**Chapter 3: Ripples in the Pond**

The morning sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted the lingering fatigue on Jason's face as he scrolled through his phone. The notifications seemed to be endless, with everyone from fans to fellow streamers weighing in on Adapt's confession. Jason let out a deep sigh, feeling a sense of dread wash over him. He had known that this moment would come, but he hadn't expected it to happen so suddenly. As he made his way to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee, Jason couldn't help but think about Adapt. What had possessed him to confess like that? And how was he feeling now? Jason remembered the look on Adapt's face, a mix of fear and uncertainty. He wondered if Adapt was okay, and if he should reach out to him. Just as Jason was pouring himself a cup of coffee, he heard a knock at the door. It was Max, holding a large coffee cup and looking like he hadn't slept in days. "Morning, man," Max said, dumping himself onto the couch. "I see you're aware of the situation." Jason nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Yeah, I'm aware." Max set his coffee cup down and rubbed his eyes. "Dude, I don't know what to say. I'm still trying to process it all." Jason sat down next to him, and the two of them sat in silence for a few moments, sipping their coffee. "I think we need to talk to Adapt," Max said finally, breaking the silence. "Make sure he's okay." Jason nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." The two of them got up and made their way to Adapt's room. They found him sitting on his bed, staring blankly at his phone. "Hey, man," Jason said, sitting down next to him. "We just wanted to check in and make sure you're okay." Adapt looked up at them, his eyes red-rimmed. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Max sat down on the other side of him. "Adapt, dude, we need to talk about what happened last night." Adapt nodded, taking a deep breath. "I know. I'm sorry, guys. I don't know what came over me." Jason put a hand on his shoulder. "Adapt, there's nothing to be sorry about. You just... you said what you felt, and that's okay." Adapt looked up at him, his eyes searching. "Really? You're not mad at me?" Jason shook his head. "No, Adapt. I'm not mad at you. I just... I need some time to process everything, that's all." Max nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're all going to need some time to process this. But we're here for you, Adapt. No matter what." The three of them sat there in silence for a few moments, the only sound the hum of the air conditioning. Finally, Adapt spoke up. "I think I need to go for a walk," he said, getting to his feet. Jason and Max nodded, and the three of them walked out of the house, into the bright morning sunlight. The fresh air seemed to do Adapt some good, and as they walked, he began to open up about what had been going on inside his head. As they strolled through the quiet neighborhood streets, Jason couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He knew that this was just the beginning of a long and complicated conversation, one that would change the dynamics of their group forever. But for now, he was just happy to be there for his friend, to support him through this uncertain time.