My Favorite Has Started A Live Broadcast!

“Alright…alright…take a deep breath.”

Since I’d left both the broadcast and Chocoa unattended for almost ten minutes, I couldn’t back out any longer. I returned to my place, sat in the chair, lowered my hoodie, and, with support from my younger sister, reached out toward the camera.

“Phew… um… I apologize… I, uh, just… ehem… yeah, I’m sorry.”

I apologized for abruptly abandoning the broadcast without a word.

-This is a person the world needs to see. By the way, I used Google Translate.

-Wow.

-Noonaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, I’m dyyyyyyingggggggggggggggggggggg.

-Are you wearing mascara? Your eyebrows are so long and beautiful, unnie…

-Mascara;

Chocoa – It’s okay. So, what are you going to do?

“Uh… y-yes, I’ll do it! W-would you… go with me…?!”

Chocoa – Sure, your makeup looks nice. d=(´▽｀)

After Chocoa’s cute emoticon, her messages stopped coming up in the chat. I figured she’d left since she had no more business on my stream, so I took off the hoodie, exhaled my excitement, and drank some water.

“Slurp…”

As I lowered the mug from my lips, a red lipstick mark appeared on one side of the cup. I looked at it curiously before putting it back on the desk.

“Thanks, Minyoung.”

“Then make me food; I’m hungry.”

“Right now…?”

The time had already passed 1 o’clock. It felt like only a short while had passed since Chocoa came by, but time had flown.

“Hmm… well, I’ll wrap it up here for now. I’ll be back on the broadcast later, everyone; enjoy your lunch.”

I turned off the stream and threw myself onto the bed, diving into it. Minyoung poked her head through the doorway and, seeing me lying down, sat on the bed, lifting my head onto her lap.

“…Hm? What are you doing?”

“…Just something I wanted to try once.”

She pulled my head onto her lap.

“Purr… purr…”

A soothing sound filled the air beside me as I was enjoying this comforting, unfamiliar position. I lifted my head slightly and saw Strawberry nestled comfortably on my sister’s lap, just like me.

A few moments later, Minyoung looked down at the two white cats purring differently on each knee, feeling a wave of healing.

***
Eunah POV

“Ugh…urrgh…!”

Stretching while looking at the silent, blank broadcast screen made my whole body ache.

Clink…crash!

“Oh… crap…”

I tried to stand up from my chair but accidentally knocked various caffeine drinks and coffee cups onto the floor. Fortunately, they were all empty, having already disappeared into my stomach, so I didn’t have the awful job of cleaning spills. But the mess still needed tidying, so I sighed deeply and began cleaning up the trash piled in the room.

Things were somewhat better these days. Now, only a few cans and cups were stacked on my desk for the assignments I had to submit to the bald professors who made me curse under my breath. But in the past, it was more like a disaster area than a place to live.

Still, since Su-yeon moved into her villa a month ago, she’s come up to my messy place at least four times a week. Even though she usually doesn’t eat breakfast, she brings some for me, and if she has nothing to do after work, she comes over to help clean, saying it’s for a fresh start.

“Sigh…”

Though the room was still dim from the curtains, I sat at the now tidy desk and contacted Aro on Discord.

Ring-ring, ring-ring—

“Yes?”

“…Do you know exactly what that tournament is?”

“Of course.”

Since becoming Su-yeon’s stream manager, Aro and I have gotten pretty close. Being around the same age and both homebodies created a bond, and we were at the point where I could call him a friend, chatting casually and gaming together beyond just manager duties.

“So what is it?”

“First of all, our teacher joining is great news.”

“Why?”

“First-prize. The ace of the winning team gets a high-end computer and equipment support. It’s part of a big computer ad, so the winner might get a sponsorship, and if you’re ace, you could score an expensive computer for free. I believe our teacher can become the ace. Oh, and the ace is chosen by vote.”

“Huh… about how much does that go for?”

“Let’s see… about… $500?”

“Wow.”

“And there’s something more important.”

“What, Chocoa?”

“Yep. Just being on the same team brings you close to her. And! What comes after a tournament?”

“Oh… an afterparty.”

“Exactly. Now, you know our teacher is into girls, right? So, if things line up, she might, uh, make some moves at the drinking party.”

“…Aren’t you being a little too open-minded?”

“Pfft… it’s not a bias. I don’t care if the person paying me is lesbian, gay, or anything else. Just not a criminal. If someone hires a shut-in like me, they’re a good person I can trust.”

“…Yeah, she does like women… Alright, bye.”

“Huh? Aren’t you gonna pla—”

Click.

“Phew…”

I threw the trash into the bag in the corner, slipped on my triple-striped slippers, and went downstairs.

Knock, knock, knock—

“…”

I knocked and waited about ten seconds, but no one answered from inside. Normally, either Su-yeon or Minyoung would open the door within five seconds, but today, they were unusually quiet.

“Hmm… cooking?”

Thud, thud, thud—

I knocked a bit louder this time, hoping someone would hear, and soon a soft voice came from inside.

-Yeees…?

It sounded somewhat weak, but a few seconds later, the door opened. Su-yeon, dressed in white cat pajamas, appeared, half-asleep, eyes drooping. Her body was wobbly, and her pronunciation was slightly slurred as if she’d just woken up.

“…Did you sleep?”

“Noo… almost fell asleep… waait a sec?”

Su-yeon ducked into the bathroom, and a few moments later, she returned, fully awake after splashing water on her face. I was slightly disappointed that the makeup, which had looked so fitting, was gone, but since she hadn’t done it for me, I wasn’t too let down.

“…Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

I suggested ramen, but Su-yeon declined, mentioning my health, and we settled on a different noodle dish instead.

“Is it to your taste?”

“…Weren’t you specialized in Korean food?”

Most of the meals Su-yeon had made so far were homestyle or Korean dishes. However, the dish I was currently eating felt much more Western than Korean.

“Ah, I learned Korean food while working at my parents’ shop, but I’ve been interested in cooking and studied it a bit before.”

“There’s nothing unnie can’t cook.”

“…Maybe you should have been born a woman from the start.”

I wondered if some god had mistakenly made Su-yeon a man, realized the mistake, and hurriedly tried to change him into a woman.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing, nom.”

Munch munch munch munch munch—

As I sipped coffee at the clean dining table, watching a cat gobble down food with amusing sounds, I pondered.

Is this really okay?

I might be the landlord, but receiving almost daily breakfasts and housecleaning from my tenant… it felt like others would think I’d hired Su-yeon as a paid helper, even though she was just a tenant.

I might have to discuss this with my parents later.

***
Lee Suyeon POV

Taking a sip of coffee, I bid goodbye to Eunah unnie as she left the house, sent my sister home, and tidied up.

“Railee A Bin Neville Nudging Slip~”

I finished the dishes and cleaning, and as I looked at Strawberry in the living room, we stared at each other.

“…Meow~”

“Meow!”

“Nyaong!”

“Aeong! Ugh, I’m hungry!… Oh.”

Just as I wondered about the strange, meaningless words that slipped out of my mouth, Strawberry darted toward me at lightning speed, moving about 10 cm per second with her short legs.

“Gotcha!”

I knelt down, picked up Strawberry, and went back to my room. The cozy pajamas and Strawberry’s warmth created a fluffy atmosphere, and I lay down on my bed, sinking into the vibe…

“…Chocoa…!! Huh…? Slurp…”

I had only intended to lie down for a moment, so why was it dark outside? And why was I drooling as if I’d slept soundly? Although nobody was watching, I quickly wiped the drool in mild embarrassment and pulled the blanket over Strawberry on the pillow before sitting in my chair.

“I promised to turn the stream back on today…”

I’d told the audience I’d come back on air, but it was already past midnight. I hurriedly started the stream.

‘Baraa has started a live broadcast!’

-Ugh… I’m late…

“I’m sorry…”

-Well, it’s okay… maybe you just don’t like playing with us anymore…

“N-no! I… it’s not like that… I just fell asleep…”

-Probably true; there’s even a drool mark on your face, lol.

“…!!”

I ran to the bathroom to wipe away the drool on my cheek before sitting back down in my chair.

“…Ehem…”

-So what are you going to do?

“Um… I don’t have anything in mind… Hmm… well, I’ll be competing with Chocoa, so maybe we should practice?”

HandsomeYoonGae – If you don’t have anything planned, would you like to join us?

“…Alright.”

When I checked my phone, I saw a notification from Chocoa’s stream.

‘Chocoa has started a live broadcast!’

-Practicing Lesik with teammates.

HandsomeYoonGae – Come join the voice chat!

Ding—

“Hello…”

As I entered the Discord room full of voices, I heard a new voice.

“Howdy! I’m Ninima!”