Got Sniped (1)
"Go big on capacity, and RAM... it's pricey, but let's max it out. Simple case, or something flashy?"
"D-Doesn't matter."
"Then water-cooled, and I'll jazz it up a bit for you—like this..."
"Whoa..."
With no budget limits and Hong Suyeon involved, Jaman was buzzing with excitement. He whipped up the quote in seconds. Nam Haneul stared at the total—a sum she'd never dreamed of before streaming—too overwhelmed to even smile.
"Damn, now I want a new rig too. Heard Juta 6's dropping soon."
"You just got yours, save your cash, dude."
"Wanna die?"
Ignoring the bickering Yang Cheri and Jaman, Nam Haneul gazed blankly at the monitor. The quote was double the cost of her old setup.
She loved Rel, sure, but there was a reason she only played it: everything else lagged like hell. Even now, streaming and Rel at the same time caused occasional stutters. When her skills were trash, it didn't matter much, but now? Those hitches grated on her.
"Th-Thank you..."
She mumbled, eyes glistening. Viewers freaked at the sudden tears.
Nam Haneul's emotions had boiled over for a simple reason: for the first time, she felt like she'd accomplished something.
A life without even a perfect attendance award from elementary school. The only place for self-satisfaction was online—and even there, losses outnumbered wins. True achievement? She'd never tasted it.
"U-Unnie's crying?! Why?!"
Jaman froze in panic behind her, while Yang Cheri rushed over, peering at her face. Teardrops like pearls rolled down her cheeks.
"Hic..."
Plus, this was her first gift from someone else—not just paternal support, but born of rapport and fondness. Achievement, gratitude, novel feelings—all surged as tears.
"Wh-Why are you crying! What'd you do?!"
"Guh!"
Yang Cheri punched Jaman's solar plexus for no reason. He shuddered, eyes wide—her fist packed more punch than expected.
"Hehe... N-No, it's nothing!"
Nam Haneul wiped her tears, nodding. The sudden outburst embarrassed her.
"Nng... That good, huh?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Was it her rising femininity? Emotions felt harder to control. But these weren't negative tears; she didn't mind.
"Th-Then, when's the PC coming?"
"Hmm~ I've got some parts, and a buddy can hook us up. About a week."
"A week..."
Matched her promise to Hong Suyeon. Hit Emerald as planned, and she'd greet the team with a beast of a machine.
"...Yeah!"
She clenched her fists, vowing to reach it no matter what.
Still new to streaming, she had no knack for spilling her heart. To viewers, she just looked adorably determined in her quirky way.
'Why's she so cute...?'
...And that charm hooked Yang Cheri and the audience alike.
The stream didn't drag on. It was just PC consultation and purchase, after all. Yang Cheri shoved Jaman into the studio and headed out alone with Nam Haneul.
"Hehe... I-I'm so happy."
"That stoked over a new PC?"
Too early for dinner, they strolled the streets hand in hand.
"Just... c-can't believe I'm getting treated this well..."
Yang Cheri tilted her head. With that looks, slights were impossible.
"...You know how pretty you are, right?"
"Hmm..."
Of course she knew. Ex-man or not, she recognized the mirror's gorgeous girl. But she lacked the skill—or desire—to polish her old slacker life. She just wanted to savor this new joy.
Nam Haneul scratched her cheek, smiling shyly.
"St-Still... thanks to you and everyone lately, I'm really happy."
"Eek...!"
Yang Cheri's face flushed under that soft, smiling gaze. Nam Haneul's androgynous, handsome vibe was already too much for her.
"...Y-You're really not hurt anymore?"
As Yang Cheri averted her eyes, Nam Haneul gently brushed back her bangs, tucking them behind her ear. Flushed skin glowed under the bob—pure smitten schoolgirl.
"I-I'm fine!"
"Gah—"
Yang Cheri yelped, palm-shoving Nam Haneul's face away. Caught off guard, she pondered her crime.
"O-Okay..."
Normally, she'd spiral negative, but happiness buffered it; she just grinned.
Yang Cheri fidgeted, then spoke.
"Unnie... no boyfriend?"
"Not even friends..."
"H-Hey, I am! Me!"
"R-Really? Hehe... glad."
"Haa..."
Yang Cheri clutched her hem, squirming, then sighed deeply. Objectively, she wasn't boyfriend material. Why the butterflies?
'Why so handsome today... was I into this all along?'
Her self-realization—passive types and girls—came later. Seeing the sigh, Nam Haneul's hand trembled worriedly.
Yang Cheri bit her lip, blurting:
"Th-Then what's your type?!"
"Type...?"
Nam Haneul wasn't asexual, but romance? Never crossed her mind. No specific tastes, especially after trauma-induced gynophobia.
"Hmm... none really..."
"Just anything that pops up! Like, 'this kinda person's cool'?"
Chin in hand, head down, she pondered seriously. No clear images of women surfaced.
After ages, a stray thought:
"Pink... twintails?"
"Huh? What?"
"N-Nothing."
A fave from an old gacha game—pink twintail girl. Not serious, especially since rigged rates killed it.
"Yeah, guess none..."
"...Got it."
But mismatched dreams: Yang Cheri caught the mutter... and booked a salon appointment on the sly.
Home, Nam Haneul skipped washing up, plopping at her desk. Makeup on point, time to grind ranks and stream.
Live now!
"Hi everyone."
"N-No toilet jokes!"
"Eek...!"
Stream on, instant roasts—even her manager joined the toilet brigade.
"...I'll crack down someday."
She glared at the camera, then turned away.
Nam Haneul sighed deeply and logged into Rel. Gold 3—personal best—lifted her spirits.
"Alright, five-win streak today. Let's climb!"
Confident in her skills, she declared boldly. Emerald in nine days? Piece of cake. Peak form, unstoppable.
Queue popped.
"Hehe, l-let's go~"
Osya in mind, hyped—then Osya banned. She frowned.
"Th-These days Osya bans are rare... what gives?"
Stuck, she grabbed Dale, Heir of the Stigmata. Stacks on autos, big payoffs with skills later. Timing mattered—physical champ like Osya.
"Wanted Osya though..."
Shrugging it off, game loaded. Ally support: Ratio, Trumpeter of Thunder. Buff bot, attack speed steroid—synced with Dale.
And—
"Eh?!"
Enemy ADC: Plen, Smoke Bullet Marksman. Support: Phenno, Magician of Mists.
Phenno's smokes again; Plen amplified damage/debuffs on smoked targets. Plus—
Plen's anti-auto harass hard-countered Dale.
"Ah..."
At first, Nam Haneul figured counterpick. ...Until the enemy bot duo tailed her jungler perfectly, hounding them.