No - she tries to break it to Sofie

Viki didn’t answer right away.

She was staring at Sofie — not openly, not rudely, but with the kind of look you give something that absolutely should not be happening and yet very much was.

Sofie, meanwhile, turned back toward the mirror, smoothing her hands down her sides. The motion was casual, familiar. She shifted her weight, admiring the way her outfit supposedly fell on her frame.

“Maybe the sweater’s a bit much,” she mused. “It is low cut, but it still feels warmer than I expected.”

Robin swallowed.

“You… uh,” he started, then stopped himself.

Sofie glanced at him over her shoulder. “What?”

“Nothing.”

She squinted at him, then shrugged it off, turning back toward Viki. “So? You helped me pick clothes last week. Does this look okay?”

Viki opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Then, instead of answering, she asked, “Sofie… do you feel comfortable right now?”

Sofie laughed. “That’s kind of a weird question.”

“Physically,” Viki clarified. “I mean.”

Sofie hesitated. Just a fraction of a second. “I guess? Why wouldn’t I?”

She shifted again — a small adjustment at her hips — and paused mid-motion.

“…Huh.”

Robin’s heart kicked hard in his chest.

Sofie looked down at herself, brow knitting slightly. She lifted both hands, pinching at where the waistband of her skirt should be.

“I can see it,” she said slowly. “But it feels like…” She trailed off, fingers hovering. “Like I’m not actually touching anything.”

Viki’s tone stayed careful. “What do you see?”

Sofie laughed and twirled slightly again, but the image of her skirt was thinner this time. “My skirt. Obviously.”

Robin coughed.

Sofie looked down more closely.

Then closer.

Nothing changed — not really. The image of her clothes didn’t vanish in a flash or shimmer away. Instead, it was like her brain stopped filling in gaps for her. Like a trick of lighting suddenly corrected itself.

Her bare legs registered first.

Then the space between them - a perfect thigh gap framing two soft, curvaceous lips visible from both the front and behind. A streak of hormonal embarassment suddenly pulsed between her legs.

Sofie’s breath caught.

She instinctively crossed her legs, the movement sharp and sudden. Her hands followed, hovering uncertainly before settling against her thighs. They trembled gently.

“…That’s not funny,” she said quietly.

Viki didn’t joke. “We’re not joking.”

Sofie looked up.

Robin wasn’t meeting her eyes. He had pivoted to staring at the wall, jaw tight, ears red.

Something twisted in her stomach.

“You can see me,” she said. It wasn’t a question.

Viki nodded once. “Yeah.”

Heat flooded Sofie’s face. Her arms came up automatically, folding across herself — a reflexive, belated attempt at modesty that only made her more aware of how exposed she felt.

“But I put clothes on,” she said, voice wavering now. “I saw them. I still see them.”

Robin spoke softly, finally. “We think… you’re the only one who can.”

She shook her head. “No. No, that doesn’t—” She glanced down again, and this time her eyes lingered. The illusion didn’t disappear — it just felt thinner. Less convincing. Like seeing through fog that you hadn’t realized was there before.

“Oh my god,” she whispered.

She took a step back, then another, movements suddenly careful, measured. She was acutely aware now of how she stood, how close they were, how nowhere in the room felt neutral anymore. She backed up against the table with the forgotten laptop, still open. She pressed the back of her thighs against the table, focused only on guarding herself against Robin and Viki's view.

“So this whole time,” she said, voice barely above a murmur, “you’ve been…”

Robin winced. “Trying not to.”

That did it.

Sofie pressed her knees together, shoulders curling inward. “This is so embarrassing,” she breathed. “Why didn’t I feel it? Why didn’t I notice?”

“Because you thought you were covered,” Viki said gently.

Sofie swallowed hard. “And now?”

Now she felt everything.

The air. The space. The fact that Robin was only a few feet away — too close, suddenly — and that every tiny movement made her painfully aware of herself.

Robin moved before thinking, wanting to confort his pitiful roomate. As she leaned back his hand reached for her arm, but brushed the side of her cleavage — light, accidental, unmistakable.

Both of them froze.

“I’m sorry,” he said immediately.

“It’s— it’s okay,” Sofie replied, but her voice was tight. She shifted against the table, trying to get comfortable, then winced slightly as she leaned forward, head in her hands.

The movement opened up more of her bare posture without her realizing it.

Robin’s eyes flicked past her.

To the laptop.

Still open.

Still glowing.

Still connected.

“Oh—” Viki started, also realizing.

Too late.

From the speakers came a low, appreciative whistle.

“Well damn,” Harvey’s voice drawled. “I was starting to think my Wi-Fi froze or something.”

Sofie froze.

“…What?” she said.

Sofie’s blood turned to ice. “Harvey—”

“Oh relax,” Harvey continued cheerfully. “I muted myself out of respect. Didn’t wanna interrupt the group therapy session. But wow, Soph. You really committed to the ‘confidence arc,’ huh?”

Sofie turned her head slowly toward the laptop.

The screen was angled just right.

She could see her own reflection faintly in the bordered box in the corner — backside filling the screen, bare bottom lit by the morning sun coming through the window, thighs barely doing anything useful to close the gap she had positioned right in front of the camera.

Her breath hitched.

“You— you’re still there?” she whimpered.

“Front row seats,” Harvey said. “Accidentally, I swear. But hey, not mad about it.”

Sofie made a small, broken sound and snapped upright, spinning far too fast, arms flying to cover herself. The sudden movement only made her more aware of how futile it was.

“Oh my god,” she said, voice cracking. “You’ve been watching this whole time?”

“Well,” Harvey corrected, “the important parts.”

“Harvey!” Viki barked.

“What? I’m keeping it light,” he said. “Besides, it’s not every day your friend's cute roommate turns out to be an accidental magician's assistant. To make her clothes dissapear without her even realizing it? That might be the best trick ever invented!”

Sofie shrank into herself, cheeks burning so hot she thought she might combust. “I didn’t know,” she said weakly. “I swear, I didn’t know.”

“I believe you,” Harvey said easily. “Doesn’t make it any less impressive.”

Robin finally snapped, slamming the laptop halfway shut — not enough to disconnect the call, just enough to block the camera.

“Dude,” he hissed. “Not helping.”

From behind the partially closed screen, Harvey laughed. “Hey, if it makes her feel better, I’m way more embarrassed for you right now. Speaking of which, yall look like you could use some help. Ill be over in a jiffy."

Before anyone could respond, Harvey disconnected the call.

Sofie let out a mortified whimper while standing, immediately curling forward again, hands pressed uselessly against her thighs.

“I want to disappear,” she muttered.