Since I Became a Woman, I’ll Do Cosplay

Three days had passed since the second meeting with Arin.

– Uh, how’s it going…?

Hayoon and Arin were continuing their communication through a computer chat program, and through Hayoon’s room speakers, Arin’s trembling voice could be heard asking for feedback on something.

And that “something” was none other than…

“This time, I asked for a cocktail bar background, right? A setup where the heroine character could be seen sitting at the counter, with a backdrop of a wine cabinet.”

– M, that’s right…

It was a background illustration.

Illustrations that make up a visual novel are broadly categorized into three types.

ECGs that embellish highlight scenes.

The most commonly seen SCGs of each character.

And, various scripts of backgrounds and objects.

ECGs and SCGs are planned to be exclusively handled by Hayoon, who is set to produce ultra-high-quality illustrations.

However, backgrounds and objects, while essential groundwork, don’t stand out much compared to the effort put into them.

If these foundational scripts are lacking, it wouldn’t qualify as a high-quality visual novel.

But, if Hayoon, who could be considered the art director, were also to handle these minor details, the time consumption would be astronomical…

So, part of the background and object scripts was handed over to Arin.

– Is it okay…?

Arin’s voice heard through the speaker was trembling slightly.

Having no experience with such large-scale projects in high school and never having been scouted to work together on anything, Arin was notably tense.

Arin also lacked confidence in her own artwork.

“Looks good?”

– Really…?

“Would I lie?”

However, Hayoon was quite pleased with Arin’s background illustration.

Arin, who was hard to describe because of her somewhat dry coloring…

Minimal light processing, almost matte coloring techniques were used, and this kind of background was perfect for a visual novel.

“By toning down the background somewhat, you can emphasize the heroine’s SCGs, a classic yet highly effective technique. Proceeding with this tone of coloring would be good.”

– Oh…

Arin had never worked on illustrations with the purpose of selling them to others.

In contrast, Hayoon was someone who constantly brainstormed how to sell her illustrations and was very enterprising.

Hayoon’s tactical tips broadened Arin’s perspective, and with Hayoon’s advice, Arin took notes and found her direction for the future.

– Then, how about the objects?

“Objects… probably better with some light source, but since you’ve completely removed light sources from the current background, cocktail bars generally tend to have darker settings…”

– Ah, like objects highlighted against the contrasting background?

“Exactly.”

Moreover, Arin wasn’t someone who lacked skill.

Once they got into the rhythm, they were on. Hayoon then handed over some real-life photos similar to the backgrounds she was conceptualizing.

“These are backgrounds that have a high possibility of being used in the future. If you prepare them in advance, it will be easier to map out the concepts. Start with the background illustrations first.”

– Animation works?

“It’s not urgent right now, and discarding unused illustrations mid-process can be a headache. Let’s proceed with that in about a month.”

– In a month… Got it. I’ll contact you again once the background illustrations are complete.

That’s it, this meeting is done…

After ending her call with Arin, Hayoon prepared to turn on the stream and get started with the illustrations.

#

“Hmm, what should I eat while streaming?”

Hayoon’s stream was, fundamentally, an art broadcast.

There’s no need for a cam, so she didn’t have to bother with makeup or tidy clothes…

However, since drawing usually takes at least an hour, it was better to prepare something to eat beforehand.

“Hmm…”

Checking if Yoohee had left any fruit prepared, Hayoon rummaged through the fridge and spotted some strawberries set aside in a container, just as she was about to grab them…

“Daughter.”

“H-Huh!”

“Why are you so startled?”

Appearing silently from behind, Yoohee tilted her head while looking at Hayoon.

“Could you at least give some warning? Please…”

“Not that, but… Dad is asking us to go out for dinner. What do you want to do?”

“Uh, that’s…”

Dad is inviting them out to eat.

And in this situation, a typical teenage girl would naturally say she’d join her parents, but…

“I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“I have something to do. I want to stay home.”

Hayoon needed to stream today.

With only two months until school starts, there’s no telling what that damn status window will do if she doesn’t make 20 million won by then. How could she relax?

Hence, with a somewhat apologetic expression, Hayoon rejected the offer…

“Alright…”

Yoohee unconsciously stuck out her lips slightly, displaying a pout.

“It’s a pity, but there’s nothing to be done. Rest well at home.”

Though she said there was nothing she could do, the expression on her face as she turned around was quite nostalgic.

Ignoring Yoohee behind her, Hayoon went back to her room to set everything up.

Today’s title for her stream would be…

[LIVE] High School Girl Home Shopping (0)

There it is.

As soon as that provocative title appeared, she started streaming immediately and waited for the viewers, eating a strawberry in the meantime.

“Hmm…”

By the time the unique taste of the strawberry was spreading across her tongue, half a dozen people had entered.

– Why isn’t she talking?

– Is she eating something again?

– This is her routine so far.

Almost instantly, three comments appeared, and while Hayoon silently ate another strawberry without commenting, another ten or so viewers entered.

Ssshh, Shhk, Ssshk.

The number of viewers kept increasing, and Hayoon quietly chewed her strawberry, not wanting to eat too hastily, which would leave her hungry faster.

When she was finishing her strawberries, around that time…

[LIVE] High School Girl Home Shopping (72)

The number of viewers surpassed the 70 mark for the first time due to the provocative title.

Indeed, in this realm, stimuli are everything.

If you go for the provocative, you’re guaranteed attention…

– Are we selling something today?

– This high school girl, stop eating and talk already.

– Are you really a high school girl?

– At least tell us what you’re eating!

– Heyyyyyyyyy!

Suspicious-looking people also entered and started commenting, while regular viewers were grinding their teeth wondering what she was going to do next.

Because she turned on the stream but didn’t talk, it seemed that her viewers were quite irritated.

“Strawberry.”

Hayoon responded succinctly and fell silent again.

– ?

– Huh?

– She’s not saying anything else? Is that all?

– I miss the days when you used polite speech, even if it was occasionally.

– Hhwaah…

Naturally, viewers who were waiting for her to appear screamed, and just as the complaints reached their peak…

“I’ve finished.”

Hayoon prepared to start the stream properly.

– She’s really messed up.

– Are you wasting our time by eating strawberries for 10 minutes?

“Parents went out for dinner, so this is dinner for me.”

– Oh.

– Why didn’t you go with your parents?

– Hey, hey, hey.

– Ignore anyone talking about parents.

This was the ice-breaking phase.

Making idle chatter to capture the viewers’ attention.

By now, with a month of streaming experience under her belt, such a technique was basic for Hayoon.

Though basic…

‘Who’s this newbie?’

One unfamiliar user was trying to stir up the chat.

Judging from the provocative title “High School Girl Home Shopping,” it was clear this was just a casual user drawn in by curiosity.

So…

“Because I have to stream today, I stayed home to let them have their time.”

– Kyaah~

– That’s right.

– Hayoon has to be here to draw today.

This is the correct way to react here.

True, while this leaned more towards training the audience than outright feeding them, according to Hayoon’s short-lived but studied knowledge of streaming, emphasizing the bond with existing viewers is an effective way to tone down trolls.

‘He’s gone.’

Sure enough.

The casual troll who brought up the parents confirmed that Hayoon and the regulars would continue their usual interactions and promptly left.

‘So, what do you have as leverage against this girl anyway?’

The loyalty of the regular viewers towards Hayoon was overwhelming.

It wasn’t hard to create an atmosphere where these casual trolls would be filtered out.

“Alright, let’s start the home shopping part as per the title.”

With a smile, she started the main topic.

High School Girl Home Shopping wasn’t arbitrarily chosen as the title.

– ?

– ??

– Is this real? Are you really a farmer (using ‘팜’ loosely to mean selling)?

“Are you crazy? Am I going to sell a high school girl? That’s human trafficking.”

[10,000 Won Sponsorship]

– So, what are you selling then?

“Ah, thank you for the 10,000 won. Today, I’m not exactly selling something right now, but closer to presenting an investment opportunity. Factually speaking.”

– ?

– So, this isn’t a real home shopping then?

– Fraud.

“Why would this be fraud? I’m a high school girl, and I will sell things later. You’re watching this stream at home, making it a home shopping experience, and none of this is a lie, right? Are you guys stupid?”

– Ah.

– That’s… true.

– Anyway, she does argue well, huh…

The viewers muttered but, through the experiences of the last few weeks and studying streaming tactics, Hayoon intuitively understood.

To viewers, this level of provocation was a reward.

Even if some disliked it, because she was a youthful high school girl, almost no one would leave the stream.

Especially since in Hayoon’s case, they had numerous hostage images on Pixiv and Patreon that were linked to her viewers’ sexual desires.

Her channel had deep ties to one of the three main human desires—sexual desire.

This level of provocation was considered playful banter, so it was unlikely she’d lose viewers over something like this.

“Well, let’s take a look at some works I finished coloring after the last broadcast. Normally, it’s best to show this when there are more viewers.”

– Wow.

– Tonight’s gonna be a tough one.

– Truly, about that drawing…

Even so, any remaining unease was resolved by showing the completed illustrations she had posted on Pixiv.

Truly a broadcasting genius now, after briefly appreciating the illustrations, next…

“Alright, let’s start our home shopping. Remember that Cosplay Holic we discussed at the last meeting? A few concept art pieces have come out…”

This was to maximize the fundraising.

Since today’s content was primarily this, Hayoon was ready to talk about it after taking a sip of water.

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