Mob Heroine - Chapter 31

Chapter 31 - A New Story Arc Begins...?

Before summer vacation, Mogami-san had gathered all her courage and tried to talk to Sanada, just to say 'thank you.'

But back then, Sanada completely brushed her off. He didn't even stop walking when she called out to him. As if to say she wasn't even worth responding to, he just shot a single "Sorry!" over his shoulder and left.

That was about a month and a bit ago. Since then, Mobuko-chan had worked hard and was no longer a mob heroine.

Fuko Mogami's potential had blossomed beautifully, and she had transformed into a total beauty. Everything had gone perfectly up to that point.

And naturally, the ideal scenario after that would be for her to have her revenge.

After summer vacation, she finally met Sanada again. Before, he wouldn't even stop to talk to her... but this time, he was the one to approach her. It was a perfect turn of events.

It would’ve been a clear, impactful scene that could have shown off Mogami-san's transformation and the change in her relationship with Sanada all at once. However… Mogami-san just ignored him.

In a way, I guess she did get her "revenge." But in this case, "revenge" didn't mean "a second chance"... it meant payback.

An eye for an eye, a cold shoulder for a cold shoulder. If you’re ignored, you ignore back. Well, I can’t say it didn’t feel satisfying. Honestly, I still hadn’t forgiven Sanada for brushing off my adorable Mobuko-chan like that.

But... that was just my own selfish feeling. If I thought about what was best for the story going forward, I still thought 'a second chance' would’ve made for a better development in that scene than 'payback.'

"Mogami-san... is it fine?"

We left the school building and moved to the central courtyard. Still bothered by what had just happened, I sat on the bench beside her and asked again.

“Yup! The bento should taste fine, I think."

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

This girl really didn’t think much of Sanada at all. She didn’t even seem to realize what I was worried about. She just blinked innocently at me.

“I meant Sanada. You could’ve at least replied to him.”

"Ahh... honestly, my mind just went completely blank."

What? If that's the case, then there's still a chance. Oh, I get it now! She just got too nervous because the guy she admires was talking to her. And because of that, her mind went blank and she couldn't respond, right?

“I-I mean, e-everyone was staring at me…”

Huh? That was the problem? Not Sanada? So, she was overwhelmed because she was the center of attention, not because Sanada was talking to her?!

“Are you sure you’re fine with not thanking him?”

“...Ah! I forgot!!”

Mogami-san's eyes shot wide open, as if she'd just remembered. Her sky-blue eyes went perfectly round... which was so cute... wait, that's not the point. This wasn’t the time to be charmed by her.

(If she didn’t even mean to ignore him, then it wasn’t revenge at all.)

Something was off. The gears between Sanada and Mogami-san weren't meshing at all. If anything… it almost seemed like their positions were reversed. Before summer vacation, it was like Sanada didn't see any value in Mogami-san. After summer vacation, it was Mogami-san who didn't see any value in Sanada.

W-What the heck was going on? I couldn’t make sense of it at all.

"Anyway, we're in the same class, so I can just thank him later. More importantly, aren't you going to eat the bento? Um… I, um, kind of put a lot of effort into it…”

And there was one more thing I didn’t understand. Why hadn’t I, the side character, exited the main story yet?

I was sure that moment back there was my final curtain call. I'd finished my role as a side character and I'd even felt a sense of accomplishment. But Mogami-san's attention... just wouldn't leave me. Even now, she was holding out the bento to me with a slightly nervous look on her face. I'd just assumed she'd made it for Sanada, but... it seemed it was for me.

Knowing her, she probably took her time making it carefully, with genuine effort.

All for me.

The moment that thought hit me, I reflexively took the bento and started eating right away.

“Thanks. I’ll eat it now. Ohh! This steak is so delicious.”

"Really? Ehehe. It's not ready-to-heat-and-eat, you know? I genuinely made it myself."

"Seriously? You've got some real cooking skills... Seems like you'll become a good wife someday."

“...A good w-wife? That sounds… really nice!"

Ah, wait. Forget I said that. I’d blurted out that compliment without thinking, but when I saw her reaction, it suddenly hit me.

She was smiling and she looked really happy. At the same time, she looked pleased, yet a little bit shy.

Mogami Fuko was showing affection toward me, not toward Sanada.

I wasn’t dense. I didn't have that 'clueless protagonist' gene like Sanada. It was just that I’d always assumed she liked Sanada, so I never even considered the possibility.

(Dammit… I want to read it. I need to read this manga now! How does it play out from here!?)

The story’s direction had shifted drastically. This was no longer the same series I’d already finished reading.

It felt like a new story arc was about to begin—.