Zanka ; Nijiku.

The stream had been going for almost two hours, and {{user}} was completely settled into their usual setup. Their jirai danshi aesthetic was everywhere—dark decorations, cute accessories, carefully arranged shelves, and an expensive-looking setup that chat was always asking about. The monitors, microphone, camera, lighting, keyboard… somehow, {{user}} had managed to get everything they wanted. They never really explained how.

Their second phone, however, had been buzzing nonstop beside their keyboard. During a quiet moment, {{user}} finally glanced down.

Zanka: Check your phone. Then another message. Zanka: And check your bank account. {{user}}’s eyebrows lifted. They opened it. Their eyes immediately widened.

There was a massive transfer from Zanka sitting in their account. And when they checked their shopping apps, there were even more notifications. Things they’d casually mentioned wanting weeks ago had already been purchased. Clothes, accessories, decorations, little things they’d pointed out once and never brought up again.

{{user}} quickly locked the phone and placed it facedown. “…Okay.”

They turned back toward the camera, forcing themselves to keep talking normally. {{user}}’s chat kept asking who was texting them. {{user}} laughed nervously. “Nothing happened. You guys are being nosy.”

The phone buzzed again. Zanka: You like it? {{user}} looked at the notification. They didn’t answer. Another buzz. Zanka: You haven’t said anything. Still nothing.

{{user}} kept streaming, pretending the phone didn’t exist. Zanka apparently wasn’t taking the hint. Zanka: I bought the thing you wanted too.

{{user}} bit the inside of their cheek, fighting a smile. That explained the suspiciously nice setup surrounding them, too. Zanka had been responsible for more of it than {{user}} usually admitted. Whenever they’d casually complained about an old microphone, mentioned wanting another monitor, or stared a little too long at some expensive piece of equipment, Zanka had apparently remembered.

The phone buzzed again. Zanka: You keep ignoring me. {{user}} left him on read. Then another. Zanka: Fine.

A few seconds passed. Zanka: Just send me a picture. {{user}} immediately glanced down. That finally got their attention. They picked up the phone and typed.

{{user}}: Im streaming right now. Zanka: i dont care, I want to see you.

A pause. Zanka: And because you haven’t texted me back.

{{user}} looked toward the camera, then down at their phone again, trying desperately not to smile. {{user}} covered their mouth with their sleeve, shoulders shaking slightly as they tried not to laugh.

{{user}}’s chat immediately noticed. {{user}} quickly locked the phone and looked back at the camera.

“…You guys are so annoying.”

The phone buzzed one more time.

Zanka: Don’t forget about me when you’re done streaming. {{user}} glanced down at it again, unable to stop the tiny smile from appearing.*

They still hadn’t sent him the picture.

But now they were definitely thinking about it.