What was delivered to Gong Seungyeon, who had been eagerly expecting a refreshing bowl of snowflake shaved ice topped with pineapple for dessert, was none other than—
“How is it? Looks delicious, right?”
A steaming pineapple pizza, with chunks of warm pineapple scattered generously on top of melted cheese.
The bright yellow fruit resting atop the cheese seemed unusually conspicuous today.
“Ughhhhhh…”
Seungyeon liked pineapple.
She liked fresh pineapple, and she enjoyed it as a dessert pairing too.
As long as she could savor its sweetness and tanginess, she was all in.
But there was one exception.
Hot pineapple—especially when baked on a pizza—was, in Seungyeon’s eyes, the greatest of culinary sins.
How could anyone eat pineapple warm?
Sure, people say that cooking it makes it sweeter, softens its tartness, and removes its bitterness. Fine.
If it were grilled and served as a side dish for meat, Seungyeon might understand.
But pineapple on pizza? To her, it was like slapping bright construction yellow paint onto an already harmonious painting and smugly asking, “Isn’t this artistic?”
“If I get reincarnated, please send me to the time when pineapple pizza was invented… So I can find the person who made it and whack them upside the head…”
With this dramatic thought, Seungyeon closed her eyes tightly, briefly escaping into her metaverse of imagination. She quickly composed herself and prepared to answer Magia’s question.
“M-m-m…”
But no words came out.
No matter how much she admired her senior or how badly she wanted to make up for the mistake she’d made earlier…
Did she really have to say that pineapple pizza was delicious?
For someone else, it might be easy. But for Seungyeon, a self-proclaimed pineapple enthusiast, uttering those words felt like the ultimate betrayal to the fruit.
Still, what choice did she have?
Her senior was staring at her with such a content smile, clearly eager for her to enjoy the meal.
“M-Ma-Magia Team Leader, thank you for the food!”
Finally, Magia picked up a slice of pizza and began nibbling on the edge, like a cute hamster chewing on a block of cheese.
That sight should have stirred Seungyeon’s appetite, but instead, her mind was clouded by the thought of the bizarre combination:
Soft bread, tangy tomato paste, creamy cheese… and then the sudden sweetness of pineapple on top.
The dish’s discordance loomed over her like a specter, making it impossible for her to even think about taking a bite.
But wasn’t this a test of loyalty?
Back in university, her seniors used to play pranks like this too.
They’d claim to love pineapple pizza and then wait to see if the juniors would share it with them—or at least fake enthusiasm.
In this case, it was as though Magia was subtly asking, “Will you still follow me even if I like pineapple pizza?”
“Just close your eyes and eat.”
Seungyeon knew better than anyone that Magia was a kind and considerate person.
After all, how many people would take the time to guide someone who showed up for an interview at two in the morning? Not many.
So even if Magia liked cilantro-packed pho or mint chocolate, Seungyeon could accept it. Working in the same office as her was already a blessing in her life.
Besides, wasn’t she the one who started this mess by accidentally dropping the fish-shaped pastry on the floor and launching the attack first?
“Time to pay for my sins.”
With that thought, Seungyeon opened her mouth wide and prepared to bite into the pointed end of the pizza slice—when suddenly, a small hand swooped in, snatching the pizza away and placing it back onto the oily pizza box.
“If there’s something you don’t like, just say it. Don’t eat something just because your senior tells you to.”
“N-no? That’s not it? I didn’t say I didn’t like it!”
“Your expression and actions tell me everything.”
Even as Seungyeon tried to avert her gaze, there was no escaping Magia’s sharp eyes.
“Sorry. I thought you’d like pineapple pizza since you like pineapple. Don’t force yourself to eat it. Let’s order something else—whatever you want.”
“Uh, um, but… you bought this for me…”
“Quickly.”
Magia’s tone was more serious than Seungyeon had ever heard, her face more solemn than she’d ever seen.
It was clear she wasn’t joking.
“Yes, ma’am!”
Hastily, Seungyeon took the phone from Magia and began searching for something else to order.
But her heart wasn’t at ease.
‘I should’ve just eaten it without hesitation.’
Why did it feel like she kept messing up her relationship with her senior…….?
*
‘If you don’t like something, just say it.’
Or maybe it’s not that maybe she’s just a new hire still figuring things out.”
Come to think of it, when I first started working here, I never turned down a request for help either.
The only reason I didn’t end up overwhelmed was because the boss made it explicitly clear: ‘Your job is this.’ and ‘Only help others if you’ve got the bandwidth.’ That structure kept me in line. Still, whenever I stepped out of my own little cubicle, I somehow always came back with extra work.
Of course, in my case, the job I started with was basically an extension of my previous role, managing the boss directly. But for Seungyeon? This is all completely new to her—new workplace, new responsibilities, and an environment she’s never experienced before.
That’s why I need to step in now and make sure she knows it’s okay to say no.
If she dislikes something, if she’s too busy, she should feel confident enough to speak up.
A little while later, Seungyeon returned to her desk with the burger set she’d ordered. Before she even sat down, she bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry for causing so much trouble because of me…”
“Just eat. You need energy to work.”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
Right now, the Halloween special collab with our original first-gen team was still going on. The four of them were happily chatting, which meant it was a rare moment for us to relax.
During a live broadcast with synchronized screens, there’s hardly any downtime since we have to constantly monitor all the feeds. But when they’re just talking, the workload drops significantly—essentially cutting our responsibilities to a quarter of what they usually are.
Four people handling the show instead of one? That reduces stress to about an eighth of the usual level.
If we can’t enjoy a meal and chat during a time like this, then when can we?
I watched Seungyeon take a huge bite out of her burger. Her expression instantly lit up, a stark contrast to her earlier grim demeanor with the pineapple pizza.
“Your face is totally different from before.”
“Cough, cough.”
“From now on, if there’s something you don’t like, don’t hesitate—just tell me. We’re going to be working together for a long time, so we might as well get to know each other’s likes and dislikes. No sense in keeping quiet and creating unnecessary tension, right?”
Seungyeon chugged her cola, exhaling loudly before finally responding.
“Y-yes, you’re absolutely right.”
“And stop being so formal. Relax a little! There’s only a one-year age difference between us, after all.”
“W-what?! How could I do that?! You’re the team leader!”
“Oh, I see. You want to keep your distance from me? Got it. That’s fair.”
“N-no, no, no, no, no! That’s not it at all!”
Realizing her voice might’ve been a bit too loud, Seungyeon glanced around nervously before spilling her thoughts in a rush.
“I mean, I’m a fan too! Of course, I’m happy to be working with you! Half the fanbase is desperate just to catch a glimpse of you on stream. But now I get to see you every single day, so, um… Well, I guess I’m more than just a fan? I’ve always been rooting for you anyway. Your streams have been so fun lately, and I’ve wanted to meet you for so long. Oh my gosh…”
“Even though I didn’t openly say ‘I’m Jigwon-D,’ everyone seemed to figure it out, as if my voice had fingerprints attached to it.
However, unlike the other candidates who proudly posted after the interview saying, ‘I saw Jigwon-D!’ Seungyeon didn’t mention anything about my or the CEO’s appearance in her post.
She had already deeply internalized the unspoken rule in the VTuber industry about protecting anonymity, and she prioritized the company over individuals.
She was the closest to the ideal junior I had imagined—someone who cared not just about herself but also about the well-being of Parallel.
That’s why I wanted to take good care of her. Finding another junior like her wouldn’t be easy.
‘If that’s how you feel, Seungyeon, we should get along more comfortably. Sure, I’m technically above you in rank, but we’re essentially doing the same work. If I get busy, you can take some of my workload, and if you’re busy, I’ll help you out too.’
‘Ah, okay…’
‘And above all, we’re both Woldongies, right?’
Woldong — a term derived from Parallel World referred to the collective fandom of Parallel. In other words, it meant, “We’re both hako oshi (fans of the entire group). Let’s just think of ourselves as friends enjoying our mutual fandom together.”
Her previously stiff and uncomfortable expression, marked by slight frowns, finally softened completely.
‘Yes, we are Woldongies.’
‘Once the stream is over, call me team leader or whatever you like, but at least while we’re watching streams together, think of me as a friend. Like when you’re in a group chat watching a collab from the first-gen members, and you’re bantering with friends, saying, “Oh my god, this is hilarious,” or “They’re crazy!”—just think of it like that, but in real life. Easy, right?’
Seungyeon cracked a smile—a real one this time. It was the first smile I’d seen since she dropped her fish-shaped bun onto the cold floor earlier.
‘Got it!’
She turned up the volume on the headset around her neck and leaned back into her chair. Seungyeon, too, relaxed from her stiff posture and leaned slightly back while glancing at me for reassurance.
Just then, the first-gen collab was transitioning from a casual chat to the main event of their content.
[(
Live) Trick or Treat Special 
39,142 viewers]
Today’s collab content was Trick or Treat.
It’s a type of dotzumachi—a guest-inviting stream that’s typically done for birthdays. The streamer opens a voice channel and waits for guests to drop by. These guests, usually VTubers from the same company, come to share congratulatory messages or small gifts. The streamer then offers quick thanks or replies, and the stream moves along.
It’s a chance for the first-gen members to show off the connections they’ve built over the years, in a way. Guests bring candies, drawings, photos, or simple handmade gifts. Since each guest’s offering varies, the short interactions are filled with fun and variety.
‘Who do you think will show up first?’
I asked Seungyeon, as though we were just two friends casually watching the stream together. She was busy devouring her burger but managed to respond after swallowing.
‘I think… Moogun-nim?’
‘I was thinking the same thing.’
‘Lately, they’ve really been into Moogun’s streams. Plus, they just added a Maru Ori remix to their latest play montage. And, it’s the perfect time for dinner, so…’
“Exactly. They’ll probably stop by, say hello, and then head off to their own stream.”
As soon as the conversation ended, the notification sound for a new entry in TokCode rang out.
True to the “big data” prediction, Moogun had arrived.
[Hello. Um, it’s not like I was waiting around for the stream to open or anything. I just happened to have some free time, so I stopped by to bring you some candy. Looking forward to your new song release in five days—good luck!]
Everyone jumped in to thank him profusely.
“Thank you for organizing the World Cup!”
“Thanks for letting us promote this in the internal server!” and so on.
After some brief updates and banter, Moogun left behind his “gift”:
[Oh, I recently watched Komari’s stream. I got a little worried about the fans’ dental health, so I prepared something for them.]
What did he mean?
It turned out to be a nighttime mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding.
Komari’s baffled reaction was priceless.
[Wow… Thank you… so much…]
The chat exploded in laughter.
– “Moogun taking care of the fans’ dental health is so on-brand lol.”
– “Normalizing teeth grinding 
”
– “The first candy gift is already legendary!”
The “Candy List” displayed on the top-right corner of the stream screen updated to reflect his gift.
After Moogun left, other collaborators and members who had done collabs with the first-gen members gradually started showing up one by one. Even the members’ respective mamas and papas (their illustrators) began to appear.
By the time about 20 guests had dropped in, there was such a surge of activity that a waiting queue formed. But then, as quickly as the wave had come, things began to calm down.
It was 8 PM—time for most of the guests to start their own streams. Naturally, the broadcast fell into a bit of a lull.
It would’ve been perfect if the CEO could’ve jumped in to fill the gap, but he was neck-deep in a meeting about the upcoming first anniversary event’s planning and promotion. A quick glance at the meeting room revealed a chaotic scene, with people standing around the whiteboard scribbling and erasing frantically.
The first-gen members were doing their best to keep the conversation alive, but the longer the silence stretched, the more the excitement for the content began to wane.
It felt like the perfect time to throw some fuel onto the fire.
I swapped my monitoring headset for earbuds, logged into TokCode on my phone, and stood up.
“I’m just going to help the kids out on stream for a bit. Keep watching.”
“Oh, okay!”
Ding!
As soon as my nickname appeared in the waiting room, I was immediately pulled into the broadcast channel. Dora must have been keeping an eye out and yanked me in right away.
The members erupted in noisy greetings.
[What? D? What’s going on?]
[Oh, it’s Jigwon-D!]
[Unnie’s here?!]
[Hello~~!]
– “What the heck lol.”
– “Glad I didn’t miss today’s stream .”
– “Big W for those of us who were already watching lol.”
“Hi, everyone. Happy Halloween! Things were a bit quiet, so I thought this would be the perfect time to drop by and say hello.”
Usually, when someone new joins, the person most connected to them takes the lead in the conversation. In my case, that was Dora, likely because of my connection as her mama (illustrator privilege, perhaps?).
As expected, Dora immediately tried to keep me on the stream.
[Jigwon-D! Just stay here with us. Let’s receive candy together, hehe!]
But, of course, there was no way I was going to fall for that.
There had been no prior notice, and I was already busy training someone for a handover. Still, I made time to hop onto the stream.
“I just came to drop off some candy, so take it quietly.”
[Really? What are you giving us?]
I’d already been planning to treat everyone to something in celebration of my promotion.
“A pizza gift voucher.”
While the members were busy exclaiming in awe, Komari was the first to catch on and let out a loud shriek.
[Unnie, no way?]
Rain, still clueless, didn’t react. A beat later, Dora and Maru caught on and chimed in.
[No way… It’s not that pizza, is it?]
[Seriously, Jigwon-D, no!]
Without answering, I sent a bundle of gift vouchers to the gift submission channel (an open chatroom). Dora sighed deeply as soon as she saw them.
[Jigwon-D, you know these aren’t for us, right? They’re just going to end up being eaten by the viewers.]
“Well, it’s wonderful if the viewers can discover a new level of culinary joy.”
Komari howled like a beast.
[You villain! You call this candy? You’re worse than a devil!]
“It’s my favorite food. Saying that hurts my feelings, you know.”
– “?? What is it?”
– “If it’s pizza, I’ll take it—pizza’s never a bad idea.”
– “What’s causing all this chaos though? ”
Curious viewers started asking to see the gift. Finally, a screenshot of the vouchers—excluding the barcodes—was shared on screen, and the Candy List updated.
Candy List:
– …
– (MAJAPIZZA) Hawaiian Pineapple Pizza, Cola 1.5L x20
This wasn’t just any Hawaiian pizza; it was the bestselling Hawaiian Deluxe from Majapizza, which had double the usual amount of pineapple.
The reactions from the members were explosive, and the chat erupted in agreement.
[This is truly horrific…]
[Reconsidering my decision to ever eat with Jigwon-D.]
[But Rain, why do you hate it? You lived in America, right?]
[Shut up! Don’t ever say that again. Even Americans don’t tolerate Hawaiian pizza. Immediate cut-off, OUT!]
– “GUAAAAAAAH.”
– “They sent 20 pizzas of this!?”
– “Lmao, so these days, landmines look like pizza.”
– “But honestly, Hawaiian pizza isn’t that bad, right?”
– “There must be a reason for this chaos.”
The once-quiet stream instantly turned into a whirlwind of noise and chatter.
By now, a guest was waiting in the broadcast queue, so it was the perfect time for me to make my exit.
“Well, I’m off now. Viewers, enjoy your warm pizzas and have a happy Halloween!”
*
Gong Seungyeon was startled and spoke up.
“To think that viewers are discovering new culinary delights. That’s such a wonderful thing.”
“This is my favorite food, though. Hearing that makes me feel a little sad.”
“Anyway, I’ll be off now. I hope the viewers enjoy some warm pizza and have a happy Halloween.”
Whether Magia was aware of it or not,
the way she barged in to liven up the broadcast atmosphere was completely different from the Magia everyone had seen so far.
Throughout her speech, her eyes glowed warmly, and she had a bright, carefree smile that radiated happiness and enjoyment.
Watching her made Seungyeon feel all warm and fuzzy inside, almost like she couldn’t help but share in the good vibes.
Until now, Seungyeon had thought that Momo’s insistence on hiding the staff ID was because she found broadcasts intimidating or uncomfortable.
But based on what she had just seen, it seemed more like Magia genuinely enjoyed watching people frantically search for the staff ID and make a fuss about it.
So, when Magia finished what she was doing and put her earbuds back into the charging case,
Gong Seungyeon reflexively clapped her hands, as though she’d just witnessed a stunning live performance.
“This must be the aura of Momo’s ultimate ‘troublemaker’ personality and her skilled parallel management prowess… You weren’t nervous with ten thousand people watching…?”
Magia responded as though it was nothing.
As if she was completely used to this sort of thing.
“During the Moogun internal event, there were over 30,000 viewers watching, you know.”
“Wow… That’s so impressive. Are you going to end up hosting events or something in the future? Speaking of which, we’ve got our first-anniversary event coming up soon.”
However, Magia was someone who was excellent at adapting to her broadcasting partners.
You could say she had an almost instinctive preference for teasing others after predicting how they would react.
So, the idea of her taking the reins of a broadcast?
That would be far from Magia’s philosophy as a “professional tagalong.”
“Nah, that’ll probably never happen.”
TL/N : Jigwon is employee in Korean