This Kick Is the Catalyst for Fate to Begin Turning

My thoughts returned to the bus.

Kamigami Haruo took a notebook out of his bag.

After flipping open the cover, the names and information of the students he currently knew came into view; he intended to continue adding some details.

Kamigami Haruo felt a bit overwhelmed; he was just a casual fan, knowing only the plot from enrollment until the uninhabited island arc a few months later, along with some personal experiences and things he had seen on video platforms—that was about it.

After staring at it for a while, he thought, forget it, it's better to just slack off.

As for reaching Class A, having Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was enough; he could just lie back and win.

The moving bus had arrived at the next stop before he knew it.

Compared to the sparse crowd in the first round, this time a young man in a wine-red suit uniform and some office workers boarded.

These students, who were about to spend the next three years with him, all wore expressions of longing for the school life that was about to begin.

Only two people radiated a different atmosphere: one was a cold-looking girl with long black hair, and the other was a tall, burly man with long golden hair.

Perhaps because Kamigami Haruo had taken the seat she would have otherwise occupied, Horikita Suzune chose to sit in the seat behind him.

As for Kōenji Rokusuke, he chose the priority seat closest to the exit, taking out an exquisite mirror to admire himself.

My name is Horikita Suzune, and I disdain the social life that those people cherish so much.

From the past until now, countless people have tried to strike up a conversation with me for various reasons, but I have shut them all out without exception.

From elementary school, middle school, and even the next three years of my academic career, making friends and socializing have never been part of my plan.

I only have my Brother in my eyes; the only thing I need to do is catch up to my Brother's back and earn my Brother's recognition. For that, I spared nothing to follow him to this school.

Carrying such feelings, I picked a seat and sat down.

However, I inadvertently caught a glimpse of the contents of the book held by the man in the seat in front of me.

The content within made me frown.

Although it was written in kanji, Horikita Suzune could still understand a little; she couldn't possibly misread the name that had followed her for fifteen years.

Just as Horikita Suzune wanted to look further down, she suddenly sensed that the atmosphere was wrong.

The moment she shifted her gaze upward, she locked eyes with the black pupils hidden beneath Kamigami Haruo's hair.

Although Kamigami Haruo smiled at her, in Horikita Suzune's eyes, the scar on the corner of his mouth, combined with his unkempt appearance, made him look just like a murderer.

It caught the unprepared Horikita Suzune off guard, leaving her stunned for a moment, but with her strong composure, she immediately adjusted her mindset.

As for feeling guilty about peeking? Horikita Suzune felt none at all.

"Hello, my name is Kamigami Haruo, please treat me well."

Horikita Suzune, who had been deep in thought, was interrupted by Kamigami Haruo's self-introduction and replied subconsciously.

"Horikita Suzune."

"Is that so? Suzune is a really nice name."

After making a teasing remark, Kamigami Haruo turned his head away, put away the notebook in his hand, and stared blankly at the street scene outside the window.

Although Horikita Suzune felt offended, given that they were in a public place, she could only suppress her curiosity, intending to question the other party after getting off the bus.

Horikita Suzune looked at his frail body hidden under the uniform and mentally labeled him a weirdo.

Although he looked gloomy, he was wearing the same uniform, so he should be a fellow student at the same school.

Thinking this, Horikita Suzune took out Crime and Punishment to read.

The content was very controversial, discussing whether a person has the right to kill; it felt like the person in the seat in front of her understood this question very well.

The bus in Tokyo braked very slowly, not giving passengers that feeling of being pushed back into their seats.

That was the current situation; the driver's foot on the brake signaled someone's arrival.

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, the artificial genius produced by the White Room.

If necessary, anyone in his eyes could be a pawn; he was an invincible existence within the school.

He was an existence who would stop at nothing for the sake of victory.

Because it was currently the morning rush hour for work and school, there weren't many empty seats left on the bus, just a few.

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's gaze passed over Kamigami Haruo and then looked at Horikita Suzune, walking toward the latter without a second thought.

Almost at the same time, a student asked Kamigami Haruo in a very timid voice if he could move his backpack.

Kamigami Haruo shifted his gaze to the person who had arrived, nodded slightly, picked up his backpack and placed it on his lap, moved to the outer side of the seat, and then turned slightly to let the student in.

The reason he did this was simply so he could get off quickly when they reached the stop, without having to squeeze past others.

The student said thank you and then carefully stepped in to take a seat.

The situation should have remained this way until they reached the school, but upon seeing an elderly woman nearly fall due to the bus accelerating, Kamigami Haruo remembered the incident that was about to occur.

"Don't you think you should give up your seat?"

At the same time, the argument that was bound to happen finally broke out.

Seeing this, Kamigami Haruo immediately straightened his body, intending to stand up at the very last moment.

After all, stepping in to help when someone is at their most helpless leaves the deepest impression.

Kamigami Haruo didn't even consider that his appearance might make others feel afraid.

But even if he knew, he wouldn't care; others might distance themselves because of his looks, but Kushida Kikyo, who wanted to be popular, wouldn't.

Kamigami Haruo wanted to leave a good impression on Kushida Kikyo, just enough to get along as ordinary friends.

If he didn't fit in, he felt like Hirata would keep pestering him, and compared to being pestered by him, he preferred being pestered by a beautiful girl.

Kushida Kikyo was likely on the verge of an outburst right now; having wanted to start a new life, she had seen Horikita Suzune from the same school when she stepped onto the bus.

Her composure had completely collapsed, and she had been holding it in ever since.

"You sitting over there, didn't you see that the elderly lady is having trouble?"

"That's a truly Crazy question, Lady."

These two sentences immediately drew the attention of everyone on the bus.

Although the first round ended with the elderly woman dissuading the office lady because she didn't want to make a scene, the second round was the home turf of the popular Kushida Kikyo.

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

Kushida Kikyo seemed to have finally made up her mind, gathering the courage to speak to Koenji.

This demeanor couldn't help but make people feel favorably toward her.

But that goodwill stopped there; having a good impression didn't mean they would give up their seats, and the people around them just watched in silence.

After a round of debate, it was right when Kushida Kikyo said these words.

"Everyone, please listen to me for a moment. Is there anyone willing to give up their seat to this elderly lady? Anyone at all, please."

Feeling that the timing was right, Kamigami Haruo stood up, looking as if he were willing to offer his seat.

The people around seemed surprised by him; someone who didn't look like a good person was actually offering his seat.

But when they saw Kamigami Haruo limping as he walked after standing up, their initial surprise turned into sympathy.

They couldn't help but reflect on themselves; even a disabled person knew to give up their seat, yet they had stood by and watched. If there were a next time, they would rather close their eyes and pretend not to see.