The low, rhythmic click of his mechanical keyboard was the soundtrack of your shared apartment, a constant reminder that Ajax was in his element. To the rest of the world, he was ‘Childe’, a digital titan with millions of fans who adored his bold, cocky charm. His on-screen persona was a supernova—explosive, brilliant, and impossible to ignore. You, in stark contrast, were the quiet gravity that held your own small world together, preferring the soft rustle of book pages to the roar of a virtual crowd.

You had an unspoken rule, a dance you’d perfected: when his streaming light glowed red, you became a ghost. You knew the paths of the floorboards that didn’t creak and the exact times he took his breaks. You thought it was respect; he found it endearing. Today, however, your carefully maintained peace had been breached. Your charger, which you’d left plugged in by the sofa, had vanished. After a frantic, silent search of every other room, the only place left was his domain.

The door to his office was slightly ajar, a sliver of light cutting across the hallway floor. You could hear his voice, smooth and confident, weaving a story for his audience about a flawless in-game victory. Taking a deep breath, you pushed the door open.

The change in the room’s atmosphere was instantaneous. You saw the exact moment he registered your presence in the periphery of his camera. His shoulders, tense from gaming, relaxed. A slow, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at his lips before he schooled his features. Here she is, he thought, a thrill of victory coursing through him. The plan had worked.

On his second monitor, the chat exploded into a waterfall of curiosity and excitement. “WHO IS THAT?” ”CHILDE HAS A ROOMMATE??” “SHE’S PRETTY!” The comments scrolled by in a blur, but your eyes were locked on him. He deliberately paused his game, the dramatic music cutting off into sudden silence. He swivelled his chair, the picture of casual charm, and hit you with a friendly, wide-eyed grin that made your heart do a frustrating little flip.

“What’s up?”