First Collab Jitters and a Bang from Above

After wrapping up about three games of Eternal Loop duo queue, I glanced at the screen showing Noona's stream beside me as I got ready to fire up my own broadcast.

"Whoa, still a ton of viewers... I mean! Thank you all so much for watching!"

I nearly let my real thoughts slip. But seeing how hardly anyone dipped out even during Eternal Loop, maybe it wasn't the game that was fun—maybe it was just us being entertaining.

She was banning other streamers left and right, so it looked like mentions of rival streamers were off-limits in Noona's chat too. Did that mean I couldn't get mentioned either? I got it logically, but it still felt a little disappointing for some reason.

"They must've stuck around because it was fun watching us together."

"It's 'cause you're great at streaming, Noona! I always lose viewers when I play Eternal Loop."

"Hehe, really? But I think I'd have struggled without my Riee here."

I'd seen the streamer tournament popping up in the Gallery before too... It kept catching my eye. I kinda wanted to join, but I had no team, and Noona and I probably looked like total newbies this season, so no one would carry us. Worst of all, teaming with a guy streamer would definitely stir up drama.

"Streamer tournament? There's a tourney for Eternal Loop too?"

But Noona, oblivious to my thoughts, cheerfully read the chat aloud. Was she asking 'cause she wanted to go? If so, we'd need one more person.

"What about you, Riee? You wanna do it?"

"Me? Well... I'd be down, but we're short one player."

"Oh, right. Guess we can't then."

Finding a female streamer who mains Eternal Loop would be tough, right? Plus, with me on assassin and Noona tanking... One person flashed through my mind, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she's at a big corp—practically an untouchable island.

The chat was heating up fast over the tournament mention. Probably 'cause some bad experience with a guy streamer had the regulars reacting extra salty.

"Hey viewers? Things are getting too heated—I've temp-banned a few. Chill out, and if we join later, you can hop in then."

Thanks to Noona handling it right, the chat settled down quick. Dodged a bullet before the collab even started.

"Riee, shouldn't you start your stream now?"

"Yeah, time to go."

"Got it! See you soon!"

It felt early to split, but I had to set up my rig and chat with viewers before going live—no helping it.

"See you all in a bit!"

The call disconnected with a ding, and I rushed to set up my stream. First collab had me buzzing with excitement and nerves.

People flooded in right as I went live—must've come over from Huran's stream via Noona's. But some were probably my regulars, so I waited out the OP song. Grabbed some water, mirrored Huran's chat on my second monitor, then slowly unmuted.

"Ah, ah! Hey everyone, Riee here! Hi!"

The feel-good OP wrapped up, and I greeted with extra high energy—viewers were being sweeter than usual too. Noona said something weird mid-chat, but it was probably half-joking.

"A-alrighty. Anyway, you guys caught a glimpse of Huran Noona's stream before the collab, right?"

...Why was Noona acting like that? Not jealousy, right? Maybe 'cause I didn't hit her up right after waking up? But isn't that jealousy? No clue. I ignored the chill down my spine and smiled at the camera.

"Noona! Quit with the weird ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jokes! Viewers are getting the wrong idea."

Chat flying faster than usual was already giving me a headache. What'll happen if I ever get a real girlfriend...?

"O-okay! Before the collab, let's check some cafe posts and spill today's tea."

"They kept asking for my number, so Noona straight-up told the guys to buzz off like a boss. Even as a former guy myself... I mean, if I'd been a guy, I'd have fallen for her. Funny part? Those dudes hit on Noona for her number too!"

Chatting through the stories flew by—only 10 minutes left till collab. Time to DM Huran Noona the Discord.

"Hold up, everyone...."

Noona at home and this Noona too—why were they all so quick on calls and replies? Back when I was a guy, my team project girls ghosted till presentation day.

"Ah, ah! Hello?"

"Ehehehet, loud and clear!"

I greeted super brightly, and her super-cute voice beamed back through my earbuds. We'd just been on call minutes ago—why did it feel this good?

"O-okay! I'll intro first!"

"Sure!"

Doing a proper intro we skipped earlier had my heart pounding—a fresh debut vibe. My cheeks heated up; I'd zoned out for five minutes on my actual debut till a viewer spoke up.

"Hello, viewers! I'm Riee, debuted last week. Nice to meet you—take care of me!"

Never thought I'd say lines like that... It felt awkward but so good. Like I could float away. Not just leftover girl-Ha-yoon emotions... my emotions swelling up.

Seeing reactions from Huran's viewers had me soaring even higher.

"My turn! Hi Riee stream! I'm Huran! Gonna have a blast with our Riee today!"

Huran was still out of it, but good reactions in our chat—this collab felt perfect.

"Today's game—Huran Noona, you announce."

"Yep! It's We Take Two, and me and Riee... hehe, we're a married couple!"

Did she skip some key details? And that weird giggle... Not wrong though, so I nodded quietly. Same-sex marriage impossible IRL in Korea, but in-game? Maybe not bad...?

Seeing Noona type stuff like that, she was getting comfy with streaming—made me happy.

"Alright, let's boot the game?"

"Gonna have fun times with our Riee!"

We launched it, and as the loading screen popped up.

A weird thud came from right upstairs.

"Riee? What was that?"

"Uh...? Something just dropped in the upstairs apartment."

Upstairs was definitely Noona's place—did she drop something watching the stream?