𝐅𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ⸙͎ ɪᴋᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʟᴀɴᴅ

【 Chapter №.4】

Chapter 4: A Glimpse Behind the Curtain

Shu watched as Y/N's stream ended, a flicker of concern crossing his face. He’d noticed a change in her lately, a subtle shift in her demeanor. She seemed more tired, her laughter less spontaneous. The bubbly, energetic persona she projected online was starting to feel like a mask.

Behind the cool, collected exterior he presented to the world, Shu was a complex man with a heart that yearned for connection. He'd been drawn to Y/N from the moment he'd first seen her stream. Her infectious energy, her genuine passion for gaming, and her vulnerability, which she tried so hard to hide, had captivated him.

He'd always been a solitary person, finding comfort in the structured world of competitive gaming. But with Y/N, he felt a connection he'd never experienced before. It was a mix of admiration, friendship, and something deeper that he was afraid to acknowledge.

He opened his own stream, the familiar routine a comforting anchor. As he played, his mind drifted to Y/N. He wondered what she was doing, if she was okay. The thought of her being anything less than happy filled him with a strange unease.

A notification popped up on his screen. It was a direct message from Y/N. His heart skipped a beat.

"Hey," it read. "Can we talk?"

A surge of excitement and nervousness coursed through him. He typed a quick reply: "Sure, when?"

"Now?"

Shu hesitated. He was live on stream, but the urge to talk to her was overwhelming. He took a deep breath. "Yeah, sure. I'll end the stream."

As soon as the stream ended, he called Y/N. The line rang once, twice, before she picked up.

"Hey," she said, her voice sounding tired.

"Hey, what's up?" Shu asked, trying to sound casual.

There was a long pause before she replied. "I think something's wrong with me," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Shu's heart sank. "What do you mean?"

Y/N explained her symptoms, her voice trembling slightly. Shu listened intently, his mind racing. He'd noticed some of these things, but he'd dismissed them as stress or fatigue.

"You should get it checked out," he said, his voice filled with concern. "I'm here for you, okay?"

Y/N thanked him, her voice filled with gratitude. They talked for a while longer, and Shu felt a sense of peace after hanging up. He cared about Y/N more than he realized, and he was determined to be there for her, no matter what.

As he lay in bed that night, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There was more to Y/N's story than she was letting on. And he was determined to find out what it was.

The next day, Shu decided to do some digging. He started by looking into Y/N's past, trying to find any clues that might explain her recent behavior. He found nothing unusual, but it was a starting point.

As he continued his research, a thought occurred to him. What if there was someone else in Y/N's life, someone who was causing her stress? He dismissed the idea as quickly as it came, but a seed of doubt had been planted.

Shu knew he was treading on dangerous territory. Snooping into someone's life was a breach of trust. But his concern for Y/N was overwhelming. He was willing to risk their friendship if it meant helping her.