Chapter 2: Inevitably, the Heroine

I Hate the Heroine (2)

"Aaaargh..."

The belated realization hit me like a truck, making my vision spin.

A heroine, and the main heroine at that.

So, does that mean I have to...date the protagonist of this novel?

"No way."

Even though I'm in a woman's body, I'm a man. How can I date a man? I'd rather bite my tongue and die.

...Even so, the position of main heroine wasn't something I could just brush off. Especially since, unlike other harem stories, Aisha's presence was so significant that she was practically a co-protagonist.

It was enough to make you think, "Is this even a harem, or is it just a pure love story?"

That meant there were a lot of flags to be planted. If I wanted to escape the heroine role, I'd have to avoid all these flags, but how? I massaged my throbbing temples and paced around the living room.

I couldn't just stand still.

What day is it? Have I entered the academy yet? Or am I way before the start of the original story?

Even a small piece of information would be helpful. I just wanted to know something...

[Ding-]

As I was racking my brain, an alert sounded from my pocket.

Reaching in, I found a blue plastic box I'd never seen before. It was a small box that fit entirely in my hand.

Turning it over, I saw a small screen like a smartphone with a clock icon on it.

...What is this?

I'd rather have a smartphone. What can I do with something this small?

Anyway, if it has a clock icon, does that mean it's an alarm? I tapped the screen a couple of times, and the clock icon disappeared, replaced by a hologram.

-Notification: The entrance ceremony will begin in approximately one hour. Please begin preparations.

Entrance ceremony... It seemed like the point I possessed Aisha was around the beginning of the story. The protagonist's story starts on the day of the entrance ceremony.

"One hour..."

That was too short to come up with a plan. I'd probably spend a lot of time just finding the academy. I should find the uniform first.

#

"Hwaeck."

As soon as I found the uniform, a strange sound escaped my lips. Aisha's gender is female, so the uniform must also be a female uniform.

If it's a female uniform... then there must be a skirt.

The masculinity that had been firmly rooted within me was shaken greatly. It's only been 10 minutes since I became a woman...!

I have to wear a skirt? My hand holding the uniform trembled at the unacceptable reality.

What tyranny is this...!

There were even white stockings, not just a skirt. It looked good in the illustrations, but actually having to wear it myself...

"Haa..."

But there was no choice. The academy's dress code was quite strict. If I didn't wear the uniform from the first day, I might be expelled immediately.

Aisha didn't have a good family background, just a poor commoner. She had no parents... and no strong backing, so I had to be careful until I proved my skills.

Close my eyes and put it on, buy pants later... I thought as I pulled up the stockings.

I frowned slightly at the cold sensation against my skin. It was similar to socks, but the feeling of the stockings sliding up my smooth skin was strange.

I also felt a strange sense of guilt, a really unnecessary emotion since I'm a woman now...

"How far up does this go?"

I'd only ever worn socks, so I couldn't get used to the stockings. They went all the way up to my knees, and the unfamiliar sensation was incredibly uncomfortable.

I'd get used to it if I wore them often, but I didn't really want to get used to this feeling.

"...It's pretty, though."

When I put on the uniform and looked in the mirror, I saw a figure that looked like Aisha's illustration come to life.

A white blouse, a black tie and jacket, and a skirt with a black check pattern. It was a simple design, but Aisha's face pulled it off so well.

"Isn't it too short?"

When I lifted the skirt slightly, my thighs were exposed. The skirt over the white stockings, my knees were clearly visible, and I wondered if this was okay.

It felt empty below, and the wind coming in from below every time I walked was annoyingly distracting.

Ah, attention. I've never liked being the center of attention.

If I went out like this, the attention would probably be focused on me, not just directed at me.

"...I don't know."

Either way, if I wanted to survive in this world, attention would naturally follow, so I had to get used to it.

I was just glad that I was possessed into this world. It wasn't some apocalyptic world or a world on the verge of destruction with gates opening. It was a world where you just had to defeat the occasional villain.

Well... from now on, as the story begins, the villains will get a little stronger, but it's still a much more stable and livable world compared to a completely ruined world.

'Abilities,' everyone is born with their own abilities. The strength and form of the abilities are greatly influenced by the parents, but sometimes mutations occur.

Society as a whole is ability-centered, and sometimes people use their abilities for pure good to protect people and become 'heroes,' or they turn their twisted malice towards people and become 'villains.'

Aisha was an aspiring hero.

That's why she goes to the academy, meets the protagonist at the entrance ceremony, and fights against villains.

That was the general worldview of this world... and I definitely liked that it wasn't too dangerous.

It's much better than a situation where every moment is a matter of life and death.

I just had to think about the simple goal of not getting involved with the protagonist.

I clenched and unclenched my fist slightly. And within it, a small ice crystal bloomed. A snowflake blooming in six directions. Instead of a warm breath, a cold breath that seemed to freeze everything was exhaled.

"...It's starting to feel real now."

If I were in the world I originally lived in, I'd probably be dragged somewhere and subjected to human experimentation.

The feeling of using abilities wasn't that special. It was as natural as breathing, clenching a fist, or walking. Just imagining a shape in my head - the ability made that imagination possible.

"Haa..."

I suddenly felt drained. The entrance ceremony is in 30 minutes, I should start heading out soon...

I couldn't bring myself to move. Was it because of the protagonist I'd see when I arrived at the academy? I might get involved like fate. A ridiculous situation like falling in love at first sight could happen.

But... I can't let that happen.

'Avoid it, definitely.'

I clenched my fist and vowed inwardly.

I will not become a heroine.

I will live only for myself.

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