The bus bumped along a cement road in the city streets. I, Ayanokoji
Kiyotaka, had just been picked up by the bus and was now being transported
to the Advanced Nurturing High school, the school where the supposed elites
of Japan come and study. Boasting state of the art facilities, highly advanced
course structures, and professional faculty and staff, this school was
considered the best school in Japan. Boasting a 100% acceptance rate to
colleges and work places, it fostered the elites who were accepted and
turned them into people who climbed the social ladder and functioned well.
I want to ask though: Is Society equal?
Everywhere you go, whether be it the internet or outside your favorite coffee
shop, you would hear about the fight for equality. People joining together to
fight for a world without unfair elements.
As a wise man once said, "Heaven does not create one person above or
below another." People like to throw these words around. That's not the
whole quote. It goes on to say that "... while we are all equal at birth, pretty
soon, things begin to change. Academic effort is what sets some people apart
to rise above the others.
At any rate, humans change over time based on their actions. Truth be told,
at the end of the day, equality is just a fantasy. And most of us go through life
denying the fact that we live in a meritocracy. But those people often do not
end up near the top. In my opinion, those who do not look into the truth, try
to discern the truth and the lies, those who do not do that, are the most
unsuccessful.
However, I have to wonder if those people are living a better life than the
elites. Living in bliss, not caring for the unfair acts committed around them.
???: Erm, could you please give up your seat, sir?
Oh shit. Was someone talking to me?
I looked around the bus after snapping out of my internet thoughts and saw
a girl wearing the same red uniform as I was standing down the bus from me.
She seemed to be speaking to a blonde boy also wearing our red uniform
who sat in the priority seats. Behind the blonde girl was an old woman who
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was supported by a cane.
???: Puhuhu, why would I strain myself to leave my seat? First come, first
serve is the rule, is it not?
???: Well I mean...you are in the priority seating after all. Don't you think you
should stand up for this sweet old woman?
Grannie: It's quite alright dear. I can stand just fine.
As she said that, the bus bumped on the road which jostled the old woman.
She would have fallen to the ground if the blonde girl with watermelons
didn't pick her up. Somehow I don't think she can stand just fine.
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???: My, my, you're a pretty girl. I understand that this is priority seating
honey, but there's no law forcing me to give it up. You think I should have to
stand up just because I'm still young? What a bunch of ageist-y nonsense.
Sure I'm younger than her, but standing uses way more energy than sitting.
Tell me, why must I sacrifice my health for this lady's sake?
???: Well for the greater good of humanity! You would be contributing to the
world if you just let this old woman have a seat, can't you see she's struggling
to stand upright?
The girl pointed to the condition of the old woman who was grabbing onto
her cane awkwardly and just trying to look away from the situation that
unfolded in front of her.
???: I have zero interest in contributing to the greater good. And anyway,
there are plenty of other jerks on this bus who could give up their seats.
Furthermore, I don't see much difference between a priority seat and a
regular one, so ask someone else to be a hero.
Grandma: To tell you the truth, you've already done enough! My stop is coming up soon anyways, I can stand to wait a while longer.
The girl gave the boy and the old woman a dissatisfied frown and looked over at the sprawling bus and she shouted.
???: Could anyone help this sweet old woman and give up their seats? Only for a little bit!
This is my chance, my butler Matsuo had taught me for months how to do this. I put as much fake emotion I could into my voice and pretended to be energetic as I spoke.
Kiyotaka: Over here! I can offer up my seat. Sorry for not noticing sooner...
I stood up from my seat and walked over to the smiling girl. I observed there bus and saw a look on relief spread over everyone's faces. I saw an office woman relax back into her seat like she was going to offer her seat up. I also noticed a black haired girl who was reading a book, Crime and Punishment. As I looked, she raised her eyes and noticed mine on her. She sent a menacing glare to me. I messed that up.
Grandma: Thank you so much for offering a seat! Here's some candy for your troubles.
She handed me some candy and I observed it in my hand. If I knew there was candy, I would have gotten up awhile ago.
???: Thank you so much for helping that old woman! It seems there are still good people in this world!
Kiyotaka: Anyone would have done it, I saw some people about to volunteer anyways. I'm just sorry I didn't notice any earlier.
Kushida: I'm Kushida Kikyo, from Class D! What class are you in?
She spoke like a kind schoolgirl, with a significant amount of bubbly energy radiating from her voice. She smiled brightly and if I had been an average teenage boy, I would have fallen to her charms. I noticed some of the males on the bus looking at her with hearts in their eyes. Something about her act didn't stick right with me; it was like some sort of energy I couldn't describe
teenage boy, I would have fallen to her charms. I noticed some of the males
on the bus looking at her with hearts in their eyes. Something about her act
didn't stick right with me; it was like some sort of energy I couldn't describe
was laced in her words. That's something to watch out for.
For now, I have to employ my skills. For an enriching high school life, I must
leave an impression, a positive one at that.
Kiyotaka: I'm Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, also from Class D. I hope we can get along!
I smiled as brightly as I could, a trick my caretaker Matsuo had taught me for
a "fulfilling experience." He also told me not to use this skill with I'll intent.
As I smiled, I saw Kushida's cheeks turn a bright pink, and so did some of the
women on the bus. All of their cheeks were pink and they were all looking at
me. Then it clicked, the reason Matsuo had told me not to use this skill evilly.
It seems I was attractive! How to use this power, I knew exactly how: To use it
for my own gain to rise into power. An ambitious goal, but once I had it in my
mind, I would never stop.
Kushida: Oh I'm glad! I want to make lots of new friends since the friends of
mine from my old school couldn't make it sadly. That's why I want to be
friends with everyone! It's my high school goal.
Kiyotaka: I also want to make a lot of friends here. Same as you, none of the
kids in my old school made it to here, but I hope to stay in touch with them.
But we will rob ably drift apart...
Kushida: It's the sad part of life, but I think life is meant to be happy and
enjoyed! That's the truth that we all need to realize!
Kiyotaka: Yeah!
Kushida: Oh, we're finally at the school!
The bus slowed to halt right outside a massive gate. Past the gate was the
sprawling campus with much to be explored, all of the state of the art
facilities just behind that wall.
The crowd began to file out of the bus and we all began to walk through the
large stone gates.
Kiyotaka: Woah, it's even bigger than in the pictures!
Kushida: I know, I never thought it would be this big!
As we were about to walk to the gates, a sudden voice cut through the happy
atmosphere.
???: Hold it!
We stopped for a moment and turned to where the voice had come from
behind us. There was the girl from the bus, the black haired one reading
Crime and Punishment. She had her hands on her hips and was staring
directly at me. I noticed Kushida from beside me looking away like she had
just seen a dead body.
Kiyotaka: Uhm, are you talking to me?
I pointed my finger around to myself as the black haired girl began to walk
over to us.
???: Yeah I was. You were looking at me on the bus, why were you?
Of course she like confront me. Undeniably, she thought I was a creep who
liked to grope woman and stalk them. She was pretty attractive, so she's
probably had to deal with creeps all the time.
Kiyotaka: Ohhh yeah. It was cause I looked over and was interested in the
book you were reading! It's a good book and I've read it before so I was just
fixated on it.
That should suffice for a good enough excuse. Now just let me begin my high
school life, I'm begging you.
???: I see. Well bye.
With our another word or care to give, she walked past me and Kushida and through the massive stone gates of the school.
Kiyotaka: Well, let's go!
I and Kushida began our walk into the school. This was the last time I would be in the outside world for the next three years due to this schools isolation policy. I breathed my last breath as a free man and stepped into tje confines of ANHS...
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