A Background Character’s Path to Power Chapter 2 2: The Joy of Being a Background Character

A boy with black hair, likely around my age (though who even knows our exact ages), was seated beside me. His uniform lacked the sharpness of mine, yet his face was sharply etched and striking—handsome, just as one would anticipate. He carried that unmistakable 'main character' vibe, the sort that draws in chaos and leading ladies effortlessly.

But then—

He raised his hand and indicated toward himself, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Me?" he inquired, plainly puzzled.

I shut my eyes.

Of course. Naturally.

He turned out to be as dim-witted as I had foreseen.

Though this could be an instinctive response, disappointment still washed over me unavoidably.

In the meantime, the unseen strain in the room grew heavier. The classroom, once filled with whispers, now hung in quiet anticipation, all eyes on Emilia's reply.

She offered a gentle, eager nod. "Yes, you. Don't you recall me?"

I fought the impulse to cover my face with my hands.

A profound, choking surge of vicarious shame struck me hard.

This is terrible. Utterly terrible.

The timeless childhood friend reunion cliché—a cornerstone in endless tales.

Should the boy not reply properly, it might spark a whole chain of mix-ups. If he did recall her (which seemed unlikely), the whole class would view him differently right away.

And what about me?

I sat directly beside him.

I could foresee a potential follow-up catastrophe.

The infamous "sitting issue", or simply the 'heroine desires to sit by the protagonist' dilemma.

Based on my knowledge and her aristocratic name plus looks, Emilia was likely some elite noblewoman. She might—actually, she definitely would—demand a particular seating setup.

That implied someone had to relocate.

And I was the unfortunate one right there next to the protagonist.

Hmm...

A sudden idea sparked in my mind.

There existed a method to avert this before it escalated into chaos.

I raised my hand steadily.

"Miss?" I addressed her.

The instructor, who had observed the interaction with faint interest, looked my way.

"Yes?"

"If Miss Emilia knows the classmate well, could I move to the window seat?" I pointed relaxedly at the vacant desk nearby. "It could be nicer for her."

For an instant, the teacher pondered my suggestion. She appeared somewhat taken aback by it.

Emilia also widened her eyes briefly in astonishment.

Then, a tender smile curved her mouth.

"That sounds perfect," she replied, inclining her head elegantly.

The teacher nodded slightly in agreement. "That makes sense. Proceed."

I didn't delay.

Gathering my belongings, I shifted to the fresh spot promptly, thus evading every potential mishap.

- No compelled mingling.

- No uncomfortable seat disputes.

- No pointless ties.

I had neatly avoided the initial predicament.

...Or that's what I believed.

For as I settled in—

"Ding!"

A fresh notification popped up.

━━━◇◆◇━━━

[Hidden Condition Achieved: Smooth Operator.]

- You have cleverly modified the occurrence without disrupting it. Your approach has gained recognition.

Keep molding the story on your terms.

━━━◇◆◇━━━

I gazed at the notification.

...What on earth is this supposed to signify?

Is it praising my actions?

....

I drew in a long breath and compelled myself to concentrate.

No matter what that odd alert implied, I could ponder it afterward. For now, the lesson needed attention.

Emilia had already claimed the seat to my right, her 'noble' presence glowing like an aura. As soon as she was seated, the teacher, always dutiful, spoke to the class.

"Now then," she announced, "as everyone knows, the new semester began merely two weeks back. So, student Emilia should find it easy enough to adjust to our lessons."

She halted for a moment, her eyes scanning the space before lingering on me for the briefest instant—too swift for others to catch, yet sufficient to heighten my senses.

It vanished quickly.

"However," she went on fluidly, facing Emilia again, "the textbooks and supplies for your classes might arrive in a week. For the time being, you'll need to cope without them."

Emilia inclined her head with a serene grin. "That's fine, Miss. I can borrow my friend's books temporarily."

A pang of empathetic awkwardness gripped me even before her words ended.

Ah. Naturally.

I looked over at the protagonist next to her.

This represented yet another typical setup. The "sharing books with the protagonist" cliché—one of the enduring favorites.

Once more, it featured heavily in romantic comedies, fantasy worlds, and virtually every school story offering heroines a reason to get close to the guy.

Would they draw nearer than needed? Would fingers touch by chance? Would she laugh at a minor thing while he stayed clueless to the vibe?

The options stretched on forever.

Stifling a breath, I directed my focus to the instructor once more.

"Very well," she stated. "Class, make sure to assist Miss Emilia in fitting in. That's it for the moment." With those words, she collected her papers and exited the room.

The second the door latched, the frenzy started.

A cluster of pupils—mainly females—rushed straight to my old desk.

"Miss Emilia, delighted to meet you!"

"You're from House Aveline, aren't you? I've heard plenty about your lineage!"

"You truly know him? From way back in childhood? That's incredible!"

The protagonist, meanwhile, seemed a bit daunted by the abrupt spotlight but kept his cool. He answered several queries with courteous bewilderment as Emilia beamed politely, replying with the poise of a social expert.

I released a quiet inner sigh, thankful for my role as mere scenery amid it all.

No obligatory chats. No messy bond issues. No part in the cringe-filled romantic happenings sure to unfold ahead.

I had deftly evaded the crisis.

Even so, I wouldn't completely tune out. Though I had no desire to join in, that didn't stop me from eavesdropping. Knowledge held the key.

And at present, beyond this... vast intel, I possessed little else.

Thus, I reclined, pretending boredom, and merely overheard.

Yet, it wrapped up swiftly too.