Chapter 4 - The Mob Heroine Route Begins
In the quiet, empty corner of the library, I made a suggestion to Mobuko-chan.
“If you’re interested in Sanada, maybe you should try talking to him.”
I knew it was none of my business. And as far as Mobuko-chan was concerned, I was just some random classmate she'd literally just met. Still, I couldn't help but say it.
“It might be the start of something for you.”
"N-No way! That's impossible! I... I'm sure Sanada-kun doesn't even remember who I am…"
Of course, Mobuko-chan flat-out refused. She was shaking her head so hard it was a blur. It didn’t seem like she hated the idea, it was simply that the very thought of it was too much for her.
After all, her self-esteem is rock bottom. She's the type of person who just couldn’t help but think, 'Someone like me could never...'
"No, that's not true. He's a good guy. I'm sure he remembers you."
Mobuko-chan was just worrying over nothing, though.
Even if he didn't know her name... there was just no way Sanada wouldn't remember her. I mean, c'mon. Sanada Saiga is the protagonist of a romantic comedy. He's not the kind of character who'd just forget an event tied to a potential heroine.
"I'm not saying you need to go and confess or anything. But if you just want to thank him... I think it's totally fine to just... go and tell him that."
“.....”
At my words, Mobuko-chan fell silent. Seeing her clam up suddenly made me nervous.
Was I being too much? After all, being told something like this out of the blue by a guy she met literally just a few minutes ago… must have confused her.
I feel like I'm getting way ahead of myself. Yeah... maybe I need to calm down a bit.
“...Sorry. I was being too much of a bother, wasn’t I?”
"N-No! You weren’t a bother at all... Um, it's just... this is the first time anyone has ever... you know, thought this hard about me, so... I'm just a little surprised. Actually... thank you. I'm really... happy. ...Ehehe."
Apparently, she wasn’t troubled after all. W-What an angel! Not only was she not bothered, she was actually thanking me!
Kuh! Too cute.
I had to fight to keep a stupid grin from spreading across my face. This wasn't the time for that. I reined in my feelings and properly faced her again.
"The truth is... I know. I know it's okay to just say 'thank you’ to him. And I know he's not the kind of person who'd be bothered by something so trivial. But I... I still just can't work up the courage to approach him. I just keep thinking... is it really okay for someone like me to talk to someone who just... shines like he does?"
She's really taking my words to heart. She's thinking about this seriously and giving me an honest answer.
...Which means I can't be the one to get cold feet. This was probably the turning point for her, the crossroads of the story she was meant to live.
If I could convince her here… maybe her fate would change. So what could I say to make that happen?
"Yeah, you're right. It definitely takes guts to just go talk to someone. Especially if it's someone you... admire."
“I—I don’t know if it’s admiration exactly… it’s just… it's been bugging me for so long that I haven't been able to thank him. So, if I can... I really do want to tell him."
So she wants to do it. But she just... still can't bring herself to actually do it.
"The truth is... I am always trying to talk to him. Sometimes, there'll be a perfect opportunity, and I'll even start to stand up... but my legs just start shaking, and I can't move."
It was just one step.
That was all she's missing. That single first step.
If she could find the courage to take that step, maybe… she could free herself from her fate as a mob heroine.
And since she already had the will to try, there was something I could do to help.
“Then I’ll be there to watch over you.”
“...Eh? Watch over me? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I’ll be there. I’ll make sure to see it through. In other words, you won’t be alone.”
If she couldn’t find courage alone, then she just needed someone by her side. It would be meaningless for me to speak on her behalf, so I cannot do that for her.
But I could be there with her.
"In other words, I'll be your accomplice. I'll be there to make sure you can properly say thank you. I'll be watching over... no, more like supervising you. Does that take some of the pressure off?"
I gave her a reason. A reason that involved me.
My instructions, my watchful eyes, my presence.
All of that would be the push she needed. With her rock-bottom self-esteem, she tends to devalue herself. She has a habit of putting a low priority on anything she does for her own sake. But, the flip side is... it also means she puts a high priority on what other people tell her to do. And that's why my proposal... seemed to be the perfect trigger to get her to take that first step.
“...You’ll really watch me?”
"Of course. Because I'm rooting for you."
"R-Rooting for me? Why?"
"I already told you why, didn't I? It's because you're cute."
There wasn't a single lie in those words. And as always... she was extremely weak to that one word.
“I-I’m not cute at all… but… thank you. Hearing that makes me happy.”
Mobuko-chan clenched her fist tightly, as if gathering courage. I did the same, giving her a small cheer.
“Go for it.”
“Yeah… I’ll try my best.”
The mob heroine had made her decision. She was going to take that first step.
And I was certain, that single step would change her fate. For some reason, I was completely sure of it.
