episode_0154

The day after the incident where Jo Raeng-i’s, no, Jung Da-yeong’s face was revealed. The day was rolling by quietly as if yesterday’s big event had never happened.

The atmosphere at Hakgyo was filled with chatter about Jung Da-yeong’s identity, but it was just like any other day, with conversations about the same idol or game stories.

“Hey, did you see this? Isn’t it hilarious? ㅋㅋ Our Pimtong-ie (nickname for the girl group Leseraphim) are so cute.”

Or discussions about the same idol.

“Ugh, seriously. I spent all my saved crystals on gacha, but nothing came out. Ugh! Why do those who complain on the community always get lucky, but I don’t?”

Just usual game talk, nothing different from usual, and nowhere was there any mention of Streamer Jo Raeng-i’s story.

“We had like 10,000 viewers, how is it so quiet?”

Of course, I don’t know what the atmosphere is like in Jung Da-yeong’s class, but at least in the third grade classrooms, it was mostly like this.

“Should I spread rumors about it? Then everyone would be curious and watch our Raeng-i’s broadcast, right?”

To Kim Ji-hwan’s words, Kim Dae-yoon thought to himself.

The kind of person who usually doesn’t pay attention to things they can’t have, but once it enters their visible range, even nonexistent desires arise.

We call that human nature.

“Enough. You don’t want it to be known, so why spread rumors when you don’t even do cam broadcasts?”

That was truly an inconsiderate action towards a streamer, not something a fan should do.

“Well, that’s true.”

Kim Ji-hwan nodded as if he understood.

“Besides, even if the whole school watches, it’s only about 400 people, and even if 10,000 watched yesterday and left, doing another mask cam would be much more beneficial. She knows what she’s doing, let’s just watch.”

There’s a saying that the most useless worry is worrying about celebrities. This also applied to streamers.

“True, huh. By the way, if we see Jung Da-yeong on campus, she might look different. And now that I think about it, didn’t she act like she knew you yesterday? This guy is a total fan, right? He even said he’s seen Mamang before. Is she really that pretty?”

It wasn’t a wrong statement. A fan is a fan.

“What are you talking about? You watched the broadcast yesterday too, right?”

“No, man. I mean, in person.”

“I don’t know, I just briefly passed by her, so I didn’t pay much attention.”

In fact, she was seen in the elevator, but normally people don’t stand side by side in the elevator, so saying that he paid close attention wasn’t a complete lie.

“Oh, I’m curious. If we keep wandering around the apartment, will we see her?”

“Hey, don’t do that. It feels like stalking.”

“Haha, just kidding. Hey. We’ve seen her face once. That’s it. She’s pretty and all, but she’s not going to broadcast for us.”

“Well, anyway. Whether Jo Raeng-i is Jung Da-yeong or not, we’re just from the same school. Will there really be anything to get deeply involved in?”

“True, that’s right. Haha!”

As Kim Ji-hwan laughed, Kim Dae-yoon laughed along with him.

But.

That.

Actually happened.

“Senior!”

After school, today was Friday, so it was the day Kim Ji-hwan went to the academy. So, just like yesterday, he was walking home alone.

With a mix of hope to see Jung Da-yeong and worry about how to act if he did meet her, he was walking down the street.

Yesterday, at a similar time, at a similar timing. A refreshing voice calling out to him.

It was her.

He quickly turned his head after hearing the voice.

– Thud!

He felt a sharp pain on his cheek.

“Ouch!”

“Mom! Are you okay? Oh my, what should I do. It was just a joke. I didn’t expect the senior to turn his head so forcefully. I’m really sorry.”

She had her finger placed roughly where she expected her cheek to be touched.

It was a classic prank.

“Oh, no. It’s okay.”

He gently stroked his cheek and waved his hand, reassuring her that he was fine.

“But… it’s not bruised, right? Let me see.”

Saying that, Jung Dayoung pulled his hand and checked his cheek.

“Ouch! It’s quite red. I’m sorry.”

“No, really, I’m fine. By the way, your fingers are really thin.”

Kim Daeyoon remarked as he looked at Jung Dayoung’s fingers.

Sometimes he saw hands when he turned on the camera, so he knew they were thin, but seeing them in person felt much thinner than looking through the screen.

Was that why? When her fingers first sunk into his cheek, it felt like being pricked by a thorn.

“By the way, what’s going on?”

Although he secretly expected this situation, Kim Daeyoon faced her with a calm expression as if nothing was wrong.

“Oh, um… Can we talk for a moment? I have something to say.”

What kind of situation is this? She? To him? For what reason?

Numerous thoughts raced through his mind.

If you think about it.

Isn’t this like a perfect one-on-one fan meeting?

Thinking that way, Kim Daeyoon’s heart suddenly raced.

“Uh, what? W-what do you mean?”

“Should I talk while walking?”

And so, Kim Daeyoon found himself walking home with her again today. But it felt very different from yesterday.

“Um… Senior.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you watch the broadcast yesterday?”

It’s about that again. It was clear that it was about whose broadcast without even asking.

“Uh, yeah, I… watched it.”

“Haa… I knew it. So, how was it?”

“What do you mean, how was it…”

As he hesitated to speak, he noticed her eyes rolling around anxiously.

“I was very surprised. But, well, honestly, when your mother appeared, I almost recognized her.”

At that, she widened her eyes in surprise, then nodded as if she understood.

“Yeah. She’s not a common size, after all. Hmm.”

“Pfft!”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

Taken aback by her blunt choice of words, Kim Daeyoon hurriedly waved his hand to recover.

“Anyway… I was a shrimp. Ta-da!”

Although her words seemed playful, her expression felt somewhat uneasy. Seeing her eyebrows twitch, it was evident.

“Haha, okay.”

To her surprise, Jung Dayoung made a face that seemed to say, ‘That’s not it.’

“What, what’s with the reaction? Aren’t you a bit more surprised or touched? Do you not have any emotional reactions?”

“Oh, no. I was surprised. But, um… are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Were there a lot of people at school today who recognized you? Oh, and do your friends know that you do broadcasts?”

Kim Daeyoon’s unexpected question made Jung Dayoung look surprised.

“Well, honestly, it’s hard to keep it a secret, but except for my two really close friends, no one else knows.”

“Then… did anyone who usually watches your broadcasts talk to you today?”

“Well… I was really worried about that, but it seems like my mom’s words from yesterday were right.”

“Uh? What did she say?”

At that, she chuckled and replied.

“People in the world are not as interested in you as you think.”

“Pfft!”

“Well… I knew you were cold yesterday, and you don’t really have much connection with friends who are worth watching streamer broadcasts around you.”

Indeed. Although internet broadcasting has now become a popular hobby, people who are commonly referred to as otaku still tend to watch it. Especially on Twitch, it was even more so. Of course, the perception is continuously improving, but for now, that’s the reality.

From that perspective, most of the friends around Jung Dayoung, with her looks, are likely to be insincere non-viewers.

“There might be people who know but pretend not to.”

In simple terms, even if not a complete otaku, timid otaku would not readily approach a pretty and popular girl at school who is unaware of her being a streamer and say, ‘I didn’t know you were a streamer! Let’s be friends.’

“But somehow, it will spread somehow.”

“Yeah. There are no eternal secrets in the world.”

“Wow, that line.”

“Hehe, was it cool?”

“No, it’s quite otaku-like. Hehe.”

At first, Kim Daeyoon felt uncomfortable with Jung Dayoung, but as they talked, she began to feel more at ease.

Gradually, things began to appear.

Perhaps she approached herself, who found out her true identity and knew her closest otaku, Jung Dayoung. Through Kim Daeyoon’s reaction, she tried to predict how her surroundings would change in the future.

“Oh, but looking at your reaction, Senior, it won’t be of any help.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Senior is, how should I put it… a bit kind? Or should I say, very considerate? Anyway, he doesn’t seem to be typical.”

“Don’t fit the sample?”

Then, she smiled uneasily.

“Oh, it’s not that extreme.”

“Just kidding.”

“Anyway, I need a little help from Senior.”

What kind of help is she talking about?

As she thought about it, before she knew it.

“Oh, we’ve arrived.”

The two of them who entered the apartment building were waiting for the elevator, and she asked.

“Are you busy behind Senior? Are you free?”

“Are you asking if a high school senior is free? Excuse me.”

“Hehe, is that so? Anyway. Then, please make some time for me.”

“Huh? We’ve already arrived home, though?”

If she wants him to make time, they could have stopped by a cafe on the way. They’ve already arrived home, so where does she want to talk?

“Oh, anyway, it’s just the upstairs. Since no one is home at our place, please make some time for me. Okay?”

Oh my.

The day after finding out that her senior is the streamer she watched, she invited him to her house.

Isn’t this the content of a novel? Huh? It’s not a novel, but an essay?!