Ding!
[Title: Just Thinking Lately]
[High School Grad Middle Schooler]
[Content]
‘I don’t think I’m actually that cute…’
[Comments]
– Huh?
– ?? Lol
– Only now?
– So you’re finally starting to self-reflect.
– Honestly, I always thought you were kinda cute, yeah…
– For real.
– Not bad at all.
[Title: Feeling the Walls of the World Closing In]
[High School Grad Middle Schooler]
[Content]
wldks_08 << Just unbelievably cute…
These are the kind of kids people truly call cute and adorable.
Perhaps I was merely a frog in a well (TL Note: A Korean idiom referring to someone with a narrow perspective.) all along.
[Comments]
– wldks_08 is definitely a valid point.
– The channel owner even follows them for their cuteness, so what can you do?
– Hmm.
– Why the sudden change?
– Is it that time of the month?
– This isn’t like them at all.
[Title: Falling]
[High School Grad Middle Schooler]
[Content]
My self-esteem
To rock bottom.
[Comments]
– Whoa, hey, why are you going dark?
– No period drama (TL Note: A slang term for overly dramatic or moody behavior, often attributed to hormonal fluctuations, though not always related to actual menstruation.)
– What is this?
– Did someone call you out for acting cute?
– Why are you so down in the dumps?
– This isn’t easy…
While some users had shrewdly caught on to the truth, the majority were simply baffled, tilting their heads at my complete transformation.
The very person who had been normally chatting, enjoying WWE with everyone, suddenly began posting melancholic messages as if waking from a dream into a grim reality?
Whether they were confused or suspicious, it was undeniable that all eyes would be drawn to such a phenomenon.
[Title: High School Grad Middle Schooler << Weren’t They Just Some Guy Playing a Character?]
[Yirin-chan’s Thighs]
[Content]
Why is she suddenly acting like a genuinely mentally unstable (TL Note: ‘Menhera’ is a Japanese slang term for someone with mental health issues, often used to describe dramatic or attention-seeking behavior online.) girl?
[Comments]
– This feeling is strangely familiar.
– Seriously, it’s exactly the vibe you see from *that* side.
– They could actually be a real middle school girl.
– So all that verbose self-aggrandizing was just an act? Lol; don’t lie.
Having sown seeds of doubt among the channel users, I decided to go dormant for a day, feeling as though I was spitting blood (TL Note: A Korean idiom for doing something with extreme effort or reluctance.).
Surprisingly, as my absence lingered, some users began to notice and started posting, occasionally mentioning my name.
[Title: The Middle Schooler Isn’t Coming Back]
[Lorenzo]
[Content]
If you feel a subtle emptiness without our Yirin Channel hero, High School Grad Middle Schooler, give this a thumbs-up, lol.
[Comments]
– Thumbs-up.
– They post dozens of threads a day; wouldn’t it be weirder if we *didn’t* feel their absence?
– No wonder the post rate felt slow.
– A huge void (seriously).
– It really is more noticeable than I thought, lololol.
[Title: I’m a Gender-Bender Expert]
[Balsamic Cat]
[Content]
Honestly, they always had that certain vibe.
Or rather, they almost seemed to be trying *too hard* to appear otherwise, if you know what I mean.
These types of cases sometimes turn out to be true when you dig deeper.
[Comments]
– Is that so?
– It’s not entirely unreasonable, but I’m not sure.
– Nah, that bastard is definitely a guy who lifts 400 (TL Note: Refers to a combined total of 400kg in bench press, squat, and deadlift, indicating a very strong male.).
– I also lean towards them being a guy, lol. Or maybe a single woman over 30 who’s starting to get anxious.
[Title: Mint Soboro, You Bastard, Aren’t You Managing Your Owner Properly?]
[Temu Mountain Sword God]
[Content]
If they’re going to throw a tantrum (TL Note: A colloquial, somewhat derogatory term for overly emotional or dramatic behavior, often implying a ‘period-like’ mood swing.), you should be there, praising them until their self-esteem is fully restored!
Is that simple task so difficult?
(Amphibian shrugging emoji)
[Comments]
– Seriously, what are Mint Soboro and Full-time Farmer doing?
– This is dereliction of duty.
– Mint Soboro Bread: Hmm.
– Mint Soboro Bread: This is a new tactic for me.
– Temu Mountain Sword God: So, is this an act or are they genuinely throwing a tantrum?
– Mint Soboro Bread: Who knows?
Despite everything, given my fairly active presence and even my role in preventing the channel from being suspended, it seemed more people were interested in me than I had anticipated.
However, I had to be cautious.
If such behavior crossed a line, there was a risk of accumulating excessive goodwill, which could lead to being ignored (TL Note: ‘Byeongmeokgeum’ is internet slang for ignoring someone who is acting out for attention, often used to prevent them from gaining further engagement.).
Ding!
– Cute Wren: What are you doing…?
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Why?
– Cute Wren: Oh, just wondering what you were up to.
– Cute Wren: That Clam Star, wldks_08, that’s you too, isn’t it?
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: It is, but don’t bother.
– Cute Wren: Okay…
Cha Sera, who knew I was the Clam Star wldks_08, had messaged me, but I decided to hold my tongue for now, as elaborating didn’t feel quite right.
However, this time, a message arrived from an unexpected source.
Ding!
– Mint Soboro Bread: Hey.
As I was intentionally maintaining a state of dormancy, I naturally offered no comment.
Yet, somehow Mint Soboro Bread seemed to know, sending another message and pressing me for a reply.
Ding!
– Mint Soboro Bread: I know you’re seeing this.
– Mint Soboro Bread: Come out.
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Why?
– Mint Soboro Bread: I managed to make some vague excuses to get by, but why are you doing this, anyway??
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Doing what?
– Mint Soboro Bread: You suddenly adopted this forced ‘menhera’ concept and went dormant, right?
My first disciple, Mint Soboro Bread, certainly possessed a sharp intuition in unexpected ways.
Though I’d considered him somewhat suspicious, I hadn’t thought he was certain, yet it seemed he understood my thought process more deeply than I’d imagined.
Ding!
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: wldks_08 << They’re so cute my position is at risk.
– Mint Soboro Bread: ?
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: A head-on fight would be disadvantageous.
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: So I thought I’d change my strategy this time.
– Mint Soboro Bread: Wow.
– Mint Soboro Bread: I’m just speechless…
As my Clam account was, by unfortunate coincidence, also linked to Shin Yirin, the channel owner, there was a high probability that I would continuously draw the users’ attention if things continued as they were.
Therefore, I had to protect my standing on the channel with a differentiated strategy and unique character.
Indeed, to put it simply, this was nothing short of a struggle for survival.
Ding!
– Mint Soboro Bread: Do you really *have* to do that? ㄷ
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Yeah.
– Mint Soboro Bread: Okay, fine.
– Mint Soboro Bread: Just don’t get yourself banned.
– Mint Soboro Bread: When you’re not on the channel, let’s play some action party games.
– High School Grad Middle Schooler: Got it.
After playing some games with Mint Soboro Bread and returning to the channel, sure enough, mentions of me had significantly decreased.
At this point, it was time for the second stage: to present a self-managed ‘menhera’ image designed to captivate the channel users’ attention.
[Title: Should I Get a New Hairstyle?]
[High School Grad Middle Schooler]
[Content]
Which do you think would be better, short hair or long hair?
[Comments]
– Long hair on a guy is a bit…
– For women, it’s always long hair.
– Die, long hair fanatics.
– Die, die, die, die, short hair fanatics.
– ㄷ;
– Post a pic.
– We’ll judge.
Rather than overtly displaying depression, I chose to appeal to them with a commendable image: taking time for self-reflection, then attempting new changes, and striving towards a positive direction.
I subtly introduced a topic that could spark a ‘galdcup’ (TL Note: A Korean internet slang term for a heated debate or ‘versus’ discussion, often about trivial matters.) hoping to catch their eye and draw their needless attention.
‘Hmm.’
The channel users would likely be interested in my activities, even if they pretended otherwise.
After all, this was a place inhabited only by the specters of the archives, who would grow thorns on their tongues (TL Note: A humorous exaggeration meaning they’d feel uncomfortable or incomplete.) if they didn’t binge-read the channel’s posts for even a single day.
Perhaps, with the exception of genuinely busy individuals, everyone must have witnessed my method-acting-like ‘menhera’ moves.
Ding!
[Title: Come to Think of It Again, I]
[High School Grad Middle Schooler]
[Content]
Still, I guess I am kinda cute…
Not ‘unbelievably cute,’ but still, you know.
[Comments]
– That’s right, you’re plenty cute.
– (Emoji of encouragement and support)
– ㄷ
– High School Grad Middle Schooler is pretty unique, yeah.
– Just do your own duel.
This constant fluctuation, this back-and-forth shifting of thoughts, was the first technique of ‘menhera’ I had learned through the internet.
Thus, without even realizing it, the channel users were slowly sinking, part by part, into the swamp I had created.
“Hehe.”
With a satisfied smile playing on my lips, I decided to continue my channel activities as usual, contemplating the timing for the next phase of my plan.
As the sun set, the eagerly anticipated next day arrived.
****
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
“……”
A problem had arisen.
And it was a problem I had completely failed to anticipate.
Lying prostrate on the edge of the bathtub, my chin propped in my hands, I maintained a sullen expression, and even after the rain clouds above me had dissipated, I remained un-wiped, quietly lost in thought.
‘I feel drained……’
Upon waking that morning, I had felt a distinct difference in my body.
My body felt heavy and limp, like waterlogged cotton, and an inexplicable sense of gloom began to settle over me.
“Sigh.”
Let me clarify upfront: I do not menstruate.
Since becoming a woman, I had, out of caution, studied various things, but for reasons unknown, a female menstrual cycle simply did not exist for me.
Whoosh.
“……”
As rain clouds began to gather once more, so soon after they had dispersed, I sighed and turned on the warm water, beginning to heat my chilled body.
‘Hmm.’
‘Why am I feeling this way?’
There was no particular reason for my mood to be low, yet inexplicably, my feelings kept fluctuating.
Consequently, I had been stuck in the bathtub, unable to do anything, and at this rate, it was becoming impossible to distinguish myself from a truly ‘menhera’ girl.
Ding!
[Title: What Should I Do When I’m Depressed All Day?]
[High School Grad Middle Schooler]
[Content]
Due to circumstances, I can’t play games or go outside; is there anything else I can do to lift my spirits?
[Comments]
– Then what else can you do but sleep?
– Eat something delicious and get plenty of rest.
– ㄷ
– The way this bastard’s been acting on the channel lately is literally that of a ‘menhera’ high school girl.
– They are the current ‘menhera’ High School Grad Middle Schooler.
– Okay;
– Eat something spicy and sweat a bit.
– Go for rosé mala tang.
As even continuing my thoughts grew tedious, I manipulated my smartphone to order a rosé mala tang, following the channel users’ recommendations.
Click.
Seizing a brief moment when the rain clouds had vanished, I hastily threw on some clothes and opened the front door, but the food was nowhere to be found in the hallway outside, as if I had mistaken the location.
“……”
My tension continued to sink.
A thoroughly unpleasant gloom weighed on me, like wearing layers of damp clothing.
“Sigh.”
Today… it truly felt as though I was destined for a wretched day.
