"Huh?" Ivy Green momentarily forgot she was live-streaming, her wide-eyed gaze at Kate Stone like a startled puppy, her dark eyes darting nervously.
"Everyone else is called 'sister,' yet I'm 'everyone else,'" Kate's voice was calm, but her tone left Ivy feeling as though she were being judged.
The fans' comments rolled in immediately:
Ahhh! That's definitely Kate Stone!Double fandom bliss!Is Kate a little… jealous?No way! She's a literal angel!Right! I'd bet anything Kate Stone wouldn't get jealous!How disrespectful not to call her 'sister' like the others!Is she being excluded by the others?
The rising tension in the comments caught Kate's attention. Stepping closer to read them, she replied, "There's no exclusion here, and no need to fuss over titles."
Though more and more celebrities were turning to live streaming, Kate had never done one herself—not even a casual product plug. Her mere appearance in Ivy's stream sent shockwaves through the fans.
The comments exploded:
OMG! Did Kate Stone just appear on screen?!She's fierce, and I love it!Look at me, Kate! My username is all about my love for you!She's too beautiful for words!
Ivy's mind raced, focusing more on a good explanation than on the occasional trolling comments. "Oh… I didn't mean you were 'everyone else,'" Ivy assured her, "I just hadn't gotten to you yet."
With genuine sincerity, she added, "I was about to brag that you're my roommate, Kate Stone!"
"'Kate Stone?'" Kate repeated, sounding less than thrilled.
Ivy scratched her nose awkwardly. "Is something wrong?"
Kate replied, "If you're so fond of calling me 'teacher,' I suppose I should start teaching you something."
Ivy perked up instantly. "Alright then, teach me how to radiate charm at all times."
Although Kate was still off-camera, the audience couldn't see her reaction—but the show's cameras caught everything: her brief look of surprise, her cheeks tensing as if suppressing a response, and a quick, unreadable shift in her expression.
Ivy quickly backpedaled, laughing nervously, "Just kidding! I was only teasing! It's just that my fans and I both think you're so… well, charming!"
The fans, committed to their favorite, played along with Ivy's enthusiasm, despite their own nervous laughter.
A bold, highlighted comment drifted across Ivy's screen:
My girl's growing up! She's learning to play up to her idol!
Ivy had just taken a sip of water, and seeing the comment, she spluttered, spraying water everywhere.
Fans filled the screen with new comments:
I just got soaked!Me too!+1I'm drenched!
Just as Ivy reached for a napkin, a delicate, pale hand entered the frame, offering her one. The sight of Kate's hand alone sent the fans into another frenzy.
Because of this unexpected moment, Ivy's viewership tripled, and her fan count skyrocketed.
After the live stream ended, Ivy looked at the stats and couldn't help but marvel. Even a few seconds of Kate's presence had drawn in fans from all over. She felt she owed Kate her thanks.
Without a second thought, Ivy handed Kate a box of chocolate milk as a gesture of gratitude.
Kate looked at it and read the words printed on the carton aloud: "Do you love me?"
"Huh?" Ivy, fully understanding the meaning, hadn't realized it was printed on the box.
Kate held the carton up for her to see.
Blushing fiercely, Ivy quickly looked away, eager to explain, "I mean, I just thought you might like it… Thanks for handing me the napkin during the stream."
Kate remarked, "I won't finish this alone."
Ivy blinked, then offered, "We can share it! I'll go grab a glass."
But while she fetched one, Kate had already opened the carton and inserted two straws.
Ivy returned, holding her glass, and hesitated, glancing between it and the shared drink in Kate's hand.
Kate raised an eyebrow, "Don't tell me you're grossed out?"
"Of course not!" Ivy's head shook like a bobblehead, though she normally avoided sharing drinks. But with Kate, it felt almost… sweet.
Kate handed her the carton. "The first sip is the best."
With a dazed expression, Ivy took a sip, savoring the rich cocoa flavor with just a hint of bitterness—a first sip that was, indeed, delicious.
But why had Kate given her the first sip? "First sips are the best" was something people said to children. It was a little childish.
And, Ivy thought, a bit charming, too.
Caught in her thoughts, Ivy watched Kate extend a hand toward her. Reflexively, Ivy placed her hand in Kate's, only to realize Kate had been reaching for the milk carton.
The moment their hands touched, Kate's expression mirrored that of a startled cat—her eyes wide, surprised, and somehow vulnerable.
Ivy: "!!!"
She must be cursed by this show! Every embarrassing moment seemed to happen right in front of Kate!
When they retired for bed, Kate didn't lie down immediately. Instead, she leaned against the headboard with a book.
Mindful of the previous night, Ivy cocooned herself even tighter in her blanket, swaddling herself like a thickly wrapped caterpillar, determined to prevent another mishap.
But as the night wore on, and despite her "protective cocoon," Ivy somehow wriggled her way across the bed, slipping into Kate's blanket like a fish sliding into warm water.
Kate hadn't put her book down yet when Ivy wriggled over, accidentally kicking her own blanket aside. With a half-turn, Ivy's head nestled into Kate's lap, her body curling up beside her like a puppy seeking warmth.
With Ivy resting against her arm, Kate set her book aside and lay down, smiling slightly.
Feeling the warmth against her side, Ivy unconsciously curled even closer, folding herself like a newborn fawn beside Kate, soft breaths against her shoulder.
Kate's hand reached out, her fingers lightly brushing through Ivy's hair, soft like velvet and, somehow, better than petting a puppy's fur.
Ivy awoke to the relentless chime of her phone's alarm. Her first reaction was to check if she was in her own blanket. Unfortunately, her blanket was nowhere to be found, her pillow was on the floor, and, worst of all, her head was resting on Kate's arm.
How long had she been using Kate's arm as a pillow?
Kate's slender arm, likely delicate, wouldn't it hurt?
Panicking, Ivy began to move, but a low, sleep-rough voice murmured near her ear, "Don't move."
It had the slightly nasal tone of someone half-asleep, carrying the authority of a command—almost like training a puppy.