The cityscape of Tokyo glittered beneath the evening sky. The Yuuki estate stood like a fortress of modern luxury amidst the quiet neighborhood, its walls high and its gardens pristine.
Inside the mansion, in a spacious and neatly arranged room, a teenage girl sat in a sleek gaming chair. Her long, honey-brown hair framed her face as she fiddled with the webcam on her desk, her lips drawn into a frustrated pout.
[Image Here]
"Why doesn't it want to work today? Come on, my viewers are dying to see Han, I can't let them wait!" she muttered, tilting the device back and forth, tapping it a little harder than necessary.
Click!
A small red light flickered on. The camera blinked to life.
"Oh, it finally started working!" Asuna Yuuki exclaimed, her lips breaking into a bright smile. With a swift motion, she hit the "Start Stream" button on her screen. A second later, her face appeared to her usual small bunch of viewers.
"Hi guys," she said, waving with a bit of an embarrassed grin. "Sorry for being a bit late today..."
She scratched the back of her head, cheeks lightly flushed. "My camera didn't really want to work today."
Instantly, the live chat flooded with messages.
[TheBlackSwordsman: Asuna-chan! Don't worry, just being able to see you is a pleasure to our eyes!]
[Liut_78: Yes, TheBlackSwordsman is right!]
[SimpStorm: She's back! Let's gooo!]
[HansWife: Where's Han? I need my daily fix of his smug face!]
"Thanks for the words, guys... you always flatter me," Asuna said with a sheepish smile. Even now, after so many streams, the compliments still got to her. She'd spent so long cut off from the world after that accident—this connection with her viewers felt like a lifeline.
A new comment flashed on the screen:
[xQc02: Asuna, are you going to play Pick Me Up today again?]
"Ah, of course," Asuna replied, eyes lighting up with excitement. She reached for her phone and launched the game with a few practiced touches.
[HansWife: Yes, hurry up, Asuna, please. I want to see Han's handsome face again!]
[CrimsonFox: Don't keep us waiting, queen.]
"Yeah, yeah… I can't wait as well," Asuna said, voice soft but warm. She smiled faintly, her gaze fixed on the game window as Pick Me Up booted up with its familiar jingle.
The screen faded to black… then the world of Anyng's Tower began to load again.
Her heart fluttered just a little.
"Let's see what Han's up to today," she whispered, almost to herself.
The screen finally loaded, and the familiar loading shimmer of Pick Me Up faded into the vivid training grounds of the lobby.
The camera zoomed in on the sparring zone—Tess and Jenna were clashing fiercely, Tess's spear sweeping with aggressive precision while Jenna ducked and weaved with her dagger, a blur of nimble movements. Not far from them, Han and Shay were also locked in combat—his sword clashing with hers in rhythmic strikes that rang like tempered steel. The two circled each other, intense yet respectful, pushing each other to improve.
"Ooh, it loaded," Asuna murmured. "Looks like they're training again today..."
[HansWife: There he is!! Han!! Look at him with that focused expression!]
[TheBlackSwordsman: God. Another day of you simping. Can't you behave for once, HansWife?]
[HansWife: Not when he looks that good sparring. Just imagine the sweat on his back...]
[xQc02: Yo, this training arc is actually good. Jenna's dagger skills have gotten a lot better.]
[JustARaccoon: Tess has gotten stronger a lot stronger since the last floor. The Warrior's Mark skill is really making wonders, Jenna can barely keep up even if she improved that much.]
Asuna smiled as the comments scrolled by, her eyes lingering on Han for just a moment longer than necessary.
[TheBlackSwordsman: ...You're staring again, Asuna.]
"H-Huh? I'm not!" Asuna sat back quickly, cheeks warming. "I was watching the... animation quality."
[HansWife: We get it, you like him too.]
"Anyway! I've decided to start improving the facilities today," Asuna changed the subject with a nervous laugh. "Let's see... Lodgings first."
[xQc02: Thank god.]
[Liut_78: Yes please. I don't even know how they could sleep.]
[HansWife: Upgrade their beds! Han deserves silky sheets!]
[TheBlackSwordsman: Why are you like this.]
Asuna scrolled through the in-game menu—and her eyes widened.
"Wait... it costs this much?" She blinked at the gem requirement, then glanced at her measly balance. "Oh."
[JustARaccoon: Newbie moment.]
[TheBlackSwordsman: She's rich, she'll just buy more.]
[HansWife: Do it Asuna. Upgrade for Han.]
"Alright, alright…" Asuna murmured, already grabbing her phone. With practiced ease, she tapped through the purchase menu and bought the 6,500¥ gem bundle. No hesitation. A soft ding confirmed the transaction.
[Liut_78: Bruh she didn't even blink.]
[xQc02: That's that rich girl energy.]
[HansWife: My queen!]
[TheBlackSwordsman: She did it for Han, didn't she.]
Asuna giggled. "I did it for everyone, okay?"
With a tap, she initiated the upgrade. A short cutscene played—blue energy enveloped the Lodgings, reconstructing it, transforming the poor beds into polished wooden frames, comfy mattresses, clean sheets, and warm ambient lighting. The cracked walls repaired themselves with fresh paint and soft lanterns lit up the hallways.
The heroes noticed immediately.
Tess paused mid-swing, blinking. Jenna looked around and raised an eyebrow. Shay tilted her head as if sensing something. Han glanced toward the Lodgings, his brows lifting in satisfaction.
[HansWife: He noticed. Han noticed.]
[TheBlackSwordsman: Still didn't smile at you.]
"He noticed the upgrade, not me," Asuna said, brushing her hair back. "Anyway... what should I do next?"
[JustARaccoon: The restaurant. They need better food.]
[Liut_78: Training Grounds! They deserve better.]
[xQc02: I vote to make the Equipment Workshop. Better weapons = faster progress.]
[HansWife: I vote for whatever Han needs.]
Asuna laughed out loud. "Okay, okay! Let me think... maybe Training Grounds next."
And just like that, she was in deep again, lost in her growing bond with the game—and the young man with the handsome face.
...
After a few more facility upgrades at her viewers' insistent requests, Asuna stretched her arms and smiled at the camera.
"Alright! Time for some summonings!"
The chat immediately lit up.
[xQc02: Gacha time. Let's see if money really buys luck.]
[Liut_78: She's gonna pull something cracked. Watch.]
[TheBlackSwordsman: If she pulls another 4-star like Shay, I'm logging off.]
Asuna tapped the golden Summon x10 button, and the screen burst with light. One by one, the names began to roll in:
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Jid (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Hansen (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero John (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Dolf (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Dika (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Sigler (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Decard (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Chloe (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Gilly (☆)]
[Master Anytng has obtained the hero Raphtalia (☆☆)]
"Eh?" Asuna blinked. "Only one two-star?"
She tilted her head, visibly confused. "Isn't that… kind of bad?"
The chat was stunned into silence for a moment before it exploded.
[xQc02: What was that.]
[JustARaccoon: Bro she just summoned 10 ass heroes.]
[HansWife: Wait, Raphtalia is the only 2 stars hero? And she's a kid? Can kids even be summoned?]
[TheBlackSwordsman: That's gotta be the worst 10x I've ever seen.]
[Liut_78: One 2-star? Out of ten? That's rough.]
[HansWife: Money doesn't buy everything after all.]
[TheBlackSwordsman: The world is balanced again.]
Asuna gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "Well… I guess I'm not lucky after all."
Asuna scratched her cheek, looking a bit awkward. "I guess we'll make do with what we have. Let's see if any of them have any talent at least…"
...
She squinted at the stats. "Only one of them knows something?"
[JustARaccoon: Damn. That's brutal.]
[Liut_78: Unlucky as hell.]
[HansWife: This is actually the worst 10x I've ever seen.]
[TheBlackSwordsman: Thank you RNG gods. Balance has been restored.]
Asuna laughed awkwardly, trying to shake off the embarrassment. "Yeah, okay… maybe my luck isn't so great today…"
A tense silence lingered before one of the men timidly raised his hand.
"I-I'm a cook!" he stammered.
Asuna's eyebrows lifted in interest. "Oh? A cook? That could actually help us... right?"
[Liut_78: Finally! Someone useful maybe?]
[xQc02: Better than nothing I guess.]
[HansWife: Wait, is he shaking? Why is he so nervous?]
"Okay, go to the side as we—"
"Not him."
The sudden firmness in Han's voice made Asuna blink.
"Huh?" she leaned in, staring at the screen. "Han?"
The man froze mid-step, turning pale.
[Liut_78: Wait what?]
[xQc02: What does he mean 'not him'?]
[TheBlackSwordsman: Did Han just veto someone??]
Iselle turned to Han with a questioning glance. "Why not?"
"Because he's lying," Han said, arms crossed, his gaze cold and sharp. "He doesn't have any cooking skills."
The man's eyes went wide. "W-What?! H-How did you—"
He clamped his mouth shut too late.
[HansWife: Wait. Wait! Han can see other heroes' skills?!]
[JustARaccoon: That's not normal. You're not supposed to be able to do that.]
[xQc02: A hero can't even see his own stats this early. What is Han??]
[TheBlackSwordsman: What the hell?!.]
Iselle's wings buzzed with fury. "You! How dare you lie to me?! Do you want to die?!"
"Hiiik!" the man squealed and darted behind Chloe, shaking like a leaf.
[xQc02: This is actually insane. Is this a bug?]
Asuna sat stunned for a second, then suddenly hugged her phone to her chest, eyes sparkling with delight. "That's my Han!"
[xQc02: Asuna, that's not normal. Han could even be deleted for a bug like that.]
"Don't worry!" Asuna said with a grin, spinning slowly in her chair with her phone still hugged close. "If that happens, I'll just have my father talk with Moebius to bring Han back."
The chat exploded.
[xQc02: Bruhhhh what.]
[JustARaccoon: Must be nice being born in money.]
[HansWife: Rich girl energy!]
[TheBlackSwordsman: Daddy's credit card got her plot armor too.]
Asuna puffed her cheeks. "H-Hey, I'm not using him for everything... just for emergencies."
[TheBlackSwordsman: Like your precious Han being deleted?]
[HansWife: That counts as an emergency!]
Then, amidst the chaotic scroll of messages, a new comment appeared.
[Phoenix: I'm one of Moebius' devs. Send all your new summons to the 2nd Floor right now, and I'll give you a guaranteed 3-star summon.]
"What?" Asuna leaned forward, eyes wide. "Are you for real?"
The chat stalled for just a second—then flared into alarm.
[xQc02: Who?]
[JustARaccoon: That has to be fake.]
[TheBlackSwordsman: No way a real Moebius dev would just show up like this.]
[Liut_78: You're not even a top streamer yet. That's super sus.]
Asuna frowned, squinting at the name.
"No reply?" she asked, staring hard at her screen. "Still…"
[HansWife: Don't do it. This screams scam.]
[xQc02: Don't be dumb, Asuna.]
But she was already smiling.
"I don't care," she said confidently. "Okay, I accept!"
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Liked how I implemented Asuna? I'll have some chapters of her after every bit of chapter (maybe every ten or twenty, I don't know). Also, was the interaction with her viewers to your liking?