'Seongwoo Academy.'
A place Seoyeon once attended with Jiyeon.
Of course, Seoyeon had dropped out midway to learn various other things, but it was a place she had been affiliated with for quite a long time.
It was the same for Jiyeon; I knew she hadn't been going to the academy often lately, but I heard she visited occasionally.
'Magician.'
Fortunately, the Magician didn't appear on Lamiel's stream after that.
Still, the Magician was occasionally mentioned by Lamiel, so it still bothered me.
'Who could it be?'
If it's Seongwoo Academy, is it someone I know?
Besides, judging by Lamiel's attitude at the time, they didn't seem just ordinarily close…….
Harboring that spark of curiosity in my heart.
"Hello. I'm Han Daeyoung."
And, meeting the person in question wasn't difficult.
The very first thought that came to mind was.
'Big.'
First of all, she was a full head taller than me.
And other parts were also, in many ways.
'Not as much as Mom, though.'
She was quite large overall.
Her age looked to be at least three or four years older than us.
Meaning, she was a college student.
'A former vocal idol?'
I stopped staring blankly and frantically searched my memory.
There was no relevant information.
Meaning, the woman before me, Han Daeyoung, hadn't been active in the entertainment industry.
She must have truly only worked as a VTuber.
I tried to recall what she was like as a VTuber, but nothing came to mind.
If it wasn't related to the entertainment industry, it just didn't come to mind easily.
"You can speak comfortably."
"Oh, really?"
"……."
I said she could speak comfortably, but I didn't expect her to drop formalities right away.
Anyway, Han Daeyoung stuck right next to Lee Jiyeon and gently stroked her head.
"Jiyeon has a prickly personality, so when she said she had a friend since childhood, I thought she was lying."
Daeyoung said that and winked at me.
What is this, is she showing off?
"Ah, Unnie."
Jiyeon looked at Daeyoung with a hint of annoyance.
This was another fresh sight.
It's a bit awkward to say this, but Lee Jiyeon mostly took care of me.
Because of that, seeing Jiyeon treated like a child was the first time since we were young.
"Then, shall we go inside and talk? You said you came because of singing, right?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, right. I hope I can be of help."
Her beaming smile as she said that definitely gave off the vibe of an older adult.
Looking at her now, her features were quite gentle, leaving a very good impression.
After going inside the academy like that, we had a brief conversation.
First, it was true that Han Daeyoung had helped Jiyeon become a VTuber.
However, she didn't specifically mention that Jiyeon was Lamiel or that she was the Magician.
"Jiyeon asked me to help her with something recently, so I've been busy with this and that."
"Well, I did get a lot of help from Unnie."
Lee Jiyeon said that and glanced at me.
Her face was rarely one to gauge my reaction, but this time it was.
Don't tell me she's embarrassed…….
"My, is Jiyeon embarrassed?"
"N-no, I'm not?"
"Hah, really."
Saying that, Daeyoung gave Jiyeon a tight hug.
That sight was quite intimate.
Lee Jiyeon didn't seem to particularly dislike it either.
And then came the stories only they knew.
It seemed to be roughly about what happened while preparing to be a VTuber, but that didn't matter to me.
Because I didn't really intend to hear the details about Lamiel's red pill.
However.
"……."
How should I put this.
It gave me a truly strange feeling.
'She's my friend.'
The class president had gotten somewhat close to me recently, but the only person I could confidently call a friend was still Lee Jiyeon. Yet here was Lee Jiyeon sharing stories only she and Han Daeyoung knew.
'…….'
My mouth twitched for no reason.
Somehow, it was a feeling I had experienced before.
When Lamiel was in the Magician's embrace.
"Geez, Unnie, stop it."
Yes, the moment she said that, a fire of anger surged within me.
My hands trembled slightly.
Jealousy!!
It was a very unfamiliar emotion to me, similar to the one I used for Cha Seoah's acting.
And the role I was newly challenging this time, 'Jo Harin', must have felt this same emotion too.
'So, this is what this emotion feels like.'
No, it would have been worse for her.
According to the setting, Jo Harin was a character who had a one-sided love for the male protagonist, Kim Sihwan.
I could imagine what emotion she must have felt seeing the affectionate Kim Sihwan and Song Soha.
Irritation.
Seoyeon hadn't really known what irritation was since she was born, but that was no longer the case.
"Joo Seoyeon."
"……What."
When I answered curtly, Jiyeon tilted her head for a moment before smirking.
"What are you going to do about the singing?"
She said that and sat next to me.
My face unnecessarily heated up under Han Daeyoung's gaze, who looked at us as if we were cute.
It seemed the bubbling emotions in my heart were fully displayed on my face.
I covered my face with both hands.
'I hate unfamiliar emotions for this reason.'
Unfamiliar things are just hard to control.
It was similar to jumping around restlessly when excited.
"I, I still have to do it, though."
"You have to do it?"
"First of all, I have to pass the audition."
Anyway, returning to the main point, aside from learning to sing, I first needed to pass the audition.
Naturally, whether it was singing ability or anything else, I had to possess idol-like qualities.
'That's why it's hard to guess the outcome of the audition.'
For reference, I also sang at the audition.
The subtle expression of the judges at that time still came to mind.
'I might... fail.'
Because of that sense of crisis, I also wondered if learning to sing was the right move.
Honestly, rather than learning to sing, I came today just to see the Magician's face at least once.
'…….'
What I found out was that Lamiel and the Magician had a much deeper relationship than I had anticipated.
Even if not as much as me, they had known each other for well over 5 years.
It seemed Jiyeon had also helped her when she was doing idol work.
Thinking that made my stomach boil again, but seeing Lee Jiyeon smiling brightly next to me made my stomach boil in a different way.
"Then."
At that moment, Han Daeyoung opened her mouth.
"Want to try singing briefly first?"
"Yes? Right now?"
Since it was a voice acting academy, a recording studio was right nearby.
So it wasn't difficult, but.
"Yeah, I need to know how well you sing to help you."
"But the audition……."
"It's fine."
She said with a gentle smile.
"You'll definitely pass. Jiyeon may not know about other things, but she praised your acting so much."
"Ah, Unnie!"
At her words, Jiyeon shrieked.
Hearing that, I also became embarrassed for no reason.
'……May not know about other things?'
When I glared at Jiyeon, Lee Jiyeon casually averted her gaze.
That was exactly the kind of face I usually made towards Lee Jiyeon.
And.
After singing briefly in the recording studio.
"……Ah."
Han Daeyoung's face became truly complicated and subtle.
It was exactly the face the judges had shown me at the audition not long ago.
***
The audition for
First, far more idols and actors applied than expected, and many had prepared quite diligently.
The truly rare genre of 'Youth Romance'.
Perhaps that scarcity created the perception that it was a drama being pushed by KMB.
"So, who do you think would be good for the role of Song Soha?"
At the words of Casting Director Shin Yoon, the meeting room, which had been in the midst of a heated discussion, fell quiet.
It wasn't because there was no suitable candidate.
Rather.
"Personally, I think Joo Seoyeon would be good."
The one who said that was the Director of Photography, Kim Pilseok.
A few nodded at his remark, which carried the most influence.
"But to give her the lead role, her singing is……."
"Ahem, well, we have a few months, so it might be fine if she gets vocal training."
"That's uncertain, isn't it?"
First, Seoyeon had acted for both roles, Jo Harin and Song Soha.
Jo Harin because she wanted to.
Song Soha because the judges requested it.
As for the acting, well.
"It's amazing."
"Yes, it was my first time seeing Actor Joo Seoyeon's acting, and I understand why Jungwoo praised her so much."
At those words, Park Jungwoo shrugged his shoulders needlessly.
The acting was truly flawless.
'She's actually improved.'
Compared to when he saw her on the variety show.
And her emotions felt richer than when she was doing theater.
Most importantly, there was a strong sense that she was acting 'without difficulty'.
That level without even method acting.
This meant Seoyeon's acting skills had improved significantly.
"In terms of balance, Actor Cha Nahee…… is right, isn't she?"
One of the production staff said so, though they hesitated to call an idol an 'actor'.
Her acting was far behind Seoyeon's, but her singing was far above Seoyeon's.
Looking at just that, Cha Nahee would have been an overwhelming choice for the 'Song Soha' role.
"Actor Joo Seoyeon prefers the role of Jo Harin in the first place, right? Then I think that side is correct."
"But."
"It's a waste, isn't it?"
Jungwoo looked at the meeting room where a heated discussion was taking place and didn't bother to open his mouth.
His words, given their acquaintance, could potentially be seen in a negative light.
'Her singing was definitely lacking.'
Seoyeon was clearly aware of that as well.
There were signs that she had learned singing to some extent.
It wasn't at the level of being completely terrible.
It was just insufficient to be considered the skills of 'Song Soha', who wins the audition in the story.
The reason it felt particularly lacking was because almost no emotion was put into the singing.
'But.'
Park Jungwoo recalled the time of the audition.
Seoyeon's acting.
And the things she had prepared for this audition.
One week ago.
Audition venue.
"Me! I'll do it! I want to do it!"
Waving her hand cheerfully, the girl ran around the audition venue.
Like a puppy.
A retriever, exactly that kind of vibe.
'Can a person's atmosphere change like this?'
The judges each expressed such sentiments.
Until just before the audition started, she was a woman with a cold impression.
But once the acting started, she couldn't be more lively in this world.
However, Park Jungwoo.
'Deserted island.'
She's using the exact emotions she felt on that deserted island.
He realized right away.
Seoyeon, who used to run through the jungle at that time, was exactly like that.
Along with that cheerful acting of Jo Harin.
"Why, of all people, not me……."
A mournful voice.
But the jealousy contained in that voice was vividly felt.
She had diverted some of the emotions she used for Cha Seoah in
The judges who saw that acting each nodded their heads.
It was definitely different from the acting they had seen in the auditions so far.
'As expected, idols and actors are.'
'The difference is definitely huge.'
If you only look at one side's acting, you don't think much of it, but when you compare them alternately, it becomes obvious.
"Ah, Miss Seoyeon. By any chance, have you also memorized the script for the Song Soha role? If it's okay, I'd like to see it once."
"The Song Soha role?"
Seoyeon nodded nonchalantly.
Of course, she had memorized all the scripts.
And the acting of Song Soha that followed.
'Wow, both sides are really good.'
Better than any idol who had auditioned for the Song Soha role so far.
Better than any actor.
"Then, lastly, the singing…… could we hear it once? You know? This is a drama about idol auditions, so it's essential."
"Ah, of course I've prepared it."
Seoyeon said quite confidently.
At that, the judges also let out a short exclamation of "Ohh," but.
That exclamation didn't last long.
"……Ahem."
"Ah, g-good job. Miss Seoyeon."
Complex glances were exchanged among them.
It's not that she sang poorly.
Or rather, did she sing poorly?
A subtle feeling stirred the atmosphere.
The acting was really good, but the singing was a bit ambiguous.
"Miss Seoyeon."
At that moment, Park Jungwoo, who had been quiet, opened his mouth.
All eyes focused on Jungwoo.
Was he going to point something out?
Since he had done so thus far, the judges each thought that.
'No, since they're acquaintances, he might be trying to cover for her.'
If that were the case, it would be a bit…….
Everyone waited for Park Jungwoo's next words with such thoughts.
"You can dance, right?"
"Yes?"
Those words carried a tone of certainty.
'She wouldn't audition with only her weaknesses.'
She herself probably knows she can't sing well.
……Though she seemed to have some confidence in her singing, surely.
"If you're an idol, singing isn't everything. You have to be able to dance too. Would that be okay?"
Dance.
Everyone looked puzzled by Park Jungwoo's words.
An actor dancing?
They had heard of actors who could sing well, but dancing was quite rare.
"Yes."
At Jungwoo's words, Seoyeon nodded.
"I can do it."
A red glint flickered in Seoyeon's eyes.
Park Jungwoo nodded toward Seoyeon and gave a signal to the staff.
Like that, the song that had been heard several times at the audition flowed out.
Seoyeon calmly surrendered her body to the rhythm and closed her eyes.
One, two.
As if counting the beat.
And.
Seoyeon's eyes slowly opened.
Along with the music, the dance began.