My Favorite Has Started A Live Broadcast!

“…Ugh..! No matter how much I think about it, this isn’t right…!”

Is it really okay to spend nearly 300,000 won in an instant? If I moved my finger just once, 300,000 won, more than half of my bank account, would disappear into thin air. Although my mind kept telling me there was no need to prove anything, my finger kept inching toward the purchase button.

“……..!”

In the end, my finger pressed the purchase button, and a notification popped up saying it would be delivered next Monday.

“I… I did it…! I spent… 300,000 won…!!!”

The realization that I had actually done it brought an overwhelming sense of exhaustion to my body.

“…..Should I call my younger sister?”

Lying on my bed and staring at the low ceiling, I suddenly thought of my sister.

Just as I was about to make the call, I lost grip, and my phone slipped from my hand.

“Ugh.”

The dropped phone fell straight onto my face.

I froze from the sudden impact, instinctively squeezing my eyes shut. I slowly opened them again, feeling the pain in my lips and nose from where the phone had hit me.

“Haaa……”

I pushed the phone aside, pressing my hand against the stinging spot to ease the pain, and wiped away a single tear that had welled up.

Suddenly, the thought occurred to me, “Is this because I spent too much money?” Even though I don’t believe in any gods, I momentarily wondered if they were punishing me. Feeling absurd, I sat upright at my desk and called my sister.

***
Lee Minyoung POV

“Yum, yum…..”

Yesterday, my brother, who I now call ‘sister’, told me not to eat too much ramen, but it’s too much of a hassle.

I need to start studying again soon, and since I have to cover a lot of material during the break to make things easier later, I was using my limited free time to eat ramen and watch a livestream.

Beep-beep-beep-beep-

“……!”

I quickly put down my chopsticks, took a gulp of water to clear my mouth, and hurriedly answered the phone.

– Uh… hello….?

A woman’s voice, one that tickled my ear, flowed out of the phone’s speaker.

“What’s up?”

– Ah… nothing really… what were you doing just now?

“Oh… I was taking a break, eating while I rested after studying.”

The voice on the other end was slightly different from the last time I heard it. Before, it was mostly filled with sadness and surprise, but now it carried a mix of frustration and irritation. In the past, it had been hard to distinguish the emotions whether the situation was tough or not, but now, I could clearly tell the difference.

-…..Broadcasting is hard…..

“….Broadcasting…?”

Did she really do it? She has always felt uncomfortable being the center of attention. Even when she was praised for doing something well, she would often redirect the attention to me instead of accepting it herself.

But she actually started broadcasting?

– Yeah… I just turned it on briefly yesterday and turned it off… but today, an unusually large number of people showed up, and started fighting with each other… and cursing at me…

“……What? Why would they… curse at you?”

It seemed like my sibling’s personality had changed a bit after becoming a sister. But she hadn’t changed in a bad way at all.

– I don’t know… they’re saying my voice is fake… and they’re cursing and fighting…

“Ah.”

It was an unexpected issue. My sister’s voice is probably one that would enchant anyone who hears it. Unless someone has a strange preference, anyone would consider it a perfect voice. However, the combination of the slightly echoey sound from the semi-basement she lived in, various noises, and the headset microphone might have made her voice sound a bit strange.

“You… those jerks… No, sorry, unnie… So how did you handle it?”

– Uh… it was kind of… well…

Her reaction was odd. Could it be that she responded with curses? Given my sister’s former image, it was something unimaginable. But it was possible. All the sudden changes, the reactions from people around her, financial issues, and the harsh truth that there was no going back—all of it must have built up as strong stress inside my sister. Just as they say when kind people get angry, it’s terrifying, my sister had only ever gotten mad in front of me once before.

It was when I was studying at the café where my sister worked part-time. Some kids from another school sat down at my table and started making clumsy passes at me. When I firmly rejected them, they responded with insults.

And then my sister came.

When I remember the look on her face back then, I still get chills, but the fact that it was all for me was incredibly reassuring.

“…..Whatever you did, it’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

– Ah… it’s not that… it’s just… um…

-……Really…?

“…Y-yeah…”

***
Lee Su-yeon POV

When I meekly admitted the truth to my sister, her response was surprising.

– Hmm… I’ve got a decent amount of living expenses saved up right now…? I can help you out.

“Huh..? No, no, you don’t have to…”

I really didn’t need my sister’s help. I just needed to tighten my belt for this month.

– What do you mean, no? Don’t you have to go to the hospital the day after tomorrow?

“Uh.. yeah, I do. They said I need to come once a week… and I need to see the psychiatrist too….”

– Then we can go shopping that day.

“…..Shopping?”

– To the city center, to buy whatever you need.

“I… I don’t have the money…! What about your rent??”

– Don’t worry, I’ve already paid it. Mom and Dad sent me some extra money because they thought I might be short on living expenses. Most of it is meant for you, so don’t feel burdened.

“………Thanks… I’ll make you shrimp tempura when we go.”

– That’ll be enough for me. See you then.

“Thanks… study hard.”

– Got it, sis.

“………”

I spun my chair around, watching my small apartment blur by, until my eyes landed on a small square box.

“….Looks like I don’t need this anymore…”

I got up, moved the nearly empty cigarette box out of sight, and sat back down to watch Chocoa’s stream with my headset on.

Today, Chocoa was doing a karaoke stream.

I’m sure I had a smile on my face while watching.

***

“Can you serve this to Table 3?”

“Yes!”

“Senior..! I’ll handle the register! Yes..! What would you like to order?”

The shop was bustling as usual today. The busyness made my pants feel a little uncomfortable, but I jokingly told myself that since my legs are short, wearing a skirt wouldn’t be much different anyway, as I continued to navigate the delicate balancing act of my shift.

“Ugh…..! Still so many people…!”

“Right? It’s hectic….”

“But you guys are about to leave! I’m the manager, so I’ve got to work until late… but at least business is booming, so that’s good….”

“Haha… I’ll be heading out now!”

“Alright… Goodbye, youth….”

“See you next week.”

“Goodbye, senior!”

Si-ha finished changing and left the shop, bowing one more time as he went. I was about to go change myself when I headed to the break room.

“Su-yeon…..”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Let’s chat for a bit before the next shift takes over….”

The manager flopped down onto the sofa.

“Phew….. ever since you started working here, our customers have doubled… Anyway, thank you.”

“N-no! It’s not because of me… It’s because the café is great…!”

“Yeah, yeah… Thanks. Here’s two days’ worth… your weekly pay.”

The manager pulled a brown envelope out of his pocket. My eyes widened a little in excitement.

“T-thank you so much!”

“Thanks to you, our sales have really gone up in just a few days… I’ve added a nice bonus for you, so keep up the good work.”

“……Yes! Thank you so mu……uh…?”

The brown envelope in front of me disappeared. I looked up, confused, and saw exactly what I had expected.

“Umm… Manager…?”

“I’m just curious about one thing.”

Was he going to ask about my identity? It wasn’t out of the question. A sudden appearance of a silver-haired, red-eyed girl. Wouldn’t anyone be suspicious?

While I was debating whether to tell the truth or not, the manager spoke again.

“…..Why don’t you wear a skirt? I think it would suit you well, and we’d probably get more customers.”

“Uh…….?”

“Is that something you don’t want to answer? It’s fine if you don’t.”

“N-no, it’s not that… It’s just… I’ve never really worn one before… Growing up in the countryside and all….haha….”

“Really? That’s a shame. But you should get used to it. Doesn’t every girl wear a skirt at least once in her life?”

The manager handed me the envelope with a smile.

“T-thank you..”

The envelope was much thicker than I expected for just two days’ pay.

“Heh…….hehehe…..”

I skipped lightly back home, my white ponytail bouncing in the breeze.

“Heheheh…..”

Once I got home, I lay on the bed, clutching the brown envelope to my chest. The reason I got paid in cash was that I barely knew how to use the internet and found it more convenient.

Maybe I’ll change that someday.

By the way, Si-ha gets his pay via transfer but works until the weekend, so he gets paid on Sunday.

The first thing I did once I got some money was…

“Hmm… thanks… but there’s no need to pay it now….”

Paying my rent.

“You’d have to pay it next month anyway, so what does it matter? Would you like a cup of coffee before you go?”

“………Something happened, didn’t it..? You seem in a really good mood…”

“My part-time job gave me a nice bonus…. hehe….”

“What’s going on..? It’s not something weird, right…? You’re not doing anything strange just because you’re a girl now…?”

“What are you talking about! It’s just a normal café job!”

“Oh? Where?”

“It’s about a 25-minute walk from here…….”

“Oh, I know that place. I’m pretty close with the owner. I’ve been there a lot, so why haven’t I seen you?”

“Maybe the timing’s off? I work from 9 to 3.”

“That’s probably it… I sleep during the morning.”

“If you come by our café, I’ll give you a service discount!”

I promised the landlord some service as a thank you, handing them the coffee I made.

“..Slurp…….I guess I’ll have to stop by.”

“Take care!”

“Be well.”

Thud-

“….Really, I’ve been really losin’ sleep~”

Humming a song, I took out my rice cooker for the first time in a while and washed some rice.

I hadn’t eaten properly at the café today.

I didn’t turn on the stream either. I already knew that until I explained myself, they’d just keep fighting and badmouthing me, so there was no point in watching.

Today’s lunch and dinner combo ended up being rolled omelets and Vienna sausages.