Chapter 45: Suspension of payment (6)

Part 13

“So, you really don’t play any games?” Bonfire asked.

• I’ve been thinking it might be good to try some trending ones to connect with viewers. They say it’s not necessary, but it’s more fun if we can talk about the same things, right?

He’s as nice as they say, but this is next-level quirky, Bonfire thought, his fingers slowing momentarily.

• Bonfire-nim?!

“Ah.”

Cheungjeokun’s urgent shout was followed by a sharp yelp. The screen, alive with gunfire, erupted in a blinding flash and dust. A loud explosion. As if paying the price for freezing, Bonfire’s character rolled dramatically across the screen before it faded to grayscale. A suppressed groan—Ughhh—echoed through the speakers.

“Sorry, sorry,” Bonfire said.

• It’s fine. I’ll revive you. Just wait.

“I’m decent at AOS, but FPS? Total casual mode, haha!” Bonfire laughed.

Another grinding of teeth—how many times now?—came through. Is he actually mad? Bonfire wondered, but seeing the chat explode with laughter, he decided, This is probably fine. More than anything, he wanted Cheungjeokun to act as natural as he did on his own streams.

• Is your brother mad? You mad?
• …No? Not at all. Why would I be? I don’t get mad easily.
• See? He says he’s fine.

A soft, melodic laugh danced through the air. What a voice. Bonfire realized he might’ve been dragging out small talk, charmed by that laugh. She’s so fun to talk to—practically made for streaming.

• Kindling, you drawing today or what?
• Now’s your chance to ask Nunabbattajo!

Bonfire could feel the chat’s growing demand to return to his usual art stream.

Right. He’d contacted Cheungjeokun, someone he barely knew beyond a name, and ended up in this collab for a reason that wasn’t really about him. Bonfire knew his audience came for the art, not his occasional gaming. Games were just to set the mood—dedicating a whole stream to them wouldn’t go over well. Time to get to the point.

“So, uh, while we’re at it, Nuna,” Bonfire said.

• If I crawl behind cover to revive you, it’s like infinite energy, right?

“Mind if I draw you?”

His voice carried a hint of laughter, maybe from the chat. She sounds so innocent, it’s hard to believe it’s not an act. Doesn’t match her refined look at all, Bonfire thought.

• …Oh, right.

As Cheungjeokun’s character crawled to cover, Bonfire recalled the girl’s voice over the past hour. Cheungjeokun had been unusually quiet, giving plenty of chances to hear her clearly. Each time, her innocence shone through—not just newbie questions like Why run around in a survival game? Isn’t hiding in the center best? Do you need to chase kills? but also her earnest attempts to understand others, like her Oh, right just now. She’s a rare type these days, Bonfire thought.

• The viewers wanted to see my art, right?
• Uh, Nuna?
• I mean, it’s no big deal, right? It’s not like you’re using it for anything bad.

Most people would freak out at having their face broadcasted like this. Bonfire almost said so but swallowed the words. Was she unaware of what it meant to be featured on a big stream, or did she not realize Bonfire was that famous? Either way, no need to kick a good thing in the teeth.

• Ugh, Bonfire-nim. My sister’s clueless about this stuff. Do you need an answer right away?

“No, no! No rush at all. Just thought I’d bring it up since the chance was there. No need to feel pressured or dwell on it,” Bonfire said.

He knew his viewers’ needs came first. A fun stream topic was great; if it didn’t work out, it was just a minor letdown. So he didn’t warn her or get annoyed at Cheungjeokun’s caution. Still, though…

“Having talked and seen you in person, I’m kinda curious myself. You probably know, Cheungjeokun, but I don’t often get to draw with real effort—chances like this are rare.”

• Uh, yeah… right?
• Wait, you don’t put effort into your usual stuff?

“Haha, I draw on the fly for requests during streams, so it’s hard to pour a whole day into one piece,” Bonfire said.

Maybe it was a shame to let this pass as just a fleeting acquaintance, faces known but nothing more. He wanted a connection, a reason to reach out again. That small desire pushed him to act a bit more selfishly than usual.

• She saw this perv’s art and still said yes?
• Kindling’s piling up bad karma lol.

“Don’t say stuff like that! Anyway, if it feels like a burden, I get it—no pressure,” Bonfire said.

• Haha…

He knew it was a bit sly, leaning into her kind nature. A faint pang of guilt pricked at him, but he pushed it aside.

Part 14

[Today’s Kindling Stream] – Anonymous

• Cheungjeokun’s stuck in tryhard mode, can’t get mad at the big shot’s trolling. Nunabbattajo’s as sunny as ever. Kindling got all sunny too, and today’s 17+ drawing show was a blonde special lol.

┕ Anonymous: Kindling couldn’t stop grinning—real? Damn!
┕ Anonymous: Guess he’s not totally immune to 3D after all.
┕ Anonymous: ? Missed the stream—what happened? Pics? Collab?
┕ Anonymous: Nunabbattajo’s kind heart couldn’t resist Kindling’s persistent wooing…
┕ Anonymous: What nonsense is this??
┕ Anonymous: Basically, Kindling asked to draw her, and she said yes.

Part 15

“It’s not great,” I said.

“It’s not that big a deal, right? Your face has been out there already,” Sanghyeon replied.

“My stream’s small fry compared to Kindling’s.”

Saying he was getting water, Sanghyeon switched to a standby screen and muted his mic. His intent was clear—he had something to say about my decision. Following him out of the room, I caught the dissatisfaction in his voice as he spoke.

“My stream’s just for a niche crowd, but Kindling’s is the kind even insiders know,” he said.

“Hm… that big a gap?” I asked.

“It’s a different league. Heavyweight vs. lightweight.”

He seemed like a decent guy, though. As if reading my carefree thoughts, Sanghyeon sighed heavily, his expression turning serious.

“When you go back to school, people might actually recognize you,” he said.

“That’s already happening.”

“It’ll be on a whole other level! Can you handle that?”

His voice rose, eyes wide, but I could see the worry behind it. Family bonds aren’t so shallow that I’d miss that. Cute kid. Barely managing his own life and already worrying about me.

“Don’t worry. I thought this through,” I said.

“If you thought it through, you’d have said no after one collab—”

“People stare anyway, walking around like this,” I cut in.

He froze, startled. I didn’t want to stress him out, but this felt like the better way to ease his worries.

“You think people don’t notice me now? Even with a cap hiding my hair, this face draws eyes. Can’t help it.”

“Then at least keep it low—”

“Listen to me, dummy,” I said, lightly kicking his shin with a scowl. I’m the older one here—don’t interrupt.

“Instead of that, maybe it’s better to be someone too big to mess with. There’s no stopping my face from being seen.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Fans saying ‘I’m a fan!’ are a hundred times better than creeps asking ‘Got time?’”

It was something I’d realized since starting at the bakery. Some threw flirty glances without knowing me, but a photographer who handed me a card, said thanks, and left as a fan? Way better.

“…Wait, what? Hyung?” Sanghyeon said.

“Not right now. It’s just something Jooyoung brought up today. I’m just thinking it might be better, so don’t freak out.”

“Seriously?”

“My throat’s dry. Got any drinks left?”

Being a “pretty unknown girl” versus a “well-known figure with fans”? The latter was better. One guest spot on a big stream wouldn’t cut it, though. It’d have some impact, sure, but that’s it. To make it work, I’d need to keep building visibility. Plus, this was a decent starting point.

“You’re really gonna start streaming?!” Sanghyeon asked.

“Jooyoung said I’d do well. Think I wouldn’t get viewers?”

He just let out a hollow laugh, unsure how to respond to my teasing grin.