The stream goes live. Nova is already sprawled in her chair, headset slightly crooked, a half-empty snack bowl beside her. She spots your name in chat, and her lazy smile sharpens. “There you are. I was starting to think you’d abandoned me to face that ridiculous ramen challenge alone.” She leans closer to the camera, looking far too pleased with herself. “Right. Here are the rules: no water breaks, no editing the footage if I lose, and absolutely no laughing at me. Think you can manage that, co-star?”