No, it’s not. You have talent.
It was always a quiet regular cafe, but why does it feel even quieter today?
Well, of course. There’s only one difference from usual.
The records stuck in the corner of the cafe are the same, and the staff who serves the coffee is the same, but…
Right now, there’s a snake smiling brightly in front of me.
“If you have something you want to say, you can say it, Suhyun.”
“Hhh!”
My hand, which was fiddling with the cup, trembles from the soft and husky voice that comes in as if licking my ears.
I can’t bring myself to look into those yellow eyes, so I stare at the pattern on the floor.
What… what is this?
Why do I feel like I can’t make eye contact?
I did learn martial arts from someone who was called “hyung” when I was a man.
When I was a man, I never felt afraid no matter what crazy person I met…!
“Hehe. Suhyun. You came to talk about the contract but are still looking at the floor. What are you doing?”
“Ugh… ugh…”
The sensation of everything being exposed by those yellow cat-like eyes.
Before that woman, my whole body feels like it’s being completely dismantled.
I don’t have many friends, but I’m not super shy. I don’t have panic disorders or social anxiety. My self-esteem is pretty high too…!
“…Huff!”
I took a big breath and clenched my hand, filled with determination. Right. I’m not the guy who just draws well anymore.
I’m the genius illustrator, the one with the hidden talent… Suhyun!
I’m kind of angry now. Who do you think you are…!
“Did you think of something to say?”
“Ugh…”
I lifted my head out of stubbornness, but when I met those eyes again, I had to lower my gaze once more.
She’s still scary. That woman…
She’s smiling gently, but her yellow eyes seem like a mix of a snake and a cat.
The yellow bobbed hair that reaches her shoulders fits her so naturally, as if it should be there. Her pale skin, though lacking any liveliness, actually pairs well with her dark circles, giving her a decadent beauty.
Her slender body, with subtle muscles, can’t even be hidden by her tight jacket.
Her firm lower body is visible through her tight jeans.
“Is there something on my face?”
“Ah… no…”
She’s beautiful.
She’s a completely different kind of beauty from my innocent one, with a scary impression. After a long time of smiling brightly, the flight path narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Shall we stop playing around here? I can’t spend the whole day just admiring Suhyeon.”
Th… thank goodness.
I pulled the chair forward, trying not to stay too close.
Her yellow gaze still scares me, but I need to get a job today.
After all, with this contract, I might get a steady income.
For the sake of my comfortable hikikomori life… today’s meeting is important.
“Ugh… yes. We met to talk about the contract.”
Crack.
Ugh… that hurts.
I straightened my slightly bent back and loosened my wrist bone.
It was quite uncomfortable to breathe with a mask on, but… if I took it off, something uncontrollable might happen.
Even now, with my face mostly hidden, it’s hard to resist those licking glances. Without the mask, the overwhelming gaze might have been unbearable.
She smiled faintly when she saw me straighten up and then took out several papers. They were real contracts, each one filled with clauses and terms that I’d only ever heard of through rumors.
Something… something about this is so cool.
Is this the step into adulthood for me…!
“Here.”
“Ah… yes…”
She placed the first paper, titled [Copyright and Illustrations], right in front of me.
“First, let’s talk about the artwork. These are the main purposes for using Suhyun’s drawings.”
“Hmm. For creating merchandise, YouTube thumbnails, community banners like fan cafes, etc. It’s for commercial use…”
Hehe.
Clearing my throat.
I’m glad I wore the mask before leaving.
If they’d seen me smiling so widely at the thought of my artwork being used in such places, it would have definitely worked against me in the contract.
“Yes. There is also additional payment based on sales. However, if the work is not completed by the deadline, the additional payment will be reduced.”
She didn’t seem to notice that I was looking stupidly happy, as she calmly continued explaining the contract.
“Ah. Yes… about the deadline…”
“We won’t give you less than a month for each piece. I promise.”
It seems like a contract that benefits me.
But why do I feel so tangled in this?
Maybe it’s because she’s predicting everything I’m about to say, but… it feels like I’m being caught…
She continued to keep that languid smile while calmly handing me more documents.
“For an avatar for a game costume or something like that, we’ll pay 1 million won per piece if it’s for a music video illustration.”
“Eh… 1 million won…?”
That’s huge…!
My hand holding the document shakes, as if it were worth a million won.
The document has exactly what she said written on it, down to the last detail.
This is definitely a contract that benefits me.
Even though it’s for commercial use, top artists at ArtMission only get about 80.
If a company is offering me 100 without hiring other artists, it means…
They want something more…
“Suhyun, did you realize that this is considered a really good offer in the industry?”
She clasped her hands together and flashed that playful smile again. Are her narrow yellow eyes a trademark of hers?
“Uh… yes.”
Y… yes, I realized. Of course, I did.
If you’re not an idiot, you know. Hearing this, it sounds like I’m getting treated like one of the top in the industry.
Not as famous as Japan’s famous Gappa, but almost as big.
“Though we’re a new group, the investment and future budget plans are similar to those of big groups. This will definitely be a good opportunity for you.”
Ah… my head hurts…
Is this the feeling of being bewitched?
My thoughts are slowing down, and I can’t think normally.
“Then… shall we go?”
At my awkward tone, Bihangwoon smiles.
She seems to murmur, “As planned.”
“Yes. So, there’s another clause I’d like to propose.”
“What kind of clause?”
“Could you appear on broadcasts regularly? It’s not about ‘affiliation.’ It’s similar to ‘debut.'”
Ugh.
The haze in my mind clears up completely.
What? Debut? Me? On a broadcast?
I’m someone who has never even listed my gender on social media for the sake of my mysterious concept and peaceful life.
My loose lifestyle would change just for a broadcast…?!
“Broadcast? Wasn’t that something we didn’t discuss…?!”
A voice, usually soft, bursts out louder than I expected. My heart races with clear rejection.
I… I’ve done it. I said it to someone who might sign a contract with me.
“Oh? Is it difficult for you? We were just making a suggestion…”
Surprised by my sudden resistance, Bihangwoon’s eyes widen slightly.
Though still narrow enough to be called slits, they are clearly wider than before.
Oh.
I managed to surprise someone who didn’t seem affected at all.
Good. Let’s keep the momentum going and remove the part about debuting.
I stand up, looking at Bihangwoon with newfound confidence. I dramatically place my hand on my chest, which is wrapped in bandages.
“Of course! I’m an illustrator. I’ve never even imagined becoming a VTuber…”
“Suhyun, how do you feel when people like your drawings?”
Ugh. What is she going to say now?
Bihangwoon’s hand, full of rings, pushes the contract to the side, bringing her face closer.
Her golden, gleaming eyes meet mine directly.
…I feel uneasy. What does she mean by asking how I feel?
If it’s a drawing that’s filled with my effort and time, then…
“Well… it feels amazing. It feels like my life’s value is being recognized, and I can feel that I’m being loved.”
“How do you usually confirm that people like your work?”
“Through comments or messages…”
“Hehe.”
Bihangwoon regains her relaxed demeanor. The ominous, unsettling sensation of being prey comes back to me.
She stands up and slowly approaches, whispering to me.
“How would it feel if people complimented your drawings in real time?”
Huh…?
Real-time…?
My eyes shake.
I’ve never imagined that.
“People will pay money and shout, ‘You drew this so well!’ ‘As expected, White Palette!’ ‘Is she a goddess?’”
“Ah… ah…”
I can’t fantasize now.
It would make it impossible to think rationally…!
But my heart, which is 100% MBTI, is racing. Even though I know I shouldn’t go back now, my imagination starts running wild with all the praise surrounding me.
The illustration world in Japan in awe… VTubers from the English-speaking world eyeing my drawings…
When I start broadcasting, even drawing just one line will have viewers praising me…
Lost in my thoughts, a devil approaches and whispers in my ear.
“I’m not saying you should debut right away. Just showing your voice on the broadcast is enough. After that, whether you debut as a VTuber or just become a YouTuber… whether you debut or not, it’s up to you.”
“I… I see…”
“Yes, it’s just for a special broadcast. By the way, the appearance fee is…”
“Ahh… guh… ugh…”
That day, I signed the contract as if I was in a trance.
Was I succumbing to money? Where is the honor of being an artist? The woman, Kang Suhyeon, screamed inside me, but I ignored it.
The world is about money.
It was too much to turn down for the money.