“When dealing with people, you should always be sincere.”
After losing my father at a young age, my mother raised me all on her own and would occasionally share how to navigate the world.
From saying laughter brings blessings to sharing with others, she had a whole list.
It was the typical advice adults give, but at the time, I had a rather jaded view of the world, so I reacted quite bluntly to her words.
“Mom, it’s not like that nowadays. The world is filled with so many shady and scary people.”
Revealing one’s sincerity is akin to exposing one’s weaknesses, you see.
The things my mom said were based on the fundamental belief that humans are inherently good.
Wasn’t she just a bit too naive? That’s what I thought back then.
Of course, my perspective hasn’t changed drastically. Even now, after some time has passed since my mom passed away, those words don’t resonate much with me.
Even right now, I think about the outcome of being sincere. I just want to show my late mother the scene before my eyes.
[“Why am I.”]
[“What what whaaaat?”]
[“Are you going to explain? Are you going to explain? Are you going to explain?”]
[“This is getting weird~~ Wow~~”]
[“Bold statement.”]
[“I thought the kayak would show up in a black suit, but those jerks just downvoted, lol.”]
[“Explain explain explain explain explain explain!”]
[“What are you even asking for an explanation about??”]
[“You’d think I killed someone or something, lol.”]
[“People are suspiciously angry…”]
A scene so ridiculous even Satan would shake his head. Wouldn’t my mom acknowledge she was wrong if she saw this?
“I’m serious, okay? Why would I explain? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
After a single company dinner, chaos erupted in various communities.
I woke up to hear my own drama circulating—which is pretty standard for a streamer but left me utterly baffled.
“Oh, you’re all really fired up, both in the chat and the gallery. Some are measuring angles wrong and writing posts. Don’t do that! As a self-proclaimed forum veteran, I’m telling you, that’ll land you in jail. You want to go to the police station? Huh?”
[Whoa!]
[Police people~]
[You want to go to the police station?!!]
[Lol, if they get caught, they won’t be just one or two kids.]
[The police uncle is here, calling, “You little punk!”]
[??? : What did you come here for? Oh, you wrote something online…?]
[At this rate, wouldn’t everyone want to give money to the kayak?]
[What are you gonna do, what are you gonna do, what are you gonna do, what are you gonna do, what are you gonna do?]
[You’d better write that stuff with a burner account, too many dumb kids out there.]
[If you’re mad, go sue me, lol, if you’re mad, go sue me, lol, if you’re mad, go sue me, lol!]
“Worrying about me is causing a ruckus. My co-workers have been checking in on me a lot, asking if I’m okay. They said if I need help, just tell them since they’ve experienced lawsuits, too.”
This, too, is sincere. In fact, since I started streaming, I haven’t really lied about anything.
Except for suddenly waking up to find that the Abyss had become a top-tier game, and that I had transformed to look just like Camilla—there were no secrets left for me.
Some say my excessive fondness for Camilla is just a broadcast gimmick, but really, who would go this far just for a concept?
There was a conspiracy theory suggesting that my favorite persona was merely a broadcasting concept, but seriously, who would go this far just for a concept?
Thinking back on it, I realized that while I claimed my mother was wrong, I was faithfully upholding her words.
Is there anyone as sincere and genuine towards the viewers as I am? But these people don’t even realize that and are just causing a ruckus.
“I’m not saying I won’t clarify anything at all. But when everyone is crowding around and the person involved doesn’t even know the situation, shoving a mic in my face asking, ‘Is this true?’—who would want to talk? Of course, I wouldn’t want to. Thankfully, I heard the news from our house master beforehand. What if I had come here completely oblivious? I haven’t even been checking the forums lately. It would take ages just to figure out what’s going on, and I wouldn’t have understood a word you all were saying.”
“[Wow, that’s a lot of words, lol.]”
“[Looks like there was a lot to unpack…]”
“[You’re really talking back… Kayak, you’re out of my bride candidate list.]”
“[Your diction is better than some up-and-coming rappers.]”
“[I’m quick to catch the gossip and tell Kayak about it, lol.]”
“[Hurry up with the clarification; your tongue is too long.]”
Since someone mentioned they’d definitely sue, the chat had gotten a bit calmer. The speed of messages seemed to slow down, too.
But when I glanced over, the number of frothy viewers didn’t look like it was decreasing at all.
They were quiet, not typing, but that meant they were still listening to everything I said.
I cleared my slightly dry throat from talking too much and opened my mouth again.
“Anyway, I’ll say this just once, so listen well.”
I began reciting the hastily prepared script I wrote in ten minutes before starting the broadcast.
*
“I swear, I, Kayak the Streamer, will speak only the truth without hiding or adding anything based on my conscience prior to my clarification.”
I declared my oath at the request of a viewer and started my explanation.
Honestly, I didn’t have to, but I felt it would present a better picture this way.
I could always upload it to VTube later through Yusia or Kim Jae-jun. Something like “Kayak’s Clarification.”
“How many years has it been since Abyss came out? That’s when I started gaming, and it’s true I didn’t create the gallery until a while later. I thought it would be nice to share opinions and talk about games, but there weren’t any decent communities. Is it true that there’s some connection between Joodak, Paddak, and me? Well, those who were gallery-ing back then are currently Joodak and Paddak, so of course, they know each other. Same with our house master. There aren’t many whose nicknames I remember, but those who know, know.”
Crafting the script wasn’t particularly difficult. To me, it wasn’t even that long ago; it was an experience everyone had gone through.
What I needed to mix into the truth was fiction, which was only in reference to the day the shutdown notice popped up. That moment when I drank and posted a proof shot.
“I have to talk about the root cause of this mess. Yes, that day was truly my worst day. Just like any other day, I saw the notice and went to check the official website.”
[Kazuo donated 1000 won!]”
“Teacher, if you’re 21, are you born in ’03? I thought you were older, but you’re actually my age. I can’t believe it.”
“Ah, ’03. Yes, I’m ’03. But just to be sure, should I show my ID? I’ll just cover my face for a moment.”
I displayed my ID with the face and name parts blacked out.
The only visible part of the resident number clearly started with ’03’.
“Right? I’m 21. Yep. No need for formalities. We’re friends now. Let’s be casual from now on. Got it?”
[Jealous, jealous, jealous, jealous, jealous]
“Why that guy only, why that guy only, why that guy only, why that guy only, why that guy only?”
“Not even showing his birthday, tsk…”
“Thoroughly revealed only his age.”
“Abyss gallery made by a high school girl, whoa.”
“High school girl word order, Kayak.”
It was at that moment, right after I finished all the clarifications, that a calm state settled in.
“[National Camilla Alliance donated 1000 won!]”
“Teacher, what’s up with that bleached hair? It’s scary.”
“Bleach?”
I wondered what they were talking about when I noticed that Camilla’s white hair was faintly showing above the blacked-out face on my ID.
The person who just donated had exceptional eyesight and caught that.
“Oh, ahaha… Yeah. That’s right. I had white hair when I took the ID photo…”
This was a story outside of the script.
I had nothing specific to deny and just accepted the donor’s comment.
“I’m scared… I’m scared… I’m scared… I’m scared… I’m scared… I’m scared…”
“20-year-old college student… bleached… model student… delinquent… ugh, the hair…!”
“Have these guys never dyed their hair in their lives? lol, what’s the big deal about bleaching a little?”
“Geek trait) Never changed their hair since birth, always the same style.”
“Kayak delinquent theory rising, whoa.”
“Judging someone based on hair color is ridiculous, lol.”
“Looking cute with that get-up makes me like her even more.”
“What’s with calling me a delinquent? I’m not a bad person.”
I just smiled playfully and said that.
