Fate is an intangible force that compels you to wonder about the meaning of life. Is it mine, or are the events that are occurring around me premeditated? Is it just a force that will lead us to the planned ending?
I, currently named Yuki Aki, am still finding answers for such questions. Am I just one of many that are getting swept by the flow of the river of fate?
Looking at the clear blue skies covered by trees, I can't help but question the meaning of life that has birthed me and the second chance that I have been bestowed.
Slightly shivering from the coming autumn, I buttoned my jacket, covering my school uniform inside, only having the crimson uniform below the jacket and my white collar peeking out.
[The bus for Tokyo Metropolitan is now arriving; passengers, please prepare to board the vehicle.]
Hearing the Siri-like voice from the speakers, I started walking towards the bus stop to arrive at my next battlefield. Boarding the vehicle, my eyes sweep for any seat, sitting down as it is still early and there are still enough seats.
[The vehicle will now depart for Tokyo.]
*Yawn*
Closing my eyes, I decided to take a nap, as the ride from Kawagoe to Tokyo will take an hour of travel.
[Line Break]
"P- Please—!"
Waking from my nap, I heard someone shouting to my left, slowly opening my eyes to observe what was happening. I was met with people arguing about a seat.
An old woman standing in front of me looking like she's about to fall from the shaking of the bus. The poor old woman is bound to stand the whole way until her destination if no one gives her a seat, and looking at her knees, she'll soon fall from how she's already shaking with her old bones.
Staring at the scene unfolding in front of my eyes, I can't help but curse inside at how unconcerned most of the passengers inside the bus are; aside from a peanut-haired girl who continues to find any passengers that can lend a seat for the clearly old woman, nobody seems willing to give up their seat for the elderly.
"Can anyone please give a seat for Bachan here?" Looking distressed, she once again asked while looking at the passengers.
Standing up, I garnered the attention of the people arguing and the concerned spectators inside the bus.
Speaking up, I looked to the girl and the old woman. "Please, you can take my seat, bachan," I kindly said with a smile.
Slowly vacating my seat and assisting the old woman in taking a seat, I can't help but ponder on the reason why these people were arguing earlier about something so small. Such trifling matters – if only they knew the looming dangers that are around them, I bet they'd do much more inconsiderate actions when the chaos finally erupts.
What happened to this world? They can't even respect the elderly enough to give up a seat. What a bunch of selfish pricks. Sighing inside, I can't help but have a double take about this world. Are these mortals even worthy of salvation?
The old woman now seated smiled kindly at me and thanked me, and I just responded with the same smile towards her.
Now that the small matter is concluded, I positioned myself standing where I can put my hand on the bus grab handle for safety, as even though the road is smooth, one can't be too cautious lest something unfortunate happen.
"H-Hey!"
Looking at my side, I was met with the girl I heard earlier waking me from my nap. She looks the same age as me, and she has the looks of someone who can be considered highly attractive, sporting short beige-coloured hair paired with lustrous crimson eyes and a very endowed figure and average height.
"Thank you for giving the seat to the old woman. I'm starting to have a hard time trying to persuade others to let Bachan have a seat." Smiling radiantly, she thanked me with a bow.
Looking at her peanut-coloured hair first, my eyes inadvertently graze her blessed breast. Just like Sir Isaac once said, 'The greater the mass, the greater the force of attraction' – truly one of the greatest pioneers of great knowledge.
Smiling wryly inside at my messed-up humour, but outwardly giving a pleasant smile, I respond to her.
"It's fine; I'm sure others will eventually give their seat with your persuasion. I just volunteered to give mine first."
Staring intently at my face for quite a while, she then shook her head, changing the subject.
"Are you also attending Sakura Tokyo Nurturing School?" Looking at my collar and the shirt that peeked out of my jacket, she asks.
Also looking at her similar uniform to mine, I nodded.
"Yes, I suppose so."
Smiling sheepishly, looking like she forgot something, she bonked her head with her left fist, tilting her head sideways, looking cute.
"I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Kikyo Kushida.dumb of me to forget. I am a first-year high school student at Sakura Tokyo Nurturing School, the same as you."
Smiling, she gave me a cutesy salute. Now identified as Kikyo Kushida, she expectantly looks at me, waiting for my introduction. She then reaches her hand for a handshake.
Responding in kind with less vigour than her, I introduced myself.
"Nice to meet you, Kikyo Kushida. My name is Yuki Aki. Same as you, I will be attending Tokyo Sakura Tokyo Nurturing School as well."
I also reached out my hand for a handshake, giving a gentle smile towards the bubble of energy in front of me.
Still holding my hand, Kikyo Kushida's face started to flush red for a reason unknown to me.
Still sporting a flushed face looking at me, she then asks in a slightly lowered voice.
"Can I call you Aki-kun? You can also call me Kushida."
With a composed face and gentle smile, I respond,
"Sure, Kushida-san."
Oblivious to why she's acting strangely, I agreed, as there's no reason not to. Though a bit out of nowhere since we've just met, I paid it no mind, as it's not unheard of.
"T-then please take care of me, Aki-kun!"
She then said in a slightly high voice, garnering the attention of the passengers of the bus.
"Go get him, girl!" yelleda middle school girl.
"Ah, to be young," whispered by a middle-aged office man.
"Take care of her, young man," said the bachan to whom I had given my seat earlier with a grandmotherly smile.
Like a startled cat, Kushida-san pulled her hand, and the flushed face earlier rose until the tip of her ears. Noticing what's happening, and like an enlightened monk, I finally pieced the puzzle.
Is it because of my looks? Standing at 6 feet and 5 inches, I look tall, looking quite intimidating to some due to my height, topped with my snow-white hair, sword-like eyebrows, deep sapphire eyes, clean and chiselled face, well-defined muscles, and 8-pack abs that hide underneath the clothes that I currently wear.
I looked handsome if I say so myself. I always received a locker full of love letters back in my middle school, so there's also that.
Ignoring the onlookers, I whispered to Kushida-san.
"We should tone it down a little bit, as it's causing a small commotion."
With still a little bit of redness on her face, she nodded and took a deep breath, further emphasising her massive assets, and then gradually the flush in her face started to recede, and her face started to go back to normal.
"Ne ne, Aki-kun~ What's your favourite animal? Mine are dogs; they are just adorable!" Kushida suddenly bounced back with an ebullient question with her distinctive smiling face.
Remembering a distant memory, my eyes clouded a bit, and with a reminiscent smile, I answered, "I love cats, especially the Birman."
Kushida then continued to ask me peculiar and interesting questions that I answered all promptly with a practised smile whilst also asking some questions that came to mind.
We continued our conversation but in a considerably low voice, enough for us to hear each other but not loud enough for others to complain, as there are also other students that looked like they were fed cat food watching both Kushida-san and me interact with each other.
[Next stop: Higashi Ikebukuro]
My instinct, honed from countless battles, slightly blares as I detect incoming trouble.
Whilst still listening to Kushida-san narrate some of her middle school exploits, I paid attention to the door, looking at the people coming and getting off the bus. I spotted a group that just boarded the bus looking suspicious.
Still paying attention to the group, I saw them quickly put on a black robber mask on their head as they pulled out their guns from inside their bags.
With a gunshot, one of the masked robbers yelled towards the passengers,
"Raise your hands in the air!"