'My, my head's spinning. A guy? Is that really... a guy?'
Ha-rang Lee scurried after Jun-su Kim into the studio.
With both hands clasped around his duffel bag, he timidly mumbled, "Excuse me..." as he stepped inside. How could anyone look at that and call it a guy?
'No way that's a guy!'
His face.
His figure.
Just those two things were enough to make anyone deny his gender, but even his movements oozed femininity.
If he were a guy, you'd expect a certain stride or legs spread wide when sitting—those kinds of mannerisms, right?
But watching the way he followed Jun-su Kim in? It was enough to make you blurt out, "A guy? No way, you're lying!"
Truth be told, there was a heartbreaking story behind it.
It wasn't just Ha-rang Lee's—more precisely, Heavenly Ha-rang's—looks that were feminine; even his gestures had become that way inevitably.
Wherever he went, people mistook him for a girl, so trying to act like a guy would just cause a huge fuss.
For example, sitting on the subway with his legs spread like a dude would draw weird stares, headaches galore.
And that was just the start.
From elementary school all the way through high school graduation, he'd endured relentless bullying.
That vicious cycle had ingrained cowering mannerisms into his body without him even realizing it.
Which only amplified his feminine aura.
Forced femininity seeped into his every gesture.
Even if the soul inside switched to Ugly Ha-rang, those habits wouldn't vanish overnight.
Body and mind influence each other, after all.
By the time Ugly Ha-rang realized his state and tried to correct it... he'd suffer from the deep-rooted effects.
But that's a story for later. Right now, Ha-rang was inwardly tense, unwittingly radiating femininity everywhere.
Which led to Yu-ra Kang suspecting a gender scam all over again as they exchanged greetings.
"...I'm Yu-ra Kang, the gaming streamer known as Yura Yura."
"Nice to meet you!"
Ha-rang bowed politely and offered a handshake.
Jun-su Kim made an "oh crap" face at Ha-rang.
On the way over, he'd meant to explain that Yu-ra Kang had a fear of men and dreaded physical contact with the opposite sex—but he'd forgotten.
"Ha-rang, wait—"
He was about to hurriedly explain before things got awkward.
Before Jun-su could get a word out, something shocking happened that would stun anyone who knew Yu-ra Kang.
"Huh?"
Yu-ra Kang grabbed Ha-rang's outstretched hand and shook it lightly.
Jun-su gaped, mouth hanging open in shock, eyes blinking rapidly.
Meanwhile, Ha-rang politely shook hands and greeted her.
'Physique beyond Asia...!'
The moment he glimpsed her overwhelming chest armor jiggling, his gaze was stolen despite himself.
A subtle bounce during the handshake... it was incredible.
Enough to make you freak out that Korean genes could produce such chest armor.
Seeing Ha-rang's reaction, Yu-ra Kang thought,
'That kind of look confirms he's a guy, but...'
The familiar leers from guys fixated on her chest only deepened her confusion.
She was sick of those stares—they were so commonplace now she could spot them a mile away.
Sometimes girls looked in surprise, but that was different from the sleazy male gaze.
Ha-rang's stare at her chest had that classic dude vibe,
but
'I can actually shake his hand?'
Surprisingly, Yu-ra Kang felt no revulsion as she shook it.
The instant Ha-rang offered, she instinctively grabbed it.
Only afterward did she realize she'd just touched a guy's hand—and it blew her mind.
"Yu-ra? You okay?"
"Yeah. Weirdly... I am."
She nodded at Jun-su's shocked question, focusing on Ha-rang's hand in hers.
Ha-rang, clueless about the situation, could only tilt his head in confusion—until he felt Yu-ra fiddling with his hand.
"Your hand's so soft."
"Th-thanks...?"
Yu-ra toyed with the handshake curiously, while Ha-rang, utterly bewildered, just let her.
'Is this really a guy's hand? So small, soft... cute, pretty—pure maiden material.'
Unable to contain her fascination, Yu-ra marveled at holding Ha-rang's hand, sighing softly, "People like this exist..." and nodding.
She'd figured she'd live alone forever.
A guy touching her?
The mere thought made her skin crawl.
Like cockroaches or centipedes crawling on her skin—utter horror.
She thought it was hopeless, but the world was vast indeed.
A guy she could touch without flinching... actually existed.
That alone sparked intense interest in Ha-rang.
"Looking forward to today. Do you game much?"
No time to dwell on sentiment forever.
With faint reluctance, she let go.
She regretted the warmth of Ha-rang's hand fading from her palm.
Hard to explain why it felt so disappointing, but she stared at her hand and asked,
"I like it."
Ha-rang shyly admitted he played often but wasn't sure if he was good.
The editor there to help with filming gaped at his bashful look.
'Why's he a guy? National loss.'
He couldn't help sighing as a man.
Ignoring that, Yu-ra probed Ha-rang's gaming skills.
"What games do you like?"
"Pretty much everything, no preferences."
Unlike real life, games didn't judge by looks.
So Ha-rang enjoyed mingling with people through them.
He started with online games of all genres, but eventually delved into console titles too.
"Worst case, we might pull an all-nighter if luck's bad. That okay?"
Ha-rang grew curious at Yu-ra's words.
"I packed a bag since you said we might crash here... What game?"
"The game's not the issue, actually..."
Unique Special Forces.
A battle royale where you loot gear, evade the shrinking zone, and survive as the last one standing.
Unlike others, it was squad-based for three players by default.
With hyper-FPS elements like skills and ultimates, it differed from pure gunplay royales.
Even as a latecomer, it carved its niche.
Perfect for their trio collab... but the goal was getting first for a roulette spin.
"If we win first and roulette lands 'go home,' stream ends—even after one round. But no first? Or bad roulette? We go till tomorrow afternoon."
Viewers loved torturing streamers; sniping was inevitable, and even first might not grant escape.
Could mean streaming till collapse.
They were young, used to all-nighters, but better brace.
"I'll do my best."
"Played Unique Special Forces?"
"Yeah, but the characters are as weird as the title, so I stuck to Asura Battle more."
Ha-rang's fondness for Asura Battle—the Korean royale pioneer—made Yu-ra nod: he'd adapt quick.
Greetings done, time to start for real.
Delays just meant later finishes.
The three changed into comfy clothes for the potential marathon and began.
"Ugh!"
Heading to the men's changing room, Jun-su freaked.
"Don't follow me in!"
Ha-rang was trailing with his clothes.
"Huh?"
"Not 'huh'..."
Ha-rang tilted his head innocently; Jun-su sighed deeply.
"A-anyway, separately. You first, Ha-rang."
"We can share—"
"You first."
Guy's a guy, but this? No.
Ha-rang looked puzzled at Jun-su's firmness—like why so shy?—and entered.
Stream barely starting, yet mentally drained, Jun-su muttered,
"I'll never die of old age at this rate."
Constant Ha-rang exposure would shorten his life before acclimating, he lamented—then
"Gulp."
The sounds from the changing room hit him; he reacted instinctively.
'Argh! I'm insane!'
Too late, Jun-su inwardly screamed.
Tormented by self-loathing.
Thus, unexpectedly damaged, the collab began.
The trio reunited, Starless watching, and launched the first game.
Playing while hiding queues to dodge snipers—but couldn't block all.
'Assuming Ha-rang's a newbie... Black Star and I carry as planned.'
No expectations, just using him lightly for synergy—first round started.
"Sniper on the tower. Nah, ignore. I got 'em."
"Ult now for a sure kill."
"Rush that building, barricade with my skill, stall for standoff."
But... Ha-rang played well, mocking Yu-ra's worries.
Really well.
Rising kill logs proved it.
💬 Live Chat— StarlessPretty Boy's a hack pro damn— StarlessWow... Shot timing and enemy reads are insane.— StarlessHasn't played much so terrain knowledge and loot speed are weak points.— StarlessYura Yura and Black Star can cover that. What kinda pro squad is this?— StarlessUncertain factor Pretty Boy carrying too hard ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ— StarlessThis the screen I'm seeing? I can't even spot enemies but Pretty Boy's kill logging?— StarlessNice sniping. Shields make true headshots rare for one-taps—impressive.— StarlessStays cool in chaos. Said he wasn't sure but total addict.
Unexpected Pretty Boy heroics secured first place for the trio.
Cheering in joy, Jun-su and Yu-ra marveled at Ha-rang's skills.
"Black Star, you scouted him knowing?"
"No clue. Never imagined Pretty Boy was this good."
"Haha... Gaming's the only thing where looks don't matter and I can just enjoy."
Ha-rang beamed proudly at their praise.
"Perfect momentum. Roulette time!"
Jun-su grinned—early wrap seemed likely—and prepped the spin.
Meanwhile, Yu-ra tongue-clicked at Ha-rang's cheat-code existence.
'That face, that vibe, and killer at games?'
She belatedly realized how rival female streamers must've felt about her.
"Viewers, we've said it a ton: 'Go home' means we dip. Collab rules—so no whining if it hits first round."
Jun-su taunted and spun the roulette.
At that... Yu-ra felt a sudden dread.
'Nah, no way reverse curse again? Roulette's not that bad anyway—'
"Whoa?! What's this? Why's drinking mukbang popping up here?!"
The impossible struck.