Harem Streamer System: Every Crime I Broadcast Wins Me a Superheroine - Chapter 102

Chapter 102: ~Intermission~ Unintended Feelings II
The school bus rattled along the bumpy road as sunlight streamed through the grimy windows.

Gwen sat by the window, her cheek resting on her palm as she gazed at the monotonous street outside. Rows of dull gray buildings passed by, their only companions the occasional stray dog or overgrown bush.

Bored, she turned to look at Scott, who was hunched over his notebook. His tongue poked out slightly as he scribbled furiously. The soft scritch-scratch of his pen managed to occupy the silence between them.

“What are you even doing?”

Gwen asked, then tilted her head as she tried to peek over his shoulder.

“Designing…” Scott replied without looking up.

His glasses had slipped down his nose, but he was too engrossed to notice.

Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Designing what? Another one of your super-nerdy suits?”

“They’re not nerdy. They’re advanced…”

Scott quickly corrected her as he flipped a page to sketch out a new diagram.

There was that special pride in his voice──the one scientists had whenever they were asked about their work.

“This one… this one could withstand a direct energy blast if I calculate the output correctly. See, if I stabilize the thermal regulator here—”

“Blah, blah, blah!”

Gwen interrupted as she leaned back against the seat.

“Don’t you ever get tired of this? It’s not like you’re actually going to use them for anything.”

Her words hit like a jab.

Scott’s pen slipped and left a jagged line across his more than detailed drawing.

He froze, then clicked his tongue in frustration.

“Tch. Great. Now I’ve messed up the whole thing!”

He grumbled as he glared at the ruined blueprint.

“Oops,”

Gwen said with zero remorse, holding back that cat-like smirk pulling at her lips.

Scott didn’t reply.

Instead, he yanked the page out of the notebook, crumpled it into a tight ball, and tossed it out the open bus window with a sigh.

Gwen’s jaw dropped.

“Wait! You just threw that out? What if someone finds it?”

“Who cares?”

Scott grumbled, then slumped back in his seat.

“It’s ruined anyway.”

“Geez, dramatic much?”

Gwen muttered, shaking her head as she returned her tired eyes to the window.

『If I were a little more book smart like Maya, maybe I’d be able to connect with him better. I hate that I always have to cause trouble just to get his attention. I’m sure he thinks I’m just some dumb blonde who keeps distracting him from his work, and it sucks. But honestly, it’s not like I really care. As long as he looks at me and says my name once in a while, I don’t mind if he thinks I’m a fool, you know?』

She closed her eyes and thought deeper.

『Maya’s really lucky. Somehow, she has everything Scott wants. She’s smart, her dad has a lab where Scott can work on those nerdy suits of his, and she even sneaks some of her dad’s tech to help Scott achieve his dream of building a super Sci-Fi suit. But the way I like Scott might not be healthy. I like him so much that I completely overlook the good things about myself just because they don’t match what Scott values. That just leaves my bad traits out in the open for everyone to see, and that’s exactly what I tend to show him. Jeez… I’m stupid, aren’t I?』

There was sadness and dissatisfaction on her face.

『Scott… just tell me something you like about me… I want to feel special… in your eyes. Sigh~』

･･･

Outside, a sleek black car cruised along the road just behind the bus.

Inside, a young Isaac Volkner tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, humming softly to the radio.

At that moment, the only thing on his mind were ideas for his next big project.

Suddenly, something hit his open window, startling him.

A crumpled ball of papers bounced off the dashboard and landed in the passenger seat.

“What the—”

Isaac muttered, glancing up at the bus ahead.

His eyebrows squeezed in annoyance.

“People don’t even respect the friggin’ environment these days. Jeez…”

He picked up the papers, smoothing it out as he prepared to toss it in the glove compartment.

But his hand froze mid-motion.

“Hm…?”

His eyes widened as he scanned the intricate diagrams covering the page.

“Wait a second…”

He flipped to another page and then another.

His lips parted in astonishment.

“These… these aren’t just dumb superhero drawings. These are actual designs.”

The pages were filled with detailed calculations and advanced engineering principles. Energy distribution models, matter conversion theories, and even stress analysis diagrams—everything was meticulously outlined.

“This is insane!”

Isaac grinned like a mad man.

“Whoever did this is a genius. They’re a bit outdated, sure, but… if I integrate nanite technology here, I could fix 70% of the problems they’re running into.”

From the backseat, Emma’s voice broke his concentration.

“Hello? Isaac? Can we get moving already? I have a photoshoot for Hero Weekly, and I’m not missing it because you’re geeking out over trash.”

Isaac chuckled, then slowly glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

“You’re finding all this fame fun now, huh? Give it a few years, and you’ll hate it. Trust me. Focus on heroics and your personal life. Everything else? Side priority.”

Emma rolled her eyes as she adjusted her ponytail.

“Sure, sure, Mr. Volkner.”

Isaac groaned.

“Stop calling me that. Makes me feel ancient, and I’m only three years older than you.”

“Meh…” Emma shrugged.

Isaac tossed the blueprints at her, and she caught them effortlessly. Flipping through the pages at super speed, she raised an eyebrow.

“What’s this? Armor designs for a new suit?”

Isaac restarted the car as he smirked.

“Maybe. With these, I could create my best armor yet. I’ve been thinking of using a wristwatch to summon a nanite-based suit. Either through teleportation or local assembly—way more efficient than my current system.”

Emma tilted her head, unimpressed. “Sounds geeky.”

“You’re just dumb.”

“HEY──!” Emma shouted, glaring at him.

･･･

Back on the bus, Gwen rested her chin on her hand as her distant eyes stared out the window again.

Scott had returned to his scribbling, muttering to himself as he sketched a new design.

Her thoughts drifted back to her conversation with Tess.

Her mom had warned her against getting too close to Scott, saying it was for both their protection.

But Gwen couldn’t understand.

How was keeping her feelings locked away supposed to protect anyone?

Her mom’s words echoed in her mind:

“Scott doesn’t need romantic love. He needs familial love—something he never got to experience.”

Gwen’s fists clenched.

Her soft gaze shifted to Scott.

She watched his focused expression as he worked.

『Did his parents really treat him that badly? Why does Mom say I can’t ask him about it? He deserves better. He deserves love. All the love I can give him.』

Her cheeks turn a little red as her eyebrows climb up.

『I know… it probably sounds a bit dumb for a 15-year-old like me to be saying all this, but I’m sure about what I want, and it’s Scott. It’ll always be him, no matter what. But I just don’t know how to get past that broken and oblivious exterior of his. Why does he have to be so damn difficult!』

A deep sigh escaped her lips as she dully turned back to the uneventful window view.

･･･

The classroom buzzed with chatter.

Clusters of students leaned against desks, swapped gossip, or laughed over private jokes.

The teacher hadn’t shown up yet.

Scott sat alone at his desk, head down, furiously scribbling in his notebook.

His pencil moved with a sort of desperate precision, sketching out the curves of a sleek, aerodynamic armor.

The design featured integrated plasma cannons, sonic emitters, and a modular flight system capable of short-range bursts and sustained aerial combat.

But the murmurs around him weren’t about his designs.

“Look at him…”

A girl whispered loudly enough for Scott to hear.

She sounded disgusted.

“It’s that weird silent kid again. Always looks like he’s plotting something.”

Another voice joined in—a boy’s this time.

“Yeah, that sucker’s probably trying to design a way to blow up the school or something. Guy’s got ‘problem child’ written all over him.”

Someone snickered.

“He’s got such a bad temper too. Always muttering to himself like a psycho.”

“Bet he’s never even had a real friend.”

“Or a girlfriend. Who’d wanna date that?”

Scott’s jaw tightened.

His pencil faltered for a moment before he pressed on.

He tried to drown out the noise with his sketching.

『Ignore them…』

But their voices clawed at the edges of his concentration.

“What a loser!”

“Bet he thinks he’s some genius or something, but he’s just pathetic.”

“I’m sure he’s got a small penis too!”

“Bruh… what’s that gotta do with anything? I swear y’all be saying the dumbest shit sometimes.”

“My fault, OG…”

Scott gritted his teeth and his hand shook as he tried to steady his lines.

His mind drifted despite himself.

『I know Gwen likes me… but why? She was smart, popular, and full of life, and I… I’m not. She deserves someone better. Someone who doesn’t feel this gnawing anger inside every time I imagine her with someone else.』

His brows pressed together.

『I have a lot of issues… if Gwen still wants to date me despite all that, I’m sure it’ll cause problems. There are things I just can’t tolerate and issues I can’t overlook. I don’t want her to feel like she has to help… I could always tell her it’s something I need to handle on my own. But then she might end up feeling useless or unwanted—and I know exactly how that feels.』

He paused and stared at the page.

“EH…?”

He blinked in disbelief.

Instead of propulsion mechanics, he’d drawn a face.

Her face…

Gwen’s warm smile stared back at him from the paper, and his heart choked.

“Shit──!!”

His face went pale.

He fell back against his chair, then held his head in his hands.

『Why the hell did I draw Gwendolyn──?!』

Scrambling for his eraser, Scott started to rub out the sketch, but he froze when he caught snippets of another conversation from across the room.

“Can you believe that Gwen hangs out with him?”

“Yeah, it’s weird. I mean, she’s way out of his league.”

“You think they’re, like, hooking up or something?”

One boy said with a sleazy grin.

Another snorted.

“No way. Gwen’s got way too much going on to waste her time on a loser like Scott.”

The first boy chuckled darkly.

“Please. She’s just another easy girl with a big butt. I bet she’s slept with half the seniors by now. Probably used to tag team her fine ass in the bathrooms.”

“Psssh──so what? Gwen’s just a horny dog?”

“Hack! Way worse! You should’ve seen the way she was sucking my cock last week!”

Scott’s pencil snapped in half with a sharp crack.

The classroom fell silent as every head turned toward him.

Slowly, he stood as his chair scraped against the floor.

His fists were squeezed so tightly his knuckles turned white, and his eyes were dark with fury.

“What’re you looking at, dickhead?”

One of the boys scorned.

Scott’s voice was low and cold.

“Why did you lie about Gwen?”

The boy frowned. “What’re you talking about?”

Scott didn’t answer.

Instead, he growled and swung his fist.

… ka────POOOOOW!!

It connected with the boy’s face with a sickening crunch and sent him flying out of his chair.

Gasps and shrieks curtained the room as the boy hit the ground and clutched his broken nose.

“What the hell, man?!”

Someone yelled, but Scott wasn’t listening.

His chest heaved as he stood over the boy.

“Don’t. Ever. Talk about her like that again.”

･･･

Meanwhile, in Gwen’s class…

The scene wasn’t much better.

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed as she faced a senior boy who stood a few feet away with his hands shoved casually into his pockets.

“So…”

He had a charming smile on his face.

“Did you think about what I said yesterday?”

Gwen sighed and looked away.

“Like I told you before, there’s nothing to think about. I don’t like you like that.”

The boy’s smile faltered.

“Come on, Gwen. Don’t be like that.”

“No buts…”

Gwen said firmly, crossing her arms tighter.

“I don’t like you. Respect my choice and leave it at that.”

The senior’s face twisted into an ugly sneer.

“Tch. Ugly bitch.”

He turned and stormed off, and a gaggle of junior girls trailed after him, throwing insults over their shoulders.

“She’s such a loser!”

“Thinks she’s all that! She’s so fat. Her panties wouldn’t even fit a pig.”

“Ufufu──like we wanna talk about that ugly, fat bitch’s dirty ass panties!”

“I hate her so much, ugh!”

Gwen sighed, letting the cruel words roll off her back as best she could. She turned and headed back to her seat as her thoughts crawled back to Scott.

『What’re you doing right now, you idiot? Probably sketching one of your nerdy suits again…』

But she smiled to herself.

There was a soft warmth blooming in her chest.

『Honestly? I wouldn’t want you any other way.』

･･･

The classroom was alive with whispers.

Mila and Kale sat at Gwen’s desk, practically bouncing with excitement.

When Gwen finally strolled over, they didn’t even let her sit down properly before they scooted close as their bulging eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Mila leaned forward first.

“Sooo, how did it go?”

Kale grinned, snapping her fingers.

“Yeah, spill the tea! What’s it like being the most popular girl in middle school and dating one of the cutest seniors? Come on, Gwen! Don’t leave us hanging!”

Gwen rolled her eyes but said nothing as she tiredly slid into her seat.

Undeterred, Mila pressed on, clapping her hands together.

“I can already imagine how popular this is gonna make you! Honestly, you’re already a legend, girl. Even private schools have been talking about how good you look.”

Kale nodded eagerly.

“Right?! Remember that senior from Bluestone Academy? The one who begged us for your number?”

She leaned closer with a smirk.

“He was soooo in love.”

The two girls erupted into high-pitched shrieks, drawing the attention of half the class.

Gwen pinched the bridge of her nose. “Guys…”

But Mila was already fanning herself dramatically.

“You’ve got options everywhere, babe. Ugh, I’m so jealous! I can’t wait to hear how this one went. Did you say yes? Tell me you said yes!”

Finally, Gwen sighed. “I turned him down.”

The room seemed to drop ten degrees.

Both Mila and Kale froze mid-giggle, their faces going pale as if Gwen had just confessed to burning down the school.

“You… what?!”

Kale’s voice was a purely shock and horror.

Mila blinked at her in disbelief. “You turned down the cutest senior? Gwen, are you insane?”

Kale pointed a trembling finger at Gwen, as if she had just committed a mortal sin—but considering how much this senior was worshipped, it might as well have been one.

“D-, Do you even know what you’ve done?! That’s social suicide!”

“He’s loaded, Gwen! His parents are super rich! They’re like country-club rich!”

Mila threw up her hands as if this fact alone should’ve sealed the deal.

But Gwen yawned, completely unfazed.

She pulled her dusty physics textbook from her bag and dropped it onto her desk with a loud thud.

“Well, now he can spend all that money on a girl who won’t mind being called an ugly bitch for rejecting him. I mean like… ugh, what’s wrong with these guys? I’m not the one who told him to ask me out. I was on my own, tch!”

She blew on the textbook, sending a puff of dust into the air.

Both Mila and Kale stared at her like she’d sprouted a second head.

Mila reached out hesitantly, then placed a hand on Gwen’s shoulder.

“You… you’re okay, right? I mean, if you’re feeling bad or unwanted, it’s okay to talk to us. You know that, right?”

Kale nodded solemnly as her expression turned pitiful.

“Just because the most popular senior called you ugly doesn’t mean we see you that way. But… uh… I can’t say the same for the rest of the school.”

“Yeah…”

Mila sighed.

“You know they’ve been waiting for your downfall.”

Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Guys, I’m fine.”

Kale crossed her arms skeptically.

“Really? Then why are you suddenly reading your physics textbook? You haven’t touched that thing all year.”

Gwen grunted, flipping the book open.

“I’ve just discovered a new love for physics. And chemistry, too. They’re great subjects.”

Mila and Kale exchanged an incredulous glance before bursting into quiet giggles.

Mila smirked.

“You’ve got a thing for some nerd, don’t you?”

“What?!” Gwen snapped, glaring at her.

Mila shrugged innocently.

“You’re trying to bond with some guy, aren’t you? Intellectual conversations? Late-night study dates? Totally your style.”

Kale doubled over laughing. “That’s so Gwen!”

“Hey!” Gwen barked as her cheeks flushed red.

Their teasing didn’t last long.

A sudden commotion in the hallway drew their attention.

Students were filing out of the classroom, whispering and craning their necks to see what was happening.

Mila frowned. “What’s going on?”

Gwen stood slowly. Her stomach twisted with unease as she followed the crowd outside.

The sight that greeted her stopped her dead in her tracks.

Three boys lay sprawled on the ground, their faces battered and bloody.

A teacher stood nearby, shouting furiously.

And there, on his knees with his arms raised in surrender, was Scott.

His knuckles were stained with blood, and small cuts marred his face, but his expression was completely cold.

“Scott…?”

Gwen whispered with a pounding heart.

Scott glanced at her as his dark eyes softened for a brief moment before he quickly looked away.

“What happened?!”

Gwen demanded as she stepped forward.

The teacher snapped his head around, glaring at Gwen.

“You stay back! This is none of your concern.”

But Gwen’s focus was entirely on Scott.

“Scott…” she said again, her voice trembling.

He didn’t respond.

Her mind raced.

『Why… why would he do this? What happened here?』

And as the whispers around her grew louder, one thing became painfully clear.

Everyone was staring at Scott like he was a monster.

And Gwen realized, with a sinking feeling in her chest, that this was going to change everything.