Hans furrowed his brow and turned to Mirabe, “Why so?”
“Just a pattern<b>,</b>” Mirabe said nonchntly, her delicate features betraying a casual indifference.
“At least that’s better than us. We’re stuck with the standard issue of pickles and cornbread<b>,</b><b>” </b>Hansmented with a sigh, then nced over at Mirabe’s phone screen. “Hey, what game are you ying?”
“Chicken Farm.”
Her words brought an immediate pause to the group gathered around the table. A sense of dread, ruled by the morning’s challenges, surged forth. Michelle’s face couldn’t help but stiffen a bit as her fingers curled on herp.
Heather nced at her cousin and then, with a smile, suddenly asked. “You look quite young, dear. Still in school, I presume? High school?”
“Yeah,” Mirabe answered sinctly, her tone polite.
Heather hummed in response and casually inquired further, “No weekend tutoring, then?” The implication was clear: What was a high school student doing at an event like this instead of studying?
Finally lifting her head, Mirabe met Heather’s gaze with a smile, “Never needed extra lessons<b>.</b><b>” </b>
The chat exploded withments.
[Never needed extra lessons? Does that mean she’s a genius or just beyond help academically?]
[Love the confidence, so cool]
[Herees the show–off again.]
Heather was momentarily dazzled by her smile and felt a twinge of difort, but she maintained her grin. “It sounds like you must be quite the student.”
“More or less,” Mirabe brushed off thepliment.
Leo, sitting silently beside his sister, watched the exchange. He was well ustomed to Mirabe’s habit of downying her abilities.
“By the way. Juztin.” Heather turned her attention to Leo, her toneced with concern, “there were some rumors online about you being injured… that’s not true, is it?”
Bringing up such a topic during the show seemed a bit too deliberate, but given the recent online buzz, it wentrgely unchallenged. Everyone present, as well as the fans watching the live stream, were eager to know the truth.
<b>11:33 </b>
Leo pursed his lips, his cool and handsome demeanor unchanged. His hand tapped the table as he spoke. “If I were injured, Walker probably wouldn’t have invited me to join this show<i>.</i><i>” </i>
Heather’s eyes flickered. Sheughed it off with a. “Of course, what was I thinking? But there’s no truth to the Neon Paradox’s breakup rumors, right?”
The question hit like a bombshell.
Hans and Gabriel exchanged surprised nces. Asking about the Injury was already a bit. thoughtless, but now this?
Leo didn’t answer. He just gave Heather a look. The air thickened with awkwardness.
Heather seemed oblivious to the inappropriateness of her question and added, “Neon Paradox has been around for years. It’d be such a shame if you guys disbanded.”
The silence was taken as confirmation. Immediately, the live chat erupted.
[No way, if Neon Paradox disbands, what’s left of my years of fandom?)
[Juztin says he’s not injured but didn’t address the breakup. Looks like he’s going solo for real.] (It’s sad. Once some people get famous, they just kick their former mates to the curb. So cold.<b>] </b>[No wonder he didn’t clear the air before. This is really disappointing.]
Mirabe nced at the chat, her fingertips grazing her phone. She looked up at Heather, her expression unreadable.