There were a few conditions for the companion to go watch the match together.
First, we couldn’t be too awkward with each other.
It’s a really obvious reason, not even worth calling a condition. If there’s an uncomfortable silence and no topics to discuss while we’re out together, I’d rather just go alone.
So, we had to know each other and have some semblance of a friendship, but not be too close. Those who would feel a bit awkward being just the two of us were eliminated from the candidate list.
Second, they couldn’t be a well-known person whose face is widely recognized.
Among my acquaintances, there are quite a few celebrities. The majority of my tight-knit circle came about when I started streaming, so they were mostly streamers.
It wasn’t that people would recognize me as a streamer just by looking at my face, but there would still be folks who knew me. Especially in a stadium crowded with gamers coming to watch pro matches.
Many of the gamers attending likely watch internet broadcasts too. Thus, going with a fellow streamer who broadcasts was a big no-no.
If they were a no-cam streamer like me, it wouldn’t matter, but sadly, all of my acquaintances streamed with their cameras on.
That’s why I told Riri, who just messaged me, that I had plans. After some thought, I realized that Riri is also quite a prominent figure. Given that she has a decent fan base, the chances of people recognizing her were pretty high.
If that happened, all eyes would naturally be drawn to the person next to her, and since I’m often compared to a streamer resembling Camilla, my face would likely get recognized too.
That was the reason for not wanting to attend with a celebrity. To protect my identity, I guess.
However, I didn’t have the intention of never revealing my face forever. Sometimes, while streaming, I think that someday I might just turn on my cam.
It’s not like showing it would ruin me, and honestly, I sometimes want to subtly brag about it. Like, how my face looks just like Camilla’s. Because let’s be real, it’s beautiful.
Honestly, I think I look pretty good. Every morning, when I look in the mirror, those thoughts pop up.
I felt it was a bit of a waste to keep such a beautiful face all to myself.
So, to sum up my long introduction regarding the conditions for a companion: they had to be someone I wouldn’t feel awkward with, and they couldn’t be a recognizable face that would get my identity out there.
I focused on two conditions, and in the end, I managed to find one person among those around me who met the criteria.
“Hey, want to go watch something fun with me, Older Sister?”
Was it the word “Older Sister” that just wouldn’t stick to my tongue? I could feel the corners of my mouth awkwardly trying to rise. It probably looked pretty silly from the outside too.
“Hmm…”
The person who met the conditions looked at me skeptically. With her hands on her hips and squinted eyes, she was eyeing me.
That person was none other than the mature little neighbor, Si Hyun.
“They say not to follow people who talk like this at school…”
Wow, she really learned her lessons well. I mean, I would’ve thought it was suspicious too if someone just suddenly showed up and said, “Let’s go watch something fun!”
Is there an even more clichéd line out there? I mean, it’s not like I’m trying to kidnap her or anything. Most kidnappers are actually people you know, so I should commend Si Hyun for not instantly agreeing to follow someone she knows.
But aside from that, I found myself in an awkward situation.
What if she rejected me? I’d be left with one ticket, just sitting there as an empty seat…
Just then, Si Hyun, who had been standing stiffly, suddenly uncrossed her arms and started poking me in the side.
“So, what fun thing are we going to watch?”
After seeing that dorky face, I realized I had been had.
*
I finally got a confirmation from the person who met the conditions.
Seeing her initial response, I thought I’d messed up, and I was so flustered. She’s surprisingly clever for a kid, though. I can already imagine her teasing people when she grows up. With looks like that and her way with words, I could already see her future.
“Phew…”
Anyway, I found a companion to go with. The burning urgency at my feet had been extinguished.
Of course, it’s uncertain whether Si Hyun, who doesn’t know much about the Abyss, will find the match entertaining… But let’s be real; people usually find live sports exciting, regardless of whether they know anything about it or not.
Having experienced that firsthand, I had my own conviction. I was pretty sure Si Hyun would feel the charm of the Abyss too.
I had a certain confidence in myself. I was sure that Si Hyun would also feel the charm of the Abyss.
“I’ve got all the clothes packed and checked the transportation…”
All preparations were complete. The only thing left was to wait for tomorrow.
For some reason, I was really looking forward to the next day.
*
“So, she’s coming?”
“What?”
Min Hyung answered casually, his words a bit disorganized. For some reason, people in the club tended to omit subjects when they spoke, so this was a common occurrence.
What had changed was the questioner’s attitude.
The youngest and a trainee in the team, Tae Wan, who rarely stuttered, continued with difficulty.
“That person, you know. The one who looks like Camilla…”
“Oh, Kayak? I’m not sure. She might come, I guess?”
We were talking about the match that was just a few hours away. The first game of the season would be tomorrow. Kayak had taken two tickets in exchange for helping with the practice.
But why was Tae Wan concerned about it?—Min Hyung pondered slightly.
‘He’s not the type to be into girls…’
Tae Wan was, to put it nicely, a practice bug, or to put it bluntly, a crazy guy who knew nothing but games.
Even though he hadn’t competed yet, he always seemed tenser than the players actually participating whenever the team had a match, observing from the bench and giving real-time feedback on the game.
He was a young man overflowing with passion for his profession as a pro gamer. That was the impression Min Hyung had of Kim Tae Wan.
Yet here he was, asking about something outside of the game.
‘What’s up with that?’
Min Hyung looked at Tae Wan with suspicion but then understood as he noticed the clenched fist of his.
It must have been about that day— the day Kayak came. The day she had defeated most of the players except for Jun Hyuk.
Kayak seemed to have become a rival for Tae Wan. No wonder he was acting like this now.
‘It was a bit shocking.’
That day remained a vivid memory for Min Hyung as well. It was something he would probably never forget as he continued his career, perhaps even until the very end.
It was the match that taught him humility when he was soaring high. Similarly, it seemed to have acted as a kind of stimulant for Tae Wan.
Even if she came, they couldn’t compete right there. Still, it seemed like Tae Wan was hoping she would show up.
Even if she comes, there’s no way we can compete again right then and there. Still, Tae Wan seemed hopeful that she would show up.
“I really hope she comes.”
Min Hyung felt the same way as Tae Wan about Kayak coming. He also wanted to face her in a competition again, but Min Hyung’s reasons for wanting her there were different.
“I hope she comes to see what we’ve prepared.”
And he wanted to hear her thoughts on it. Whether her honest feedback or sheer admiration, anything would do.
After that day’s practice, Fusion Gaming had prepared something extraordinary under Jun Hyuk’s command. For the opponent, it would be a surprise bomb, and if Kayak came to watch, it would be a surprise gift for her.
Min Hyung was oddly curious about her reaction. What would a skilled authority figure feel when seeing it?
Meanwhile, it wasn’t just Min Hyung who reacted to the mention of Kayak’s name.
“What? Is Kayak coming?”
“Did she reply that she’s coming?”
“Of course, we gave her a ticket, so she has to show up!”
Since that day, the players had somehow become her fans. Those who watched Kayak’s broadcast were half-worshipping her. It was a completely different reaction compared to before when they teased her by calling her broth.
“Uh, um… I don’t know.”
“Seems like you didn’t get a definite answer, huh?”
“After all, it was Jun Hyuk who exchanged messages. I just heard the feedback third-hand.”
In conclusion, to know Kayak’s whereabouts, they would have to ask their team leader, Jun Hyuk.
However, no one dared to directly ask him whether Kayak was coming or not.
Right now, he was busy raising his concentration for the match that would take place in just a few hours.
A kind of routine that pro players maintain to relieve tension and sustain their usual performance levels.
In such a noisy room, Jun Hyuk was meditating with his eyes closed.
A world-class player, the best in the country, known as the God of the Abyss. The players who had glanced at him in reverence turned back to focus on preparing their minds for the upcoming match.
“Will she really come…?”
But they didn’t know.
Jun Hyuk was indeed very interested in Kayak’s whereabouts as well.
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