VTuber Stripping (4)
Motteok asked with a laugh.
"Hahahaha. But, but. What's the new version of the Reverse Empathy Substitution Method? Pfft hahaha."
You don't know this? It's reverse empathy, literally as the words say. Young people these days don't know their Chinese characters… this is serious.
But she might not know.
Admitting you don't know something is cool. You can just learn it.
And you shouldn't brush it off. It's fine not to know. You just teach her, right?
"Reverse empathy. It's a four-character idiom. It means understanding once your positions are switched. In other words… thinking, if I were Nem-mo… My basic version of the Reverse Empathy Substitution Method couldn't minimize the discomfort. Why? I'm fine, so what's the problem? That was the whole of it."
I took a breath and continued.
"But. After admitting that problems can still arise even when I'm fine, I made the new version. Let's put the other person's discomfort in!! That's how the Reverse Empathy Substitution Method (New) version was born. The version that includes the other person's discomfort."
I said it with complete confidence, but once I knew the results, I couldn't help looking dejected.
"But… this version failed too…"
"Aigoo. That's a shame. You're still young, that's why. Meet more people and your social skills will grow."
"You're right!! Motteok's good advice. I've never done social life!! So I really don't know."
"You haven't even done part-time jobs, right?"
"I have!! I got fired after a week!! The manager said he was sorry, told my father, and told me to go home. I worked at a café too and they said they were sorry. I was a total waste!!"
"No, hahaha. Don't say that about yourself. Well, it's okay not to be good at something."
I really was a waste. It was hard. Especially memorizing the cigarette brands was pure torture. Why were there so many kinds?
I tried my hardest, but they just wouldn't stick.
"Wait, so you did do part-time work?"
"Ah!! Yes!! It was right under Dad's hospital, so I got the job thanks to Dad."
"Huk…!!"
"Why? Why?"
Why the sudden gasp? Did I say something wrong? Was the hospital the problem? Was this a political landmine too? I really don't know politics. I only learned about that stuff because of the admin.
The world so often goes against my intentions…!! Is this another one of those?!
I rushed to clarify.
"Uh… this isn't political talk!! Why would a doctor… I don't know that stuff. I. Really don't know."
"What? What? Why is the conversation suddenly going that way? Who are you trying to kill!!"
"Huh? This isn't it?"
"I was just~ messing around. Let's just play the game again."
Ah, what. I almost got confused. You really have to be insanely careful with this kind of thing!!
Motteok is such a prankster!!
"Aha!! This time I'll do God's Hand. I'm really good at God's Hand. Please believe me."
"You're not teaming with Nem-mo?"
"Ah. That… we became awkward. Nem-mo and I officially became an awkward relationship."
Right now Nem-mo and I had turned into an awkward relationship.
Nem-mo was uncomfortable, and I had apologized. If this wasn't an awkward relationship, what was?
They say time is the medicine, so I had to slowly rebuild things again.
Approach too fast and it only gets more uncomfortable.
Very slowly. Slowly… that was the Reverse Empathy Substitution Method (New New) version.
"Pfft hahahaha. You're really the god of mind games. Just flip it over and then smash it right away."
"Not awkward…"
"No. It is awkward. Don't look at Nem-mo's public opinion or whatever. Be honest. Nem-mo is the victim."
"No… I'm not awkward."
"Yes. We became awkward. We have to progress again. I'll approach slowly."
I put my whole heart into the words.
But this time too, the chat was weird.
Was I wrong again this time? I covered both eyes with my left hand.
I couldn't figure out where the problem was. No matter how hard I looked, I just couldn't see it.
But. If everyone was scolding me… then I had to be the one in the wrong.
"Nem-mo…"
"Yes?"
"I'll officially apologize. There seems to have been a problem with my Substitution Method (New New) version too… I'm sorry."
"Ah. No no no. It's fine. We're going to get close."
My face lit up, but to put it coldly, today was the first time we'd ever talked this deeply.
How could she decide we could become close like this? Doubt crept in.
I was really curious, but I held it in and instead threw out a more essential question.
"Then… are you pretty, by any chance?"
A sound like audio tearing ripped through.
It was so loud I frowned and yanked my earphones off.
"What."
"Ugh. Who is that? So loud."
"Raming, your mic is broken. Broken."
I thought my eardrums were going to fall off from the sudden disaster.
Looking closely, Raming was really clumsy too.
"Sorry. Sorry."
"Why?"
"No, I spilled water and the mic fell."
"Augh… why would you. Right now Jjanghaem specially went into Nem-mo-killing mode. Augh. The mood is ruined."
"Sorry. Sorry. No. Because she suddenly said that… sorry. Chat for a bit. Just let me wipe this… sorry."
Some kind of misunderstanding had formed.
When exactly had I decided to kill Nem-mo?
Since we hadn't started the game yet, she recognized it for what it was.
If we'd been mid-game or already playing, she wouldn't have caught it and would have thought I was genuinely going for Nem-mo kills.
I immediately started clearing things up.
"A misunderstanding arose. I respect Nem-mo. I sincerely respect her and wanted to learn from her, that's why. I also want to do RP well. Like, I have high delusion power too. Delusions that would overload a normal person's brain—I'm really good at those. My Reverse Empathy Substitution Method (New) version came from acknowledging things based on my delusion power."
"I already get the feeling."
"You got it? Then I'll explain. Until Raming comes back… those who aren't interested, go to the bathroom. Get some water. Stretch. I'll talk."
"Nem-mo, listen carefully."
"Yes… yes…"
"I was… so shocked by Nem-mo's reaction. I mean, she accepts RP like this?! I thought Nem-mo would be happy. If it were me, I would have. No!! She thinks about my RP this much? Immerses like this?! Wow…!! Dae. Seon. A. Tears rolling. Overwhelmed with emotion. Kyaaaaah."
I felt thirsty, so I gulped some water and continued.
"I thought she would. Why? Delusions are hard. Doing such specific, high-volume delusions is pretty hard even for me. You have to spend a long time carefully crafting them. But Nem-mo is… a shy person? If it were me, I'd be so excited I'd chatter nonstop. That point is so regrettable."
Motteok listened to my story and then dropped a shocking fact.
"The company made it. Of course there's no personal affection."
"Yes? …Nem-mo didn't make it?"
"Who makes that? If there's a company, the company makes it. You didn't know? For corporates, the company makes everything. Jjang didn't know because you're indie? But how could you not know?"
"… Uh… then."
Really flustering. I hadn't known.
And I was a company too…!! Now I was corporate as well.
What does our company even do? Uh… uh. Yeah.
I swept my bangs back and said,
"Then I'll respect not Nem-mo, but Nem-mo's company. What's that company name? What's the chairman's full name? I'll respect them. Please let me respect them."
"I find Jjanghaem respectable."
"Me? Why me? Please speak honestly."
"Zero ability to read the room. I've never seen someone who fails to read it this thoroughly. And the ego is really strong. First time I've seen someone who immediately calls it forced hate when they get criticized. Ah. And she says every single thing she wants to say. Execution power is no joke. First time seeing someone who executes that fast. Just if the words come out, no empty K-promise? That kind of thing doesn't exist. Immediately invites to the group chat then 'when do you want to do it?' If no answer, she calls—I was impressed watching that."
Ehehe. Getting praised felt good.
"I'm back. Sorry. Let's do it right away. Sorry."
I wanted to savor each bit of praise in detail, but Raming chose exactly that moment to reappear.
Couldn't be helped. I'd save it for later when I got the chance.
Still, I saved face.
4 wins 2 losses is doing really well, right? Right?
I carried about two games, did okay in one, and got unfairly treated in two.
I wanted to keep going, but everyone else was shouting for the real last game… so I stayed quiet.
Thinking about it now, I should have just been brave.
When they called for the real last one. No. One more game. I should have shouted that.
"Everyone, good work."
"Ugh… bye."
"See you next time."
"Ugh… take care…"
"Why, Jjang, do you want to do more?"
As expected, only Motteok understood my heart.
"Yes. Exactly right."
"Hmm… is that so?"
"Yes!! Let's do it together. 1v1. Free-for-all style. How about it?"
"Just doing it is boring, right?"
Uh, just doing it is fun though… if I said that she might not go along with it.
"Wish ticket. Let's bet a wish ticket!!"
I used the most ordinary yet reliable finisher move. For reference, the wish tickets I had issued to my parents numbered over several dozen, but since my parents forgot about them, every single one had expired.
Maybe Motteok would also just enjoy the game and forget?
Ah, of course I would win. I was sure of it. I was far better. To lose I'd have to become the unluckiest person in the entire universe.
I was that confident.
"Oh? Shall we? What wish are we betting?"
"Ea… eating delicious food!!"
"Oh? That's actually really good? Okay. How many games?"
"Best of five, first to three. But if I lose I can extend it to best of seven, first to four. Instead, if I get four wins. Then Motteok can extend it to best of nine, first to five. But if I hit first-to-three in five first, the game ends."
"Okay. But can't I go first?"
"That won't do."
I said it firmly.
There was a reason. If I grabbed the first lead I could stop it from ever reaching best of seven.
Because I was certain I would win no matter what, I wasn't leaving any room.
"Hmm. Well, since I'll win it's fine. Let's do it."
"Heh. Then please take it with the mindset of going really seriously, the kind where if you lose you can go 'eek.' Like a dark game. Clearly, because if I go all-out Motteok can't even breathe, and if you half-ass it on top of that? Then it's just pure 'eek.'"