Hobbyist VTuber

Birthday.

The day you were born.

But in Ha-eun’s case.

It was a day a bit more special because it wasn’t just the day she was born, but the day she was ‘reborn.’

A day when she could feel more than ever that she was living a life different from her past life.

Unlike her past life where nothing happened, now it was a day she could look forward to.

Birthday cake.

Soft candlelight.

Happy birthday song.

People to share it with.

A day when she could look forward to all those things.

‘…Am I still too young?’

Of course, just because it was her birthday didn’t mean something grand would happen.

But it was a day when just celebrating her birthday like everyone else made her emotional in all sorts of ways.

The most decisive moment was the surprise birthday party thrown by the staff and actors of <The Sunshine>.

‘I didn’t expect to blow out candles on set.’

As always, Ha-eun tended to be greatly affected by things she didn’t anticipate.

Like Shirooni suddenly showing up.

Or the unexpected twist in <Butterfly in the Sea>.

Things that were different from Ha-eun’s thoughts in many ways ended up heightening her emotions.

The surprise birthday party a few minutes ago also made Ha-eun more emotional.

So, perhaps.

“It seems like studying abroad in Tokyo was quite enjoyable.”

“…Why do you think that?”

“You even forgot to write me letters at some point. Honestly, I was a bit hurt.”

Today, Kim Jung-hyun felt more like a friendly girl than a dignified lady.

She treated Hwang Tae-sung, who was in front of her, not as her fiancé but as a childhood friend, showing a side far from her usual dignified self.

The youthful atmosphere naturally felt.

The tone of the conversation between Kim Jung-hyun and Hwang Tae-sung wasn’t much different from when they were kids.

“But did you really come back to Joseon because of me? Were you that worried?”

“You got shot. Isn’t it strange not to worry?”

It felt like talking to the Kim Jung-hyun from childhood.

The look in Kim Jung-hyun’s eyes, her expression, her voice—everything showed no distance from Hwang Tae-sung.

Even her elegant eyes seemed slightly excited, as if she was genuinely happy.

Today, Ha-eun looked younger in many ways.

If I said I wasn’t even a bit flustered by Ha-eun’s acting, it would be a blatant lie.

Bae Jin-hyuk’s side had minor NGs because Ha-eun’s tone was friendlier than expected.

“Ah, sorry for laughing. It feels like I’m looking at my niece, so I keep laughing.”

“It’s, it’s okay.”

The reason was still unclear, but the line between Ha-eun’s acting and her real self was blurrier today.

That’s why Bae Jin-hyuk’s tone kept faltering.

However, since the script’s Kim Jung-hyun saw Hwang Tae-sung as a comfortable friend, not a romantic interest.

Ha-eun’s friendly acting tone couldn’t be said to be wrong.

Bae Jin-hyuk’s Hwang Tae-sung, on the other hand, saw Kim Jung-hyun as his fiancée, not a friend.

So, he shouldn’t be chuckling at Kim Jung-hyun treating him like a friend.

What the camera needed to capture was Hwang Tae-sung’s dual nature—his outward and inward differences.

“Still, it seems like you weren’t seriously hurt. You don’t look like someone in pain.”

“Well, it wasn’t a minor injury.”

“Then why did you take up such a dangerous hobby like hunting? You used to cry your eyes out over the smallest falls.”

“Cry my eyes out? When did I ever?”

“You know, when you were seven. On your birthday. You cried so hard it felt like the heavens were falling.”

Hwang Tae-sung also spoke to Kim Jung-hyun as if she were a comfortable friend.

But inside, he had to act out his struggle with how to handle Kim Jung-hyun.

What Hwang Tae-sung hoped for was the fulfillment of a promise made long ago.

He wanted the childhood promise of a hundred-year bond between Kim Jung-hyun and Hwang Tae-sung to come true.

The real reason he returned to Joseon after finishing his studies in Tokyo was to form a marital bond with Kim Jung-hyun.

The news of Kim Jung-hyun being shot was enough to make Hwang Tae-sung impatient.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

He wanted to be with the woman he fell for at first sight long ago, the one who made his heart race just by looking at her.

But if he revealed his feelings right now, Kim Jung-hyun might feel burdened.

So, for now, he needed to make Kim Jung-hyun see him as a man, not just a childhood friend.

“Make sure to visit me often from now on. Take good care of yourself.”

Leaving Kim Jung-hyun’s house, he left room for future meetings between them.

Not long after, arriving at Hwang Tae-sung’s lodging, he finally took out a small ring case.

-Click.

“…When will I be able to show this?”

The high-quality ring case, different in material.

And inside, two rings neatly placed.

The attachment to Kim Jung-hyun, which only became clear after leaving her, was very vivid.

Hwang Tae-sung’s feelings for Kim Jung-hyun, which had never faded since childhood.

That’s why he was even more curious about who Kim Jung-hyun had her heart set on.

He wanted to know who she liked so much that she didn’t see him as a romantic interest.

His gaze shifted to the newspaper on the table right after.

Putting down the ring case, Hwang Tae-sung began reading an article about an unsolved case.

The problem was, the more he read, the more a bad premonition grew.

The date a government official was assassinated overlapped with the date Kim Jung-hyun was shot—it didn’t seem like a simple coincidence.

“She said it was a mistake… but can you really get shot in the shoulder by mistake?”

Soon, a creeping intuition filled him.

A strange feeling that the assassin who killed the official and Kim Jung-hyun were somehow connected filled Hwang Tae-sung’s mind.

The black ring case and the newspaper with the article about the official’s assassination.

The two items on the table in front of Hwang Tae-sung seemed unrelated but were closely connected.

And with Hwang Tae-sung’s gaze fixed on the ring case and the newspaper, the scene cut.

The filming of the episode, hinting at future events involving Kim Jung-hyun, finally wrapped up.

“Good work, everyone~.”

The bustling scene that followed.

The set’s lights and cameras began to be cleared by the staff.

Not long after, Ha-eun headed to the dressing room.

But even after changing back into her original clothes, her excited mood didn’t settle.

“Is it because of your birthday? You seem extra cheerful today.”

The writer in charge of Ha-eun, who had organized the surprise birthday party earlier, approached Ha-eun and struck up a conversation.

It was clear that Ha-eun was in a good mood.

“Did you get a lot of gifts?”

“Ah, yes. The fans sent so many.”

And so, they continued talking about the day’s events.

Finally arriving at the set’s parking lot, the writer wished Ha-eun a happy birthday once more.

Ha-eun returned the thanks.

She also added that she was slightly moved thanks to the writer.

“It’s the first time someone threw me a surprise birthday party. Thank you.”

“It’s a once-a-year event. Of course, we should celebrate.”

Then, as Ha-eun got into Joo Jung-yoon’s van, a farewell came.

“You worked hard today~. Go home and enjoy your mom’s seaweed soup~.”

To this farewell, Ha-eun lightly waved back.

Not long after, Joo Jung-yoon’s van finally headed to Ha-eun’s house.

“Jung-yoon unnie. Mom said you should come in and eat too.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes.”

And so, Joo Jung-yoon also ended up entering Ha-eun’s house.

A welcoming voice soon followed.

“Ah, Jung-yoon. You worked late~.”

Nayeon’s voice followed, saying the birthday table was already set.

Not long after, Ha-eun’s final birthday party began.

“Happy birthday to our beloved Ha-eun~.”

The birthday song sung by three people was as pleasant as ever.

The soft flickering of the candlelight was blown out, followed by applause.

“………….”

Even though it was a familiar sound heard every year, for some reason, it was hard to speak.

A strange, complex feeling.

But it definitely wasn’t a bad feeling.

“The seaweed soup… is delicious.”

“Right?”

They enjoyed the food Nayeon had prepared with care, chatting about trivial things.

A light conversation about the day’s events, nothing heavy.

But it was enough.

Just talking at the same table in the same house was enough.

However, as dinner was winding down.

An unexpected story from Nayeon came up.

“Da-yeon called to wish me a happy new year?”

“Yes. She also said to tell Ha-eun to have a happy new year.”

The conversation topic shifted to Da-yeon.

Then came another new piece of news.

“Ah, right. Da-yeon said she wants to hang out to celebrate Ha-eun’s birthday.”

From Nayeon’s perspective, it wasn’t bad for her daughter to take a break and hang out with her friend Da-yeon instead of just working.

That’s why she slightly exaggerated Da-yeon’s cautious question about when Ha-eun’s schedule was free.

Of course, Ha-eun had no reason to say no.

After all, the importance of rest shouldn’t be overlooked.

And so, less than a week after Ha-eun’s birthday, she met Da-yeon.

The first place Da-yeon wanted to go was a comic café near Ha-eun’s house.

‘…Did she like comics?’

It was a comic café Ha-eun had frequented almost religiously during middle school.

But it was the first time Da-yeon showed interest in something like comics.

“Hey, Lee Ha-eun. Recommend me the most popular one.”

It was an unfamiliar sight.

Ha-eun recommended several bestsellers.

But after that, Da-yeon didn’t say a single word and just read the comics.

She was so engrossed in the comic Ha-eun recommended that it was impossible to talk to her.

‘Hmm….’

And so, Ha-eun also ended up silently reading comics next to Da-yeon.

The only conversation they had was when ordering snacks and smoothies.

But well, that’s understandable.

Once you get into comics, you can’t pay attention to anything else.

However, when their time at the comic café ended.

And Ha-eun asked where they should go next, Da-yeon’s answer was unexpected.

“PC bang.”

“…Really?”

“Why? Can’t we?”

“No, it’s not that… It’s just surprising.”

Ha-eun was puzzled once more.

And when they arrived at the PC bang and sat at a two-person booth, she was puzzled again.

Because the proud Da-yeon asked Ha-eun to teach her how to play a game.

And not just any game—Battle Island, the main game of Dia.

‘…Is she trying to snipe me too?’

Of course, Ha-eun couldn’t say no.

Just in case, she logged in with an old sub-account, not her Dia account.

But not long after.

“Hey, Lee Ha-eun. People keep throwing pineapples at me!”

“It’s, it’s fine. You won’t die even if you get hit.”

From the Battle Island lobby, Da-yeon’s noisy behavior gave Ha-eun a bad feeling.

Unlike Dia, who had pretended to be a newbie in Battle Island, Da-yeon was a real newbie.

But her desire to win was immense.

“Ah! I got hit!!”

Whenever she got attacked, she screamed as if she’d really been shot.

At the same time, Ha-eun pulled her baseball cap down even further.

“…Should we start with the tutorial again?”

In many ways, it was embarrassing.

Ha-eun couldn’t understand why Da-yeon was suddenly interested in comics and games.