Chapter Six
Maki
“Do you mind if I watch something on the television for a bit before crashing?” Kurstin asks, stretching out on the other bed in our room. Kurstin, Bo, and Amour always take turns on who rooms together and whoever doesn’t fit, usually bunks with me.
I shake my head. “I don’t mind.”
“Awesome. Thanks, Maki.”
Grabbing my laptop from my bag, I pull it into bed with me. I open it up and quickly get the window open to Rin’s stream. I slide a pair of headphones on, not wanting to bother Kurstin while he’s watching some sitcom on the television.
I can’t help but smile at the screen. Once the ads are done playing, I finally get to see Rin’s face. He’s looking tired but that’s not really a surprise as his stream has been going for twenty-five hours now. I’m sure it’ll be time for him to take another nap soon.
I get comfortable, pulling my laptop into my lap.
Then I go to the donate section, wanting Rin to know I’m here, watching.
Right now he’s just playing the game. I’ve never heard of a game like this but from watching the last few minutes, it appears to be some sort of dropper game where his character falls down and he has to avoid hitting anything.
The lower he gets, the more items he picks up which helps with his next drop.
If he dies, he gets to keep some of the items he’s collected, making the next drop just a tiny bit easier.
“Okay,” Rin says on screen, biting his bottom lip as he reads through the different items he could buy now that he’s floating between layers. He’s just made it past ‘Space’ and now he’s about to fall down through ‘Earth’.
I admit, I don’t really understand it but that’s okay because Rin seems to be enjoying himself despite his frustration. Chat is also enjoying this, based on what I’m reading.
“We could get the second chance. That way, I could splat once and still keep going. Seems like a safe buy.” He looks over at chat and then nods his head, buying it before falling down again.
I click the donation button, wanting to send Rin a message and let him know I’m here. I want him to know I’m watching.
The donation message plays out loud, just like the first stream I watched. Hi Blue. I just got to my hotel room and wanted to say hello. I hope you are enjoying the game even if I have no idea what is going on.
I watch as Rin’s entire face lights up. My stomach swirls with warmth at the sight. It’s hard to believe that my simple message somehow garnered that sort of response.
“Mods,” Rin says, stretching the word out, adding a bit of a singing aspect to his voice.
“I need someone to VIP Maki for me please,” he tells them, focusing on the game while he talks.
“Maki, save your money. Now that you’re a VIP, I’ll be able to see your messages easier.
I’m really glad to hear that you’re in chat.
Maybe you being here will give me the luck I need to get through this fucking game,” he says with a laugh.
Azaad(mod): You’re all set @Makiplaysvolleyball
ExcitedOwl(vip): MAKI! OH MY GOD! YOURE LIKE THE MAKI FROM THE NANIO NINJAS RIGHT???
IwaZilla(vip): Jesus Owl, you’re gonna scare him away
GlassesForDayz(vip): Idk, he’s kinda cute when he’s excited…
IwaZilla(vip): Great… now you’ve gone and done it…
ExcitedOwl(vip): OH MY GOD GLASSES YOU THINK IM CUTE?!?! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE
Makiplaysvolleyball(vip): Hello! Yes, I am that Maki!
Rin makes it down into the section after ‘Earth’, his character floating in the air mid skydive. He looks over at chat, chuckling. “Okay, okay. Calm down, Owl. We don’t want you to scare Maki or Glasses away.”
Rin stretches his arms over his head and I swear I can hear his neck pop through his microphone. That can’t be healthy.
ExcitedOwl(vip): @Makiplaysvolleyball IM A REALLY BIG FAN OF YOURS! I HOPE THATS NOT TOO WEIRD!
Makiplaysvolleyball(vip): I do not find that strange. Thank you for the support!
TheGamer_JDB: Get the parachute! It’ll slow you down and make dodging impact easier!
LiberosOnTop: *stumbles into chat following Maki*
Makiplaysvolleyball(vip): I also play libero :)
LiberosOnTop: I know ;P I’m your backup! Heh Heh
Makiplaysvolleyball(vip): Oh! I didn’t know you made an account!
KoralReeds: Why does this Maki guy get special treatment?
PeriwinklePally(mod): Cause he’s cooler than you
KoralReeds: Rude but fair enough
TwinkleKawa(vip): It’s because he’s HOT
WiseWizard(vip): Not as hot as @Azaad
Azaad(mod): Oh you…
TheGamer_JDB: Ugh they’re flirting again!
I smile to myself, seeing someone I know in chat. I didn’t realize Kent had made an account. By the icon next to his name, it appears he’s become a sub to Rin’s channel.
“Hey,” Rin says with a grin. “Stop flirting in chat! You’ll make people jealous! Chat, type one if you’re single.”
A few people type one but the majority of people completely ignore Rin. Normally, I would find that quite rude but I get the sense this is a running joke between Rin and his chat.
I’ve never been part of something like this but I find myself having fun, joining in chat, talking with the other VIPs and some of the mods.
SqueakyWheel(mod): Hi everyone! Looks like it’s time for my shift!
BookLover4Life: Still going? I left for work and I come back to the same thing as when I left.
ExcitedOwl(vip): HI SQUEAKY!!
“Damn,” Rin murmurs, glancing at chat. “Don’t call me out like that BookLover. Hi, Squeak! Welcome back!”
Apparently, the mods are taking shifts taking care of Rin’s chat. That’s very wise. I’m enjoying seeing all the different personalities. I’m enjoying Rin talk to chat, watching as he interacts. It’s different than when he was talking to me in person, but no less good.
Joker49(mod): Hi, Maki! Welcome to the VIP club!
Makiplaysvolleyball(vip): :)
TwinkleKawa(vip): You’re kind of adorable, you know that right?
IwaZilla(vip): Why is everyone flirting today???
TwinkleKawa(vip): Awww Iwa! Don’t be jealous! I’ll flirt with you anytime you’d like
IwaZilla(vip): As if.
Azaad(mod): *raises brow at you two*
IwaZilla(vip): *whistles innocently*
I find myself smiling at the screen. Just then, there’s a resounding splat through my headphones. I wince as I look back at Rin, seeing ‘You’ve Splatted’ on the screen in bright red. Rin lets out a long breath, running his hands through his blue hair.
“That’s it, y’all! I think I need another break.”
Two people step into the room behind Rin, flanking his computer chair. Rin mutes the stream for a moment and I look at chat, trying to figure out who these people are. According to Azaad, they’re Rin’s roommates and they’re going to be doing an advice podcast while Rin gets some rest.
Rodney and Suga take over the stream. One of them pulls over a chair while the other sits in Rin’s chair. They introduce themselves, the one with silver hair is Rodney while the brunette with the perpetual frown is Suga.
Makiplaysvolleyball(vip): I should get going. I have practice in the morning.
LiberosOnTop: ugh, saaaaame
Joker49(mod): Bye Maki!! Bye Libero!
Azaad(mod): Good night Maki! Good luck with your practice tomorrow!
ExcitedOwl(vip): ILL BE WATCHING YOUR GAME ON MONDAY!
Makiplaysvolleyball(vip): Thank you :)
“Bye Maki,” Rodney says with a grin. “I hope I get to meet you soon. Next time I stream, you should join!”
Suga nudges him with his elbow. “You just want to be able to drill him where Blue can’t see!”
“I would never,” Rodney says with a fake pout. “I simply want to meet my bestie’s new friend! That’s all! No ulterior motive at all. If he happens to like the vibes and subscribe to my channel, well, that’ll just be a handy little bonus.”
Suga looks straight into the camera. “Maki, if you were smart you would run far, far away from these assholes. I should have run years ago but now I’m in too deep. Save yourself!”
Rin peeks his head back in, pouting at his friends. “Don’t listen to them, Maki!”
Chat is going wild, surging faster than I can keep up with.
I just shake my head and close my laptop, knowing that if I don’t, I’ll be stuck trying to keep up until it’s way past my bedtime.
This sort of thing is addictive, wanting to stay part of the conversation, wanting to see what will happen next in the stream.
Suddenly, I get it. I get this side of the world. It might not be my thing but I get why people enjoy it so much. I get why Rin does it for a living.
My phone lights up with a new message.
Rin: Thank you for joining chat tonight. It was really nice seeing your name!
Maki: I had a lot of fun. I’m sorry you didn’t beat the game this time.
Rin: It’s fine! I think I’ll get it tomorrow :)
Rin: Hey, would it be okay if I called you? We can talk while I cook myself dinner. It won’t be long, I know we both need to get to bed soon.
I think about it for only a moment. I look over at Kurstin, finding him already asleep. I stand up and set my laptop away. Then I turn the television off.
As quietly as I can, I grab my keycard and step outside, sitting on the floor outside my room. I click on Rin’s name and hit call.
“Maki! Hi!”
I smile to myself, staring at my own feet. “Hi, Rin.”
“Thank you for calling! When I saw your name in chat, it made me so freaking happy. I couldn’t actually do a little happy dance because chat would have absolutely roasted me and teased me until I died, but just know, on the inside, there was a happy dance happening.”
I chuckle softly, trying to imagine what a happy dance would even look like. Cute. Definitely cute.
“Chat was very fun,” I admit softly. “Thank you for promoting me. I hope that’s not too much trouble for you. I still don’t know how these things work.”
“It’s no trouble at all. Now I’ll see your messages.
My other VIPs are mostly just people who started as regular chatters and then I upgraded them because they’re funny or because I like them.
They keep the vibes good, you know? Although, once in a while someone becomes a vip for something ridiculous. ”