Haru's POV
Ugh, my head hurts so much. After that game last night—or technically earlier this morning—I barely got any sleep. Shiori-san slept in my room, and I was stuck lying on the couch, counting how much of my life was slipping away. Good thing Mom carried Aunt Marika to her room, or else my room would've been a free-for-all slumber party. And trust me, having two women sleeping here is not a good idea.
Now, here I am, lying on my bed and staring at the ceiling like it's going to give me answers. My eyes wandered to my calendar, and that's when it hit me.
December 13.
Christmas is just around the corner, and guess what? I still haven't decided what to get Shiori-san. Or Mom. Or Aunt Marika. Or even Nishi, for that matter.
And don't even ask about my wallet. It's emptier than a deserted island. The allowance Aunt Marika gave me? Gone. Spent on who-knows-what. Probably snacks.
Should I get a part-time job? Nope. Mom and Aunt Marika would shoot that idea down before I even finished explaining. But I still need to do something.
Then, out of nowhere, an idea hits me like a bolt of lightning.
I should revive my livestream.
Yeah, I used to stream games before. It wasn't a big deal—I kept my identity a secret because, well, being recognized would be a disaster. My viewers didn't really stick around much back then because, honestly, I was terrible at keeping them entertained. Yapping into a mic while trying to play? Not exactly my strong suit.
But desperate times call for desperate measures. If livestreaming can help me rake in some cash, then I'll just have to suck it up.
But first things first—I need food. It's already past noon, and I haven't eaten a single bite.
Dragging myself downstairs, I spot Mom at the dining table, typing furiously on her laptop like she's in a coding battle royale.
"Good morning, Mom..."
She glances up, her glasses slipping down her nose slightly. "Ara, Haru, you're awake. Food's in the refrigerator. You can reheat it if you want."
"Mom, how are you even awake? Didn't you play until morning?"
She smirks. "Don't underestimate programmers, Haru. We stay up late all the time for debugging and deadlines. This is nothing."
Great. Now I'm questioning my life choices about even considering programming as a career.
I open the fridge and, to my disappointment, find last night's curry. Again.
"Mom! This is the same curry from last night!"
"Ah, sorry, Haru." She chuckles sheepishly. "To be honest, I only woke up an hour ago myself."
No rice either. Just great. I sigh, reheat the curry, and decide to retreat to my room.
"Haru? You're eating in your room?"
"Yeah. I've got some work to do," I reply, trying to sound motivated.
Mom raises an eyebrow. "Ara, if you need money, you can always ask your aunt, you know."
"No way! I'm not going to mooch off her!"
Her amused smile tells me she probably thinks I'm hopeless.
Back in my room, I set up my PC and dust off my streaming gear. The thought of talking to a live audience again makes my stomach churn, but hey, no pain, no gain, right?
I start up my computer, double-check my mic, and hit the record button. My screen flashes to life, and so does the anxiety bubbling in my chest.
"Hello, everyone! It's been a while since I last streamed, but... uh, here I am again!"
Oh, great. I already sound awkward.
Someone's POV
I feel awful. Winter colds are the worst. Since I have no choice but to skip school today, I've spent the morning buried under my blankets, trying to stay warm.
To kill time, I decide to scroll through my phone. While aimlessly swiping through videos, I stumble across a livestream of some guy playing a game called SFO.
Wait a second. Isn't this the game Shiori-sensei mentioned a while back? I never got around to playing it, but since it's so popular, maybe I should check it out.
Curious, I click on the stream.
It doesn't take long for me to realize this guy isn't just any random gamer. He's apparently one of the top players in Japan for his class.
Huh. Impressive.
Even though I have no idea what's happening on the screen, his explanations are easy to follow, and he's surprisingly entertaining despite how awkward he seems. Before I know it, I'm hooked.
Maybe I should try playing SFO too.
After watching the stream for a while, I decide to follow his account. He mentioned he's willing to help newbies, and that's perfect for someone like me who knows absolutely nothing about the game.
Downloading SFO takes a while, but I use the time to stalk his profile. His stats and achievements are ridiculous! I hope he's as good at helping as he is at playing.
Haru's POV
Streaming is harder than I remembered. Trying to sound confident while playing is exhausting. After about an hour, I decide to call it quits.
At least I made a bit of money from the gifts viewers sent during the stream. Not much, but it's a start.
Still, it's not enough for what I have in mind. Shiori-san deserves something special, not some cheap trinket.
To boost my chances of earning more, I post about my next stream on my social media accounts.
When I check my SFO account later, I notice a bunch of new followers—most of them newbies. Perfect. This gives me an idea for my next stream: a beginner's guide to the game. If I can keep helping them out, maybe they'll stick around and support me.
The thought of playing with strangers makes me hesitate, though. Shiori-san might not be thrilled about me spending so much time online with people I don't even know.
Should I tell her about this?
I shake the thought away. For now, I just need to focus on making this work.