Chapter 282: Chapter 282

“I’ll tell you the story of how I passed the interview thanks to watching anime.”

This was the thought in Yoo Do-a’s head after she received the pass notification following a single question about her favorite anime.

Of course, the interview wasn’t really over yet.

The previous question was just an icebreaker.

“I made that joke because I thought you were really nervous, Do-a. It was just to help you relax.”

Most of the interviewees, including Yoo Do-a, had been so stunned by Ha-eun’s presence that they needed a moment to calm down before the real interview began. The previous joke had been a part of that.

The official Illusionary Realm 3rd-generation interview began immediately after that.

Yoo Do-a was asked about her motivations for applying to Illusionary Realm, her strengths, and what was necessary to succeed as a VTuber.

“It says here that you served as both president and vice-president during your three years in high school... How did you demonstrate leadership, Do-a?”

“Ah, my leadership is—”

The most important question was whether she could lead a broadcast, guiding the flow while keeping the audience engaged. As a VTuber, the ability to steer the show was crucial, just like a captain guiding a ship with passengers aboard.

Well... she’ll probably do fine.

To be honest, there was some truth in the pass notification she received a few minutes ago.

Ha-eun, a huge fan of Illusionary Realm since her past life, had recognized Do-a’s voice and immediately identified her as “Tana,” a candidate for the 3rd generation.

But for now, the interview was still an interview.

The selection process had to be fair, so Ha-eun treated Do-a just like the other candidates.

Time passed, and after going through the final question from the interview sheet given to Ha-eun by Ji Hye-min, the interview wrapped up smoothly.

Ha-eun, rising slightly from her black swivel chair, extended her hand for a handshake.

Do-a, staring at Ha-eun blankly for a moment, quickly snapped back to reality.

Just moments ago, Do-a had been answering Ha-eun’s questions clearly, but now she was fumbling her words.

Had the interviewee disappeared, leaving just an ordinary person in her place?

“Oh, sure. I’ll take a picture for you.”

Before Do-a even finished speaking, Ha-eun had already taken her phone.

Ha-eun stood a little closer to Do-a, then clicked the camera in selfie mode.

Ha-eun smiled awkwardly as she handed back the phone to Do-a, who bowed deeply in gratitude.

When they had met about Illusionary Realm business, Ha-eun had hoped to be treated as Diah, but perhaps that was still too soon.

Ha-eun wasn’t completely unaware of Do-a’s glances at her.

After all, since entering the entertainment industry, Ha-eun had constantly been the subject of such stares.

As Da-yeon had once said long ago, it was something she couldn’t avoid.

In any case, after Do-a’s interview was fully wrapped up,

Ha-eun accompanied her to the elevator before heading to the place where Ji Hye-min and the other Illusionary Realm staff were waiting.

Not long after, the video of Ha-eun and Do-a’s interview was shown.

Those who had been monitoring Ha-eun’s interview began analyzing the footage frame by frame, just like they had done with Ha-eun’s interview.

“She seemed fine. I didn’t get the feeling that she was hiding anything.”

To be precise, Ha-eun hadn’t been the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» only one conducting the interviews.

For candidates who were a bit on the fence, Ji Hye-min or other staff members had met with them, and only those who were promising were passed on to Ha-eun.

This was the final confirmation process.

Before making the final selections, Ji Hye-min entrusted Ha-eun—thanks to her uncanny ability to judge people (due to her memories from her past life)—to do the final review.

And so, the final selection list was nearly complete.

Though the final decisions weren’t all made yet, Ha-eun’s memory of the voices she had heard was enough to include everyone she had spoken with.

“Let’s watch over these people for now, but good job, Ha-eun.”

After the Illusionary Realm 3rd-generation selection process was more or less settled,

Ji Hye-min congratulated Ha-eun on her upcoming graduation, even if it was just a brief comment.

“I want to go to the graduation ceremony too, but... I guess I can’t. What a shame.”

“You can come, it’s fine with me.”

“Eh, the press would be swarming. What if the Daramji Red Medicine ends up in the news?”

“I don’t think anyone would mind...”

For a brief moment, Ha-eun’s eyes lingered on Ji Hye-min’s chest, which she found quite impressive.

In response, Ji Hye-min silently gave Ha-eun a playful flick on the forehead.

“Well, anyway. Congrats on graduating, Ha-eun.”

“Thanks. ...But hearing you say ‘graduation’ feels a bit strange.”

“Ah, I won’t let you graduate from anything else for the rest of your life.”

The conversation then shifted to Diah’s comeback stream.

Ha-eun heard that the video she would use for Diah’s return had been finished ahead of schedule.

“Eun-hye finished it earlier than expected. The music video is already out too, although it feels a bit... rushed.”

“It turned out great! It doesn’t feel rushed at all.”

From there, they discussed plans for Diah’s upcoming broadcasts.

Ha-eun had already planned out what would happen after Diah’s “red pill” moment was revealed.

In a way, it was a material notebook.

That notebook, where Ha-eun had detailed her encounters with various celebrities in the past, was intended for the time after Diah’s true identity was exposed.

A VTuber sharing stories about meeting famous celebrities in Korea.

Of course, to avoid identifying specific celebrities, they would be called by pseudonyms, and some additional tweaks might be necessary.

But Ha-eun thought that Diah’s celebrity gossip show could become a powerful differentiator for her.

“But, won’t that mean Diah is just admitting she’s Lee Ha-eun?”

“Celebrities will just think Diah ‘happened to meet’ people from the human world. It’s different from when we met.”

“Ah... So that’s the plan?”

“Yes. That’s the idea.”

Ji Hye-min honestly thought this sounded a bit like covering up the truth.

What VTuber would talk about filming movies or dramas they had done when they were younger?

But still, there was nothing to argue.

For VTubers, the possibilities of roleplay (RP) were limitless.

In the VTuber world, there was no such thing as “impossible.”

That was basic knowledge in the VTuber industry.

“Make sure to tell Da-yeon congratulations on graduation too.”

Two days after the final interview for the 3rd generation of Illusionary Realm.

At the same time, on the day of Naerae Arts High’s graduation ceremony.

Currently, Ha-eun stood in front of the photo wall at the graduation ceremony, holding a bouquet of flowers.

This was because Naerae Arts High was a school attended mostly by current actors, idols, and trainees.

The sequence of the ceremony itself wasn’t much different from that of any regular school.

However, since most of Naerae’s graduates were in the entertainment industry, the cameras of the reporters who had gathered at the graduation ceremony never stopped clicking.

In any case, after being photographed multiple times in front of the reporters, Ha-eun finally moved and entered the ceremony hall when she saw a familiar face waving at her from the other side.

Then, Da-yeon’s not-so-kind comment came through.

“Why are you so late for being the representative of the graduates?”

“The photo wall shoot wasn’t finished yet...”

“You should’ve cut it short. Why are you so timid at times ?”

With that, Da-yeon grabbed Ha-eun’s wrist and pulled her toward the broadcast room, which was located behind the stage.

It was after this that Ha-eun received the graduation speech.

“Aren’t the class president supposed to do this?”

“The class president told you to do it. Who’s more famous in this school than you?”

“You, the great actress, Min Da-yeon.”

“I can’t do something .”

Technically, Ha-eun had already memorized the contents of the speech.

But the fact that Ha-eun, a regular student and not the class president, was assigned to be the representative for the graduates still felt a bit surreal.

She had never even held a position like president or vice president before.

“Lee Ha-eun, you should stand on the podium. It’ll get better views for the graduation article.”

“Feels so unromantic, though. It’s a graduation ceremony, after all.”

“Ha-eun, the world runs on money. Does romance feed you?”

Was it because she had lived in a world where money and fame were everything since she was young?

Or was it just that Da-yeon was so tainted by the world...

“You’re not tainted. People just don’t talk about it. Everyone thinks like me.”

“Leave me out of this.”

“You’ll end up one day.”

With a slight turn of her head, Ha-eun intentionally avoided Da-yeon’s sharp gaze.

For now, she still wanted to remain a pure girl, not a jaded adult.

In any case, the ceremony began.

Until the principal’s speech began, there weren’t any major issues.

However, as the time approached for Ha-eun to give her speech as the graduate representative...

Ha-eun stared at the graduation speech in front of her, deep in thought.

This would mark the end of her high school days.

She didn’t want to finish her time as a high schooler with a boring graduation speech.

At least, she thought, she should give everyone an unforgettable memory for the last time.

Strictly speaking, it was more of a desire to mess around, but still...

She didn’t want to waste the moment when everyone’s eyes were focused on her.

That’s why she caused a little incident.

“I think I’ll get scolded for this, but I’ll make it short and sweet. You all probably just want to go home and rest, right?”

“Had fun for three years. Everyone, congratulations on graduating.”

That was the end of Ha-eun’s graduation speech.

The long speech was completely overshadowed by her brief one, and the teachers’ eyes were filled with confusion.

However, the students’ reactions were the complete opposite of the teachers'.

After bowing, Ha-eun stepped down from the podium to the sound of thunderous applause.

Not a single student was disappointed by her short speech.

Laughter at Ha-eun’s confident attitude.

The flustered look on the vice principal’s face.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“Wow... Ha-eun, that was amazing. Hehe...”

It was all captured on camera by PD Lee Da-hye’s action cam.

Ha-eun’s Naerae Arts graduation vlog became a legendary piece in many ways.

Nine hours after Naerae Arts High’s graduation ceremony.

At 10 PM, the regular stream time for Diah.

Right now, Ha-eun was nervously preparing for a broadcast in the soundproof booth, a feeling of tension she had never experienced before.

She knew she’d eventually face it, but it was different from what she had imagined.

Though over ten broadcast managers were waiting to oversee Diah’s stream, still...

- Diah, I love you, Diah, I love you, Diah, I love you...

- Please turn on the cam, please!

- Diah, I’m so cold, Diah, I’m so cold, Diah, I’m so cold...

- I enjoyed the drama ^^7

- I missed you, I missed you, I missed you...

- I’m a fan! I’m a fan! I’m a fan!

- The chat is blowing up.

- Please, let us hear your real voice!

- Diah, don’t abandon Noeulis!

Even though the stream was still in waiting, the chat was already out of control.

A part of Ha-eun wondered if she had posted the broadcast announcement prematurely, considering the overwhelming heat in the chat.

At least, it was fortunate there wasn’t any negative reaction to Diah’s return.

Watching the chat filled with excitement for Diah’s return, Ha-eun felt a complex mix of emotions she couldn’t put into words.

Then, at one point...

Finally, Ha-eun’s stream started, marking the end of the long hiatus for Diah’s broadcast.

However, the broadcast title seemed a bit off.

And even after the stream started, there was no sound from the broadcast.

- Why isn’t she talking?

- What’s the broadcast title???

- Did she do it? Did she do it? Did she do it?

- Is this graduation? Is this graduation?

- I love you, I love you, I love you...

- Don’t leave, don’t leave, don’t leave...

- We messed up, sorry!

The chat exploded once again.

Not long after, Diah’s nostalgic illustration appeared on the stream screen.

The illustration of Diah, drawn by Kim Eun-hye, appeared, accompanied by the OST of a famous Japanese anime.

The broadcast audio was filled with melancholic tones.

The lyrics, famous for implying farewell, made the chat spiral into even more chaos.

The chaos culminated when Diah’s song started.

“Swallowing my tears─♪ Smiling, I wave my hand──♬”

The performance was a cover of a Japanese song sung by Diah in Korean.

Her voice was different from the youthful tone it once had.

“Among the memories we shared─♪”

It was no longer the cute vocals of Diah, but Ha-eun’s own vocal prowess as Pinocchio.

Her rendition of the OST carried a more nostalgic and melancholic atmosphere.

“The last moment when I let go of your hand─♪”

- This is like a funeral...

- I saw this coming...

- And she sings so well 🎤😭

- Don’t let her graduate!!!

- I can’t let our baby go...

- This can’t be happening.

“Don’t forget me─♪ Even as time passes♪”

When the final lyrics of the famous Japanese anime OST The Name of the Flower We Saw That Day finished...

Diah’s virtual avatar smiled gently and fell silent for a moment.

Then, not even a minute later... Ding.

[Diah’s stream has ended.]

The broadcast, which was supposed to mark Diah’s return, ended after exactly 10 minutes.

No official statement was made, and the chat and community went wild.

Right as Diah’s “red pill” moment came to light in a completely different way, the chaos continued.

[It’s been fun.] ▶ [I hope we can keep having fun☆]

Twenty minutes after Diah’s broadcast ended, it started again.

Naturally, the chat was overloaded.

“Hehe. Bet you’re all surprised.”

- What is happening??

- I thought this was a festival but my house just collapsed.

- Is this graduation? 😭😭😭

“I didn’t want to just return after weeks away. So, I prepared a little song. Huh? What’s that? Graduation? Why would I...”

- Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you...

- Diah official: Graduation? Why would I?

- Diah, you’re the hero of our town!

And so, Ha-eun nodded in satisfaction as she saw Noeulis’ emotional reactions in the chat.

Today, she realized once again that even in a relationship, a little back-and-forth is important.