Ch-3 First Friend

[Hikaru POV]

I stared at the paper that Mirai-san has given me. The one containing her contact information.

Looking back at her, she smiled openly towards me, showing just how grateful she was that I saved her.

But I had a question. A question that's been plaguing my mind since she thanked me.

Her method of acting... Her behaviour... The constant attention she gave to her stomach. It made me narrow my eyes in suspicion.

I had a theory as to why she was behaving like this, but I decided it wasn't my place to pry. It's her life and I have absolutely nothing to do with it.

"Thank you, Mirai-san. I'll be sure to call you if I get the chance." I smiled at the mature woman, who nodded her head while smiling sweetly at me.

It looked over her shoulder and noticed Rokusuke staring at my direction, looking keenly at my actions as a wide smirk took over his face. With a proud glint in his eyes, he chuckled and looked away from us.

I really don't get him. At all.

Eventually, the bus came to a stop as we had finally arrived at our destination. Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School.

"Goodbye, Mirai-san. It's been nice to talk to you." I bowed me head respectfully while saying this.

My parents have taught me to be respectful towards my elders, though even that has some limitations. My mom specifically told me to not always be generous to elders because there are people that you just need to be wary of. But Mirai-san was not one of those people and I liked her.

"Of course. Goodbye, Kazuki-kun. I hope you enjoy your life in your new school. You too, Kushida-chan." She wished us both goodbye, making the bubbly beige girl glow brightly.

"Goodbye, Mirai-san!" She exclaimed.

The two of us the left the bus, stepping out onto the paved floor as the bus doors closed behind us and drove off into the distance.

"Do you want to walk with me to class, Kazuki-kun ? We're both in the same class, after all." Kushida kindly offered, smiling pleasantly to appear as appealing as possible to the eye of the beholder.

And who am I to refuse such a wonderful offer ?

"Of course. Let's go."

And with that, my new life in this school begins now. Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. A school boasting a guaranteed employment rate of 100% for all its graduates. I expect nothing less than the best!

...Is what I would have said, if I was an idiot. But I know better than to hold any expectations. After all, I can always be impressed by things, but I can't believe disappointed by something if I've never had any expectations for it.

Well, nevertheless. This is it. The time has finally come. My new high school life begins now!

"Wait!" I heard a feminine voice calling out for someone nearby.

Is she perhaps talking to me ?

Turning around, I couldn't see anyone around who could've called me. That's when my gaze landed on two specific students.

One was a boy of similar height to me, dare I'd say around an inch shorter. He had brown hair and a lifeless pair of eyes devoid of any humanity. At least from my point of view. His face remained unchanging. I noticed his existence on the bus earlier, and his face always stayed the same, never changing.

He has very strange eyes. Strange indeed...

And then, there's a girl staring right at him with a stern, but almost judgmental expression. She was much shorter than him, having long raven black hair with one braid tied with a pink bow and red gradient eyes.

Upon seeing her, I noticed from the corner of my eye, Kushida flinching. But the beige haired girl quickly composed herself and wore a proper smile like she always did.

That's weird.

Did they know each other ?

"You were looking at me earlier. Why ?" She asked the young male.

"Sorry. I was just a little interested. Whatever the reason, you didn't seem to have any thoughts about giving up your seat to the old woman."

"Yeah, yeah. I didn't want to give up my seat. So what ?" She was firm in her words, demanding an proper answer for her earlier question.

"No, it's just that I had the same thought as you. I also didn't have any intentions on giving up my seat. I like staying out of trouble. I prefer to let the sleeping dogs lie."

"Stay out of trouble ? Don't compare me to you. I didn't give up my seat because I didn't feel like giving my seat up to an old woman."

"Doesn't that make you worse than him ?" I decided to butt in and ask her. It was certainly rude of me to trespass into their conversation, but it didn't seem like it was going anywhere.

At first glance, you can easily tell this guy is not experienced enough socially to handle such a woman. And the woman in question was wasting everyone's time for no reason at all. So what if he was looking at you ? It's not like he was being creepy or anything. I don't see the point behind this confrontation.

"Perhaps. But I'm simply acting based on my beliefs. It's different from people like him who want to avoid trouble. I'm nothing like him. Also..." The girl then set her sights on me, her sharp eyes entrancing me and focusing entirely onto my figure.

"Aren't you the one who gave up your seat ? Why would you do that ? There was no merit in doing such a thing." Huh ? What was she on about ? Merit ? Did I need to benifit from giving up my seat ? Is that what she's implying ?

If so, then she definitely needs a reality check.

________________________________________________

[Ayanokouji's POV]

Before I could go on my way to school, I was intercepted by the girl from the bus I was looking at earlier, demanding an answer as to why I was staring at her.

"Stay out of trouble ? Don't compare me to you. I didn't give up my seat because I didn't feel like giving my seat up to an old woman."

Those were her firm words.

"Doesn't that make you worse than him ?" A new voice interjected.

It was the boy from the bus, who gave up his seat for the old woman. I couldn't get a good look at him then, but now I definitely did.

He was a tall boy with long, glossy dark hair that glinted in the sunlight like a starry night. Beautiful blue eyes shimmering in the sun like the calming oceans.

At first glance, he appeared delicate. But upon closer inspection, you could see his broad shoulders. An expression of confidence adorned his face, an aura surrounding him. An unfamiliar feeling I didn't recognise.

His hypnotic smile showed off his pearly whites, glossy hair flowing gracefully with the wind. His poised expression caught the eye.

He was so beautiful you could mistake him for an illusion. A mirage. An image flickering on a screen.

I almost didn't notice the very cute girl standing next to him.

"Perhaps. But I'm simply acting based on my beliefs. It's different from people like him who want to avoid trouble. I'm nothing like him. Also... Aren't you the one who gave up your seat ? Why would you do that ? There was no merit in doing such a thing."

Her words were sharp, my attention shifted to the other boy. I wonder what his answer will be. I too, wondered why he did it.

He blinked twice, apparently not anticipating such a question. After a few seconds, he opened his mouth to answer her.

"I just felt like it."

Huh ?

"Felt like it ? What do you mean ?" She pressed on, demanding an elaboration.

Because he felt like it ?

That's his reason ?

"It is what I said it is! I did it because I felt like it! I can do whatever I want."

Whatever he wants...

Isn't that what I'm after too ? Freedom. If I'm free, I can do whatever I want, right ?

This boy seems like a very free spirited young man. Maybe I should become friends with him, hopefully understand things more.

"I see. So not only are you an idiot, you always have no self respect. What kind of moron would do that when there's clearly no merit in doing so ?" Where did she get that from ?

"Many people, actually, would share my sentiment. Also, I don't want to hear anything from a girl who thinks she stands above everyone else. Because guess what girlie, the world is a big place and you are not the best. And I don't even know where you got that last part from." The man nonchalantly said, uncaring of he effect his words had on her. Behind him, I noticed the girl stifling a laugh.

"What?! You have some nerve to say that to me!" She snapped at him.

But he didn't care.

He continued to stare at her like she meant nothing to him.

"Listen, lady. This whole thing is just pathetic, honestly. Yeah, he was looking at you. So what ? Nobody really cares. I don't think you should either. So why don't you stop wasting everyone's time and get going. We'll be late because of you." Ouch. He sure was harsh on her.

At the corner of my eye, I noticed the beige haired girl turning around and trembling a little, like she was trying to suppress something.

The girl in question looked at him with her mouth agape, unable to believe what she just her. But she was quick to compose herself. Her face was slightly red from anger and she glared holes into his skull.

She then walked away from here, not bothered to continue talking anymore. It seems his words were enough to make her leave.

"Hola! Mucho gusto, mi amigo!" (Hello! Nice to meet you, my friend!)

Hm ? He knows Spanish ? That was certainly a surprise.

I didn't expect a Japanese high school student to know how to speak Spanish. He seemed fluent in it too.

"Are you alright ?" He asked me, closing the distance between us greatly.

Each step reverberated in the air and his piercing eyes observed my body up and down. Was he checking me out ?

He then looked at my face and spoke up. "Hello, my blank faced amigo! Are you startled ? Confused ? You may have an unreadable expression but I know you're panicking inside. But I can't really blame you for it. She was definitely scared, that glare of hers was like that of a demon's. You don't seem that experienced socially, so I understand your difficulties."

How did he know about that ? He can tell what I'm thinking through my facial expression ? And how did he know about my socially ineptitude ? He's very perceptive. Is he a White Room student ? No. Not possible. If he was, then he wouldn't say that to my face. Was he just that perceptive ? Or was I just took obvious ?

"Hola ? Regresa a la realidad!"(Hello ? Return to reality!)

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked back at him. It seems I've made a huge blunder and went to deep into my thoughts. That's not good. Because of that, I've been silent this entire time and unable to answer anything he said.

"Do you have social anxiety ?" He asked, walking around me in a circle.

"Why aren't you talking ? You really have social anxiety ? Am I being too much for you to handle ? Is that it ? I know I can be quite extroverted." He said this and his face seemed to be one of concern.

"No, no." I said.

I realised that I had stayed silent for too long and he assumed I was to anxious to hold a conversation with him.

"I just don't have much experience interacting with other humans."

He stared at me with concerned eyes.

What's with that look ? Was it something I said ?

"So you really do have social anxiety. Well we can't have that!"

Where did he get that from ? Am I really so bad at socialising that the first person I meet was excessively cold towards me and the second thinks I have social anxiety ?

Actually, wait... Can't I use this as an excuse for my poor social skills ? I think I can.

"Don't worry, mi amigo! I'll be your first and best friend! After a long period of loneliness, I will make sure you get as many friends as possible! Mark my words."

Okay, hold on. Back up a little. He's a little too perceptive.

How'd he knows I have no other friends ? How did he know I was lonely for a long time ?

Also, how did I just make a friend ? A best friend, no less ? Is it really that simple ? I've barely said anything at all! Did I underestimate myself and my social skills ? Or is it because he is too friendly ?

"So then, my dear friend. What do they call you ?" He asked, his smile reaching the corner of his eyes.

"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, from Class D." He gasped when he heard that I was from Class D, before composing himself and grinning at me.

"Well isn't that convenient! Another classmate! That makes things so much easier for me."

...

What did he mean by that ? Make what easier ? What was he planning ?

"Oh wow, you're from Class D too?! This is great! I'm Kushida Kikyou, by the way!" The short beige haired girl, ran up to me and innocently introduced herself, her voice driven with raw emotion and compassion. It makes me wonder how they're able to be so emotional.

"Nice to meet you too, Kushida."

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself ?" I asked him, making him raise an eyebrow at me and stare in amusement.

"You overhead my conversation on the bus didn't you ? You should know it."

Yup. Way too perceptive.

Kazuki Hikaru is an interesting specimen indeed.

"Well, come on then. We need to go to the gymnasium for the entrance ceremony. I wish I could skip it though, since I know it's gonna be boring." Said Kazuki. He then looked at me and asked, "By the way, do you know Spanish ?"

That was a surprising question ?

"Huh ? Why do you ask ?"

"Well, I just have a feeling you could understand what I said. And I noticed the surprise on your face you heard me speaking Spanish."

If he's able to notice my expression change, then he'd definitely perceptive, more so than the average human. And his intuition is scary.

"Well, I do know some of it. But I'm not too fluent at it." I decided not to lie about it.

"You know, I have a feeling you're hiding something, but whatever! De ahora en adelante, hablaremos en español de vez en cuando para que los demás no puedan entender lo que estamos hablando." (From now on, we'll talk in Spanish every now and then so others can't tell what we're talking about.)

He's definitely fluent in it. I wonder where he learnt it from and why.

"I know you understood that, by the way." And he's seen through me again.