Chapter 115: Chapter 114

The short but impactful message from her homeroom teacher—"Go to sleep already."—left Ha-eun turning in for the night an hour or two earlier than usual. Whether it was due to the renowned effects of the hotel’s open-air bath or simply the carefree fun of spending the day with friends without worrying about acting, academics, or streaming, she couldn’t say for sure.

By 6 a.m., Ha-eun found herself wide awake.

“Breakfast probably hasn’t started yet… What should I do?”

Her mind was unusually clear for someone who had just woken up, and she felt refreshed rather than groggy. The other girls, who had gone to bed even earlier than she had, were still deep in their dreams, sprawled across the crisp white sheets of their hotel beds. Outside, the sky still clung to the soft blue hues of dawn, not yet fully embracing daylight.

Going back to sleep wasn’t an option. The drowsiness was long gone, leaving Ha-eun restless but energized.

After mulling it over for a while, she decided to make the most of her early rise.

Creak.

Step, step.

Leaving her room quietly, Ha-eun set off on a stroll around the hotel grounds to pass the time until breakfast. It was her first experience of a Japanese morning, and the cool, crisp air felt invigorating.

“The morning air here is so fresh….”

She walked leisurely, savoring the tranquility of the dawn. The stillness around her made it easy to sort through her thoughts and clear her mind.

A small dandelion blooming by the roadside caught her attention.

Click.

Unconsciously, she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the perfectly framed flower. Soon after, she noticed the sun beginning to rise over the horizon and took another photo.

For quite some time, Ha-eun wandered around, filling her phone with snapshots of serene, picturesque moments. When she finally felt satisfied, she reviewed her collection, finding herself drawn into the calm, sentimental mood of the early morning.

“So this is what ‘morning vibes’ are all about….”

About ten minutes later, Ha-eun uploaded several of her photos to her Instagram. She didn’t forget to include a few timer selfies that captured both her face and full-body shots, following the advice of her manager, Ju Jeong-yoon.

"Even if it’s just selfies, post them to show that you’re enjoying your trip."

After realizing her follower count had surpassed a million, Ha-eun had started taking her Instagram more seriously. Ju Jeong-yoon, who had noticed the shift, took the opportunity to coach her on how to make the most of her account, sharing tips for crafting posts with the coveted "Instagram aesthetic."

Thanks to his guidance, the photos Ha-eun uploaded this morning carried a distinct aesthetic charm. The reactions in the comments were overwhelmingly positive, brimming with admiration.

The simple act of sharing snippets of her day-to-day life and receiving such warm responses left Ha-eun feeling unexpectedly happy. “So this is why people love social media….”

However, while Ha-eun found joy in her new pastime, her fans were far less subdued. In her fan communities, such as the "Ha-eun Fan Café" and "Ha-eun Gallery," her new posts sparked an uproar:

“Ha-eun’s recent updates.jpg”

“[Instagram] Ha-eun’s dawn in Tokyo”

ㄴ “As expected from the famous early bird.”

ㄴ “Did she take that dandelion picture herself?”

ㄴ “Her ‘V’ pose in front of the flower is so cute lol.”

ㄴ “Her skin looks flawless even at dawn. T_T”@@novelbin@@

(Image-heavy) What’s with this dawn aesthetic?

ㄴ “This is basically a photo album.”

ㄴ “I wish she’d release an actual photo book. T_T”

ㄴ “Agreed x2.”

ㄴ “Same here. I’d sell it out immediately.”

“Today’s Ha-eun outfit breakdown”

“Looks like she’s enjoying a relaxing trip in Japan.”

“Her updates are so frequent these days, and I love it!”

ㄴ “Totally agree.”

ㄴ “She’s really gotten into Instagram lol.”

ㄴ “If only she could fix the backlight a bit….”

ㄴ “It’s fine. Ha-eun’s face outshines any backlight.”

ㄴ (Nods in agreement emoji)

With each new post, Ha-eun’s fan community grew increasingly lively, their enthusiasm far outpacing what Ha-eun might consider “modest.”

Even after breakfast and during their trip to Disneyland, her fans were still buzzing with activity. The excitement reached a fever pitch when Ha-eun arrived at one of the attractions, Western Hunter, which offered a shooting game experience.

“Her shooting stance alone looks professional!”

“Breaking news: Ha-eun scores a perfect 20/20 in Western Hunter.”

ㄴ “Wait, 20 points are possible?”

ㄴ “It’s possible if you hit everything, but the last target pops up out of nowhere. How did she nail it lol?”

“Disneyland staff applauding Ha-eun.gif”

“She absolutely has to join next year’s Idol Sports Championship.”

ㄴ “Wait, Ha-eun’s an idol?”

ㄴ “She sings better than most idols.”

ㄴ “She dances well too—check out the behind-the-scenes clips from Moonlit Clouds.”

ㄴ “I’d die happy if she joined solo.”

ㄴ “Agreed x2. She’d put every idol in their place.”

Ha-eun’s fan community exploded with admiration and excitement, their chatter turning her casual trip into an online spectacle of praise. It was as if their collective amazement had materialized in real-time.

***

Ha-eun had always been confident in her physical abilities. She firmly believed she could handle any task that required physical prowess.

Her smooth navigation of the rigorous curriculum at Kim Gyu-tae’s action school stood as proof of this. The accumulation of various exercises she had practiced since childhood had shaped her into someone who excelled in activities requiring coordination and strength.

Perhaps that was why, during her visit to Disneyland, she gravitated more toward interactive attractions than ride-based ones. Though she didn’t exclusively focus on interactive attractions, she explored plenty of the thrill-inducing rides as well.

Among those rides was a famous roller coaster known for its speed and intensity. Ha-eun rode it repeatedly, dragging along her exhausted friends as she indulged in the adrenaline rush. She even managed to pose with a composed expression for the automated souvenir photos, collecting them all diligently.

However, the moment she reached the interactive attraction Western Hunter, themed around America’s Wild West, her attention shifted entirely. Specifically, it was the notice that promised a rare commemorative prize for high-scoring participants that caught her eye.

“This looks fun.”

Her excitement grew as she readied herself to participate.

“Wait, you’re doing this too?”

“Yeah.”

Finding herself among a group of male classmates she had bumped into, Ha-eun joined the queue for Western Hunter. The friends she had been with earlier chose to be spectators instead of participants.

The participants were soon greeted by mechanical models of outlaws wearing black scarves and riding horses. As the game began, Ha-eun and the other players raised their replica revolvers, aiming at the various targets painted on the outlaw figures.

“Three, two, one... start!”

With the staff member’s announcement, the shooting began. Ha-eun wasted no time unleashing a barrage of bullets, taking down the nearest outlaw models and even the farthest gang leader figure.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Her sharp focus, unwavering posture, and lightning-fast reflexes allowed her to hit every single target as soon as it appeared.

“Hey, look at Ha-eun! She’s insane!”

“Whoa, no way… did she hit all of them?”

Her classmates couldn’t help but watch in awe as she demonstrated impeccable marksmanship. The female students, who were watching and recording from the sidelines, exchanged excited murmurs and cheers.

The first round, consisting of 10 shots, ended flawlessly for Ha-eun. Then came the second round, also with 10 shots but with faster, trickier targets.

“It’s high noo—!”

Bang!

“Catch me if you can!”

Bang bang!

Every single target was taken down with precision. Even the final outlaw target, which appeared suddenly and moved at a rapid pace, couldn’t escape Ha-eun’s unerring aim.

By the end of the second round, her score read a perfect 20/20, displayed prominently on the personal scoreboard. Her classmates weren’t the only ones astonished.

Step, step.

“Uh, excuse me… 조또 $¤%@#@%@#$~.”

A Western Hunter staff member, visibly flustered, approached Ha-eun and inspected both her revolver and the targets to ensure there were no irregularities.

After multiple checks, the staff confirmed there was nothing unusual about her performance.

“This is incredible! I’ve never seen anyone hit all the targets before!”

The staff member, switching to surprisingly fluent Korean, handed Ha-eun a special commemorative prize—a golden badge embossed with a sheriff’s insignia—reserved exclusively for those who achieved a perfect score.

Caught off guard by the unexpected Korean, Ha-eun hesitated for a moment but couldn’t hide her smile as she accepted the badge. Moments later, she posed with a certificate-like document for a photo taken by another staff member.

The photo was promptly posted on the official Western Hunter Instagram account, immortalizing her achievement.

Afterward, Ha-eun joined her classmates at a nearby restaurant in Disneyland. Both the girls, led by Gong Hye-yeon, and the boys who had been impressed by her shooting skills accompanied her to share a meal.

“...Good thing I played Empress Aria.”

Ha-eun couldn’t help but reflect on her role as Aria in Shall We Fall Together. It was thanks to her performance in that drama that she’d earned this opportunity to enjoy such a delightful trip.

She felt truly grateful for every moment, believing she deserved to savor each experience to its fullest.

The Disneyland schedule for the second day of the trip turned out to be packed but immensely rewarding. The following day’s itinerary, exploring Tokyo’s famous landmarks, passed without incident.

However, on the final night of the trip, Ha-eun found herself seated on the hotel room floor with her friends, drawn into their plans for a farewell gathering.

For some reason, the same ominous feeling she’d had on the first night of the trip crept back into her thoughts.

Glance.

Subtly, Ha-eun surveyed her friends, suspecting they might once again try to prank her with hidden adult magazines or something equally mischievous.

About ten minutes later, Gong Hye-yeon returned from stepping out, announcing that she had confirmed their homeroom teacher was asleep. That was the cue for a variety of snacks to be pulled out, and the night’s activities began.

The first event: a game of truth or dare.

The spinning bottle landed on Ha-eun first.

“You can only answer with the truth. No lies allowed.”

“O-okay.”

“Alright, first question: Out of all the actors you’ve worked with, was there anyone you wanted to date?”

“Or someone you fell for at first sight!”

It didn’t take long for Ha-eun to realize her earlier foreboding was justified. As the classmate with the closest ties to the entertainment world, she became the focal point for an avalanche of questions.

Some questions edged uncomfortably close to crossing the line, particularly for someone still a minor. Though not all were directed exclusively at her, she bore the brunt of the attention.

“So, if you were dating someone like ■■■■, how far would you—?”

“S-sorry! I’m feeling really sleepy. I think I’ll head to bed now!”

Before the questions could become even more difficult to answer, Ha-eun made a hasty retreat to her bed.

Even after her escape, the raucous, boundary-pushing conversation among her classmates showed no signs of dying down.

The friends she had been joking and chatting with just hours ago now seemed almost intimidating. Their unbridled 18-year-old energy and lack of filters were more overwhelming than anything Ha-eun had imagined.

***

Ding-dong.

“…I’m back.”

Ha-eun’s voice rang softly as she entered her house, announcing her return. Na-yeon greeted her warmly, but Ha-eun politely excused herself, saying she needed some rest, before heading straight to her room.

The unpacking began soon after. Ha-eun meticulously organized the souvenirs she had brought back, separating gifts for others from those she had bought for herself. Once done, she headed to the kitchen to grab a pair of white cooking gloves before returning to her room.

What followed was a long period inside her soundproof booth, where she conducted various tests. After countless adjustments, she was finally ready.

Click.

[Japan Trip Recap☆]

As soon as her usual streaming time arrived, Ha-eun—now in her virtual persona, Dia—launched her promised “storytime stream,” recapping her trip to Japan for her loyal viewers, the Noeul (Sunsets).

At first, the stream seemed no different from her usual broadcasts. She shared photos she had taken at Skytree and other tourist spots, narrating the stories behind them. Then, she suddenly said:

“I even bought one of those famous melon breads! Hold on a sec~.”

That’s when things took an unexpected turn.

After completing the photo explanations, Ha-eun activated her newly optimized streaming camera.

In less than a second, the broadcast screen displayed an image that caused an uproar: two delicate hands clad in slightly oversized white cooking gloves, positioned neatly over her desk. Arrayed in front of the gloves were the various souvenirs from her trip.

“Wow, look at those slender fingers!”

“Kyaaaaaa!!!”

“DA-DIAAAAAA!”

“I always believed in you!!!”

“Oshi confirmed! Oshi confirmed! Oshi confirmed!”

“Her skin is so flawless, like a baby’s!”

Ha-eun tilted her gloved hands into a playful V-shape and waved them toward the camera. Her simple gesture stirred the chat into a frenzy.

The reaction was... overwhelming, to say the least. While Ha-eun understood in theory what her Noeul fans liked, she couldn’t quite wrap her head around their level of enthusiasm.

“It’s just my hands in gloves… Why are they so excited?”

Still, excitement was far better than displeasure. More importantly, her new camera setup seemed to be working flawlessly.

“Well, as long as they’re happy.”

Ha-eun adjusted her gloves and shifted her focus back to the stream’s original purpose—fulfilling her promise of a trip recap.

“Alright, let’s start with the melon bread! Let’s see if it actually tastes like melon~.”

She opened the wrapper with deliberate care and began her review of the souvenirs she had brought back.

Thanks to the clarity she had gained over the four-day trip, Ha-eun found herself navigating the broadcast more smoothly than ever before.

For the first time in Dia’s streaming career, she had ventured into a new realm with a camera-enabled broadcast—and it was an undeniable success.