Chapter 8: Viewer Boost Activated

I woke up feeling strangely well-rested for someone who got emotionally wrecked by a VTuber stream the night before. Maybe it was some morning adrenaline. Maybe it was the numbness I put on every morning. Either way, I got ready for school like everything was normal.

It was not. The second I stepped onto campus, I felt it. Eyes. So many eyes.

“Hey… isn’t that him?”

“That’s the guy who bodied Hayato-senpai on the roof, right?”

“He looks so… average.”

“Wait, THAT’S him? He looks like he edits anime AMVs in his free time.”

I tugged my bag higher and kept walking my merry way, trying to pretend I didn’t just hear someone compare me to a CrunchiiPlay comment section.

That’s when Minori popped up next to me, munching on a melon pan like it was just another Tuesday. Tanaka followed close behind and grinning like she was watching a sitcom.

“Yo, Courtyard Crusader,” Minori said, elbowing me. “Are you holding up alright, or should we start a fanclub?”

I groaned. “Please don’t.”

“Relax,” Tanaka added. “You’re not that famous. Just… the sworn enemy of every Hayato fangirl. Every single one of them.”

“Well I'll be damned,” I muttered. “I might need to leave the country at this point”.

As I was walking I spotted Natsuki-san right away. She stood beneath the early morning sunlight like some kind of aristocratic heroine, hair fluttering, arms crossed and expression unreadable. A few students glanced nervously in her direction, clearly too afraid to approach. She had that “don’t even breathe near me” aura going full power. Then her eyes met mine. Just like that, her frosty expression melted. She smiled softly no, radiantly and gave a small wave, her eyes lighting up.

Minori sighed “You really are something else Katsu. Only you can make the princess smile like that’’

“Right on’’ Tanaka said nodding her head

I waved awkwardly back at her and shook my head. “You guys are reading too much into it.”

“Are we?” they tease in unison.

Trying to escape their grins, I ducked into the entryway and bent down to swap my shoes. I could still feel her gaze on me. Warm. Close. But then I saw him. Hayato-senpai was leaning against the lockers across the hall, arms dropped and swung slightly, jaw clenched like he was about to break his own teeth. His usual sparkly aura of popularity was nowhere to be found—replaced with a dark, simmering rage. But it wasn’t just me who noticed all around, hushed voices filled the hallway.

“Is that really Hayato-senpai?”

“Damn… he looks like he didn’t sleep at all.”

“He definitely lost it”

“He hasn’t even looked at anyone today. He’s usually surrounded by girls…”

“His aura has left his soul”

“He’s seriously falling off.”

Something hit me in the chest. I never thought I'd feel this. Guilt? It wasn’t like I’d asked to fight him. It just happened. And yeah, I won. But seeing the way people now looked at him how quickly admiration had turned to whispers and judgment was something else entirely.He used to be the sun now he looked like he couldn’t find the light.

Perhaps I must approach him. He needs at least one person to check up on him.

As I approach him. His eyes turn to me before his head turns like a cursed puppet. Before I could get a word in he speaks in a deteriorated, hissy voice.

“Everyone’s days are numbered… For you, it's down to single digits. You will watch your back. You will sleep with your eyes wide open. And you will only hope that I'm lying.”

My eyes widened. Such a vivid threat and I do not think he's lying. That switch up from yesterday has spiraled into this.

More danger.

I don't bother him anymore then I have to and leave Hayato-senpai to stare a dagger to my back. I seek Minori and Tanaka in haste to inform them what may come forth.

I snooped around to find them both on a bench all lovey-dovey cuddling which made me reconsider my heads up. Nonetheless, I still approached them.

“Ahem. It's still morning, the sun is going to be up for a long while. I don't think I should say ‘get a room’ you pair of animals” I interrupt them.

They both get off each other and sit on opposite ends of the bench all red and flustered.

Minori spurts “O-oh Katsu. You saw us?”

“Everyone can see you, idiots” I answer disappointed.

Tanaka tucks her hair behind her ears and pouts away from me.

“What did you want from us Katsu?” she reluctantly asks.

“It's not what I want from you. But rather what you must expect from now on” I open.

They both turn to me puzzled.

“What do you mean by that?” Tanaka inquires.

“From now on. You must get home as soon as possible, no detours, meaning no more dates after school, you must make sure you get home without being followed - for this you must text me as soon as you get home- and never leave your house unless you actually need to” I explain in detail.

Minori puts a finger on his chin.

“The whole idea of a joke is that it’d be funny but we're not laughing”.

I speak more clearly.

“I am not joking, I don't think I would lie to you if it meant your lives are now at stake over my little dispute” I corrected him.

“Alright, we'll comply but we must find a way to solve this before it gets too serious and our grammar gets too mature for the child-minded brains of the readers” Minori agrees.

I didn't understand the last part but trusted that both of them would stay true to my instructions.

“This does not mean you can't continue to walk Tanaka home but it just means you cannot stay over like you mainly do”

Minori groaned and dramatically flopped back onto the bench like I had told him anime was being outlawed.

“But she makes curry, Katsu. Curry.”

Tanaka rolled her eyes. “What a corny pun.”

“Wow, even your girlfriend called you out on that” I said flatly. “That aside, the curry will have to wait since for all of us it is an equal opportunity of doom”.

Minori sat back up, this time serious. “So… you really think Hayato-senpai’s gonna do something? Like, actually?”

I nodded. “He did a full villain monologue on me. Background music might as well have started playing.”

Tanaka’s expression darkened. “He’s always had intensity, but this is next level. Should we tell a teacher?”

“No,” I said quickly. “The last thing I need is is a school-wide drama arc.”

Minori scratched his head. “Ah well we’re in one now so…”

I sighed. “Fair.”

Truth be told, I didn’t know what Hayato-senpai would do next, but something told me this wasn’t just a phase. The guy had snapped and I was the face taped to his emotional punching bag. Heading to my classroom, a full alert mode was activated. Not paranoia. Just… sharp awareness. You know that feeling when you’re in a stealth section of a video game, and the music shifts slightly, even though nothing’s happened yet?

Yeah. That.

I stepped in and immediately noticed something was off. People looked up. Not in the usual glance-and-ignore way. Like, looking up, eyes tracking, heads turning, whispers starting before I even reached my desk.

I slid into my seat cautiously. And then it began.

“Nagano-kun… you’re actually kinda strong, huh?”

“Dude, how did you even do that judo flip thing? That was so metal.”

“I didn’t know you could fight, man! You’ve got hands and bodies to throw.”

“Wait, wait. Are you in some secret MMA club or something?”

“Bro, did you have a time skip arc while we weren’t looking?”

I blinked. “No.”

“'No? You sent Hayato-senpai into a midlife crisis. With one slam!”

“Turns out you aren’t background NPC #3…”

“Low-key, it was kinda hot though.”

I guess not all the girls hated me for hurting their prince. Some of them looked at me like I’d just evolved into a new Pekamon form. It was kind of nice, if I’m being honest. A rare moment of social validation. My shoulders relaxed a little. I let the smallest smile tug at the corner of my mouth. And then I felt it, a shift in the air. A presence. Like the temperature dropped five degrees and the sun ducked behind a cloud. A presence subtle but undeniable, loomed behind me.

Slowly—very slowly—I turned around.

Standing there, arms loosely crossed, was Natsuki-san. Beautiful. Imposing. Unreadable. She tilted her head ever so slightly, lips curved in a faint smile that wasn’t exactly a smile.

“Well,” she said softly, “you certainly seem to be enjoying yourself.”

Her gaze flicked toward the cluster of girls still whispering about my reputation as ‘Crusader’

“Natsuki-san!?” someone gasped.

One of my classmates shouted, “It’s the school princess!”

The room practically inhaled as one. A crowd began to form like we were about to do a magic trick.

Someone in the back leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Wait a sec… What's your relationship with Nagano-kun? Are you guys actually dating?”

The question hung in the air like a badly thrown dodgeball. My brain stopped for a second. I saw Natsuki-san open her mouth, just the slightest breath as if preparing to speak—

“Of course not!” I blurted, speaking out a little too fast. “We’re just friends. That’s it. Absolutely. Not dating. We aren’t… a perfect match or anything like that.”

Natsuki-san smiles in agreement or at least that’s what it looked like.Then she turned on her heel. “Come with me,” she said simply, already walking away.

I blinked. “Right away… but where?”

She didn’t answer. Just kept walking with that graceful, untouchable air, her hair swaying slightly with each step.

Reluctantly and more or less eagerly I followed her down the hallway, past the vending machines, down a set of steps, and finally into one of the quiet study rooms that rarely got used this early in the day. It was empty. The only sound was the faint hum of the school’

She stood near the window, not looking at me. The morning sun filtered through, casting soft light on her profile.

“Um… Natsuki-san?” I asked cautiously. “It’s not even lunch yet. Are we… eating early?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she was… pouting. Not full-on dramatic anime puff-cheek pouting. Just… subtle. But definitely a pout.

“Are you okay?” I asked, stepping closer.

She sighed. “Nevermind. It’s nothing.”

That definitely meant it was something. But before I could say anything else, she reached into her blazer pocket and held something out toward me. A rectangular slip of glossy paper. I took it and my eyes nearly fell out of my head.

“No way… Senpai… is this—!?”

She turned her head aside, pretending not to care. "A ticket to this weekend's VTuber XPO."

“You helped me out more than you realize,” she said softly. “This is the least I can do.”

I stared at her, the ticket trembling slightly in my hand.

Then, without thinking, I dropped to my knees and pressed my hands together like I was praying. “I understand Kanzaki-senpai now. You really are a goddess.”

“Cut it out,” she muttered, turning away but I didn’t miss it. The tiniest blush on her ears. The Natsuki-san equivalent of screaming into a pillow.

I stood back up, still holding the ticket like it was made of pure VTuber energy. My arm twitched instinct almost took over. I was this close to giving her a hug like I usually do when my older sister gets me something I want.

But then my brain kicked in:
Warning: Hug may result in social death or emotional confusion. Abort.

So instead, I defaulted to the classic:
THE 90-degree bow like I was accepting an award for my diploma already.

“Thank you so much, Natsuki-san. Really.”

She spoke from above with a small chuckle.
"It’s fine… Katsu-kun. You can raise your head."

I was still admiring the ticket, the corners practically glowing like it held the power of a thousand live concerts—when my brain finally caught up.

Wait. Hold on. I turned to her, wide-eyed.

“Natsuki-san… did you-… did you just call me by my first name?”

Her face froze like a caught anime protagonist. “Wha—n-no! That was a slip! It was an accident! I meant to say Katsudon! like the food! I’m hungry!”

I burst out laughing. “And since when did meals need honorifics”

“Cut it out!” she snapped, trying to look offended but the pink crawling up her cheeks made her about as threatening as a sleepy kitten.

“Sorry, sorry,” I said, wiping a tear from my eye. “Honestly… at the end of the day it's just a name, you could call me by first name if you want. I don't really care.”

She paused. Looked down.
Then softly, “Then… Katsu-kun.”

I smiled. “Yeah. That’s me.”

Hearing her same my name felt like i just got promoted to a moderator

Her expression shifted. Mischievous now. “Then you have to call me Akari.”

I froze. Like full on status effect: Petrified.

“Uhhh. No.”

She tilted her head, pouting.

“Eh? Why? I thought you said you don't care about names.”

My soul left my body.

“Ahhh. I have no choice then... Akari-san”

She beamed. Like, full sparkles in her eyes, anime ending theme energy. If this were a magical girl show, she’d be mid-transformation with glitter and sakura petals swirling around her.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” she grinned.

I clutched my chest like I’d just survived a boss battle.
“I’m gonna get assassinated for this.”

She laughed, then nodded. “Okay then. When we’re alone, we can be this casual from now on. Deal?”

I hesitated. She was still giving me that look. That unstoppable look.

“Deal.” I could not protest.

There was no winning against her anyway. But just as I slipped the ticket carefully into my pocket, a strange feeling came over me. A prickling at the back of my neck. I turned my head slightly and caught it. Just barely. A silhouette. It vanished as quickly as it came. Just outside the window. Gone in a blink. Nothing was there. No person. No movement. Just a soft breeze. I frowned. My heart thumped once, hard. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe. But… it felt like something had been watching. Watching us. And I had a strange, creeping feeling. It wasn't the last time.I walked back into class with the kind of smile usually reserved for lottery winners or people who found an extra chicken nugget in their meal. I probably looked ridiculous, but I didn’t care. I had a V-Tuber Expo ticket in my pocket and Akari’s first-name privileges. Life was good.

Minori didn’t even wait for me to sit down.

“Yo,” he said, eyes narrowing like a detective who just caught a lead. “Something good happened?”

I shrugged, still smiling. “Nothing much. Just… I’ve been blessed by the goddess.”

He blinked. “Must have seen some fan service that you're favourite streamer showed you”

Before I could respond, the classroom door opened with the kind of tension that only came when Kanzaki-senpai walked in. Not a student in the room spoke as she marched over—heels clacking like she was about to deliver divine judgment.

She stopped right in front of me. Then narrowed her eyes.

“You smiling feels gross,” she said flatly.

Minori tried and failed not to laugh. “Damn, Katsu’s getting a harem now.”

“Please stop saying things that will get me killed.”

I looked back at Kanzaki-senpai. “What’s up, senpai?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she took out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, then shoved it toward me like a grudge offering.

On it was a video: a reaction stream. The overlay said “Shizuka-chan & Charlotte: Courtyard Brawl Breakdown.” The clip of my fateful duel with Hayato-senpai played in the corner, and the two V-Tubers’ avatars filled the rest of the screen, gasping, cheering, and dramatically rewinding the moment I flipped Hayato-senpai over my shoulder.

“Look at her!” Kanzaki-senpai hissed, voice cracking into jealous cry mode. “Shizuka-chan praised you! She even said ‘he’s kinda cool!’ Do you understand what this means!?”

Minori leaned in, gawking at the video. “Katsu,” he said solemnly. “You are one lucky bastard.”

“Damn right!” I exclaimed, cheeks heating. “I can finally die now”

Kanzaki pouted harder. “You got the divine nod. From Shizuka-chan. While I am out here… unrecognized. Unranked. Un-everything!”

“You’re still the student council vice president,” I said. “Pretty sure your test scores scare universities.”

She crossed her arms. “Not the same.”

We bickered like that for a while, friendly jabs back and forth well, mostly friendly. I was enjoying it… until I noticed Minori’s expression shift. He wasn’t laughing anymore. He looked a little concerned.

I raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the face?”

He leaned in and whispered, “Didn’t she… try to kill you not that long ago?”

Right. That whole kidnapping incident.

“Water under the bridge” I wave it off

Minori stared. I could see the mental red flags waving in his eyes. The rest of the day? Weirdly normal. Lunch with Natsuki—no, Akari-san was as peaceful as a filler episode. We ate curry bread, talked about the stream and ended up talking about Charlotte's design for a while mostly laughing about how over-the-top she looked. Even Akari couldn't defend her sparkly cape.

No courtyard duels. No ominous stares. No death threats.

Just… school. Then the final bell rang. And it was time to walk home with Akari.

[ Writer's interruption]

Sadokri: Okay, hold it—pause the story, I need to say something.

Wagahai Matcha: We’ve reviewed the footage. Too much wholesomeness. Not enough drama or buildup

Sadokri: We’re dangerously close to writing a functional friendship, and we can't have that. This is still a high school rom-com, sir.

Wagahai Matcha: Yeah, where’s “the moon looks pretty right?” Misheard gag or fighting over who hangs up the phone but the phone disconnects on its own situation,and I’m not your sir after all it is your name on the website not mine.

Sadokri: Oh right, assistant.

Wagahai Matcha: Anyway, chapter’s starting. Everyone get ready. It was nice speaking with you all.