"Which Scene Do You Prefer, Senior?"
Nael’s voice was filled with anticipation, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Even though Ha-eun was sitting beside her not as an actress but as a senior from Illusionary Realm, the fact that she had played Kim Jung-hyun in The Sunshine made Nael’s heart race with admiration.
Her expression was brimming with pure fandom, a vast improvement from earlier, when she couldn’t even meet Ha-eun’s eyes out of nervousness.
"Um… I think the right one is better," Ha-eun said tentatively.
"Ah, right! The left one does feel a bit pitiful with the messy hair, tattered clothes, and the blood dripping from her shoulder. Every time I watch that scene, I feel on edge. The right one looks much prettier with the hanbok and a calmer atmosphere, especially since she’s smiling and with Hwang Tae-seong, which makes it feel more relaxed compared to the left—"
Ha-eun blinked, unsure if her memory of those scenes was even accurate anymore.
Nael’s commentary was like a waterfall—endless and enthusiastic. It was impressive, but also overwhelming.
While Ha-eun appreciated Nael’s deep love for The Sunshine and her character, the sheer intensity of Nael’s reactions was starting to wear on her.
‘Is it because I’m right here?’
It seemed Nael’s rationality had temporarily short-circuited due to the presence of the actress who played her favorite character. Ha-eun couldn’t entirely blame her—she had felt similarly starstruck when meeting her own idol, Cream, back in the day.
"Alright, let’s go with the right one," Ha-eun decided.
With the first match decided, another pair of iconic scenes appeared on Nael’s screen.
‘These two are competing already?’
Ha-eun’s eyes widened as she recognized the choices. On one side was the serene, snow-dappled smile from episode 6, a shot often called Kim Jung-hyun’s “legendary still.” On the other was the heartbreaking final scene of the series, featuring the tragic ending.
Both were undeniably masterpieces.
Nael was equally flustered.
"These two shouldn’t be paired this early!"
One showed a graceful, understated beauty amidst falling snow, while the other was a poignant moment of quiet despair as the character lay still in Park Joo-ho’s arms.
"I can’t choose, senior! These are two of my absolute favorites!"
Faced with the impossible decision, Nael handed the choice to Ha-eun, who reluctantly took the mouse.
"Well… since the right one is the ending, I guess I’ll choose that?"
"True, endings are important. But the left one is such a brilliant scene! Right after this, the camera zooms out to show Park Joo-ho and Kim Jung-hyun in the same frame, and the atmosphere is just breathtaking—"
"Then… the left one?"
"But the ending is unforgettable! I cried every time I saw her holding Park Joo-ho’s hand until the very end. And the background music was so gentle—it’s been stuck in my head ever since—"
Nael’s constant flip-flopping set the chat ablaze with debates about which scene deserved to win.
Ha-eun sighed, realizing they couldn’t spend all night on a single match.
"Nael, imagine this: if you had to erase one of these scenes from your memory forever, which one would you keep?"
"I can’t! Don’t make me do this!"
"If you don’t choose, both will be erased. Which one do you save?"
"Just kill me instead!"
"Okay, ten… nine… eight…"
Faced with the ticking clock, Nael panicked and blurted, "Left! I choose the left!"
Ha-eun clicked the mouse, and with a soft click, the heartbreaking ending scene disappeared from the bracket.
"Senior… my heart hurts."
"The chat says their ears hurt more," Ha-eun quipped.
The Best Scenes World Cup resumed, but with the current pace, it became clear they might not even finish the 64 rounds before dawn.
"Alright, new rule! Each of us gets 20 seconds max to argue for a scene. Any more than that, and I’ll cut you off!"
Ha-eun’s new rule dramatically sped up the process. The chat flooded with praise for her swift intervention.
"Okay, for the left one—" Nael began, only to be abruptly silenced the moment her 20 seconds expired.
Ha-eun didn’t deny that part of her was relieved to impose limits. Listening to Nael’s deeply personal reviews of scenes that all featured her was, frankly, exhausting.
"Let’s go with the left one?" Ha-eun asked after a particularly close match.
"Wait! Now that I think about it, the right one—"
"Too late! No takebacks!" Ha-eun declared triumphantly.
The Ideal Type World Cup was proceeding briskly under Ha-eun's firm and efficient pace. Scenes were divided into winners and losers without hesitation, her decisive actions sparing no room for delay. By the time they reached the quarterfinals and semifinals, the World Cup had gained significant momentum.
However, when the last scene from Episode 6—known for its breathtaking beauty—appeared again on screen, accompanied by Nael’s admiring commentary, things took an interesting turn.
"Wow, she’s so beautiful. How can someone even look this pretty—"
[ ㅇㅇ has d 10,000 won! ]
: Who’s prettier: Kim Jung-hyun or Diah?
The donation message posed a provocative question: asking Nael to compare the beauty of two women she greatly admired. Naturally, the chat erupted in laughter and speculation.
It wasn’t an entirely unreasonable question. Comparing the looks of a celebrity to someone sitting right next to you was an amusing challenge for the audience. They were eager to see whether Nael would betray her admiration for Kim Jung-hyun or risk offending Diah.
The real twist, however, was that the two were the same person.
"U-um… If I had to choose who’s prettier… uh…" Nael stammered, glancing nervously at Ha-eun.
Her indecision wasn’t lost on the viewers, but neither was the weight of the truth Nael carried alone.
Finally, with great difficulty, she forced out an answer.
"I think… the actress is prettier."
The chat exploded with laughter.
"I’m not sulking!" Diah protested, her voice trembling slightly.
But the viewers only teased her further, poking fun at her supposed vanity. The real reason behind her reaction—discomfort rather than disappointment—remained hidden. The misconception that Diah thought of herself as being on par with Kim Jung-hyun was left unresolved.
About ten minutes later, the final round of the Ideal Type World Cup concluded, and Nael and Diah’s joint reflections on the stream were broadcast live. Once their parting words were said, the stream came to an end.
"Whew, you did great."
"Ah, thank you. You did well too, Ji-hye."
“…And you’ve changed again."
"Ah, it’s nothing," Nael muttered, brushing it off.
Soon after, Nael offered to see Ha-eun off. However, when Ha-eun called her manager, Ju Jung-yoon, the plan hit a snag.
[ "Sorry, Ha-eun. Something came up. I’ll be about an hour late." ]
This left Ha-eun with no choice but to linger a little longer with Nael. Overhearing the phone call, Nael hesitated before shyly making a suggestion.
"Would you… like to go to karaoke? Just to pass the time until your manager arrives?"
What followed was a slightly bolder request: as a fan, Nael wanted to hear Ha-eun sing One Spring Day live.
"I mean, of course, if you’re tired, you can just rest at home! I wouldn’t mind, really!"
Ha-eun thought for a moment. She recalled hearing about plans for a fan meeting where she might have to sing as well.
"Let’s go. I actually feel like singing right now."
And so, Ha-eun accompanied Nael to a nearby coin karaoke. As far as fan service went, it wasn’t a big deal.
Once inside, Ha-eun picked up the mic and selected One Spring Day as requested.
Within moments, the room was filled with her signature, crystalline voice.
Her steady breath control and polished vocal technique erased any distinction between her live performance and the studio version. Nael sat wide-eyed, her jaw slightly ajar, completely mesmerized by the experience.
Much to Nael’s delight, Ha-eun didn’t stop there. She went on to sing a new track as well as Illusion.
"…I can die happy now."
"That’s… a bit much."
By the end, Nael, a devoted fan of both Ha-eun and Diah, felt as though her life’s purpose had been fulfilled. Even as they parted ways, Nael’s elation lingered, a memory that would stay with her forever.
A few days after Nael’s stream, Hida cashed in her free pass with Diah, just as she had teased during Nael’s cooking stream.
While it wasn’t an in-person collaboration like Nael’s, the atmosphere was markedly different from the cheerful mood of the cooking broadcast.
"H-hello…! You must be Hida?"
"Hmm, addressing your elder so casually? That won’t do."
"You wouldn’t guess it, but this witch is 600 years old. Show some respect."
From the very start, the collab was anything but ordinary.
"Now, greet me again. Politely."
"Ah, um… H-hello, ma’am…"
Watching the stream unfold, Nael muttered to herself.
"I hope Ha-eun’s okay…"