Chapter 11: meet and greet

In the middle of my gym set, I get a notification on my phone. I unlock my phone to see a vibrant illustration of many models. 2D models to be exact. But of course the one that catches my eye first is Shizuka-chan. The title reads ‘Vtuber XPO: Spring Meet and Greet’.

I gasp at the fact that both independent and corporation Vtubers will be seen but then I stop myself from reacting anymore excited since Shizuka-chan is still on hiatus with some trauma to deal with and the date of the expo is two weeks from now. Another notification appears on the top of my screen that displays ‘Shizuka.Ch: Vtuber Expo Announcement’ and I could only imagine that this could be her verdict of cancelling her attendance at the event so I press the notification to confirm it. I read through the statement briefly talking about how she “WILL be attending the Xpo”.

My hands go atop my head in shock. I get the sense that I must contact her about it to ensure she's okay with going through with the XPO. I step out to make a call but… I am hesitant because an unfamiliar feeling of nervousness stops my body. It's just one small call, why am I being so sensitive about it. I eventually press the dial button and place the phone on the window ledge 5 steps away from me. but the call never connected. She didn’t answer.

“Maybe she's too busy preparing for the expo’’ I thought to myself. I was unable to sit still in any case. Two weeks later, I was waiting at the Vtuber XPO: Spring Meet and Greet entrance, surrounded by a sea of people carrying plush versions of their favorite virtual idols and waving glowsticks.

“Damn…’’ I muttered under my breath a small tear slipping down my cheek. “So this is what heaven looks like’’

Colorful banners with avatars of all shapes and styles smiling down at us hung from the ceiling. Fans yell and idol jingles echo like a crazy melody. I could see booths selling anything from limited-edition keychains to acrylic stands. Naturally, I immediately fixed my gaze on the Shizuka. Ch's official booth. Pins, tote bags, and even a life-size standee of Shizuka-chan. My hands had already deceived me, but my wallet was screaming in pain.

I muttered, "Okay, I'll just get... one badge."

Ten minutes later, I had three badges, two posters, a Shizuka-chan hoodie, and what appeared to be an exclusive acrylic figure that cost more than my weekly lunch budget.

That’s when I felt that strange sensation you get when someone’s staring at you.

I shifted my bags slightly—mostly to stop the acrylic figure from stabbing me in the ribs—and glanced to the side.

In the corner of my eye, I saw her. Silver hair tied neatly, posture straight, expression calm to the point of being unsettling it was the yandere vice president Arisu Kanazaki.
The girl who once looked at me like I was one wrong sentence away from vanishing off the face of the earth.

Our eyes met. For half a second, the world froze.

Her gaze slowly drifted downward… to the Shizuka-chan hoodie wrapped around my arm.
Then to the badges clipped to my bag. Then to the poster peeking out from the tote.

Her eyebrow twitched. My eyes followed her line of sight.

She was holding merch too.

A lot of it.

Limited-edition clear folder. Rubber keychain. A neatly folded Shizuka-chan scarf like it was some kind of sacred relic.

We stared at each other.

Silence.

Then—slowly, almost ceremonially—I adjusted my grip on the acrylic stand.

She did the same with her folder.

No words were exchanged.

No threats were made.

Just a quiet, unspoken understanding.

…Ah.

A fellow disciple.

She gave a small nod.

I nodded back.

Two warriors.
One oshi.

For a brief, peaceful moment, the universe was balanced. Then, without breaking eye contact, we both turned around and walked in opposite directions like rivals acknowledging each other before returning to their respective arcs. I exhaled only after she disappeared into the crowd

“…Yeah,” I muttered to myself. “I’m definitely not surviving this expo emotionally.”

And somewhere behind me, I swore I heard someone whisper—

“Respect.”

I adjusted the strap of my bag and checked the time on my phone.

The Shizuka.Ch fan meet-and-questions session was about to start. My heartbeat sped up, each second louder than the last. After everything, the hiatus, the silence, the worry I was finally going to see her shine as always.

I took a breath and stepped forward—

“Katsu…?”

My body locked.

That voice.

Soft. Careful.
And terrifyingly familiar.

I turned around slowly, my pulse spiking like I’d just heard a boss theme start playing. She stood there, just beyond the crowd, near a pillar plastered with event posters.

Airi Homura…

For a second, my vision blurred. The expo noise faded into static, replaced by the echo of a dojo, the smell of tatami mats, the weight of a bent medal digging into my palm.

My fingers trembled.

“…Ai-chan?” I whispered before I could stop myself.

Her eyes widened in recognition. “It really is you…”

I wanted to run. Not because I hated her. Not because I was angry.

Because I was scared.

Scared that one word from her would rip open something I’d spent years burying. Scared that if I stood here any longer, I’d forget why I came to be who I was trying to be now.

“I—” My throat tightened. “I’m kind of in a hurry.”

She glanced at the bag in my hands, the Shizuka-chan hoodie, the badges peeking out. “You’re… a fan?”

I nodded, gripping the strap of my bag. “Yeah. I am.”

There was a pause. Not an awkward one, no, it was heavier than that. Like the air itself was waiting to see what she’d say next.

“I watch her streams,” I continued, before I could overthink it. “A lot, actually. They helped me through some rough nights. When everything felt pointless, when I couldn’t sleep… she was there. Talking. Laughing. Being stupid in that way makes you forget your own thoughts for a bit.”

Airi’s expression shifted.

I didn’t notice at first. I was too busy staring at the floor, the words spilling out more honestly than I’d planned.

“She’s kind of… my light,” I said quietly. “When things get dark, I just open her stream and somehow it feels manageable again.”

Silence.

When I finally looked up, Airi wasn’t smiling.

Her lips were pressed into a thin line, brows drawn together. Not furious—but clearly annoyed. Maybe even hurt.

“…Your light,” she repeated.

Airi was quiet for a moment. Then she clicked her tongue in mild irritation.

“…You’ve changed, Katsu.”

The announcement chime echoed through the hall, followed by an excited cheer from the crowd.

“The Shizuka.Ch fan meet and questions session will begin shortly!”

My heart jumped.

I looked past Airi, toward the stage lights, the screen beginning to glow.

“I really have to go,” I said, bowing my head slightly. “Sorry.”

She didn’t stop me this time. As I walked away, I felt her eyes on my back—but I didn’t turn around. Because right now, my light was waiting.

As I slipped back into the flow of the crowd, my thoughts refused to quiet down.

I don’t know what she’s doing in a place like this… I thought, my grip tightening around my bag.

This expo wasn’t about the past. It wasn’t about middle school, or dojo floors, or words that still ached when I remembered them. And it definitely wasn’t about reopening scars I’d finally managed to seal.

Right now, there was only one thing that mattered.

Supporting Akari.

Supporting Shizuka-chan.

Whether she was smiling on stream, fumbling through a game, or quietly talking to chat at three in the morning those moments meant something to me. They weren’t some distraction or childish obsession. They were real. They kept me standing when I wanted to sit down and disappear.

My only goal right now… I told myself, exhaling slowly, is to be there for her.

Not as a hero. Not as someone special. Just as a fan who believed in her.

The stage lights ahead burned brighter, and the chatter of the crowd swelled with anticipation. I straightened my posture, pushing everything else aside.

Whatever Airi was doing here, whatever the past wanted from me—

It could wait.

Because right now, I was here for Akari.

The line was… long.

Like, “did we accidentally queue for a legendary loot drop?” long.

Fans wrapped around the barricades, glowsticks clipped to bags, plushies peeking out like familiars. Everyone was buzzing, nervous, excited, whispering last-minute questions like they were about to face a final boss with one HP left.

I swallowed.

These are my people.

No pretenses. No rumors. No past baggage. Just fans who loved the same voice, the same laughter, the same gentle chaos that had carried us through lonely nights.

I stepped into line.

But of course—my brain refused to cooperate.

Airi’s face kept flashing back into my thoughts. The way she’d looked at me. That pause. That annoyance. Not anger—something quieter. Something unresolved.

Why now?
Why here?

I clenched my fists and shook my head slightly.

Focus. Don’t overthink. This is not a flashback arc. This is a fan meet.

The line crept forward inch by inch. Every few steps, cheers erupted as someone ahead finished their question. Laughter followed. Sometimes sniffles. Someone definitely cried three people ahead of me—no shame, honestly relatable.

Before I realized it, a staff member gestured toward me.

“You’re next.”

My heart immediately attempted to escape my ribcage.

This was it.

The screen ahead lit up fully, the stage dimming around it. And there she was.

Shizuka-chan.

Blue petals drifted softly across the screen, her avatar blinking as if adjusting to the crowd’s energy. Her smile was gentle, familiar—exactly the same one that had greeted me through my phone at 2 a.m. more times than I’d ever admit.

For a second, I almost forgot how to breathe.

It’s funny, I thought.
Out of everyone here… I’m the only one who knows who you really are.

And yet—I didn’t feel special.

If anything, that made me want to disappear even more.

NPC mode: activated.

I stepped up to the mic, cleared my throat, and bowed a little too stiffly.

“H-Hello, Shizuka-chan,” I said.

She tilted her head slightly, petals fluttering. “Hello~! Thank you for coming today!”

My brain screamed: SAY SOMETHING NORMAL.

“I—uh—Shizuka-chan,” I continued, standing straight like I’d just accepted a side quest. “I’m your number one fan.”

A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd.

Shizuka-chan blinked. “O-Oh? Number one, huh?”

“Yes,” I said solemnly. “I have the merch to prove it. Financially. Emotionally. Spiritually.”

That did it.

She let out a laugh—quick and bright—then immediately covered her mouth with both hands like she’d almost broken character.

“S-Sorry! Ahem—thank you very much, Number One Fan!” she said, her voice wobbling just a little.

Critical hit.

My confidence rose by exactly 2%.

I took a deep breath. “My question is… what made you want to start streaming?”

The hall quieted.

Shizuka-chan’s smile softened. The playful tilt faded into something calmer, warmer. The drifting petals slowed.

“That’s a really good question,” she said gently.

She paused—not like she was stalling, but like she was choosing her words carefully.

“…I think,” she began, “it was because I wanted a place where I could be free.”

My chest tightened.

“When I’m streaming,” she continued, “I’m not defined by expectations. Or labels. Or what people think I should be. I can laugh too loud, fail at games, talk about silly things, or be quiet when I need to be.”

The crowd was completely silent now.

“There are days when the world feels heavy,” she said softly. “But when I stream… it feels like I’m breathing again. Like I’m allowed to exist as myself.”

A sniffle echoed somewhere behind me.

“And if,” she added, her smile returning just a little brighter, “that freedom can reach someone on the other side of the screen—even for a moment—then I think it’s worth it.”

I didn’t realize my eyes were wet until my vision blurred.

Around me, people wiped their faces, laughed through tears, nodded like they’d just been personally called out.

Shizuka-chan bowed slightly. “Thank you for your question… Number One Fan.”

I bowed back, deeper this time.

“Thank you for streaming,” I said quietly.

As I stepped away, my heart felt lighter.

Not because I’d spoken to a VTuber.

But because the light that had guided me through the dark… was shining right there, for everyone.

And somehow—

That made it feel even more real.

I spent the next hour just… enjoying myself.

No looming thoughts. No pressure. Just vibes.

I wandered through the expo halls like an NPC who’d accidentally unlocked free-roam mode. A rhythm game booth blasted high-energy music while someone absolutely mashed buttons like their life depended on it. Nearby, a retro corner had pixel-styled displays that screamed “this legally isn’t any specific game, but you know exactly what it’s referencing.”

Somewhere else, a guy in a flashy jacket struck dramatic poses in front of a mirror booth, clearly convinced he was the protagonist of this arc. Honestly? Respect.

I sipped an overpriced drink with a name like “Galaxy Idol Sparkle Soda” and pretended it didn’t taste like carbonated sugar regret. Around me, fans chatted excitedly, trading stories about first streams watched, favorite clips, cursed moments that lived rent-free in their heads.

It was… nice.

For once, I wasn’t thinking about expectations or who I used to be. I was just another fan in the crowd, smiling like an idiot.

That’s when I noticed the screens changing.

A new banner flashed across the main display.

Charlotte Noir – Live Event Starting Soon

Ah.

Shizuka-chan’s friend.
And rival.

I hesitated, then shrugged to myself.

Might as well check it out.

I didn’t line up. Didn’t grab merch. I just stood off to the side, leaning against a railing where I could see the stage clearly without being swallowed by the crowd.

Charlotte’s avatar appeared in a burst of dramatic effects—sharp colors, confident posture, that unmistakable “I know exactly how popular I am” aura. The crowd cheered loudly. Really loudly.

She waved with practiced ease. “Hey~ everyone! Thanks for coming to my event!”

The energy was different from Shizuka-chan’s. Not worse. Just… sharper. More aggressive. Like a rival character introduced specifically to contrast the main heroine.

I watched quietly, arms folded.

The Q&A started quickly. Compliments, jokes, light teasing—standard stuff.

Then a guy near the front spoke up.

“Um—Charlotte-san?” he asked nervously. “You and Shizuka-chan seem really close online. Are you good friends?”

I blinked.

That was… a normal question.

Charlotte’s smile froze.

Not immediately. Just for half a second—but it was enough.

The crowd sensed it too. The cheers faded into uneasy silence.

“…Friends?” Charlotte repeated slowly.

Her laugh that followed was light—but hollow.

“I mean,” she said, tilting her head, “I wouldn’t really call it that.”

My stomach dropped.

“She’s… okay, I guess,” Charlotte continued, tapping her chin. “But honestly? I think I’m just better at what I do.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

I straightened unconsciously.

“Her style’s kind of…” she waved a hand dismissively. “Cringe, don’t you think? All soft and awkward. It works on some people, sure—but that’s just because she gets lucky.”

Lucky?

I felt my jaw tighten.

Charlotte smiled wider, eyes sharp. “And let’s be real—she has this habit of stealing the spotlight. Showing up, acting all innocent, and suddenly everyone’s talking about her.”

The crowd was dead silent now.

Even her fans looked stunned.

“I work harder,” Charlotte said flatly. “I deserve more attention than she gets.”

The staff member beside the stage shifted uncomfortably.

“O-Okay! That’s all the time we have for your question next…”

But I wasn’t listening anymore.

My chest felt hot. Tight.

I thought they were friends.

I turned away before she could say another word.

I didn’t want to hear it. I didn't want to let those words settle in my head, poisoning something that had felt genuine.

As I walked off, irritation buzzed under my skin—not loud, not explosive. Just a steady, sharp hum.

“…Tch.”

I shoved my hands into my pockets and kept moving, letting the noise of the expo swallow me again.

Whatever rivalry existed. Whatever bitterness she was carrying.

I didn’t care. Because tearing someone else down like that? That wasn’t strength.

And it definitely wasn’t something Akari would ever do.

I didn’t look back.

I slowed my steps near the exit, the excitement of the expo gradually giving way to a pleasant exhaustion. My bag felt heavier than before—not just with merch, but with memories.

That’s when my phone vibrated.

I stopped.

A single message lit up the screen.

Akari:
Are you still here? If you are… let’s meet near the exit.

My breath caught.

I typed back quickly.

Me:
Yeah. I’m still here.

I tucked my phone away, my heart beating just a little faster as I made my way toward the meeting point. The crowd thinned near the end of the hall, replaced by staff packing up signs and fans reluctantly heading out, still buzzing from the day.

Then I saw her.

Akari stood near the glass doors, hair tied loosely, wearing a simple jacket over casual clothes—no stage lights, no avatar, no effects. Just her.

She noticed me and smiled.

“Hello, Number One Fan.”

I froze for half a second, then gasped dramatically. “O-Oh my god… it’s Shizuka-chan?!”

She laughed immediately, covering her mouth. “Hey! Don’t expose me in public!”

We both laughed, the tension melting away so easily it almost surprised me.

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Akari… thanks. For the ticket. I had a really great time today.”

Images flashed through my mind—Airi’s sudden appearance, Charlotte’s words—but I pushed them aside. I didn’t want to end today thinking about anything bitter.

Akari shook her head gently. “No… thank you.”

I looked at her, confused.

“For always supporting me,” she said softly. “For staying. For believing in me. Katsu.”

Our eyes met.

Heat rushed to my face. “I-I just did what any fan would.”

She smiled—small, sincere—and her cheeks turned faintly pink. “Still… it meant a lot.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The automatic doors slid open and closed behind us, letting in the cool evening air.

“Shall we head home?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Let’s.”

We walked out together, side by side, the noise of the expo finally fading behind us. No stages. No spotlights. Just two people heading home after a long day.

And somehow—

That felt more special than anything else.

[Writer’s Interruption ]

Sadokri:
…Okay. Yeah. That was a nice chapter.

Wagahai Matcha:
Noted. Documented. The author has smiled.

Sadokri:
They earned one peaceful walk home.

Wagahai Matcha:
About time

Sadokri:
Anyway—next chapter’s the final one.

Wagahai Matcha:
The last stop.

Sadokri:
What a ride it’s been so far.

Wagahai Matcha:
Final chapter incoming.

Sadokri:
Alright—back to work.