Winning the School Spirit Project Contest didn't just save the Classic Literature & Film Society; it catapulted us into a level of visibility I had never imagined. The school newspaper wanted an interview. The school website featured our project prominently. Even teachers were congratulating us in the hallways. And, of course, the focus was almost always equally divided between our 'unique project' and 'the unexpected romance between Yamato-san and Tanaka-kun.'
Sakura-san handled it with her usual grace, albeit with a hint of weariness I was now beginning to recognize. She was used to attention, but this was different. This wasn't just about her; it was about us.
I, on the other hand, was completely out of my depth. Every question felt like an interrogation. Every glance felt like scrutiny. I missed my comfortable invisibility more than ever. My quiet corner of the world had expanded to include the entire school's attention, and it was exhausting.
Our status as 'the couple' was undeniable. Students watched how we interacted. If we walked together, there were whispers. If we didn't, there were questions. There was a constant pressure to look like a couple, even when we were just trying to navigate our own very new, very real feelings.
This increased visibility also brought some unwanted attention. Not everyone was happy about the average Tanaka suddenly dating the school idol.
One afternoon, while walking alone to the clubroom, a couple of guys from another class blocked my path in the hallway. They weren't particularly intimidating, but their expressions were unfriendly.
"Hey, Tanaka," one of them said, his tone dismissive. "Heard you and Yamato-san are a real thing now, huh?"
"Uh, yeah," I mumbled, feeling my usual awkwardness return under pressure.
"Must be nice," the other guy sneered. "Suddenly popular because you latched onto the school's biggest star."
My stomach tightened. The old rumors about me using her, or her being forced, seemed to have morphed into this – jealousy and the accusation that I was somehow riding her coattails.
"That's not what happened," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We... we worked hard on the project."
"Oh, sure, the project," the first guy scoffed. "Everyone knows that was just the excuse, right? You got lucky, buddy. Don't get too comfortable. Girls like Yamato-san don't stick around with guys like you forever."
Their words stung. They weren't just doubting our relationship; they were doubting me. Doubting that I could possibly be worthy of someone like Sakura-san, or that our connection was genuine.
Before I could figure out how to respond, a voice cut through the tension.
"Is there a problem here?"
It was Akane Sato. She was standing a few feet away, her arms crossed, her gaze sharp and direct, fixed on the two guys.
The guys immediately seemed to shrink under her gaze. Akane Sato, the formidable Student Council member and Sakura Yamato's best friend, commanded a different kind of respect (or fear) than I did.
"Uh, no problem, Sato-san," the first guy stammered, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Just, uh, talking to Tanaka."
"Talking?" Akane-san repeated, her tone skeptical. "Or harassing?"
Her directness caught them off guard.
"No, no, not harassing!" the second guy quickly said. "Just... congratulating him."
Akane-san raised an eyebrow. "Congratulating him by implying he's using my best friend?" Her tone was cold now. "I suggest you find someone else to 'congratulate'."
She took a step towards them. The guys exchanged nervous glances, mumbled something unintelligible, and quickly made their way down the hallway, practically jogging.
Akane-san watched them go, her expression stern. Then, she turned her gaze to me. The sharpness in her eyes softened slightly, but it was still intense.
"Are you okay, Tanaka-kun?" she asked, her voice lower now that the others were gone.
"Uh, yeah," I said, still a little shaken. "Thanks, Sato-san. You... you didn't have to do that."
She sighed, rubbing her temples briefly. "Unfortunately, I probably do. This is the reality of dating Sakura. Not everyone will be happy about it. And some people... are idiots."
She paused, looking at me thoughtfully. "Those rumors... about Sakura being forced... they were garbage. But the kind of attention you're getting now... the jealousy... that's real. Are you ready for it, Tanaka-kun?"
Her question wasn't challenging this time; it was a genuine inquiry. She saw the reality of the situation, not just the surface.
"I don't know," I admitted honestly. "It's... a lot."
Akane-san nodded. "It is. Sakura is used to it, mostly. But even for her, this is different. Because it's about her relationship. And it involves you."
She looked at me directly. "Look, Tanaka-kun. I know I was... suspicious before. And I still have concerns. Dating Sakura isn't easy. It comes with this kind of nonsense." She gestured vaguely down the hallway where the guys had gone. "But... she's happy right now. Happier than I've seen her in a while, actually. And you seem to be... a part of that."
It was the closest thing to approval I had ever gotten from Akane-san. It meant a lot, coming from her.
"Thank you, Sato-san," I said, feeling a surge of gratitude.
She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Just... be aware. This kind of attention isn't going away. And don't let idiots like them get to you. You handled the presentation pressure; you can handle their stupid jealousy."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the hallway again.
Akane Sato. Still intimidating, still protective, but maybe... an unexpected ally in navigating this new reality. Her intervention, and her words, were a stark reminder that our relationship wasn't just a private matter anymore. It was a public event, subject to scrutiny, jealousy, and unwanted attention.
Navigating the spotlight of dating Sakura Yamato was going to be a lot harder than just pretending to. And I had a feeling Akane-san would be watching to see how I handled it.