Let's Go on a Date (1)
[VICTORY]
Nam Haneul scratched her cheek as she eyed the floating text. Their opponent's Sephir got banned, making the game an easy win. But while the result showed victory, there was no change in points. Since it was a game ended due to a cheater ban, everyone's scores—including hers—stayed the same as before.
"Um… th-this still counts as a success, right?" She tilted her head, staring straight at the cam camera. A win was a win, after all.
The viewers weren't about to give her the affirmation she craved so easily. Nam Haneul puffed out her cheeks like a chipmunk and glared at the chat window.
"I-it's still a win, isn't it? A-and I even got a real double kill."
She sounded indignant. If it hadn't been that buffering cheater, she really could have won on her own.
Hong Suyeon cracked down on the viewers who had just been messing around to rile her up. The moment they heard Suyeon approve, the chat flipped instantly, showering Nam Haneul with praise.
"Tch…"
Nam Haneul wasn't thrilled. She had charisma of her own, but it felt like the viewers only listened to Hong Suyeon.
Reward received: 925,000 won
But that dissatisfaction melted away like snow at the mission reward alert for 925,000 won.
"Hehe, th-thank you."
Who cared about recognition? Nearly a million won was hitting her bank account.
"St-stop with the bathroom jokes!" she yelled at the camera, but no one took it seriously. Her yapping and fuming came off like a tiny dog's bark anyway.
Reward paid out.
Seeing the status window mission cleared too calmed her down a bit. 150P plus 3 Masculinity? Pretty good haul for one win.
"A-alright. Next game, let's go."
She felt on a hot streak. Right now, she could ride a win streak straight up the tiers.
150P consumed to raise Game - Judgment by 15.
To lock in the momentum, she even spent points on Judgment. Now it was solidly above average.
"O-okay, let's do this."
And so began the Emerald climb. On her first day, she pulled off a miraculous 5-win streak, hitting Gold 3.
"Hehe~"
She drifted off comfortably, hugging her blanket tight. A 5-win streak—unreal. In her life, outside freak luck, she'd never even hit 3 in a row. She just couldn't play consistently well.
She tousled her messy hair, then glanced at her status window, a question popping up.
"B-but…"
No obvious text appeared. The status window never spoon-fed answers anyway. But Nam Haneul kept talking to it anyway.
"Hmm… if I, uh, don't work out here and stuff, does my Charm stat drop again…?"
She wondered if her hard-earned stat could tank from lazy habits. That could be trouble. Even if she was a bit dense, she could tell viewers dug her looks.
No response. She kept poking the air.
"Huh…? Pr-probably not… T-tell me."
Normal system power prevents drops, but extreme events causing real change will naturally affect it.
It replied like it was annoyed and vanished—faster than usual.
"Hmm…"
So minor stuff like gaining weight wouldn't touch it; the system protected it unless something major hit. Reassuring.
She got out of bed, checked the mirror, and stretched.
"Alright, let's crush today too… Oh."
Then she remembered her forgotten promise: meet Cheri to learn about streaming gear. It was 1 PM now; appointment at 2.
Sure enough, her phone was blowing up with messages from Cheri.
Chills ran up her spine even as cold sweat dripped down. She bolted to the bathroom and cranked the shower—no time for hot water, cold it was.
M-m-makeup!
At least her makeup skill made it quick. She threw on the outfit Cheri had picked before, then rushed out.
Femininity and Luck stats take effect!
Masculinity senses crisis and intervenes!
Makeup skill achieves extreme success!
She missed the quick status flashes in her rush.
She's late… Figures, knew she would be!
Yang Cheri had watched Nam Haneul's stream last night. They'd planned to meet early today, but Haneul was grinding so hard, who knew when she crashed. Cheri figured she'd remember and went to bed.
But no replies since morning.
"Sigh."
Deep down, Cheri found Haneul fun and great, but kinda airheaded. Like stripping on her first stream 'cause viewers hyped her. Or her ridiculous excuses for slip-ups. Thinking about it made her chuckle… and worry.
But why do I keep wanting to see her?
Lately, that silly worry wouldn't leave her head. Haneul popped into her thoughts no matter what.
At their meetup cafe, she sighed, head down.
"Dunno. 'Cause she's fun?"
Yang Cheri's secret no one knew: total solo, never dated. Popular in co-ed middle and high school, confessions over ten. But no spark for any guy.
It's a stream secret, though.
Her chill stream persona bragged about exes and popularity—way more fun. Back in school, she didn't care, but now? Kinda embarrassing.
"Ugh, whatever. When's she coming…?"
"Gasp, s-sorry! I'm late, right?"
Cheri choked at the sight of Nam Haneul sprinting up. Hair just past shoulders, long lashes. Usually cute despite her killer figure.
But today? Total opposite vibe.
Makeup that could've been heavy, but one strand tucked behind her ear made it sharp. Base was Cheri's advice, but something was… different. Cuter? No—
Why's she so handsome?
Classic girl crush handsomeness. And the off-shoulder tee Cheri bought, black bra strap peeking—sexy too.
Nam Haneul now: makeup boosted Charm by 20—near celeb level looks and aura. Gender-blind allure, plus Masculinity's edge for that handsome twist.
"…You okay?"
"Hup."
Cheri felt her face heat and looked away. Haneul leaned in, worried.
"N-no?! Let's go in!"
Cheri bolted into the cafe.
What the? What's happening?
Her heart pounded. Haneul followed, sensing something off.
"S-so, where we headed today?"
Cheri planned it; Haneul just agreed to the sudden "come out."
"Th-there is!"
Shaky breath made words hard. Haneul scratched her cheek.
"Th-the streamer who checks setups…"
Haneul nodded, figuring Cheri wasn't feeling well.