Chapter 263. [Signal Of Danger]

I stumbled and looked up at the student.

A giant with tattoos, and glaring eyes.

《S-Sorry…》

They hurriedly apologized.

That was my fault.

Since the gacha livestream, I’ve been hooked on social games and was still playing while walking.

So, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.

《Well then…》

《Hey, wait up!》

I tried to leave, but they blocked my way.

Getting closer with a clacking sound.

Chewing gum… no, probably chewing tobacco.

The breath they exhaled was terribly smoky.

《Why’s there a yellow monkey like you here? When did this school turn into a zoo, huh?》

They must have noticed I was in trouble.

Other students around started to look, but just watching didn’t mean someone would come to help.

That part wasn’t any different from Japan, I thought… until…

《W-Wait!》

A trembling voice interrupted.

It was… um.

《Hey hey, isn’t bullying the weak shameful!》

Ah, right! Shitenno.

…No, I hadn’t forgotten their name just now.

When the delinquent was about to say something, more backup arrived.

Next to appear was…

《Y-Yeah! It’s not cool for a big guy to bother a girl alone like that!》

《Y-Yeah, it’s not like that at all!》

They were the girls who always bothered me on the bus.

But even they seemed scared, their voices trembling.

《You guys think you can mess with me?》

I felt a bad vibe.

The delinquent raised their fist.

《!?》

Their tattooed, log-like arm was about to reach the girls.

An angry voice came from afar.

《What are you guys doing!》

The delinquent opened their clenched fist.

With a smirk, they waved at the approaching teacher.

《As you can see, we’re not doing anything!》

《Shut up! Come over here for a moment!》

《Alright alright. Huh? You guys? Oh, I see》

The delinquent was forcefully taken away by the teacher.

As they left, they glanced meaningfully at us.

《Don’t think it’s over》

Once the delinquent disappeared from view, the girls collapsed in the hallway, looking relieved.

Even tough and powerful American girls seemed scared just now.

《T-Thank goodness for your help》

《Um, are you okay?》

《Ah, haha. I’m fine. But what about Iroha-chan? Were you scared?》

《No, I…》

Honestly, I was completely fine.

Compared to a robber with a gun, delinquents were nothing, and I had bodyguards anyway.

It’s annoying to be bothered like this.

I was in the middle of playing my mobile game, but can I resume it now?

“Are you okay, Iroha? What are you doing!? These delinquents here are different from Japanese delinquents! Don’t give them any excuse to bother you…”

“Um… sorry?”

I got scolded by Shitenno.

Certainly, I was surprised. I never thought they would try to start a fight so quickly.

《But hey, you did well, Shitenno. Facing him in that situation. The power of love, huh?》

《W-Well!? Yes, I did something for Iroha. But, that’s different!》

《Yeah, yeah. But, Iroha-chan, be careful. He’s the type who’s been suspended multiple times for violence. If you’re about to be found, it’s better to hide.》

《And never be alone with him. Even though he’s being watched, if there’s no one around…》

《…Got it. I’ll be careful.》

But I’ll never truly be alone.

Rather, I’m more worried about the girls I dragged into this.

《And also, don’t get close to people who have tattoos in general. Usually, you can’t get them if you’re under 18 without parental consent, so if they have them…》

Now that I think about it, there aren’t many students with tattoos in America.

There are occasionally people who have had piercings since they were babies for religious reasons, though.

They say a person’s inner self shows on the outside…

It seems dangerous people have ‘signs’ no matter what country you’re in—.

***

Back home, I was playing my mobile game on the living room couch.

Then, Angouge hugged me from behind and peeked at the screen.

《Hey, your gacha livestream the other day. Iroha, you topped the charts with the highest super chats per hour.”

《..Huh?》

There had been various commemorative live streams and major collaborations before.

Even saved the world once, but this stream ranked first.

Honestly, it’s complicated, but well, that’s how it goes.

It’s entertainment.

《And there are lots of comments asking for more, and tons of fan art too.》

《N-No more, please.》

In a sense, it seems to have become a legend.

Sigh.

《Hey, you seem down. Something wrong?》

“Huh? How’d you know?”

《Well, Iroha, you’re playing your favorite VTuber’s game, but you’re not smiling.》

《…! Actually, yeah.》

I explained the situation to Angouge.

As she said, I couldn’t enjoy VTubers without peace of mind.

《If things could just end like this…》

However, that delinquent’s last words. It didn’t feel like it would end that easily.

And as expected, bad predictions tend to come true—.

***

《What a coincidence, huh? I decided to take the school bus starting today.》

The next morning, that delinquent boarded our school bus—.