Magia called Do-hee on her way to work.
"So... you're saying you'll just wait at Dora's place all day today?"
[Yes.]
It was enough to make Do-hee tilt her head, since Magia had never made a suggestion like this before.
She had been serving as the overall manager for the 1st Gen for over a year now, under Cheon Do-hee's orders.
And yet, she had never built any personal rapport with them, like meeting up one-on-one for meals.
Even after collabing with Rain and holding her own on stage without flinching, that attitude of hers—treating herself like just one of the stage lights—hadn't changed from before.
Just like how she treated Do-hee with such deference as "President" at the office—though she'd gotten a bit cheekier lately, she still carried out every task perfectly—the 1st Gen felt like idols she had to back up, with a clear professional line drawn.
You could tell just from the chat logs they'd exchanged over the past few days.
[Rain: Jia Jia Jia Jia Jia Jia Jia]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: Yes]
[Rain: Dinner tonight? Cool?]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: No]
[Rain: WHY?]
[Dora: Don't, I'll pretend my gear's broken]
[Dora: Let's meet at my place hahahaha]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: Say stuff like that in a chat without me]
[Dora: Hing]
[Rain: kkkkkkkkkkkkk you're an idiot?]
[Dora: What'd you say Forklift?]
[Rain: I'll kick your ass]
[Dora: (tongue-out poop)]
[Komari: ㅠㅠ]
[Komari: Jia unnie, you don't wanna hang out with us, right?]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: No surprise damp attacks]
[Komari: That's mean]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: Hurry up and pick tomorrow's game]
[Komari: (puffed cheeks)(pouting)(tears streaming)]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: Hurry up and pick tomorrow's game take 2]
[Komari: -_-]
[Dora: Mariya come here, unnie will hug you]
[Komari: Unnieeeee]
[Maru: Can't we just see her when we go to the office?]
[Maru: Why's everyone so desperate to see her first?]
[Komari: Oh right]
[Komari: Our 1st anniversary song motion capture is next week, right?]
[Rain: What the]
[Rain: Maru you're a genius?]
[Maru: Ahem]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: Then I'll take that day off]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: It's a group off-day anyway]
[Maru: You?]
[Rain: ㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗ]
[Parallel Ops Team Magia: No swearing]
[Rain: park you]
This was how Magia kept a firm wall up with the girls, so she wasn't someone you could just pull closer.
People always say why play tug-of-war with a wall when you see someone doing something pointless, and suggesting "Wanna hang out?" to Magia felt exactly like that.
Even if one person took a day off, the other 1st Gen members were still streaming.
And even if the 1st Gen was off, Oshiin Momo was streaming, so her main duty of monitoring couldn't stop for a second.
Of course, the 1st Gen could throw a tantrum if they wanted.
Magia was small and cute, so excluding 150cm unnie Komari, they could easily overpower her physically.
But despite that size difference, the 1st Gen couldn't just rush at her.
Who casually drops everything—even in the dead of night—to fix broadcast gear issues without hesitation?
And it wasn't just gear; when the members couldn't decide on games, Magia's recommendations were spot-on.
She knew streaming history inside out, suggesting unplayed games or nailing viewer demands like a perfect assist.
Plus, she made it so obvious with lines like "I'm the I in MBTI~" that if you got too chummy and made the 1st Gen uncomfortable enough to quit?
It'd just put the 1st Gen in a tough spot.
Everyone knew President Cheon Do-hee treasured Magia, so it'd mark you in her eyes.
So the 1st Gen could only watch her warily today as always, never getting close... or so it seemed.
But what was this?
Magia had declared she'd come over first.
Do-hee rattled off the excuses Magia had used before.
"But you, is that okay? If you're there, you can't monitor the others' streams."
[I can bring my phone and tablet.]
"You always said the screens are too small."
[Well, isn't this a good chance to prep for working from anywhere? You never know when something like this might happen again. Like you said, President, I might have to go on stream too.]
Hearing that, Do-hee realized what Magia was thinking.
As a staff member under the 1st Gen, she couldn't freely enter their personal spaces like a friend.
But after collabing with Rain recently, hadn't Magia realized she'd been keeping too much distance?
Of course, Magia's 4D brain was unpredictable, so Cheon Do-hee's guesses were pointless.
All Do-hee knew was that Magia offering to wait at Dora's beforehand was a huge help.
Whether from the office or Magia's place, it was a 20-minute trip either way.
At night, even 20 minutes of dead air was fatal, with people calling the stream done and heading to bed.
Still, sending Magia alone worried her a bit.
"You know you might get stuck with Dora if you're there?"
[Ah.]
Magia muttered as if just remembering some past incident.
It had been a few months ago.
Dora and Komari had a Nintendo mini-game 10-round battle with a horror game penalty, and they'd totally lost, so it was horror time.
Komari was bawling her eyes out and couldn't proceed, so worried, she'd gone straight to her place. And just like that, Komari became a hugging doll, stuck watching the horror game in Dora's lap the whole time.
Even relatively fearless Komari got jump-scared by Dora from behind, and their shared screams were adorable.
Komari's usually stoic screams and death stares made that stream a hit—live views, edits, and clips all exploded.
Anyway, the point was Magia might end up playing Komari's role today.
Catching Do-hee's drift perfectly, Magia muttered.
[Yeah, well. If Dora can't run the stream, no choice.]
Of course, she sneakily added her own thoughts.
[Though it'd be better if one of the others came. It's late, awkward to call them. Plus they have their own streams.]
If only she didn't tack on that chatter at the end, she'd be even cuter.
But she was plenty cute now.
What boss wouldn't adore an employee who handled her duties so smoothly on her own?
[But President. What if the others are still streaming when they arrive? I can't watch for them.]
"I'll tell their individual managers. If anything urgent comes up, contact you directly."
[Got it.]
And lately, her speech had this cute rounded lilt, so even when she got cheekier, it just seemed more endearing.
Do-hee gave her cute employee one last heads-up.
They both knew it well, but it was worth saying.
"If you get caught on stream, watch what you say. Voice leaking isn't a big deal, but mind your words. You know, right?"
"Of course. I was planning to just sit quietly and watch the chat anyway."
She'd gotten closer, but still wanted to stay off-stream?
Well, viewers would prefer a few quips over dead silence.
But if that was Magia's wish, Do-hee wouldn't interfere.
Just introducing herself as being with Dora would keep the fans happy enough.
"Yeah yeah. Do whatever's comfy."
* * *
A few hours later.
As I packed my gear to leave the office, the team leader approached.
"Jia, I heard you're heading to Dora's today."
"Yeah, that's right."
"Be safe. I talked to the president—I'll stick around here today."
"Hm? I thought you were just gonna message the managers."
"Yeah, I thought about it. But I feel better staying. Like when you take sick days or hospital visits, I've covered for you before."
True.
On unavoidable leave days, the team leader would set her own work aside and handle monitoring.
It only happened once or twice a year, so she even offered.
The last time was when I had COVID, I think.
...Thinking back, I really thought I was gonna die then.
Lost in early-year memories, the team leader gently nudged my shoulder toward the door.
"Go on now. Don't worry about this side. If it's something I really can't handle, I'll call."
Team Leader Kang Ji-ho chuckled as she saw me off to the office entrance.
About to leave, I added a just-in-case reminder.
"Lock the office door at night, and when you head out, ask the security guard to go with you. Hail a cab in advance."
The area was all offices, super quiet by quitting time, and it could feel overwhelming.
But the team leader just grinned and ruffled my hair.
"Sniff. Got it. Thanks, Jia."
...Why's she laughing.
I was seriously worried.
Anyway, I bowed and left.
A message from now-awake Dora popped up.
[Dora: Really??]
[Dora: Jia's coming?!]
[Dora: Awesome]
[Dora: Feels like I got Heavenly Palace Mama]
It was Heavenly Army and Demons, actually.
But Dora's airheaded charm was her appeal, so no pointing out typos.
The arc of her blockhead character gradually smartening up was tasty, but she occasionally surprised with genius moments.
Better to let her stay this sunny idiot image.
No wonder fans kept saying "Please just grow up healthy."
[Dora: Huh]
[Dora: But when are you coming?]
[Me: In a cab now]
[Me: 20 mins]
[Dora: Huh]
[Dora: Sorry]
[Dora: Can you come in 1 hour?]
[Dora: Room's a total disaster rn ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
Last time with the audio interface, she'd panicked and opened the door, but showing that mess again embarrassed her.
Laundry scattered everywhere, unused workout gear with undies dangling, empty water and booze bottles stacked up.
Not the messy side she wanted fans seeing.
Fans knew she was a slob, sure.
Hearing "my life skills suck lol" was funny, but seeing it shattered illusions.
Still, better left a wreck.
If anything, don't let her touch the computer area.
No watching expensive gear get wrecked.
I'd have to approve replacements again.
[Me: Ok, 1 hour it is]
[Me: But don't touch the sound booth]
[Me: Touch it and it's war]
read more on novelshub.org