Little Pink Starfish

The day of the N–LIVE broadcast.

Han Iro and I woke up early in the morning and got fully prepared.

The broadcast starts at 8 p.m.

After our 1-hour-long N–LIVE segment, starting at 9:30 p.m., other contestants will begin their broadcasts in pairs.

In other words, we didn’t need to obsess over viewer numbers.

Becoming the so-called Voice of God definitely paid off…

Thanks to turning into that hideous monster, I got absurdly special treatment.

But it’s too soon to relax.

I glanced at Han Iro sipping bubble tea next to me.

To be more accurate, I looked at Han Iro in the form of Ryu Eunyul.

“Want some, Eunyul?”

Han Iro popped open the lid of the plastic cup and offered it to me.

“Not in the mood to drink anything.”

I replied.

“By the way, Han Iro. We really can’t slip up now. You’re Ryu Eunyul, and I’m Han Iro. Make sure to use the right names.”

“Of course. Don’t worry, Eunyul. I was method-trained from a young age.”

Han Iro shrugged and smiled.

Right… that’s true…

Han Iro wasn’t the problem. I just had to avoid slipping up.

“I am Han Iro… I am Han Iro… I love nature… I love vegetables…”

Muttering that, I checked the time.

7:30 p.m.

Exactly 30 minutes before N–LIVE would begin.

Han Iro and I had finished our makeup and were seated on set.

We’d gotten some help from the staff to realize our submitted broadcast plan, but the actual N–LIVE had to be done without their assistance.

This was the CYB Round 3 Finals test: “A Broadcast Made by Us.”

[The Constellation Love Born with Bubbles blesses you.]
[Your charm stat increases due to the blessing of Love Born with Bubbles.]

…Thank you, Goddess.

I couldn’t see my status window, but I was sure my current state—disguised as Han Iro—was in top condition.

Love Born with Bubbles was a Constellation specialized in ornamentation, so I could trust it.

Han Iro, disguised as me, looked pretty good, too.

Huh. I guess I actually suit that kind of outfit…

Han Iro had styled my body in a preppy look.
Since I dropped out in middle school, the school-uniform-style clothes felt strangely unfamiliar on me.

Well, anyway…

I turned my attention to my phone screen to check the community buzz.

—
LMAO if they split the top spots like this, how are mid-tier contestants supposed to rise? Do they not care about the lower ranks?
I’d faint even if Iro and Eunyul just stared blankly at the camera…
Eunyul’s Halloween outfit was blurred on the broadcast—what the hell did he wear?
→ There’s a rumor they edited it for special treatment! (link) Check this out!
→ Shut up. Look at the other contestants’ reactions. They nearly pissed themselves—it clearly wasn’t fake.
I want to lick Eunyul’s belly fat.
→ I call Iro’s crown of the head.
They seem lowkey close. Didn’t they look at bug-catching-themed billboards together the other day…?
→ Nah, that fly-looking dude’s just leeching off Iro’s fame.
→ Does the fly even shower these days?
→ Gross calling someone without an ID card a fly.
I want to lick Eunyul’s belly fat.
—

…It’s chaos.

I sighed.

But in a way, the chaos was reassuring—it was just as I’d expected.

With the final stage looming, fan tensions were at an all-time high.

This was when we had to be most cautious to avoid getting swept up in any damaging rumors.

Apparently, my Halloween broadcast segment had been aired with a mosaic over my face. But judging by the contestants’ genuine reactions, it didn’t lead to controversy.

Alright then…

I checked the time.

Five minutes until the broadcast.

Han Iro and I exchanged a glance.

“You ready, Ryu Eunyul?”

I asked, in Han Iro’s voice.

“Of course, Han Iro.”

Han Iro replied, in my voice.

Pfft—!!

We both burst into laughter at the same time.

8:00 p.m.

The broadcast of Ryu Eunyul (actually Han Iro) and Han Iro (actually Ryu Eunyul) began.

—
It’s starting!
OMG what is Eunyul wearing, so cute.
Why does it feel like the video is emitting fragrance?
—

As the chat filled with favorable comments, the two waved at the viewers through the phone.

“Hi! I’m Ryu Eunyul.”

“I’m Han Iro. Nice to meet you all.”

After a cheerful introduction, they began explaining their broadcast concept.

“First off…”

Han Iro said while attaching the phone to a selfie stick.

“We haven’t had dinner yet. So we’re gonna go grocery shopping first. Luckily, Eunyul does a lot of shopping at markets, so…”

Han Iro turned the camera to show Ryu Eunyul, who was wearing an eco-bag.

It was an old bag with a recycling symbol on it.

“…Eunyul, that bag looks super used.”

“Yup!”

Ryu Eunyul beamed.

“It’s a freebie I got from a market near home on Recycling Day. So I always use it when I go shopping.”

Showing off the stained bag proudly, Eunyul laughed.

—
Why is Eunyul so bubbly today? So damn cute.
→ The mermaid used to be all stiff when smiling, but this is… nice.
Wait, they’re filming in a market?
It’ll be swarmed like ants.
Guys, focus—they said Eunyul regularly shops at markets!!
—

“Ah… we can’t actually go to a real market.”

Han Iro said with an awkward laugh after reading the comments.

“So we were wondering what to do, but thankfully, CYB gave us permission to film in the food storage warehouse at the Central Branch of the Bichang Guild.”

As he said that, Ryu Eunyul waved with his eco-bag in hand.

“From now on…”

“…we’re gonna raid the pantry.”

Dun dun!

Han Iro added a sound effect with his mouth.

—
LOL why is Iro suddenly so cute?
Did he just go ‘dun dun’? LMAOOOO
—

Ignoring the chat, the two headed for the storage with the selfie stick.

“Hello!”

Ryu Eunyul greeted cheerfully as they entered.

“Ahh…”

He turned to Han Iro with an impressed expression.

“Iro, it smells like plants in here.”

“You like the smell?”

“Yeah… I love it.”

—
Plot twist: Eunyul is a secret plant lover?
Wait, wasn’t Han Iro the one who liked plants? It says so on his Neobus profile.
I swear they’ve swapped personalities today LOL
→ I support this 100%!
→ Usually Iro is stoic until something he loves shows up and he goes wild, but now that’s Eunyul.
→ And Eunyul tends to freeze up in front of cameras, which is exactly how Iro is acting now.
→ Their chemistry is unmatched…
→ I’m slapping my forehead from the joy right now.
—

“Ma’am, where are these carrots from?”

Ryu Eunyul asked the pantry manager while rummaging through the carrots.

“Oh, those came from Chuncheon~!”

Watching Eunyul happily chat with the manager—

“…Eunyul’s obsession with plants can be a bit much sometimes.”

Han Iro said with an awkward smile.

“I like plants too, of course—but not like that.”

“Iro~!”

Ryu Eunyul called from afar.

“I’m done shopping! Let’s go!”

He puffed out his cheeks and proudly lifted the full eco-bag.

“Heh, alright…”

Han Iro smiled warmly at the sight.

Back on set, they laid out the ingredients on the table.

“Hmm…”

Han Iro crossed his arms in thought.

“Some of you might’ve guessed already.”

He looked into the camera.

“There’s way too much food for just two people, right?”

—
Yup yup yup
Let them eat it all anyway, I want to see a fluffy Iro.
—

“…Sorry, but I can’t get fluffy.”

Han Iro said with a sheepish smile.

“We thought a lot about this N–LIVE.
Even though Eunyul and I won the challenge fair and square… it felt like too much of a privilege.”

As Han Iro continued, Ryu Eunyul started cooking behind him.

“…So we thought…”

Pooof—!!

A sudden explosion came from the microwave in the corner.

“…E-Eunyul?”

Han Iro turned around, flustered.

“S-sorry….”

Ryu Eunyul stammered.

“Why did you microwave an egg?”

“I thought it’d come out hard-boiled…”

“Oh… I see…”

Han Iro let out an exasperated laugh.

“From now on, I’ll handle the cooking. Eunyul, can you do the talking?”

“Mm…”

Looking defeated, Ryu Eunyul sat in front of the camera.

“Sorry, everyone… I just wanted to help Iro, but I guess I’m not cut out for cooking.”

—
Yeah, I always got the vibe that mermaids don’t eat much anyway.
Why didn’t you just let Han Iro do it? Cooking is on his Neobus profile…
Guys, look how well he’s chopping those veggies! Incredible!
—

“Anyway, we felt monopolizing the N–LIVE time like this wasn’t fair.”

Ryu Eunyul said with a soft smile.

“So for today’s meal… we invited a few guests.”

—
?!
—

“We let the other contestants know two days ago, and in the end, eight of them agreed to join us for dinner.”

As Ryu Eunyul made the polite announcement, the chat began flying by at a dizzying speed.

No wonder.

The N–LIVE viewers weren’t just fans of Han Iro and Ryu Eunyul.

Some were fans of other contestants, watching to kill time.
Some were just there to stir up drama.

To declare they’d be sharing their screen time with others?

It was the perfect move to quell the backlash.

With the overwhelming advantage they’d received, even a mediocre broadcast would’ve scored well.

Han Iro and Ryu Eunyul had concluded this.

So—share the benefit.

Even if it looked like they were being generous, they were actually securing their moral high ground.

That was their strategy.

“Then let’s introduce them!”

Han Iro called out, extending his hand to one side of the set.

“Here are the guests who’ll be joining us for dinner!”