On a mild April morning, a gentle breeze stirred the cherry trees, sending petals drifting through the air like pink snow. Some settled on the ground, laying down a soft pink carpet; others floated along a rippling stream, carried into the distance as if journeying with springtime dreams.
At the same time, Watanabe Hayabara had set off on his own journey.
He sat by the window on a bus. A breeze slipped through the open window, ruffling his short brown hair as he gazed through his black-framed glasses at the beautiful cherry blossoms outside.
But an unexpected voice kept interrupting his enjoyment.
"Excuse me, could you give up your seat for this elderly woman? You're sitting in a priority seat. I think it would be a good way to contribute to society."
"That's a crazy question, pretty girl."
Watanabe Hayabara turned his head and glanced over. A golden-haired man was grinning with his legs crossed, after being asked by a cute girl with chestnut-colored hair to give up his seat.
Probably a D cup, by the looks of it. Her smile's a little stiff, though.
Still, it's nice to see an old friend. Kouenji Rokusuke.
"Why should I have to give up my seat for this old woman? There's no reason at all."
"But you're sitting in a priority seat. You should respect your elders and give this old woman your seat. It's the kind thing to do. Besides, she's already very tired."
"I don't understand. Even if it's a priority seat, there's no law requiring me to give it up. Why should a beautiful girl like me have to? Besides, I'll get tired if I have to stand."
Just like old times.
Though he doesn't seem to have noticed that I'm on this bus, too.
"Ma'am, please take my seat." Watanabe Hayabara stood up.
Everyone on the bus turned to look, eager to see who would offer their seat.
"Thank you so much, young man. You've been a great help."
The girl with short chestnut-colored hair helped the elderly woman over to Watanabe Hayabara's seat and guided her into it.
"Could I ask your name? I'd really like to get to know you." The girl smiled.
Just as I thought. All smiles on the surface. She's a hypocritical girl, but I kind of like that.
"I'm Watanabe Hayabara. Pleased to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you, Watanabe. I'm Kushida Kikyo." The girl held out her hand to shake his.
Watanabe Hayabara gladly accepted and took her hand.
When he glanced back, he saw Kouenji watching him. The two exchanged a look.
Kushida Kikyo noticed Watanabe Hayabara's expression change. She turned around and saw him exchanging glances with the blond man from before, and silently cursed them both.
Pretending to be kind, my ass. They're in cahoots. One's a total jerk, and what's the other one pretending to be? If you wanted to get to know me, was this really necessary? That bespectacled guy is pretty handsome, though. What the hell's with the act?
Watanabe Hayabara naturally noticed the change in Kushida Kikyo's expression. It lasted only a few seconds, but that was all he needed to understand.
I wonder when you'll let your mask slip. I'm looking forward to seeing the real you, Little Kikyo. I'll play along with your little act for now.
After exchanging looks with Kouenji, Watanabe Hayabara surveyed the other students, watching their reactions. They all avoided his gaze, except for a pair sitting together.
That guy seems a little unusual, Watanabe Hayabara, Ayanokoji thought. But the next moment, he pushed the thought aside.
Is he an idiot? Who gives up their seat like that? Horikita Suzune looked down on people like him from the bottom of her heart.
One had a hollow gaze, as if devoid of thought. The other looked at him as if he were an idiot.
What an interesting pair!
Watanabe Hayabara looked away and sighed softly. He leaned back against the bus's handrail, letting his eyes drift shut. His thick eyelashes cast faint shadows across his eyelids. Closing his eyes and letting his mind wander was his favorite way to pass the time, and now his thoughts had drifted far away.
The bus traveled along a winding road toward an island.
After an unknown amount of time, the bus came to a stop, but Watanabe Hayabara didn't move. He was waiting.
He paid no mind to the students getting off one after another, or to the noise around him.
Until...
"Are you asleep, Watanabe?" Kushida Kikyo came up beside him and spoke softly.
When he didn't respond, Kushida Kikyo shook his arm. "Watanabe, wake up. It's time to get off. Everyone else has already left."
Only then did Watanabe Hayabara slowly open his eyes, pretending he'd just woken up. "Hmm? What is it, Kushida?"
"It's time to get off, Watanabe. Everyone else has left, and now I've had to call out to you." Kushida Kikyo puffed out her cheeks, though Watanabe Hayabara thought she looked adorable.
Watanabe Hayabara smiled. "You could've left, but you stayed to wait for me and wake me up. Thank you so much, Kushida."
"It's no big deal. We're classmates, after all."
"Come on, Watanabe."
"Sure." Watanabe Hayabara smiled at Kushida Kikyo and agreed.
Kushida Kikyo hopped off the bus and led Watanabe Hayabara toward Advanced Nurturing High School.
As soon as they entered the gates, staff members collected their phones as instructed and handed each of them a special communication device.
They unlocked their devices at the same time. An email appeared on Watanabe Hayabara's screen.
He tapped it open. "Watanabe Hayabara, after evaluating your academic performance, we have decided to assign you to Class D. Please report to your classroom as soon as possible."
Class D—the most interesting place of all!
"Hey, Watanabe, which class were you assigned to?" Kushida Kikyo asked with a bright smile.
"I was assigned to Class D, Kushida."
"Wow, what a coincidence, Watanabe! I'm in Class D too! We can keep going together!"
"Yeah, what a coincidence. I'm honored to be in the same class as you, Kushida."
They continued on side by side, chatting and laughing along the way, the mood between them warm and friendly.
Before long, they arrived at the door to Class 1-D.
When they entered, they saw that some of the boys and girls had already formed groups and were chatting. Most of the students were watching the front of the classroom, curious about who had just come in.
They each looked for their seats. After waving to Kushida, Watanabe Hayabara headed straight for the seat with his nameplate.
Watanabe Hayabara's seat was diagonally behind Kouenji's: the second column from the left, second row from the back, in front of the long-haired black-haired girl who had looked at him like an idiot.
The long-haired girl's so-called deskmate was the hollow-eyed boy.
What a coincidence.
Game ga hajimari mashi ta.
Before you continue