The Start of School

April, the start of the new school year.

Hoshino Kanade sat on the bus heading to school, swaying with the motion of the vehicle.

A girl sat in the seat next to her.

A fleeting glance when boarding revealed a side profile as cold as jade, with eyelashes like butterfly wings, making one afraid to look a second time.

A faint scent drifted from her brown hair strands.

She was wearing the same school uniform as Hoshino Kanade, yet in Hoshino Kanade's memories, there was no character that matched her image.

In her previous life, due to her mother's high-pressure parenting and her father's guilt-ridden parenting, Hoshino Kanade had died suddenly on the night before the college entrance exam.

Living a second life, although she started in an orphanage, her childhood was happier than the last.

Poverty led Hoshino Kanade to choose to apply to this Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School.

Hoshino Kanade considered herself to have worked hard enough, but the money she earned in middle school was left with very little after covering tuition, living expenses, and improving the life of the orphanage for a time.

What rebirth brought her, besides the memories of her previous life, was a body that could grow strong despite childhood malnutrition, and a memory capacity not far from photographic.

"Don't you think you should give up your seat?" A woman dressed in an OL style interrupted Hoshino Kanade's recollections.

At some point, the bus had become filled with passengers and crowded.

Not far in front of Hoshino Kanade stood an old woman, her footing unsteady; she might fall at any moment.

"You sitting over there, didn't you see that the old grandma is very uncomfortable?" the OL female spoke again.

"What a crazy question, lady." The blonde man sitting in the priority seat crossed his legs.

"Why should I give up my seat to this old woman? There is simply no reason for it."

This must be Kouenji Rokosuke. As expected, he is a man who goes his own way; even his loose school uniform cannot hide his well-developed muscles.

The conversation just now attracted the attention of everyone on the bus, and Hoshino Kanade was no exception.

"You are sitting in a priority seat right now, so of course you should give it up to an elder!"

"Even if it is a priority seat, there is no legal obligation to give up the seat. Young people should give up their seats? What a nonsense idea."

"You..." The OL female's chest heaved; she was clearly quite angry.

"I am a healthy person. While standing doesn't make me uncomfortable, it clearly consumes more energy than sitting. I don't intend to do something that has no benefit for me. Or are you going to give me a tip?"

"This... is this the attitude you have when speaking to your elders?"

After all, Japan is a country that values seniority. Most people would probably be angry at being offended by a junior, presumably.

"Elder? You have certainly lived a longer life than I have, that is beyond doubt. But the term 'elder' implies someone who has traveled further in terms of experience and ability. Besides, don't you have your own issues? Putting on such an arrogant attitude."

"What did you say? When an adult is speaking, you should just listen obediently!" The OL Female's volume rose another few notches.

"Alright... alright now..." In the end, the Old Woman gestured to stop the angry OL Female.

"Oh my, it seems the Old Woman is much more reasonable than you are." Koenji added another jab, then put on his headphones and began listening to music, lost in his own world.

The high schooler's arrogant attitude further infuriated the OL Female, but her outburst was nothing more than a flash of anger.

Although Koenji was using sophistry, she had to admit that, setting aside moral issues, Koenji had no obligation to give up his seat to the Old Woman.

The only sound left on the train was the hum of the moving vehicle.

Just when everyone thought this dispute would end with the Blonde Man's victory, someone stepped forward.

"Um, I think the big sister is right."

A short-haired girl with a sweet look and an open heart reached out to help.

"The old grandma has been feeling very uncomfortable since a moment ago. Maybe I'm meddling, but could you please give up your seat? Consider it a contribution to society."

"A contribution to society? An interesting opinion, but unfortunately, I'm not interested in contributing to society. I only need to satisfy myself."

With a "snap," the Blonde Youth flicked his fingernail.

"Even though I've become the target of public criticism for sitting in the Priority Seat, is it really okay for everyone else to just stay glued to their seats without saying a word? If you have a heart, I think you could give up your seat even if it isn't a Priority Seat."

The AOE attack had eventually reached her as well. Of course, Hoshino Kanade had no intention of giving up her seat.

"Hm?" Hoshino Kanade swept her peripheral vision across and discovered that the maiden in the seat next to her was actually staring at her face.

He certainly knew his looks were slightly above average, but being stared at so directly was a bit too...

Considering that making a scene in the quiet carriage would make him a target, he could only slowly turn his head to meet the maiden's gaze.

The maiden's indifferent eyes were like a calm surface of water, with a faint ring of dark gold embedded around her pupils.

They locked eyes for barely a second before she suddenly winked at him as if playing a prank, then immediately turned her head away as if nothing had happened, looking outside the window.

I was just observing the others in the carriage, but I got caught... His expression didn't change at all, so I guess he also thinks one shouldn't give up their seat? Should I... feel shy? Should my cheeks feel hot? Or would it look more natural if my earlobes turned red?

The maiden's delicate face showed no expression, and her gaze eventually returned to the front.

Hoshino Kanade silently withdrew his gaze, unable to help but think, does this count as "as long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassing one is the other person"?

He had a small quirk—he was prone to feeling embarrassed for others, especially after he had unconsciously been staring at the other person just now.

"Everyone, please listen to me for a moment. Please, is there anyone willing to give up their seat to this old grandma? I'm begging you!"

The sweet maiden failed to achieve her goal with the blond-haired boy, so she had no choice but to turn her attention to the other passengers on the bus. After speaking, she bowed slightly to the others.

Perhaps this is what a little angel is. Just looking at the surface, one can only imagine how much courage it must have taken to make such a gesture.

"Um... please, come and sit here."

After a few more seconds, a woman finally couldn't stand the atmosphere any longer and chose to give up her seat.

"Thank you so much!" The little angel and the old woman expressed their gratitude. Carefully, the girl guided the old grandma through the crowded bus, clearing a path until she helped her sit down.

Afterward, the atmosphere on the bus slowly returned to normal. The rest of the journey was uneventful, and they arrived at the school.

Students dressed in uniforms stepped off the bus one by one. Passing through a gate constructed of natural stone, they arrived at the place where they would live for the next three years—Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School.

Hoshino Kanade had some theories she wanted to verify. She adjusted her pace, following behind the maiden who had been sitting next to her on the bus.

She had no intention of hiding her presence.

The girl easily noticed Hoshino Kanade's movements. She slowed her pace, likely waiting for Hoshino Kanade to strike up a conversation.

If it's what I think it is... Hoshino Kanade found her interesting, but she wasn't in a hurry to speak.

He must have something he wants to say to me, right? Why isn't he saying anything? Should I be the one to initiate? If I just start talking, there's a risk of being countered...

Not knowing how to react, the maiden finally stopped. With a look of expectation on her small face, she gazed at Hoshino Kanade, seemingly waiting for her to speak.

If I pretend I wasn't looking for her at a time like this, it would probably make her very awkward. Hoshino Kanade recalled the incident on the bus. No, it seems like I would be the only one feeling awkward.

"You were looking at me on the bus earlier. Was there something you needed?"

Hoshino Kanade decided to stop teasing her.

"Sorry, I was just curious. It seemed like you had no intention of giving up your seat back there." The boy wasn't here to make friends, which left the maiden a little disappointed, though she had anticipated such a question.

"I just didn't want to draw attention to myself." She must have noticed that my expression hadn't changed much while on the bus.

"It seems we are the same. I didn't want to get involved and draw attention to myself either." This gave the maiden the feeling that she had found a kindred spirit.

Making friends is such a hassle, but to avoid being isolated over the next three years, I need to maintain a certain number of friends. I must consider if this might be the only opportunity I'll ever have.

Although the thinking process felt long, it only lasted for a split second.

"My name is Ayanokoji Kina. It's a pleasure to meet you."