#43
It seemed like he should now perform his proper role. He launched Legend of Legend and turned his attention back to Imun’s chat.
[I’m sorry for contacting you while you’re streaming]
[Hyung, do you use Twitter or community forums?]
[If you do, please don’t go on them for a while]
[Lol yeah I rarely use them, too annoying]
[By the way, what are you going to do about the donation ã…¡ã…¡]
[I’ll call you after my schedule is done]
He felt like he’d heard something similar before. With an inexplicable sense of déjà vu, he tilted his head slightly before smiling awkwardly one more time, hoping the other would feel reassured.
*
He thought Imun would call even if it was in the middle of the night. After confirming that his chat notifications were properly turned on, he blankly stared at the morning sun.
Even after having breakfast and lunch with the food his grandmother had prepared, there was still no contact from Imun. Suppressing his growing worry, he sat down in front of his computer.
Opening his email inbox after a long time, it was full of Uijin’s protests about why he hadn’t told her he was in Korea. Somehow she even knew his personal email. Mixed in were also several requests from Sorit asking when they would continue their unfinished game.
Just as he was finishing writing perfunctory replies to both of them and thinking about doing some web surfing:
[I miss you, hyung. Please show me your face ã… ã… ]
Really, he was quite good at saying embarrassing things. It was quite cute that he was making the same request as viewers often did, but right now it was a bit troublesome. After hastily tidying up his appearance while looking in the mirror, he made a video call with a pretend-scary face.
No matter how much the other acted spoiled, he was determined not to let it slide easily this time. That was the plan, but—
“You, next time really… don’t donate. Seeing your face, I just can’t stay angry.”
His firm plan to scold Imun about the donations flew away like a feather the moment he saw Imun’s bright smile.
-I’m sorry… I really won’t donate anymore.
“Good, that settles it. By the way, were you busy yesterday? You said you’d call.”
-Ah, yesterday… I’m sorry for the late reply. I completely forgot.
Looking at him as he scrunched his eye corners as if trying to gloss over his mistake, Hajun secretly clicked his tongue. He’s much better in person than over video calls. Perhaps because he had met Imun in person, suddenly having to talk through a screen felt frustratingly restrictive.
-And about yesterday… I’m really, really sorry. I’ll do my best to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again. Hyung, let me say it again, don’t pay attention to people saying strange things in the chat. Okay?
“Huh? Oh, I’m fine. When you’ve been streaming for years, most trolls don’t even register as trolls anymore. From the moment it was written on my Namuwiki page that I’m Seo Imun’s official number one male fan… I was somewhat prepared.”
He threw out a silly joke because Imun’s excessive apologizing was making him feel sorry for him, but Imun’s face became even more dejected. He stopped smiling and gazed intently at Imun.
“You don’t need to take everyone’s words to heart. No matter how well I do, there will always be people who criticize me. So you too, just listen to the people who like you.”
-…Yes, I’ll listen well to what you say, hyung.
“What…? Oh, you again! …You really, stop saying such embarrassing things.”
-Haha, it’s true that you like me, hyung. I miss you… Is that also an embarrassing thing to say?
Am I the sensitive one? Looking into Imun’s bright-eyed gaze, his confidence plummeted.
Thinking back to his sweaty middle school days, there had never been any talk of liking each other among boys. But he wasn’t convinced that his shallow social experience was a universal standard applicable to everyone.
“No… Actually, I too. Seeing you briefly in the evening was too short.”
While awkwardly scratching his arm and trailing off, Imun’s face disappeared from the screen. The bright laughter that followed was filled with mischief. Realizing he’d been tricked again, he let out a small “ah” before following suit and raising the corners of his mouth.
Right, as long as you’re happy. Imun’s increasingly frequent teasing was evidence that he considered Hajun closer to him. He scratched his ticklish chest while waiting for Imun to calm down.
-Haha. I’m sorry. You’re just so fun to tease.
“If you keep laughing… I’m never going to say things like this again. I’ll really get angry.”
-Hmm… I don’t like that. I’ve said plenty of embarrassing things too, so what’s the big deal.
“I miss you, hyung…” Imun said again with a dejected expression, sharing his disappointment.
It had only been a day since he returned from Korea. He missed him already too. But if he spoke honestly, the call would just turn into a sea of sighs.
I miss you too, actually. He swallowed the words lingering on the tip of his tongue and gently consoled Imun instead.
***
His grandmother and Mari returned home with hands full of gifts. After eagerly greeting the faces he hadn’t seen for several days, he hurriedly took the packages from them.
“How was the trip?” “We had fun until we were sick of it!” While his grandmother laughed heartily, Mari shook her head as if she was indeed sick of it. He could roughly guess what the trip’s atmosphere had been like. He patted his admirable little sister’s head in praise and joined in unpacking his grandmother’s luggage.
It seemed better to eat out for lunch, considering his grandmother and Mari would be tired from the trip. “Should we go for conveyor belt sushi for a change?” No sooner had he made the suggestion than Mari let out a scream and began singing a strange song while running around the living room.
“Sushi, sushi, the most delicious thing in the world!”
“You like it that much?”
“Of course! Especially when Junchan is treating!”
While looking incredulously at her cheerful smile, Imun’s gift suddenly crossed his mind.
“…Ah, I have something for you.”
“What is it, what is it?” As she came running over with interest, he sat her down and went to get Imun’s gift. In the meantime, Mari seemed unable to wait and was fiddling with her phone, giggling.
He quietly went around behind her. Sure enough, a variety show featuring the On The Sky members was playing on the screen.
It really bothered him having to hide his relationship with Imun from Mari. But if she were to make any requests related to On The Sky, he wouldn’t be able to easily refuse.
Not now, at least. He shook off the role conflict between being a friend and an older brother and snorted. It was because Saha’s screen time was noticeably dominant in the video Mari was watching.
“You really do only like Saha.”
“Huh? Like you only like Imun. Anyway, Junchan, look at this. It’s really funny.”
Only now noticing his presence, Mari unplugged her earphones from the phone. The boisterous laughter of the members immediately filled the living room.
Although the video was mainly edited to feature Saha, other members were also mixed in here and there. While searching for Imun like in a hidden picture puzzle, Mari suddenly sighed.
“You’re lucky, Junchan. You can understand all the A-Live too.”
“A-Live? What’s that?”
“It’s like the streaming broadcasts you do. A kind of live broadcast that Korean idols mainly do. I heard Imun also started doing A-Live recently, haven’t you watched it?”
“Ah, really? He didn’t do it before?”
He sat down heavily next to Mari, who was nodding, and propped his chin up.
So that’s why he’s been busy. Since extracting the promise from Imun not to donate, he hadn’t sent any donations or even stream comments. He had just assumed Imun would be busy, but hadn’t expected that he’d started livestreaming like himself.
Dancing, singing, entertainment, and now livestreaming too. Being an idol seemed like an extreme profession in many ways.
“By the way, Junchan, where did you go last week? When I asked Grandmother, she only said you went out somewhere.”
“Oh, right. Mari, take this.”
He handed her the gift he had received from Imun. “What’s this? An On The Sky album? And, what’s this scarf?” As she rummaged through the paper bag demanding an explanation, he stared at her blankly before answering indirectly.
“Hmm… I bought it thinking it would suit you, but Korea was so cold that I wore it briefly while traveling. You absolutely… can’t wash it! The material… they said it can’t be washed… Hand washing is also not okay, and don’t spray any fabric freshener on it.”
“What?! You went to Korea? Why are you telling me this only now!” While she interrogated him fiercely with a flushed face, he awkwardly avoided her gaze and quietly opened the album.
[To. Mari☆ Hello! Thank you for liking me! If you come to Korea to visit later, let’s definitely meet! – Saha]
“No way!”
As soon as she saw Saha’s message written in Japanese, tears welled up in Mari’s eyes. “Waaah, Junchan! Thank you!” She exclaimed, hugging the album tightly to her chest, looking incredibly happy.
I should be good to Imun. As he watched contentedly while she was so overjoyed that she began spinning around and dancing in the living room, she suddenly turned her head.
“That’s right. My friend, you know.”
“The friend who has the same bias as you? She… helped you unbox albums?”
The On The Sky albums purchased in Korea ended up being delivered to Mari’s house only half of them. After all, he really couldn’t give her all 500 albums.
Even though he had halved the number of albums she needed to open, she still seemed to have exploited her friend. When he quietly questioned her with narrowed eyes, she made excuses, saying “How could I do all that by myself!” and continued:
“Somehow I ended up showing her your picture, and Hana really wants to meet you.”
“Me? Why?”
“Don’t you know? She just blushed and begged, please, please… Anyway, can I bring her home sometime?”
“Sure, why not. Stop dancing now, let’s hurry and go eat.”
It seemed like a good opportunity to see what kind of person Mari’s close friend was. “If you keep that up, I’m going to leave without you!” he shouted to Mari, who wouldn’t stop bouncing around even while putting on her shoes at the entrance, and opened the door.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
