But the white cat shook its head. Despite being a cat, its mannerisms were quite human-like; even that was cute. “You misunderstand. You’re not the winner of the raffle.”
“But you just said you want me to be the heroine. Doesn’t the winner of the raffle take that r0le?”
“Lately, the villainess role has become quite popular. The winner of this raffle would like to be the rival, and she wants to gloat when the heroine falls from grace.”
Nina knew the cat was discussing important matters, but its swaying tail was very distracting. If only it’d stop. It was so cute; after this was all sorted out, she just wanted to watch as it waved back and forth.
She managed to drag back her meandering thoughts. Still unable to pull her eyes from the cat’s fuzzy fur, Nina settled to nod as she collected herself.
“While this isn’t particularly important information, there weren’t many girls who were interested in being the heroine to lose her popularity only for the raffle winner to gloat,” continued the cat. “Which is why you have come up as a candidate.”
Kitty, what are you talking about? Why do you look so serious?
Though, cats always looked serious.
It was so unbearably adorable how they looked as solemn as little philosophers while they pooped.
“I don’t really know anything about otome games,” responded Nina. “And I’m not pretty enough to be the protagonist. It won’t work out. Besides…what sort of thing would have to happen so the antagonist can gloat? I haven’t even done anything.”
“The raffle winner requested a life in the style of an otome game set in a world similar to medieval Europe,” the cat explained, thrashing its tail like it was just waiting for Nina to ask before continuing.
“The request was something along these lines: The villainess is a girl of noble birth, perfect in every way, from her beauty to her pedigree. She does have fond feelings for her fiancé, a marriage arranged by her family, but the days go on as she is unable to express her feelings to him.
“Then, the heroine transfers into their school and quickly becomes close with the villainess’s fiancé. The fiancé and everyone around become prisoners to the heroine’s hard-working, commoner charms. Therefore, the villainess is driven into isolation after she says some poorly chosen things.
“After a series of misfortunes, the villainess bullies the heroine, which is used as convincing material to isolate the villainess further. However, the villainess puts herself in harm’s way to protect her fiancé from danger. He then witnesses her tearfully accepting and supporting his love with the heroine, only for him to realize who he truly loves finally.
“At the graduation party, where the fiancé would normally have broken off the engagement, he instead reveals to everyone the heroine’s evildoings, confesses his love to the villainess, and the two live happily ever after in a luxurious life as royals.”
The white cat was so good at speaking that Nina did listen to all of it, but there was so much that Nina wanted to poke fun at. “So basically,” she began, “I will nearly steal the fiancé but end up being the one he tosses aside? How is that role a heroine? Like…it’s basically just an evil rival?”
“Apparently, that’s what makes it romantic. The raffle winner said she loves the incongruity of the villainess appearing to be an evil character but is, in fact, good.”
Nina could sort of see the romance and surprise in that setup, but wouldn’t it be much simpler if they just swapped the roles? This was a romance story; maybe that didn’t fit her bill.
She personally thought it was a waste to take a long detour when you had a path directly to happiness right in front of you. This raffle winner must be some starry-eyed girl who’s never known hardship. Or maybe a little kid? The opposite was also possible, that she’d been through all sorts of trials and just wanted to escape from reality.
“What’s the name of this otome game anyway? I don’t think I’ll know it, but I kinda want to hear it,” asked Nina.
“It isn’t a real otome game.”
“What do you mean?” The raffle winner wanted an otome game setting, but not an actual game? That’s pointless.”
“It seems that she only wants an otome game-style setting in a school reminiscent of medieval Europe. There were no real games that quite matched what she was after.”
“What the heck? Okay, so, everything goes how the raffle winner wants? Nothing about this makes it sound like I get anything from being the so-called heroine. I’m not gonna do it. Why’d you come to me?”
There was nothing good about being forced to be a rival just so someone could gloat when you lost the rivalry, but it was even scarier to think everything would go exactly as the raffle winner wanted it to. That wouldn’t make Nina a heroine; it’d make her a sacrifice.
“Normally, candidates for the roles are selected through a lottery of volunteers,” explained the cat. “However, no one wanted to sign up for this lottery. We’ve been unable to select a heroine for quite some time, meaning we weren’t in time to have her begin school at the same time as the raffle winner. Now we’re rushing to hire one.”
Nina’s eyes darted back and forth every time the cat’s tail swayed from one side to the other. Everything it did was adorable. Her thoughts kept running away, making it difficult to focus on the conversation.
“Hire?” she asked.
“Yes. There will be significant compensation if you can successfully perform the role for the winner to gloat over.”
Nina’s eyes snapped wide at the one word she couldn’t let slip past. “Compensation? What sort of compensation?”
You might expect money normally, but she doubted a cat had any human money. Though…all-she-could-pet cats for a year would be pretty tempting.
“I wish I could say it could be anything you want, but it can’t be a cure for your mother’s illness. Only the contractee themselves can have an illness cured. The best offer for anyone else is to reduce their suffering.”
In this situation, the person agreeing to the contract would be the heroine, who will have some downfall so the arch-rival can gloat. Obviously, Nina’s mother was too old to fill the position since it would involve attending school, and Nina couldn’t allow it anyway because she didn’t know what this downfall entailed.
Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be any convenient solution. Even knowing that in advance, Nina couldn’t help feeling disappointed. “Okay…so then, take away her pain. And give me money for her medicine. Can you do that?”
“Yes, that is doable.”
“I’m not gonna wait until it’s all over, and I can’t trust you anyway, so I want some of it upfront.”
“Of course. I was also told you’ll receive additional compensation upon successful completion,” expressed the cat as it took a small piece of paper out of nowhere.
Nina gasped at the number written on it. It was enough that she’d never have to worry about paying for her mother’s medicine, and she could even go to the doctor more regularly. She could never make that much money with her part-time jobs. Nina was elated at being able to spend more time with her mother because she wouldn’t have to work as much.
“Will you accept?” asked the cat.
Nina shook her head. “Consider this provisional acceptance. I’ll only accept the official contract once I see it and can check everything.”
“Very prudent of you.”
“Of course.”
If this wasn’t a dream or a hallucination, then it might very well be an opportunity.
For the first time in Nina’s life, being reborn was actually going to benefit her.