NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30
After changing into a Santa cosplay costume, I returned to the waiting room.
However, Yerin was still in the dressing room changing, so the waiting room was completely empty.
Instead, a TV mounted in the empty waiting room was broadcasting live footage from the studio that was in the middle of filming.
“The filming’s started, huh.”
Since there wasn’t much to do until Yerin arrived, I sat in a chair and watched the studio situation.
It seemed the filming had just begun, as Kenzo, Lina, and Shiromi, dressed as Santa, were exchanging pleasantries.
Kenzo definitely lived up to his reputation as a specially recruited guest, skillfully leading the recording,
while Lina and Shiromi were supporting him professionally and raising the atmosphere.
While I was watching the broadcast, shortly after, the waiting room door opened and Yerin entered, dressed as Santa.
“Did you finish changing?”
“Yes.”
“How’s the Santa costume?”
In response to that, Yerin spun around, showing off the Santa outfit.
“The outfit for the broadcast has less exposure than I expected, which is nice.”
“That’s good.”
“Exactly. Oh, senior, it seems they’re about to start the main filming.”
Turning my eyes to the TV as she said that, sure enough, just as Yerin said, the cast had finished their conversation and were introducing the goods that were being released.
“Are all these goods being released? This is faster than expected.”
“On the contrary, it’s a bit late. These are goods that were pre-ordered at the Tokyo Game Show.”
“Ah, that time…”
While talking about the goods with Yerin, the broadcast continued, introducing the various goods.
Watching that, I looked over to see Yerin gazing blankly at the broadcast screen.
“Why are you spacing out like that?”
“No, I was just… thinking about how much time has passed since then.”
“Indeed, time does fly, doesn’t it?”
Yerin nodded at that.
It often surprises me how it’s been over two years since I transferred jobs and started working on Girls’ Memorial,
and it seemed Yerin felt the same way.
“By any chance, do you regret transferring because of my suggestion?”
“Why would I regret it? In terms of pay or career, transferring with you was one of the best decisions I’ve made in recent years.”
“Is that so?”
Indeed, from Yerin’s perspective, that was understandable.
Mobile subculture games naturally place more emphasis on art than online games,
so the treatment was inevitably better than when she was working at ND Soft.
“On the other hand, how about you, senior? Do you regret your transfer?”
“Why would I regret it? I’m much happier now, making the games I wanted to make.”
“Isn’t that right?”
“Of course. If I hadn’t made the decision to transfer two years ago, I’d probably be frying chicken outside the company by now.”
Hearing that, Yerin looked surprised and asked.
“Were things really that tough? I had no idea since you never showed it at the company.”
“It wasn’t so much hard as it was… well, focusing only on the games the company wanted, and games obsessed with sales, which led my motivation to gradually fade.”
“It was a miracle that the transfer went well.”
“Isn’t that right?”
Just as Yerin was about to respond to that, the sound of knocking on the door came, and a studio staff member entered the waiting room.
“Are you Director Jihojin and Director Lee Yerin?”
“Yes, that’s us.”
“That’s correct.”
“Since the second part of the broadcast is starting, please follow me to the shooting site.”
Guided by the staff, we reached the entrance to the filming area shortly.
“Here, please take this.”
The staff handed me a vibrating bell.
It looked similar to the ones commonly used in cafes, just that this one was about a third the size, making it more compact.
“When the timing to enter arrives, the vibrating bell will go off, and at that point, please come in.”
“Understood.”
After handing out the vibrating bells, the staff went inside the shooting site. Left alone in the hallway, silence enveloped us.
With good soundproofing, we could only hear Yerin’s breathing.
“Yerin?”
Her breathing was slightly heavier than when we were in the waiting room.
Looking to the side, I noticed Yerin, who looked more anxious than usual.
“Yes? Yes?”
“Why? Are you nervous?”
“What, what’s wrong?”
“Right now, you seem a little tense.”
At that, Yerin visibly startled.
Probably because of the tension, she seemed unaware of her own state at the moment.
“I wasn’t nervous…”
“Really?”
“In truth… my heart’s racing a little. It might be because it’s my first time appearing on a broadcast. Sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Here, have this.”
I pulled a mint out of my pocket, which I had brought from Korea.
I had brought it just in case. Yerin looked surprised that a mint came out of my pocket.
“Where did you get this…?”
“I brought it from Korea. I also took it and used it when I appeared on my first formal broadcast.”
“Ah.”
“Try it. It becomes effective quickly if you take it now.”
Prompted by me, Yerin nodded and swallowed the mint.
“Should I give you some candy, too?”
After chewing the mint, Yerin couldn’t immediately respond, only nodding because it was extremely bitter.
Seeing that, I pulled out a piece of candy from the waiting room and handed it to Yerin.
Yerin immediately put the candy in her mouth.
Seeing her expression relax as the sweetness of the candy somewhat neutralized the bitterness was visible.
“Are you starting to relax a bit?”
“It seems so.”
Checking on Yerin’s condition just in case, her breathing had stabilized significantly, and most of the symptoms had disappeared.
“At least that’s a relief.”
“Indeed…”
Just then, the vibrating bell rang at perfect timing.
I showed the vibrating bell to Yerin and said,
“Shall we go then?”
*
As I entered the shooting site with Yerin, the cast greeted us.
“Right now, the camera isn’t on, so don’t worry and come this way.”
Following Kenzo’s words, we moved to the table in the middle of the shooting site.
“Director Ji will sit next to me, and Director Lee will sit between Ms. Lina and Ms. Shiromi.”
Following Kenzo’s instructions and sitting in the assigned seats, Kenzo handed me a bottle of water.
“The filming won’t be too long today, so you can approach it with ease. Also, the fact that the director looks just like usual is reassuring.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Usually, people filming for the first time get overwhelmed by the atmosphere and can’t even speak properly.”
Hearing that, I subtly turned my head and glanced at Yerin.
I was slightly worried because she had been nervous earlier, but thanks to the mint, it seemed there wouldn’t be any particular problems.
Thanks to that, I was able to converse with Kenzo comfortably, when shortly afterward, a sound came from the entrance.
[We are now beginning the filming of Part 2. Kenzo, please start the countdown!]
“We’ll lead the opening, so just follow us. Do you understand?”
“Understood.”
“Great. Here we go! Count down and start the shoot! Three, two, one!”
AsKenzo finished the countdown, the lights turned on, signaling the start of filming.
“Hello! I’m Kenji Nakao, who has been entrusted with hosting the second part of the discussion with developers, continuing from Part 1.”
After bowing to the camera, Kenzo continued speaking.
“In this second segment of our developer discussion, we have special guests – the directors of Girls’ Memorial! Let’s begin with introductions, one by one.”
After finishing speaking, Kenzo passed the microphone to me.
“Hello, esteemed players. I am Jihojin, the overall director of Girls’ Memorial, and I’m honored to have been invited to this second discussion session.”
After finishing my speech, I faced the camera and bowed, just like Kenzo did.
“Alright, Director Jihojin, we’ve heard your introduction. Next, Director Lee Yerin?”
This time, instead of Kenzo, Lina handed the microphone to Yerin.
“Hello, esteemed players! I am Yerin Lee, the Art Director of Girls’ Memorial, and I’m delighted to join this second developer discussion session. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
Following the same manner, Yerin bowed to the users.
After completing the introductions, the actual filming began.
***
After a 30-minute shoot, Yerin and I exited the studio together.
“Senior, thank you for your hard work…”
“Yerin, you worked hard too.”
Looking at Yerin’s expression as we left the studio, it was clear she was exhausted.
Of course, my expression wasn’t much different from Yerin’s.
When I was filming alone with the script, I hadn’t noticed it,
but as I was filming with the hosts, there were countless awkward moments.
Especially, the host’s questions.
The questions that would come during the broadcast caused issues.
“Almost had an NG during questions about character development and personal preferences…”
Such as the question about the reason for the operator’s costume being a fairly revealing dress,
or when asked about costumes I’d like the students to cosplay. The looks Yerin and the voice actors gave me when these questions came up were really intense.
Fortunately, I managed to respond with witty answers, avoiding a near NG.
“Also, senior, was what you said earlier serious?”
“Huh? What was it?”
While naturally sticking beside me, Yerin asked with a teasing tone.
“Senior’s preference for cosplay being nurse outfits…”
“Of course, it’s a broadcast concept, a concept!”
“Hmm… really?”
Yerin looked at me with a dubious gaze but managed to control her expression somehow.
“Alright. If that’s what senior says, then I’ll… believe you.”
“Hey, it’s the truth, okay?”
In this way, as I was chatting idly with Yerin, we somehow arrived back at the waiting room.
Though she didn’t outwardly show it, Yerin immediately collapsed onto the sofa, clearly tired.
“Senior… there’s no more schedule today, right…?”
“There’s an afterparty left, but do you want to join? I hear participation is voluntary.”
Hearing that, Yerin seemed to think for a moment before saying:
“I’ll join. It’s not so exhausting that I can’t attend the afterparty…”
“Good.”
Nodding at Yerin’s answer, I sat in the chair.
“Senior.”
“Hmm?”
Glancing over at the voice calling me, I saw Yerin smiling faintly.
“Thank you very much for today.”
Seeing that, I also nodded and said,
“You too.”