Diah’s voice was a last resort.
I thought that maybe speaking in a cute voice would help ease Jeongyujae’s wariness, even just a little.
Even though I knew Jeongyujae’s mother was watching right next to us, I put on a bright expression.
Candy or chocolate—kids this age usually like something sweet.
‘…He couldn’t possibly be watching broadcasts at such a young age.’
To be honest, I thought it was risky for Ha Eun to openly use Diah’s voice in front of someone.
However, both Jeongyujae and his mother were the type of people who, in general, wouldn’t know much about Virtual YouTubers.
“Okay, Jeongyujae☆ Shall we pinky swear to promise to film bravely─!”
“…Yes….”
When we intertwined our pinky fingers—Jeongyujae awkwardly reaching out his—until we finished the seal copy, I maintained Diah’s voice tone, knowing it was not enough to truly relax.
‘…There can’t be anyone like me.’
Thinking back, Ha Eun first watched broadcasts at an even younger age than current Jeongyujae.
In any case, Ha Eun was a unique case.
I was quite sure that the chances of Jeongyujae and his mother recognizing Diah’s voice were slim.
It was a different story that my ears burned from constantly using that cute voice.
With those final words of “See you later” in mind, I left the waiting room.
Simultaneously, I tried to call Ju Jung-yun to ask her to prepare candies and chocolates for Jeongyujae.
– Thud.
“Ah…. Sungjae?”
“Ah, I got caught.”
I spotted Yu Sung-jae standing at the end of the waiting room’s hallway.
Immediately, his awkward excuses began.
“Um, well, Ha Eun. I wasn’t trying to listen in.”
– Blink.
“I thought it’d be better if you and Jeongyujae were together, rather than you talking alone with him.”
– Blink blink.
“I came looking because you hadn’t come back for quite some time. I had no other intentions, really.”
At some point, my rational gears had stopped.
Yu Sung-jae’s words were barely comprehensible.
Yet still.
“…Did you hear?”
“…Yes.”
It was certain that Yu Sung-jae had heard Diah’s voice.
Or perhaps he even saw me smiling cutely to reassure Jeongyujae.
Maybe that’s why.
“Ah, but that was really impressive. I thought you were an anime voice actor─”
“Grave.”
“…What?”
“Take my secret to the grave. Or go to the grave right now.”
With a gaze fiercer than ever, Ha Eun said this while pushing Yu Sung-jae into the wall.
Seeing Yu Sung-jae flinch and nod repeatedly without realizing it made me chuckle.
Thus, it wasn’t until Yu Sung-jae swore not to disclose anything he’d heard that the strength in my legs slowly returned.
Eventually, sitting on the floor completely, Ha Eun slightly choked up and asked once more.
“Forget it… Can you forget it…?”
“Ah, well… I’ll try.”
Yu Sung-jae, who was making an awkward expression, looked down at Ha Eun right beneath him.
‘The voice was fine. What’s wrong with her?’
To Yu Sung-jae, Ha Eun seemed like an embodiment of losing her mental composure.
It was the first time I’d seen this side of her since I got to know her.
However, before I could ask any further.
“Um… Ha Eun?”
“…What is it…?”
“Your mother looks quite distressed watching Jeongyu… Could you get up for now?”
Due to Jeongyu’s mother coming over to Ha Eun, who was sitting in front of Yu Sung-jae, it might have looked like something was off between them.
Ha Eun quickly got back on her feet.
She swiftly fixed her slightly disheveled hair and turned her gaze to Jeongyu’s mother right afterward.
However, as soon as she made eye contact with Ha Eun.
– Sizzle.
“…I’m sorry. My son has caused issues in various ways.”
Jeongyu’s mother slowly bowed in front of Ha Eun and apologized regarding Jeongyu’s NG.
She followed up with assurances that she would firmly correct him to prevent such incidents from happening again.
“I’m sure you were startled, Ha Eun. But thank you for reassuring Jeongyu…”
Honestly, I was in an awkward position.
If you really think about it, Jeongyu’s crying was also partly because of Ha Eun.
Sure, child actors are still actors, but they are ultimately still children.
It was entirely understandable that she would be surprised by Ha Eun’s acting.
Wasn’t Yu Sung-jae quite vocal about how scared he was of Ha Eun?
‘Da-yeon was scared too. What’s the difference with a nine-year-old? If anything, it would’ve been more…’
While contemplating what to say to Jeongyu’s mother over and over again.
“Um, Ma’am. Please don’t scold Jeongyu.”
“Pardon?”
Finally gathering my courage, I began to slowly voice my thoughts.
I felt a bit uncomfortable interfering in someone else’s upbringing, but I didn’t want to just sit back and ignore the issue.
There were certainly various reasons for Ha Eun finally opening her mouth.
But still, the most decisive reason was the vivid memories of my past life.
“Being startled isn’t a bad thing. Rather than scolding, I think it would be better to encourage him to have courage….”
Ha Eun, long ago, hadn’t been able to cry when she wanted to.
She couldn’t be scared when she needed to be scared.
So, to make sure the same thing didn’t happen again.
To not confuse the natural feelings and emotions a person should have with something they should artificially hide.
“Jeongyu, you can do it. We even made a pinky promise.”
I wanted to give him faith instead of oppression.
It was the best I could do, being someone who just happened to act in the same scene on the same filming set.
Fortunately, Jeongyu’s mother’s response was positive.
Though I couldn’t lift my head when she mentioned that Ha Eun seemed mature in her thoughts.
“Well then, see you later.”
“Ah, yes, Ma’am. Please tell Jeongyu to cheer up for me.”
At the moment of parting with Jeongyu’s mother, I somehow raised my head to greet her politely.
Until that moment, I’d temporarily forgotten about Yu Sung-jae.
When I turned my head slightly to the side afterward, I inadvertently made eye contact with Yu Sung-jae, who was silently watching me.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing, I just…. thought I’d seen a really good person.”
“??”
“Well then, since it’s about time…”
Let’s go.
Gently tapping Ha Eun on the shoulder, Yu Sung-jae said this and started walking towards the filming location.
Ha Eun had no choice but to follow Yu Sung-jae’s lead.
Shortly after arriving at the filming site, although she felt uneasy seeing Yu Sung-jae smiling for no apparent reason.
In any case, she had managed to avoid revealing her secret to anyone, so at least she felt a bit relieved.
After a brief pause, the filming of S#131 resumed.
More specifically, after Jeongyu said sorry to Director Kim Hong-seong with a slightly nervous look.
– Whack!
Filming of S#131 resumed, starting with Seojun-hyuk getting brutally hit by Lee Yeo-seo’s bodyguard once again.
‘…I feel kind of sorry for him.’
Thinking back, it seemed like the ones suffering the most due to the NG were the actors playing the bodyguard and Seojun-hyuk, rather than Ha Eun or Jeongyu.
After all, it wasn’t easy to swing a fist as if you were really hitting someone and fall down as if you were actually struck.
Yet, as Ha Eun, who had to embody Lee Yeo-seo, I had to find the scene amusing.
At the same time, as I needed to make Seo Min-woo, who was frozen at the sight of his father being beaten, even more terrifying.
“Come on, Min-woo. Your dad’s doing his best~ to support you, isn’t he?”
After forcing Jeongyu, who played Seo Min-woo, to keep his gaze straight ahead, I whispered chilling lines directly into his young ear.
Though Jeongyu trembled and shook, he didn’t burst into tears like he had earlier.
Then, with Lee Yeo-seo mockingly clapping at the bloodied Seojun-hyuk, we called cut.
Finally, the shooting of S#131 was completed.
Strictly speaking, Ha Eun still had scenes to shoot, yet.
Still, a promise is a promise.
“Okay, Ha Eun. Here are what I asked for.”
“Ah, thank you, unnie.”
Ha Eun received a bag filled with candies and chocolates from Ju Jung-yun and headed straight for Jeongyu.
Eventually, handing the promised snacks to Jeongyu, I added a thank you for keeping our promise.
“I think our Jeongyu is going to make a great movie. Thank you, Jeongyu.”
“…Thank you for the candy….”
It seemed that the effects of S#131 had not entirely worn off yet, as Jeongyu couldn’t meet my eyes.
Nonetheless, I appreciated the manner in which he carefully gripped the bag I had handed him, bowing his head.
In response, I lightly patted Jeongyu’s head.
Because I felt Yu Sung-jae’s gaze nearby, I flinched without realizing it.
“You really like kids, Ha Eun.”
“…There’s no reason to dislike them.”
“Well, that’s true.”
The corners of my lips that still curved slightly upward.
I felt that even that atmosphere was enjoyable, as Yu Sung-jae seemed to be thinking of teasing Ha Eun with Diah’s voice.
Still, as long as I kept it to myself, I was willing to endure it.
“Do you know Da-yeon?”
“What about her?”
“That voice.”
“…Grave.”
“Oh, you don’t know. Got it.”
After hearing the name of someone who absolutely must not know Diah’s secret from Yu Sung-jae, my face flushed once again.
Still, Yu Sung-jae opened his mouth once more.
“I’m sorry for asking so many questions, but is it something Da-yeon should never know?”
“…Yes.”
“C—Can you tell me why…?”
– Zing.
“Ah, no. It’s enough to know that it’s something Da-yeon shouldn’t know.”
Thus, after forcibly sealing Yu Sung-jae’s mouth, I took out a candy and ate it.
I thought that suppressing the rising embarrassment with a sweet candy might help me proceed normally with the upcoming filming.
However, until then.
‘Ha Eun, why do you do so well? Did you practice separately?’
‘…I do. You’ll probably never know.’
‘So, what is it?’
‘If I planned to tell you, I wouldn’t have brought it up.’
“…Hmm~.”
I didn’t realize what memories Yu Sung-jae, who would soon be bound by Ha Eun’s character, was recalling.
Thanks to that, I couldn’t grasp why he was quietly smiling.
*
A few days after the first highlight filming of <The Veterans>.
Currently, Ha Eun was practicing a song requested by a certain viewer in Daulby’s studio.
Of course, she was practicing in Diah’s voice tone, not her original voice.
However, as the song was somewhat close to a rap.
“───♪─♬─”
– Beep.
“Sigh, the rhythm keeps going slightly off.”
“Um… Really?”
During practice, I heard Lee Jun and Lee Geon-yeol’s comments.
After all, it was the first time for Ha Eun to rap.
The suggestion to try rapping in her original voice came from Lee Jun afterward.
He thought it would be better to match the sense of rhythm first before switching the voice tone.
And just under ten minutes later.
“You really do well in your original voice, huh?”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah. You’re great at controlling the volume. Is it really the voice tone that’s the issue?”
Ha Eun’s rap passed Daulby’s standard line.
However, when rapping in Diah’s voice tone, it kept falling just slightly below standard.
It seems that the change in voice also changed Ha Eun’s breathing rhythm.
Nonetheless, since giving up was not an option, she kept trying to practice rapping in Diah’s voice.
After about ten practices, they took a break.
“Hey, Ha Eun.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to join the university festival with the guys?”
“…Yes?”
Lee Geon-yeol’s eyes had changed to a form quite different from before, realizing that Ha Eun’s rap was surprisingly good.
He felt that she could handle the parts that had originally been meant for another female singer, which included rap sections.
“With just you, we don’t need any AR for the featuring parts now.”
“What difference does it make if we use AR?”
“There’s nothing more dispiriting than playing AR when you’ve come just to see a performance.”
“Yeah, festival performances should be live after all.”
