Hako's Massive Collab as the Sub-Sub-Contractor (4)

Moteok just keeps grinning ear to ear while grinding away with me.

"Uh, Sena. Here too. Trees here as well."

"Ah! My inventory's full."

"Hold on then. Junk skill. Poof. Poof. There, dump the wood on me. Got space now."

"Uh, uh, okay. But we've got plenty of wood now, no need to mine more. How about heading home?"

"No way. Just this much more."

I head over to the trees without a word.

And then.

"Whiiiirrr. Phew. Done."

"All mined, Sena?"

"Yep! Want some?"

"Nah. Gotta mine these too."

"Ah! Inventory full again!"

"I'll poof the wood for you. Gimme."

"Ah... ah... poof."

Moteok's already on her seventh round of this exact routine, but she's not bored at all. If anything, she wants more.

That pure innocence without a speck of dirt—it's just too good. Even if it were all an act, it'd be polite to fall for it hook, line, and sinker.

"Whiiiirrr. Thud thud. Clang clang... fuel low..."

"Ehehehe. Fuel here's yours."

"Thank you."

Moteok's loving it. At first, I was like, what? Is she deep in her stream persona? I had my doubts. Tested it once, twice, for verification...

Even among members, there's that one who fakes cuteness, mangling her words. Always sucking up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠energy from the group with her cutesy act. But Sena's way of talking, her reactions—they're different. No doubt. She's the real deal, not a concept.

Even among members, jealousy brews unspoken, competition simmers without trying. Resources are finite, even for colleagues. Everyone succeeding together? Idealistic nonsense. Reality's brutal.

Even same-group members don't share the spotlight. One shoots to the stars, another gets zilch. That's the structure. In it, members are allies and rivals. They fuel growth but demand constant vigilance. That environment just wears you down. Collabs with Moteok always left her drained, energy sucked dry.

But this time? Different. Just good. Just fun.

"Sena, rocks this time."

"Rocks... inventory's seriously full."

"No, no. Poof."

"..."

"Gotta follow suit."

"Poof..."

Moteok watches my every move. I climb the rocks and drill.

"Clangclangclaaaangclangclangclangaaaangclang."

"Love it. Absolutely love it."

Moteok just claps and laughs her head off.

"Wh-why? Why are you like that, Moteok?"

"Ah, no no. Nothing. Let's head home now?"

She snaps out of it after laughing for a while.

"Finally...? Awesome."

"No, should we mine more? You don't seem satisfied."

"I'm totally satisfied!"

"Hmm. Really? Doesn't seem like it."

"Not~at~all. For realzies."

"For realzies?"

I bounce around in response.

"For realzies! You'll regret leaving home!"

Coming home was the worst mistake.

Right on cue, we head to farm the subway.

Me, Moteok, and Donggeuraming—three of us decided to go. Fine so far. Team stuff.

But Moteok dies to the AI mid-run on the subway. Down to just two.

"Uh... Sena... Ah. Yeah. Farm first...?"

"Yeah, sure..."

Me and Donggeuraming each do our thing, hop back on the train. Should I just die too? It's that suffocating.

"I, uh, saw your video. The one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with Moteok..."

She's talking so awkwardly.

"I... heard your ASMR, Donggeuraming! Total ear bliss..."

I only saw the title. Ear bliss is a lie, so I trail off. Lying's bad.

"Th-thanks. That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one's pretty spicy though..."

"Ah... yeah..."

Awkward again.

Yes. Missions are a godsend. Forces talk. If issues pop later, viewers sort it! That's the way.

"Um, what's your MBTI, Donggeuraming?"

"M-me? ISTJ..."

"Aha..."

I don't know MBTI. Just that I's introvert. Don't ask back. Sorry, Donggeuraming.

"What about you, Sena...?"

Here it comes. I clear my throat.

"I only know I'm I. Never took the test..."

"Pardon? Ah... okay."

Ugh. Way more awkward now.

I just shake my head vigorously instead of answering. Collab reaction's tricky.

"Did you have dinner?"

I haven't.

"I had pork cutlet. You, Sena... what'd you eat?"

"Ah, skipped it."

"..."

Even more awkward.

Missions keep coming.

Big bucks, but how? I shake my head no. Too risky—total disaster level.

First ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collab with a big-corp pure-I type. No clue. Don't they usually lead? First time like this.

What now? I press my forehead, pondering. Stay quiet? Don't overdo? Right call, but... ambition's real.

Who hates climbing? Sour grapes 'cause can't reach. Then suddenly.

"Ah! Right."

"Huh? Sudden?"

"Got a question!"

Something pops up. Creative sparks hit random.

"What?"

I remember clear. First meet with Donggeuraming wasn't like this. If memory serves—husky voice... yes!

Excluding Moteok, only one who welcomed me warmly. Chatty in that meeting, voice burned in. Not this person. Thrill heats my brain.

"Wh-when?"

"That meeting! You said 'Sena-ning meme. Annyeong! Saw your stream. So cuuute~'"

Mimicking her speech from memory. Yeah. We're not awkward!

"Ah, then... that time... members were there... you know, we're like that. Friend brings friend? Fine with friend, awkward without—like friend-of-a-friend."

"Aha!"

Click. Friend-of-a-friend. Real talk.

"Thanks! I'm friend-of-a-friend!"

Moved. Good personality too. Sees me as friend-of-a-friend!

"No, no. Haha hah. Yeah. Friend-of-a-friend. Or hey, friends now?"

"Really? Promotion to friend? Gulk."

Bit my tongue in shock. Ow.

"Promotion? Just friends."

"Thanks! I'll do my best!"

Friends. What a blessing. Nada done, friends anyway.

"Hah hah... yeah. Friends."

"Friends so... talk like friends!... Ah!"

Clueless again. Too hasty. Deep breath. Slow. Idiot. Overexcited. But chance like this?! Slow. Slow approach.

"Annyeong! I'm Sena! Let's be close! Thanks!"

Textbook approach!

Atmosphere freezes. Disaster. Too straight? Curveball needed? Can't do that.

Midwinter gale on face. Miss sunny summer.

"Mo... Moteok..."

Summer craving slips out.

"Mo... Moteok... only realized winter after Marmar stopped singing... miss you, Moteok."

Desperately seeking Moteok. Internally, obvs. Can't say aloud—hurts others!

Donggeuraming bursts into menthal laughter, chat liveliest in ages. Why? Mic muted, I ask.

"Why's everyone like that? Sudden?"

Genuine curiosity. Question marks flood.

"Why..."

"What'd I say?"

Meant internally. No way?

Uh. Slipped out? I'm done. Stream career over... Ruin. Ed. Mental cracks, brain fogs.

Wh-what. No no no, snap out. Snap. Out! First.

Looser lately? Acting bold? Gonna get rekt? Should. Why? Habit. No bad intent... excuses? No reflect? So... sorry. Messed up.

Stern self-scold. Reflect. Now sincere apology to victim.

"No! Inner thoughts slipped! Total misunderstanding. Sorry!"

"Wha? No. Fun. Why sudden? Troll again? No. Fun."

"Aura battle... no! Real apology!"

"Ahahahah hah. Why again? Ahaha hah. No no. Insane."

Insane? I'm toast? Next 5 mins, mind blank, babble nonsense. No recall.

"I'm back! Sorry sorry. Total unfair."

Then Moteok returns. Sees scene.

"What's up? What?"

"Keeps apologizing to me. What now?"

"What happened?"

Donggeuraming explains. Moteok laughs harder per detail.

"Ah~ that RP? Facts. Our Sena's pure, can't hold back. She's sweet. All misunderstanding. Right?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

"Misunderstanding cleared. Done. Done. Done."

Moteok smooths it perfectly. Phew. Close call. Still dizzy thinking back. Total miracle.