Chapter 28
Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
```html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Viral Influx
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The surge in views was hitting unreal levels.
It hadn't even been that long, but the numbers were already monstrous.
Just skimming the comments gave her a clear read on the vibe.
These weren't her subscribers.
People who'd seen it on communities and forums and come running.
Inbound traffic.
The influx was pouring in from all directions.
As a veteran streamer who'd been at it for more than a day or two, even she rarely saw view counts like this.
The previous records had been peaks thanks to good timing or the algorithm pushing hard.
She'd thought they could only be broken on days when the whole universe aligned to help.
But those records were being shattered one after another.
And the upward trend showed no signs of slowing.
She was a veteran streamer too.
She already knew.
This wasn't about her opinion anymore.
Riding this big wave would be borderline criminal not to.
She refreshed, and the comments scrolled down in a rush again.
The speed left her dumbfounded.
This was real. They'd clearly made a full pilgrimage around the external communities.
Sure enough, someone next to her was asking for info.
Quick-fingered Iruka.
"Looks like it's spreading across every community? They're all over the place without you even trying."
"Our fan cafe's all about this right now too."
"Whoa, check the inbound rankings."
"Listen to Nami-ya sis? You call yourself a streamer after that?"
With them nagging from both sides, her head was spinning.
Iruka's side was fine. Just riding the hype and poking fun.
Iruka had a chill personality anyway, so it didn't bother her much.
The Boss, though? Dead serious.
More hyped than Hanami herself, she was grilling her.
"You gotta respect me. I've got nearly 10 years in streaming and..."
"Ugh..."
"What're you hesitating for!! Do you know how much that avatar cost?!"
"I said we should cut costs!!"
"No season 2?! Ditch the company?!"
"Argh, seriously!!"
She recalled the avatar flapping around on stream.
She'd wondered why pour so much money into it, but after the brainwashing kicked in, both she and the viewers were satisfied with the pricey model.
Even the viewers who'd balked at first gradually started asking why no avatar today.
Yeah. It was satisfying.
Expensive stuff was good.
But it wasn't like she'd splurged on it herself.
Sis had dumped her own cash to make it and blow up the scale.
This sis had always been like that.
Since way back, if something looked fun, she'd dive in headfirst with insane drive, blowing her savings annually like clockwork.
From the crude Tsukuru collab where they first met... Wait, not the point now.
"Sis, you're insane. Refresh and the views double. English comments popping off too."
"...? English?"
"Not just English. What's this? French? German?"
Iruka posted screenshots in the group chat.
"...What the hell."
"Not just English. Spanish? Whatever, it's duplicating!!"
"Hey, this is blowing up for real. You'd be an idiot not to."
"No. Why care about overseas viewers."
"Package it pretty, it goes viral on communities—they're Korean viewers."
"..."
Hanami sighed and raised the white flag.
She clicked the download button for the game.
"Hello? Hanami? You there?"
"Yes, got it. Installing the game."
"Yes!!"
"Quiet down so I can contact him!!"
Hanami sighed again and checked the game platform.
Friend request accepted, luckily.
"Didn't think I'd need this..."
At least she wouldn't crash out from the start... but what to even send?
No clue.
"What do I even write? Doesn't seem like a viewer..."
"Pour your heart into it. Can't miss this chance."
"But sis, what about appearance fee? What's standard?"
"That's why I'm agonizing..."
Hard enough already, with them chiming in, it was chaos.
Boss's nagging grated especially.
Debating muting, Hanami moved her finger. Just write something.
Sending a collab invite to a random person was a first for Hanami too—no feel for it.
She forced it out. Hope this is how it starts.
In the end, his fingers couldn't trace a path.
No matter how he racked his brain, nothing changed.
Last night had too much chaos, brain cells on strike, but a night's sleep brought them creeping back to work.
Clear-headed again, still nada.
After agonizing, he figured he'd hit the mart and think.
Grabbing clothes, about to head out—unique alert sound.
Checked: this message.
"What the heck is this."
...No, for real?
Checked the text over and over, fearing a mistake. Crystal clear.
He was seeing it right.
A collab invite. From a big corp even.
Game goes S-tier and absurd stuff like this happens...
"A stream, huh..."
He hadn't entirely dismissed the idea.
Not many ways to leverage this face.
He didn't underestimate them, but slap this mug on a platform top slot and he'd dominate.
He'd confirmed it himself.
Mirror test: dad jokes alone made it hilarious.
Cam streams? Chills thinking of calls from friends/family seeing his face... but voice alone? Maybe okay?
Vague thought since seeing VTubers.
Not confident succeeding maining this niche game on voice alone.
"But... it's not a debut or anything?"
No loss if he fumbles and tanks the stream.
He held the power here anyway.
"Think on the way to the mart."
Slapped on the now-familiar outfit, cap down, off to the mart.
Still not used to the stares, but bearable.
Yesterday's embarrassment was so intense, this level felt brazenly ignorable.
Some shock therapy?
Tofu in hand, trudged home. A few trips and the neighborhood was familiarizing.
Judging by glances, plenty of locals knew him.
With this look, hard not to be infamous.
Lucky, sorta.
No one approached first while he eyed them warily.
Opposite: they averted eyes, uncomfortable, unprompted.
Small villa area, low pop, acquaintances might greet.
What followed—friendly chat or awkward silence? Unknown.
But zero greetings felt odd.
Not quite fear.
Mild surprise.
Getting the gist, he hurried home.
Left the awkward silence behind, back to the villa.
Rushing past the mailbox, something caught his eye.
"..."
Bad vibes.
Trembling hand pulled it out—dread intensified.
Maintenance Fee Due
"..."
Rushed inside.
Tossed cap, checked messages first.
"No."
"Not this either."
"...Hahaha."
Lee Jin-cheol.
No, Kang Ji-min.
Lifetime first broadcast appearance confirmed!!
```