I Am the Heroine (Mob Girl’s Perspective).

“Now then, we shall begin the inspection. There is no need to pay any particular attention to us—please continue exactly as you have been.”

“…Yes.”

At this moment, inside the small partitioned room (curtained off with blackout fabric) that I’m currently using, the student council’s inspection representative is present.

A pentagram cloth (my own), my favorite tarot deck, a prop crystal ball (fake, obviously), and a table arranged to look just “mystical” enough.

Seated directly across from me is the woman in charge of the inspection on behalf of the student council.

“Ayumu, do your best, okay?”

“U-Um… yeah…”

I give a small nod in response to the class committee chair, who is standing awkwardly in the corner of the room.

Regrettably, it’s true that I had grandly declared, “Leave the inspection to me when it comes!”

To be blunt… I got way too full of myself. Yes.

But still…

“We are not here to evaluate or grade you. We are simply confirming that you are performing ordinary fortune-telling as usual.”

“Y-Yes…”

She’s just sitting there normally, yet the sheer intensity of her presence is overwhelming.

An aura so powerful it makes you feel that even the thought of defying her is impermissible.

Someone like me—a total mob character—is on a completely different level.

Despite radiating such overwhelming strength, her appearance is terrifyingly beautiful.

So beautiful that it almost inspires fear—an astonishing, otherworldly beauty.

This is the first time I’ve seen her face up close, and… wow, people like this really exist.

…Wait.

This is no time to be thinking such leisurely thoughts!

“S-So then… f-first…”

“Please don’t tense up so much. Truly, just be your normal self.”

“Y-Yes.”

No, no, that’s impossible!!

How could a weak little mob like me possibly act “normal” when facing a natural-born super heroine like you?! It’s far too presumptuous!!

“In that case… once again, l-let’s begin…”

To begin with, the inspection representative being the student council president herself when the group came together—how is that even fair?!

I don’t want to read Satsukawa-senpai’s fortune! It’s terrifying!!

If the result is something weird, what’s going to happen to me?!

If Satsukawa-senpai gets angry, she’s seriously scary!!

I still remember how the upperclassmen from the club got absolutely destroyed when she was mad!!

And this time, it’s just me—alone!!

Ugh… what do I do…

If only I hadn’t acted so cocky…

Why did it turn out like this…?

***

My name is Kishiyama Ayumu.

An utterly ordinary high school girl—you can find someone like me anywhere.

Grades… a bit on the low side.

Appearance… average (or so I’d like to believe).

Figure… average (barely scraping by with favorable wind assistance…).

Friends… decent number.

Boyfriend… recruiting (permanently single so far).

Notable traits… none in particular.

…Yeah.

Even I have to admire how perfectly ordinary my specs are.

So ordinary that I’m basically “background character among background characters.”

Someone once said that having no distinguishing features is itself a feature… nope, never mind.

Anyway, even someone as plain as me has one thing I can puff out my chest and proudly call my specialty.

And that is…

My hobby—tarot cards.

To be completely honest, the reason I started this was because it looked cool.

Also because I thought my friends would be impressed.

I’m fully aware that my motivation was calculated from the start, so please don’t poke at it.

…Who am I even saying this to?

A-Anyway, the tarot that I began for such shallow reasons has now genuinely become my one “special skill” (question mark).

More and more friends started asking me to read for them, and I even relied on it myself whenever something bothered me.

Once I really got into it… it turned out to be surprisingly fun.

The interpretations allow your personality to shine through, and it feels amazing when people say it hit the mark.

So I kept doing readings in the classroom whenever asked, and before I knew it, fortune-telling had become a trend throughout the class (mostly among the girls).

And the one who started it all… was someone as stereotypically mob-like as me.

There’s no greater honor than that.

I secretly felt so proud—like I’d finally pulled it off (lol).

And then, at long last, it bore fruit…

The moment had arrived for me to become the heroine!

In the survey for deciding our class’s cultural festival exhibit, fortune-telling made it onto the candidate list—and in the end, it won by an overwhelming vote from the girls!

The first big wave to ever hit my otherwise dull and ordinary life.

There was no way I was letting this pass me by!

…Or so I thought.

From there, everything went exactly as I’d hoped.

Classmates, friends, boys and girls alike—they all started relying on me.

So I taught everyone the different kinds of fortune-telling I knew, and during homeroom I even acted as the “instructor.”

There was no doubt about it anymore—I was the protagonist… the heroine! I was on cloud nine!

And then came the day of the cultural festival.

From morning onward, customers—no, lost little lambs—kept pouring into the classroom, all seeking my fortune-telling.

Of course, I’m not handling everything by myself.

We’ve properly divided the roles, and some lambs choose other methods besides tarot.

But I was the one who taught everyone those other methods too.

So in the end, every single fortune-telling session happening in this classroom can ultimately be traced back to me.

That means all the lost lambs are really coming here for my fortune-telling!

…Or so I excitedly told myself, throwing a lavish party inside my own head—until just a little while ago.

But because I got so carried away, this unthinkable situation has unfolded…

I never imagined it would come to this…

***

The message that the student council inspection team (?) was coming arrived just after lunch.

We hadn’t done any special preparation, but the word “inspection” alone is enough to make anyone nervous.

And when the team finally arrived—about an hour later than expected—the lineup was, to put it mildly, far beyond imagination. An absolutely monstrous group.

When a party like that shows up, the whole class—boys and girls alike—immediately turns into a festival frenzy (even though it already is one).

And for good reason.

Because that group was essentially the star cast of this entire academy—the equivalent of a legendary hero’s party.

“You must be the person in charge, Kishiyama-san? Pleased to meet you.”

“Y-Yes… p-pleased to meet you…”

Right now, as I accept the fortune-telling inspection, I’m having a meeting with the person responsible from the student council side.

Yes—the student council’s “person in charge.”

“Let’s get straight to it. Regarding this inspection…”

Even while we’re talking, I can’t tear my eyes away from the “responsible person” sitting right in front of me.

Why?

Because obviously.

Her features are terrifyingly perfect. Large, vivid eyes, a clean and elegant nose bridge, lips that exude an unbelievable sensuality for someone only one year older, and translucent, flawlessly fine white skin.

And then…

That impossibly distinctive, silky, endlessly beautiful—too beautiful—jet-black hair that flows with every slight movement.

Moreover…

I can tell.

They’re like the embodiment of every man’s dream—not too large, yet perfectly proportioned in a way that would captivate anyone—“those.”

And in comparison, mine…

The world is so unfair…

What is this?

How does someone become like that?

Seeing her up close like this only hammers home just how extraordinary her beauty truly is.

Rinka High School Student Council President—Satsukawa Sara-senpai.

The undisputed, genuine super heroine that Rinka High boasts of.

Grades… top of the school.

Appearance… transcendent beauty.

Figure… perfection.

Popularity… overwhelming.

Notable… Student council president, nicknamed “The Solitary Goddess.”

Wh

at

is

th

is

?

No, seriously…

This is cheating. This is way too much cheating!!!!!

What even is this?!

She was literally born to be the heroine, wasn’t she?!

How many heroine traits can one person possibly stack?!

There’s no way a fake, self-deluded wannabe heroine mob like me could ever compete with a perfect superhuman like this!!

I already know that without anyone telling me!!

Haa… haa… haa…

Fuu…

Okay. Calm down… calm down, me…

Anyway, until today, the only chance I ever had to see Satsukawa-senpai was from a distance.

But today, under the pretext of inspection, she came straight to our classroom.

The instant she stepped in, both I and my classmates were instantly swallowed by her presence.

Especially the boys—they were completely captivated, unable to look anywhere else.

But that’s only natural.

Satsukawa-senpai alone is already overwhelming, and today Yuzuki-senpai is here too—and another girl who’s just as stunning as Satsukawa-senpai (unbelievable…).

On top of that, our class’s hidden idol Toudou-san, and the話題転校生 known as the “baby angel.”

And for some reason, even though they’re not student council members, Yokokawa-kun is here, and even Vice President Takanashi-kun.

What is this?

This ultimate all-star winning group?

Just a little while ago I was strutting around calling myself the heroine.

But now that the real ones are right in front of me, I suddenly feel mortified.

Because… I’ve just been forcefully shown what a true heroine actually looks like.

Yep…

God really is unfair…

“Um, right now there aren’t any customers, so… since we have the chance, would you like to experience a reading yourself?”

“I don’t mind either way, but is that really alright?”

While I was panicking internally, the committee chair had already moved the conversation forward with Satsukawa-senpai.

Oh no—at this rate I’m going to lose not only my heroine spot, but my fortune-telling leader position too…

“Right, Ayumu?”

“Huh?”

“Not ‘huh’—didn’t you say you’d handle the inspection yourself?”

“Ah… y-yeah, that’s right…”

That’s true. I did say something like “leave the inspection to me.”

Honestly, after everything, I feel like backing out… but at the very least, this much…

“Then I’ll do it.”

My fragile dream of being the heroine has already been shattered to pieces… but at least with fortune-telling…

“Understood. Then please prepare while I consult with the others.”

With only those words, Satsukawa-senpai turns gracefully and returns to the student council members.

Every single one of her movements looks refined, and when she glances back, the way her hair flows… it’s like a shampoo commercial come to life. Even another girl can’t help but stare.

Seriously… beautiful people look good no matter what they do. It’s so unfair!!

“So yeah, please get ready.”

“…Got it.”

It’s undeniable that being shown such a clear gap in “class” caused my motivation to plummet.

Still… just this once, I’m going to show them what I can do.

This is the pride of a mob girl who can never become the heroine no matter what.

But please…

Anyone but Satsukawa-senpai.

Facing her one-on-one… the fear and tension would be too much to bear…

***

And so, when I returned to my little room to prepare, the person who came in was—of course—Satsukawa-senpai.

Yeah, yeah, I somehow knew it would end like this.

God must be telling me, the girl who got carried away pretending to be the heroine, to look at the real thing… so mean!!

Haa… fine. I’ll steel myself.

As for the reading result… worst case, I can just twist it somehow.

“Then… please decide what you would like to ask about.”

“Hmm…”

Satsukawa-senpai murmured that, then glanced sideways at Takanashi-kun, who was watching the situation.

Why look at Takanashi-kun there?

More importantly—why did Takanashi-kun come in too?

…Well, thanks to that I’m not alone with her, so honestly, I’m grateful.

“Then, our future.”

“…Huh?”

The question was so shocking I let out a stupid noise without thinking…

Because…

Did she just say “our”?

Future?

Huh… whose and whose?

Of course it’s about Satsukawa-senpai herself.

So then… the other person is…?

W-Wait, calm down, me.

Confirm the question first.

“Th-The future of two people… meaning, um, that is… Satsukawa-senpai and y-your, um, l-lover’s future… is that correct?”

“Yes. That’s what I’d like.”

E…

Ehhhhhhhh…

EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

N-No way…?!

Satsukawa-senpai…

Has a lover?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

W-W-W-Wait!!!

D-Did I just accidentally learn something absolutely insane?!

Wait wait wait!!

Does that mean… no one in the entire school knows?!

Satsukawa-senpai is literally the object of adoration for every boy in this academy?!

I’ve heard the number of guys she’s shot down is Guinness-level!!

Don’t just casually drop a bombshell like that!!!!!

Is this… for real??

But Satsukawa-senpai herself looks completely calm and dignified as ever.

And every time she glances at Takanashi-kun, she smiles so happily… and Takanashi-kun looks embarrassed… huh??

W-Wait a second.

Could it be…

Satsukawa-senpai’s lover is…

“Um, are you alright?”

“Eh?! Y-Y-Y-Yes!! I’m fine!! I understand!!”

The words “Is the other person Takanashi-kun?” nearly flew out of my throat.

But I’m scared to confirm the truth.

It feels like opening a forbidden Pandora’s box…

N-No more unnecessary thoughts.

A mob like me has no business digging into this. If I learn the truth, I might get dragged into something awful.

The best thing is to just do it quickly and be done!!

“Sara-san… if…”

“Fufu… it’s just fortune-telling. And no matter what the result is, we’ll be fine, right?”

“Yeah… the two of us will…”

“Yes. Kazunari-kun, I will absolutely make you happy♪”

C…

Give it back…

Give me back my Pandora’s box before I opened it…

You stupid lovey-dovey couple…

Right when I was trying to ignore it, you casually rip the lid off!!!!!

***

I pull myself together and decide to just start the reading already.

I didn’t hear anything earlier. I know nothing. Whatever was said here, I’ll forget it completely once this is over. Pretend it never happened.

I’m sure later everyone will ask, “What did Satsukawa-senpai want to know? Tell us!!”

But this time, I absolutely cannot say. Not even a hint.

I sneak a glance at the committee chair, who also seems to have received the same shocking truth… and she’s staring with her eyes wide open, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.

Yeah… that level of shock makes sense…

“Okay then… let’s begin.”

“Please do.”

After confirming Satsukawa-senpai’s nod, I start by purifying the cards.

At home I’d use white sage, but doing that in a classroom would get me in trouble. So here, I use the crystal.

The spread I’m using this time is the three-card Major Arcana. Simple, but it’s my favorite.

The question at hand is the ongoing progression of romance… the future.

Since it’s specifically about the future of love—not “I want this to happen” or “will this happen?”—I go with a free three-card spread to look at the outlook and path ahead.

…Or so I say, trying to sound cool.

But honestly, it’s also convenient for me to interpret in a way that fits the “story” I want.

Because… if the result is even a little bad, I’ll be terrified…

I place the center card face down and begin shuffling… stop at senpai’s signal.

Then have senpai divide the deck into three piles herself, without changing orientation, and stack them again.

Finally, decide the upright/reverse… and preparation is complete.

“Then… here we go.”

“Please.”

With a slightly tense expression, senpai stares fixedly at the cards as I lay out the three in front of her.

Now… what will it be?

I’m scared… but also kind of excited.

Because I’m curious what kind of draw a natural-born super heroine will get…

First card.

In this tiny room, thick with tension so heavy it feels like everyone’s emotions might burst—

The first card I flip over is…

Upright… The World?!?

The World means completion, fulfillment, achievement.

Since this is a free three-card, a single card doesn’t carry formal meaning by itself. Only when all three are out can they be interpreted together.

But the moment this card appeared, one thing became certain.

“Um, this card is…”

“This is The World. It signifies completion, fulfillment, and achievement.”

“I see… so it’s not a bad card?”

“Yes. In a way, it’s one of the best cards possible. I didn’t expect it to come up right away.”

I hate to say it, but… is this the power of a real heroine…?

“That’s wonderful, Sara-san.”

“Yes, but there are still two more.”

Exactly as senpai said—since it’s a free three-card, nothing is finalized until all are revealed.

Next, the second card… The Empress?!?

And again upright?!

“This one seems to be a feminine card…”

“Yes. This is The Empress. It represents abundance, harvest, happiness, and so on.”

“So this is also a good card?”

“Yes.”

“But abundance and harvest… does that mean agriculture?”

“No, the interpretation changes depending on the question.”

True—if you take the words literally, it could sound like a good sign for farming.

But this is a love reading… and since Satsukawa-senpai drew it as “a woman,” the meaning naturally applies to her as a woman.

“Given the context this time, these are interpreted in a feminine sense. For example, feminine abundance… rich maternity… meaning Satsukawa-senpai is overflowing withtolerance, brimming with love that embraces her partner…”

“I-I see…”

“Amazing…!!”

For some reason, it’s Takanashi-kun who looks more shocked by my explanation than Satsukawa-senpai.

Why are you that surprised…?

“So happiness makes sense, but what about harvest…?”

Happiness is straightforward—in romance, if it’s unrequited love then being united with the one you love; if already together, then the next happiness arrives. Like marriage with your partner… for example.

And the remaining “harvest.”

Of course, as a woman…

“Probably… Satsukawa-senpai has already guessed a little, but… it means pregnancy and childbirth.”

“I… I see…”

Even for someone like Satsukawa-senpai, this was apparently embarrassing.

Her face is bright red, and she’s fidgeting, squirming slightly…

Oh no… that’s cute… no, way too cute.

But still…

Even though she’s embarrassed, why does she keep glancing happily at Takanashi-kun?

And Takanashi-kun is bright red and frozen too.

Aren’t you two still high school students?

And what is with this syrupy atmosphere?!

I can’t take this anymore… I want to finish quickly…

“Then the last one.”

Now the third card… I already have a terrible feeling.

And the card I flip over is… The Sun!?

And once again upright?!

“The Sun, right?”

“Yes. This is The Sun card. It means bright prospects, success, prosperity.”

“P-Prosperity…”

Satsukawa-senpai latches onto that word as if she’s already learned how to read card meanings.

Yes, yes, exactly.

In romance, prosperity means children… and for a woman, once again, pregnancy and childbirth.

She definitely already understands, so I don’t need to explain that part.

“What kind of bright prospects, for example?”

Instead of the still-red and fidgeting Satsukawa-senpai, it’s her beloved (still can’t believe it…) Takanashi-kun who asks.

Bright prospects… in love, it means positive progress in the relationship.

So if there’s someone you like, starting to date them (confession, etc.)… but since Satsukawa-senpai is already dating Takanashi-kun.

Then naturally…

“Bright prospects refer to positive change.”

“Positive change?”

“Yes. For example, in unrequited love, being confessed to by the guy and becoming lovers… If already dating, then progressing to the next step. Like receiving a proposal and getting engaged…”

“Pro—?!”

…?

Takanashi-kun freezes with a stunned expression after hearing my explanation.

Why would that surprise him so much…?

No way… is he planning to propose to Satsukawa-senpai…? No, that’s impossible.

High schoolers thinking that far ahead? That’s too heavy.

Anyway, leaving Takanashi-kun’s reaction aside…

Now all three cards are out.

From here, I interpret them in my own way and convey the result… but…

Honestly…

Wh

at

is

th

is

?

No, seriously—marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, that’s all it is?!

And every single one upright—how?!

Plus the finisher is The World?!

Yeah… I get it.

This is what a real heroine looks like.

This is what it means to be chosen.

I admit complete defeat… God.

You didn’t have to rub the difference in my face this hard…

Haa…

Now then… what to do…

To be rude, this result feels way too far removed from the image I have of Satsukawa-senpai. Honestly, I have zero confidence in it.

It’s incredible that there isn’t a single bad element, but as someone who does this, part of me thinks maybe we should redraw…

But to be blunt…

Whatever. I don’t care anymore.

“So, about this result…”

Having regained some composure, Satsukawa-senpai looks at me with a solemn expression, waiting for the answer.

Her face is still a little flushed. Seeing such a cute side to her is shocking in a different way.

…Wait.

If this reading is actually accurate…

Doesn’t that mean Satsukawa-senpai has another side to her—one that’s very cute and feminine, different from the version we usually see?

If I believe in that possibility, then this result isn’t wrong at all.

After being so thoroughly defeated in terms of personal “class,” at least let me win with the fortune-telling!

(Not sure what “winning” even means here)

So I’ll trust my own reading… and go all in!

“What I’m about to tell you is my personal interpretation based on the cards. These are possibilities—and they indicate that Satsukawa-senpai is already very close to drawing those possibilities toward her. Whether they actually manifest depends entirely on Satsukawa-senpai herself.”

“Understood.”

“As I explained for each card: The Empress represents the overflowing maternal love within Satsukawa-senpai, and the various forms of feminine happiness awaiting in the future. The Sun indicates bright prospects ahead—meaning your current relationship will progress positively to the next stage. Prosperity… well, as you can imagine. Finally, The World signifies the fulfillment and achievement of Satsukawa-senpai’s wishes, as well as completion in your relationship as man and woman.”

So far, I’ve only rephrased my earlier explanations.

Now comes the part where I combine all the elements and deliver the final conclusion.

And how I read it is ultimately up to me as the reader.

“The overall message is this: Satsukawa-senpai is someone overflowing with maternal love and devotion to her partner. By continuing to build that love, your relationship will progress smoothly from here on. And at the end of that path awaits the possibility of a happy future—marriage, pregnancy, childbirth. If that is what Satsukawa-senpai desires, then those things will come to you as your real future.”

Fuu… finally said it.

I’ve done plenty of love readings before, but never have I gone this direct with talk of marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Because, you know… high school romance.

And who even draws cards like this?!

“…How does that sound?”

Looking at Satsukawa-senpai, it seems like a mix of joy and surprise.

I think it’s a result she can be reasonably satisfied with—and if she complained about a reading this good, I’d be the one in trouble.

The funny thing is that Takanashi-kun looks even more shocked than she does.

Did he have that many things to think about?

“Kazunari-kun?”

Satsukawa-senpai also seems to notice his state and tilts her head curiously as she calls him.

Come to think of it… I only just noticed, but she’s calling him by his first name…

“S-Sorry… I was just… really surprised.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. The fact that Sara-san is overflowing with femininetolerance is something I feel every day, but very few people know that.”

“K-Kazunari-kun…”

Hearing Takanashi-kun’s words, Satsukawa-senpai blushes shyly.

Okay, yeah… that’s definitely cute.

“And there were other things that shocked me quite a bit too… but more importantly, Sara-san.”

“…Yes. Honestly, I never imagined the reading would come out this strong. There are still some things that are a little premature, but…”

A little…?

Hey, hey—you’re still high school sweethearts. How far ahead are you planning?!

Don’t tell me you’re already thinking about marriage…

“But all of it comes down to whether I want it or not. Even if the possibility exists, whether I can actually draw it to me is up to me… correct?”

“…Yes.”

She seems to have understood the meaning of the reading’s implications more clearly than I expected.

Just as she said—the cards show possibilities. The future isn’t set in stone; they only indicate that she is already in a position close enough to reach out and pull those possibilities in.

So whether they actually manifest is entirely up to her.

“Thank you very much. Honestly, I never expected to receive such an impressive reading.”

“N-No, it ended up sounding really over-the-top…”

“Really?”

“Y-Yes. Marriage and… well, various things.”

While it’s purely based on the card meanings, for a high school love reading, the content became far too grandiose. Marriage is already heavy, and pregnancy/childbirth is even heavier.

If I’d phrased those parts a little more softly or differently…

I still have a lot to learn.

“No—in fact, it’s precisely because those topics came up that I was genuinely surprised.”

“Huh…?”

What does that mean…?

“I didn’t mention it earlier, but the two of us are engaged.”

“…Excuse me?”

Engaged?

Engaged… engaged?

Did she just say engaged?

No, no—we’re still in high school…

That’s something out of manga or anime…

“If you can produce a reading like this, then you have every right to be proud.”

“I agree. Honestly, I’m genuinely shocked at how incredible it was.”

But both Satsukawa-senpai and Takanashi-kun look completely natural—not like they’re lying or joking at all.

No way…

For real…?

My reading…

“So, Kazunari-kun, from now on you can keep spoiling yourself with me to your heart’s content, okay?”

“W-Well, I already feel like I’m plenty spoiled…”

“No・You・Can’t♪ Didn’t the reading just show that the happier future comes when you rely on me completely?”

“Ehhhh, b-but that’s…”

See—if you reframe it that way, what Satsukawa-senpai is saying isn’t wrong at all.

The more Takanashi-kun relies on her, and the more she accepts it, the more she can continue piling on that enveloping love… hey!!

Wait a minute—this sweet, sugary version isn’t the Satsukawa-senpai I know!!

Just earlier she was looking down at the boys like they were trash!!

Or rather—what was everything I’d seen up until now?! Multiple personalities?!?!

“Um… sorry to interrupt, but…”

The committee chair, who had been sitting there with her mouth open this whole time, finally speaks.

But no—terrible premonition.

She’s about to touch the biggest taboo in this entire academy—the thing that must never be known or asked.

And yet… for some reason I can’t stop her?!

“Yes?”

“What is it?”

“Um… well… are you two… lovers… no, I mean… are you really… engaged…?”

In response to that question, the two of them look at each other—and give a small, extremely happy nod.

That’s their answer.

No one else probably knows this.

Because if word had gotten out, the school would already be in an uproar.

The idol of every boy in the academy—Satsukawa-senpai.

Has a lover… and is even engaged… meaning marriage is in her future.

And the other party is the student council vice president…

This is an incident big enough to shake the entire school. It will absolutely cause chaos if it spreads.

So I cannot—under any circumstances—tell anyone.

For a mob like me to carry around a secret this massive, unable to tell a soul for the rest of my school life… the pressure is insane… way too heavy.

So this really was a truth that should never have been known.

If only we hadn’t confirmed it, I could have pretended I didn’t hear anything.

Why did it have to be me… I resent you, committee chair.

Please…

At the very least…

Hurry up and make this public already…