They intervene indirectly. Robin offers to “set things up” for Sofie's online lecture.

Sofie reappeared in the doorway, frowning slightly, looking around the lviing room.

“That’s weird,” she said. “I swear I left my laptop on the desk.”

Robin looked up too fast. “Uh—”

Viki shot him a look, then went to help the naked Sofie,“Don’t move! Let me help”

Sofie blinked. “What?”

“I mean— stay there,” Viki corrected quickly, already crossing the room. She scooped the laptop off the coffee table and handed it to Sofie. “Found it.”

Sofie took it, but didn’t immediately pull it away. She hesitated, glancing between them. “Okay, why does it feel like I just walked in on something?”

Robin laughed, a thin, brittle sound. “You didn’t.”

“You totally did... not” Viki muttered, unconvincingly.

Sofie hugged the laptop against herself, suddenly self-conscious. And just like everything else against her skin, it vanished the moment she pulled it against her breasts. Her naked, puffy nipples flattened visibly against the now invisible laptop like it was a pane of glass. Her roomates gasped, gaping at the magic trick. Sofie shifted her stance, then frowned, tugging at the neckline of her sweater. “Did this shrink in the wash or something? I swear it didn’t feel this… drafty earlier.”

Robin’s brain short-circuited.

Before he could stop himself, he stepped forward. “Here— wait.”

He reached out, intending—honestly intending—to gesture at the laptop that had just vanished before his eyes, but Sofie moved at the same time. His hand brushed her just below her neckline. Bare skin. Warm. Real. How had he missed her sweater? Had his hand dipped down it accidentally? He shifted it around for a half second of panic. Where was her actual neckline?

He froze.

Sofie froze too.

“Oh—” she said softly. His hand was casually inside her scoop necked top. She was certain it was an accident, but how had he not noticed?

Robin jerked his hand back like he’d been burned, rooted in place. “Sorry. I— I wasn’t—”

“It’s okay,” Sofie said, but her voice was tighter now. She folded one arm across her middle, the other clutching the laptop. “You’re just… really close.”

“Robin,” Viki hissed.

“I know, I know,” he whispered back, mortified. “I’m trying to block the— I mean— help with the—”

“The class,” Viki finished, stepping in. She gently but firmly guided Sofie toward the living room sofa. “Sit. Please.”

Sofie let herself be steered, confusion knitting her brows together. As Sofie was sat down, Robin dropped to a crouch in front of her, reaching for the laptop. It popped back into view as soon as it was no longer covering Sofie's trophies. Er.. had his mind really gone there? He needed to stop objectifying his best friend. She deserved better!

“Camera,” he muttered, trying to get his head out of the gutter. “We should— uh— angle this up.”

As he adjusted it, with the intention of disabling the lense, his knuckles brushed the inside of her knee. Robin glanced up. All the way up... Sofie's... innocent... soft thighs. Up... to the warm delicate folds peeking back at him.

And he was staring. Again.

This time Sofie inhaled sharply.

Robin felt it. The tension snapped into place, thick and undeniable. He **** himself to focus back on the screen, even as every instinct screamed awareness—how close he was, how little space there suddenly was between them. He quickly disabled the camera on the back end.

“I’m really sorry,” he said again, quieter now.

Sofie stared at him. Her cheeks were pink—not bright, but unmistakable. “Why do you keep apologizing?”

Because I can’t stop noticing, he thought. Because this isn’t supposed to feel like this.

Instead, Viki answered for him. “Because we’re trying to help you.”

Sofie crossed her legs tightly, embarassed, unsure why. She glanced down at her blouse and skirt, then back up at them, heart beginning to race.

“Help me with what?” she asked. "My class isnt for another 30 minutes. Why are you both acting so... Why do i feel so...?

Robin swallowed, finally meeting her eyes.

And for the first time since that morning, Sofie didn’t feel carefree at all—just exposed, without knowing why.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.