I Want to Be a VTuber

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Stella watched Seo-yeon’s video for a while before handing it back to the girl.

The girl, Han Yoo-na, glanced at Stella and then turned back to Seo-yeon, whispering softly,

“Unnie, am I friends with that angel?”

Friends, you ask?

“I wouldn’t say that’s exactly the case…”

“Aha, how cold!”

Stella chuckled, as if it didn’t matter whether they were friends or not.

After all, today could be their last meeting, so calling each other friends felt awkward.

“Um, then, unnie.”

“Yeah?”

Yoo-na seemed to want to say something but hesitated, her expression making it clear that it wasn’t easy for her to speak up.

When Seo-yeon stared at her intently, she slowly shook her head.

“Oh, it’s nothing…”

“Yoo, Yoo-na!”

At that moment, the sound of someone running toward them with a flustered face could be heard.

Seo-yeon looked up absentmindedly to see a woman rushing toward Yoo-na.

Their eyes met, the woman being of similar height to Seo-yeon.

“I’m sorry, did my daughter hassle you?”

The woman spoke, her face flustered as she bowed slightly to Seo-yeon, apologizing.

But that didn’t last long, as she playfully gave Yoo-na a light smack on the head while saying,

“You scared me by disappearing all of a sudden!”

“But… it was because the magical girl unnie was here…”

“Magical girl unnie?”

Realization hit the woman as she recognized that the disguised Seo-yeon was the actress Joo Seo-yeon, whom she had visited before.

She must not have expected to run into her here at all.

“Oh, hello! I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“N-no.”

Seo-yeon responded, equally surprised.

Of course, it made sense for Yoo-na not to be alone, so her mother being with her was natural.

Stella tilted her head slightly at their peculiar interaction.

Seo-yeon looked like nothing she had seen before.

Nostalgia.

Confusion.

Awkwardness.

Joy.

These complex emotions appeared for an instant before disappearing.

Seo-yeon’s feelings were generally simpler, usually showcasing one emotion before fading away.

But now, it was different.

Why was that?

Stella didn’t understand why, but one thing was clear: this woman was definitely not an ordinary person.

“Is something wrong…?”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, it looked like Yoo-na wanted to ask me something.”

When Seo-yeon gently asked, the woman made a somewhat distressed face.

“Oh, you really don’t have to worry about it. My daughter was just being a bit stubborn.”

Stubborn?

Seo-yeon tilted her head in confusion, and Stella stepped forward.

“It’s about the event.”

“Event?”

“Look at that.”

Stella pointed to a flyer attached to the store’s wall.

The flyer listed an event happening at the store today.

Essentially, it was similar to a promotional event Seo-yeon had participated in previously.

Magical Girl Harara’s toys.

‘Are they doing it again?’

And of course, it was a new product.

Thinking back to when Seo-yeon participated in the event a few months ago, the timeline for the product release seemed absurd.

That’s why they had to scrape together money feverishly.

‘Oh, if I join, I’ll definitely win.’

It’s something Seo-yeon would want to say.

After all, she had become a hot topic thanks to that video, and she had participated in the Harara play as well.

Naturally, Seo-yeon would be the center of attention if she showed up.

‘But for now…’

The Seo-yeon from then is different from the Seo-yeon now.

Thanks to <Sky Garden>, Seo-yeon’s recognition was at its peak.

If she were to pop up now, it would be difficult to escape this store, not to mention the toys would be second rate.

More than anything, if it turned out that someone from the play participated, there could be talk of manipulation.

There was also a chance of not receiving the products unnecessarily and causing commotion.

“Hmm.”

Stella, switching her gaze between the two, smiled brightly and said,

“Should I help you?”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re feeling awkward about this, right? It’d be troublesome to go out now.”

With a subtle smile, Stella spoke to Seo-yeon.

“Looks like the event today is for a blonde girl, so it might not suit you from the get-go.”

“Wait?! The angel will help?”

“That title is a bit cheesy, just call me unnie instead.”

“Yes, angel unnie!”

“Ah, heh.”

Stella seemed flustered by Yoo-na’s words, twisting her body a bit.

Clearly, she wasn’t fond of that angel title.

“Are you really okay with this? I’d hate to trouble you because of my daughter…”

“Of course! It’s just…,”

Stella glanced at Seo-yeon before continuing.

“It’s not for your daughter.”

The woman was at a loss for words, gazing at Stella, whose smile was truly angelic as Yoo-na had mentioned.

***

“Ah, that was fun.”

Stella said, walking lightly along the Han River promenade.

The brief event in the store.

As was expected, Stella skillfully played the magical girl and won a product.

She had only watched a few shorts related to Harara and noted the character’s personality, yet the sync was incredible.

Truly, when it came to acting, she was unparalleled.

“She was super grateful.”

“Yes.”

Han Yoo-na and her mother bowed their heads several times in thanks before leaving.

Yoo-na, entangled with Seo-yeon, blissfully carried away two toys for free, feeling quite shy but grateful.

Just the fact that she felt embarrassed showed a maturity uncommon for a child.

“What’s your relationship?”

At that moment, Stella asked Seo-yeon, turning around and facing the Han River.

The starlight reflected off the river, shimmering beautifully.

Due to the pleasant weather, many people had come out to enjoy the lovely river view.

“…Even if you ask, we’re probably nothing much, really?”

“…”

“It was a bit strange.”

Stella said, casually sitting down on the grass nearby.

And then, she patted the ground beside her as if inviting Seo-yeon to join.

“Why? Don’t you want to sit?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then you can sit, right?”

Well, that was true.

Seo-yeon naturally sat beside Stella.

It was just awkward for Seo-yeon, not because of Stella, but because it was her first time sitting alone with someone by the Han River.

As the day came to an end, soon it would be time to part with Stella.

Stella’s phone had rung several times already, the manager probably eagerly wishing for her return.

“Today.”

Seo-yeon opened her mouth in a calm tone.

“What was the second reason after all?”

At her question, Stella’s gaze shifted.

“Honestly, was there really no reason?”

While watching Stella today, Seo-yeon contemplated the two reasons she had mentioned.

It could merely be to buy souvenirs.

That seemed plausible since Stella had been diligently picking out various items today.

However, the second reason was unclear.

“I was surprised.”

“Surprised by what?”

“Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t be curious at all.”

Stella murmured, almost sing-song.

“So, I thought if you asked, I’d have to tell you~”

“What if I hadn’t asked?”

“Then it would have remained a secret.”

Her blue eyes met Seo-yeon’s crimson ones.

“Why is it that you only tell me if I ask?”

“If you ask, it means you care about me even just a little.”

“…”

“If you didn’t care at all, telling you would have no meaning, right?”

That wasn’t an incorrect statement.

And Stella honestly thought Seo-yeon might not have any interest in her at all.

After all, she was just a girl who suddenly appeared and spoke out of turn.

Annoying and bothersome.

It could just be that.

“Jo Seo-hee said.”

Stella looked at Seo-yeon playfully.

“You’re different from me. So, don’t bother me.”

“…Seo-hee said that?”

“Yeah. She’s a good friend. She could see right through me.”

Stella’s heart.

Seeing the confusion in Seo-yeon’s eyes, she continued.

“Seo-yeon.”

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t you curious why I act?”

This was a rather complex statement to make.

Was Stella referring to the mask she wore through her daily life, or was she speaking about her performance as an actress?

Or was she referencing both?

If one were to ask her:

“I’m curious.”

“Really? Then I’ll tell you.”

Stella paused momentarily, then directed her gaze to the Han River.

The sound of cheerful songs from the riverside floated into her ears.

“I do it for revenge.”

“…Revenge?”

“Yes, revenge.”

For the first time, an expression appeared on Stella’s face.

The emotion oddly filled with joy.

“Against the father who abandoned me and the mother who did the same.”

Stella’s father was a drunkard, and her mother married that drunk and became an Asian prostitute.

What kind of treatment had Stella received from those two?

Her father had been incarcerated, and her mother abandoned Stella to fend for herself.

It was likely from that moment that she began to struggle to look people in the eyes.

“So, that’s how it is.”

Stella leaned closer to Seo-yeon with a smile.

“How regrettable it must be, the more I succeed?”

Jo Seo-hee said Stella’s acting was a means to an end.

Only now did Seo-yeon grasp what that meant.

And now Seo-yeon realized why she felt a sense of kinship with Stella.

Was it because she simply had a special condition?

No.

It was much more than that.

“This grabs people’s attention the most.”

In movies, dramas.

On TV and countless video platforms.

Those people could not avoid seeing her, even if they wanted to.

“They’d be forced to see.”

“So, it’s revenge.”

To make them realize how much they lost.

Stella said this as she smiled.

‘How similar.’

Yes, it was similar.

Stella’s goal was ultimately akin to Seo-yeon’s.

Of course, it was unintentional for Seo-yeon.

It had merely become a realization of an underlying motive.

In the end, Seo-yeon’s acting also served as a means of revealing herself.

To her parents from her past lives.

To show them that she was doing well, happily living her life.

Of course, they would never know.

Yet she simply wanted to show them.

So, it was similar.

Although, if Seo-yeon wished for her past parents to be happy,

Stella merely sought revenge.

She wanted them to feel regret, to become infuriated looking at her.

That’s why Jo Seo-hee hated calling Stella’s acting a means to an end.

“See, I was quickly adopted by another family after that. The foster care system works really well in America…”

“Stop.”

“Excuse me?”

“I really don’t want to hear that.”

Seo-yeon interrupted Stella firmly.

Having been about to share her past, Stella pouted at Seo-yeon’s attitude.

“Geez, how cold. Even though I helped you quite a lot today.”

“That’s true.”

Seo-yeon replied to Stella.

“I can’t do anything just because I hear your story.”

Slowly, Seo-yeon fixed her crimson eyes on Stella’s face.

To be honest, she wasn’t pleased with it.

It wasn’t because Stella used acting as a means to an end like Jo Seo-hee.

It made no difference to Seo-yeon if Stella treated her acting that way.

“I can’t just offer empty platitudes.”

“Of course, if you wanted that, I could’ve provided it.”

Like how Stella had gazed at her, Seo-yeon observed Stella in return.

That odd kinship was certainly a source of ongoing concern.

Always smiling.

Not understanding her thoughts.

A girl who was uncomfortable in so many ways.

“I don’t think empty platitudes—common hypocritical reassurances—are bad. They still have to be offered to someone yearning for it.”

Stella was a strong person.

That wasn’t due to her heart being tough.

She just had to be strong to survive.

At her core, she was fragile.

And being fragile forced her to wear a mask.

Watching for signs, she had no choice but to live that way.

“But you’re not like that, are you?”

At those words, Stella’s pupils dilated slightly.

Seo-yeon leaned forward a bit,

as if trying to peer into those blue pupils.

“That kind of comfort would just make you scoff. You’d ridicule me, asking what you could possibly know about me.”

In her heart, she thought so.

To belittle the other person.

To protect herself that way.

She had to maintain her self-esteem that way.

Stella was a hedgehog, so to speak.

A hedgehog adorned with countless quills.

“So, I won’t do it. I don’t want to be laughed at.”

“…You were observing all that, huh? Well, that’s a bit unexpected. Yet somehow, you still want to hear just the standard platitudes.”

That was true, too.

Even though they were standard platitudes, Stella genuinely wanted to hear them from Seo-yeon.

It wasn’t a mere joke.

It was sincere.

‘Why is that?’

Perhaps it was because Seo-yeon was the only person Stella could look into her face and see.

Since she was unique, she may have wanted to hear even standard comfort from her.

Yes, undeniably.

“I don’t really want to do that.”

“Seriously, how unreasonable. Can’t you just cooperate a bit?”

For the first time, a crack appeared in Stella’s mask as she spoke teasingly.

Her tone suggested that she truly had her feelings hurt by Seo-yeon’s remarks.

Seeing that side of her… Seo-yeon couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing.

“Well, even if I were to listen to Stella and offer comfort, it wouldn’t be filled with sincerity anyway.”

“Hmph.”

“You know? We’re sensitive about our emotions; if there’s no sincerity in it, we’ll surely pick up on that.”

At that point, Seo-yeon paused to choose her words.

Then, she gazed into Stella’s blue eyes.

How had they grown this close? It felt as if her own reflection glimmered in Stella’s pupils by now.

“Even though I can’t offer you true comfort for what you’ve been through up till now.”

Saying this, Seo-yeon pulled out her phone from her pocket.

This was the phone they hadn’t exchanged numbers with till now.

“If there’s something difficult in the future, please contact me.”

“…Why?”

Stella asked in a daze.

She didn’t understand why Seo-yeon suddenly gave her her phone.

In response to her question.

“Because then, I can help you.”

Seo-yeon’s expression then wasn’t her usual blank face.

Instead, she offered a bright smile showing her white teeth.

It was an oddly mismatched smile.

Seo-yeon pondered.

She knew nothing of what Stella had faced so far.

Honestly, she didn’t care to know.

Even if she did know, it wouldn’t change what she could do about it.

So,

“If anything, I can help you so that you won’t have to deal with those things in the future.”

With confidence and a rather self-assured tone.

As if proclaiming that she could absolutely handle it. Stella went wide-eyed at this surprise.

So she retorted.

“You—”

And was about to say something.

To utter something nonsensical, or perhaps show her arrogance—perhaps to imply how absurd it was that Seo-yeon thought she could help her.

But in that moment, her words caught in her throat, as if she couldn’t get them out.

She merely gaped, like a fish.

Why was that?

Stella closed her eyes, staring at Seo-yeon.

After taking a breath, she opened her mouth next.

“…Yeah, I guess so.”

When she answered, opening her eyes again, for some reason, Seo-yeon’s face was obscured.

Not sure why, but it looked as if her eyes sparkled with starlight.

***

Incheon Airport.

Before the flight to America, Stella chuckled at the people watching her.

“So, you really chased me all the way to Korea?”

“What do you think I might do?”

“Filming resumes in two days.”

“So, you came all this way just to see me?”

Stella couldn’t believe that Jo Seo-hee and Lee Ji-yeon had come all the way to the Korean airport.

Stella thought they were excessively protective.

‘Or is it that they really don’t like being left alone with Seo-yeon?’

That seemed plausible.

Stella chuckled softly.

After all, it was nearly time for them to part ways, yet they were acting this obsessively.

“Stella.”

“Yeah?”

Right before entering the airport, Seo-yeon hesitated for a moment and called out to Stella.

This was something she had meant to give her yesterday but couldn’t after Stella suddenly broke down.

“Take this.”

“Huh, what’s this?”

“It’s a bracelet.”

Seo-yeon said.

Stella had no accessories on her body.

But there was a watch on her wrist, so that was acceptable.

“I figured you probably don’t like necklaces or earrings.”

It was a guess, but Seo-yeon thought it was likely due to Stella’s family circumstances.

Wearing accessories on one’s face could attract attention, or it might lead to a severe beating if it were to go poorly.

Given the number of times Stella had moved homes, it seemed a reasonable assumption.

“…A bracelet. Is it supposed to look like a star?”

“It matches your name.”

“Ha ha, true.”

Stella opened the box the bracelet came in and smiled oddly upon seeing it.

Then, in a moment of silence, she raised her wrist, wearing the bracelet, and held it up to Seo-yeon.

“How does it look? Does it suit me?”

“Yeah, it suits you…”

Just as she was saying that, Stella suddenly took a big step towards Seo-yeon.

At her unexpected movement, Lee Ji-yeon widened her eyes in surprise and Jo Seo-hee gasped, reaching out her hand.

“…You’re so fast.”

“W-What are you doing all of a sudden?”

Stella’s face was uncomfortably close now.

With that proximity, Seo-yeon instinctively pushed her face away with her palm.

And then she saw Stella’s playful expression.

What on earth was going on here?

As Seo-yeon squinted at Stella, she replied,

“Don’t play around like this.”

“Play around?”

Stella beamed at that, as if she had just heard the funniest thing.

And then,

“Seo-yeon.”

“Yes?”

“Come to Hollywood.”

With a rather relieved expression, Stella said that with a smile.

Seeing her face made Seo-yeon’s eyes widen slightly.

The smile Stella wore felt strangely genuine, unlike her usual acting.

“Why?”

“Come on, why would you say ‘why’ there?”

However, Seo-yeon thought.

She liked Korea.

She didn’t have much desire to be bothered by traveling all the way to America.

“Well, I guess you have a point.”

Though she grumbled slightly, Stella stood opposing Seo-yeon once more.

They were so close that Seo-yeon flinched for a moment.

“Let’s say.”

Then Stella leaned in closer again.

This time her direction was different, causing Seo-yeon to momentarily flinch, wanting to block her, but then stopping.

She was facing her more sideways.

“I’m flirting with you.”

Stella whispered softly in Seo-yeon’s ear.

“Wh-What?!”

Startled, Seo-yeon clutched her ear and stepped back.

Her face was flushed with embarrassment.

Even her usual stoic expression shattered completely at that moment, making her look flustered, causing Stella to cover her mouth as she laughed.

“Ahaha, just kidding. Just a joke.”

“Please, don’t make jokes like that.”

“But it’s true that I want you to come to Hollywood. If you do, I’ll help you a lot.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

Seo-yeon responded, still flustered from earlier.

Stepping back, Stella smiled widely at her.

“But…”

“Yes?”

“You’re surprisingly conservative, Seo-yeon.”

Stella remarked with a smirk.

“That’s quite trendy in America…so consider preparing?”

“W-Prepare for what?”

At Seo-yeon’s question, Stella’s grin widened.

Simultaneously, as she noticed the two girls stiff behind Seo-yeon, she winked once.

“This time, I’m serious.”

With that, she turned around and walked away.

“…….”

The three women had no choice but to stare blankly at her figure.

Until the moment the flight Stella boarded took off from Korea.