Chapter 5 - The Mob Heroine's Moment of Courage
Mogami Fuko had made up her mind to summon her courage.
...Not that she was about to confess her love or anything. She was just finally going to deliver the "thank you" she'd been holding back all this time.
Some people might think that's no big deal. But for her, I knew this was a massive first step.
Whether or not she could take action here was the difference between a mob character and a main character.
Main characters move the plot with their actions. I wanted Mobuko-chan to reach that same level. Otherwise, she would live her life as a mob forever unnoticed, unacknowledged, and fading away without anyone remembering her.
I already saw that ending back in my old life. I don't need a repeat. I want to see the story where she gets her happy ending.
And for that reason alone, I decided to cheer her on.
(You can do it, Mobuko-chan…!)
This all went down the day after I first met her, with summer vacation looming just around the corner. The second classes were over, I made a beeline for Class A, the one Mogami Fuko, Sanada Saiga, and the other main characters were in.
For reference, I was in Class D, so we're not even in the same class. We're on different floors, even, which is why I'd never actually met any of them before... but that's beside the point.
In the hallway, Mobuko-chan was already waiting.
She must have noticed my arrival. When our eyes met, I gave her a small nod, and she nodded back in the same way.
Her bangs swayed as she tilted her head slightly, and for a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of her sky-blue eyes. It was only an instant... but I could see a determined light shining in them.
She looked ready. All that was left was to wait for Sanada to come out of the classroom.
(He’s… probably still flirting with the main heroines, huh.)
Summer vacation starts tomorrow, so the main heroines are really turning it on today, all of them fighting for Sanada's attention. Inside the classroom, their usual battle was unfolding. The girls were all vying for him, and Sanada, the man himself, just had that classic "geez, give me a break" look on his face, though he didn't seem to hate the attention.
That textbook scene went on for a while. And then, finally, he stood up.
(Sanada has a beloved little sister. He always makes sure to get home right around the time she finishes school... Alright, now’s our chance!)
I'd already memorized his behavior patterns from reading the manga over and over. He spends most of his time with the main heroines, but he always goes home alone. He heads straight there, just so his sister won't worry. That's the opening. Mobuko-chan only needs to say one thing. Sanada's in a hurry, and it's not like she's aiming for a long conversation.
There's just enough time to say "thank you" for what happened.
And then, at last…
(…He’s coming!)
Sanada walked out of the classroom. He was walking quickly down the hall, getting closer and closer to where she was waiting.
Now’s your chance! You can do it, Mobuko-chan!
“Ah… um…”
At the exact moment Sanada approached, Mobuko-chan spoke.
Her voice was quiet, and even trembling. But it was clear. Just loud enough for him to hear.
...I suddenly wanted to punch myself for that part of me that thought she might back out. Mobuko-chan’s resolve was the real deal.
This will reach him. Her feelings will get through to Sanada.
(Yes! This is it... with this...)
...He'll finally notice her. Or so I thought.
“Ah, sorry. I’m kind of in a hurry. Maybe next time!”
There wasn't a hint of malice in his words. And it wasn't like he didn't hear her either.
He definitely noticed. It's not like he didn't see her presence. It was just... for Sanada... Mogami Fuko simply wasn't worth stopping for.
(…So that’s how it is.)
I never saw this coming. Sanada always stops for a heroine. Even if he was worried about making his little sister wait, he'd still spare a moment, just like earlier in class, when he’d been all smiles during that flirty chaos. I’d been stupid to assume the same would happen here.
(To him… Mobuko-chan isn’t even a heroine.)
Whether she existed or not made no difference to him.
“.....”
Mobuko-chan just stood there, completely frozen. She'd summoned every last ounce of her courage... only for this to be the result. An ending so... utterly unrewarding.
The gap between a mob heroine and the main characters was far greater than I had ever imagined.
