SS9 "Mary Sue"

"Man, what a mess this has turned out to be."

Kousuke Hibiyaa thought to himself as he stepped into the hallway of Miyabi Gao Academy.

"Who would've thought that I, once a mercenary and wielder of a sacred sword, a fallen angel with vampire blood (attribute: 'None'), would end up reincarnated in another world and now posing as a regular student at a fantasy-themed school?"

Asuka walked up to Kousuke.

"Hello, Hibieya. By the way, I'm completely head over heels for you. Want to share a bed?"

"Asuka! I'm not that kind of guy!"

"That's exactly why I respect you. I'll take over your cleaning duty for a while. Go enjoy some coffee."

Ritsuko arrived.

"Hibieya, what are you doing in the classroom?"

"Just living a relaxed, laid-back life."

"A wonderfully humorous reply. I commend your spirit."

Asuka, Ritsuko, and Rika were sent together with Hibieya to the Rigel District 37.

But the real danger was the Green Goblin.

After being attacked by creatures resembling low-level enemies from an RPG like FF, Hibieya's group was imprisoned.

Kousuke Hibieya, who had grown timid, confessed to his companions his true identity—he had been pretending to be an adventurer of Rank E, but in reality, he was an adventurer of Rank SSS.

Immediately regaining his courage, he pried open the padlock with a hairpin and led everyone back to the academy.

However, when Ricca and Hibeya returned, they noticed that their companions who had gone on the expedition were infected with Jumping Cold Beads disease. Hibeya's condition was the least severe.

While the four companions weakened in the infirmary, leadership of the academy fell to Hibeya.

Thanks to her brilliant leadership, Hibeya was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Balkan National Medal of Valor, and the Tralfamador Medal of Justice and Allies.

Yet Hibeya eventually fell ill and her condition became critical. Surrounded by her bedside, Asuka, Ritsuko, and Rika wept bitterly, mourning every one of Hibeya’s admirable qualities—her youthful beauty, her youth and grace, her intelligence, her elegance, her abilities, and her beauty in every respect.

Even today, Hibeya’s birthday remains an official holiday at the academy.

▼

Third-floor hallway, Sagamihara High School.

I'm staring blankly, having just finished reading the sheet of manuscript paper suddenly shoved into my hands.

"Uh... what should I do, senpai?"

"Well, what do you want me to do about it...?"

Kosuke, seriously... this... seriously... huh?

"What is this?"

"Since it's been a while, we decided to get the literature club active again. There's going to be a self-written short story showcase soon. I wanted to hear your thoughts on it, senpai."

"Huh?"

I press my fingers tightly between my eyebrows for a moment,

"To be honest... I don't really want to know anyone who'd write something like this."

"Wait, why?"

Please don't look at me with such a direct expression.

"Y-you don't get it? This whole story... isn't it based on you?"

"Huh? I don't remember writing anything like that in the story."

Wow, this guy's something.

Not just being subtly sarcastic—seems like he's genuinely saying it, completely oblivious.

Reluctantly, I decided to give the critique a bit more seriousness.

"I think there are several issues with this story."

"Hmm."

"First, the protagonist's name is far too similar to the author's.

Second, the names of the companions are almost identical to the girls around you.

Third, the fact that those girls are obsessed with the protagonist—meaning you—feels way too creepy."

④ Even granting that drawing your own lover as a character in such a role is endearing, what exactly is going on with Rika-chan? She's completely unremarkable.

⑤ And this isle-world reincarnation setup—do we really need it?

" Hmm..."

After a moment of deep thought, Kyosuke-kun furrowed his brow and then said,

"First, regarding issue ①... I think there are quite a few works where the author is clearly projecting themselves."

"Eh?"

"Actually, wasn't Tanizaki's 'Run, Melos' basically a product of self-projection?"

"……That is, well..."

"And regarding issue ②, using real-life people as characters in a story isn't particularly rare. For example, I heard that 'Alice in Wonderland' was based on a real girl named Alice Liddell."

"Wha... huh... Really?"

"To sum up, problems ③, ④, and ⑤—aren't those just your personal opinions, Senpai? If so, wouldn't they be unrelated to the literary value of the main text?"

"B—literary value, you mean?"

"Yes."

I couldn't come up with any further rebuttal as Kousoke-kun laid out his argument.

"E—eh, but, but..."

Something about this feels like it'd get me in trouble if I showed it to everyone...

But I couldn't find the words to say more.

Kousuke-kun, you look surprisingly relieved, as if you’ve perfectly refuted everything.

"Still, it was helpful! Just like you said, I think I’ll play around a bit with the protagonist’s name… like Hibiya Kousuke… or Hibiya Kōkesu…"

"I see."

I’d probably be better off destroying that draft, though.

With a bow, he slowly retreated, and I gazed blankly after him…

……

…………

……No, I can't.

If I read that, Yurika-chan might get hurt.

I won't dismiss any creative effort, but I can't let something hurt a specific person go unchecked.

"Hey, Kousuke-kun!"

"...? Is there something else?"

"I just had an idea—maybe I could revise your story by adding a bit of sarcastic flavor, like that 'I get it, man' vibe..."

"Huh?"

"It's about the protagonist's name—how about trying something like this?"

"?"

"Mary... Mary Sue, actually."