Chapter 3

Ken's face showed no panic, only a flicker of impatience.

"What are you sulking about now."

"Don't overthink it. There's really nothing between me and her."

"The match is almost here. Don't throw a fit at a time like this."

He turned and walked off, leaving only the back of him.

Ken, I'm not throwing a fit.

I just think.

It's more reliable to cover myself.

I dug out a contact buried deep in my messages.

"Are you guys still looking for a life-support assistant?"

When the answer came back yes, I let out a breath.

The first thing I did when I got to the office was hand in my resignation.

It went through easily.

As long as I finished this last match, I could leave.

Inside the lounge.

Ken and Myrtle's seats were right next to each other.

Neither of them said a word, but the air still bubbled pink.

Around noon, a few new topics climbed the trending page.

Photos of Ken and Myrtle outside the hotel had gone up online.

Their couple following swelled and swelled.

Management had a plan ready right away.

Let them play up the fake-couple angle, ride the heat.

Myrtle said nothing, which meant she agreed.

Ken's gaze swept over me, then pulled back.

Then he nodded too.

More and more people at the company were shipping them.

"Assistant Sullivan, see, I told you the two of them fit."

"The hot, cocky duelist and the cold, delicate sentinel."

"This ship, it's so good!"

I nodded along and went out the door.

Ken came right after me.

He pulled me up to the rooftop, a cigarette between his fingers.

"Summer, it's just a fake-couple thing."

"I'm doing it for work too. Just wait a little longer."

"Sooner or later, I'll make us official."

I rubbed my wrist and spoke coldly.

"It's fine. We already broke up anyway."

I turned to leave. Behind me, Ken flew into an embarrassed rage.

"Summer Sullivan, is making a scene like this fun for you."

"If you've got the nerve, don't come looking for me!"

After that rooftop talk, Ken and I didn't say a single word to each other.

Every day he was glued to Myrtle.

The two of them interacted constantly on social media.

He didn't even come home at night anymore.

He stayed at the company every day, training with Myrtle deep into the night.

I packed up Ken's things.

This was my rented place.

If anyone was leaving, it was him.

Their heat stayed high, no sign of dropping.

Management made a last-minute call to run a gaming livestream.

He pointed at me offhand.

"Summer Sullivan, you join them for this one later."

"Someone's out today. You fill the slot."

I was about to refuse when Ken spoke first.

"She can't. She doesn't know how to do anything."

"All she does is drag us down."

Myrtle patted his shoulder affectionately.

"Kenny, don't say that."

"We're the twin stars anyway. Can't we carry her?"

Under pressure from Myrtle and management.

Ken gave a grudging nod.

No one asked what I thought.

By the time I came back to myself, the mouse was already in my hand.

In the game, I moved the character stiffly.

Killed again.

Myrtle sighed.

Ken slammed his fist down on the desk.

"Summer Sullivan, what are you doing, they're right in your face!"

"If you're trash, then practice more!"

I didn't know how to explain.

This game was too hard for me.

The livestream comments kept jumping into view.

"Is this healer an idiot or something, doesn't know anything."

"Same, both girls, how is my goddess Myrtle so good."

"Such an eyesore, stop dragging the team down."

I crouched in a corner and, after a struggle, finally got a kill.

Ken let out a scornful laugh.

"An idiot really does counter a pro."

The next second, Myrtle's character got killed.

Ken didn't blame her at all, just soothed her gently.

"It's fine. I'll cover you."

He landed a clean quadra kill, the kill sound effect ringing on and on.

The comments went even wilder.

"Damn, Ken is so cool!"

"He was so gentle just now comforting Myrtle."

"I want a boyfriend like that!"

"+1"

"……"

The game ended, and I went to the restroom.

I wanted to play well too.

But before this I'd barely even gotten to touch a computer.

I'd begged Ken so many times to teach me.

All he ever said was that I couldn't do it.

But if he wouldn't teach me, how was I ever supposed to learn.