Starting School

It was April, and the new students were beginning school.

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

In the seat beside her was a girl. Hoshino had caught a fleeting glimpse of her when she boarded: her profile was as cool and flawless as jade, her eyelashes like butterfly wings. It made Hoshino reluctant to look again.

The scent of her brown hair drifted over. She wore the same uniform as Hoshino, but none of the characters Hoshino remembered matched her appearance.

In her previous life, Hoshino had died suddenly on the night before her university entrance exams, crushed by her mother's pressure-filled education and her father's guilt-driven one.

Reborn into a new life, she had started out in an orphanage, but her childhood had been happier than in her previous life.

Poverty had led Hoshino to apply to Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School.

Hoshino thought she had worked hard enough, but after paying tuition and living expenses, and improving the orphanage's conditions for a while, she had barely any money left from what she'd earned in middle school.

Rebirth had given her more than the memories of her previous life. It had also given her a body that had grown strong despite childhood malnutrition, and a memory that came close to being photographic.

"Don't you think you should give up your seat?" A woman in office attire interrupted Hoshino's reverie.

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

Not far ahead of Hoshino stood an elderly woman, unsteady on her feet. She might fall at any moment.

"You, sitting over there—can't you see that the old lady's feeling unwell?" the woman in office attire said again.

"What a crazy question, Lady." The blond-haired young man in the priority seat crossed his legs.

"Why should I give up my seat to this elderly woman? There's no reason for me to do that."

That must be Koenji Rokusuke. He really was his own person. Even his loose-fitting uniform couldn't hide his well-built physique.

The exchange had drawn everyone's attention, and Hoshino was no exception.

"You're sitting in a priority seat. Of course you should give it up for an elderly person!"

"Even if it's a priority seat, there's no legal obligation to give it up. The idea that young people should give up their seats? What nonsense."

"You..." The woman's chest rose and fell. She was clearly angry.

"I'm perfectly healthy. Standing wouldn't make me uncomfortable, but it would obviously take more energy than sitting. I don't plan to do something that gives me nothing in return. Unless you're going to tip me?"

"Th-this is how you speak to your elders?"

Japan was, after all, a country that valued seniority. Most people would probably get angry if a younger person insulted them. Probably.

"Elders? You've naturally lived longer than I have. That's beyond dispute. But an elder is someone who's surpassed me in experience and ability. Besides, aren't you the one with a problem? You're acting like you're above everyone else."

"What did you say? When adults are talking, you should just listen!" The woman's voice rose another few notches.

"Th-that's enough..." In the end, the elderly woman gestured for the angry woman to stop.

"Oh my, it seems the elderly woman is more reasonable than you." Koenji got in one last jab, then put on his headphones and started listening to music on his own.

The high schooler's brazen attitude only made the woman angrier, but all she did was get angry for a moment.

Koenji's argument was sophistry, but she had to admit that, setting morality aside, he wasn't obligated to give the elderly woman his seat.

The only sound left on the bus was the engine as it drove along.

Just as everyone thought the dispute would end with the blond-haired boy victorious, someone stepped forward.

"Um, I think the lady's right."

A sweet-looking girl with a generous figure lent a helping hand.

"The old lady's been looking uncomfortable this whole time. Maybe I'm meddling, but could you please give up your seat? Think of it as contributing to society."

"Contributing to society? An interesting suggestion, but unfortunately, I have no interest in doing that. I only need to satisfy myself."

With a snap, the blond boy flicked his fingernail.

"Although I've become the target of everyone's anger by sitting in the priority seat, is it really okay for everyone else to keep clinging to their seats without saying a word? If you care about others, I think you could give up your seat even if it isn't a priority seat."

The area-of-effect attack had finally reached Hoshino, too. Of course, she had no intention of giving up her seat.

"Hm?" Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the girl beside her was staring at her face.

Hoshino knew she was a little above average in looks, but surely that didn't warrant being stared at like this.

Since speaking up would make her a target, Hoshino could only turn her head and meet the girl's gaze.

The girl's indifferent eyes were like still water, her pupils seemingly rimmed with a faint ring of gold.

After a second of eye contact, she gave a playful little wink, then turned away as if nothing had happened.

She was watching how everyone else on the bus reacted, but got caught. He didn't seem affected at all, and his expression never changed. He probably also thinks he shouldn't have to give up his seat. Should I feel embarrassed? Would blushing cheeks or slightly red earlobes be more normal?

The girl's delicate face remained expressionless as she turned her gaze forward.

Maybe it was true that if you didn't feel awkward, other people would. Hoshino had a bad habit of feeling embarrassed on other people's behalf, especially when she was still staring at the girl.

"Everyone, please listen for a moment. Could someone please give this old lady their seat? Please!"

The sweet girl hadn't managed to get anywhere with the blond boy, so she turned to the other passengers. After speaking, she bowed slightly to them.

Maybe this was what a little angel looked like. It must have taken a lot of courage to do something like that—or so it seemed on the surface.

"Um... please come sit here."

A few seconds later, one woman couldn't bear the atmosphere any longer and gave up her seat.

"Thank you!" The sweet girl and the elderly woman thanked her. Carefully supporting the old lady, the girl guided her through a path in the crowded bus and helped her sit down.

After that, the atmosphere on the bus gradually returned to normal. The rest of the journey passed without incident, and they arrived at the school.

The uniformed students got off one by one and passed through a gate made of natural stone. Beyond it lay the place where they would spend the next three years: Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School.

Hoshino had a few suspicions she wanted to confirm. She adjusted her pace and followed the girl who had sat beside her on the bus.

Hoshino made no effort to hide what she was doing.

The girl noticed Hoshino easily. She slowed down, probably hoping Hoshino would start a conversation.

If things are the way I think they are... Hoshino found her interesting and wasn't in a hurry to speak.

He probably has something he wants to say to me. Why isn't he speaking? Should I start the conversation? If I just start talking, there's a risk he'll turn the tables on me...

In the end, unsure what to do, the girl stopped. Her little face looked hopeful as she gazed at Hoshino, seemingly waiting for her to speak.

If I pretend I wasn't following her now, she'll probably feel awkward. Hoshino thought back to what had happened on the bus. No, it seems I'm the only one who'd feel awkward.

"You were looking at me on the bus just now. Was there something you wanted?"

Hoshino stopped teasing her.

"Sorry, I was just a little curious. Back on the bus, it seemed like you had no intention of giving up your seat." The girl seemed a little disappointed that the boy hadn't approached her to make friends, but she'd anticipated that answer.

"I just didn't want to draw attention to myself." The girl had probably noticed that Hoshino's expression hadn't changed much on the bus.

"Seems we're alike. I didn't want to get involved and draw attention to myself either." The girl felt as though she'd found someone like herself.

Making friends is such a hassle, but over the next three years, I'll need to maintain a certain number of friendships so I don't get isolated. I have to consider whether this might be the only chance I'll ever get.

Although it seemed as if she'd spent a long time thinking, in reality only an instant passed.

"I'm Ayanokoji Kiyona. It's nice to meet you."