Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Unicorn Enters the Chat
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I glanced over at Haon Park in shock at the mic that had clattered to the floor, and his face was filled with horror.
"Did I do something wrong...?"
"N-No, Noeul. I'm the one wondering if I did something wrong..."
That was my line. Puzzled, I shot back.
"Why?"
"...Why?! Please save my stream!"
"...?"
It wasn't a tough question to answer, and I thought it was pretty clever. There was no hidden meaning—it was just the most straightforward and easy one to respond to.
And while Haon Park might not get it since he's a guy, men have always loved stuff like this.
"...Guys like this kind of thing."
"Ah, no, that's not it... Hoo..."
Haon Park let out a deep sigh. His expression looked like he was on the verge of tears.
'Maybe he's upset that I said I'd skip him earlier...'
Thinking he was more sensitive than he let on, I stared at the back of his head as he picked up the mic.
"Ah... My hand slipped and the mic fell."
Haon Park brushed it off like that and opened his notepad.
[Please keep the questions normal!!]
Even if he said that, this was one of the easier and more normal ones to answer.
'I can't exactly get asked if my first is Apple...'
His face looked like he'd burst into tears if I said it, so I kept my mouth shut.
Still—
"I guess I should answer it though..."
The chat was already exploding with their wild imaginations. When I pointed it out, Haon Park blushed furiously and turned his head away, like he'd given up.
He seemed a bit pissed at their nonsense, so I'd make it up to him later. Maybe give him a ride home or something?
Anyway.
"Like I said last time, no dating experience. So no way I'd have any."
See? They love it.
I could confidently say I understood men's hearts better than Haon Park did. The results proved it.
I scanned the chat again. The question quality was still pretty trash. Filtering out the weird ones left almost nothing to answer.
"...What our relationship is?"
That was the next one I picked. As I murmured it softly, Haon Park's shoulder trembled beside me.
You really don't trust me that much...?
"Like I said before, we're nothing. Yeah. Uh... boyfriend? Apple, how do you kick someone?"
At my request, Haon Park kindly hit the kick button himself. Even if he seemed sulky, he still did his job.
"Plans to stream? ...Not at all."
Second collab stream. The experience wasn't meaningless—conversation flowed easily, the vibe was good, and things were going pretty smoothly.
"More collabs? Depends on how you guys act in-game..."
I thought the back-and-forth with viewers was going well enough.
"Next question... Panties color? Hm... White."
Clang!
At that cheerful question, the mic flew off again without fail.
I got the feeling of being left out, but a little warning would be nice. My heart couldn't take it.
"...Please take care of yourself!"
As I stared at him wide-eyed, Haon Park was sobbing.
"...Isn't this fine?"
"Normal people wouldn't think so!"
Over just panties color? Honestly, it was like, 'Eh, that much?' But Haon Park was underestimating me way too much.
"Viewers won't know anyway. I could say any color..."
"..."
He must've seen me as some pure soul who'd answer straight. He had no idea about me yet.
So, to clear up the misunderstanding, I leaned in close and whispered carefully into his ear.
"Hey, actually today's gray. White was a lie, so don't worry!"
"...!"
Haon Park recoiled from me in a hurry, eyes bulging, mouth agape.
Was it that shocking? But he froze like that, so I picked up the mic myself this time. This thing was definitely gonna break soon.
"We had a little accident there..."
The ones I'd just calmed down were rampaging again. Seeing chats like "Already starting to cover for her?" made my head spin.
"We're nothing, I said! Fifth time!"
Round and round, public opinion looped back. Suspicious ones yapping about oaths!
What kind of oath would satisfy them? As I pondered—
"Alright, enough! You brats! Nothing's off-limits for a civilian!"
That's when Haon Park snatched the mic from beside me.
"We're really nothing! And... Dori said so herself...!"
Maybe worn out from the dragging stream, Haon Park stepped up to block them, totally deflated.
"Covering? What covering!"
...He was covering. The faintly creaking mic proved it.
But saying that here might send the mic flying again. It'd really break then, so I stayed quiet.
"What flirting, you punks! Shut up! And when you called me safe asset, now you're flipping out?!"
"Bullshit!"
Grumbling alone, Haon Park finally clutched his forehead and hung his head.
'I thought the stream went pretty well today...'
With 5,000 viewers, it was proof. But the one who should be happy was mentally crumbling. Truly lamentable.
"Wanna check if the deposit went through?"
"Y-Yes!"
Right after stream end, I checked the app at Haon Park's words. More money than I'd expected had come in.
The kind of sum that'd take a full month glued to the PC just hunting! I was floored.
"...Is it okay to give this much?"
"Well, you came because of my stubbornness. And you worked hard."
"Still..."
"Your face sells. Just think of it as a tip."
"...Thank you."
I bowed my head. No reason to refuse the goodwill. Honestly, for this kind of tip, selling my face was more than welcome.
"Still, Haon... must not be easy for you."
That was pure admiration.
As Girobo-sensei said, in any group of five, one's trash. The chats that grated on nerves now and then! The malicious ones acting like kings for a thousand won!
I didn't show it, but managing expressions and catering to viewers wasn't easy.
Who knows how Haon Park took it—but he gave a small smile.
"It's my job. Over three years now, I'm used to it."
"..."
'Now'...
That word stabbed my chest like a dagger out of nowhere.
His calm expression, heavy with thoughts, stirred a twinge of guilt in me.
Just for the fun of reactions—my past trolling and toxic chats.
'Not a pillar to lean on...'
It might've been a wound. Why hadn't I realized back then? The thought hit me.
Funny that I'd been a victim of violence, yet inflicted it on others. I fiddled with my smartphone, suddenly depressed.
"What? Why the sudden mood? What's up?"
Then Haon Park's bright voice rang out.
"Huh? Nothing..."
"Nah, come on. You look super down all of a sudden?"
Meeting his eyes, he grinned.
"See? Total pouty face."
My face was that obvious?
I thought that, but couldn't voice it.
It was true I felt down, like he said, and voicing my churning emotions felt embarrassing.
'Thought it was just my body that changed to a girl's...'
Every action screamed woman. Massive loss and self-loathing crashed in.
'I'm a total girl now...'
A devastating sense of lost identity.
Unaware of my turmoil, I ducked my head to avoid Haon Park's concerned gaze.
...Well, job's done now.
'Time to go hunt some more...'
That was when—
"Stream's over. Wanna hit a café for coffee?"
"Huh?"
His sudden words lifted my head.
I don't know my expression, but Haon Park tilted his head.
"Why? Hate coffee? You drank the one I gave last time fine."
"...No, not that, but..."
Not dislike or anything simple. Truth be told, embarrassing as it was...
"...Never been to a café."
"Hm? Why?"
"No friends to go with..."
I didn't hide it.
Delivery's a thing now, so I'd ordered takeout sometimes, but never actually gone inside.
Tease me for never been at my age—I had no retort, but Haon Park didn't.
"You got a friend now. Go with me."
"Uh..."
"There's this café I loved when I was a girl. Great lighting—photos come out perfect?"
"..."
"You're coming, right? My treat."
Friend.
That word warmed me. I nodded slightly.