†††
“I think… You’re special to me,” said my friend, bowing over and over to me, crying fat tears. He’d watched my exchange with her from a distance. “You saved me back then. I was so happy you would do that. You seemed so cool, like a hero. And yet, you had to… I’m sorry. I was still afraid of being bullied. I did horrible things to you. I’m so sorry. I’m weak.”
“So long as you’ve given up on escaping that ordinary frame, you truly will be ordinary the rest of your life.”
I’d always thought I was ordinary. Boring. I seemed like one of those nameless side characters. But even I could save someone who would call me special.
She was right. I’d just labeled myself “ordinary” and given up.
✦ ✦ ✦
†††
AFTER that, there were some minor rumors about Lady Selena at the academy.
“I heard she saved a lower-ranking noble boy who was being bullied.”
“She’s not just beautiful; she’s kind and strong! She’s so incredible.”
“I wish I could call her my sister.”
A fan club for her came together in the academy, and its membership grew steadily. She was always so blind to things about herself that she seemed oblivious to the club’s popularity.
Oh, and my friend and I? We joined the club.