Chapter 10: Aftermath
[Why’s Rosé picking a fight from the start?]
So annoying.
- But it’s facts, can’t even argue…
Author: For real…
[LOL Uju’s too much LOL]
Rosé’s so cold LOLOL
- Total savage
- Her instant reactions make it feel real
- That half-assed excuse is hilarious LOLOL
[God… why’s Uju so cute?]
She’s older than me, but so cute.
- You’re whipped.
- She doesn’t even know you exist, dude.
Author: You jerk, picking a fight.
[Why’s Rosé so good at acting like a delinquent?]
Is she actually a pro?
- Might be for real.
- Ugh… I’m getting PTSD…
Author: I get why you’re triggered.
Jerk.
[Uju’s totally fallen for Rosé.]
(Polar bears are extinct LOL)
- Haha
- She’s mastered bullying Uju.
- Rub it in! Rub it in!
[I’m genuinely curious about Rosé’s face.]
Everyone’s saying scary or delinquent, now I’m curious.
- Got tattoos or something?
Maybe piercings or stuff like that?
Author: What do you know? Our Rosé doesn’t do that.
[Rosé’s trans?]
How’s her first impression, “wondering if her legs would break if kicked”?
- Nah.
- Looks like a TS to me.
- Wow, trans military girl vibes.
[She looks like her avatar?]
Hmm… that much?
Kinda sus.
- Talking about vibe, not looks, right?
- Don’t get your hopes up; plenty of VTuber fans got burned expecting too much.
- Don’t trust girls calling each other pretty.
Today’s stream got more buzz than expected.
Great for the broadcast, but the downside is my appearance is getting talked about everywhere…
Whatever, even if my identity gets out, no one’s gonna approach me.
First, they wouldn’t believe someone like me is a VTuber. Second—
“Today’s stream was fun!”
“For real! Unnie crying was so cute!”
“Hey! Stop talking about that!”
“Haha! You should thank Yeonwoo. She handled it quickly.”
“No! She’s the one who caused it!”
I asked Minseo, who was raising her voice in protest,
“Wanna say that to my face?”
“Huh? No… uh… sorry…”
See? Even members I’m close with can’t talk when they see my face.
So how’s some random on the street gonna ask, “Are you Rosé?”
Especially with me staring right at them.
…Still, the identity thing makes me a bit cautious.
“Let’s eat?”
“Yeah.”
It’s a problem all VTubers worry about with no real solution, so I let it go.
Anyway, to explain the situation:
We’re at Minseo’s place near the company for the stream afterparty.
Didn’t want to part ways after meeting for the first time?
“Ta-da! My place is nice, right?”
“Wow! It’s huge!”
I figured we could just meet again, but some people put meaning on firsts, so I let it slide.
To be fair, I made sure my first stream was exactly an hour too.
“Wanna drink?”
“Sure.”
After setting up, we kicked off the afterparty.
“Here’s to our success!”
I raised a soju glass that looked like it’d spill with the slightest move.
“Cheers!”
“Toast!”
As the alcohol hit my throat, the sharp scent and a sweet aftertaste kicked in.
“Whew!”
“Ah! The booze tastes sweet today!”
Tonight’s snacks were chicken, jokbal, and salmon sashimi.
Nice, pretty lavish.
No broth, though?
Since my favourite snack is anything with broth, I couldn’t help but wonder.
“No broth?”
“Oh! Forgot! Check the fridge, there’s an odeng-tang meal kit!”
Minseo said to wait and headed to the kitchen.
While we kept drinking, she came back with a pot.
“Here! Broth!”
“Wow! Unnie’s the best!”
“Guys! Let’s drink till we drop tonight!”
“Of course!”
“Chug! Chug!”
Oh.
“Drink till we drop” reminded me.
“What’s everyone’s limit?”
Gotta at least stay conscious to share stories on stream later.
Afterparty tales are fan favourites, and it’d be a waste not to remember them.
YouTube views are juic,y too.
“Two bottles.”
“Me too, two bottles!”
“Three bottles.”
“Two bottles of soju, unlimited beer!”
Ignoring Sua’s “unlimited beer,” they can all handle a decent amount.
For reference, my limit’s about four bottles of soju, same as when I was a guy.
Pretty high, if I say so.
And with my mind surviving TS and regression?
Theoretically, I might not even get drunk.
“Half a bottle…”
“What? You’ve had three shots already? That’s your limit!”
Looking at Yuna, who said half a bottle, her face was already flushed.
Thought she just blushed easily, but nope, she’s drunk.
“Drink more. Even if you pass out, five of us got you.”
“Yeah! Yuna! Days like this, you just drink!”
“Fine! Whatever! I’m drinking with you guys!”
Scratch that earlier thought.
Let’s pray for Yuna’s sacrifice for our stream.
As the mood ripened, things got serious.
“Yeonwoo… I was really scared earlier…”
Minseo said in a sulky tone, still upset about today.
“Like I said, it’s ‘cause I like you. I wouldn’t tease you if I didn’t. Think of elementary school boys.”
This is genuine.
Good or bad, I only tease people I like.
“Ugh…! Saying that leaves me with nothing to say…!”
“Haha! Unnie’s too cute!”
“Argh!”
With her sulky feelings turning to frustration, I suggested,
“Then tease me back.”
“What?”
“I don’t mind a bit of a hit.”
Probably?
“No…! Maybe before we met, but how do I tease that face!”
Oh, right.
“So! How do I deal with you now, Yeonwoo?!”
“What’s there to deal with? Just like now.”
“If I ran into you at 3 a.m. on the street, I’d scream in fear.”
Why so specific…
But I kinda get it.
“Just treat me normally.”
I mentioned her red pill on stream and got a back smack in return, so what’s she worrying about now?
“Ugh! Whatever! I’m drinking more!”
And that’s where that talk ended.
A few hours of drinking later, we were done.
Gotta scrap that earlier thought entirely.
Today’s stories are way past stream-appropriate.
Too much off-record talk came up, so it’s sealed.
Besides, it’d be a miracle if anyone but me and Yerin remembers anything.
“Let’s not talk about today on stream.”
“Yeah, probably best.”
Got Yerin’s agreement, the only other sober one.
“Yeonwoo, you good?”
I checked my state in Yerin’s question.
“Yeah.”
It’s been a while since I drank, so I’m a bit hyped, but I can tone it down if I focus.
“Sniff!”
Hearing a sob, I turned to see Yuna stumbling out of a room.
Oh, Yuna’s drunk crying.
If I’d known her drinking trait, I wouldn’t have let her drink.
“Go to sleep.”
“Sniff! Rosé-nim…”
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you tease me…?”
What’s this fresh nonsense? My alcohol-soaked brain snapped awake.
Oh, this is recording material!
I quickly opened my phone’s recording app as Yuna continued.
“I mean… you tease Uju-unnie so well…”
“Yeah.”
“But you keep your distance with me…!”
“Did I?”
“Yeah! I wanna get close to you, Rosé-nim!”
“Is that so?”
“I want you to tease me too! I’m okay with it if it’s you!”
“Uh… sure.”
This is getting dicey.
“Sniff! I’m older than you! But you feel more like the unnie!”
“Really? Unnie?”
She’s tiny, barely over 150 cm, looking up at me with a flushed face and wide, happy eyes.
“Gasp! You just called me unnie?!”
She’s way more excited than I expected.
“Yeah.”
“Wow! That sounds so good! One more time!”
I handed her a hangover drink we bought earlier.
“If you want more, drink this and sleep.”
“Okay! You gotta say it tomorrow!”
I didn’t respond, just waved her to go back in, holding the empty hangover drink.
One down.
“Hehe! Yeonwoo!”
I blocked Yubin from trying to hug me.
“Wha! What’s that about?!”
“No hugging people randomly.”
“Not people! My little sis!”
She’s plastered… I knew Yubin was a lost cause when she started chugging.
At least I don’t have to deal with Sua, right?
Sua’s drunk trait is touching everyone…
Thankfully, Yerin’s handling her, or I’d be creeped out just thinking about being touched.
I still feel weird washing up, and someone touching me?
Ugh…
Relieved inside, Yubin tried to hug me again.
“Hehe! Yeonwoo’s so pretty!”
“I know.”
“But so scary-looking…”
“I know.”
“But that’s your charm!”
“I know.”
After a while, I got tired of blocking and let her hug me.
“Heehee!”
I handed Yubin a hangover drink too, seeing her happy.
“Drink this.”
“Huh?! A gift from unnie?! Thanks!”
I put her in the same room as Yuna and laid her down.
“Yeonwoo…”
Oh, final boss.
“Unnie really likes you…”
“Yeah.”
“Did I say? Unnie really likes you…”
“Yeah, you did.”
“Did I say? Unnie really likes you…”
Minseo’s drunk trait is an infinite loop…
“Drink this.”
I handed her a hangover drink and planned my escape.
“Thanks… Did I say?”
Ugh.
I dealt with her a bit and forced her to lie down.
“Phew…”
“Good job.”
“Thanks.”
I took a sip of the cola Yerin handed me.
“Whew.”
Feels good.
“What’s up?”
I asked Yerin, who was staring at me.
“You’re kinder than I thought.”
Huh?
“Not picking a fight, right?”
“No, it’s a compliment.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, your face wastes your kindness.”
…What’s with her today?
“Not picking a fight, right?”
“Yeah, I meant your kindness gets hidden by your face.”
This kind of compliment is new.
“Then hype me up on stream.”
“…I’ll think about it.”
Alright, thinking about it’s a big effort.