Alba
The debut song announcement was really just around the corner.
In the meantime, I'd done a few collabs and even held a debut showcase by inviting real journalists.
While going through all the schedules, I did slip up a few times, but thankfully nothing blew up into a big scandal. Things went smoothly enough, and the stream has been steadily growing.
However, one problem cropped up…
"Huh? You're quitting vocal lessons?"
"Not quitting—just thinking of pausing my registration for a while."
"Why…?"
Startled by my sudden announcement, the vocal coach stared at me in disbelief, while I hung my head in shame.
"I don't have the money…"
"Ah…"
A few days ago, my parents here found out that I'd dropped out of college.
Since they were paying for my tuition and everything else, it was only natural they'd discover it eventually.
If anything, I'd lasted surprisingly long—about a month.
Of course, quitting without a word had made them furious. They told me to come home immediately and cut off my financial support then and there.
I'd already spent what savings I had on my avatar and streaming gear, so my finances were empty. Even if I covered my phone bill and credit card with stream income, the vocal lessons were still too much of a burden.
The streaming platform took a bigger cut than I expected.
And now that I belonged to a company, they also took a share. For the time being, I was living rather frugally.
"Well… I guess the lesson fees can be a bit heavy."
"Right? Haha… But if I earn more later, I'll definitely sign up again."
At that, the vocal coach thought for a moment before offering me a subtle suggestion.
"Hmm… in that case, would you like to take on a part-time gig?"
"Huh? What kind of gig?"
"Ah, but you can't tell this to other students, okay?"
Though she was the one bringing it up, the vocal coach looked a little hesitant.
"What is it? I won't tell anyone. I don't even know the names of the other students here."
"True… since you only take private lessons. Okay, I'll tell you."
Why all the suspense? It just made me more curious, so I leaned in as she glanced around before continuing.
"A friend of mine is working on a track and looking for someone to feature on it. You've got a really lovely tone, so I thought you might be a good fit. The pay would be decent."
"Huh?"
I froze at her words.
Featuring on a song? Isn't that something only singers do?
"She's a rookie, so she's been looking for someone nearby. I thought of helping, but my voice doesn't quite suit the style—she wants a clearer, more delicate female vocal."
Come to think of it, I'd heard my coach sing before, and she did have a husky voice.
"Worried? If you accept, I'll guide you along the way. Honestly, I don't usually make offers like this, but it's a shame you're quitting. And with your skill, you'd definitely help my friend too."
The offer was tempting. It was true that opportunities like this didn't come around often. I didn't know who this "friend" was, but I trusted my coach wouldn't recommend me to just anyone.
Still…
"Ah… it's a really good offer, but…"
"But…?"
"The thing is, I'm under contract with a company. I'll have to discuss it with them first."
I was, after all, officially signed with The Six.
Of course, matters like this needed the company's approval.
"Ah… I thought so."
My coach simply nodded, unsurprised.
Her calm acceptance actually left me feeling flustered.
"You're not surprised? I've never mentioned it before."
"Well, someone like you would naturally have an agency. You just never brought it up before, that's all… Which one is it? AG? SN? Or maybe JYB?"
She casually rattled off the names of the top three agencies in the entertainment industry, which only made me sweat nervously.
"Huh? Oh, no—it's not an entertainment agency."
"Really? Then where…"
"Well, um…"
With no other choice, I explained everything.
That I was a VTuber, that I'd passed an audition, and that my debut song was coming out soon.
"What? A debut song? Can you let me hear it? But… what's a VTuber? Something like YouTube?"
I gave her the short version, but since she didn't even know what a VTuber was, I ended up pulling up one of my videos.
When she saw the recording from my fourth audition round, she gawked and stared at me.
"Wait—this recording… oh! This is you?"
"Yes… that's me."
"Wow… the character is really pretty. Is this like animation? Dubbing?"
"No, um…"
Trying to explain to someone completely outside this world was mortifying. My face burned, but since VTubing was my career, I held it in and explained step by step.
"Ah… so instead of showing your face on camera, you use this character model?"
"That's right."
"Hahaha… I see. Technology these days really is amazing."
"R-right? Still, there are lots of people who like it."
"Of course. Who wouldn't like you? And this way your privacy is safe too."
"Yeah, that's true."
"Alright then, check with your company, and if it works out, let me know. I'll talk to my friend too."
"Okay, I will."
"Great. Oh, and your identity is supposed to be secret, right? I'll set things up so you two can communicate online."
"Ah, thank you for that."
"No problem. My friend's name is in English—I'll write it down for you."
She tore out a sheet of paper and scribbled something on it in neat handwriting.
I read the name aloud.
"Slim Gold? Is that right?"
"Yep. Kind of a tacky nickname, huh? She's skinny with blonde hair, so she calls herself Slim Gold."
"Ah…"
Honestly, it did sound a bit tacky, so I nodded.
"Still, he's really handsome. How about it? Want me to introduce you?"
"Ah, no, that's fine. Anyway, I'll talk to my agency."
Introduce me? What a horrifying thought.
I shook my head firmly and stood up.
"Well then, I'll get going now."
"Alright. Talk it over and text me~"
Leaving the vocal academy, I immediately called my manager.
[Hello?]
"Manager."
[What's the matter?]
"I got an outside offer."
[Huh? What do you mean?]
"At the vocal academy I attend, I was offered a feature."
[A feature? Could you explain in more detail?]
"Well…"
I told the whole story: how I'd joined the academy right after the audition started and built a connection with my vocal coach, how I'd submitted my 4th audition video after training with her, and how, when I said I'd have to quit for a while due to money, she offered me this part-time feature gig.
[Are you struggling financially? Should I ask the company if we can arrange some support funds?]
"Ah, no, it's not that serious."
[Actually, since vocal lessons were something the company was planning to encourage anyway, we could cover the cost.]
"Huh? Really?"
I'd feel guilty accepting money for nothing, but if that was the reasoning…
[Yes, I'll bring it up with the company. By the way, what's the name of the singer you'd be featuring for?]
"Ah… I don't know much about them yet, but I was told the name is Slim Gold."
[Hmm… Slim Gold… I feel like I've heard that somewhere. Hold on a moment.]
Heard somewhere? The coach said they were a rookie. No way they were a big name, if she was recommending a mere student like me for the job.
[Mi-ro? Are you sure it's really Slim Gold? Could you read me exactly how your coach spelled it?]
"Huh? Well, I'm pretty good at reading English… just a sec… s…"
I read it aloud just as it was written, and on the other end I heard a sharp gasp.
[Mi-ro!]
"Yes?"
[You must take this offer!]
"Ah… are they famous?"
I'd never even heard of them. But my manager's voice carried a tinge of excitement.
[Not exactly! They're still a rookie, so they don't have much name value yet—but compared to our group, they're far more well-known!]
"Ah…"
So it was relative fame.
[But still, they're getting their name out there as a rookie, and if we join them now, it'll be a great opportunity.]
"Alright then. Should I tell my vocal coach the company has approved it?"
[Well, technically I still need to report it to the higher-ups. But I'm sure approval will go through, so you can tell her in advance.]
"Really?"
If it fell through after I'd already given the okay, that would be mortifying.
[In my opinion, it's almost guaranteed. And even if by some chance it isn't approved, you could just participate under your real name—Kim Soo-hyun—not as Miro of the Heavenly Realm Project.]
"Wait, I can do that?"
[Of course. We signed a contract with you as the VTuber Miro. As long as it doesn't interfere with your activities as Miro, you're free to do other work under your real name.]
"I see…"
That was the first I'd heard of it. So Miro and Kim Soo-hyun were considered separate.
"Alright then, I'll let her know right away."
[Yes, thank you for bringing this opportunity. Please also thank your vocal coach for us.]
"Ah, yes. Understood."
[Alright, take care.]
"You too."
After hanging up, I messaged my vocal coach right away to say it was possible.
And the next day—
"What?"
[Sorry… the higher-ups decided we should focus on strengthening our internal activities for now, so no external work…]
"What??"
[I sincerely apologize…]
What I thought would be a sure thing had been rejected by the higher-ups.
"Hello? Coach, so the thing is…"
[Soo-hyun! My friend really likes you! Perfect timing!]
Ironically, the feature was accepted on the other side.
And so…
"Uh… the company turned me down…"
[Huh?]
"But… could I participate under my real name instead of as my VTuber persona?"
In the end, I would be joining the feature not as VTuber Miro,
but as the human Kim Soo-hyun.