Live On! My Chaotic Streaming Debut

"Unnie, see you this weekend!"

As self-study ended, Ra-yoon headed home. We'd reached the point where I didn't need to walk her back every time anymore. This was the first and last time she'd come over on a weekday this week. It seemed like forcing herself to skip self-study on that Thursday last week—the day we first met—had backfired. Of all days, it was the one where the notoriously strict teacher was on night ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠duty, so even habitual skipper Ra-yoon couldn't get away with it this time. She figured she'd lay low for a while.

"I was planning to stay busy this week anyway, so this works out even better."

I intended to head up to Seoul within the week, finish my hunter registration, and at least clear one dungeon. Seoul trip was set for Wednesday, and factoring in the distance, I'd scheduled at least two days and one night.

"Ah! Not the time to be sitting around. Time to prep the stream!"

I'd been sucking down coffee on the living room couch when I bolted to the room with my computer.

"Wonder if that promo post I threw up in a rush got any traction."

While Ra-yoon was showering, I'd hastily posted a stream announcement. Originally, I planned to just go live without promo, but that way I'd keep putting it off for sure. Better to commit hard upfront and make excuses impossible. The post was pretty half-assed, but I aimed for plausibility ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to hook 'em.

"Heh, nice reactions. But what's a 'waiting room'?"

Scrolling comments, I hit a term I'd never seen.

"Ugh... I started this, but I don't watch streams much, so I'm clueless on lingo."

Don't know? Google it. Typed "stream waiting room," and explanations popped right up.

"Viewers can join even before it starts? Ah, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that's why it's called a waiting room!"

Wait. Does that mean people are waiting for my stream right now?

"Hmm... No idea how many, but might as well fire it up early?"

No hesitation—I hit the go-live button.

Chats flooded in the second I went live. Guess people really were waiting. Viewer count: 7 total.

"Whoa... Still an hour to go and already 7 people?"

The awe slipped out loud without thinking.

"Huh? You can hear me?"

Glanced down—mic light was red.

"Ah...... Forgot to turn it off after testing earlier."

Should've checked before. Too hasty.

"Uh... well... Saw someone waiting in the room, so I turned it on to check. Actual start later."

Hmm... Backlash as expected. My fault for getting hopeful. Oh well.

Time for a quick rundown of the stream flow.

"Okay, self-intro first. Hi everyone! New streamer Rose here. Nice to meet you~"

"Face reveal ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at 11! Kinda rushed the start, not fully prepped yet."

"54 minutes left, hang tight a bit more. I'll explain the stream plan meanwhile."

Cleared my throat and continued.

"Main content's mukbang. Love eating."

"Yep, awakener here. No fixed time, but around lunch? Could vary, so skipping details."

Evenings for Ra-yoon playtime, so chill lunch slot's perfect. Zero boredom—flawless schedule!

"Not daily, hobby stream, so like 4 days a week?"

"Like I said, hobby stream. Happy with whoever shows for chats."

Too many and managing's a pain. Stream's just an alibi anyway—doing it matters, not exploding.

50 minutes of chit-chat flown by. New joins bumped viewers to 20.

"Whoa, already 11?"

Chats spammed right after I finished. Plausibility's the key to life—felt it in my bones.

"Got it, stop spamming. Cam on now."

Flipped the cam—my face filled the screen.

Tiny 20-viewer room, but chat on fire. Heat had my lips curling unwittingly.

Duh! This face slays anywhere!

"Everyone, intro again. New streamer Rose. Glad to meet you! Clap clap clap."

Clapped demurely, maxing innocent charm.

Vulgar spam incoming fast. These punks push boundaries post-face reveal? Gotta set rules early.

"Ahem!! No vulgar words! Crossing lines in my channel = instant ban."

"Waiting room folks know, but I'm hobby streamer with nothing to lose~ Next offender banned on sight~"

Good. Rod beats a thousand words for the disobedient.

"Kicked the troublemaker, so let's roll? For on-timers, stream time and content recap."

Relayed waiting room spiel again. That's why punctual starts rule... Curiosity about waiting room bit me in the ass—early live just bred hassle.

10 minutes later.

"Stream intro done, straight to mukbang. First historic mukbang? Dum dum dum... 'Ramen multipack challenge!!'"

"Wanted delivery too, but no service here."

True, why not? Still salty. Wanna live somewhere with it, but sis dumped me here.

Pulled out phone, opened delivery app, covered address with finger, showed screen.

"See? Total boonies, no delivery."

Can't sex-joke? Fine, mock the rural life.

"Whatever. Ramen it is. Deal with it."

"Ugh, just you wait. I'll make it look delish."

Awakener me won't gain weight late-night, but you? Gonna drool buckets!

Gritting teeth, I headed to the kitchen.