"The filming is in Hakone, right?"
Seoyeon looked like she was in a good mood.
First time in Japan in her life.
First time abroad in her life!
So it was noticeable that she was in a better mood than ever.
'Uh, Seoyeon. If it's abroad, you've already been there.'
Of course, Manager Park Eun-ha didn't want to rain on Seoyeon's parade.
But did she forget about
Or does she not count Papua New Guinea as abroad?
Or maybe it was her first time considering it as a trip.
Since this was practically her first time combining filming with playing around.
"It seems we'll be staying for a day at the accommodation provided by the production team."
"Ah, yes. It seems they'll be filming there too."
Narumi Sora muttered as she checked the schedule.
At those words, Manager Park Eun-ha answered with a slightly subtle expression.
Seoyeon didn't seem to notice, but Sora definitely caught it.
Because rolling around at the bottom naturally increases one's ability to read the room.
'There's something going on!'
Sora knows Japanese variety shows very well!
Because she's Japanese!
In the past, Korea often used extreme Japanese plotlines, but lately, they don't really follow those Japanese variety show formats.
However, Japan still preserved its past variety shows almost exactly as they were.
A bit extreme.
No, not just a bit.
'It doesn't seem like a late-night variety show, so it probably won't be that extreme.'
If it were a late-night show, it would be extreme, and the level of intensity would be quite high.
She even had to consider the possibility of filming at a hot spring.
But seeing Seoyeon's manager's reaction, it didn't seem like it would go that far.
Just as Sora expected, Manager Park Eun-ha knew there would be filming at the designated inn.
"Huh? A hidden camera?"
"Yes! How about it!"
At the enthusiastic voice coming through the phone, Park Eun-ha pondered for a moment.
Actually, the hidden cameras featured in Japanese variety shows are quite large-scale, and Korean celebrities have often fallen victim to them.
Not just actors like Seoyeon, but even idols who shook the world have gone through such shows.
The advantage was that there was no need to prepare separately.
"Are you putting it in as a brief preview before the main broadcast?"
"It will probably be included as a special broadcast then."
At Producer Nanzo Katsuo's words, Manager Park Eun-ha answered that she understood.
Since it was the first overseas shoot, rejecting things too much wouldn't look good.
The only catch was that she couldn't tell Seoyeon because it was a hidden camera.
'Seeing how she plays horror games...'
Honestly, there was a part that worried her.
Not Seoyeon, but other complex things.
"Ah, instead, there is one thing I'd like to request..."
Just in case, Park Eun-ha earnestly requested one thing from Nanzo Katsuo.
After hearing Manager Park Eun-ha's words, Producer Nanzo Katsuo made a slightly strange face.
"Gasp! Were you rejected?"
When a colleague said that upon seeing Nanzo Katsuo's face, Nanzo shook his head.
Of course, it wasn't like that.
Rather, they had readily permitted it.
However.
"Eh, they said to be careful about using people if possible?"
"People?"
"Yes, they didn't tell me the details. But they said to use tools or devices as much as possible..."
Isn't that a really strange thing to say?
It's a horror hidden camera, but telling them not to use people is practically an impossible request.
"She did say to keep a certain distance if we use people."
There was a reason Park Eun-ha spoke rather ambiguously.
If she said Seoyeon might lash out recklessly, it could implant a prejudice that she was unnecessarily violent.
Therefore, she had no choice but to speak in roundabout ways.
"Ah, maybe it's for image management."
"Ah~. Right. Did she say she's never felt fear?"
Ah, that kind of concept?
Nanzo Katsuo thought.
Because there were literally as many celebrities who took on such bizarre, four-dimensional concepts as there are stars.
The reality was that she declared, "I've never felt fear in reality."
At first, Nanzo didn't think much of it, but hearing the manager's words on top of that, it only felt like a concept.
"Hmm, but."
"That just makes me want to do it more~."
"Right?"
Anyway, at a hot spring inn in Hakone where Seoyeon would be visiting, various preparations began in earnest.
With the sole intention of properly surprising the actor from Korea.
***
"......."
Seoyeon silently looked around.
She had been in that state ever since getting in the transfer van from the airport.
Anyway, Seoyeon was truly, enormously looking forward to her trip to Japan.
"Uh, isn't it your first time on a Japanese variety show? Aren't you nervous?"
Seeing Seoyeon like that, Sora asked cautiously.
Sora, who ended up coming with just Seoyeon, found this situation quite burdensome.
Honestly, she thought there would be other celebrities.
She never expected it to be just the two of them, excluding Seoyeon's manager.
Of course, Seoyeon didn't think much of it.
'We're going to film Demonic Human together in the future, so I should take this opportunity to get close.'
And it was just that Narumi Sora was the best at Japanese around her.
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Jo Seo-hee was good too, but unfortunately, she said she had other work and couldn't make it.
Therefore, Seoyeon planned to use this opportunity to get close to Narumi Sora as well.
'At this rate, wouldn't a hundred friends be possible?'
She thought to that extent.
Recently, Seoyeon's confidence was at its peak.
Am I not completely a social person now?
Something she couldn't even do in her past life, she was on the verge of fully adapting to society.
Truly, Seoyeon's confidence had reached an unprecedented peak.
"It's fine. My reactions on variety shows have always been good so far."
At Seoyeon's words full of confidence, Sora became even more anxious.
"Have you seen that Japanese variety show?"
"Huh? Hmm, not particularly..."
She had watched Japanese anime incredibly often.
But she hadn't really watched Japanese movies or dramas.
So of course, she hadn't seen variety shows.
'Does she know how to speak Japanese?'
Sora was genuinely curious.
From the looks of it, she seemed to be looking forward to the Japan trip a lot, but it was hard to guess the reason.
She didn't seem to watch Japanese movies or dramas, nor did she seem to know any celebrities.
'Should I ask? If she can speak Japanese?'
No, if she was good at it, they wouldn't have brought me along.
Still, just in case.
"...By chance, do you know what they call other people in Japan?"
She first asked about basic words.
This or that, or words used when buying things.
She answered relatively smoothly overall.
Though her tone was oddly like a gal high school girl.
"Kisama."
"No, that's wrong! You absolutely must not say that!"
"Really?"
They all talk like this in anime.
Seoyeon just nodded first.
Anyway, after finishing the conversation with Sora.
Seoyeon looked out the window of the moving car, watching the Japanese scenery.
'It feels like what I've seen in anime.'
With such impressions, they arrived at a hot spring inn in Hakone where today's filming would take place.
Partly because of the distance, and partly because it was now winter, the sun set quickly, and the sky was already dark.
"Welcome."
Upon arriving at the hot spring inn, an old grandmother welcomed Seoyeon and her party.
She was an expressionless grandmother with a strangely haggard complexion.
At her appearance, which gave off a strange creepiness, Sora felt goosebumps rising.
'This, d-definitely!'
Isn't it a hidden camera?
They said they were filming at this inn today, so it was practically confirmed.
More than anything, for a place that was supposed to be filming, not a single other Japanese staff member was visible.
At this point, it was almost certain.
But should I tell her?
She looked at Seoyeon with those thoughts in mind.
"Are we staying here today?"
"That is correct. I will guide you inside."
"Yes."
Seoyeon simply answered politely.
She didn't react at all to the strangely creepy old woman's appearance.
Rather, her manager Park Eun-ha and Narumi Sora reacted much more strongly.
"...Doesn't she look strangely scary?"
"You shouldn't say that. How hard must it be to live with a face like that."
No, isn't that comment even worse?
Narumi Sora thought so, but Seoyeon had a truly nonchalant expression.
However, after saying that, she seemed to realize something.
"Come to think of it, she speaks Korean well too. Korean tourists must come here often."
Seoyeon looked up at the inn they had arrived at from the entrance.
It was a three-story building.
Quite large and made of wood, it gave off a strangely old and eerie feeling.
To be exact, it felt like that kind of vibe.
The grandmother did feel a bit bizarre, but that didn't matter.
'Hmm.'
Thinking that it felt eerie, it did seem like that.
'Did they purposely book this kind of accommodation?'
She didn't think much of it up until the grandmother.
Just that her complexion was a bit poor.
But seeing those around her react like that, Seoyeon herself was easily influenced.
Seoyeon's ability to convey emotions also easily applied in the opposite direction.
'No, but reality is still different.'
In games, since she couldn't do anything, she just screamed, but reality was different!
Filled with such confidence, Seoyeon entered the inn.
***
"Dinner is served."
Unlike its old exterior, the interior was quite decent.
The meal was also very good.
Was it called kaiseki cuisine? Seoyeon was highly satisfied with the food that came out like a course meal.
"There are a few things we ask you to be careful about."
As they were eating the delicious food, the grandmother who was the inn owner spoke up.
"Please do not be alarmed if a sudden power outage occurs after 10 PM."
"And, even if you hear some noisy sounds from the room at the end of the hallway, you must not come out into the hallway."
"If you want to use the hot spring, please use it in the morning. We ask that you avoid using it after 10 PM if possible."
"If you do come out into the hallway, please go to the room at the opposite end without fail."
Munching on the food, Seoyeon tilted her head.
It was because she couldn't quite understand the words of the inn owner who spoke without pause.
She knew she was speaking Korean, but it wasn't fluent, so there were confusing parts.
However, the halting tone was strangely creepy, making Park Eun-ha and Sora's complexions pale.
'The inn is old, so it must have a lot of problems.'
Seoyeon simply thought that.
Seoyeon, who hadn't played many horror games or enjoyed horror movies in the first place, couldn't feel the thick scent of horror emanating from those words.
'But when will they film then? Tomorrow?'
She was just more curious about that part.
But since there didn't seem to be any staff, she just figured that was how it was.
"We should be careful about moving around at night. From the looks of it, it seems like we're the only ones in the inn."
Sora, terrified by the inn owner's words, said to Seoyeon.
"Huh? There are a lot of other people in the inn besides us?"
Seoyeon said as she briefly looked around.
The presences she could roughly feel were quite numerous.
'Ninjas?'
Their positions were quite ambiguous, which was strange.
Of course, at Seoyeon's reaction.
'What the, that's even scarier.'
No, what is she even seeing.
Narumi Sora couldn't help but be terrified.
Anyway, like that, by the time they finished their meal and washing up in the indoor shower room.
"Seoyeon."
Park Eun-ha called Seoyeon.
Seoyeon, who had been rolling around playing games on the game console she brought, raised her head at Park Eun-ha's words.
"Wanna go to the hot spring?"
"Hot spring?"
At Park Eun-ha's words, Seoyeon tilted her head.
"Didn't they say we shouldn't go earlier?"
"It's not 10 PM yet."
"That's true. Let's go."
Seoyeon stood up coolly.
No, this easily?
Park Eun-ha smiled awkwardly at Seoyeon's reaction and sighed inwardly.
This was all for the broadcast.
"Sora, you come with us too."
Park Eun-ha gave her a look.
Sora, who was about to put a face mask on, became tearful at her words.
'The inevitable has come.'
But it shouldn't show.
Sora nodded and had no choice but to follow quietly.
"But which way is the hot spring?"
"They said if you go out to the center of the 3rd floor, it's there."
"The hot spring is on the 3rd floor?"
"Maybe it's because it's an artificial hot spring?"
Is that so? Seoyeon didn't think too deeply about it.
Anyway, thinking such thoughts as she stepped out into the hallway, at least the brightly lit hallway caught her eye.
"It's nothing special."
Saying that, it was the moment she walked to the middle of the hallway.
All the lights in the hallway went out.