"Don't you think you should give up your seat?"
A light and centered voice had engulfed the bus. It was a voice that should be pleasant to the ears. But it wasn't, at least to me it wasn't.
My tranquility and peace had been suddenly interrupted. Knowing this would happen ahead of time did not make it any less unpleasant to hear.
It was foolish of me to think I could nap on the bus while waiting for my stop. Matter of fact, it was pretty much a dumb decision for me who is a light sleeper. It was better to have stayed awake in such a crowded environment.
But the cool breeze and the cloudless blue sky was nice. For such a hot month the weather for this morning was pretty cool. It had tempted me to sleep and I was easily persuaded.
Can you blame me?
I went to bed late last night. And it was because of this exact reason. My nerves could not stop rattling. My anxiety shot high through the roof in preparation for this day.
The day where everything began.
"You there, can't you see the old woman having trouble?"
I slowly opened my eyes and gazed forward to the front of the bus. And there stood an office lady and a young, well-built, high school student with blonde dyed hair who sat in the priority seating.
"That's a really crazy question, lady."
He was bold.
"Why should I give this seat to an old woman? There's absolutely no reason for me to give it up."
Very bold.
In my past life nor in this life would I be able to say such a thing? My conscious wouldn't allow it. The turmoil I would receive would be detrimental to my health.
Or maybe...
I would be completely fine. And I'd sleep like a baby at night.
I wouldn't know. Or better yet I didn't care to know.
"Isn't it natural to hand over the priority seat to the elderly?"
Was it?
"I don't understand. Priority seats are just priority seats, and there is no legal obligation for me to move. Whether or not I move should be decided by me, who is currently sitting in this seat. Will you give up your seat because I am a young man? Hahaha, that's a stupid way of thinking."
Is it?
I mean, was it natural to give up a seat for the elderly? If so, why wasn't he getting up?
And is it really a stupid way of thinking, when such thoughts were imbedded in our mind at such a young age?
We were taught that the prioritized seats were for the elderly and handicapped. And if there was a pregnant lady it was only right to give up your seat and allow her to sit.
It was right because society said so.
Could one single kid rewrite the teachings of society?
No, he couldn't. He could not rewrite what was already there. Humans were naturally selfish. Kindness was only taught to balance it out.
"I am a healthy young man. Certainly, I don't feel that standing up would inconvenience me. However, it is obvious that standing up will consume more physical strength than sitting down will. I don't want to do such a useless thing. Or maybe, you're telling me to be more lively and energetic."
"What, what type of attitude is that towards your superiors!"
Superiors?
That's funny.
"It's obvious that both you and the old woman have lived longer than me. There's no doubt about it. However, that 'above' refers to height. Also, I have a problem with you. Even if there is a difference in age, isn't that an awfully rude and impertinent attitude?"
"Wha…! You're a high school student!? Honestly, just listen to what adults say!"
The women's voice got louder and more emotional the longer their conversation continued.
And just when you thought it was over. Someone else had spoken up and wanted to play hero.
"Um... I also think that the lady is right."
A girl with shoulder-length beige hair and a headband on her head had intervened. She wore a red school uniform adorned with golden linings and a dark red ribbon above her chest. That matched well with her large crimson red-colored eyes.
She was also a high school student and her name was, Kikyo Kushida.
"This time it's a pretty girl, apparently I have luck with women today."
And if I remember correctly his name was Rokusuke Kōenji.
Soon-to-be students of class 1-D of the Advanced Nurturing Highschool.
An egotist and an antagonist. They had more in common than they would think.
"Grandmother, it looks like it's been hot for a while now. Won't you give up your seat? It may be none of your concern but I think it will contribute to society."
Society, see? What did I say? One had to be a good Samaritan. So society as planned, could continue to flourish in one direction.
Conspiracy theories is what they would say. That my thinking is highly flawed and maybe it was.
Maybe, it is.
But what did it matter? I was now living inside a novel.
Rokusuke Kōenji snapped his fingers. "Social contribution? I see, that's an interesting way to put it. Giving seats to the elderly may be a way of contributing to society. Unfortunately, I am not interested in contributing to society. I only think about my own satisfaction. Oh, and also. In this crowded bus, you're asking me, who's sitting on the priority to give up my seat, but can't you ask the other people who are staying silent and leave me alone If someone truly cares for the elderly, I think that 'priority seat here, priority seat there would be a trivial matter."
He made a good point but Kikyo Kushida was not backing down. She made the old ladies discomfort her entire business.
She looked around at everyone on the bus. "Everyone. Please listen to me for at least a little bit. Can anyone give their seat to the old woman. Please, anyone?"
She is so passionate and determined to help those in need.
To help the old lady feel comfortable on the ride to her destination.
So dedicated to the cause and for what? Just to get a couple of compliments in return?
Smart...
I should give credit when it's due. She was very smart.
Purposely planting seeds of goodwill in the back of everyone's mind. Building a nice reputation just from this situation alone. All the students on the bus that would be going to the same school as her could see just how caring and good-hearted she was.
After seeing this how could you not like her? She seemed to genuinely be concerned about the old lady's health while no one else did. Not a single one.
With a single look around you could see everything. No one wanted to give up a seat. They either held a hesitant look or just shamelessly pretended to not have noticed the commotion.
But the girl who was across from me and the boy next to her was completely different.
Among the confusion, they both shared a small glance of indifference with one another and remained seated in their spots. It was clear that the idea of giving up their seats for the old women did not cross their minds at all.
They shared the same thoughts as everyone else on the bus but the difference was that they were upfront about it. They didn't pretend to not have heard everything and they did not hesitate to stand by what they felt.
There was no guilt or sympathy in their eyes just indifference.
And I was the same because all of our eyes met for just a brief moment. And we could all tell that neither one of us was going to give their seat up.
Very soon out of guilt a woman had stood up and gave up her seat for the elderly woman.
"Thank you!"
Kikyo Kushida lowered her head with a full smile, quickly pushed through the crowd, and guided the old woman to the empty seat.
She thanked Kikyo Kushida over and over again and then sat down.
All's well that ends well.
The women contributed to society, Rokusuke Kōenji kept his seat, and the old lady got to sit down.
And the cost of it all was my sleep. If anything I'm even more tired now. I yawned and proceeded to rest my eyes this time in hopes that my tiredness would ease up soon.
Time passed by and the bus soon arrived at the destination and stopped in front of the school.
Koudo Ikusei High School.
A school created by the Japanese government that aims to nurture young people to support the future.
All the boys and girls in uniform steadily got off the bus and passed through the gate while I slowly followed after. I stood in front of the gate made of natural stone and silently took everything in.
I was now in a novel and the plot of the story would now begin. If I could survive at least for a year here I'd be good.
I took a deep breath in then exhaled. I can do this.
I will do this...
"Wait a second!"