Chapter 1 – Part 1
"Sayuri, are you awake?"
She arrived. Again. The presence I had anticipated.
I was pretending to sleep in my seat on the train, and she appeared. She wasn't exactly a threat, but she was persistent enough to force me to open my eyes.
In my head, endless calculations and probabilities kicked in: how much I could ignore her, how much I could manipulate the situation to stay in control. Even with my eyes closed, I could sense her firmness beside me.
Initial strategy: ignore. I mentally named my method "fake sleep." I hoped that if she was reasonable, she would settle for a couple of warnings without getting too involved.
"If you don't wake up in three seconds, you'll face consequences."
Three seconds. Too short a time for my mind to rationalize alternatives. And yet, I didn't lift my head. The threat was so direct that I had to admit, albeit only mentally, that the situation was escalating faster than expected.
"As I expected... you were awake."
Her tone wasn't aggressive, but it was enough to remind me that I had to act. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye: long black hair, sharp eyes that revealed no emotion. Kaori Hasegawa, my future ally and strategic companion at this school. Her presence alone forced anyone to reconsider their actions.
"So what do you want me to do?" I asked, weighing every word, every gesture. "I probably already know what you're going to say."
"I'm going to accompany you. And if you try to ignore me, you'll be in trouble."
Trouble. The word wasn't enough to intimidate me... but it was enough to force me to plan my next move carefully.
Two months ago, at the entrance ceremony, it all began.
The train was crowded, and the cold wind blowing through the windows did not help my patience. Most of the passengers were students in uniform, and I watched their every move, every reaction, calculating the probabilities of social interaction and conflict.
An elderly woman was staggering in front of me. I could have intervened, but it wasn't necessary. Young people rarely considered external responsibilities. What mattered was observation: how others reacted, what decisions they made under minimal pressure.
Near the elderly woman, a blond student was arguing with an office worker over a priority seat. The scene seemed trivial, but it was perfect for analyzing human behavior: ego, morality, and logic in conflict.
I did nothing. I simply observed, crossing my arms, calculating that no one on that train would act rationally if social pressure was minimal.
"I think we should all listen a little," said a firm voice next to me.
I turned slightly. Kaori was standing there, completely expressionless. Her words were brief, but they conveyed determination and clarity. No unnecessary emotion, no hesitation. Perfect for an analysis of applied morality.
The train continued on its journey, and we finally arrived at our destination: Kurohana Academy.
Kurohana, a place designed to mold the future pillars of society.
As I got off, Kaori stopped me with a firm gesture:
"Sayuri, you looked at me just now. Why?"
"Simple curiosity," I replied coldly. "I noticed that you didn't give up your seat to the old woman either."
She studied me with that calculating calm that only the most attentive can maintain.
"Exactly. I didn't see the point in doing so. I act according to my own rules, not out of habit or social pressure."
I sighed. Finally, I understood that this girl was not an obstacle, but a strategic tool on my path. An ally. For now.
We walked to school together, side by side, without talking much, but with a tacit understanding: no one in this place would play fair, and survival depended on who knew how to observe and decide best.