A Day at the PC Bang
Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack.
Click. Click. Click.
The clatter of mice and keyboards poured in from every direction, broken now and then by a muttered curse from some guy across the room.
"Ahh~ now this is familiar air."
It had been a long, long time since I'd last set foot in a PC Bang. Back in my school days I'd practically lived in these places — those were memories now. I hadn't been to one even once since debuting as an idol, and the wave of nostalgia caught me more off guard than I expected.
Not that I'd come here to game, of course.
"Hello, Jimin! You're here for the one-day part-time shift today, right?"
"That's right. Looking forward to working with you."
"Yes! Wow, you're so pretty though... like, wow."
"Huh — I'm a girl, you know? Is that your type?"
"Ah— no! I-I was just...!"
"I'm kidding. Heh."
I was here to film a video for NewTube. A collab with K1, the most popular team in all of Lel — or more precisely, a joint production between HYPE, K1, and Lel, which was what had brought me through the door.
As for the schedule... ah. Part one was a one-day part-time shift at a PC Bang. Part two, we'd head over to K1 Headquarters and meet the players.
Personally, I was way more excited for part two. After all, I'd get to meet True — the mid laner who represented Lel itself. He'd been a player I genuinely loved for a long time. I'd always wanted to meet him someday, and now it was actually happening.
I couldn't wait.
Just hold on a little longer. I'm coming, GOAT....
"Ahem! Jimin?"
I'd zoned out. The girl working the counter — the one whose face had gone red at my joke a second ago — was calling my name.
"So the main thing you'll be doing today is serving~ Have you ever waitressed before?"
"Oh, I'm actually really good at serving."
Memorizing table numbers, clearing dishes, washing up — the whole list. I'd put in a long stretch at a restaurant in my past life, back before I ever set foot in that soul-crushing company. This was familiar territory if anything.
"Okay, okay. Want to try delivering a drink to seat 91?"
"Leave it to me."
I picked up the loaded tray and headed out. It went without saying that I stood out, and it wasn't just the face. The staff trailing me with cameras made my presence in this PC Bang impossible to miss. Every time I walked past, people who'd spotted me would give a full-body flinch, and I had to admit it was kind of funny.
Still, a PC Bang was a PC Bang. Most of the people here were so locked into their games they had no idea I'd even arrived. The guy who'd ordered this drink was no exception.
"Here's that cookies-and-cream milkshake you ordered~"
"Yeah, thanks."
He didn't even glance my way, completely absorbed in his game. Now that was a beautiful sight. This was the proper attitude of a gamer. Mm-hmm.
I snuck a look at what he was playing. Lel. And not just any champ — he was on Irel, my one-trick. I stopped walking and watched him for a moment.
Hmmm... that's a free kill right there.
Hmmmm... his skill usage is a little sloppy, though.
"That's not how you do that, you know~ Heh."
"...Sorry? What do you... wait."
Ah, now he was looking. Our eyes met as he was mid-sip. A very brief silence settled between us.
"Pffft!!"
The second he saw me, he whipped his head away. Spitting his drink everywhere was just a bonus.
Oh, this is going straight on NewTube.
"Pfft... are you okay? Here, I'll wipe that up."
"N-no! I'll get it myself!"
"A customer, cleaning? Don't be silly. Just sit tight and I'll have this spotless in no time~"
I ignored his panicked flailing, grabbed a rag, and wiped the table down with brisk strokes. Which naturally meant I leaned in, closing the distance between us.
"Whoa-whoa-whoa—"
He snatched his chair back and scrambled away from me.
"How far back are you going? Do you hate me or something?"
"N-no! I just got startled...!"
"I know. I'm teasing~"
God, this guy's reactions were delicious. That settled it. He was going on NewTube.
Interview: ON.
"All done. Oh, do you know HYPE?"
"O-of course I do! I'm a huge fan!"
"Really? Who's your favorite?"
"Jimin, obviously!"
"Heh-heh~"
Okay, this one gets it. My mood lifted a little.
"So then, what is it about me that you li— wait, no."
I caught myself mid-sentence. I'd slipped into the same autopilot I used at fan meetings, and that wasn't right. I wasn't here to film a fan channel. I was here for a collab with another organization, which meant that if I was going to interview people, it needed to feel like I was promoting K1 and Lel.
Something more like....
"So which Lel team do you root for?"
"Oh, I'm a K1 fan."
"Wow, okay, you really do know your stuff. Favorite player?"
"True, of course!"
"Then who do you like more — me, or True?"
"......"
Yeah. Like that. It felt like I'd landed a clean hit, and I had to fight for my life not to laugh.
"Uh... well."
"Welllll what? Spit it out."
"I like both of you, but..."
"You can't like both. Pick one. Come on."
I pressed him, already running the math in my head. Well, he'll pick me anyway. The genius who'd descended on RM Entertainment like she'd danced down from the heavens. Leader of HYPE, currently sitting at the top of every brand-value ranking, a super S-tier idol... yeah, that whole long thing. GOAT of professional Lel or not, there was no way he wouldn't pick me....
"True!"
"...You're doing a bit for the cameras, right? Stop joking and just answer."
"I-I really do like True more... haha!"
"......"
...Or not.
He didn't pick me? Maybe it was because of who he was up against... ugh. On some level, I got it. A mortal can't surpass a god, after all. Yeah, I understood. I did....
"Alright. Got it. Enjoy your game. Sorry for taking up your time."
"W-wait, hang on, I was actually just jok—"
"Have a good one."
I couldn't help feeling a little stung. I puffed my cheeks out and turned my back on him, only to find the PD standing off to the side, grinning from ear to ear like this was the best day of his life. He'd gotten his clip, no doubt about it.
Not that I'd actually been serious. Was I really going to let something this dumb get under my skin? I'd just been putting on a pout, that's all. Mm-hmm.
Anyway.
"Jimin, are you okay? Your face looks a little... off."
"I'm fine. Next quest, please."
"Ah, more serving. Perfect timing, actually — some adorable little customers just put in an order."
"Adorable?"
"Yep. Grab this bibim-myeon and take it over to seat 51."
Following my senior's directions, I headed for number 51. Adorable, huh? And what I found was....
"Hehe, this map's so fun."
"Hey! Kim Minji! I said let's do Keyboard Escape instead!"
"Hiiing, that one's way too hard though."
Okay, they really were adorable. First or second grade, maybe — a little boy and a little girl sitting side by side, completely absorbed in their game. I didn't recognize what they were playing at first... ah. That one. Rublox — basically the elementary-schooler equivalent of Lel. Watching two cute kids play a cute game, I couldn't help smiling.
"Bibim-myeon, coming right up~"
"Okay! Wait... woooow."
"Whoa, she's a super pretty noona!"
The kids startled the second they saw me. The little boy in particular had his mouth hanging wide open and couldn't seem to close it.
"Ugh, hey! Don't look at that unnie."
"Ow! Why!?"
"...Just don't look, okay."
And then the little girl pinched his arm for no good reason at all. What was I supposed to do with these two. Already out here staking their claim at this age. So, so, so, so, so cute.
"Are you two dating~?"
"Whaaaaat!?"
"N-no! She's ugly, I don't even like her!"
"Yah! Lee Suhyun, you take that back!"
"Pfft... don't fight~ Want to chat with me for a sec?"
They could sort out their little lovers' quarrel on their own. I had a job to do.
Interview mode: ON.
"Do you guys have a favorite Lel team?"
"Huh?"
"What's Lel?"
"Okay, then do you know HYPE?"
"HYPE...?"
"Nuh-uh."
"...Nope."
Yeah, figures. Kids this age had no idea Lel even existed. Didn't know HYPE either. Not much I could work with here, then.
"Hmmm... heh."
I was about to just ask them normal everyday questions when a fun idea suddenly occurred to me. Just a little....
"Then do you know a person named True?"
"Troo? Oh! I think I saw him on TV!"
"Is he famous?"
"Yeah. I heard he's some kind of gamer."
A wicked little thought crossed my mind. Ugh, okay, this is a little pathetic, but...!
"Then who do you like more — True, or me? Mmhmmhmmhmm..."
Time to patch up the pride I'd bruised earlier. Even if my opponents were elementary schoolers who didn't know a thing!
"True and unnie?"
"Mmmmhmmm..."
"Yes. Please pick one."
I was more nervous than when I'd hit rank nine. I'd been genuinely worried they might pick True here too....
"I like unnie!"
"Noona, obviously! Heheh."
"Yah! Don't smile at her like that!"
"Shut up!"
Thank god. They picked me.
"......"
Ah, what do I do. Even I had to admit this was painfully, painfully childish. But it felt good... ugh.
"Aww~ really? You like unnie more~? Ohhh look at you, so precious~ Heheheh."
"...Mmyaah."
"Nnyaah..."
I ruffled both their heads with my hands, and the kids made the weirdest little noises, squirming with embarrassment. Cute. So cute. This was what healing felt like.
I was happily petting them when—
"Pfft... Jimin, you are the best. Truly."
The PD was standing next to me, beaming like a proud parent.
...Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
"PD, could you edit that last part out...?"
"Not a chance."
"...Mmyaah."
Nnyaah....
After leaving a deeply embarrassing dark history behind at the PC Bang, it was time for part two — the main event, really. Meeting the professional players of K1.
We were in the car now, heading to K1 Headquarters.
"PD, what am I actually doing once we get there? Do I just wing it again?"
"Ahaha, not this time. We'll be sticking to the planned schedule. Interviews, a tour of the building, and... ah."
The PD checked the schedule again and continued.
"There's also a 1v1 in Lel against the players. Do you play Lel at all, Jimin?"
"Oh..."
I play a little, yeah.