The High-Notes

-----THE EVENING YUUTO AND SATO LEFT SCHOOL---------

"Haaah... I think I've improved so much!" Sato murmured to himself, stepping out of the building into the bustling city. He stretched, feeling the energy of the city wrap around him.

"I can finally hit the vibrato, even in the high notes! YES! This is WONDERFUL~" He let the last word soar in a melody, his voice rich with the vibrato he had been honing. His impromptu performance, however, earned him a mix of curious and bewildered looks from passersby.

"Who's this weirdo?"

"He's just a kid... singing in the middle of the street. Quite bold."

"But that voice... could he be a professional?"

The whispers swirled around him, but Sato remained unfazed, his mind already on the next goal.

"Haah... Soon, I'll master that song in its entirety. These lessons are truly worth it," he said, a warm smile playing on his lips as he gazed up at the night sky, beginning his walk home.

"I just need to synchronize it perfectly with the piano. That's all. I can do it... in time for the upcoming festival..."

"...I'm sure of it!"

"Hikki will love it..." Sato whispered to himself, pausing in front of his house, a sense of anticipation filling him.

"Well!" he exclaimed, eyeing the door to his house, "What are you waiting for, Sato? Get inside already!" He chided himself, his eyes lacking their usual sparkle.

With that, he stepped into the house and gently closed the door behind him.

Throughout his time in the house, one thought persistently shimmered in his mind, 'I can't wait for the onsen trip...'

-------Meanwhile----

Yuuto dashed home, his heart racing as he hastily deleted his photo from his shoddy excuse for a website.

Gradually regaining his composure, he began to meander through the house, a subtle sense of unease taking hold. Something felt amiss, the familiar comfort of his home now tinged with an unsettling silence.

"Hm... Quiet," he murmured to himself, his footsteps echoing slightly against the floor.

"They're not around as often," he noted, a frown creasing his brow as he paused, the weight of the silence pressing in.

The quiet was punctuated only by his own breathing.

"Oh well," he sighed, shrugging off the unease as he made his way to his bedroom. Surrendering to the weight of the day, he collapsed into bed, letting sleep envelop him until the light of the next day crept through the curtains.

Such comfort could only last for so long, though.

Upon waking up, he ventured into the bathroom to meticulously shave away the fine stubble dusting his chin and jaw, a testament to his meticulous self-care. As he surveyed the growth of his hair in the mirror, a mix of over-the-top-pride (typical) and practical consideration washed over him.

"Hm... Another 2cm in just 2 weeks? My genes are indeed superior... Will have to shave it clean soon," he mused, running his fingers through his hair with a contemplative air and a slight pout marking his features.

"Well, I could just use my bald cap whenever I do ANTI-NTR heroics," he concluded, a plan forming in his mind. Skillfully, he donned the wig cap, followed by a long-haired wig, and finally adjusted his fake glasses to complete the transformation.

"I don't feel like cutting it, for some reason," he reflected, a hint of reluctance in his decision not to trim his natural hair just yet.

[IMAGE IS IN THE COMMENTS, HERE]

Thus prepared, Yuuto set off for school, his appearance meticulously crafted with a long-sleeved shirt, fake glasses, and wig, maintaining the facade that had become a staple of his daily life.

As he arrived to school, he saw Sakura and her entroge circling about.

"Oh! Sakurai! G'morning!" She called, openly waving to Yuuto.

"...." Reluctant, he remained silent. Not wanting to respond.

---------

"Be nicer!"

---------

'....'

He sighed.

'A deal's a deal... Especially since she knows my second life.'

Life, he says.

'SHUT.'

With a shaking hand, he started raising his hand. It was barely visible from afar and he continued walking toward the school.

"GOOD MORNING!!" Sakura yelled louder thinking he did not see or hear her.

Yuuto then glanced at her, stopping in place.

"H-hey, Sakura... It's that anime pillow weirdo... Why're you nice to him!?" 

"C-come on, Sakura... Let's just go. He obviously isn't courteous enough to say anything! And he bad-mouthed Shiyon-sama!" Her friends called.

Sakura's eyes lit up as she saw Yuuto's hand rising in the air, waving at her.

"Hi," he started, "Have you seen the newly released NTR horse-porn yesterday? I released it on my doujin website. Good stuff." He said loudly, yet casually and naturally - drawing bewildered looks of nearby students.

"Ah... I-I... Haven't..." Sakura said reluctantly, before being dragged away by her friends.

"See, Sakura!? Why'd you talk to that freak-show?!" They said as they dragged her away.

"Sakura-chan is so nice... Talking even to that nutjob..." Nearby male students called in admiration.

"She's really awesome. Yahiko's an idiot for dumping her." Another one commented.

"Wait, so she's back on the market?! Fuck yeah..." Someone said with a leer.

"Psche, knock it off, dumbass. As if she'll even look at you."

"She looked at Anime Pillow, she even said hi to that crazy fuck. I got a chance, I'm telling you!" They talked amongst themselves as they entered the school grounds.

With a relieved sigh, Yuuto kept walking. He saw a bunch of students heading to class 3-2, where Yuuno was. "...Organ Harvester could be a talent scout at this rate. They're gonna blind me with all that glitter," he thought, continuing to his own class, 3-1.

Yuuto slid the door open and walked in. Most of his classmates were already there, and they sneakily looked at him before starting to whisper.

His whole class were mostly in. They all turned to look at him discreetly. Soon, they began whispering among themselves as he walked in.

"Look, it's pillow..."

"It's the fucker who bad-mouthed Shiyon-san!"

"...He looks... Unharmed. Maybe a bruise here and there I can barely make out. I thought they jumped him, what the fuck?!"

"He's about to go through Gon and Konro's desks...!" The students whispered, noticing Gon and Konro were there, sitting on their tables, blocking the way to his seat.

Yuuto halted just inches from Gon, who rose to his feet, locking eyes with him.

Shun and Riko observed the tense scene, hesitant to intervene.

Shun muttered under his breath, "Damn... Are they planning to ambush him now?"

Riko remained silent, unsure what to say or do.

Shun clenched his fist, "if Shiyon-san catches wind of this..."

"Konro, Gon! The teacher's about to enter any moment! Stop-" Shun said loudly, before Gon showed him his palm from his desk, "Shut the fuck up, pipsqueak! This doesn't concern you!!" He yelled, startling the entire class as he looked at Yuuto intensely.

Gon and Konro bore into Yuuto with unwavering gazes, and Yuuto met their stare without flinching.

Yuuto stood just inches away from Gon, a challenging glint in his eyes as he confronted him.

Shun and Riko exchanged anxious glances, uncertain of how the situation would unfold.

In a tense hush, Yuuto's voice cut through the classroom, "Something you wanna say to me, boot-licking charity cases? Seeing as you're blocking the way to my seat," his words laced with hostility, setting the stage for a brewing conflict.

"FUCK...! Gon's gonna lose it if you challenge him like that! Do you want to get hit!?" Shun whispered anxiously, while Riko tightened her grip on her arm, embracing herself.

"You fu-..!!" Gon's initial response was halted by Konro's firm grip on his shoulder, a silent warning to hold his tongue.

"... No. I was about to sneeze, but it didn't come out," With a steely resolve, Gon rose from his seat, his steps deliberate as he passed by Yuuto. In a low, pointed whisper, he delivered a cutting remark, "Aniki didn't lose to you; he simply took pity on your sorry ass and went easy on you! Don't let it get to your dick, fucking anime pillow. In an all out fight, he'd waste your ass." The words dripped with disdain.

Konro called out urgently, "Gon! The lesson's about to start! Where do you think you're going?!"

Ignoring the warning, Gon retorted defiantly, "Shut up. I ain't in the mood to study right now," as he marched towards the exit, leaving the classroom in stunned silence.

Witnessing the unexpected turn of events, Shun and Riko breathed out a sigh of relief.

Shun's mind raced with thoughts, 'Why's nothing happening...? Maybe they remembered Shiyon-san is here and toned it down. Phew...'

But Yuuto had other plans.

Yuuto turned to Gon, "Dude, just confess your love for me already. You can't stop talking about my ass and penis. Can't get me out of your head, can you?" His words dripped with sarcasm and a twisted grin.

"Not that I blame you, really..."

Shun & Riko (Quietly): "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SAKURAI?!?!??!??!"

The classroom fell into a stunned silence as jaws dropped in unison, including Konro's.

Flushed with embarrassment, Gon snapped back, "S-SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU FUCKING PILLOW! JUST WAIT UNTIL ANIKI LEAVES, I'LL FUCK YOU UP MYSELF!!!"

Yuuto teased, his wicked smirk growing ever-so wide, "Oh my~ You brute... So bold."

Enraged, Gon exploded, "MOTHERFUCKER!!! I'LL KILL YOU NOW!!!" before Konro intervened, restraining him from launching himself at Yuuto, guiding him out of the classroom in a tense struggle.

"Heh," Yuuto called, a sly smirk dancing on his lips as he settled into his desk, a content smile painting his features.

'Today's looking pretty darn good,' he mused, disregarding the bewildered, shocked expressions plastered across the faces of his classmates.

"S-S-S-Sakurai... You do realize you're dead, right?" Shun stammered, his complexion draining of color.

"Well, if we're gonna dive into philosophy, Cuck, we're all heading that way eventually. It's just a matter of when," Yuuto quipped, his tone casual.

"W-What...?" Shun's brow furrowed in confusion as he struggled to process the situation unfolding before him.

"You're crazy, Sakurai. Enraging that guy... Nothing good will come out of it!" Riko exclaimed, her eyes wide with worry and anxiety, "You could end up in a ditch when Shiyon-san leaves!"

"I didn't ask, cuckold-maker." Yuuto retorted dismissively.

"What...!? Do you even realize what he and his gang are capable of when they decide to go after someone!?" Shun interjected, his jaw clenched as memories of past torment flooded back.

"I'm aware," Yuuto replied, a sudden boldness creeping into his voice, capturing the attention of Riko and Shun.

Shun's breath caught in his throat as he asked, "...What...? Then... Why?"

"Because showing you're scared is a cuck move. It just gives power to people who should not have it. Gonk, or whatever the hell his name was, is one of those people who shouldn't get too high from his own farts. For everyone else's sake." Yuuto said, while unpacking his things from his bag.

Both Riko and Shun's eyes widened.

'Whether I'm anti-NTR man or Yuuto Sakurai... These kind of people, shall not have my fears to feast on and grow.'

Noticing the sudden silence, Yuuto looked up, "What? You two high or something?"

"Well... It's very... Smart, what you said, but why did you purposefully provoke him?" Riko questioned, skepticism evident in the arch of her eyebrow.

"Felt like it. He pisses me off." He said casually.

'I still need to teach that little prick a lesson for that tackle,' Yuuto thought to himself, his determination simmering beneath the surface.

"...Of course," Riko said, "What did I expect," both of them turning around on their chair to face the front of the classroom as the teacher walked in