Yuki stood at her apartment door, her new school uniform feeling totally extra. It was all crisp and sharp, unlike her usual chill clothes. She was a major introvert, basically a hermit. Not just any hermit, though—she had a secret identity. Online, she was *Yuki*, a popular Vtuber with a dedicated fanbase. But in real life, she was Yuki Hageshi, a normal (or at least, trying-to-be-normal) high school student. This double life was the main reason she preferred staying inside; it was easier to manage her online persona from the safety of her room. Plus, she'd streamed just last night – or rather, at midnight her time, which was prime time in the US. The time difference was a killer. So, yeah, leaving her apartment was a whole thing. But today, she *had* to face Tokyo. The sun was rising over Shibuya, making everything look kinda aesthetic. The city was already buzzing, but Yuki was frozen, like she'd lagged out in a video game.
"Okay," she mumbled. "First day of school… I got this. Probably not."
She took a deep breath and stepped outside. The city smell – exhaust fumes and street food – hit her. Her apartment was in a quiet part of Shibuya, like a 15-minute walk from Shibuya Station, which is famous for being *packed* during rush hour. The city was both intimidating and kinda hype. It felt like a different dimension from her room.
She had a plan: Step one, get snacks.
The convenience store on the corner was her first stop. She needed a distraction from the huge task ahead. She grabbed an iced coffee (her go-to) and some onigiri. While paying, she checked the time. She had time, but she couldn't stall forever.
Yuki left the store, the city noise getting louder. People walked by, but she kept her head down, avoiding eye contact like it was a social battery drainer. Her heart was beating fast, not just from school nerves, but from just being *outside*, with other humans.
The walk to the station felt super long. When she got there, she saw a *sea* of people going through the gates. Shibuya Station is one of Tokyo's busiest, so it was a whole vibe, but also super overwhelming. Getting on the train alone made her extra anxious.
"Okay, just get on the train," she whispered like a mantra. "I can do this… maybe."
She shuffled to the platform, hearing train announcements everywhere. Some schoolgirls with perfect uniforms were chatting, while businessmen checked their phones, looking stressed. The train was packed, which was already a big yikes. But the worst part was feeling like everyone was staring.
She felt super self-conscious about her body, like she was on display. She nervously adjusted her skirt, hoping no one would notice. Then she thought, *Wait, are they even looking at me? Or am I just being delusional? Maybe I have eye boogers or something. Oh no, please no.* She flashed back to checking herself in the bathroom mirror before leaving. *Okay, makeup's on point, no smudges, no rogue eye crusties. Check.* But the thought lingered. *What if there's a creep? Or worse… what if I'm getting stream sniped? Like, some paparazzi found out my real identity and are live-streaming me right now?* The thought sent a chill down her spine. The idea was absurd, but her anxiety made it feel plausible.
But from the outside, she looked totally different. Tall, with flowing blonde hair and a unique look, she was low-key serving looks. Even though she was nervous, she moved with this natural grace.
She internally rolled her eyes. *Ugh, why does this uniform have to be so fitted? Do they WANT us to get stared at? Wait, am I getting a big head? Do I think I'm some kind of influencer all of a sudden?* She imagined what people were *actually* thinking: *"Look at that weirdo messing with her skirt. Thinks she's all that. Probably spends hours taking selfies… or maybe she's just super awkward."* She almost giggled. *Okay, maybe I do take a few… but it's for the meme! And definitely not hours. Usually.* Her overly cautious nature, fueled by the fear of being recognized as her online persona, made her hyper-aware of every glance.
A cold feeling hit her as she squeezed onto the crowded train, trying to stay as far from people as possible. She pulled her jacket tighter, like it was a shield. The train rumbled through Tokyo, heading to Kamiyama International High.
Yuki couldn't stop thinking about someone touching her or saying something creepy. Her brain was playing out worst-case scenarios, like a horror movie trailer. She'd heard stories about stuff happening on Tokyo trains. *What if someone tries something sus? What if they think I'm asking for it just by existing? What if they recognize me? What if someone yells, "Hey, it's Yuki from the stream!" and then everyone knows my secret?* She internally facepalmed. *Maybe I should just wear a full hazmat suit tomorrow. Or just become a full-time shut-in. That's always an option.*
She held her bag super tight, nervously looking at everyone. Even with all the noise, she felt totally exposed. But to everyone else, she looked calm and even elegant, a cool foreign exchange student just vibing on the train.
When the train stopped at her station, Yuki was about to full-on panic. The doors opened, and she basically teleported off, not even looking back.
At Kamiyama International High, she felt like she'd reached the final boss level. The school was huge, the buildings towering over her. This was it – first day in a new country, new school, no real-life friends (yet).
The online entrance exam, which she took from her room in California, felt like ages ago. Doubt ate at her. *Did I even pass? I barely studied… I mostly winged it. Do I even deserve to be here? What if they find out I cheated? Will they send me back to California? Will I have to become a street performer just to survive? Or worse, will my Vtuber career be over because of some dumb cheating scandal?*
Her heart dropped as she walked into the crowded hallways. Students were gathered around the announcement board, waiting for the results.
She stood to the side, not knowing what to do. The crowd was talking and moving, looking at the board. Yuki felt totally out of place, her heart going *thump-thump*.
"I… I don't want to go there yet," she mumbled, looking around. The hallway was packed, and she didn't want to be near so many people. If she checked the results now, someone might recognize her, or worse, see her name and ask her stuff she couldn't answer. Or even worse *worse*, someone recognizes her as *the* Yuki.
So, Yuki waited, staying away from the crowd, hoping things would chill out before she had to face the music. She hoped her secret would stay safe, at least for a little bit. The fear of getting caught *and* of being exposed as her online persona was real, ending her day on a total cliffhanger.