Chapter 66: Dating? (4)

The lingering buzz from yesterday’s commotion seemed to leave the air in the house strangely charged all day.

The distinct, stuffy basement air of the PC Bang, the smell of ramen, and the members’ laughter.

It was certainly a scene that didn’t fit my usual self, but strangely, it wasn’t unpleasant.

No, perhaps it was the opposite.

I sank into the sofa, blankly mulling over the silence after the members left yesterday.

The emptiness felt when a noisy space suddenly becomes quiet.

It was quite an unfamiliar sensation.

My eyes landed on the doll sitting on the table, the one I won at the arcade we went to after the PC Bang yesterday.

A shoddily smiling character doll, looking like a clump of cheap cotton.

The doll Ajung had pestered me to win, the one I finally got after countless attempts, essentially throwing money at the machine.

The sheer absurdity of finding it abandoned in the car after I’d tried so desperately to win it for her.

‘What even is this thing.’

I picked up the doll and turned it around.

A soft texture.

Somewhat clumsy stitching.

How much the members had laughed seeing this yesterday.

Ajung, especially, had laughed almost to the point of breathlessness.

A small smile escaped my lips unknowingly.

The atmosphere at that time, the members’ expressions, the trivial conversations we shared.

All of it replayed vividly in my mind.

‘Should I record this?’

It was an impulsive thought.

I wanted to preserve this strange, unfamiliar, yet quite pleasant experience somewhere.

No, perhaps I just wanted to brag to someone.

That boastful desire to show off that I’m doing things like this lately, that I had a pretty fun time.

I picked up my smartphone and took a picture of the doll.

Trying to make it look as decent as possible, yet feigning indifference.

Where should I post it?

‘Star Cluster Galaxy’ felt too official.

It wasn’t the place to post such a trivial picture.

As expected, was there only one easy option?

I expertly navigated my fingers to the ‘Ggizzik VTuber Gallery’.

As always, chaotic and noisy posts filled the screen.

I posted the doll picture I just took with a short message.

Title: You guys ever win something like this??
■Zelnaga

(Picture of the clumsy doll taken just now)

Tried a claw machine for the first time yesterday, and the scam is real.
No, I definitely grabbed it, but it just let go midway, for real.
I was so pissed I almost broke the machine.
This thing cost a whopping 100,000 won lol

As soon as I posted it, the gallery instantly erupted as if I had poured oil on a fire.

• ??????

• Yes??

• What the f*ck is this sudden claw machine talk lololololol

• Is this Naga-bro’s actual taste? Lololololololololololol

• This thing cost a whopping 100,000 won lol << F*cking gullible idiot lololololololol

• Looking at the doll’s condition, it looks like a 1,000 won toy at best lolololol

• Wouldn’t take it even if you gave it to me, for real.

• No, this bstard is so fcking funny, he’s even doing claw machines now lololololol

• So MZ, huh? Huh?

• Zelnaga is finally going outside, but you Ggizzik Gallery bstards are still sitting at home jrking off to VTubers ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
  ㄴ You fcking bstard.

• Wouldn’t someone like Naga-bro just buy the doll factory? Why is he trying to win it?
  ㄴ ■Zelnaga: That’s more troublesome.
  ㄴ What’s troublesome for you, you b*stard? Just say ‘do it’ and your staff will take care of everything.

• But this b*stard betrayed Ggizzik Gallery and left, yet he keeps coming back all the time lololol
  ㄴ Fact) Naga-bro never abandoned us…
  ㄴ He only made it because the fans and Rinne kept nagging him lololol

• I’m so fcking curious about what this bstard does in his daily life lololol
  ㄴ For real, he seems like he does f*ck all lololol

• If you’re here, you should give out some burgers first, right??

As expected.

Just as I predicted, they were more interested in why I was doing such a thing than the doll itself.

And the never-ending talk about ‘burgers’.

I clicked my tongue and scrolled through the screen.

My post instantly became a trending topic, and all sorts of speculations and jokes were being posted in real-time.

It was the same with ‘Star Cluster Galaxy’.

Someone must have shared my gallery post there because that place was also heating up.

[Star Cluster Galaxy – Free Board]
Title: Breaking) The post the President uploaded to another community lololololol

• What is that doll lololololol

• Isn’t the President’s taste too cute? Lolololol

• Spending 100,000 won on that lololololol

• But isn’t that the doll Ajung said was cute on stream the other day?
  ㄴ ??????
  ㄴ Is this for real??
  ㄴ Ugh… My… horns..!

• Is this real?? Zelnaga, come out and explain yourself, you b*stard. I really can’t let this slide.

• No, logically, would Ajung and Naga-bro be dating? Lololololol
  ㄴ They probably just all went out together, stop overreacting lol

• Just explain, ffs ffs ffs ffs ffs

• The kids were all off stream yesterday, though ㅇㅇ

• I heard the President treated them to a meal and shopping the day before yesterday?
  ㄴ Ah, then did he just buy it for her then? But why does Naga-bro have it?
  ㄴ How the f*ck would I know?
  ㄴ Why are you swearing..?
  ㄴ Sry, I’m mentally weak right now..

• Just hurry up and explain, ffs.

• Please explain… I can’t take it anymore..?

The fans’ reactions were quite different from the gallery.

At first, they just laughed, but then it started to spark strange controversies.

Since many fans who watched every single one of the members’ broadcasts were gathered there, their observational skills were chillingly good.

The guess that I went out with the members was correct, but well.

I had no intention of denying it.

They had already mentioned that I took them out for a meal the day before, and the image of a good president who cares for his members wasn’t bad either.

However, my thoughts were far too naive.

I returned to the gallery screen.

It seemed the news had already spread there too, and it was in an uproar.

• Naga-bro, stop bragging about the doll and hand out some burgers. I’m telling you.

• Did you really go on a date with Ajung??

• You fcking bstard, if it’s true, I’m coming to tear your limbs off.

• From now on, Zelnaga is a target for execution by Ggizzik Gallery.

“Haaah.”

I was starting to get annoyed.

What business was it of theirs what I did with my own money?

And their incessant clamoring for burgers was endless.

‘Maybe I should just cut them off completely.’

A strong urge arose to declare a ‘permanent suspension of burger distribution’ like last time.

But at the same time, the enjoyable memories from yesterday came to mind.

I didn’t want to needlessly spoil the mood.

And to be honest, I was now used to these reactions from these guys, and perhaps I was even enjoying it a little.

A love-hate relationship.

That word fit perfectly.

I pondered for a moment, then placed my hands on the keyboard again.

Title: All current speculations are untrue.
■Zelnaga

(Hamburger set gifticon 1~200.jpg)
First, take this.

To be honest, I treated the Starlight members to a meal and shopping the day before yesterday.
But they all kept feeling burdened, so I was a bit disappointed.
Knowing that, the kids came over yesterday and suggested we all go out and have fun.

We went to a PC Bang, then an arcade, and there Ajung said she wanted a doll and asked me to win it for her.
Fck, I didn’t know it was that kind of thing, and confidently stepped up, only to practically stand guard in front of the claw machine for 30 minutes, you fckers.

Claw machines are all scams.
Never play them.

And the reason I have the doll I won for Ajung is because after asking me to win it, she just left it in the car when I gave it to her.
So f*cking absurd, for real.

PS. Do not inform the members that I was disappointed. It’s embarrassing. The moment you break this promise and tell them, there will be no more burgers.

As soon as my post went up, the gallery was turned upside down once again.

• Idiot lololololololololololol

• You b*stard, so you basically went on a date with the girls.

• This is a total piece of sh*t, isn’t he????

• Feeling defeated by a claw machine is f*cking hilarious lololololol

• Meanwhile, he’s handing out burgers first because of those burger fiends lolololol

• If you keep acting like this, you’re going to get stomped to death by the unicorn bstards. Stop it.
  ㄴ Then you’re not?
  ㄴ ■Zelnaga: I’m in my 20s though?
  ㄴ ?
  ㄴ ??????
  ㄴ What??????
  ㄴ What does that mean?? Naga-bro is in his 20s??? Wasn’t he at least in his 40s??
  ㄴ His chatting style definitely didn’t have a 20s vibe????????
  ㄴ Don’t lie, how can someone in their 20s be so clumsy?
  ㄴ Fcking bstard, don’t lie.
  ㄴ ■Zelnaga: What is this reaction;;
  ㄴ Fcking bstard, so you’re saying you’re in your 20s, established a VTuber company, and even built a motion capture studio, and you have that much money??????
  ㄴ Motherfcker.
  ㄴ Checking Han River water temperature~~~~~~
  ㄴ I wasn’t thinking much, but hearing this makes me fcking anxious??
  ㄴ Declare that you have no personal feelings for the girls, you fcking bstard.
  ㄴ ■Zelnaga: Declaration~
  ㄴ You bstard.

As I revealed the truth as it was, the ridicule and criticism due to fabrication disappeared, but another fire started to spread.

I was flustered by the new reaction, but I turned off the tablet with a satisfied smile.

Yesterday, today.

Amidst the lingering effects of the unexpected outing and the commotion in the community, I realized something for sure.

I had found a new kind of enjoyment, different from the past when I simply threw money around and enjoyed the reactions.

These feelings I experienced within the stories I was creating myself, in my relationships with the members.

It was quite good.

Of course, it was still full of things I couldn’t understand, but perhaps I didn’t need to understand everything perfectly.

I just had to enjoy this flow.

I turned my gaze back to the window.

The night sky was still calm, and the city lights shone unchangingly.

Starlight and Xelnaga Entertainment.

And me.

I became curious about the unknown, unseen future.

But one thing was clear: I was no longer alone.

That alone was satisfying enough.