It is a party hall filled with many people.
As diverse as the people gathered, their personalities vary greatly.
Among the streamers who gathered claiming to be my fans, some showed interest in me.
“Um, could I get your number…?”
“Can I have your contact information?”
“My name is Gang Do-hwan. My streamer name is Kepa.”
The problem is that there were so many of them, and most of the interest was of a romantic nature.
Recently, my impression has changed quite a bit.
According to those around me, the sharp, thorny aspect that made me seem unapproachable has disappeared, making me appear more harmless.
Even today, it’s the same.
Even the team members I met right away asked if something good happened, saying I’ve become more approachable.
In Ryu-a’s case, she said I’ve become softer and that she wants to hug me tightly.
It seems that the change within me was significant, leading to external changes as well.
So if I were to sum up all those changes in one phrase, it would be that I’ve become more approachable.
There are both advantages to this change, such as reducing misunderstandings from first impressions, and disadvantages, like unwanted approaches happening.
Just like the man in front of me who is nervously trembling and holding out his phone.
His request to take my number drew reactions from those around us, like “Wow, he’s brave,” and “How cool!”
It is certainly a courageous act.
Although it feels awkward for me to say something while everyone’s gaze is focused on me, getting a number from someone who is an S-rank beauty in the city, like me…
“…”
However, my mind was completely at ease.
I didn’t feel good or bad.
Well, even so, I had no intention of giving my number.
I just felt indifferent about it.
Having experienced this so many times, it has now started to feel like a part of everyday life.
I could feel a somewhat prickly gaze from beside me.
When I turned to look, Ryu-a was crossing her arms and staring at me with an uncomfortable expression.
Next to her, my team members like Tex, Papijoa, and Cheol-woo were watching my situation with intrigued expressions.
I had been late to notice that this mysterious fan meeting, which had started with my team members, had now turned into a queue solely for my fans.
The other team members were comfortably drinking without meeting their fans or perhaps watching me interact with mine.
It felt like I was on a solo guerilla date.
Something unknown had deepened even further.
Among the people who rushed over, some went beyond simply asking for my number and confessed right away.
“Please go out with me.”
“I’m sorry.”
Starting with that person, a bizarre scene unfolded around our table.
“Can I have a drink? I lost a game.”
“I like you.”
“Will you dance with me just once?”
There were men saying they lost at a drinking game, confessing unexpectedly, and asking to dance.
Numerous challengers approached me like villains, only to be turned down.
This isn’t some kind of defense game.
Before I knew it, most of the people in the party hall were looking my way, drawn to the unusual spectacle.
Thanks to my team members’ cosplay, the snowball effect led to this strange result of my own personal fan meeting, and I ultimately managed to defend myself.
“Phew…”
After the long queue ended, I slumped down at the table.
Maybe it was because I met so many people in a short time, but I felt completely drained.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah…”
“It must be tiring. Here, drink this.”
Ryu-a handed me a glass of some drink, looking worried.
Since I had talked a lot, my throat was dry, and I downed it without hesitation.
“…#@!…?”
As soon as I swallowed the liquid that lingered in my throat, I felt a sense of discomfort.
The first sip started with a sweet fruit flavor, but the subtle hint gradually spread inside my mouth.
This scent was very familiar to me.
This is alcohol.
“Hey, hey. That’s a cocktail. How could you give me something so strong?”
“A, cocktail? Not a soft drink?”
Between the hazy, dazed feeling, I could hear Ryu-a panicking, expressing her concern.
“Ji-eun, I’m sorry! I thought it was a soft drink, but it seems like it was a cocktail. Are you okay? Do you want to go to the bathroom with me and throw it up?”
“…I’m fine, it’s not that bad.”
Since the drinking broadcast at dawn, I had learned about my dismal alcohol tolerance.
Since then, I had avoided alcohol in fear of any unfortunate incidents.
However, after such a long time, my body was sending signals that something was uneasy with the alcohol flowing in.
As long as I keep my wits about me, it shouldn’t be a big problem.
I could stop drinking here and sip some water while getting some fresh air.
Surely, I wouldn’t get drunk after just one drink.
Surely nothing serious would happen, right?
“I, I’ll go to the convenience store and buy a hangover remedy. Just wait a moment.”
I grabbed Ryu-a’s wrist as she was about to stand up in a fluster.
I was fine, so why was she acting like this? Seriously.
“Hehe, don’t go…”
I smiled at her while holding her wrist, an attempt at reassurance.
It was a teasing grin, but mixed with the feeling of being happy to be at a party.
Regardless, seeing her face made Ryu-a’s cheeks turn red as she rolled her eyes around, muttering.
“This is bad…”
*
The year-end party hosted by the platform for streamers who bring profits to Switch.
As time passed, the party hall gradually heated up and became a place where laughter erupted from all corners.
Jackie’s team’s table was no exception to this.
What was surprising was that the person leading the atmosphere at the table was not someone who usually took charge.
“Wow, she really has gone wild…”
Papijoa muttered while watching someone across the table.
At the end of her gaze was a woman, smiling brightly, and a man awkwardly holding a drink with a forced smile.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers…”
The woman at the center of the table was raising her glass with a beaming smile to the person next to her.
Streamer Mollu.
With a light blush on her cheeks, she poured wine for the person beside her.
Thanks to her exceptionally fair skin, just that flush made it immediately clear that she was drunk.
“Ugh…”
The man, Tex, who received the drink from Mollu, stared at the glass in his hand, as if he was afraid.
At first, it was overwhelming, but it was also fun and nice.
It felt as if I got to know more about Mollu, who had always seemed unapproachable.
And for some reason, it brought a spontaneous smile to my face.
But that was only for a moment.
How many glasses had I already drunk of the alcohol she poured?
I had probably had more than five glasses of wine.
Thanking her while downing the drinks was fine for a couple of glasses, but at this rate, I would end up like those people over there.
“Hehe… Hehe. The world is beautiful.”
“Pika… Pikachu.”
Cheol-woo, who was half-awake with half-closed eyes, was grinning.
Dressed as Frankenstein, his outward brutality was hard to overlook.
Jackie, who was also sleeping and mumbling strange things nearby, made it worse.
Considering that Mollu’s first target was the one with the highest alcohol tolerance, Cheol-woo, it seemed she had given him an extraordinary amount of drinks.
‘I would end up like that if I drank more.’
Tex himself was also approaching his limit.
His eyelids felt heavy, and warmth slowly spread across his face; he knew it was time to stop drinking.
He knew it, yet…
“Why aren’t you drinking…?”
Mollu tilted her head while holding the bottle of wine.
She was eerily beautiful.
At the same time, it was terrifying.
What words would come from those lips?
“Is it that you don’t want me to pour you more?”
“N-no! That can’t be! Of course not!”
“Right…? I’m glad.”
Tex squeezed his eyes shut.
“Enjoy your drink, hee.”
It was a whisper from a demon.
He knew well that this would only lead to ruin.
But right now, he had no choice but to comply with the demon’s command.
“Ugh…”
Caught in internal conflict, his hand trembled around the glass.
Was drinking this the right choice?
Would I be able to walk home tomorrow in one piece?
These agonizing thoughts were swirling in his mind.
“Ah.”
Then it suddenly stopped.
A delicate, pale hand gently grasped Tex’s trembling fingers.
Mollu was holding his hand tightly while smiling brightly.
“Hurry.”
Then, with a prodding tone, she slowly lifted Tex’s hand holding the glass.
As the glass reached his lips, Mollu released her hold.
-Glug.
She whispered as Tex drank, almost as if he was swallowing poison.
“One shot.”
“Ugh, cough, cough.”
The sensation of choking took over as Tex coughed violently.
Mollu gently rubbed his back.
“You’re drinking too fast. It’s okay, take your time.”
Tex smiled a clean smile as he looked at her, like someone who had attained enlightenment.
“…”
“Hehe.”
After Mollu smiled back at him, Tex laid his head down on the table.
-Kuug.
“Huh…? Tex? Tex? What’s wrong? Tex?”
Mollu gently shook Tex and called his name.
And the two women watching this from across the table.
“…”
“…”
Papijoa and Ryu-a exchanged glances, as if they had made a pact.
Confirming the trembling in each other’s eyes and sharing a sense of camaraderie for a moment,
“It looks like Tex is really tired…”
As Mollu abandoned trying to wake him, she looked over to their side.
The two immediately turned away from each other as if nothing had happened.
