Yoona Noona?!

“YouChube, what is that?” I inquired, my face contorted with confusion as this was my first encounter with such a term.

“Come on now, you can’t be that dense, lol,” she chuckled, her amusement evident.

“I genuinely have no knowledge of it. Suffering from a form of amnesia, the majority of things around me remain a mystery. It may sound peculiar, but that’s my reality. I can’t aimlessly wander, oblivious to the world. I must acquire an understanding of these matters promptly,” I explained, my eagerness to comprehend evident in my voice.

“Wow, that’s certainly a first,” she responded, her surprise apparent. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she continued, “Think of it as a virtual stage, a platform where one can showcase themselves to the entire world, all without the need for face-to-face interactions. It holds the potential for creators, like ourselves, to earn a substantial income. Although I must admit, I’m still striving to make a name for myself.”

“I see, I see. It’s truly remarkable. So, if I understand correctly, all one needs to do is create these small snippets called videos and upload them onto this ‘YouChube’ platform to generate passive income. I must confess, I am astounded. I had no inkling such a worthless profession existed,” I exclaimed, attempting to grasp the concept.

“Don’t speak those words out loudly, you lil shit. Constructing a huge presence on YouTube is no trivial feat. It necessitates the creation of high-quality, imaginative content, an endeavor that demands considerable time and effort. With over a million competitors vying within each niche, even commencing a brand-new channel has become a daunting task,” she elucidated, emphasizing the challenges.

“I understand, I understand. Does this also encompass uniqueness?” I inquired, pointing to a video on her smartphone, bearing the title, ‘Eating noodles with nose until 5000 Subs | Live Stream | Charity Stream.’

“Ah, no, no!” she exclaimed, hastily closing her phone, her face tinged with embarrassment. I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Please, stop laughing. That particular corner of the YouChube world has no relevance to us creators. It attracts a distinct fan following,” she clarified, her tone expressing a mix of chagrin and amusement.

“Very well, gotcha.”

“Did I convey it correctly?” I sought her validation.

“Either you fully embrace the role of a gentleman or venture into cringe territory… although the latter isn’t exactly appreciated around here. For now, stick to your own accent,” she replied with a smirk, offering me a piece of advice.

“Understood. If that’s the case, I shall practice with fervor and precision. By the way, if I may ask, what is your channel’s name?” I inquired. Despite our lengthy conversation, we had neglected to exchange names. Not that it mattered much; this was likely just a fleeting encounter, and our paths were unlikely to cross again.

“Oh, right, darn it. We forgot to introduce ourselves, didn’t we?” she realized, retrieving her phone swiftly. After a brief search, she presented it to me. “You may address me as Yuna, Aoi Yuna. And this, my friend, is my channel: Yoona Noona.” With a quick flash of her phone, she showcased her profile picture, featuring a close-up portrait of Yuna donning a stylish round hat. Completing the introduction, she flashed a peace sign and a playful wink.

I took a moment to appreciate her captivating profile picture before shifting my gaze towards her channel. “Yoona Noona,” I repeated.

-Profile Picture - A close up portrait of Yuna wearing a round hat--Channel Name - Yoona Noona--123 Subscribers-

“Wow, you have quite a substantial following. It’s surprising considering the three-digit number, but once you imagine the size of their physical presence, it becomes quite significant.”

“No, not even close. Setting aside the money aspect, I don’t have a decent variety of content that these 123 people came for. Up until now, I’ve created content without focusing on a particular topic, resulting in a cluttered mess on my channel page. I’ve considered focusing on a specific trend multiple times, but the overwhelming workload always got the best of me, so I haven’t been able to make any changes.”

“That makes sense. From my perspective, you’re currently no different from someone starting a new channel. However, you do have a slight advantage that we can leverage for something. How about this: I help you, and in return, I receive 60% of the total earnings?” I proposed, as I had an exciting idea that would captivate our audience.

“I never said you could work with me, though… Hmm, I suppose we could find a good use for you. We can discuss the earnings later since the channel isn’t even eligible for monetization at the moment.”

“You can do as you please, as long as I receive a fair share of the profits.” This opportunity could be immensely beneficial to me for two reasons:

a) Currently, I work at a convenience store, but if this endeavor proves successful, it would provide an additional source of income.

b) Through this platform, there’s a high chance that someone from my family or an acquaintance could discover me. The broadcast reaches the entire world, so the odds are quite favorable.

“That all depends on the amount of effort we invest,” she replied.

“Yes, that makes sense. However, are you comfortable letting a stranger work with you? I understand that I could potentially pose a danger,” I cautiously asked.

“I owe you that much. Besides, I already have enough red flags in my life, so it doesn’t make much of a difference,” she said with a faint smile.

“Alright, I’m genuinely intrigued by this unique concept of work. Let’s get started as soon as possible.” This occupation, which I had never encountered in my memory, piqued my interest.

“Great then. I’ll meet you at the café near the Railway Crossing tomorrow at 5:00 pm, if that works for you. I would have contacted you, but of course, you don’t have a smartphone… Never mind, let’s just meet tomorrow. I’ll be there, okay?”

“Uh… yes, o-okay…” I mumbled in a low tone subconsciously.

“What? Don’t tell me…” Her expression once again turned to surprise. “You don’t have a place to go.”

“Unfortunately…” I replied, tilting my head with a nervous smile.