On the Bus

"Wow, Yuto, you got first place this time!" Yuki flashed a delighted smile at Yuto, as if his victory made her happier than her own would have.

But Yuto didn't answer Yuki right away. He sought out Kiyotaka instead: "You're better than this, Kiyotaka. Why'd you hold back and let me win?"

Kiyotaka was always a man of few words, and at first, he didn't even seem inclined to respond.

Yuki tried to mediate between them, caught in the middle and unsure what to do.

Only when Kiyotaka could no longer bear the sharp glare from Yuto did he reply, his face still an expressionless poker mask: "I didn't hold back. That was my true ability. Congratulations."

April first, a hazy sky, cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Amasawa Yuto sat on the bus heading to school, swaying with the vehicle's motion.

He idly gazed out the window to pass the time, the cityscape receding in a steady straight line.

What pointless memories he was dredging up. He should have been in a good mood.

Most of the passengers wore the same uniform as him—students, all likely incoming freshmen.

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School was a school established by the government to cultivate the youth who would support the nation's future. It was the school Amasawa Yuto was about to attend.

Rumor had it the White Room was originally created to rival this school.

Too bad Ayanokoji Atsuomi never got to see his son, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, graduate from the White Room before he met his end.

And Ayanokouji Kiyotaka couldn't escape the fate of a fallen hegemon either.

If he'd lived, he surely would have graduated from the White Room.

If Professor Suzukake hadn't thought of himself as a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, would he have avoided taking his own life?

Yuto couldn't help but wonder.

"Um... hello?"

Yuto was lost in thought and didn't notice the girl who got on at this stop and sat down next to him.

"Because... there were no seats..." The girl wore the same uniform as him—the same red blazer, though hers came with a white pleated skirt, while his was paired with green trousers.

She seemed flustered, a little embarrassed about sitting next to a boy, and explained she'd only taken the seat because the bus was full.

Yuto glanced around briefly. The bus, which had been somewhat empty a few stops ago, now had no vacant seats.

No old lady needing a seat, no golden-haired pretty boy lounging with his legs crossed, no short-haired two-faced girl urging everyone to give up their seats.

"Don't worry about it."

Hearing Yuto's response, the girl finally relaxed, her tone easing up.

She had a great figure, delicate features, and a head of glossy pink hair that fell smoothly to her waist. Beneath her bangs were lively, clear blue eyes. Her refined nose and slightly upturned lips marked her as an unmistakably vibrant, energetic beauty.

Yuto had almost no memory of the plot, but he was sure he didn't know her—she was a character he'd never seen in the anime.

Looks like even the background characters in this series weren't lacking in looks. A random stranger he'd never seen before was already at the level of a school beauty.

"Our uniforms are the same." The girl pointed at her own uniform, then at Yuto's, offering a gentle, soothing smile.

The two sat together, the bus seats close enough that they were near each other.

Yuto thought he caught a faint citrusy scent—probably her shampoo.

He wasn't a stranger to close contact with girls. His sister, Amasawa Ichika, was very clingy, often pressing against him even in the spacious back seat of the Rolls-Royce, and she loved hugging his arm.

Seeming to misinterpret Yuto's silence, the girl quickly introduced herself: "My name is Ichinose Honami. Since we'll probably be classmates from now on, nice to meet you."

Hearing that, Yuto grew even more suspicious.

Ichinose Honami? Why hadn't he recognized her?

His memory slowly stirred, and he remembered.

Wait, wasn't her hair orange-gold? Why was it pink?

Yuto suddenly realized his prolonged silence was rude and quickly replied, "I'm Amasawa Yuto. Sorry, I was lost in thought."

"No, no, I'm sorry. I'm just a little excited on the first day of school, ahaha..."

"Hey hey, are you two introducing yourselves? I'm Amikura Mako! I want in too!"

A lively, energetic girl from the front seat suddenly turned around and joined the conversation. She had sleek black hair tied into a high ponytail.

Amasawa Yuto didn't recognize the name—either a background character with no role, or one cut from the anime or not yet adapted.

The two girls clearly had more in common with each other than with Yuto. They chatted enthusiastically, as if they'd forgotten he was there, acting less like strangers meeting for the first time and more like old best friends.

Yuto listened quietly as they talked about their favorite clothes, desserts, and such, feeling an awkward sense of being an outsider.

Maybe deciding to come to school alone today had been a mistake...

Thinking about how he'd inevitably face Tsubaki Yuki's pouting later, Yuto couldn't help but regret his spur-of-the-moment prank.

Suddenly, the two girls stopped talking. Amikura Mako looked at Yuto: "I heard earlier—your name's Amasawa Yuto, right?"

"Hmm, what is it?" Amasawa Yuto had a pretty good idea what she was about to say.

Sure enough.

"Ah, really? Could it be that Amasawa?" Amikura Mako suddenly got excited, as if she'd stumbled onto some huge secret.

"Yeah, it's probably the Amasawa you're thinking of." Amasawa Yuto saw no need to hide it and admitted it outright.

"What are you talking about, which Amasawa, Amikura-san?" Ichinose Honami clearly hadn't caught on yet—or maybe she just didn't know?

"That Amasawa, Ichinose-san!" Amikura Mako leaned in mysteriously. "The one from the Amasawa Conglomerate? You seriously don't know?"

"Eh... eh?!" Ichinose flinched like a startled animal, nearly jumping out of her seat.

What, what kind of development was this? On the first day of school, the aloof guy sitting next to her turned out to be a hidden super-rich heir?

Amid the noisy chatter, the bus announced its stop.

"Advanced Nurturing High School station. Please exit from the rear door. When boarding, insert coins or tap your card. Move to the back of the bus."

"You two go ahead first." Amasawa Yuto said softly.

"Amasawa-kun is surprisingly approachable," Ichinose Honami remarked.

"And a gentleman," Amikura Mako added.

Uh, no, I just want to avoid a certain girl lying in wait at the school gate.

Amasawa Yuto's gaze had already spotted her, and guilt welled up in his chest.