Caring Lady Ding!
I get a notification: Caring Woman Ding! What the heck? Another spam? But no, it's from Maru.
Such a random message leaves me baffled. Since it's from Maru, I read it line by line, savoring every word... but what on earth does it mean?
Did I do something wrong? No, I did fine. I quietly slipped out so Maru could sleep soundly. She looked exhausted yesterday—it was obvious. What if Mom woke her up while she was recharging? That would've been bad. Waking her would've left Maru super tired. Is that why? No, more importantly, what the heck is this?
Mom sent a super long message too.
What’s this about all of a sudden? Some surprise they're planning? I just stare blankly at my phone.
Why is Maru praising my parents? And why is Mom praising Maru? I have no clue. What on earth did they talk about? I can't get a read on it at all.
I rack my brain as hard as I can. Hmm, did they talk about my streams? But Mom and Dad don't know about streaming. So what could they have discussed? Did Maru explain it well? The more I think, the more lost I get. Anyway, I'll ask Mom later.
Right now, it's time to go live, and I've got a message from my editor too—total chaos.
Yes! This is the proactive, ownership-taking editor I wanted. Even if I don't know much, she handles everything smoothly. Growing together like this is the best.
I slip into a daydream. Once we make it big... I'll promote her from editor to main PD. Heehee. Wait, even higher? Is there a top-top position? Director? Sena Broadcasting Station Director? Perfect. Awesome. Hehehe. Daydreaming is so fun.
Now I get why lotto winners fantasize about buying houses, starting businesses, or living off interest. Dreaming is seriously the best.
To turn dreams into reality, I fire up the stream. Not even a minute in, and viewers are already settling in.
By the time the screen curtain pulls back and my fancam appears, we've hit 90... I've grown so much. I bet we'll hit 190 easy after a bit—in fact, that makes me solidly A-rank small-timer territory.
It's my own ranking system, based on reviewing Discord rooms and small-timers like me. Scribbled all over my memo pad.
I hate strict hierarchies. Sure, there's higher and lower, but ranking folks on the same level? Nah. Actually, it's super important. In indie streaming, viewers are your weight class—your boss.
There's F-to-S rank small-timers. S-rank means named vets, the old guard. Then mid-tier smalls, mid-tier, big corps. That's my classification.
We only look at the absolute top. We envy the top 0.001%. How many challenge indie streaming? Thousands, millions probably. Outside the top 10 or 20, viewer counts are meh.
Why? Indie streaming is pure winner-takes-all. Viewers have limited time, so no such thing as blue oceans.
Small-timers fight dirty to steal even one viewer. Backstabbing's basic, plus sowing discord, bullying, faction exclusion... tons of drama.
One wrong move, and you're toast—so you gotta know your place and bow low to survive. Not everyone’s like that, but enough are.
"Hey everyone!"
Everyone's in such a rush. It's only been 5 minutes since I went live. I recall yesterday as I say...
"Thanks so much for the donations! Not yet. Not yet."
I know a thing or two about streaming now. This is the main course. Gotta feed 'em the bland stuff first.
"First off, the YouTube video's up—did everyone watch?"
I share my YouTube screen. Views are good, right?
"Please subscribe! If you do... you'll get good karma. Even if you don't... you'll get good karma..."
I'm not used to asking yet, so I left wiggle room—but I'd love if they watched. With 110 here now, if my predicted 190 sub and watch... it's a handful.
Cold reality hits: Can this handful really revive my YouTube? Reality check.
Lives with 190 are livable.
Streaming's like games. Whales (top 1%) make half the revenue. Same here—big donors are half my donations.
But ditch free viewers? No way. They push you up the ranks, bring ads.
Saw somewhere: Once famous, ads are a scam (in a good way). Way more lucrative than donations.
And advertising big games? Mom and Dad would love "Sena advertised a famous game!"
So gotta grind. Build my portfolio, keep pushing.
"But it's fine! I'll work hard."
Viewers' question marks at my resolve—I'm used to it now. First time, I panicked thinking I messed up. But it's just ?s. That's what I tell myself, or I'd lose it.
Every time I speak, ?s flood in. No good comeback, so I shrug it off.
"Oh, streaming! I'll stream harder. YouTube's live now, so I'll grind tons of content."
Motivation surges. Gotta really grind.
They hit with salty lines, but it's just normal low-chat.
"Nooo, don't say that. Let's rise together. To the heavens together!"
Then I pat the viewers. Let's go! Aja aja! They love it, get pumped. Who are we? Yeah!
"So let's watch the video. Everyone sit tight, no wandering. Watch together."
Worried since I saw it already—won't react fresh. Raw would be better, but knowing the content tenses me up.
Video starts. Intense from the intro.
Euhehehehe. Laughter, hihihihi. More laughter, hihithihit. Constant giggles disorient but harmonize if you listen close.
Video rolls on. Content-wise, pure chaos, but edited into pure fun. My day? Two days? Compressed to 8 minutes. Maybe I'm more entertaining than I thought.
If you expect my live mark from this edit, prepare for shock. The gap between live and edit will stun ya.
Great reactions. Proves my eye's spot on, right? Can't stop grinning. Gotta give her a praise sticker. Did amazing! Jjang sticker time.
Grown Sena's different. Uhahaha. Gotta grind harder, grow more!! All thanks to you viewers. You roast sometimes, but feed me EXP like crazy. Thanks. For real. So, spill the tea you wanted? My growth's insane!! Super proactive. Uhaha.
"So, met Maru for lunch at that spot. Yummy food. Then... cafe after."
"No, listen. So good. You all gotta go."
"Uh..."
Maru? Hmm... It's my story, so I gotta tell it fun. Proactively. Only Maru and I know this tale. Just say what I remember? Wing it?
Thoughts clash in my head. Decisions are always hard—heavy responsibility. Takes me extra time. Something, anything...
Flash!
"Oh, and she was super pink and cute! Her makeup was gorgeous. Total pure female power maxed out!"
No need to overthink. Just share what I saw, felt. All of it.
That feels right?
"Yeah, sky-high female power. Outfit was stunning too."
"What else... Oh! We hit the amusement park. There, she made me wear a school uniform. I didn't wanna, but she insisted, so I did."
Taking charge of my story? Feels easier than before, chat's heating up too.
"Oh yeah! Photos everywhere. I was shocked—she took tons, even at that Life Four Cuts booth at the end. Photo fiend."
Always reciting others' tales on stream...
"Don't know Life Four Cuts? I learned it. Four shots now... pick poses each time."
Building rapport with my story.
"Me? First time—cool, but if again...? Still fun though."
This is kinda fun. Connection is this? Proactive low-chat? I'm such a noob. Just this realization feels like a level up. I'm doing good, right? Right? I'm killing it? Praise me!! EXP farming hard today!! Euhihi.