Gender Swap: The Introvert's Broadcast-Chapter 88: Forming a 5-Person Drinking Party

So, it hadn’t been long since I was with Rize.

Maybe about two minutes, tops.

Originally, we had planned to meet up in Mangwon-dong for a meal, all of us together.

This time, Sarok was supposed to join as well.

‘...I guess that’s how feelings go, a mix of dislike and attachment.’

I had wanted to meet in person and talk with them for the first time.

So, in Mangwon-dong, at a Japanese restaurant, I was supposed to meet with Harin, Mangming, and Sarok.

That was what I knew.

But when I entered the restaurant, there was Rize.

So, that’s why I awkwardly greeted them.

“You said you’d introduce us. Since we’ve met now, let’s all get along.”

Harin had a proud look on her face, probably pleased with herself.

I felt like pouring water on her happy face, but since Rize, a stranger, was here, I couldn’t act recklessly.

“I’m introverted, so when there are too many new people, it’s a little overwhelming to talk.”

I slowly opened my mouth.

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It was as if I was hoping someone would start the conversation for me.

After I said that—

“Dam-a, long time no see?”

Sarok, who was sitting across from me, spoke up.

I hadn’t expected Sarok to show up at a place like this either.

I knew they said they’d be here, but I didn’t think they’d actually show up.

“Oh, uh, hello?”

Honestly, we weren’t exactly close, so it wasn’t easy to engage in smooth conversation.

I wasn’t the type to act flirty either.

“Hey, we’ve been close, haven’t we? Why are you being all distant?”

“In the streams, yeah, in the streams.”

I personally think it’s important to keep a clear divide between reality and the streams.

If you act too comfortable with people just because you’re close in real life, it could make things uncomfortable.

I believed it was better to draw a thick line and stick to it.

“Well... we’ve got plenty of time. We’ll get closer over time, won’t we?”

“Oh, yep. We’ll get to know each other.”

There was no need to push anyone away.

If Sarok genuinely wanted to get closer, I didn’t mind.

While thinking this, Mangming, who had been sipping water, spoke up.

“Should we order some food first? I haven’t eaten yet, so I’m starving.”

“You’ve been eating all day on stream though.”

“Wanna fight?”

“No thanks.”

It seemed like Mangming had been eating non-stop during the stream, but hadn’t eaten anything today.

I was suspicious, but went ahead and ordered a variety of dishes.

Now, the most important thing remained.

“So, what are we drinking?”

Drinks were important.

Ideally, everyone would drink what they wanted, but when there are people you don’t know well, I thought it’d be better to stick to one choice.

As we sat in silence for a moment—

“Let’s go with sake. We’re at a Japanese restaurant.”

“Oh, sake. Sounds good. Is everyone okay with sake?”

Rize suggested sake.

Harin got everyone’s agreement.

‘Never had it before.’

It should be fine.

If it was bad, they wouldn’t be selling it.

“I’m good with it.”

“Me too.”

“I’m okay as well.”

Once everyone agreed, Harin happily ordered the sake.

I’d noticed before that Harin really enjoyed gatherings like this.

It seemed like she liked meeting people.

‘I wish I had a personality like that.’

I was so introverted that I couldn’t even talk to people I didn’t know.

If they didn’t speak first, I wouldn’t speak at all.

I was like that even during university.

As I was thinking these things, Harin spoke up.

“Alright, now that we’re all here, how about we introduce ourselves? I don’t think we really know each other that well.”

It was time for the dreaded self-introductions—something introverts hate more than anything.

And it was Harin who was starting it.

So, I immediately spoke up.

“Well... don’t we already know each other? Do we really need to do intros?”

“Of course, you have to introduce yourself. Do you know Rize? Are you close? Do you know his real name?”

But then came the three-step counterattack.

I couldn’t counter it.

The combo was too strong, I guess.

And so, I surrendered and sat down as Harin began the introductions.

“Well, I’m Harin, a streamer on Twis. My real name is Kang Harin, and I’m born in 00.”

There were three 25-year-olds in this group.

It felt strange, so I began my introduction too.

“I also stream on Twis. My real name is Lee Ji-hoo, and I’m 25.”

Clap clap

A short round of applause followed, and next up was Mangming.

“I stream on Twis... my real name is Yeom Hye-ji, and I’m 25.”

“Yeom Ji would be a great name.”

The joke came out of nowhere.

I almost laughed but managed to hold it in while scanning the table to see who said it.

And I saw the suspect.

“It’s true, though. Why is everyone looking at me like that?”

It was Sarok.

Always acting calm on stream, but here, making weird jokes.

‘Minus one point.’

In my internal ranking system, I deducted a point and then listened to Sarok’s introduction.

“I stream on Twis. My name is Lee Pa-rang, and I’m 27.”

“...You named yourself after some kind of plant?”

“Pa-rang is better than Yeom Ji.”

“Pa-rang and Yeom Ji are opposites, though. Yeom Ji is superior.”

Suddenly, the two started babbling nonsense.

They had known each other for a while, so they were probably just joking around.

But since only one person was left, I decided to stop them here.

“Okay, okay, enough of this nonsense. Let’s wrap it up with the last introduction.”

With the situation settled, a moment later—

“Should I introduce myself now?”

Rize spoke up.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Harin, sitting next to me, responded.

And Rize began to speak.

“I’m Rize, a professional gamer in the Korean League, and I’m 22 years old.”

22 years old.

Honestly, I was surprised.

She looked much younger.

At first glance, she could pass for someone who had just entered high school.

I pushed aside any impolite thoughts and gave a simple greeting.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Oh, I’ve heard a lot about you too.”

We both probably said that out of courtesy.

It’s highly likely that neither of us really knew much about the other.

Rize exchanged greetings with the others, and that’s when I started to wonder.

‘How good is a pro gamer really?’

Since I didn’t follow pro games much, I had no idea how skilled she might be.

I’d never met her in solo queue.

As I thought about this, we started chatting.

How much time passed?

“Ugh... Ji-hoo, I’m sleepy...”

“If you’re sleepy, go ahead and sleep. Don’t lean on me.”

“Hehehe...”

Mangming was completely drunk.

I knew she wasn’t good with alcohol, but I didn’t expect her to be this weak.

Thinking I needed to take care of her, I chatted with Mangming when suddenly—

“Alright, let’s have another drink quickly!”

Harin took the lead, urging us to drink.

“Already?”

“What, are you drunk?”

“No, it’s not that, but the tempo seems a little fast.”

“Hey, you guys all seem like you drink a lot, so it should be fine.”

“That’s true.”

“Well, in that case, let’s drink.”

Harin handed me the drink, and I gulped it down.

I didn’t particularly like soju, but sake tasted good, so I could drink it without hesitation.

The others seemed to feel the same way.

“Sake tastes great. Hmm, it’s to my taste.”

“It really does taste good.”

We were all chatting and seemed to have gotten closer, with no more awkwardness.

Except for Mangming, who was passed out and using my lap as a pillow.

“Is she always this weak with alcohol? I knew she talked a lot, but I didn’t think she’d be this weak.”

“She is weak, but she’s even weaker today.”

Harin, who usually drank a lot, was also surprised by how fast Mangming got drunk.

I thought it was interesting and continued the drinking session.

How much time passed after that?

It seemed like everyone was drunk.

Even Harin, who had seemed fine, was starting to struggle.

It was probably time to wrap up.

“So, should we call it a night? Everyone’s had enough to drink, I think.”

There had been a small win in the drinking session.

I’d become closer to Sarok, and I’d also built some rapport with Rize.

That seemed good enough.

Just then—

“Oh, my house is nearby. Want to come over for a second round?”

Rize made an offer.