The bus hummed along steadily, its rhythmic vibrations broken by the occasional groan of the engine. Aiden blinked, his attention pulled from his wandering thoughts by a sudden commotion.
"Excuse me, shouldn't you offer up your seat?"
Huh? Is someone gunning for my seat? I'll fight for it if I have to. Aiden tensed momentarily before realizing the question wasn't directed at him. His gaze shifted toward the front of the bus, where a young, well-built blond man sat comfortably in one of the priority seats. He wore a confident smile, his body relaxed as though the world revolved around him.
Next to him, an elderly woman stood, looking unsteady on her feet, and beside her was a younger woman in office attire. It was the office lady who had spoken, her tone firm as she gestured toward the elderly woman.
"Hey, you there. Can't you see this elderly woman is having trouble?"
The young man tilted his head slightly, his confident smile unwavering. "That's a really crazy question, lady. Why should I offer up my seat? There's no reason for me to do so."
Seriously? All that muscle, and he can't even stand? What's the point of looking strong if you're too weak to show basic courtesy? Aiden's thoughts sharpened with irritation as he leaned back, watching the exchange unfold.
"You're sitting in a priority seat," the office lady continued, her voice rising slightly. "It's natural to offer those seats to the elderly."
"I don't understand," the blond man replied smoothly, his tone almost mocking. "Priority seats are just that—priority seats. I have no legal obligation to move. Since I'm currently occupying this seat, I should be the one to determine whether or not I move. Am I supposed to give up my seat just because I'm young? That reasoning is nonsense."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, grudgingly impressed by the blond man's eloquence even as he found the argument infuriating. Great logic. Still makes you a jerk. If you're so hung up on proving your point, just give the lady your seat first, then punch her in the face like Captain Marvel. You're both blond anyway.
The office lady's patience was clearly wearing thin. "You're healthy and young. Standing for a while wouldn't inconvenience you."
"Perhaps," the blond man said, shrugging slightly. "But why should I expend more energy just because of someone else's age? I don't intend to do such a pointless thing. Or are you suggesting I should act a bit livelier, perhaps?"
The woman sputtered, taken aback by his audacity. "Wh-what kind of attitude is that to take with your superiors?"
"Superiors?" The blond man smirked. "Well, that's debatable."
Before the argument could escalate further, Aiden stood up, stretching his arms lazily. "Excuse me, ma'am," he said, addressing the elderly woman with a charming smile. "You can take my seat."
The bus went silent for a moment as all eyes turned to him.
What the hell is with the staring? Isn't giving up your seat normal? Has society fallen this far?
The elderly woman's face lit up with gratitude as she shuffled toward him. "Thank you, my dear…"
The office lady smiled, lowering her head slightly in a gesture of appreciation before guiding the elderly woman to the now-vacant seat.
The elderly woman expressed her gratitude repeatedly before settling in. Aiden leaned against the pole, crossing his arms and observing the surroundings.
"Why did you decide to give up your seat? It wasn't even reserved for the elderly," a voice asked suddenly.
Aiden opened his eyes, surprised to find the elderly woman looking at him with a wry smile.
What kind of question is that? he wondered, but he decided to answer honestly.
"Huh? It's because I'm young and have no issues standing for a few hours. No big deal," he said casually, his tone polite but relaxed.
"I see," the elderly woman replied, her smile lingering in a way that made Aiden slightly uneasy. What's with the odd smile? Was she expecting some profound speech?
As the bus began crossing the long bridge to the island, Aiden's mind wandered. This island is supposed to be the last stop, and this bus is specifically dedicated to transferring students to the school. So what are all these salary workers and this old lady doing here? Are they working for the school? But if this is a closed island, why are they commuting with students? They should be staying at the campus.
His electric-blue eyes flicked open, scanning the bus. The elderly woman, wearing a thin sweater, seemed to have dozed off, her frail frame resting comfortably in her seat. Yet something about her seemed odd.
Her shoes and hair… They're completely dry. Not a drop of water, no dust or mud. Aiden frowned. It rained earlier, and bus stops are in the open. No way you stay that clean just by taking cover.
The salarymen scattered across the bus also caught his attention. I just saw a notepad in the hands of that office lady, and now another two workers are covering her, making it impossible to see what's in her hands. No angle reveals anything except from the top.
Something's off. Are they even real commuters? Or is this some kind of setup?
His gaze shifted to the office lady. She stood with her arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning the bus before closing as if resting. Her earlier confrontation replayed in his mind. Did she and the old lady know each other? Judging from the reflection in the car's side window, she was observing the students at the back and moving her hands as if writing something.
Aiden shook his head, trying to dismiss the unease settling in his chest. Uncle always said I overthink things. Maybe this is just nerves.
"Moshi moshi!"