Challenge (2)
How many minutes had passed since I started the stream? The viewer count was stuck at 1. That meant zero actual viewers besides me. What the hell? Was it because I used my real name for the channel? But isn't my name kinda famous now? No, putting celebrity delusions aside, I got mentioned on the forums! Oh! Was it the broadcast time? Let's see... it was just past 2 p.m. Normal folks were probably at school or work around now.
The most popular streams had a few thousand or hundreds of viewers, but unlike evenings, the numbers were way down—both in viewer counts and active streamers. Prime time for internet broadcasts is evenings, so I figured even if viewers were low during the day, with fewer streamers competing, turning it on now might still draw some eyes...
Guess that strategy was a bust. But even the deep-sea streams had crowds like that—imagine evenings...
Tch. I even wore the same outfit from last night's stream to pull aggro, and still no one showed. Should I post a promo on the viewer board? Right as I was thinking that, the number jumped to 2.
Seung-yoon said last time that when you hit one viewer, pretend you don't notice until they chat first? Don't even mention their nickname. One-on-one feels too shy and scares them off, or something like that.
So, should I just fire up King of Fist naturally? If I'm doing something, they'll probably say hi, right?
Before I could even launch a game, a viewer jumps in critiquing my looks. Nice to get a chat, but acting all high and mighty like they owned the place. Still, beggars can't be choosers right now. That's just cute. Yeah.
"Welcome! But this isn't a filter, for real."
Whether I'm pretty or not aside, my look's a bit unreal—and I get that. My friends noticed, and night stream viewers too. So the "strong filter" jab probably doesn't mean "you look freaky." Freaky how? You know those over-filtered folks on SNS or YouTube Shorts who look like anime characters? Or with AI these days. Nah, it's not that vibe. As long as no one's aesthetic got shattered seeing me.
I get it. Science is scary, folks.
"For real though. Want me to verify?"
"Hold on a sec..."
To verify for Eummeo, I showed the clip from Seung-yoon's night stream.
"See this part? That's him verifying me."
"Convinced now?"
Wild, yeah.
"That's what I've been saying?"
"Sheesh, so suspicious."
I adjusted the cam, stood from the chair to show my full body, waved my arms and legs, spun around slowly. Covered and uncovered my face with my hand to block any eye-enlarge filter suspicions.
"Believe me now?"
Cha-ching. Eummeo donates 10,000 won.
"Whoa, 10k donation—arigato!"
First donation on my channel, and it's not 100 or 1,000 won—10k! Good start.
"So, what now?"
"Oh, right."
"Ask me anything you're curious about then."
"Huh?"
Mid-chat with my gracious donor, another viewer pops in.
"Hey. From Seung-yoon's stream?"
"Ah?"
My second viewer goes quiet after saying wait, so the first one asks:
"Not famous or anything, but that clip I verified with earlier? Pulled some aggro with it. The friend in it is known to folks who know him."
Seems like different categories—doesn't know Seung-yoon. While chatting idly with the first viewer, suddenly viewers flood in.
The dead chat explodes—greetings, looks compliments, King of Fist chats, even check-ins on the guy enlisting today. Eyes darting everywhere. Looks like that "wait" guy posted on a forum or something. Knew me and boom, influx.
Should've promo'd sooner...
"Uh... yeah, that's my real name. Kinda unique, right?"
"Ah, sorry about that. Debut's all about aggro, so I built it up."
"Hey now. Seoul Phoenix here?"
Chickens... no, Phoenix fans get roasted instantly. Champs 10 years ago? Lots of haters. Fire Chicken's still affectionate. Few years back, dead last got 'em "Waste Chicken"—even fans called it that. Worst season: my fave player retired too. Blood pressure city for Phoenix fans. But 10 years without a win? Others are worse—we're decent.
"Who'm I a fan of? Yoo Ji-su now. An Ji-hwan before."
"Ha... yeah. If only I hadn't gotten that signed uni..."
Wasn't big into baseball then, but went to a game with Dad once. Wanted arcade games, but dragged along with parents. Turned out playoffs Game 7—Phoenix wins thriller. Roars, fireworks everywhere. Got swept up—screamed my lungs out for the team I was forced to cheer. Loved it. An Ji-hwan stuck around signing through the rush. Got my signed uni, became his fan, then Phoenix. Momentum: back-to-back wins after, three-peat. Huge fan influx then. Golden era... then 10 years drought.
"Good times..."
"Yep. First of the three-peat—where I jumped in."
"Yeah, I'm fashion. Haven't been to a game in forever. Part-time last year, barely followed—fashion fits. No fighting guys."
Sports forums got old-timers/trolls stirring "fashion vs real" against celebs, streamers, randos—blocking new fans. Hardcore posers dissing light fans. Less now, but still pops up. Celebs claim team on YouTube? "Fashion" comments guaranteed. Sure, some feel fake, but not all bad—draws real fans eventually? Defuse: admit fashion/light, move on. Trolls burn out, real hardcores chill.
They see new girl streamer aggro-baiting dude-bros.
"Alright, stop fighting... this work?"
Trying to stop the fight, but trolls keep flaming—kick? Nah, better idea. I'm "Proof Sis" lately—time to prove again? Show that, fights stop, more proof.