Chapter 5: I’m a fan of yours

The woman who spoke to me had the aura of a celebrity, like someone you’d only see on TV.

From the ‘STAFF’ badge pinned to her chest, I could tell she was a Twip employee working at the event. However, something about her seemed a little off.

“Ah, ah, ah, hello. Um, I’m a fan of Cosmo…”

“Huh? No, please, calm down first…”

Watching such a pretty person behave like a broken marionette was both refreshing and nerve-wracking for me.

But how did she know I was Cosmo? Maybe she recognized me because she’s staff? But then, the staff at the entrance didn’t seem to recognize me at all.

“Shall we move to a quieter place? It’s a bit noisy here…”

“Oh, y-yes!”

I figured I needed to create a better environment to hear her out, so I placed the plate of food I had been holding back on the table and looked for a quieter spot.

Luckily, we quickly found a private space hidden by a partition, with two small recliner chairs. We sat facing each other, exchanging awkward eye contact.

I realized I had to break the ice so she could feel comfortable talking, so I mustered up the courage to speak.

“It should be easier to talk here. By the way, how did you know I was Cosmo?”

That was the first question I asked. After all, it’s only natural to be curious. How could she recognize me when I stream without a camera? Could it be that my face had been leaked somewhere?

“You bragged about it until yesterday. You said you’d come to the party dressed like this.”

“Oh…!”

While I was caught up in my worries, she explained the reason with a soft smile, her eyes crinkling as she chuckled.

Only then did I realize that my outfit was the clue. I let out a small sigh of realization.

So that’s how she figured it out. Still, recognizing me based on my outfit alone is pretty impressive.

“Honestly, I hesitated for a while before approaching you. Since you don’t usually use a camera, I thought maybe you didn’t want people to recognize you…”

Ah, so that was her concern. She’s a true fan.

But there’s really no need to worry about that. The reason I don’t turn on the camera isn’t because I don’t want to be recognized or because I’m self-conscious. I just don’t see the point in showing my face when there’s nothing special about it.

“Oh, it’s not that. I just don’t want to hurt my viewers’ eyes by showing them a face that’s not particularly good-looking.”

“…What?”

“What?”

So, in an attempt to ease her worries, I threw in a bit of self-deprecating humor. But she stared at me as if to say, “What nonsense is this guy talking about?”

Did I say something wrong just now?

After an awkward silence, she finally spoke with a tone that felt almost firm, drawing a line.

“From what I see, you’re plenty good-looking.”

“Oh, really? I’ve never heard that in my life… Thank you.”

Ah, so this is the warmth of a fan. For someone like me, a shut-in who lives in a basement, to be called handsome… I am deeply moved by her kindness.

“So, you must be one of the staff here.”

“Oh, yes. Actually, I was called in last minute because they were short on hands today. But I was lucky since Cosmo-nim was coming… I really lucked out.”

What an incredible coincidence. Normally, she wouldn’t have been here, but she was called in due to the staff shortage, and it just so happened to be on the day I attended the party.

Fate really does work in mysterious ways.

“It’s a bit surreal that someone as pretty as you is a fan of mine. This isn’t some kind of punishment mission, right?”

Sensing her nervousness, I tried to lighten the mood with a small joke. Her response was immediate, like a startled fish jumping out of water.

“P-pretty? And no, it’s not a punishment mission. Please believe me…!”

“It was just a joke. I could tell from how much your hands were shaking.”

“Oh…!”

Feeling sorry for making her react as if she was about to cry, I awkwardly smiled and pointed to her trembling hands. Only then did she seem to realize it herself, quickly hiding her hands behind her back. The sight of her startled expression was quite adorable.

With her face flushed red and her awkward demeanor, it didn’t seem like she’d be able to start talking again anytime soon. I figured I’d have to take the initiative and bring up a topic.

“By the way, since you’re a fan of mine, is there anything you’d like to see? Any content you’d like me to show during a stream?”

“Not really. Honestly, I already find it plenty entertaining as it is…”

“Come on, there must be at least one thing you’d want. Feel free to tell me. It’s totally fine.”

It’s not like I’m one of those big-time streamers who always brings top-tier content. Most of my streams consist of laid-back singing, counseling sessions, or just chatting. The only exception is when a major game gets released, but even then, I’m not exactly known for my high energy, so I doubt it’s particularly exciting.

That’s why I nudged her a little, hoping she’d suggest something fun if she had any preferences.

“Well… could I ask you for just one thing?”

“Of course.”

So, she does have something in mind.

I wasn’t promising I’d definitely do it, but if it sounded fun to me too, I was open to trying it out. I nodded, waiting for her suggestion.

And then, her response was completely unexpected.

“Could you… could you call me ‘noona’ just once?”

“…Huh?”

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard her. Without thinking, I blurted out a confused response.

She wants me to call her ‘noona’? That’s her request, not a content suggestion?

“I heard you’re two years younger than me, so… I wanted to hear you call me that at least once. You see, I only have an older brother and no younger siblings.”

Ah, so she really did just say what she wanted. I wasn’t expecting that.

So, she’s two years older than me? No wonder she gave off such a mature vibe. Not that she looked old, but rather, she had this aura of sophistication around her.

Well, if that’s her request, I can at least do that for her. Besides, I have an older sister myself, so calling someone ‘noona’ isn’t that hard for me.

“Noona…?”

“…!”

Since I didn’t know her name, I just called her by the title. Her eyes lit up as she stared at me in awe, then vigorously nodded her head as if to say, “Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted!”

Well… I’m not entirely sure what just happened, but at least she seemed satisfied.

“Thank you for granting such a selfish request.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you. I finally get to meet a fan in person, and I feel bad that I can’t do much for you.”

Honestly, I would’ve liked to give her an autograph, but I’m not famous enough to casually ask, “Would you like an autograph?”

Still, I’m happy that I could at least make her smile. I think I finally understand why idols say they gain strength from their fans. I’m starting to get that feeling.

“No, really. I’ve always wanted to tell you that. Watching your streams has given me so much strength, and I’m really grateful.”

“What is there to thank me for? If anything, I’m the one who should be grateful. I’ve only grown because of the interest and love from viewers like you.”

I wasn’t just saying that—it was the truth. The reason I’ve been able to continue streaming for so long and even reach the point of being a mid-tier streamer, despite still having a long way to go, is all thanks to the viewers’ affection.

As I bowed my head to convey my sincerity, the woman sitting across from me shook her head as if to say I didn’t need to thank her. Then, without warning, she placed her hand on top of mine.

The soft touch made my mind freeze for a moment.

“Of course, you might think that way, Cosmo, but I’m truly grateful. That’s why, even though I wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate, I really wanted to come and thank you in person.”

“I just wanted you to know that there’s someone who truly cherishes you. Sometimes, I feel like you don’t realize how precious you are.”

The gentle smile she gave me was so warm that it left no room for any unnecessary thoughts.

At the same time, it was a bit surreal. It was amazing to think that there could be someone who sincerely cared so much for a complete stranger, and that the person they cared for was someone as insignificant as me.

“Oh…! I-I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize I was touching your hand… You didn’t feel uncomfortable, did you?”

The woman, who had been silently watching me for a while, seemed to suddenly realize what she had done. She quickly pulled her hand away as if she’d touched something hot, looking flustered and unsure of what to do.

The calm and intelligent aura she’d had earlier had vanished, and she now seemed like just another ordinary fan. It was quite endearing.

“Not at all, so don’t worry.”

Honestly, what guy would dislike having such a beautiful woman hold his hand out of the blue? If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t have minded if she’d kept holding it a little longer. Of course, I didn’t say that out loud, not wanting to be rude.

“I’m not usually like this… but meeting you in person, Cosmo, made me act without thinking.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel a bit shy. But I understand, especially since you’re a fan.”

It felt a bit embarrassing to hear that she’d momentarily lost her composure because of someone like me. I scratched my cheek awkwardly, realizing that, to her, I probably seemed like a celebrity or idol.

“Ah, no… it’s not just because I’m a fan…”

“Huh?”

But then, she mumbled something under her breath that made my eyes widen in surprise. I couldn’t quite decipher the meaning behind her words.

Not just because she’s a fan? Did that mean there was another reason?

“Anyway, keep up the good work! I’m watching your live streams every day, so I’ll always be cheering for you!”

“Thank you. Oh, by the way, if you could tell me your Twip nickname…”

I wanted to at least mention her in a future stream, so I asked if she could give me her nickname if she wasn’t comfortable with sharing her real name. But before I could finish, she quickly darted off, leaving those parting words behind.

Standing there in a daze, it felt like a storm had just blown through. The warmth lingering in my hand was the only thing that remained.

This moment made me realize that coming to this party was the right choice, and that starting my streaming journey was the best decision I’d ever made.