April. The name April came from the Latin word aperire which means 'to open', just like flowers do in spring. It was a season of change. It was also the start of a new school year for students all over Japan. As for me, it marks the start of my journey as a high school student - puberty-driven anxiety creatures with a little bit of a dash of hormones, not to mention lust - lots of lust. At least that's what I've heard before, from somewhere. I'm sure cold-hard logic and common sense would prevail at the end of the day, right? Right?
In the time I looked idly out the far window, watching the shifting view of the dreary and corporate building design that seemingly blended together, the bus I was in had been gaining more and more passengers. Most of them are students, wearing the school's standard wine-colored blazers. Some, judging by their clothes and gloomy demeanors, are salary workers; the ones in recent years gaining traction known to be the type to have once mistakenly groped someone aboard whether it be a crowded bus or train. There are a few outliers here and there, one of them was an old poor lady, barely standing on her two fragile feet, the reason being she was unable to find a place to sit - caught in the infamous Japan rush hour, the same reason as to why I'm early. The early bird gets the worm and all that.
"Koji, hey, damn can this tin can go any faster? I swear my dead grandma could run faster. Woe is me, Indeed." My seat mate, the delinquent whom I've profusely ignored since getting together on the bus, breathes out a sigh. He continues, "Speaking of dead grandma-" I looked at him, shock in disbelief coloring my face while deep down trying to push down the ugly bile to chuckle.
"What?" he asked, showing no hints of regard for how society could shred him to pieces, as I looked around to find no one accusing me of being with someone with no tact or manners, well, yet. "Speaking of about-to-be-yeeted-one-wrong-brake-away grandma, better?" No, and it's not funny. Stop it other me! "Not playing the gallant hero?" Arms folded behind someone's backrest as the 'delinquent' pushes himself for a better view before leaning back on his chair beside the window with a smirk resting on his face. Matsuo Yuki is your textbook delinquent by the appearance of dark hair, sharp eyes, and mysterious gait to boot, making up a deadly combo for the untrained maiden's heart I'd imagined.
In the absence of speech, I looked back at him as he patted his school uniform, searching for something until the question solved itself as he asked, "Where's my smoke?" seemingly to no one in particular.
"You can't smoke." My potty mouth answered on its own.
"I can't? I mean, who the hell said I'm smoking?" Heaving a deep breath at his poor excuse of lying, if it can be called that, I edge to the end of my seat, putting some distance in fear of being seen as the same boat as the delinquent.
Eyes drooping low under invisible weights, I regressed back to my deep philosophical reflection of...anything really, as long it provides merits to humanity. After all, humanity's greatest achievements have been built by ideas and grandeur visions of philosophers and thinkers since the age when brawn were the chad lords and using brain were the virgin simps.
...I think the period of me placating to listen to the delinquent incessant rambling has bitten me in the rear in an unforeseen conceivable way; ruining my thesaurus to construe a critical analytical speech. I will rue the day when I blurted out the words: 'no cap', 'big brain', and worst of all 'fr fr'. I pray the day never arrives.
It was then I realized a pair of eyes were staring at me for some odd reason, a reason I soon realized was due to my weird sitting posture, making me closer to her side. A fact that disturbed her greatly by the crease of her eyebrow.
Pervert is the word that came to mind.
However, a voice interrupted before I could apologize.
"Excuse me, but shouldn't you politely offer your seat?"
I swear I'm not a pervert!
Thankfully I was not the person the voice had addressed, instead, tracking up to the front row, I found the voice belonged to a lady in her twenties neatly dressed in an office uniform; an office worker who was busy glaring pointedly at a bulky student, pride and superiority emanate from his very being with how relaxed and composed he's sitting...in the priority seat. I see. Ah, the poor lady was there too. So, it seems that the office lady wants the bulk-en-masse student to give up his seat for the elderly. Understandable.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Can't you see there's an elderly who's having trouble standing?" the office lady said, attracting the attention of the many passengers.
In a society that strictly emphasizes politeness and respect such as Japan, the normal response would be to accede to their demands and move on. So it's surprising to hear when one refuses to conform to the norm.
"I'm afraid you lost me, dear," the teen lackadaisically answered.
The teen then grinned broadly and crossed his legs, "Again, you lost me. For reasons that I can't comprehend, to 'give up' my seat." The word sounded alien to him.
"What," the lady pauses. "What do you mean by that? You're sitting in a priority seat; clue in its name, it means a seat prioritized to those who are elderly, disabled, or pregnant. Of course, you have to offer your seat to this elderly woman. And I'm not your dear."
"I don't understand. Your words elude me. Priority seats are just that: priority seats. I'm not bound under any legal obligation to move. Since I'm-" The teen taps his seat with a finger, elbows propped to his side on the seat, looking more comfortable than he already was, "-currently occupying this seat, It is I who decide whether should I move or not. Being young doesn't mean I should. Ha! Prospesterous." His voice betrayed the genial grin he had on his face. It's as if he's lecturing his lesser to think better which in turn frustrates the office lady to no end. His peculiar speech and hair-dyed blond that was slicked back, make him stand apart from the rest of the students. Who is this rude person seems to be the consensus of everyone's mind.
"I like this dude." Well, except the delinquent that is.
Before I could yet make another observation, the teen continued, "I am a hale and able body person who finds standing to be inconvenient. It would cost me stamina; stamina which I could use in school for the betterment of my being in pursuit of knowledge and maturity, ergo, contribute more to society."
"Co-contribution? What do you know about contribution when you're still a boy in school" she demanded.
"I won't deny nor disapprove her contribution to society, no. It's obvious to everyone present between me and this old woman, that she has lived longer than this 'boy' here." The blonde mocked. "However, let it be said that just because she's older doesn't mean she's entitled to this seat more than me. Speaking of age, aren't you the one being extremely rude, talking to your junior like that?"
Speechless, the lady proceeds to throw a tantrum, "Wha— you're just a boy who knows nothing about how the world functions if that's your kind of attitude. You should be quiet and listen to what adults tell you!"
Shaking his head, he swept back his hair while chuckling at a joke he only knew of, "Darling, you have no idea."
"It's fine, deary. No need to push this young man." the elderly woman gives her two cents about the situation, not to make more of a commotion and consoling the office lady at the same time. However, it didn't seem to quell the anger and humiliation dealt by the teen by the clench of her palm.
"Apparently, this elderly woman has the wisdom that you don't which I must say touched, makes me almost moved." Someone cackled. "Almost. In any case, fear not you elderly woman for I will bring a new shift to Japan paradigm in years to come. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely hope you find happiness and contentment."
After flashing what he believes is a dashing smile, the teen returns to his world; earphones slotted back as he slightly bobs to tune. Not that the issue was solved in any matter as the office office lady still stewed in her anger. Despite her effort to needle the teen by arguing further, his smug, self-important attitude remained fixed; like an immovable object.
In any case, even though both sides had presented their case, one in defiance of the norm and logic while the other true to the norm and sentimental-driven, I had to at least partially agree with the teen. He is right in the eyes of the law, in the eyes of others though? eyes of the masses? Well, we can already guess the answer to be.
Desperately fighting back her tears of frustration or anger, who knows, the office lady apologized to the elderly woman. "I'm sorry..." In spite of being a minor problem that probably happens more than people think.
Honestly, I'm just glad not caught up in the situation. I couldn't care less about giving up my seat for an elderly person, I was growing fond of it.
"What? that's it?" My seatmate protested, disappointed.
Shush you
After what clearly should've been the end of the commotion with the self-centered taking the victory, another person joins the fray.
"Um… I think that the pretty lady is right." A female high schooler offers a placating smile to the office lady, hoping to soothe her fellow female, which it did, and stands beside her - painting an image of defiance like the old tales of David and Goliath. Well, to me in particular.
"A new challenger has arrived and this time is a pretty mademoiselle. It would seem that I'm rather blessed when it comes to the fairer sex." the teen said, not bothered by the tune he was listening to in the slightest.
"The poor woman has suffered enough don't you think? And yet she didn't complain. We're just worried about her health. If you're saying what you are, shouldn't you offer her a seat? I think it would serve as a positive example to others too."
The boy snapped his fingers.
"Ah, appealing to my humble being, eh? A fine strategy, I'll give you that one. Then let me respond in kind, I have no interest in contributing to society. I care only for my own well-being. Oh, and one more thing, mademoiselle." I think I saw the girl flinched, disgusted? "You asked the wrong person you are, how about you ask the others? See, if they truly care for the elderly, then this would not be a trivial concern any longer, wouldn't you agree?"
Or in the words of Matsuo Yuki: absolutely no fucks given.
You had to give it to him, to say something outrageous; blasphemous even! Without fearing the repercussions. Either he's blind, dumb, and ignorant, or he's someone from a powerful family. I'm more inclined to believe the latter.
"Reminds me of certain someone." The delinquent whispered.
The teen's haughty attitude remained unchanged as both the office lady and the elderly woman simply wore bitter smiles at their savior's wasted effort. Dejected seems to be the last thing on her mind as the girl marches straight forward even when the situation seems bleak.
"Everyone, please hear me for a moment. Would anyone kindly give up their seat for this woman? Please! I beg of you!"
How could a person so much courage, determination, and compassion into so few words? Unbelievable. Here she was, a student like me and everyone on this bus and yet she had done more than all of us combined. How could you not be swayed and feel for her?
Not me.
I imagined should I just raised my hand the first time they asked for a spot, this matter would've settled instantly. Alas, I was late to do so, but now that the offer was up once more. It should fall to my responsibility to end this madness.
...Nevertheless, it saddens me how little value the rest of the passengers have for this poor old woman.
As I looked around, I found different responses and most of them fell into either: those who looked the other way; not acknowledging the problem, and those who looked willing yet hesitant, probably busy arguing in their minds. A poison to decisiveness.
The girl who I had yet apologized to seemed to be indifferent, closed to the outside world. Though not to be mistaken with confused, more like have chosen a side. She chose to not give her seat, knowingly and deliberately. Unintentionally, her gradient red met golden of mine, and in that second we knew what the other person's opinion.
Neither of us considered it necessary to give up our seat.
Well, that is if not for a certain delinquent jolts me out of my seat.
I looked at him and he looked back at me. In that brief moment, words could not express what and how I felt, looking at his dumb smiling face. Was it regret, was it anger, was it betrayal, or was it disappointment in myself to trust a delinquent, well, not to rebel?
"Thank you!" The voices were drowned by my feelings at the moment until the bright beige-haired girl came up to me, grabbing my hands in heartfelt gratitude to which you could only heave a sigh and accept whatever mess he had gotten me into. Well, on the bright side, I received another thank yous from all the relevant parties and an adorable smile. This should be, in game terms: raising a flag, right?
Could've been worse to start a morning.
***
And thus a good happy ending to everyone, sans me, to close as to what I called the 'bus event'. Soon, we arrived at our destination, and all the high school students began to disembark.
The second I stepped foot out of the bus, I was greeted by a massive wall made from natural rocks, though if you squint harder you'd find it was not, serving as a gate; the final line of declaration of your status as an official high school student of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. Or ANHS in short. According to their official website, ANHS is a government-funded school with a clear purpose of developing future leaders, exuberant by their slogan: TO BORN IS TO LEAD, an ink-like cursive Japanese calligraphy accompanied by a sun proudly displayed in silver on top of the school's entry. Turning many heads while some taking pictures under it before a security guard ushers them in. Teenagers will always be teenagers. Still. This is the place, the place where I will spend the next three years of my admittedly short life. Will it be memorable? Will it be fun? Will it be everything I hope and more?
Gathering the needed courage to fuel my step, I pressed forward-
"Hey, sleazy face!"
-Only to be stopped short by the girl from the bus. Wait, did she just call me-
"You were looking at me. Why?" she asked, eyes narrowed to my form, discerning something I hadn't a clue.
"Did you just call me-"
"Yes." She answered pointedly. It gives me a glimpse of her personality; the confrontational and no-nonsense type.
After deliberating hundreds of questions, I finally asked "But, why?"
"Do you want me to call you perv instead?"
I had almost forgotten in the excitement. Sexual harassment is no joke in Japan. I could've gotten kicked out just for that.
"No, and I'm sorry. I'd be thankful if you don't." I bowed immediately, not caring about the people nearby looking at me weirdly. I could already picture that guy having a kick seeing me escorted out of school on the first day.
"So?"
Elated that she didn't take offense, I answered, "Ah, I guess I was just interested, is all. I mean, you didn't think about giving up your seat to the old lady, did you?"
"You'd be right. I hadn't considered giving anything, even my seat. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Oh, no, not at all. I didn't intend to give up my seat, either." I said, putting my hands in my pocket. Just for the cool points.
"And yet, you did."
"And yet, I did." I sighed. Troubled by the fact that the delinquent action has put me in the temporary spotlight as it may give unnecessary thoughts to people.
"Hey Koji, I'll be going ahead. See ya around, driver." Said delinquent throwing out a wave in my general direction, not bothered by the glare I was giving him.
Withholding another sigh that threatened to break from my clenched teeth, I continued, "Well, like I said, I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of letting sleeping dogs lie. I'm a man not fond of trouble."
Returning a questioning gaze to me, she spoke bluntly, "What a load of crap. You speak like a true politician. My uncle was a politician and I loathe him. Well, for what's it worth, you and I are nothing alike. I held my ground in conviction. You are not. So perish the thought of befriending me. I would be repudiated to be associated with you."
Well, that wasrude, I thought to myself, incredulous at the blatant accusation.
"You're not good at this people thing are you?"
"I see no reason it's of your business. But no, hence why I warned you." At that, she brushed her hair and turned her back, leaving me at the foot of the stairs, back straight and striding confidently to school as if the conversation never took place.
"Somehow I had a feeling we would be getting along like oil and water." I muttered.
A future adversary gained, I proceeded to follow my fellow schoolmates.
Wait, I'm not sleazy am I?