Our Little Secret~

Here we were, standing on the rooftop in an uneasy silence. I could feel the sweat forming on my forehead, my palms growing clammy. It seemed like history was repeating itself, as I had just recovered from a cold, only to find myself in another uncomfortable situation.

"U-Uh... I don't know what you're talking about, Aoi-san..." I stammered, trying to feign ignorance.

"Hmmm, I see..." Aoi smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But your PC has the account name 'Kou-kun'."

My heart skipped a beat as she revealed this information. How did she find out? Was my secret identity as Kou-kun, the Vtuber, exposed?

My mind raced back to the time when Aoi, Sakura, and Yui visited my room. "So it wasn't just a dream? They actually came to see me?"

Aoi looked at me with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean? Did you think it was all a dream? That's cute, but it was real."

My face turned pale, and I found myself sitting on the ground, feeling utterly exposed and vulnerable.

"Look... I-I'm actually a fan of Kou-kun," I began to explain, but Aoi interrupted me.

"You can't deny it anymore, can you... Kousei-kun? Or should I say... Kou-kun?" Her voice had a teasing tone to it.

"P-Please don't call me that..."

"I won't, I won't," she reassured me, her smile widening. "But it's really you, isn't it?"

I looked at her, feeling a mix of fear and resignation. With a heavy sigh, I nodded, acknowledging the truth.

"I see." Aoi's smile grew even brighter as she walked towards me and knelt down, pulling me into a hug. "Mmm, Kou-kun in the flesh..."

"W-What?!" I exclaimed, caught off guard by her sudden embrace. "What's wrong...? Why the sudden."

"Thank you, Kou-kun... for supporting us," Aoi expressed with gratitude in her voice.

"Eh? But..." I started to protest, unsure of what she meant.

Aoi then gently held both of my cheeks, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. "After all, you were our first supporter when we were still beginners!"

"Am I really? I don't remember, though," I admitted, trying to recall that time.

"Hmmm, it's possible that you may have forgotten," Aoi acknowledged, chuckling softly. "But it was you who gave us hope and encouragement. We stumbled upon your stream, and your advice made a difference for us."

"Eh...?" I was taken aback, struggling to remember that specific incident. "I can't recall... There were so many viewers seeking advice during those days..."

Aoi smiled warmly. "Ah, that's true. But deep down, we knew it was you who inspired us. I just wanted to say thank you for always being there."

I blushed as Aoi playfully tried to rearrange my bangs. "Hey, stop that..." I muttered, feeling flustered. I quickly stood up and cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. "Now that you know I'm Kou-kun... are you planning to tell the others?"

"Hehe, nope," Aoi replied with a mischievous smirk.

"Huh? Why not?"

"Hmmm~" Aoi placed her hand on her chin, contemplating her answer. "I think it'll be our little secret. I don't want anyone else to know that you're Kou-kun, except for me. It makes me feel special," she chuckled, bringing her face closer to mine.

"It's our little secret," she whispered, her voice filled with a playful tone.

looked away, feeling a mix of emotions. "Thank you," I muttered quietly.

Aoi smiled and replied, "No problem~ Just keep doing what you do best, supporting everyone and giving advice on your stream, okay?" She winked and left the rooftop, a smile still lingering on her face.

Meanwhile, I let out a deep sigh, contemplating what had just transpired. "What now..." I wondered to myself, before making my way back to the classroom.