Chapter 6: Glitch in the System

Luna Nakahara

The studio was quiet, save for the hum of her PC and the faint buzz of the neon lights overhead. Luna adjusted her headset, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. This wasn't her usual setup—her apartment stream was cozy, chaotic, and hers. But for serious gaming sessions, especially after the Violet drama, she needed a change of scenery.

Her chat was already blowing up:

xXSlayQueenXx: LUNA WE MISSED U 😭

GamerDaddy69: pls tell me ur gonna clap back at Violet

KaiSimp2023: WHERE'S KAI THO???

"Alright, fuckos," Luna said, leaning into the mic. "Let's address the elephant in the room. Yeah, I saw the video. Yeah, it's fake. And yeah, Violet's still a succubus. Moving on."

She launched into her stream, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she dominated the game. But her mind kept drifting—to Kai, to the gamer con, to the way Violet's smirk had haunted her dreams.

Kai Johnson

Kai stood in the kitchen, his sketchbook open on the counter. He'd been trying to work on a new piece, but his thoughts kept circling back to Luna.

The doorbell rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He wasn't expecting anyone.

When he opened the door, his stomach dropped.

"Hey, Kai," Violet said, her smile sharp as a knife. "Long time no see."

She looked exactly as he remembered—flawless. Her red hair cascaded over her shoulders, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. She was wearing a leather jacket and heels that clicked against the floor as she stepped inside.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice tight.

"I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd stop by." She glanced around the apartment, her gaze lingering on Luna's streaming setup. "Cute place. Cozy."

Kai crossed his arms, blocking her path. "Luna's not here."

"I know. I saw her stream." She tilted her head, her smile widening. "She's… feisty. I like that."

"What do you want, Violet?"

She stepped closer, her perfume wrapping around him like a trap. "I want to talk. About us. About her."

"There is no us," he said, his voice low. "Not anymore."

"And her?"

He didn't answer.

Violet laughed, soft and dangerous. "You always were a terrible liar, Kai."

Luna Nakahara

The stream ended, and Luna slumped in her chair, exhausted but wired. She grabbed her phone, scrolling through her notifications.

Kai: You okay?

She hesitated, then typed:

Luna: Yeah. Heading home.

The studio was only a few blocks from the apartment, but the walk felt longer than usual. Her mind raced with thoughts of the gamer con, Elias, and the way Kai had looked at her last night.

When she opened the door, the first thing she noticed was the laughter.

Kai's laugh.

And someone else's.

She stepped into the living room, her stomach dropping as she saw Violet perched on the arm of the couch, her red hair gleaming in the dim light.

"Luna!" Violet said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "I've heard so much about you."

Luna froze, her gaze darting to Kai. "What the hell is she doing here?"

Kai stood, his expression unreadable. "Luna, this is Violet. She's—"

"Your rival," Violet interrupted, standing and extending a hand. "And, apparently, your roommate's ex."

Luna's world tilted. "What?"

Kai winced. "It was seven years ago, Luna. It didn't matter."

"Didn't matter?" Violet laughed, her eyes glinting. "Oh, Kai. You always did downplay things."

Luna's chest tightened, her fists clenching at her sides. "You knew. This whole time, you knew it was her, and you didn't say anything."

Kai stepped closer, his voice low. "It wasn't my place."

"Bullshit." She turned to Violet, her eyes blazing. "Get out."

Violet smirked, grabbing her bag. "This was fun. We should do it again sometime."

She left, the door clicking shut behind her.

The silence was deafening.