so from other people perspective, she would be just fighting air? lmao
Yes! This is what was really happening in Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai!
But to maintain the masquerade they had to shame all the young people involved into silence! And gaslight them into not believing in their own powers! Jeering at them as mentally ill nerds!
... also to help them grow up into troubled heroines and heroes who don't value their lives and safety.