[Everyone in this story may be mentally ill. The heroine grows over time and isn't love-brained. Things are frustrating early on, but get satisfying later. The synopsis is rough; see the main text for details.]
Synopsis:
At Saint Cysel Academy, Jili is so ordinary that she could be called a background character. Her ambitions are simple: finish school, find a decent job, and earn enough to support herself.
But fate clearly has no intention of letting her youth pass peacefully.
A pitiful classmate who is being bullied latches onto her for no apparent reason, always crying on her shoulder and insisting on interlacing their fingers while she cries...
A sharp-tongued, arrogant teacher who is always mocking her can be very strange sometimes, constantly manufacturing "accidents" that involve physical contact with her...
A strikingly handsome young man with a terrifying scar on his face, whom she meets at work, also approaches her for no apparent reason, seemingly with ulterior motives...
But she soon discovers that none of these people have pure intentions. It seems that none of them are even human! That would be one thing, but why does everyone seem so weird and insane?
Reader's Guide:
1. Any suffering inflicted on the heroine serves the plot. I like stories about women helping each other grow, so I won't treat my female characters cruelly.
2. This is a slow-burn story about an ordinary girl's growth. It includes reflections on growing up, and may touch on love, friendship, and family.
3. The heroine will most likely end up happily single.
Reason for entering the Growth and Comeback contest: The protagonist, Jili, starts out insecure, socially anxious, and with little sense of self-worth, content to be an invisible background character at a noble academy. After being caught up in a monster incident, she discovers the meaning of life in a wider world. With the help of her friends, she realizes that respect must be earned through her own abilities. She takes up a greatsword and becomes a knight, protecting the world and the people she cherishes. As she grows, she explores who she is, helps others, and makes her own contribution to society.
Theme: Grow, and overcome every obstacle
