Mob Heroine - Chapter 58

Chapter 58 - Remaining a Spectator

“You keep your cool and never get emotional, no matter what anyone does to you... and yet, you're willing to do something drastic if it's for Fuko. You don't even take me seriously, you just think about Fuko, always calculating the best choice for her happiness, aren't you? That’s exactly why you're in the way.”

After saying that, she finally took her hand off my mouth so I could breathe. But her hand didn't leave my neck. Her small fingers traced over my throat, lingering there as if they were ready to strangle me at any moment.

“Cough, cough…”

Maybe it was because she'd cut off my voice. I was coughing too hard to speak. Because of that, I couldn't let Mogami-san and Sanada know I was there.

(…Just like before I reincarnated.)

I used to watch from this exact angle. I used to gaze at the two of them as a mere spectator. I used to find comfort just seeing Mogami-san... seeing Mobuko-chan's adorable figure.

But I was supposed to be part of the story now. I wasn't just supposed to be cheering her on from the sidelines, I was supposed to be in a position where I could actually save her.

“Without you, Fuko is just a timid girl. She has no confidence in herself, a weak will... the kind of girl who can only be pushed around by others. But... Fuko looks good. She has that pure appearance and quiet personality, but her chest is huge, and she has such a lewd body... she gives off exactly the kind of vibe Saiga loves. She looks... really convenient for men, doesn't she?”

That was exactly what I feared. Mogami-san's good nature was a double-edged sword. If someone took advantage of it, they could use her exactly as they please.

For instance, if I were a malicious person... It would have been all too easy for me to ruin Mogami-san’s life by now.

She is a pure, blank slate. She can be dyed any color by the people closest to her.

That was why it had to be me. To ensure she stayed happy, undistorted, and remained truly pure... I had to support her. I had to be the one to push her forward. Even if I wasn't the one she chose in the end.

If I could become the shield that protected her from malice, that alone would be enough. This was an objective conclusion. There was no one else who thought about her without considering their own benefit.

Anyone who tried to deceive Mogami… I would eliminate. And as long as she made her choices free of manipulation, she would never choose wrong.

However, Wannai-san wasn't going to let me do that.

“Don’t do anything. Let me be loved by Saiga, okay?”

Her fingers crawled along my throat, threateningly. For the first time in my life, I learned just how much the body freezes up in fear when someone touches a vital spot. But at the same time, a defiant feeling welled up inside me: Go ahead. Try it if you can.

“…Do you really think you can stop me with that tiny body of yours?”

My voice had finally returned. If I wanted to resist, it would have been easy enough to shake off a small girl like her.

“Nyoo, don’t get mad, okay? It's not like I have a grudge against you or anything. You're just... in the way.”

That was exactly why this girl was so troublesome. This girl held no malice. She genuinely, from the bottom of her heart, believed that her actions were right.

She... no, these creatures known as ‘main heroines' were incapable of recognizing their own twisted nature. That was simply the kind of existence they were.

“Well, if you try anything, I'll just scream and cry and cause a huge scene, so go ahead, give it a shot. If I frame you for groping me or hitting me... you'll be in a world of trouble, won't you?”

“...You really have a nasty personality.”

“Nihihi. I know, right~? ...I really am a nasty piece of work. I do feel bad about it, you know. But... if it means Saiga will love me, then I don't have a choice.”

She was smiling, as usual. It was an innocent, pure... childish smile that some people might even find adorable. But she only looked young, this girl was a high schooler, through and through.

And her words and actions... weren't necessarily pure and innocent at all.

“It'll be fine. As long as you just stay quiet, nothing bad is going to happen. Fuko is just in a bit of a bind because she doesn't have her phone and can't contact anyone. Even if she runs into Saiga at a time like this, it's not like some huge event is going to happen.”

If I fought back, I’d risk starting a huge scene with Wannai-san.

Compared to that, letting Mogami-san and Sanada meet might indeed lead to a calmer outcome.

“If you start a fight with me here, it’ll be a pain to deal with the aftermath, right? Fuko would get dragged into it too… And more importantly, since you'd be the 'cause' of the incident, you wouldn't be able to stay by Fuko's side. And while you're gone... Saiga will definitely be the one by her side. Are you okay with that?”

…Damn it.

I had completely fallen into her trap.

I wanted to resist, but Wannai-san wasn’t letting me.

Everything was proceeding exactly as she wanted.

In the end, all I could do was remain a spectator. And that fact was unbearably frustrating—.