History Main / OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent

* Kyon from ''SuzumiyaHaruhi'' is ''certified'' as ordinary by Itsuki. If it weren't for Haruhi's liking him, he wouldn't be worth looking at twice. [[WMG/HaruhiSuzumiyaKyonIsGod Some fans have different theories]], and there is some support for them in the novels.

* ''MahouSenseiNegima'' has Negi thinking that he'll need to hide his being a ''[[WizardsAndWitches Magister Magi]]'' from his class of ordinary middle school students.....who so happen to include an AntiMagic capable [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses princess]] ([[spoiler:Asuna]]), two ''Magistra Magi'' (Evangeline, [[spoiler:Chao]]), a MagicKnight [[spoiler:[[HalfHumanHybrid Half-Bird Tribe]]]] (Setsuna), [[GiveHimANormalLife two children]] of ''Magi'' ([[spoiler:Konoka & Yuna]]), a ''Ministra Magi'' ([[spoiler:Misora]]), a [[ColdSniper mercenary]], former ''Ministra Magi'', [[spoiler:[[OurDemonsAreDifferent and half-demon]]]] (Mana), [[spoiler:[[OurDemonsAreDifferent a full demon]]]] (Zazie), a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] (Evangeline again), a [[TimeTravel time traveler]] ([[spoiler:Chao again]]), a ghost (Sayo), a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot magic puppet/robot]] (Chachamaru), and a {{Ninja}} (Kaede); meaning that roughly a third his 31 students are [[EverybodyKnewAlready already in on his secret or have one of their own]]. One can just imagine HaruhiSuzumiya kicking herself for not enrolling in Mahora Academy.

** In particular, Tomeo Hotaru a.k.a. ''Sailor Saturn'', who when introduced is a small sickly girl who made friends with Chibi-Usa, only for us to discover that not only is she the host for the Big Bad of the season - Mistress 9, but is also the as of yet unawakened Sailor Saturn - the senshi of destruction and rebirth that Rei had been having visions of destroying the world. In the manga she then is aged back to a baby and adopted by Sailors Pluto, Uranus and Neptune - only to be grown at an incredible rate when their presence is needed by Sailor Moon.

* Maria, Kelsey, Clyde and Rani from ''TheSarahJaneAdventures''. Luke and [[spoiler:Sky]] don't fit this trope as they were created to be extraordinary.

They're revealed to be reincarnated ancient heroes or alien princesses RaisedByHumans. They suddenly find an use for the [[ChekhovsSkill obscure skill or art]] they've been practicing since they could walk, or they discover their entire life has been a SecretTestOfCharacter to prepare them for [[WithGreatPower a great responsibility]]. They realize they are heirs to a BadassFamily of demon hunters, wizards, or {{Yakuza}}. They find an ancient mystical McGuffin in their attic, buy one for a few coins from a junk dealer, or are given one by a mysterious stranger on their DangerousSixteenthBirthday. They suddenly gain a TricksterMentor or a MagicalGirlfriend. They establish secret identities as a HenshinHero or a MagicalGirlWarrior, find a way to channel KiAttacks, summon a powerful GuardianEntity or [[FallingIntoTheCockpit fall into the cockpit]] of a HumongousMecha.

* Even {{Disgaea}} can't stay away from this one. ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'' introduces Fuka Kazamatsuri, a human girl who thinks that her adventures in the Netherworld are [[AllJustADream just an elaborate dream]], including the part where she's actually dead and supposed to be a Prinny.

* Honoka Takamiya describes himself as such within ''thirty seconds'' (discounting the title sequence) of the start of ''Manga/WitchCraftWorks''. It turns out that in fact, there are a number of witches out to kill him for some reason, and the [[EvenTheGirlsWantHer hottest girl in the entire school]] is a MigicalGirlWarrior whose mission is to protect him.

** In ''FanFic/TimeWillTell'', Jorryn is sixteen years old when she falls into the Shire. The story implies that Jorryn was a student from the USA. (It does not show her in school, but it was summer.) Jorryn is only four feet and five inches, short, but taller than a hobbit. Other than that, Jorryn is a generic girl.

* For a while [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] was this being just a regular, although brilliant, kid who through diligent detective work uncovered the secret identity of the first Robin and through him Batman and the second Robin. Even after taking up the mantle and becoming the third Robin he still fit the mold for a good portion of his career; his change didn't come until ''IdentityCrisis'' led to his father's death.

* Maria, Kelsey, Clyde and Rani from ''TheSarahJaneAdventures''. Luke and [[spoiler:Sky]] don't fit this trope as they were created to be extraordinary.

[[PowersInTheFirstEpisode By the end of the first episode]], it's usually discovered they are anything but ordinary -- they're reincarnated princesses or aliens RaisedByHumans, they suddenly find an use for the [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower obscure martial art]] they've been practicing since they could walk, or they discover their entire life has been a SecretTestOfCharacter to prepare them for [[WithGreatPower a great responsibility]]. They realize they are heirs to a BadassFamily of demon hunters, wizards, or {{Yakuza}}. They find an ancient mystical McGuffin in their attic or are given one by a dying stranger. They establish secret identities as a HenshinHero or a MagicalGirlWarrior, find a way to summon a powerful GuardianEntity or [[FallingIntoTheCockpit fall into the cockpit]] of a HumongousMecha. Sometimes, instead of TakingALevelInBadass, their ComingOfAgeStory merely makes them a WeirdnessMagnet - for example, they gain ''something'' that makes the [[DudeMagnet opposite sex flock to them]], and possibly the [[EvenTheGirlsWantHer odd member]] [[EvenTheGuysWantHim of their own]], whether they [[UnwantedHarem want the attention or not.]] Sometimes they're merely beginning a journey that would make them realize they're actually [[AmnesiacGod gods]]. And sometimes they are true average joes who simply have something unusual happen to them, and then nothing in their lives is ever the same again.

The most common protagonist of a show targeted at teenagers. It's usually discovered they are anything but ordinary -- they're reincarnated princesses or aliens RaisedByHumans, they've been training in an [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower obscure martial art]] since they could walk or their entire life has been a SecretTestOfCharacter to prepare them for an adventure of lifetime. They are unsuspecting heirs to a BadassFamily of demon hunters, wizards, or {{Yakuza}}. They are the ones to find an ancient mystical McGuffin in their attic or are given one by a dying stranger. They have secret identities as a HenshinHero or a MagicalGirlWarrior, summon a powerful GuardianEntity or pilot the HumongousMecha. Sometimes, instead of TakingALevelInBadass, their ComingOfAgeStory merely makes them a WeirdnessMagnet - for example, if they've got ''something'' that makes the [[DudeMagnet opposite sex flock to them]], and possibly the [[EvenTheGirlsWantHer odd member]] [[EvenTheGuysWantHim of their own]], whether they [[UnwantedHarem want the attention or not.]] Sometimes they're [[AmnesiacGod gods]]. And sometimes they are true average joes who simply have something unusual happen to them, and then nothing in their lives is ever the same again.

The most common protagonist of a show targeted at teenagers. It's usually discovered they are anything but ordinary -- they're reincarnated princesses, or alien princes, or the only ones who can pilot the HumongousMecha. They've been training in an [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower obscure martial art]] since they could walk or [[IAmWho they're God]] or they've got ''something'' that makes the [[DudeMagnet opposite sex flock to them]], and possibly the [[EvenTheGirlsWantHer odd member]] [[EvenTheGuysWantHim of their own]], whether they [[UnwantedHarem want the attention or not.]]

Then again, there are the true average joes who have something unusual happen to them, and then nothing in their lives is ever the same again.

* A good quarter of the cast in ''ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld'' (the ordinary Earthlings who develop extraordinary abilities). Well, Makoto Mizuhara and Nanami Jinnai were ordinary high school studnets, and Mr. Fujisawa an ordinary high school teahcer. Katsuhiko Jinnai, on the other hand, was hardly "normal" when he was a high school student, given his [[ObviouslyEvil tendency to start ranting upon any slight to him or breaking out into crazed, maniacal laughter.]]

** In ''FanFic/HowToSurviveInMiddleEarthWhenYoureATeenagedGirl'', Priscilla is the teenaged girl from a cattle ranch near Magnolia, Texas. The story did not show Priscilla in school, but it was summer, when most schools have summer break.

* {{Stuck}}'s Tre Listman is also an Ordinary Middle School Student. [[UnfazedEveryman At first, anyway.]]

* ''Literature/ExilesViolin'': When the story begins, Jacquie is on her way home from school. The school itself is never seen because her life is blown up and she goes straight to vocational training, so to speak, under her foster father. Occasionally she'll reflect back to this time with regret and lost opportunities.
* David Rain from [[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]] is an Ordinary College Student. [[spoiler:For awhile...]]

* [[FanFic/UltimateSpiderWoman Mary Jane Watson]] was an Ordinary College Student when she began to develop her bizarre superhuman abilities, and continues to be one even as she tries to juggle a superhero career along with it.

* Many (though not all) recent ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games feature Ordinary High School Students as protagonists. Something usually happens to make them considerably less ordinary, [[VideoGame/DevilSurvivor such as finding a computer that can summon demons]], [[VideoGame/{{Persona}} learning to call forth entities from the inside of their mind]], [[VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiDevilSummoner being forced to share their body with a Devil Summoner]], [[ShinMegamiTenseiNocturne or being turned into a demon after witnessing the end of the world]].

* Maria, Clyde and Rani from ''TheSarahJaneAdventures''

* Sabrina from ''SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' was just a normal high school girl until her sixteenth birthday, when her witch half manifested itself.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]
* [[ComicBook/{{Spider-Man}} Peter Parker]], which was revolutionary at the time. A ''sidekick-aged'' protagonist?!
** Inverted in ''{{Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane}}'', however, in which Mary Jane -- the protagonist -- actually ''is'' an ordinary high school student.

* Kyo Kusanagi in ''TheKingOfFighters'', although as the series went on his high school student image was dropped entirely (it's also been implied that he never attends high school at all due to his constant fighting).

* Soma Cruz from ''{{Castlevania}}: Aria of Sorrow''. The game specifically says he is a high school student on a foreign exchange trip to Japan. [[spoiler:The reincarnation of Dracula]].
* Kazama Jin from ''{{Tekken}}'' started out somewhat ordinary, but things haven't been exactly going well since. Ling Xiaoyu is a milder example. The ''Tekken 5'' ending for Kazama Asuka suggests she might be more than just a brawler, too.

* Fei from ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' plays almost every part of this troupe. Yeah, he knew martial arts but he thought it was just "normal" martial arts. Besides [[spoiler: knowing martial arts that can destroy God and giant robots]], he's also the only one that can pilot a special [[HumongousMecha gears]], which turns out to be the super ultra special one in the title. [[spoiler: He is also secretly one of the most powerful beings in the game's universe, whom "God" gave his power to.]]
** And while he is utterly oblivious to all or this at the beginning, [[spoiler: he also has several split personalities. One of which has shut himself off from the world, and another which is an utter sociopath who makes full use of his godly power.]]