A Name That Shook the Stream

Feeling embarrassed, I chugged the water in front of me all at once.

Enemies happily looting the attachments I’d struggled to gather came into view.

Not wanting to see it, I turned the screen—his shared view showed him diligently running around.

He was steadily racking up kills all by himself.

Someone who could’ve easily gotten chicken if only he’d gotten a good duo partner.

Guilt made my voice shrink to mosquito size.

“Sorry, IJ… I’m too much of a newbie…”

–No. It’s fine.

“Fighting! We can win! Grab the medkit on that container over there!”

–Yes.

Even short answers sounded that good from his voice.

I commentated his play, then leaned back in the chair for a breather.

But the chat window beside it suddenly ignited—scrolling endlessly.

“What’s going on? Why. Aggro incoming?”

Couldn’t read it all, so I paused the scroll.

I thought it’d be mocking me for dying without hearing footsteps after celebrating one kill, but it was completely different.

[▶ Huh? Sounds kinda similar]

[▶ No watering down]

“What’s similar?”

Pulling chat up, a donation came in right then.

I glanced down and read the viewer’s message aloud.

“Agumong nim, 1,000 won thank you. The guy’s voice is exactly like idol Seo Injun?”

Who’s Seo Injun?

That question started it all.

No matter how I tried to stop them, they kept talking about “Seo Injun.”

From their chat, he’s the leader of some boy group—I’m clueless about idols, so I didn’t get it.

But chat was livelier than ever.

[▶ Wait, Seo Injun has a slight dialect tone too, and this guy does]

[▶ Why would an idol play games this late?]

[▶ Idols play this a lot when no schedule;]

Random match with someone I know, and that someone being a celebrity—what are the odds.

“No, everyone. Don’t fight… Is he famous?”

To my question, they all said yes.

Someone even scraped his profile and kindly posted it in chat.

One song title looked familiar—it’s been playing on streets lately.

Chat split into real Seo Injun vs not.

Viewers curious, a strange curiosity sparked in me too.

Opened browser, searched his name.

A cold handsome face, like drawn with a ruler, appeared.

So this super good-looking guy might be the one with the great voice playing with me now.

I stared at his screen, crawling silently through grass.

If he’s really an idol, huge jackpot.

[▶ Jangma. Talk to him more]

[▶ Just ask if he’s Seo Injun?]

[▶ Who’d admit if yes lololol no way]

Finally couldn’t resist their pushing, turned on game mic again.

He’d just finished a standoff—only 8 left including him.

Hesitant to talk in such crucial moment.

“Um, IJ.”

–Yes.

“What idols do you like lately?”

Tried asking indirectly, but question was weird.

He went silent again.

Chat jeered what kind of question is that.

Even I thought it sucked, racked brain for better lead-in.

Meanwhile he killed another with grenade, then spoke.

–I like “Tran.”

“Tran?”

–Yes.

“Tran (TRAN)” is the boy group Seo Injun leads.

Even a viewer said look at his ID closely.

“IJ970728.”

First two initials if Seo Injun’s, rest birthdate.

Matched profile birthday exactly.

Chat stirred.

[▶ Wow, Tran? Real Tran?]

[▶ Ask for collab]

[▶ Don’t water down~]

Just voice, tone, ID—but felt right.

Somehow rumor already spreading—viewers trickling in more.

Things snowballing.

Panicked, I kicked a few spamming viewers, tried controlling situation.

“Everyone, wait. Could just be a regular with similar voice.”

Definitely first time hearing such voice though.

Since I wouldn’t believe, another donation.

This with video link.

Title “Tran Seo Injun Interview.”

Clicked without hesitation—video played on broadcast screen.

Five handsome guys on screen.

Middle one stepped forward, started album intro.

“Huh, wait. What?”

Voice really identical.

Subtly different, but if mic quality, explainable.

Even dialect at ends similar.

Even neutral me started swaying.

Checked other monitor—he hiding behind cover vs last one.

If he dies, game over; if wins, duo over anyway.

Didn’t want disturb, but curiosity won, spoke.

“IJ.”

No answer.

Focused probably.

“Do you know Seo Injun by chance?”

Timing perfect—his screen shook hard right as I finished.

Never missed aim before, but shot went wide.

He got hit, collapsed.

Screen showed 2nd place with long silence.

Reaction too big.

About to ask again for confirmation, but he already left.

Staring empty lobby, muttered.

“…This real?”

[▶ Huge lololol saw aim shake just now?]

[▶ Anyone can tell hit the mark ㅇㅇ]

“Then shouldn’t upload this?”

[▶ Already spread on Twitter]

[▶ Views incoming just go]

Checked phone—his name trending real-time.

Mine below it.

Late viewer surge hit three thousand.

Felt uncontrollable, wrapped up roughly, ended stream early.

Opened recording, replayed his voice from start.

Second listen, subtly different.

But compare to Tran Seo Injun video from fan—similar again.

Not common voice anyway.

“Ah, what to do.”

Serious dilemma.

This maybe-idol guy just wanted one game in break, happened to match with streaming me.

Nothing wrong on his part in video, but upload would invade privacy unwanted.

But fan clips already circulating on SNS.

Reactions thankfully all positive.

Hours pondering, decided upload with ID mosaiced.

If asks delete later, handle then.

Unlike worries, might not even be him.

“It’ll be fine.”

Set phone aside, started editing.

Rewatching from start, lots fun parts.

Added subtitles appropriately, hid chaotic late chat.

Edited whole time with Tran’s new song as background.

Didn’t notice before, but now aware—Seo Injun parts crystal clear.

“Voice really good. Like this in person too?”

Near end edit, humming along.

Handsome, great voice, good at games, considerate to total newbie me.

No wonder people become idol fans.

Caught myself searching Seo Injun.

Tomorrow live, ask viewers share Tran info.

Finished video, watched once, uploaded to channel.

Time already past midnight.

Spread blanket on narrow floor, set phone alarm.

Hopefully not another “gaming ex-boyfriend” explosion.

Chuckled emptily, fell asleep.

Next morning, eyes opened to endless vibrations.

Do not disturb all night—notifications exploded morning.

Who contacting me this early.

Rubbed swollen eyes, grabbed phone.

“What the.”

Insane notifications.

Looked closely—not messages, all YouTube alerts.

Opened channel, stared blankly, shot upright.

“One, ten, hundred, thousand… five hundred thousand?”

Overnight, five hundred thousand views.

Avoided inaccurate clickbait—titled “Duo with Great Voice Pro.”

No “Tran” or “Seo Injun” in hashtags on purpose.

Still, fans treated as confirmed Seo Injun.

Subscribers ballooned absurdly.

Realized his popularity anew.

“Wow, wide awake now.”

Comments as many as attention.

From is/isn’t Seo Injun debate to fans flooding.

Praised idol good at games too.

Occasional Tran antis commented—fans quick screenshot report.

Tran fans visiting my SNS thanked for showing this side of Seo Injun.

Video spread everywhere, no official response.

Email on channel clear too.

Maybe just game stream, no official interest.

But kept thinking it’s him.

Mind dazed.