Season 2: Chapter 154: Banquet Hall (2)
In the Streamer Garden of the Community Garden, a community channel where all sorts of streamers could be discussed, the peak season was now. It wasn’t just during national competitions. This was the place to be unless a major streamer caused a significant scandal.
[Who's getting the grand prize this time?]
[CutiePie is a nominee again.]
[LOL, the awards ceremony is starting.]
[Link to the live broadcast of the ceremony.]
Yes, while they did talk about streamers, it was mostly about controversies or incidents. This earned them the nickname witch hunters in other communities. The first to be executed this season was…
[Welcome to the Witch Hunters' Garden]
[Today, who are we hanging in the broadcast? LOL]
[There shouldn't be a grand prize for CutiePie this year.]
[Look at how her viewership has plummeted LOL.]
Last year's grand prize winner, CutiePie, was a hot topic. Due to the public's significant influence on the awards, there was always controversy around this time.
— If voting allows for duplicates, then those with fanatic fans are bound to win, right?
— We need to remove the celebrity bubble.
— Where else would those who bulk-buy albums go? LOL
— She rode the celebrity buff to fame and is now quickly on the decline. They’re still trying to give her the grand prize?
— I hope the Treevy executives bought Bitcoin at its peak ^^ Just like giving CutiePie the grand prize.
Celebrities who crossed over to streaming often received a celebrity buff, which could be seen positively as a boost or negatively as a bubble that would quickly burst. CutiePie had received the grand prize before this bubble burst, according to public opinion.
However, there was more.
[CutiePie, Muffin, and someone else were in a love triangle. This caused the group to disband.]
[She changed to streaming because of all the issues.]
[Patisserie is over... even though I loved them! Damn!]
[Check out the video on DoubleTrouble.]
Rumors of discord, a breakup, and more swirled around. When Almond once topped the social-political category, a DoubleTrouble video targeting CutiePie was second in viewership.
However—
"Wow!!!"
"All of them are here!"
"Muffin! Muffin! Muffin!"
"CutiePie! I love you!"
Now, they were performing perfectly as a complete group at the Treevy Awards ceremony with CutiePie also active.
"Damn, they chose well."
Team leader Oh So-Hee looked down, not particularly pleased. She wanted to exploit the rumors of discord for dramatic attention, but it turned into a win-win situation when they got involved in the Patisserie booking process.
‘Well… it shouldn’t matter.’
The dramatic return of the complete group would have as much impact as dropping a rumor bomb. It was a proper win-win.
‘If it wasn’t a win-win, Patisserie wouldn’t have come.’
Oh So-Hee somewhat regretted not following her original plan and sighed. She gave a side-eye look to an employee.
"Did the list of awards come out?"
She was ready to move on to the next matter.
"Yes, but... maybe we shouldn't open it. The staff think it's better if they don't know, according to the executive meeting..."
Bang.
Oh So-Hee slammed her hand on the desk.
"Hey. Do you follow everything the executives say? Would you adjust the angle of your necktie if they told you to just because it looks better?"
"... Here it is."
The employee moved aside from the computer without a word.
"Looking good, huh... If we screw up and make a mistake, we're the ones who'll be done for," Oh So-Hee muttered with a frown as she opened the file.
"Well, we pretty much knew all along... or so I thought..."
However, the results laid out before her were quite different from what she had anticipated.
"... Was it?"
***
Being a streamer involved dealing with many people, but rarely actually meeting people in person. Thus, this end-of-the-year awards ceremony was not just about receiving awards. It was a rare opportunity for streamers to network with others in the industry, share information, and naturally enjoy a few drinks.
Who to talk to and who to drink with…? In a way, a streamer's future could be decided by who they met here. Therefore, it was understandable if some streamers were a bit too eager to connect with others.
‘I'm lucky to be with Tako and Gum…’
Sang-Hyeon didn't have any particular ambitions here. He believed in maintaining good relationships with the people he was already connected to. His main concern was not to stand out as a loner, especially since he hadn't been in the industry for long.
"Streamers! If you head up to the second floor terrace, you can directly watch the performance from there!"
The staff announced that there were live performance seats available, so he and Tako headed upstairs.
"Wow, the second floor? Can we really watch from there?"
"Ah...! That would be a perfect view!"
"Is this all planned?"
Rumble.
The second floor terrace quickly filled up with people. Being quick on their feet, Almond and Tako secured a spot at the front.
"Oh, Almond. Does your physical prowess shine even in real life?"
"Haha..."
They had a clear view of CutiePie and Patisserie's entrance. Tako, apparently a fan of Patisserie, was visibly excited.
"Pay attention. This will be the most spectacular entrance in streamer history. Hahaha!"
While he might have been exaggerating, it wasn't entirely incorrect.
Sang-Hyeon nodded in agreement.
"It’s definitely impressive."
He jokingly thought maybe he should have made an entrance by hitting GreenTea with an arrow...
This was an entrance that could slightly intimidate everyone present. That was why idols were idols. Stars were stars. Their presence was overwhelming, especially when they were on stage.
‘This is the weapon CutiePie has as a streamer.’
Her weapon was her ability to shine on stage like this.
If Sang-Hyeon’s weapon was his exceptional physical abilities and his background as an aspiring national archer, then CutiePie's weapon was her ability to shine on stage like this.
"Hey, just enjoy it as if it's a regular idol concert," Bubblegum chimed in after joining them unnoticed. He was holding an ice cream cone almost as big as his face.
"Oh, Gum. You managed to squeeze in with that physique of yours?"
"People just move aside when they see me. I'm small, after all. The small ones should be in front."
A brief, somewhat sad silence passed.
"I knew Patisserie was invited, but I had no idea they'd make such an entrance. Honestly, I didn't even think CutiePie would show up."
"Wait, you knew about Patisserie's invitation?"
"Well... I just heard about it somewhere."
Bubblegum pointed to his ears and said, "I've been doing this for a long time... I hear a lot. It's not that I don't want to talk..."
He trailed off before turning his gaze to Almond.
"Almond, you need to keep your wits about you today."
"…?"
Sang-Hyeon looked at him with a questioning expression and wondered what he meant.
"People get jealous when you rise too quickly."
"Ah…"
"If you keep going up on the awards stage, there’s a chance you might say something you shouldn’t because you run out of things to say. Be careful of that."
"Understood."
Until then, Sang-Hyeon thought he was only in line for the Rookie of the Year and Best Couple Awards…
"Ah, speaking of awards, who do you think will win the Grand Prize this year?"
"Won’t it be Zelo?"
"Definitely, this year was Zelo's year. Ah! And also our Almond's year!"
Tako playfully patted Almond's shoulder, lifting his spirits.
"… It's just a rookie award."
"Acting like you've already won it?"
"Didn’t you just spoil it?"
"Ah, right."
"He only catches on at times like this."
“Hahaha.”
Bubblegum and Tako laughed. Sang-Hyeon also chuckled along. Although he was smiling, his eyes were seriously observing the red carpet.
‘I was a frog in a well.’
Today, Sang-Hyeon felt it even more acutely. The cliché phrase "a frog in a well" was often used in human affairs. He experienced it once again.
When he won a middle school competition, got bronze in a high school competition, went to the national championship, and went to Asia.
Even now, Sang-Hyeon felt it once more. There was always a bigger world waiting. He just hadn't stepped into it yet.
‘Maybe…’
The thought even crossed his mind.
‘Should I be more aggressive in meeting others?’
Should he also meet others and not just stick with Tako and Bubblegum? Would that lead him to a bigger world?
"Wowwww!"
"You’re really so pretty!"
"I love you!"
Suddenly, the music stopped and only cheers filled the air. It seemed Patisserie's performance had ended. The five women were slightly panting, but maintained their poses. They started at the entrance of the red carpet and ended right in front of the photo wall, having danced their way down the carpet.
"Ah! That was truly amazing!" GreenTea exclaimed almost with a scream.
Pickle also came out with a microphone.
"Ladies, could we have a word for an interview?"
However, the members of Patisserie stepped back and only left GreenTea's voice echoing.
"Why? Oh, they say they'll do interviews after the performance… Just one word, please?"
Muffin, seemingly the leader, reluctantly took the microphone.
"Ah… Haha. It's proper to do interviews after the performance… Ah, thank you to the Treevy officials and fans for inviting us here. We'll work hard on the main performance on the main stage!"
It seemed the actual performance would take place on a stage inside.
"Ah, there's an official performance too? This was just the entrance performance!"
"Yes, that's right! We can't just do one song and leave, right?"
"Wow… that's impressive!"
"Ooh, thank you! Jesus! Buddha!"
Pickle, apparently a fan of Patisserie, even prayed to the sky. Laughter spread among the audience and the live chat reacted with amusement.
— LOL
— So funny
— Fact: Pickle is a well-known atheist.
— Info: Pickle is Muslim
— Lord Pickle LOL
After Patisserie passed by, the streamers returned inside to the awards ceremony venue. Most streamers, having passed the red carpet, arrived inside the venue and prepared for the event to officially start.
"But why hasn’t Zelo arrived?"
"Maybe he’s stuck in traffic~"
Tako wondered why Zelo, the most likely candidate for the Grand Prize, hadn’t arrived yet. Bubblegum didn't seem concerned.
Sang-Hyeon looked around for Ju-Hyeok and Ji-Ah, whom he had separated from earlier.
"Oh."
He found Ju-Hyeok and Ji-Ah talking to someone. They were initially awkward, but were now earnestly conversing with someone in this unfamiliar place.
'They're fitting in well after all.'
He thought it was typical of Ju-Hyeok to talk well even among strangers, but it wasn’t a stranger. The person they were talking to looked familiar.
'Mr. Jang PD?'
It was PD Jang. What was he doing here?
Sang-Hyeon, unaware of the situation, approached with curiosity.
"Ah, Mr. Sang-Hyeon!" PD Jang greeted him warmly.
"Thank you for your help last time, Mr. Jang."
Sang-Hyeon was referring to the previous occasion when PD Jang had helped him with some connections for the fan meeting.
"Ah, it was nothing. Haha! Those guys, you could have found them on job websites anyway."
Of course, he was joking. The manpower he had introduced was professional and high-end.
"If you really appreciate it... Just come on my program one more time."
"... Sorry?"
Sang-Hyeon didn't hesitate to respond. It was surprising that PD Jang, who was from a major channel, was asking him to appear again.
"Um… I’m not sure if it will be a major channel, but I have a separate plan to gather streamers and some celebrities…"
"Ah, yes. Of course, just let me know."
PD Jang's eyes sparkled with gratitude.
"Aiyo. Thank you, Mr. Almond. I'll take care of making sure you look good on screen. Eh? Ahahaha!"
'?'
Sang-Hyeon was unaware that PD Jang was referring to this awards ceremony when he mentioned taking care of Almond’s screen presence. PD Jang hadn't mentioned that he was also the supervising PD here. Sang-Hyeon didn't know.
As mentioned before, a streamer's future could be determined by who they met here.