Part 1: Needless to Say, Viewers Didn't Buy It
Needless to say, the viewers didn't accept my statement.
Everyone talked like that, but deep down, they knew. They knew full well that Sena on the left was clearly superior to the person on the right. The reason they were flipping out like that... well, obviously because it pissed them off.
It got so bad that chats even claimed I was doing this to knock Sena out of the finals.
Watching the nonstop flood of chats was surprisingly addictive in its own way. It made time fly by just staring at this stuff. The topics shifted endlessly without pause—like stream of consciousness or something. Of course, with me subbing for Sena on the mouse, I couldn't just sit there scrolling chats forever, so I quickly wrapped up the round of 8. Then came the semis and finals back-to-back. And Sena's rampage, which had viewers clutching their stomachs, came to a perfect end in the finals.
That said, I didn't knock her out or pick her first. Honestly, aside from Sena, I'd just picked the ones I thought were decent, and by pure coincidence, the one she faced in the finals was someone I knew pretty well too.
"Ah, this one's kinda... hard to pick..."
It really was. The one who'd survived all the way to face Sena in the finals was none other than Soria, the streamer we'd planned to collab with for horror games tonight. Was it from some workout stream? With light makeup on her face and a tight tank top and yoga pants clinging to her body, she had her own appeal—not quite on Sena's level, but still.
Of course, I wasn't hesitating for that reason when I spotted who she was. I'd been clicking mechanically like a machine on autopilot, skipping Sena's turns unconsciously, so I hadn't expected her to be the final opponent. But seeing their photos side by side sparked a great idea.
My original plan was to crown Sena number one and gift her some delicious embarrassment and butterflies... but
'Endings are all about the North Mountain ending.'
Damn right. Think about it—what made a manga about high school kids playing basketball an all-time classic? It was that ending that subverted everyone's expectations, leaving an even deeper aftertaste. Sure, plenty hated it for feeling like it ended mid-shit, but that was my take.
So I decided to recreate it.
"Ah... um..."
I stared back and forth between their photos like it was the toughest choice ever, pretending to agonize seriously.
"Huh...? She's watching too?"
I checked the chat and pretended to be even more flustered.
"Ugh..."
I took in the chats while spinning the mouse cursor between them. And the moment I thought I'd shown enough hesitation, I closed the browser tab entirely. Shaking my head.
"Ah... I really can't pick. Let's just end it here."
"Wait, why would you...!"
Pretending not to care, ignoring her, focusing on chat monitoring—she must've been secretly hoping I'd pick her. The second the screen filled with the click sound and the window vanished, an incredulous voice shot out from behind.
"Ban."
The viewers' reactions were mostly the same. Glancing at the chat window full of stunned laughs and defenses for me, I flashed a wry smile like it was awkward.
"I mean, picking's just... awkward."
"What's awkward? It's all just for laughs anyway."
"Huh? Is that how it is?"
"Then what, you think I'd take this seriously?"
"...I put some real thought into it before deciding."
"No, what... whatever. Fine. Fine. You guys? Ideal Type World Cup ends here."
"Well, who knows..."
I trailed off vaguely, glancing at Sena, who'd sidled up beside me and was wiggling her fingers for the mouse. Like I was checking her reaction.
I didn't give a straight answer. No straight answer. That way they'd stay curious. She wouldn't have time to think about it now while cleaning up, but later? When she lay in bed tonight? She'd wonder for sure. Who I'd have picked if I'd kept going.
Definitely. Sena was the type with massive ego. She'd convince herself she won but still obsess over it a bit.
That was my top priority—keeping her thinking about me, my thoughts.
"Alright, done. Move. Shoo shoo."
"Yeah, I bought it with my money."
"What're you saying."
Sena smirked and plopped down first, beckoning me over. I sat beside her, and she checked the time in the corner of the screen, stroking her chin thoughtfully. Checking myself, 1 hour 30 minutes had flown by already. I'd rushed, but still.
"Takes longer?"
"Yeah, like 30-40 minutes?"
"Hm... in times like this, smashing a quick Rel game would be perfect."
"Rel?"
"Yeah, League of Legends. You know?"
"Yeah, I know it bu—"
"Really? You played?"
I had no idea how Yuhan lived before I possessed him, but Sena seemed pretty surprised I'd played games. Her eyes sparkled like a weeb asked about their fave anime.
"Yeah, isn't it your main game, sis? Saw your vids, looked fun, so I played a game or two when bored."
"For real? Duo then? I'll carry you."
Of course, "a game or two" was a total lie. Yuhan had an account as a college kid, but quit after three normals—zero ranked history. But that was this world's Yuhan. Not me. I'd sunk at least 200 games per season—a true League lifer.
So I knew better than anyone the magic words that make any League player twitch.
"Carry means you're good and win for me, right?"
"Yeah."
"...You can do that?"
"Yeah..?"
"Your vids? You just die nonstop."
"..."
You straight up suck at League. Basically what I said. Sena's confident carry declaration froze on her face.
I didn't stop, piling on.
"Feels like I'd do better..."
"Ha—"
Sena laughed. Incredulous, shoulders shaking with dry heaves.
"...Unbelievable."
With Sena's womanly pride properly stung and viewers cheering wildly—
"Hey."
Mid bread for hierarchy was on.
"Follow me to the rift."