Chapter 67: An Unexpected Sight

– Did you have fun?

“Yes!”

I nodded vigorously.

I wanted to convey my excitement to her quickly. I wanted her to understand how I felt.

“It was really fun! Everyone was so kind to me, and they made me laugh a lot… Ah, you were there earlier, right? Did you see? Where did Chae-hyun unnie go…”

I continued excitedly, waving one hand up and down.

“Anyway, did you see? When I was playing with the female viewers, someone called me a flower! Pfft, it was really funny!”

“Ah, and… someone said they liked my chest, you know… It’s not exactly that I liked it, but it was a bit embarrassing and nice at the same time… Is this what it’s like to be complimented by a woman…?”

“But what do you think about a female fan meeting? I’m really thinking about holding one. Should I do it at a cafe? Or should I just rent out a party room? If there are a lot of people… I kind of want to rent out a whole chicken restaurant… Hehe…”

I talked until I was out of breath.

I realized she hadn’t responded, so I waited for her reply.

But she didn’t answer for a while.

“Unnie?”

– Yes.

“Did you hear everything I said?”

– Yes. You seemed to have had a lot of fun.

“Yes!”

I quickly nodded.

– You must have had a lot of fun.

“Huh? Yes…”

Why did she say it twice?

– Then you can play with them.

“Unnie?”

I realized at this point.

She seems a bit angry?

– You can play Bell with them, and raise your tier in flex queue, and make a clan with them. And have a fan meeting.

“…Yes, yes…?”

…

Why?

Why is she angry?

“Are you angry?”

I asked, and Yoo Ji-eun was silent, then.

– Sigh… never mind.

She sighed deeply and said.

For a while, I thought about why she was angry.

Ah, is it because she’s worried about me?

Thinking that, I felt a bit embarrassed for talking so excitedly, and I mumbled.

“B-but they’re women… and they’re all nice… isn’t it okay…?”

– …… Sigh… I-hyun.

“Y-yes?”

I answered, feeling a bit intimidated by her much darker tone than before.

– I-hyun, you need to be a bit more careful about your body and actions―

She was about to say, when.

Song Chae-hyun joined the call.

– Ah, can you hear me? What were you talking about? I just finished exercising and came in when I heard you were on the phone.

At that, Yoo Ji-eun sighed deeply.

She told her everything that happened today, and our conversation.

– Oh, is that so?

– Is that what happened?

– …Yes.

– Hmm…

Song Chae-hyun made a few interjections, but she spoke less and less as time went on.

Why do I feel increasingly anxious?

I don’t think I did anything wrong… but hearing Yoo Ji-eun tell everything that happened and Song Chae-hyun just listening…

It makes me feel anxious.

– So, that’s why I called.

Yoo Ji-eun said, finishing her long explanation.

Silence dominated the call.

It was Song Chae-hyun who broke the silence.

– I-hyun?

“Y-yes…!”

For some reason, I answered a bit too loudly, a scary voice.

– …Be prepared for when we meet next time. You need to be scolded.

“Yes…?”

– That’s right. Really…

Why?

“…Sigh……”

At that the call ended

***

• lol
• What is this level
• Gold 4 Diamond 1 is the same
• Honestly, there’s no difference
• Everyone above this is bronze, silver, gold
• But looking at it like this, diamonds look like bugs lol
• It’s because we’re comparing Grandmasters/Challengers to them
• But why is this person losing here?

I glanced at my KDA (Kills Deaths Assists) after reading the last chat. I was half-melted into my chair.

6/4/9

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a very good KDA… but there’s a story behind every death.

A death caused by the jungler suddenly dodging a skill that they should have tanked.

A death caused by having to follow up on a forced tower dive.

A death caused by the lane getting messed up because of that, and having to die in a place where I had to die.

And… a death caused by getting solo-killed because of that gap.

[All] KingOfDiamond(??): Cut for Grandmaster lol

[All] KingOfDiamond(??): Cheo-juk-juk-cheo is washed up now lol

The insults that accompany defeat are inevitable. I used to do it too, and I thought it was unavoidable even when I was on the receiving end.

…

But now… it hurts so much.

It’s hard.

I haven’t been able to get out of Diamond for three days now. I didn’t think it would be this difficult.

When I complained to Yoo Ji-eun, she offered to duo with me on her smurf account to help me climb… but I refused.

The viewers would tease me a lot, and I have my pride…

JangDori(Hanki): No

JangDori(Hanki): Why did you get caught there

JangDori(Hanki): The game is over now

JangDori(Hanki): Vayne – Alive

JangDori(Hanki): Vayne – Alive

The jungler pinged me, blaming me.

“No… you messed up the lane and gave them the shutdown gold, of course I’m going to die…”

I started typing that… but then I erased it.

I don’t have the energy to argue.

Even if I explain it, it’s pointless to talk to someone who won’t understand.

I’ve tried it a few times recently, but I gave up long ago because I didn’t know if I was talking to a person.

I tried to play the game without saying anything, but.

JangDori(Hanki): Answer

JangDori(Hanki): Answer

JangDori(Hanki): I’m taking the lane since you’re not answering

And then, he suddenly used all his skills on my lane and took all the gold I was supposed to get.

“Ah…”

I sighed.

…

It’s really something to say this…

But they’re like bugs.

On the monitor, bugs crawling around.

I’m losing it.

“Why… why am I the same tier as these people?”

“Why am I… here?”

I see a red window.

Defeat.

“Ah, seriously…”

I leaned back. I covered my eyes with my arm because of the bright light.

Slightly, tears well up. I don’t usually cry this much.

It’s not enough to make me sob… but it’s enough to make me purse my lips.

I tried to cover my face…

• She’s crying
• Mi-cry-ul
• Don’t cry, I-hyun ㅠㅠ
• D1 is hell… even Grandmasters/Challengers can’t get out lol
• She’s not out of shape, she’ll eventually get out but the people are a bit much lol

“I-I’m sorry but I’m going to end the stream a bit early…”

• O000
• Her expression really isn’t good
• One score really changes a person
• I thought the Bell-girl thing was a concept, but she was serious…

I forced a smile, waved my hand, and then… ended the stream.

The moment I did that, I felt a sense of exhaustion. I took off all my clothes except for my underwear… and lay down on the bed.

Most people probably don’t get this depressed when their score drops, but I’m different.

I’ve been playing Bell since I was in elementary school.

My score was proof of myself… so falling like this makes me really depressed.

My life is basically Bell. I’ve poured my life into Bell. My only pride is Bell.

My phone rang.

…I just ignored it and lay there. Then I felt sleepy. Of course. I played Bell from dawn until the afternoon…

I closed my eyes and fell asleep not long after.

***

– Are you almost here?

– Yes

Then we’re meeting at Nison Plaza, right?

– Yes, yes

I looked up at the sign again, put my phone in my pocket, crossed my arms, and waited.

People’s gazes gathered on me for a bit, then scattered. I’m used to it now, so I don’t care. I just sometimes worry if Chae-rin is okay now.

Not long after, I saw Yoo Ji-eun walking from afar.

Yoo Ji-eun smiled and waved. I waved back.

Originally, I felt like she was a love rival so I stayed away…

But now… I don’t dislike her that much. I rather feel a sense of familiarity. We met and played together once.

I learned that she’s a pretty good person there.

We’ve spent a lot of time together… how can I hate someone who cares about I-hyun.

I’ll eventually have her all to myself, though.

When she got close enough to hear me, I spoke.

“So, we’re going straight to I-hyun’s house, right?”

Yoo Ji-eun nodded.

“Yes, but secretly? You didn’t say anything, right?”

“Yes. It’s fun, isn’t it? She wasn’t answering her phone. I wanted to try this. Hehe.”

Yoo Ji-eun smiled.

She’s a bit mischievous. Still, I thought it would be fun too, so I agreed.

“Okay, let’s go.”

I don’t know if it’s because of the game, but I-hyun seems really down these days.

Her unnies need to cheer her up.

The stairs are still made of high concrete.

I’m a bit worried that I-hyun, who’s shorter than me, might get hurt. Should I spend my own money to install a safety bar?

As I was thinking that and climbing the stairs, I-hyun’s house was in front of me.

Just in case, I decided to knock lightly.

Because she might have that kind of… hobby.

My heart fluttered a bit at that thought.

If she likes that, should I subtly bring it up later…?

She didn’t say anything when I wrapped my arm around her waist or ribs, or when I stroked her thighs, or when I kept giving her cheek kisses…

Is it possible to go further? Like stroking, or touching her chest…

The line between friendship and something more.

…

Should I really ask?

While I was having those thoughts, I watched Yoo Ji-eun knock.

– Knock knock knock

No sound.

…

Honestly, I shouldn’t do this, but.

I was a bit excited.

Because we can break in with the excuse, ‘But we knocked?’

Yoo Ji-eun and I smiled at each other and nodded.

We pressed the door lock.

The door lock opened with a cheerful sound.

I grabbed the doorknob and pulled.

The first thing I felt was I-hyun’s natural scent that I don’t dislike – whether it’s her body scent or something she sprays.

I smelled that scent… and looked ahead.

Right in front of me was an empty chair. It seems she wasn’t playing a game.

Then is she sleeping? If she’s sleeping… should we secretly take a selfie together? To surprise her when she wakes up.

With that anticipation, I checked the mattress. I-hyun was there.

…

But.

“I-hyun?”

I-hyun was wearing something a bit different from usual.

There was… white skin, and a black bra and underwear.

The jet black underwear that I bought for her, and that she chose.

The skin that she desperately hid when I offered to change her clothes… it was so pale, almost white.

She was fast asleep, not knowing that we had come in.

Compared to her thin arms and torso, her chest had quite a bit of volume. It rose and fell repeatedly.

Silence hung in the air. I-hyun’s breathing filled the room with the three of us.

I swallowed my saliva.

Yoo Ji-eun seemed to do the same, as I saw her Adam’s apple move up.