The Sorrowful Life of a Hako Streamer
The life of a hako streamer is truly sorrowful.
“Everyone, shut up for a second. I can’t concentrate.”
Unlike big corporations, the chat window—often called the dark side—is exactly like this. Still, maybe her situation was a little better? Real hakos don’t even get any messages at all.
It reminded her of those days. These days a whopping two hundred people watched her streams, but there had been a time when not a single chat would pop up.
“I have to do it my way. If I wasn’t going to, why would I even play the game?”
“Wayo doesn’t know anything. Don’t say such harsh things, everyone.”
“Other people protect streamers even when they’re bad. Why don’t we have any of those Broth Knights in our chat?”
“No, no, you don’t have to come in…”
“Seriously, I’m just going to ban all of you.”
Even while saying that, she didn’t actually ban anyone. Just a few temporary timeouts for the really annoying ones… If it weren’t for those Log-carrying Gentlemen who instantly switched positions like that, the stream wouldn’t run at all.
“Haa, it’s so sad. So sorrowful.”
Another sigh slipped out. How had the stream atmosphere come to this? It hadn’t been this bad in the beginning. Because her tier was low, chasing fun had led her here.
“I’m sad too because I have to work.”
Being a hako streamer with a day job was truly sorrowful. Streaming this hard and then having to head out to work the next morning.
“Me making three grand a month? What big company…”
She glanced at the chat and let out a small snort. No way, no way at all. Two hundred regular viewers and she barely scraped minimum wage.
“I want to go full time too… full time…”
“…If I do better than my main job, I’ll go full time.”
“I’m a freelancer. A freelancer.”
A first-year streamer, Wayo. She was always dreaming of going full time.
I have to live with style!
Second life. The very first thought she had when she opened her eyes as a baby. In her previous life she had been crushed by work and died from overwork. So this time she had vowed to live cool and stylishly.
“What a pretty princess you are~”
What?
But that dream shattered the moment she heard the nurse’s words. A princess? Then what about the younger brother she had in her past life…
Huh.
No younger brother? Yeah, there wasn’t one.
Aaaaaagh!
She had screamed inside right then and there. Me, a princess? I, a manly construction worker, the super rookie of the work site, a princess! It was shocking and despairing, but that thought slowly began to change.
“Wow, so pretty, our little princess~”
That was because every time she looked in the mirror the reflection astonished her. Even with chubby baby cheeks, her features stood out beautifully. Objectively speaking, her appearance was simply outstanding. She was the most popular kid in kindergarten and received gifts from elders everywhere she went.
“Honey, isn’t our child way too pretty?”
“Yeah, everyone at the company is always jealous.”
“So, about that… last time we went to the department store…”
In Korea, pretty children were incredibly popular. Naturally, she was cast at the department store.
“Look over here, our princess~ Ahyeon is doing so well~”
Becoming a child fashion model at a young age felt completely natural. Moreover, this was her second life.
“How is this child so well-behaved?”
“Ahaha, right? She’s been quiet ever since she was little.”
Unlike the other real children who were child models, her calm attitude and adult-level understanding of filming received glowing reviews.
“If you work with us this time…”
“Does Ahyeon have any schedule next year? There’s a new children’s bag line…”
Jobs poured in from every direction and she walked a solid path as a fashion model. Over a dozen years later.
Model of the Month
World-renowned designer Andel pays attention to…
Somehow she had become a fairly well-known model at a young age.
“Huh? I was wrong?”
“Wayo doesn’t know anyth… Huh? I was right though?”
“lol; I’ll ban the ones who swore.”
As a side job she worked as a hako streamer.
* The reason she became a streamer was, first of all, frustration.
Becoming a top model was great. But a naturally restrained life came with it, and she had started running low on dopamine. Managing her figure for the runway, posting only pre-approved SNS content, going on business trips. Having lived this life since her school days, the high-profile new life was satisfying, yet somewhere a desire had been building.
I want to play games.
So she started gaming, but playing alone wasn’t fun.
“It is fun but… I have a schedule tomorrow so I need to sleep early.”
“Ah, that one? It was too hard for me…”
She tried to tempt a few friends, but the only friends she had were ones she met through modeling work. They were naturally far from games, so she ended up playing alone again. At this point she couldn’t go looking for new gaming friends. Playing solo just wasn’t that enjoyable.
That was when she started streaming. Since she couldn’t show her real face, she chose to be a VTuber who could broadcast with a panel. To stand out from others she agonized day and night and even created a unique character. The result was the VTuber Wayo. A character that looked like a question mark given human form. Blonde with waves, bangs shaped like an upside-down question mark, accessories full of mysterious accents… anyway, all sorts of details.
“Shut up, shut up.”
These days she only heard complaints about the design, but she was still somewhat satisfied with it.
“Ah, I want to go full time.”
Even though she always screamed about wanting to go full time.
“What did everyone do today?”
“Sorry…”
Even if she dozed off after work because she was tired and showed up late, earning curses.
“Wow—that was insane.”
Still, the broadcast itself sailed along smoothly. A solid concrete foundation, loyal viewers who had watched for a long time (a whole year), and the few clip watchers who brought in steady new blood.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“I streamed for eight hours though?”
Like this, although very gradually, the stream was drawing a growth curve. She thought she could keep happily protecting this small broadcast and continue streaming.
“Ahyeon, you’re free on Christmas, right?”
“…Yes?”
Until the Christmas schedule came in.
* Christmas. For every female cam, VTuber, and so on—it was a season when female streamers who matched their viewers’ ideals and needs absolutely could not rest. After all, the people watching the stream would be waiting to see her even on Christmas. If she suddenly took a break, their hearts would surely feel bitter. On top of that, it was a representative anniversary for couples. Staring at a darkened broadcast screen alone, the huge bonfire of jealousy would roar: that bitch must be with a guy…!
In that sense, she had naturally planned to do a full self-discipline marathon broadcast for the upcoming Christmas, but…
Christmas?
Yeah, there’s a good opportunity this time, right? Andel. They’re holding an event and invited you, Ahyeon.
She had been invited to an event she couldn’t refuse. Andel was a brand that had recently started talking about exclusive modeling contracts, so she needed to stay on good terms. They had personally invited her, so not going would be rude. Besides, she couldn’t possibly say she was skipping such an important event because she did internet broadcasts.
Therefore.
“Ah~ seriously.”
After letting out a short sigh, she checked the stream title.
It was ridiculous. There was still time until Christmas, yet here she was with a hiatus explanation session. She could already picture exactly how the chat would explode, but no other title came to mind.
“Whew… whew.”
Then it was time for a head-on breakthrough. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned on the stream.
“U-um, ahem. Hello, everyone.”
Still, since she had called it an explanation session, surely they would listen at least a little? The friendship, trust, and camaraderie they had built up until now. She firmly believed they would sit down with such positive feelings and listen without a doubt…
“Everyone, calm down and take your seats…”
“….”
Looking at the chat that had already exploded into chaos, she let out a sigh.
This isn’t going to work…
There was no choice. She would have to use her secret weapon.
First-year streamer Wayo—and (including her child-actor days) seventeen-year veteran fashion model Ahyeon—had a glint in her eyes.