Chapter 19. Viewers 2103

I alternated between staring at the liquor bottle and the cup Mion had poured for me, then nodded a little late. It wasn't like I could say I wasn't ready and turn down an invite to someone else's channel.

"Uh, me? Oh, yeah."

I straightened my posture unnecessarily. The bunny girl outfit rode up slightly against the chair, but I tried my best to ignore it. What could I even do?

"Um..."

To hide my blank mind, I licked my dry lips and carefully chose my words. Countless liquor ad models flashed through my head.

"This one's..."

As I was fumbling, a small subtitle popped up at the bottom of the monitor. Right on cue with the staff cueing from the front. Kanju smoothly set down his cup, took the bottle, and placed it in my hand like a pro.

The cool glass touched my palm. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠label felt heavier than expected, with a reassuring thickness that fit nicely in my grip.

Kanju grinned. "The packaging's pretty too, right?"

I looked down at the bottle. Black background with a subtle logo, matte texture that didn't shine too much. I lifted it slightly toward the camera, consciously facing the label front-on.

"Um..."

I took a quick breath. "The design's so clean."

My fingers slid naturally along the neck of the bottle. The motion tracing the label's edge came out sharper than intended. "Feels like you could keep it at home without it being an eyesore?" I nodded unnecessarily and added, "Even as a gift, you'd think, 'Oh, this is nice.'"

Mion chimed in from the side. Blushing a bit, I smiled awkwardly and slowly turned the bottle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠again. Kanju took it back, ramping up the energy.

"Alright, sponsors~ And bros, you saw that? That's the booze. Hope you buy a ton! Let's kick off with an aperitif~"

"No switching glasses~"

Harubi, who'd been smartly stepping back to push the newbie, laughed and raised her cup first. "Cheers~"

With everyone's toast, I brought the glass to my lips, the rim cool against them.

"...Yeah."

First sip. My first taste of alcohol in this body. Even if it was sponsored for the stream, good was good—and the smooth flavor genuinely surprised me, making my breath hitch a little.

"How is it?"

As I raised my thumb while savoring the aftertaste in my mouth, the last drop in the glass ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slipped past my lips and fell downward.

"...Ah."

My legs were pressed together unconsciously. But before that, the droplet trailed down the flesh filling my vision, dripping onto the endpoint. Enough to slightly wet the black fabric barely covering my nipple.

"Ahh...!"

I nearly freaked out right then, but held it together since we were live. "What's up?" Harubi asked from beside me.

Chobi silently handed me a tissue. "...Thanks."

I took it and dabbed carefully, pressing gently.

"Whew, tastes good."

Despite the words, it was more like drinking time for PPL than actual eating—thanks to the outfits. "Sit on his lap and whisper sex drips in ASMR tone into his ear."

The old random questions had turned into full missions, now directed at Kanju on behalf of the viewers. Harubi slipped onto his chair, skirt fluttering, and whispered, "How many times a day could you do it with me?"

"—Whoa, big Ruby."

Kanju burst out laughing and waved her off. Glancing at comments, he added, "Totally doable till it's bone dry."

He voiced their desires for them. "Look him in the face and repeat 'Talk dirty to me' three times."

This was Chobi's signature blunt provocation. She went behind him, rested her chin on his shoulder, leaned in with a bent waist, and said in a low, curt voice, "Talk dirty to me."

"Talk... dirty... to me."

"For real, make me so horny."

Kanju tried to play it cool, but his lips twitched like he was losing. With each extra glass of booze, the chill soaking into my clothes spread inward bit by bit. The cool sensation lingered longer than expected, gradually messing with my breathing.

"Hold his hand and ask, 'What happens if you touch here?'" Next up was Mion, who was already sexy even without trying—at least to my eyes.

Mion blushed faintly, took Kanju's hand lightly, placed it on his thigh, and leaned down. "...What happens if you touch here?"

Kanju seemed speechless at her soft, sultry voice. His hand froze on his thigh like he didn't know where to move it—like pulling away would cause disaster.

"Ah~! Fuck, Mion! You're insane, seriously."

Kanju finally cracked up. "This'd ruin countries, folks. Yeah."

Laughter erupted, but it wasn't fully relaxed. Another round. The clink of glasses was light, but the silence after felt oddly long. I sipped once from my cup. The sensation down my throat lingered less than that previous scene in my head.

Kanju wasn't just "one guy" anymore. Even without speaking or moving, his seat was the stage where lights and eyes converged. The camera framed him center, women reacting in their own ways within that shot.

...My turn.

"I'll... lick his earlobe."

The booze didn't hit suddenly. It seeped in gradually, between breaths. My head still felt clear. I knew what I was saying, knew this was a stream. But the moment rivalry toward the other streamers kicked in, my body lagged a beat behind.

Kanju rested his elbow on the sofa. Trying not to notice made me curl toward that arm instead, sliding up it until it nestled between my breasts, hidden there. The warmth of his arm seeped clearly through my clothes. My breath shallowed, gaze drifting to his ear.

No time to blame the alcohol on that expectant profile—I tilted my head.

Lick—

"Ugh, uwaaa—!"

Kanju flinched, shrugging his shoulder reflexively, then burst into laughter. "Hey, hey... hold on."

He leaned his head back, catching his breath. "Whoa... Eunha-ssi."

Glancing at the monitor, he grinned like sharing with viewers. "This one's more dangerous than she looks. Kinda cat-tongue vibe...?"

As he chuckled his impressions, his laugh drained my strength properly. My body felt light suddenly—no, heavy instead. The booze hit all at once.

"Yeah...?"

Trying to steady myself, my body tilted before my feet could. Thud. I collapsed right into him. Over his propped arm, onto his chest, shoulder. Couldn't tell where he ended and the sofa began.

"Whoa, wait—"

He reached out in panic, but too late. I buried my face in his embrace like that.

"Eunha-ssi?"

A short breath leaked out instead of words. Eyelids heavy. Noise still there, but fading. Chat buzzing, Harubi's "Oh?" laugh. Someone asking "You okay?"—but I was already half gone.

Kanju paused, then laughed resignedly. One hand supporting my shoulder, he faced the camera. "Bros, I didn't force it. Not drugs in her ear either. We're all here."

His low laugh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rumbled by my ear. "Eunha-ssi, you went too hard today."

Those words rang clearest last. ...Then nothing.

Lights unchanged, yet it felt like night. The stage kept turning without me at center for a bit.

"......"

Opening my eyes, first thing: ceiling in view. Then sounds. Totally different from stream—low, drawn-out laughs. Dull clink of cups.

"...Nngh..."

I grimaced unconsciously, steadying my breath. Head throbbed. Took another beat to fully open my eyes.

Stream... over?

Staff and lights gone. Kanju lounged on the single sofa. Yeah... ended.

Did I even do okay? As that thought crossed, a high-pitched voice seeped in.

"...It's fun, just do it if you want."

Chobi had her arm around him first. Mion half-leaned, cup in hand. Harubi perched on the sofa arm like she was in his lap, eyes meeting mine as I stared blankly.

"Oh, you're up?"