My name is Himeko Yamamoto. My family kept me from magical girls, charming guys, and a responsibility to protect countless lives at a young age. Luckily, my doctor promised that at 17 I'd be too old to save the world, and I'd finally be a normal per...
My name is Himeko Yamamoto, a 16-year old girl diagnosed with Anime Protagonist Syndrome. How? I grew up having scarlet hair. Red, the color of vitality, meant I would be to assume a leadership role.
What kind?
Well. Ever heard of magical girls? They're all over the news, fighting evil spirits and all that. They're nice to look up to. Always fighting for the sake of love. Frilly battle clothes. Beautiful displays of magic. I grew up with classmates who wanted to be one someday, ut there I guess they never heard the stories of death.
Before, they were novel heroes to cheer for; now, it's like the government sees them as replaceable. Disposable. If one's defective, throw it out, like a tool or a toy.
And yet, they are burdened with the safety of the world.
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Mom and Dad never wanted that future, a miserable duty of public service, for me. Earning six figures, yet still spending so much money for my hair dye. Always looking out for plain clothing to dress me in. Endlessly searching for ways to keep the family hidden from public view.
Of course, I did my part as well. I worked a bit harder than the rest, so my grades weren't belonging of an "average high school student." I restrained myself from buying a lot of bread at the convenience store. I refused to speak to beautiful people. I turned down sporty extracurriculars. But most importantly, I never ran out the door with a piece of toast in my mouth.
But I'm not perfect. I kept in touch with my childhood friends, Yui and Yuki Kimura. What's the harm? The worst scenario is that they become jealous lovers or someone's tools of revenge. Even though I think it's okay, I still keep it from my parents. They don't KNOW them. They never lived in our neighborhood. We knew each other's names when we played in the playground.
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So when I overheard my parents applying me to Aura Academy, it felt like a dream come true! The top-tier, prestigious, one-of-a-kind high school with a college campus system: housing and meal plans, spread-out classes, etc. And plus, Yuki and Yui received a full ride there!
My parents said they didn't know what would happen on my 17th, so I have to learn how to defend myself with magic. Wait, did I not mention it? The man who diagnosed me, Dr. Suzuki, told my parents that on my 17th birthday, my destiny would "change." He predicted my protagonist powers would subdue completely. I would not grow any more scarlet hair. I would not get recruited for the magical girl military. I would not attract dangerous attention from jealous fangirls. I would not die for people I don't know.
