Languages always create pronunciation problems.
But in reality, English, as a universal language, is rarely confusing because it respects the native pronunciation wherever it is spoken.
– Wait, it’s not NoName, it’s pronounced NoNaMe?
– LOL So cute!
– Seriously, you can totally tell NoName is just a kid at times like this.
– Not NoName, but NoNaMe!
– That sounds super weird, hahaha!
– Calling it NoNaMe somehow feels much friendlier than NoName, though?
– How can a person’s name be NoNaMe? LOL
– Um… LOL
Kariiri let out a deep breath.
“Don’t! Please don’t cross that river! It’s not just a nickname!”
There was no way she had the power to persuade a crowd of 550,000.
“Ah, so you pronounce your nickname as NoNaMe instead of NoName!”
Na-me shook her head in correction at the caster’s mistake.
“No, how you call my nickname is up to you. What I mentioned was my real name. NoNaMe—these three characters are a precious name my late mother left for me, so I wanted you all to know.”
“Oh… Ah, yes! I think it’s a really beautiful name! So, uh, how much incredible effort was behind NoNaMe, the ‘Total MVP’ award winner’s glorious selection? I hear they just prepared a highlight video! Let’s check it out together! Hoo…”
The caster quickly pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her forehead. Even though she wouldn’t sweat in virtual reality, it was a reflexive action due to her nervousness.
In the center of the stadium, the highlight reel of NoName was being played on a large screen that stretched out in every direction, accompanied by majestic music.
Each scene was a super play that, for some, would only be attempted once in a lifetime, yet nobody seemed to notice.
– ????
– Wait… is NoNaMe really their real name?
– LOL Don’t lie!
– Seems like NoName was already into the Talula jokes before the nickname even came around, huh?
– Who names their kid NoNaMe!
– ipfs://koreanname.me/ (Korean name statistics) What’s this? Is it real?
– ??????????
– ????
– What’s going on?
– (Share): [NaMe is used by 1 person, ranking 44,197th overall, 0th for males, and 22,290th for females. Most commonly used in Seoul compared to regional population. (Korean name statistics)]
– ???????
– Wait, what…?
– Gasp!
– So, that means what Hyebam and Kariiri called out was actually their real name?
– So they made their nickname after their name?
– Seems that way…
– Crazy madness doh doh doh
[NoName’s real name is NoNaMe?] [62]
(Nobody thought that could be their real name, LOL)
[Comments]
– Wow.
– But if it’s a one-off name, wouldn’t insulting NoName immediately make it liable for defamation?
└ Whoa.
└ Are you a genius?
└ Seriously sounds like it could really happen!
└ LOL Of course, thinking about suing right away is so typical of this place LOL
– I always thought the name NoNaMe was beautiful from the start.
└ 22222
└ Me too!
└ LOL Everyone, take off your masks!
– They probably got bullied 100% in elementary school over that name.
└ That was my first thought too, sigh…
└ Ah! Memory assault, stop!
[NoName is both so unfortunate and admirable] [40]
Using the name given by their mother as a nickname,
Honestly, until their age was revealed, I recall them being quietly insulted for some random League of Legends trolling they did in the past.
Somehow managing to prove their skills in the tournament is both commendable and lonely for someone so young…
Anyway, I’m at a loss for words on how to describe this feeling…
[Comments]
– At 14, you’re still quite young, yeah.
– I lost my mom in high school too, so I know it’s a sorrow that words can’t describe.
– But didn’t NoName’s mom pass away when they were super young?
└ Judging from what they say, it seems they remember a bit.
└ That makes it even sadder… If only they had no memories at all, it might have been a bit better.
└ Exactly.
– Has NoName ever shown signs of struggle until now?
└ They did cry once.
└ When? I’ve never heard of it.
└ I don’t have the original reply, but during the second try broadcast of Wagal, they did.
└ I wasn’t watching from the start, but I think they cried because of bad comments…? Some said it was scary.
– Those who leave nasty comments need to be arrested for real.
– I really hope they do well in this tournament.
└ Just seems like such a likeable person.
└ Even without cursing and just by being good at the game, they’re already in the top 1% of streamers; if they’re a 14-year-old girl, it’s even weirder if they don’t blow up LOL
– Scary Story: NoName was a nobody streamer for a whole 6 months.
└ doh doh doh doh
Having an unusual name brings attention.
Especially the fact that the name NoName, given if a user fails to choose a separate name upon logging into VR for the first time, was someone’s real name is both amazing and astonishing.
“Wait, so it wasn’t a concept, but the truth…?”
Shia, who had been in the same clan with Na-me for years, was astonished, replaying Na-me’s interview.
“What? You didn’t know? Shia, you kept calling NoName ‘Na-me!’”
“No, they told me to call them that, so I thought it was just a joke; how could anyone have a name like… Gasp! No, no! Not that!
Shia put her hands over her mouth.
She nearly made a huge faux pas again when speaking to Na-me.
And it was a given that the next most-viewed channel after the Letterbox official channel was certainly Kariiri’s stream.
[Just Chatting – DOUBLE LOLI Broadway Title Victory!!!]
[Broadcasting Time – 0:49:29]
[Number of Viewers – 25,302]
– Kariiri, how much do you actually know!?
– Did everything NoName said turn out to be true?
– Not having a name is a name? Can someone translate that for me?
– Give an explanation! Explanation! Explanation!
“Shh…!”
Kariiri quietly placed a finger to her lips.
“Let’s listen quietly.”
An unusual response. Her gaze, cold and sunk, made it hard to read her inner thoughts.
Once the highlights ended, the atmosphere grew frosty again in the stadium, resonating with the caster’s voice.
“NoName, or rather, NoNaMe! Congratulations on your victory! Oh, Asteria… truly insane! In the end, you stole it as a healer, I’m sure it left many with mixed feelings. You handled everything solo! We need to have an interview. How could you play this game so well? Care to share?”
“Um… I guess I have good reflexes.”
“Reflexes! That definitely seems to be the key to your smooth gameplay!”
– A classic example of ‘youth is your strength’ LOL
– Seriously, I’d bet your reflex test would be 0.1 seconds!
– A beast, an actual beast.
– Is a female first-string pro gamer finally emerging in ACK?
– What’s ACK? They should be going to LCK instead!
– Right? LOL Playing around with the scrubs doesn’t really prove anything. On the other hand, facing off against pro and challenger players in League of Legends is something different.
– I don’t care about a market that’s on the brink of collapse~
– What are you saying? Why is NoName even playing games? They should be contributing to math advancement in the Republic of Korea!
└ Wrong—
└ Whoa, that’s a bit… why go there even?
“Please share a few words of gratitude with your fans and everyone here! Uh, hang on, what did you say?”
The caster pressed the in-ear monitor tightly, concentrating on a message from headquarters.
“This is a first for me. Yes! Streamer NoName foreseen this total MVP interview and has already prepared a thank-you video! We’ve seen channel promotion videos requested by Harasho last year, but this is the first time seeing a personal vlog! Really impressive confidence!”
– WowLOL
– This boldness! That’s NoName for you!
– Total MVP is definitely going to be me LOL
– If they didn’t win MVP, they would’ve been hyped to the max!
– Is the face shown in the vlog? Is the face shown in the vlog? Is the face shown in the vlog? Is the face shown in the vlog? Is the face shown in the vlog?
– What do you mean, NaMe? LOL
– They’re probably going to post it on V-tube, can’t resist the channel promotion.
– Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!
– No! I need to give my phone back right now cries please have mercy
└ LOL Go ahead!
└ Where in the world is this person serving duty to have their phone taken away?
└ Seems like they really watched all the highlights carefully.
└ Just watch the replay tomorrow on V-tube, it’s not a big deal!
*
“Here! Enjoy your meal, student!”
A modulated male voice.
An old man with wrinkly hands offered a crepe filled with strawberries and ice cream.
The camera angle lowered slightly until it seemed the protagonist received it again, and the food stall appeared on screen once more.
“Thank you! Hope you sell a lot, Grandpa.”
This time, a child’s sweet voice melted in the air outside the screen. Again, it seemed to be modulated.
It was a scorching sunny day.
The sky was a bright blue, free from clouds, and the cars occasionally whizzing past were part of an ordinary, mundane cityscape.
The asphalt street shimmered, hinting just how hot it was.
“Hello, this is NoName. I wanted to film a short vlog, but I got unlucky with this hot weather.”
That was the same child’s voice from earlier.
The screen shook a bit; the protagonist’s face was still hidden.
The camera trembled with her steps; it was likely she was holding the camera with one hand as she walked.
“Today is June 6th, so it’s the day before the finals. I’ve prepared well, so I’m not too nervous, but I’m worried about whether I can show this video to you all. Oh, this is a crepe! But since it’s a vlog, I can’t skip on eating, so I bought my favorite!”
She had to hurry and eat before the ice cream melted.
The sound of slurping up the melted part was quite impressive.
“First of all, I want to thank everyone watching this video. Looking back, it has truly been a series of fun days. Most importantly, while preparing for this match, I realized that the process is more important than the end result. I believe this tournament will remain a sweet memory in my heart for a lifetime.”
The camera turned 90 degrees around the corner towards an alleyway.
“There are various reasons I wanted to shoot this video, but first, I want to mention one. We happen to have many foreign viewers in our room. Among them are parents, siblings, or children waiting longingly for soldiers on deployment. Personally, I’ve felt dismay regarding the ‘Hibiscus Incident’ in Sudan recently. I wish for there not to be any more tragic loss of life around the world, sending my heartfelt condolences from afar.”
Since it was an event entirely unrelated to Korea, Na-me could have easily ignored it, but she made sure to address it.
“And to the viewers here in the Republic of Korea, I’m saying this boldly: Recently, it seems that living day-to-day isn’t as easy as it used to be. I feel more viewers coming to watch my streams at the end of a hard day.”
As they entered the apartment complex, there was a soft mosaic overlay across the screen to protect her privacy.
“Even amidst uncertainty and difficulties, I admire those who silently strive forward toward a better future. I also hope to put forth the same effort in tomorrow’s finals and hope that such an image may bring you all a pinch of hope. Moreover, I wish for happiness in the coming days to surpass that of times gone by. For both you all and me.”
Taking the elevator home, she entered her room right next to the shoebox.
“This is my room. I mean, this is what I cleaned up a bit, but some might find it messy. Most of the proofs I uploaded to the V-tube were made right here.”
Just as she said, disheveled notes filled with formulas stuck precariously on the wallpaper.
She placed the camera on a pre-set tripod.
In the middle of the room was a small chair for children facing the camera. The arrangement felt rather out of place.
Just when the shaky camera found stability,
A tiny hand appeared, swung gently in the air a few times, and then disappeared again.
Before long, a child waddled into the frame and sat in the chair.
The soft lighting in the room glowed around her dark hair.
Her long hair brushed over the back of the chair as it was nearly reaching the floor.
Her skin was so pale that it contrasted sharply with her dark clothes.
Overall, she looked as if she could be swept away by the wind.
Everything, from her hair to her body to her arms and legs, was small, but her facial features were distinctly defined, giving her a clear presence.
Her eyes, half-closed and tired, gazed at the camera, the screen, the 550,000 viewers.
With a monotonous tone, her dry voice escaped right after.
“Hello. I am NaNaMe, a second grader at Sephiron Academy.”
What was thought to be a modulated voice was assuredly Na-me’s real voice.
“Nice to meet you.”
