoo.
“Ah. Sorry. It’s my 300th day today. I’m going to head out now.”
“Huh? You want me to eat a pizza by myself?”
“It’s cheap. I’ll be fine. I can eat that for three days.”
And so, Suhyun trudged back home, holding a big pizza.
After just going to the pizza shop in front of the house, Suhyun, fully geared up, was already feeling hot even though it was winter.
This mask and sunglasses have now become an essential item for going out.
“Fuuu.”
Suhyun, walking with a pitiful sigh, felt an incredibly heavy back.
The crucial point is what to say in the upcoming broadcast once she gets home.
Whether it’s a virtual YouTuber, a YouTuber, or a writer, the debut period is the most important.
If you mess up even once, viewers will decrease by more than half, and fewer than 10% will remain.
“Why not just admit it like a crazy person?”
Sometimes, I considered the easier path.
“…That’s crazy.”
But I quickly gave up on that thought.
Suhyun is impulsive, introverted, and loves to fantasize, but she wasn’t the type of person to slack off when it comes to important moments in life.
“Ugh…”
Even though nothing particularly sharp came to mind right now.
It’s not easy to deny yourself in front of ten thousand people.
Moreover, Nanoka’s activity period was two years.
Though the old Suhyun tried to hide it, a lot of information over the past two years had been released.
Her unique art style, favorite foods, favorite soccer players.
All the small topics she used to talk about were compiled on a wiki thanks to those who found them valuable.
[Her favorite food is Korean samgyeopsal (pork belly). She seems to be a light eater since she can’t finish one serving.]
[She’s a hardcore dieter. She says she can feel full for the day on just ramen.]
[She doesn’t like exercise, but her favorite soccer player is Ronaldinho (!). Probably because of being a Barcelona fan.]
“Sigh…”
Suhyun sat on the bench, sighing while looking at her phone.
The injustice filled her chest, and now it was starting to spill out from her eyes.
“…Oh.”
“Wow…”
Afterward, it was obvious that all eyes would be on her as she wiped away her tears, still wearing her sunglasses.
At that moment, a few brave people had decided to approach her.
“Suhyun, do you know how much I’ve been looking for you?”
The tired-looking “Flight Track,” whispered while putting a coat over Suhyun’s head.
Ding-. Clunk.
“F-Flight Track? What are you doing with my computer…”
Without even glancing at me, Flight Track was handling my equipment with familiarity.
I guess she really is a manager. She set things up way faster than I could.
“I’m setting things up.”
“Ah…”
Damn it. Damn it.
I completely forgot that Flight Track was coming.
Of all things, she waited right outside the house after we went out to eat.
I’m such a jerk…
“Setup complete. I’ll give you the script soon. Let me know when you’re ready to broadcast.”
What…?
Wait a second.
“You’ve already written the script? It hasn’t even been a few hours…”
“Sometimes people can do the impossible. I’ll connect with the witnesses and Discord soon, so you should review the script. You can even stick it to the monitor. The viewers won’t notice at that angle.”
FlyingCloud’s face remained expressionless.
She had an air of confidence about her.
“Don’t worry and just do it properly. I’m sure it’ll go well.”
Right. That confident face of yours. I get that you’re sure of yourself.
But this script…
“…Really, are we going to follow this exactly?”
This is really messed up.
Even I, a lazy person, am shocked by this incredibly lazy approach…
“If you can’t do it, I’ll come on air and help you. But the effect might be reduced.”
FlyingCloud’s eyes were clearly telling me that I had to do it alone.
Of course, that’s the right thing to do. But this script…
Ugh. I don’t care.
“Sigh. Fine. I’ll give it a try.”
Click.
The pre-set title and description.
And the waiting viewers all joined as if planned.
[Today’s broadcast is karaoke!]
- ????
- Yuki is doing karaoke?
- This is so fresh, I love it.
- Wow, damn, you’ve nailed the need, so excited.
- Yuki? Not Nanoka?
- Nanoka, you bitch, come back quickly.
- Damn, I didn’t expect the previous life to be in Korea. hahaha
These reactions will soon turn into tired ones.
I feel a little sorry for them.
I took a deep breath in front of the high-end mic and began the first note.
“Ah, um… Today, I’ll be singing…”
- Waaah
- Damn, this is it, sex hahaha
- Yuki is always calm, so emotions might not come through?
- Nanoka sings with emotions though.
- (Manager) Don’t bring up that Nanoka stuff on the broadcast?
Hmm. Even so, Manager. You’re not blocking them.
Maybe they’re curious too but pretending not to be.
I glanced.
I secretly watched FlyingCloud, who was standing next to me, watching the broadcast.
She was nodding repeatedly, looking satisfied.
Sigh. Is this the right thing to do?
“The first song is…”
- Ooooh
- Finally starting!
- I wonder how Yuki’s singing skills are…!
- Have they improved since Nanoka?
- Maybe?
These people. They’re still laughing, but…
“Alright. Let’s start the next song?”
- The pause is a bit short.
- Yuki’s singing is so good hahaha
- Damn, she sings so well.
- The emotions are more than expected. I almost cried just now…
- Serious nerds: Getting overwhelmed.
…If I follow FlyingCloud’s script, soon everyone will be crying.
- But when are you going to explain things?
- 02
- It’s been two hours, just singing hahaha
- Are we just going to finish the broadcast by singing?
- Nah, I don’t think so.
Singing karaoke mindlessly until the bait is settled down…
This doesn’t feel right…