The Bus "Dilemma"

It was a mild day in April. In the early morning, a gentle breeze brushed past, causing the cherry blossom trees to sway softly as petals drifted down like pink snowflakes dancing through the air. Some of these falling petals settled on the ground, carpeting the earth in a soft pink layer, while others landed in the murmuring stream, floating leisurely into the distance as if embarking on a journey with the dreams of spring.

At the same time, Watanabe Hayabara also set off on his own journey.

He sat in a window seat on the bus, the breeze slipping through the gap to ruffle his short brown hair. His gaze, framed by black-rimmed glasses, drifted past the window to admire the beauty of the cherry blossoms.

But his mood was always interrupted by sudden noises.

"Excuse me, you're in the priority seat. Could you please give up your seat for this elderly lady? I think that would count as a contribution to society."

"What a Crazy question, Pretty girl."

Watanabe Hayabara glanced over. A girl with chestnut-colored hair and a cute face was demanding a seat from a blonde man, who simply grinned and crossed his legs.

[Estimated to be a D-cup, though her smile is a bit stiff.]

[Still, I've run into an old friend, Kouenji Rokusuke.]

"Why must I give up my seat to this old woman? There is absolutely no reason to."

"But you're in a priority seat. You should respect the elderly, give up your seat, and show some kindness. Besides, the grandmother is already very tired."

"I don't understand. Even if it is a priority seat, there is no legal obligation to yield it. Why should the beautiful me give up my seat? Besides, if I stand, I'll get tired too."

[Same as always.]

[Though he doesn't seem to have noticed I'm on this bus yet.]

"Please, ma'am, sit here." Watanabe Hayabara stood up.

The eyes of the entire bus converged on them, everyone curious to see who would step up to offer their seat.

"Thank you so much, young man. You've been a huge help."

The chestnut-haired girl helped the old woman over to Watanabe Hayabara's seat, and she sat down.

"Young man, may I ask your name? I'd love to get to know you." The girl wore a bright smile.

[Just as I thought. It's a fake smile—a hypocritical girl. Still, she's quite to my liking.]

"Watanabe Hayabara. A pleasure."

"A pleasure, Watanabe-kun. I'm Kushida Kikyo." The girl reached out, wanting to shake his hand.

Watanabe Hayabara accepted naturally, clasping her hand.

Looking back, Watanabe Hayabara saw Kouenji watching him, and the two exchanged a brief look.

Seeing the shift in Watanabe Hayabara's expression, Kushida Kikyo turned back, caught the look he exchanged with the blonde man, and cursed inwardly.

Acting all high and mighty. They're in on it together. One is a total jerk, and the other is putting on an act. Did he really need to do all that just to meet me? Even if this guy in glasses is quite handsome, what's with the act?

Watanabe Hayabara naturally noticed the change in Kushida Kikyo; though it lasted only a few seconds, he knew exactly what she was thinking.

[I'd love to see when you finally drop the mask. I look forward to your true face, little Kikyo. I'll play along with your little performance.]

After the exchange with Kouenji, Watanabe Hayabara scanned the bus, observing the reactions of the other students. Most avoided eye contact, but one pair sitting together reacted differently.

This guy... he doesn't seem simple, Watanabe Hayabara, Ayanokoji thought to himself, though the thought was cast aside the next moment.

Is this guy an idiot? He actually gave up his seat. Horikita Suzune looked down on such people from the bottom of her heart.

One had hollow eyes devoid of thought, while the other looked at him as if he were a fool.

[An interesting combination!]

Watanabe Hayabara withdrew his gaze. He sighed softly, leaned back, and rested naturally against the bus handrail, closing his eyes slightly. His thick lashes cast faint shadows beneath his lids. Meditation was his favorite thing to do when bored, and his thoughts had already drifted far beyond the clouds.

The bus wound its way along the road toward a small island.

Time passed, and eventually, the bus stopped. Watanabe Hayabara didn't move; he was waiting.

He ignored the noise and the sound of students getting off the bus one after another.

Until...

"Are you asleep, Watanabe-kun?" Kushida Kikyo leaned in close to Watanabe Hayabara and whispered.

Seeing no reaction, Kushida Kikyo shook his arm. "Watanabe-kun, wake up. It's time to get off. Everyone else has already left."

Watanabe Hayabara slowly opened his eyes, feigning a just-woken state. "Hm? What is it, Kushida-san?"

"We have to get off, Watanabe-kun. The other students are gone, and I had to call out to you." Kushida Kikyo pouted, though to Watanabe Hayabara, she looked quite cute.

Watanabe Hayabara offered a smile. "You could have just left, Kushida-san, yet you stayed behind to wait for me and wake me up. I truly appreciate it."

"It's nothing. We're all classmates."

"Let's go, Watanabe-kun."

"Right," Watanabe Hayabara replied, watching Kushida Kikyo's smile.

Kushida Kikyo skipped off the bus, leading Watanabe Hayabara toward Advanced Nurturing High School.

As soon as they entered the main gate, staff members required them to hand over their phones, then issued them a special communication device.

Once they received the devices, they unlocked them simultaneously. A message appeared on Watanabe Hayabara's screen.

He tapped it open and read: "Watanabe Hayabara, following our assessment of your results, we have decided to assign you to Class D. Please report to your classroom as soon as possible."

[Class D, the most interesting place!]

"Hey, Watanabe-kun, which class were you assigned to?" Kushida Kikyo asked with a beaming smile.

"I was assigned to Class D, Kushida-san."

"Wow, what a coincidence! I'm in Class D too, Watanabe-kun! That means we can keep walking together!"

"Indeed, what a coincidence. I feel honored to be in the same class as you, Kushida-san."

The two continued walking side by side, chatting and laughing along the way in a very harmonious atmosphere.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of the Class D classroom for the first years.

As they entered the classroom, they saw that some of the boys and girls had already formed groups and were chatting, while most of the students kept their eyes on the front of the room, waiting to see who would walk in next.

The two went to find their respective seats. After waving to Kushida, Watanabe Hayabara headed straight for the desk with his name tag on it.

Watanabe Hayabara's seat was diagonally across from Koenji, in the second column from the left, second row from the back, right in front of that black-haired girl who was looking at everyone like they were idiots.

And the fake seatmate of that black-haired girl was that boy with the hollow eyes.

[What a coincidence indeed.]

[game ga hajimari mashi ta]