PDV Hishida

??? – Uuh, excuse me.

I woke up, thinking someone had spoken to me. I opened my eyes with some difficulty, trying to identify the person. But to my dismay, the words were not addressed to me.

I started to look around to find the source of the voice. Eventually, I became aware of my situation and what was really happening. I was on the bus, heading to my new school. I had planned to make the most of this unfortunate first day back to school by sleeping, to prepare for the tough day ahead. But thinking a girl had spoken to me (which wasn't the case), I woke up, much to my misfortune.

I wanted to sleep more, but I couldn't, as I wanted to know who had disturbed my deep sleep. I wanted to punish them with a loud growl.

The voice belonged to a girl. Since all the seats on the bus were taken, she was standing, facing the person she was really addressing. Beside her, there was an elderly lady, quite old, who seemed concerned by the girl's words. It seemed like the girl wanted to help the elderly lady, and the boy in front of her was there just to address the old woman's problem.

To identify the problem, you had to see where the boy was sitting. He was sitting in a priority seat.

The girl had noticed the old lady struggling to stay standing due to all the seats being occupied, and she asked the boy sitting in the priority seat to give it up. This "priority seat," according to her, was meant for disabled or elderly people who were tired of standing.

It was a logical situation. And to my great annoyance, I decided to listen to the somewhat mundane conversation.

??? – This is a priority seat, right?

She spoke in a shy and gentle tone to get the young boy's attention, but he didn't seem to pay any attention. The girl continued.

??? – You see, this old lady is getting a bit tired from standing, and she's been like this for hours. Could you please give up your seat?

She seemed to be a kind-hearted girl, appealing to the boy's emotions. She emphasized certain words to justify her request. It wasn't an order, but rather a way to make him feel pity in his heart. But his response surprised more than one person.

??? – Well, well, pretty girl! You're asking me to give up my seat for this old lady just because she's tired of standing? Well, that's an interesting point. What benefit would I get from giving up my seat? If I stand like her, I'll get tired too. It would be a waste of energy.

??? – But it would be a contribution to society. She's old and tired, can't you show some empathy?

??? – Contributing to society doesn't interest me! And it's true that I should show some respect because she's lived longer. But that's where it ends. Even though she's old, she's from a different era. Society doesn't need old people, it needs young people who will support the future. You want me to give up my seat just because I'm young? Isn't that a bit presumptuous?

His demeanor and words clearly reflected his egocentric nature. But from this point of view, I could understand him.

??? – But...

The girl tried to respond, but the elderly lady, who had been silent until then, interrupted her. The girl was disappointed to see her efforts go to waste, and the old lady felt guilty for putting herself in that situation.

Elderly lady – Don't worry, young girl. You've done enough. I'm already grateful for what you've done.

The old lady was already embarrassed by the situation, believing she was the main cause. She couldn't stand seeing the girl humiliated by the boy, so she decided not to escalate the problem.

??? – Hmm, I see there's still hope in this society. Well, anyway, you're pathetic, I'll help you. If it bothers you that I don't give up my seat, why don't you ask the other passengers? I'm not the only one on this bus.

Despite the old lady's efforts, the egocentric boy continued the conversation, which only made things worse for the girl. He ridiculed her even more, proving that her actions had an element of selfishness. But everyone knew that it wasn't selfishness. The real culprit in this story was chance.

If it had been someone else, the chances of them giving up their seat would have been much higher. Bad luck led this girl to ask the wrong guy, one with an extraordinary personality. You could tell from the start, based on his attire and the smirk on his face, that he was far from polite.

The girl knew it wasn't worth arguing with him any longer; it would only make things worse. She'd be digging herself into a deeper hole if she did. Given her situation, it made more sense to give up and avoid creating more problems.

She might ask someone else, but the atmosphere created by the young boy had made everyone around her reluctant to get involved. There was still a small chance, though, which I kept in the back of my mind.

The woman in office attire trembled slightly, as if she hesitated to take action.

A faint possibility...

As small as it was, there was still a chance no one would get up. The woman lowered her arm and decided to blend in with the crowd. As I said, people here didn't want to get involved in the problem.

As for me, if I had to do something, I would act. It would go against the principles I'd set for myself this year.

I didn't care about the current situation, but when a man has two choices in front of him, he must choose and take responsibility for the consequences. And I chose to help the elderly lady.

Hishida – Take my seat, I'm tired of seeing you stand.

The girl and the elderly woman stared at me, stunned by my nonchalance. They didn't understand the situation, and the heavy atmosphere was now replaced by an enigmatic vibe from my actions.

Hishida – Are you going to stay standing? I said I'll give you my seat. Hurry up.

Without a word, the elderly lady sat down and muttered a small "thank you," with the young girl following suit. The girl's face seemed to light up at my actions. She was quite pretty, and I wouldn't be surprised if I found out she was popular.

But from what I could tell about her, she was a kind-hearted girl.

??? – Thank you so much, I don't know how to thank you.

Hishida – Don't worry, I'm not asking for anything. I just want to be left alone.

??? – Ah, I see. But it's funny, we're in the same school.

She said this while pointing to my uniform. I didn't understand why she was steering the conversation in this direction when it should have been over. I decided to take it badly, just to get a clearer sense of how she was acting.

Hishida – Is there a problem with me being in the same school as you?

??? – No, no, it's just that I just noticed. Since we have the same uniform.

It clearly sounded unconvincing. When she mentioned we were in the same school, she had a surprised expression, as if this was a complete coincidence. But everyone here knows the bus is heading towards a school. In other words, she shouldn't have been surprised that a kid her age was attending the same school.

Theoretically, she was trying to start a conversation with me. That was her first instinct as soon as she saw me, and to do so, she quickly picked a subject. She noticed we had the same uniform, so she decided to bring it up.

If this theory is correct, we can conclude that she's trying to get something from me. Does she want to form a connection? Or does she want us to be friends?

For now, I prefer to wait. I won't get anything important out of this conversation.

Hishida – I see...

I took out my earbuds to listen to music. The young girl, seeing this, understood it was pointless to continue the conversation. She lowered her head, giving me a pitiful, puppy-dog look.

This started to pique my curiosity.

Through her bag, I could see a label on her notebook with her name written on it.

Her name was Kushida.

And with that expression, I couldn't understand why my refusal to engage in conversation had such an effect on her. Was she afraid of being alone?

Despite my questions, the bus finally stopped at its destination. I looked around and eventually saw the person I was looking for, holding the end of my sleeve. Kushida got off with all the other students, leaving me alone with this person.

Hishida – Did you sleep well, Tokito?

She nodded silently with her eyes barely open. She wiped her eyes to wake up a bit more, revealing her multicolored eyes.

Hishida – Put on the headband, no one can see your eyes until the presentation.

This was my prediction, based on the future behaviors of my classmates. I had taken into account the school rules and the fact that I was in class D with Tokito. I deduced that there would be a popular guy with a kind appearance but a dark past, who would ask the whole class to introduce themselves.

She put on the headband and quietly clung to my right arm.

Hishida – Is everything okay?

She nodded again. She gripped my arm tightly as if signaling that I should be cautious. I knew this kind of reaction. It meant she had noticed something, and there was a strong possibility that it wouldn't be pleasant.

Hishida – Well, let's go.

I started walking when a voice interrupted me.

???- Hey, you there.

I turn around before seeing a girl talking to me. She was standing behind me, looking down at me. She was also pretty, with long black hair, the color of a raven's feathers.

Hishida- Yes, is there a problem?

???- Earlier, you gave up your seat. Why?

She seemed curious about my actions. Apparently, my honorable gesture was seen as something strange to this young girl. I didn't know why she was asking me this question, but I could still make an idea of her personality.

Long black hair, a muscular build strong enough to deliver powerful blows, an arrogant and cold stare. Am I dealing with an ice queen?

Hishida- How would it help you to know that?

I preferred to keep my distance and adopted a cold and distant tone. I don't know what this girl thinks, but one thing tells me that talking to her would be very unpleasant.

???- Do I need a reason to ask this question?

Answering negatively by presenting a logical argument would only make the situation worse, in my opinion. Closing the conversation would be my priority.

Hishida- I just wanted to help. Is there a problem with that?

???- No, none. That's all I wanted to know.

Hishida- Anyway, you would have done the same thing, right?

???- Don't compare me to you! I didn't give up my seat because I simply didn't think it was necessary.

"Compare?"

She thinks she's superior to me? And her reasoning is worse than mine? She has a lot more to reproach herself for than I do.

???- If that's all you have to say, then goodbye.

Why do I feel like her "goodbye" means "farewell"? The fact that she says it politely makes me feel like she's giving me an order like:

Example: "Farewell, and never speak to me again."

That was clearly what she meant by her actions. She immediately walked off, casting a strange look at Tokito. She must have found it odd to see him with his eyes bandaged.

She walked off even more vigorously, as if nothing important had happened. I was still skeptical about this girl's behavior. It's not something you see often in a high school student. I saw her reading a book titled Crime and Punishment. I've heard of that book, and I think the author is Russian.

Anyway, I'm getting off track, but what I'm trying to say is that it's rare to see a teenager reading a book on a bus. In this day and age, it's more likely for them to be using a phone.

Despite this surprising encounter, Tokito and I continued walking towards our new school. I walked slowly so she could keep up with the pace. It felt like we were entering a small city. During my walk, I could see shops, cinemas, and many other surprising things. It didn't take long to find the apartments, nor the gym, which was where I had to go. All of this was incredible – a city so amazing where the only residents were students from this school. A feeling overwhelmed me, as if I was looking forward to something.

It was excitement.

The school seemed to offer a certain freedom to the students. Well, at least for the deserving ones. I doubt they would just hand that freedom to us for free. More freedom means more autonomy. And then I hadn't noticed before, but there are surprisingly many cameras.

Hishida- The school must be cautious.

Despite my distractions, I made my way to the gym, where the student council president would usually give a speech to the newcomers. This kind of ceremony was going to be boring for a lot of students. After all, many people think such things are unnecessary.

I was brought to the gym in under five minutes, and inside, I could see all four of the sophomore classes. I quickly lined up with Tokito, only to notice that the girl with the raven hair and Kushida were both in my class.

Kushida was talking to other people and seemed to be the center of the conversation.

Hishida- So, she's very sociable.

As for the girl with the raven hair, she was staring straight ahead. She seemed to ignore the world around her, her cold, piercing gaze giving the impression that she didn't think anything around her was worth her attention. She seemed more focused on something more important. But what?

From what I saw in her, this girl believes she's superior to everyone else. She didn't come here for no reason either, and I can easily conclude that she doesn't have many friends. An unpleasant image was forming around her, and I got the feeling she easily rejects any form of friendship.

Could you stop looking at me?

Akira- Huh?

If you don't want me to yell "Help, pervert, help", you'd better turn your unhealthy gaze away from me.

Akira- Don't jump to conclusions, please. Are we to deduce that a 3-second glance is enough to qualify me as a pervert?

???- Even if you looked at me for more than 3 seconds, I could still scream for help and shout in this gymnasium, where more than 160 students are gathered, just how much of a pervert you are!

Akira- And all this just for a glance?

I don't like being watched

Akira- Let's say you do, do you think this famous will have any impact on me?

???-In a gymnasium with more than 160 students, a girl yells "Help, pervert!" at a boy. This girl is very pretty and she claims that the boy is looking at her in a strange way. Who are you going to believe, this pretty girl or this ordinary-looking boy?

She clearly wanted to threaten me and to prove that what she's saying is not to be taken lightly, she exposes a reasoning that shows a certain social knowledge. From this point of view, she thinks she has the advantage. The fact that I'm a boy and she's a girl was enough for her to believe that she could threaten me.

So arrogant but so naive.

Akira- From this point of view, most people will be more on the side of the girl, even if some will have a small thought for the boy, because according to them a girl is more credible than a boy. They all consider that in society, between girls and boys, the man is the most perverted. In other words, you want me to understand that through this situation you have in your hands the school life of a young man, that at any moment you can make all the girls in this gym doubt just because you called me a pervert. Your goal through this action is to spread a rumor about me. These are your thoughts and your words, aren't they?

???-Exactly, you're quick to understand why you're unable to contradict me. The most logical choice is that when I told you it bothered me that you were looking at me, you should have apologized and looked the other way.

Akira- And you think it's going to work?

You said it yourself: the vast majority will believe me more than you.

Akira- In the short term, I can't deny it, but in the long term, have you thought about it?

What are you talking about?

Akira- After a month, do you think they'll have the same opinion?

She was silent for a moment, before resuming.

You think you're going to make up for it so that no one thinks you're a pervert anymore? That's completely idiotic.

Akira- You're dodging the question. I asked you what people think of me at the end of the month?

???- Je.....I didn't answer that question

Akira- Don't you want to answer that question? If you were sure of yourself and of your move you'd have known that the card you thought would work in the long term, i.e. everyone thinks I'm a pervert, actually works in the short term.

???-I never said that.

Akira- Stop lying, did you mean it? If I take into account how you reacted, you would have answered the question directly. But you hesitated and preferred to avoid the question. This proves to me that in your thoughts there was something contradictory that called into question your whole strategy of threatening me.

Stop pretending to read my mind. In reality, you have no arguments at all.

Akira- Really? At the end of the month, favors will be more for me than for you, only because people will realize what you really are, an arrogant girl who thinks she's better than everyone else, a first-rate pain in the ass.

???-No, you're wrong, you don't even know me.

Akira- Well then, let's do the test: if I'm right, either you're a total idiot or you're a liar because you knew perfectly well that I was right. Am I wrong?

She took a few steps back and started to tremble, which means I was right from A to Z.

??- I .... I

Akira- So I'm right, you're a huge liar.

???-No...I.... am not

Akira- So, do you think that a girl who calls me a pervert and threatens to destroy my school life has anything to say about it?

The more she backed away, the more we went to an isolated place. This girl acts out of logic and since I've countered all her arguments, she can't say anything anymore. And the more I continue, the more I increase my influence over her, but I have to wait for the right moment.

The moment when she's so broken I can make her an important pawn. Why did I choose her?

Because I'm looking to extend my influence, this girl is the president's sister, as I deduced?

A girl who looks straight ahead, in the gym, as if she's waiting for something to happen... She considers the world around her useless and that what's going to happen in front of her is more important... She has only one objective, that's why she's come, to see this man and join him at the top... A man who looks particularly like her... This man, it's her brother...

How did I get in touch with her brother? I saw his photo on the school website.

Akira- Stop lying, you lying bitch! I only looked at you for 3 seconds and that was enough to convince you to break a man's life. Your big brother would be disappointed to see that.

Three of my men have started to surround her, they're just going to humiliate her, with this photo she'll be my most loyal pawn.

While my men are doing this, I've placed one of them outside so that no one will come in.

Akira-I'm going to punish you Horikita, you can say goodbye to all your dignity.

Hishida- I'm not sure that dressing her up in a provocative outfit to humiliate her is a good idea, especially when the action is being filmed.

Akira-Uh ?

Who's that man behind me? How long has he been here?

Hishida- How did I get here is the question you're asking yourself? It's simple, I hid behind this piece of furniture before you even got here. You insulted this young girl by making her step back so you could take her to this secluded place. But you were so slow that I was able to sneak in unnoticed.

Akira-How did you know what I wanted to do? I didn't even get the outfit out!

Hishida- I admit it wasn't easy to deduce your actions, but this is no time for reasoning.

Akira- How far did you go in your deduction?

Hishida- I'm not going to tell you anything, there's no point in making me admit it, because I only keep this information for my allies.

Many people would have said that he's lying and that he's found this excuse to hide the fact that he doesn't know anything, but his words seem calculated and he has a certain self-confidence.

His phone vibrated, as if to indicate that he'd received a message.

Hishida- Oh, it's okay. She's there.

He showed us his phone, revealing a photo of a door.

Hishida-This door leads to the teachers' lounge. You've got one minute to get out of here before my sister calls the teachers.

Akira-Is this a threat or a lie? because nothing tells me that this door is the teachers' lounge. And in my opinion, this famous lounge is in the main building.

Hishida -Do you want to bet that in a minute the teachers will arrive? In the meantime, do what you want with this girl, it'll probably be your last day at this school.

Silence settled in. It's impossible to read him. His face is far too stoic. But I'm the only one who can see it.

He's clever

By saying that we're going to bet that in 1 minute the teachers will arrive, he wants to stress us out so that our decision-making abilities are affected. In other words, he wants us to believe that we have one minute to think and that we need to make a quick decision.

Since I can't tell if he's lying or not, he's directing me towards a single, logical decision.

Akira- Guys, let's stop here.

He knows I can't take the risk. I don't know if he's telling the truth, and as I said, I know he's clever. If he'd been lying, he'd have used a different strategy in front of me. But since I've got nothing conclusive, it's better to leave.

End of the chapter