The Bus to School

(Brain storage area)

On the bus heading to Advanced Nurturing High School.

The entire bus was already full. In the quiet cabin, only the low hum of the engine could be heard, and the passengers were almost all students wearing red uniforms.

Onizuka Tsukasa sat at the back of the bus, his gaze sweeping over the scenery flashing past the window as he couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

Onizuka Tsukasa, a native-born and (in his own opinion) completely unremarkable student, had displayed extraordinary talent since elementary school.

Whether it was academics, extracurricular activities, sports, or even seemingly complex musical instruments and chess, there was almost nothing he couldn't master if he wanted to. It wasn't so much that he was gifted; it was more that he possessed an enviable ability to learn.

But his life had not been smooth sailing because of this.

The Onizuka Family—the place where he was born—was an extremely rigid clan that valued bloodline above all else.

As one of the top conglomerates in Japan, passed down since the Sengoku period, the rules handed down through generations were ancient and harsh.

Bloodline was supreme, the legitimate heir was honored, and the illegitimate children were nothing more than peripheral existences, destined to live in the shadows as tools to obey the orders of the main family.

And Onizuka Tsukasa was just such an illegitimate child. Despite his outstanding talent, his intelligence and brilliance were not only useless to the main family, but they were also like thorns in their eyes.

The main family never needed a smart illegitimate child. Intelligence only made them uneasy; illegitimate children were best off knowing their place, keeping to themselves, and following orders, wagging their tails like loyal little dogs.

It was precisely because of this that young Onizuka Tsukasa became a target. His talent made the legitimate heirs of the main family unhappy, and just like that, his family was driven away to live on a remote island.

That year, Onizuka Tsukasa was only 5 years old.

Life on the island held no warmth, no companionship. The cold wind there stung one's face, and the sea mist never dissipated.

His parents even believed that it was because of his existence that they had been driven out of the family they were so proud of and regarded as their glory.

This resentment was buried deep in their hearts, gradually transforming into indifference and displaced anger toward him.

They did not treat him as a son, but as the root of all their misfortune. They never took the initiative to care for him, and even when he needed support the most, they only offered cold stares and silent blame.

Onizuka Tsukasa understood very early on that his parents' expectations for him were never about care, but about removing him from their lives as quickly as possible so they could be rid of this invisible "shame."

For nearly ten years, Onizuka Tsukasa had used almost every means possible, relying entirely on his own intelligence and indomitable will to survive until now.

There, he learned how to live better and longer than others in a cruel environment.

Fortunately, he received this admission invitation to Advanced Nurturing High School, an invitation that allowed him to temporarily escape the gloom of his family and household.

As its name suggests, it cultivates the elites of Japan's future society. Its 100% high-quality advancement and employment rate made it the top school in all of Japan, bar none.

In everyone's eyes, getting into Advanced Nurturing High School meant success.

The bus swayed gently, the scenery outside the window flashed by, and Onizuka Tsukasa snapped back from his thoughts.

The bus had become very crowded. Standing at the front was an elderly woman swaying unsteadily, as if she were about to fall to the ground at any moment.

Perhaps there would be some warm-hearted person thinking of helping her? Among students who are simple, kind, or perhaps a bit foolish, there is never a shortage of such people.

But that person could never be me. Let me just enjoy the scenery outside the window a little longer.

Before long, he heard people arguing on the bus.

"Look at this grandmother, she's so pitiful. Don't you think you should give up your seat?"

What a familiar tone.

There was once someone who nagged in my ear just like this, always wanting me to give up things I had worked hard to obtain for others, saying things like 'don't be so greedy.'

What an annoying voice.

But fortunately, later on, she couldn't nag in my ear anymore. I only needed to investigate her father, take a few days off to follow them for a while, and snap a few "interesting" photos.

That family obediently packed their things and moved away.

Fortunately, her target wasn't me, but a blond man sitting in a priority seat.

He had a very sturdy build, definitely someone who had trained systematically, and he was quite handsome. But clearly, his handsome face didn't bring him much favoritism; at least, the girl didn't hold back her tongue.

"Don't you feel ashamed sitting in a priority seat? Can't you see someone in need standing next to you?"

A girl wearing an office lady uniform said to him.

It sounded particularly harsh in such a quiet bus, and almost everyone turned their eyes toward them.

"How boring, girl. Why should I give up my seat to someone else?"

Composure! Onizuka Tsukasa didn't see any sign of embarrassment in this blond man. This attitude was very mismatched for a young man of this age.

Either getting up to apologize or getting angry and lashing out would have fit his impression of an adolescent boy.

"A priority seat! Of course, it's provided for people who are inconvenienced! Is there any reason for a healthy person like you to sit here?"

"Unbelievable! Having sound limbs and a strong physique isn't my fault. Why must I give up my seat to someone who arrived later than me?"

A beautiful counterattack! But it was sophistry.

The two sides argued back and forth.

Just then, another girl in a school uniform joined the battlefield! After further persuasion failed, that student (presumably) turned her gaze toward everyone sitting there.

"Can someone give up a seat for this grandmother?"

As soon as those words fell, the atmosphere on the bus turned subtle.

Most people suddenly seemed to have urgent business, lowering their heads to stare at their phone screens, pretending they hadn't heard a thing. The carriage instantly fell into an uncomfortable silence, as if everyone were trying their best to avoid any connection to that statement.

However, two people were clearly an exception. They were sitting not far from me and didn't seem to have any intention of pretending to ignore it.

The boy seemed to be observing others, as if he were somewhat concerned about their reactions. Yet, he had no intention of standing up himself; being concerned about others while remaining unaffected was inherently contradictory.

As for the girl sitting beside him, she was as cold as frost, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her. She remained motionless, her face wearing an overly deliberate look of resolve, like a child imitating the toughness of an adult. That "childish maturity" was particularly evident in her expression.

The silence lasted only a moment, but this awkward atmosphere soon became unbearable for those sitting.

Before long, a student who seemed unable to endure the heavy stillness finally stood up and offered their seat to the elderly woman.

The matter was hastily resolved, and the carriage returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened.

This disturbance subsided just like that, and before long, we arrived at the destination. I followed the flow of people off the bus and walked through the gates of the Advanced Nurturing High School.