02:14 PM.
"Hmm, can we get this part again?" A voice came from inside the recording booth inside the studio. The woman scribbled some notes on the page she was holding, while a white-haired woman just outside the booth, sitting in front of the computer, gave her a small thumbs up.
05:42 PM.
The recording of her voice played back inside the headphones, and after pondering for a while, the short-haired woman asked for another re-recording. "Doesn't seem right, one more take?"
07:30 PM.
"I think we should—"
The voice was quickly interrupted by the white-haired woman, now listening over and over while making adjustments to the performance that the idol had been giving for the past hours. "It's good enough, Dayeon." She motioned the Slime Girls leader to exit the booth and join her in the studio. "We've been sitting here for eight hours now. The reunion concert is nearing, and I need you to protect your voice. We can always refine this track later."
The door opened, and the clearly tired Dayeon came out of it. "It's not just about those tracks," She tried to clear her throat while picking up a water bottle, making it obvious to the other party that she wasn't at her best anymore after so many takes. "I need to catch up."
Downing the water in one go, she threw the empty bottle into the trash can in the corner, before turning to the main singer. "Be honest, Katya. How do I sound?"
Straight-faced, Ekaterina tapped the table several times with her fingers before pressing space to listen to a cut of Dayeon's voice for the last time. In times like these, she wished that she could just tell a lie. "... Mediocre." Like she was expecting the answer, Dayeon shrugged with a tired smile, suggesting another session. "Now you understand. Maybe you can come back tomorrow to coach me again? I promise—"
"Dayeon Song."
A cold stare straight into her eyes. The idol shivered. The tone was flat, yet it felt like there was a snake around her neck, threatening to snap if she continued. After precisely one second, Ekaterina turned back to work on the audio as she muttered. "If you don't stop and rest, I will remove you from the project."
The oreo-haired woman didn't even have the energy to argue or talk back. She knew whenever Katya said something, it was always one hundred percent serious. "I just..." A small sigh escaped her lips, her eyes wandered toward the other side of the wall, where a poster of Slime Girls depicting the five members was. "... want to finally feel like I deserve to stand with all of you again. To not disappoint our fans."
"You've worked hard enough to earn some rest. Go play the game and take care of that kid." She pressed the save button with a tap of finality, before slowly getting up from the chair and turning to Dayeon. "But if you feel that you must train," The Russian took a step closer. "Do it in the game."
"Huh?"
A puzzled look appeared on Dayeon's face as Ekaterina waved her hand slowly in front of her face... And suddenly there was a black card between her fingers.
"Sleight of hand," Katya threw away the card. "Learned in the game." She divulged more information that she had found out, and it seemed not to be widespread among the players yet. "Also ballet, practiced inside the game, all in a week. The muscle memory and brain functions carry over. Do not tell anyone, yet."
Grabbing her black jacket from the chair, she then turned slowly towards the studio door, excusing herself. "That's all I can give. Remember, I will know if you're overexerting yourself."
"Katya," Dayeon trembled. Once again, in front of overwhelming talent, all she could do was play catch-up. "I just want to be like you."
The clacking of the white-haired woman's high heels stopped. Her only response came cold. No arrogance, no ego, no hostility behind her words. Just straight facts.
"There's no one like me."
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