Muddy, muddy.
On a late morning just like any other, I woke up from my bed with a clear mind.
Once I got my sleep pattern in check, my eyes just naturally opened up at the usual time.
It was rare for me to linger in bed, just feeling too tired and wanting to sleep more. Now, I could wake up whenever I wanted and start my day feeling refreshed.
Such a wonderfully effective body I have.
It’s quite different from my old self that was all over the place with an irregular sleep schedule and constantly exhausted.
“Hmm…”
But today, I felt a strange inclination to just take it easy. I wanted to roll around in my blanket a little longer than usual.
I must have been more tired than I realized. I had been streaming a lot and gaming just as much recently.
Camilla’s robust physique never seemed to tire, but my mind wasn’t quite as resilient.
I lingered longer than usual in bed, rolling around on my fluffy mattress.
Then I pulled out my phone, logged into the Abyss gallery, typed my name, and found posts praising my performance from yesterday, which made me feel pretty good.
Before I knew it, I was watching Abyss shorts on VTube, and suddenly, an hour had flown by.
I thought I only watched for a moment—how did time slip away like this?
My phone, the community, VTube—they had all deleted my time.
It was time to get up.
Before I knew it, it was 11:36 AM. It seemed just right to head out for a walk in the park and grab some lunch like I usually do.
So I sluggishly headed outside, grabbed a bite, and while strolling back, I ran into the neighbor kid, Si Hyun, whom I met last time.
“Yum, is work going well?”
“You sure do ask…”
I felt the same way last time; she was incredibly mature. I wondered if her environment made her grow up faster.
Even now, she was throwing questions that seemed more appropriate for an adult than a child.
She was alone at the playground, so I pushed her on the swing and gave her an ice cream, and she asked me that.
Well, to be honest, I found her easier to deal with compared to just a regular child.
As I watched Si Hyun chomping away at her ice cream, I answered her like I was catching up with a friend.
“Work… yeah. It’s going alright. More people are steadily coming in, and I’m making pretty good money.”
“Uh-huh, I see. So, are those people like customers? Are more people looking for you, sis?”
“Exactly. The ice cream you’re munching on was bought with the money from those people.”
“I bought it with the money they gave me.”
“That makes sense, it’s delicious, hehehe.”
Si Hyun sat on the playground bench, ice cream in her mouth, swinging her legs and humming a tune.
Then she took the ice cream stick out of her mouth and let out a deep sigh.
“What’s up? Why the long face?”
“Oh, it’s because of my uncle. Seeing my older sister working so hard made me think of him… He really should get a job soon.”
Now that I think about it, my uncle is unemployed. Hearing this makes me curious, but I don’t want to bring it up since it might be a sensitive issue.
As if she read my mind, Si Hyun put down the stick and slowly began to talk.
“These days, it feels awkward just being at home. Grandma keeps nagging him to work, and my uncle insists he’s got it under control.”
“Is your uncle not working at all?”
“No, that’s not it. He used to, but recently he’s been going out to work part-time. But Grandma is worried. Since my uncle is getting older, she wants him to find a stable job before it’s too late. But that’s easier said than done. Do you know how hard it is to get a job these days?”
“Uh, yeah… I see…”
Is this really a topic to discuss with a little kid? I start reconsidering.
“I understand my uncle’s side, too. He used to have a specific job. He wants to find a job related to his major rather than just any random job.”
“What did he major in?”
“Um, video editing? I think that’s what I heard. Yeah. He’s always watching weird videos in his room, so I’m pretty sure.”
“Weird videos… oh.”
Oh, right. I get it. Even though there’s a big age gap, Si Hyun’s uncle is still in his prime. But kids should be a bit cautious in the same household.
“Si Hyun, when your uncle is watching videos, try to stay away.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Well… it’s hard to explain, but there are reasons. He’s probably really focused, so he’ll want to watch his videos alone.”
I fumbled through the explanation. I didn’t really know why I had to say this, but better safe than sorry, I guess.
It’s definitely better for Si Hyun to gradually learn the truth rather than rush into a new world.
“Si Hyun, who are you… talking to…?”
It was at that moment. A heavy voice came from behind.
Si Hyun turned her head to see a shadow looming over her and smiled brightly.
“Oh, Uncle…! Did you finish exercising? You came back earlier than I thought!”
“Did you finish? You came earlier than I expected today.”
“Anyway, speaking of which, are you talking about Uncle to others…”
The man who was speaking suddenly shut his mouth.
His eyes started to shake aimlessly, wandering and losing their way.
Those eyes glanced at my eyes, then my lips, then my chest, back to my eyes, chest, face, up and down.
Oh right, I just realized I didn’t greet him. It’s understandable to be cautious when a stranger is with your nephew.
“Hello, I’m Mun Ah, living in that studio over there.”
Then, Si Hyun’s uncle stood there for a moment, looking dazed with his mouth open.
“…Uncle, what are you doing? You need to greet her…!”
As Si Hyun whispered and poked his side, he finally snapped out of it with a gasp.
“Ah, um, yes! Si Hyun’s uncle Kim Jae-jun here! Hello!”
His voice was full of energy, his face flushed, and his gaze a bit twisted while speaking.
I couldn’t help but smile awkwardly, fully aware of the meaning behind his reactions.
“Uncle, Grandma said when speaking, you should look at the other person’s eyes. Otherwise, it’s rude. Why are you introducing yourself without looking at her face?”
“Is that so….”
Uncle Kim Jae-jun held Si Hyun, who was poking him in the side, with one hand and then bowed his head towards me.
“Uh, I’ll be heading in now. I have a schedule, and if I stay outside too long, my mother will look for me.”
“Okay.”
“Oh no, Uncle, don’t carry me like this! Sister, I had ice cream. See you next time!”
With Si Hyun thrown over his side, Uncle Kim Jae-jun hurried away, waving his free hand. I waved back at Si Hyun and then got up to leave.
*
When I returned home, it was 2 PM.
I was just planning to take a short walk after lunch, but meeting Si Hyun unexpectedly made my outing longer.
But it wasn’t bad. It had been a while since I’d seen Si Hyun and talked, so it felt good.
A leisurely and cozy life is unbelievably sweet, and I finally enjoyed a proper rest for the first time in a while.
Life as an unemployed person wasn’t so bad after all.
Of course, even on days like today, I was living about half like an unemployed person, as I pleased.
But.
With about a week left until the next competition, the finals. Today, there was no scheduled team practice. Riri and Han Kang said they had plans.
So today was a time for individual practice or rest.
That’s why I wasn’t feeling the pressure of having to go live in a few hours.
But why is it that my hand is once again gravitating toward the broadcast start button?
It was clearly supposed to be a pure rest day without any plans.
I could watch a movie, hang out, or climb the ranks in games. I could do anything, so why broadcast?
Has my brain gotten dull from all the streaming lately? Or is it because I’ve been doing well and thought it’s the time to strike while the iron is hot?
It was neither. This was just a habit, merely a simple desire for fulfillment.
Lately, I’ve fallen into the world of broadcasting. Talking with viewers and getting reactions to my actions and words strangely makes me feel good.
I’ve inadvertently come to regard broadcasting as something special.
Of course, there’s also the fact that I can make money. That was definitely the main goal at first. But now, it’s merely a side benefit.
For me now, broadcasting is a second sanctuary, an abode of sorts.
You could say it’s a playground. A place where I can hang out with people who are genuinely interested in me.
With that mindset, I started the broadcast and people began to pour in.
[What’s with the daytime stream? What’s with the daytime stream? What’s with the daytime stream?]
[I was crying because I missed you so much!]
[Don’t end the stream, you ended it on your own again.]
[The best streamer of our time, Kayak! The best streamer of our time, Kayak! The best streamer of our time, Kayak!]
[Are you not using the handcam today?]
[Hello, please greet me!]
[I dreamed about you yesterday, Teacher!]
[So when’s Abyss coming on?]
[MVP Kayak, welcome!]
Well… looking at it this way, it honestly makes me a little uncomfortable.
The raw and straightforward comments from the viewers are so direct that it puts my earlier reflections to shame.
I couldn’t help but let out a faint sigh.
But I knew deep down they were kind-hearted friends. It’s just that they don’t know how to express it well and are a bit clumsy, but their hearts are good.
[Please turn on the camera and show us your face!]
[Watching the replay, the veins on your hands were so hot, especially when you were intensely fighting, your fingers moving everywhere…!]
[Your voice is amazing, could you please get close to the mic and say “fuck” just once? Please!]
Kind kids… uh, kind kids…
Are they really… kind kids?
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