Common Sense Exists to Be Broken
“No way, what the hell is that guy? I'm seriously baffled.”
“It's not me, that guy's the weird one. I can't even explain it properly, but he's just off. He dodges skills from angles where they shouldn't hit, and takes them from spots where he absolutely should land them?”
“No, seriously, something's off. His playstyle is just different. What is it? Like some hidden master?”
“I know I shouldn't talk while I'm smurfing my way up too, but Gladiator bro! This is too much!”
“Even if Fire Archer counters Gladiator, getting one-shot once is unavoidable, right? But it's not like I'm getting overwhelmed—no, I see the angle, it should work, but it doesn't? Ah, ah, again, again!”
“...No, not quite hacking level. But it's a bit weird. Dodging ganks perfectly, hunting junglers in the fog—that's not something you script. You need real brainpower for that. No map hacks in LoE, period. But the movement... it's off.”
“No, these guys are really trying to send me to hell. No hacks, okay? It's just me sucking!!”
Na-rak
“You guys are the best. How do you not give even an escape angle? With that skill, why's LoE your bronze solo queue?”
“Anyway, don't stir up drama. It's a bit suspicious, but he's not bad.”
“Agh, damn it. Fine, he's good. That guy's good, okay?”
Pretty much
Killsteal lmao
Top/jungle exploding like that screams KS
“Whew, ah, whatever. I'll take a quick break.”
“I'm not dying! This is driving me insane.”
“Alright, that's the stream for today. As announced, I'll be off for two days and back next Monday.”
Getting popular and losing your roots? No weekend streams?
“Agh, seriously. I need a break too. Know how long it's been since my last vacation? My mental game's shattered today. I'll recover and come back rested. See ya!”
Bye bye~
The stream ended. I let out a habitual sigh, stood from my chair, stretched my back, extended my arms, and did a quick stretch to loosen up.
“Ahh, why do my shoulders hurt so damn much.”
My name is Bang Chang-sik, a streamer on the HOOP platform.
I once aimed for pro as a top laner, but now I'm just your average streamer.
I hit a wall during trainee days and gave up, staying an amateur top laner, but these days I'm doing decently as a streamer.
That Gladiator from earlier, though—what was up with him? His fundamentals seemed solid...
After the stream, I checked his history. Mid laner, sure, but mids swapping to top in solo queue when lanes get messy is common.
Still, that unnatural movement nagged at me. I denied hacks on stream, but... what if it really was? The thought crept in.
...How to put it. He anticipates my skillshots before I even fire and dodges, only to eat them anyway?
Super weird.
My shoulders, though...
Sitting all day does this, can't be helped. Doc said it's fine for now, just exercise before it worsens. Hate working out, but maybe scout a gym.I shoved stream thoughts aside and focused on my shoulders. Rubbing the ache, I stepped out of the soundproof streaming room—and timed perfectly, my little sister Bang Seo-yu walked in.
This was my solo pad originally, but after failing her entrance exams and starting college this year, she barged in to save on rent. We're not bad siblings, so we get by fine.
“Ah, oppa. Stream over?”
“Yeah. Why're you out so late?”
“Gym.”
“You enjoy that?”
“Do it for fun? Nah, just do it.”
“That's even more psycho.”
But yeah, I can't put it off anymore. Should I start too? Waist might hurt next if I wait.
“Hey, which gym?”
“One nearby. Why the sudden interest?”
“Might try working out.”
“For real? Something hurt?”
“Shoulders.”
“Thought it was your head, my bad.”
“Never a word you won't say to me.”
“Anyway, wanna go together? You're off tomorrow, right? Let's hit it.”
“Ah, wanna rest a bit.”
“Working out is resting.”
Where does this gene gap come from? I'm a gaming shut-in who hates exercise; she's a workout maniac. Doesn't compute.
Anyway, I caved to her suggestion. Nothing but Netflix waiting at home.
Next day, after her classes, we headed to the gym. Meant to just dabble, but chatting with reception somehow landed me in a free one-day PT session.
“Okay, member. Light warm-up first, loosen up, then we start.”
Honestly, the trainer didn't push hard. Problem was my stamina sucked way more than expected.
Session over, I was a drenched towel.
“Ahh, gonna die. For real.”
Ahh, sweat what the hell. Insane. Is this normally this brutal? Dying here. Wanna go home now, where's Bang Seo-yu?
Turning to spot her, I saw Seo-yu on a treadmill far off, chatting happily with someone. Girl, from the distance. Friend?
Whatever. Point is, no stamina left for more. Craving home.
But showing up like this in front of a girl? Nah. Wiped sweat with towel, caught my breath, then went over.
“Hey, Bang Seo-yu.”
“Huh? Oppa, done already?”
“Yeah, who's next to...”
And then, I shut my mouth.
“Ah, her? Gym regular. Helped with form, got friendly.”
“Hi, I'm Seo Yeonwoo.”
Seo Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo. Yeah, Yeonwoo. Flashed on that recently retired pro gamer namesake, but irrelevant—shook it off.
Next to Seo-yu was an insanely pretty girl. Seo-yu’s cute enough as my sis, but next to her, she faded.
Innocent vibe was adorable; slight pout was captivating.
My heart pounded. Yeah, no need to say it.
Never felt this before, but I knew what it was.
The whiny weakling Bang Chang-sik dying from fatigue? Gone. Only one man, Bang Chang-sik, remained.
“Hi. I'm Bang Chang-sik. By any chance...”
Almost blurted “your number...” skipping steps, but superhuman restraint stopped my tongue. Too forward, Chang-sik.
Snapped out of it. Gotta think. Don't know her yet—could be underage. I'm only 24, underage fine ri...
“Any chance what?”
“Ah, no, just your age.”
“Twenty-one, turned it recently.”
Not underage. So it's fine? Not that fine, but age ain't the issue, or is it?
Looks young, but same age as Seo-yu.
Three-year gap? Matches don't care.
“Ah, I'm twenty-four.”
“Oh, okay.”
Her look at me seemed slightly flustered, but not bad vibes. That's basically green light... right?
But then,
“Eh, Yeonwoo’s twenty-one? Thought you were lil sis for sure, turns out same age!”
“Seo-yu’s twenty-one? Thought you were older sis for sure.”
“Sis?”
“Sis?”
Sis...? What? Huh?
Sis? Calling her sis? No way that face is a guy's. But... hate to say it, couldn't voice it, but,
She’s got boobs.
Staring to check if I misheard, Yeonwoo casually replied like no big deal.
“Ah, just easier that way. Oppa or unnie feels awkward.”
“Got a brother or something?”
“No, only child.”
“Only child and you call sis?”
“Yeah.”
“Weird.”
Seo-yu mumbled confusedly, but relief washed over me. No way anyway, but guy with that face? I'd be into dudes, unacceptable.
Nah, not homophobic. But that's cheating.
“So why'd you come over?”
Seo-yu's question almost made me say heading home, but eyes met Yeonwoo's. Wait, not leaving now, right? Ditch in this setup? Crazy?
“Nah, just. Saw you chatting, came over.”
“Since when do you care?”
“I'm your bro, gotta check.”
“Hilarious.”
“How long you exercising?”
“Another hour. Why? Wanna go home?”
“No, no. Guess I'll stick another hour too.”
Flipped on Seo-yu's words. Honestly, dying to bail. Body screaming, no more workout shape. But bailing now? Not manly.
Work out next to Yeonwoo, chat her up bit by bit... heh heh...
Such delusions brief,
“Ah, I'll wrap here. Good work.”
“Ah, Yeonwoo leaving? Cool, good work. Drop the formal speech, we're same age.”
“Yeah. I mean, sure.”
Yeonwoo betrayed me. Heavens cruel.
Of course, her "another hour" was Seo-yu's line, so expected, but normally you'd stick together...
“Alright, oppa. Light run first?”
“This ain't it...”
“Shut up and run.”
Yeonwoo gone, I got dragged by Seo-yu for a full hour on treadmill. Ended crawling at low speed.
Wanna quit bad, but to keep meeting Yeonwoo here, need stamina. Can't show weak side, so gritted through.
Post-run rest, then signed up for 3-month membership. Goal? Not fitness—that girl, Seo Yeonwoo.
Next day, sore all over, but dragged to gym. Waited till closing.
Yeonwoo didn't show.
Nor the day after. Or the one after.
“Whew, shit. Close call, seriously.”
What if she said "sis" there, Seo Yeonwoo? Would've looked weird as hell.
At least, I was still mulling whether to reveal myself. No need to out my identity to a near-stranger, plus admitting I'm a guy to fleeting encounters is exhausting.
Of course, no plans to use oppa/unnie either.
Bang Chang-sik, right? Streamer, ex-trainee turned top laner streamer? Tensed if he'd connect my name, but seemed not.
Better safe—slipped away quick. Gym pass almost up anyway, maybe skip now? Didn't seem busted, but no desire to link up. Don't wanna get close to Starforce folks, current mood.
Mulled, decided. Skip it. Sorry to Seo-yu, but not super tight. She approached first for form checks, casual chats and workouts.
...Out early, hit a PC bang maybe.