Around 8 a.m., Aikura Ai was on the subway heading to school, as usual.
Aikura Ai was an ordinary girl. Her grades were slightly above average, her athletic abilities neither outstanding nor poor, and her style was nothing particularly remarkable. Although older people often told her she was very pretty, no boy had ever confessed to her. Maybe it had something to do with her overly introverted personality, she thought. Though she didn't care much about these things, she still felt a slight pang of regret.
If she were in a regular public high school, a girl like her might stand out, but in the prestigious private school she attended, she seemed quite ordinary. Most students at her school came from wealthy families or had family members in politics. A few came from regular backgrounds and were there solely based on their academic ability. Typically, this group was labeled as "bookworms," and she was part of it.
She had originally planned to attend a regular high school and hadn't considered a prestigious one. However, her parents had high expectations, and after many meetings and dinners hosted by her father, she was finally accepted.
Thinking about how fortunate she was to attend such a school, she often comforted herself by saying that as long as she could get into a top university, it would be fine.
She had a close friend named Hasegawa Aiko. She wasn't jealous of her friend, but she did admire her deeply. Outgoing and cheerful, Aiko was popular, cute, and came from a good family. No matter where she was, she was always the center of attention. Every Valentine's Day, she'd receive countless chocolates, and her admirers were endless. Girls like her, Ai thought, were blessed by God.
For someone as plain and introverted as herself, having such an outstanding friend already felt like good fortune. Yet sometimes, Aiko's radiant charm made Ai feel an uncomfortable heat she couldn't quite adapt to.
Ugh, so many people every day. Ai was jostled to the side by a crowd boarding the train. The train was moving slowly, and thinking of the English test that morning, she took out her textbook and quietly reviewed vocabulary.
After a short while, someone brushed up against her, pressing close to her back. Uncomfortable with someone standing so close, Ai stepped forward to create some space. But the person immediately moved closer again, and this time, she felt a hand on her hip, lightly grasping her.
Oh no, it's a subway groper. Ai was both shocked and scared. She took another step forward, trying to put distance between them. But the man immediately followed, pressing even closer.
Ai, feeling panicked, tried to step forward again, but accidentally stepped on another man's foot. He yelled, "Are you blind?"
"I-I'm sorry," she stammered, frightened.
Hearing the commotion, people glanced over briefly before looking away with indifference.
"Do you know how expensive my shoes are? Look at that footprint—you did this, you careless little brat!" the man continued to yell.
"I'm so sorry, I really am…" Ai kept apologizing, bowing over and over to beg his forgiveness.
Seeing her on the verge of tears, the middle-aged man felt a twisted satisfaction.
"Forget it. Just be more careful next time," he said, waving dismissively.
The small incident soon ended, and the carriage quickly returned to calm.
But no sooner had things settled than the groper was back, brazenly touching her again.
This time, Ai, afraid of stepping on anyone, didn't dare move.
"Please… don't do this," she whispered, pleading.
The groper, hearing her, not only didn't stop but intensified, slipping a hand around her waist, moving slowly toward her chest.
"No… please…" Ai whispered, starting to cry, biting her lip hard to avoid making a sound.
The man showed no intention of stopping, feeling emboldened by her silence. Just then, he grabbed her hand and yanked her sideways. Startled, she looked up, wondering what he intended to do next.
At that moment, she saw something incredible.
The person who had pulled her away wasn't the groper but a young boy. Before she could react, he raised his leg and kicked the man behind her squarely, causing him to fall to the floor with a groan of pain.
Ai stood there, completely stunned and unsure of what to do.
Everyone around stared, but no one dared to speak.
"W-Why did you kick me?" After a moment, the man, clutching his abdomen, glared at the boy.
The boy looked at Ai, then coolly replied, "Sorry, my leg cramped."
Everyone in the carriage gaped at the boy. When they looked at the man, groaning on the floor with a pale face, many men around felt a sympathetic pang.
"You… you little brat! I won't let you get away with this! I'm going to…" The man, struggling to stand, spoke fiercely, but his posture, clutching himself, made him appear less threatening.
"Shut up. I can't guarantee my leg won't cramp again." The boy took a step forward.
The man immediately took two steps back, silenced.
But the boy didn't stop; instead, he walked further toward him.
"What… what are you doing? I'll call the police!" The man stammered, retreating.
People nearby, wanting to avoid trouble, kept their distance from both the man and the boy.
The boy stopped near the door as the train began to slow. Moments later, it came to a stop, and as the doors opened, the boy looked at the man and sneered, "What am I doing? Well, the train's stopping. I'm getting off, of course." Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he stepped up to the man and landed another kick to his groin, sending him flying backward.
"Trash," the boy muttered, striding out of the train as the man groaned and everyone else stared as if they'd seen a ghost.
Ai stood motionless, in shock. As the doors began to close, she finally bit her lip and dashed out.