I Want to Be a VTuber-Chapter 243: Famous in America (1)

Even Stella’s request was to spend her last day in Korea.

It was an absurd suggestion to fly all the way from Japan to Korea just to go on a date and then part ways there.

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“I want to have one last date with you in Seoul before I go back home. It’s not like you have any filming scheduled, right?”

As she said that, Stella glanced at Lee Jiyeon and Jo Seohui.

“If we go on a date here in Japan, those two might get in the way.”

Seoyeon was slightly flustered by the sudden request. She never expected Stella to ask for something like this.

But honestly, that wasn’t the only reason Seoyeon was caught off guard.

‘To be fair, I thought she’d ask for something much more troublesome.’

This wasn’t too bad, actually.

She had imagined Stella would make an even more outrageous demand—like asking to appear in a Korean movie or variety show.

Of course, that would’ve been impossible to grant.

Compared to those scenarios, a simple one-on-one meeting felt trivial.

‘Still...’

What would they even do if it was just the two of them?

Seoyeon pondered this as she sat across from Stella at a café.

Stella was smiling brightly at her, making it hard to read her intentions.

She really was a difficult woman to figure out.

“Why?”

Back in Korea, Stella spoke as if she could see right through Seoyeon’s thoughts.

“Are you curious why I wanted to meet you alone?”

“Yes.”

Seoyeon answered calmly, but Stella just smiled.

“There are two reasons.”

“Two?”

“One, I want to buy some souvenirs since I’m flying back to America tomorrow.”

Souvenirs?

That didn’t sound like Stella at all.

“We might not see each other again for a while. Who knows? This might even be the last time we meet in Korea.”

“Well...”

That was a possibility.

Stella was called the Fairy of the Century, not just in Hollywood but worldwide.

Would Seoyeon really have another chance to meet someone like her?

If Seoyeon stayed confined to Korea, it might really be the last time they saw each other.

“So wouldn’t it be nice to make some memories? Something worth remembering?”

“I guess so.”

It wasn’t entirely convincing, but Seoyeon decided to go along with it.

She still couldn’t quite figure out Stella’s thought process.

She could only make rough guesses based on Stella’s personality.

“What’s the second reason?”

“That’s a secret.”

Stella’s response came as if she had been waiting for that question.

“I’ll tell you before we part ways today.”

It was almost as if the meeting itself was the real purpose.

Seoyeon could only nod vaguely at that.

*****

“...Are you really a girl? You’re terrible at shopping.”

It didn’t take long for Stella to realize Seoyeon wasn’t exactly the ideal shopping companion.

Seoyeon’s tastes were extremely simple—if it was practical and affordable, that was good enough for her.

Clothes, daily necessities—it was all the same.

As long as it was cheap and efficient, what else mattered?

“Didn’t you pick out that dress you’re wearing?”

“Well... my friend helped me pick it out last time.”

Seoyeon looked down at her dress.

Technically, she had chosen it herself, but only after Jo Seohui vetoed countless other options.

Jo Seohui had been completely serious about dressing up Seoyeon and had rejected anything that didn’t meet her standards.

At least she hadn’t insisted on luxury brands.

Come to think of it, Seohui didn’t really carry herself like someone obsessed with designer labels.

Honestly, she didn’t seem to care much at all.

When Seoyeon asked about it, Seohui replied,

“It’s just asking for criticism if we flaunt that kind of stuff.”

“But other stars do it all the time.”

“We’re minors.”

Minors flaunting designer bags and clothes would only invite backlash.

Seohui sounded like she was making excuses, but she genuinely didn’t seem interested.

Maybe, to her, luxury brands and ordinary clothes were all the same—things she could buy anytime she wanted.

‘Then again, the upper-class crowd at that party didn’t seem that casual about it.’

Maybe it was just her personality.

As Seoyeon was mulling it over—

“You’re thinking about another woman right now, aren’t you?”

Stella’s face was suddenly right in front of hers.

“Could you please back off a little?”

“Nope. If you’re out shopping with me, you should focus on me.”

What a selfish, noblewoman-like thing to say.

Still, she wasn’t exactly wrong, so Seoyeon had no choice but to help Stella with her shopping.

They browsed clothes, groceries, and even visited a department store before ending up at a local supermarket.

“How about this? Does it look good?”

“It suits you.”

Seoyeon nodded as Stella held up a pink dress she’d found.

It did look good.

With Stella’s stunning appearance, even cheap, off-the-rack clothes looked like luxury items.

‘People are staring.’

For the record, Seoyeon had covered her face as much as possible, but Stella hadn’t bothered at all.

Not many people recognized her in Korea.

Of course, there were a few who did.

Now and then, Seoyeon heard people whispering nearby.

Sometimes, guys who knew a bit of English would even approach.

“Excuse me, are you Stella Baldwin?”

Before Stella could flash her signature smile and respond,

“Sorry, we’re in a bit of a hurry.”

Seoyeon stepped in front of her and deflected them with a polite but firm tone.

“Aren’t you being a little cold to your Korean fans?”

“You know that’s not true.”

“Haha, what kind of image do you have of me?”

Stella laughed brightly but soon turned serious as she looked at Seoyeon.

“Hm~, I see. Still, it’s nice to have someone helping me out like this.”

“Isn’t this what bodyguards are for?”

“This is different.”

How was it different?

Seoyeon tilted her head in confusion.

‘Wasn’t the whole reason she dragged me along today for shopping and protection?’

Because she was the only one who could balance both roles properly.

Since Stella wouldn’t reveal her second reason, Seoyeon could only make assumptions.

‘Honestly, I’ve never met someone this complicated before.’

Seoyeon thought as she nodded vaguely at Stella, who was showing her various items.

Seoyeon was sensitive to other people’s emotions. Most of the time, she could figure out what they were thinking just by looking at their expressions.

But it wasn’t because she had some special talent.

She was simply good at reading the room.

If Lee Jiyeon heard that, though, she’d call it a lie.

“Ju Seoyeon? Reading the room? Don’t make me laugh.”

That’s exactly what Jiyeon would say.

But surprisingly, it was true.

Seoyeon often paid close attention to others’ moods.

It wasn’t so much a part of her current personality as it was a habit from her past life.

A lingering remnant from a time when her emotions didn’t align with those of ordinary people.

Even after reincarnation and starting a completely different life, that memory remained.

Like scars on her soul, it shaped her instincts.

Seoyeon didn’t think of it as a special ability she gained from being reborn.

Unlike extraordinary strength or a selectively flawless memory.

Instead, it felt more like a scar than a badge of honor.

Even so, growing up in this new life, Seoyeon had earned a reputation as someone who was ‘clueless.’

Suyeon had even said as much before.

“You were such a sharp kid when you were younger. What happened to you?”

Seoyeon never understood what Suyeon meant by “what happened,” but it didn’t really matter.

She figured it was just because her past-life habits were stronger when she was younger, and they faded as she grew older.

But they never completely disappeared.

Seoyeon naturally analyzed other people’s emotions, how they viewed her, and what thoughts might be behind their eyes.

‘That’s probably...’

Stella was the same way.

Seoyeon thought as she watched Stella show her more clothes.

She’d noticed it the first time they met.

Stella also read the room.

She acted like she didn’t, hiding behind a mask and playing her roles perfectly, but Seoyeon could tell.

Maybe it had to do with Stella’s illness.

Either way, Seoyeon couldn’t fully understand what lay beneath Stella’s mask.

“Stella.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“But you’re not looking at any accessories?”

Seoyeon suddenly realized something while watching Stella.

Despite looking at clothes and other items, Stella hadn’t shown any interest in accessories.

In fact, it seemed like she was intentionally avoiding them.

She wasn’t even wearing earrings, necklaces, or any of the typical accessories women usually wore.

It was strange for someone like Stella, who clearly enjoyed dressing up, to show no interest in jewelry.

“Hmm~, sharp as always? I almost want to ask how it took you this long to notice.”

Stella smiled slyly.

“But, of course, that reason is a secret. It’d ruin the mood if I told you now.”

“Is that so?”

“Exactly.”

Seoyeon studied Stella’s smiling face and thought for a moment.

She had a rough guess about the reason.

But, like Stella said, it might be something darker.

‘Hmm.’

Seoyeon turned her gaze to another section of the store while Stella continued looking at clothes.

The accessories shop Stella avoided.

The souvenir section.

Seoyeon thought for a while before speaking up.

“I need to buy something too. Do you mind if I step away for a bit?”

“Huh? I don’t mind, but I’ll come with you.”

“No.”

“Hmm? Why not?”

Seoyeon took a step back as Stella leaned in closer.

Her sense of personal space was way too small.

Her physical proximity felt mismatched with their emotional distance.

It was obvious Stella found Seoyeon’s reactions amusing.

Seoyeon knew Stella cared about her, but it mostly seemed like curiosity.

It was hard to tell if there were any deeper feelings mixed in.

“It’s a secret.”

“...You’re using my own words against me? That’s cheating.”

For someone who constantly kept secrets, Stella sure had no room to complain.

Leaving Stella behind for a moment, Seoyeon headed off on her own.

After all, this might be the last time they saw each other.

Regardless of how she felt about Stella, a gift didn’t seem like a bad idea.

‘If my guess is wrong, though, it could just make things awkward.’

But as Seoyeon picked up the item, she felt it suited Stella perfectly.

...Though her personal taste might have influenced that judgment.

Still, as she returned with the purchase, she felt someone tug at the hem of her dress.

“...?”

At first, she worried it might be a creep.

But the tug was too light, and the position was too low.

When she turned around, she saw a familiar child.

The girl stared at Seoyeon’s face for a moment before speaking.

“M-Magical Girl Unnie! You’re the Magical Girl, right?”

“...”

Seoyeon froze.

She never expected to be remembered like that.

Caught off guard, she hesitated about how to respond.

But it didn’t take long.

Kneeling down to meet the girl’s eyes, Seoyeon smiled softly.

“Hi.”

“Hi!!”

“Are you still doing well with Suyeon?”

“Yes!”

The girl was Han Yuna—her younger sister Suyeon’s friend.

It had been a long time since Seoyeon last saw her.

Seeing Yuna again filled her with a mix of nostalgia and something harder to describe.

Yuna occupied a position Seoyeon once had in her past life.

If asked, Yuna had no similarities to her past self.

Not in gender, looks, or personality.

But their shared parents made it feel like some kind of cosmic joke.

“Seoyeon, how long were you planning to leave me wai—oh my.”

Stella appeared, grumbling as she approached, only to stop in surprise.

Seeing Seoyeon held up by a small child, Stella’s expression turned curious.

At ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) the same time, she noticed the strange look in Seoyeon’s eyes as she gazed at the child.

‘Why does she look at that kid like that?’

Just as Seoyeon found Stella mysterious, Stella found Seoyeon equally puzzling.

Despite Seoyeon’s loving family and supportive friends, there was always something... off about her.

Stella could feel it.

It was like Seoyeon was always hyper-aware of other people’s feelings, constantly reading their intentions.

She looked at the child with a gaze Stella couldn’t quite understand.

And for some reason, Stella felt a strange connection to it.

“Wow, are you an angel?”

While Stella pondered, Yuna’s eyes widened in awe.

With her golden hair and shoulder-length waves glowing like sunlight, Stella really did look like an angel.

When Stella’s blue eyes turned toward her, Yuna jumped and clung to Seoyeon.

“Magical Girl Unnie! That unnie’s an angel...!”

Flustered, Seoyeon quickly covered Yuna’s mouth.

“...Magical Girl?”

Stella gave Seoyeon a curious look, as if asking whether she’d told the child to call her that.

Seoyeon frantically shook her head.

“No! It’s from an old event I was part of.”

As Seoyeon hurried to explain, Yuna proudly pulled out a video.

“Oh! I still have this video!”

Frozen in embarrassment, Seoyeon couldn’t stop her.

“Haha! You were a real magical girl!”

Stella laughed brightly as she watched the video of Seoyeon looking unusually shy.

Seoyeon could only tremble with embarrassment.

‘I should’ve left that thing behind.’

She sighed, clutching the small box in her pocket.