The Mask Slips

"Nishida-kun, wake up."

"Come on Horikita-kun let him sleep. He barely gets any and you know it."

"I am aware of that, however, what I have to say is more important than his beauty sleep."

"Go away..." I murmured while readjusting my arms into a more comfortable position. I heard a scoff come from behind me and some movement.

"Fine, you asked for it."

"Uhh, I don't think that's a good id-"

KKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAA!!!

My eyes shot open and I let out a yelp as my body recoiled in response to the sharp pain coming from my side. I put on my glasses and turned around to glare at the person responsible for this.

It was Suzune Horikita, the incarnation of Lucifer himself (or in this case, herself).

"D-Did you stab me with your compass!?"

"It was just a little prick, no need to make such a big fuss over it," Horikita said with a slight smirk on her face.

"That wasn't just a 'prick' that was a stab! This classifies as bullying! I could report you to the school you know!"

"We both know you won't do that besides you have no evidence to prove that I was the culprit."

Shit. She's right. Although she sits directly behind me and is within stabbing range, that's not enough evidence.

"Kiyotaka, why didn't you stop her!?" I said while turning my head to look at my friend. Without saying anything, he rolled up his sleeve and presented his forearm to me. Multiple prick marks were scattered across his forearm.

Oh... that's understandable.

I turn my head back to Horikita with a glare that does not appear to affect her in the slightest.

"Now that you are conscious, may I have a moment of your time?"

"And if I refuse..."

"Although you have the right to veto such a decision, I would be very displeased."

She immediately followed up with "And when I'm displeased, then I will prove to be a major obstacle for your school life. Stabbing you with my mathematical compass is just the beginning, right Ayanokoji-kun?" Kiyotaka frantically nods his head.

"Is this about me agreeing to help you? I did agree but now I'm starting to have second thoughts, I-"

"Nishida-kun, are you going to make me force my hand? Because if I have to, it will be your responsibility."

Jeez, Horikita can be scary when she really wants to. Although making a deal with the devil always ends badly, I feel like I have no choice.

"Alright... what do you want me to do?"

Christ, why do I have to be in this abusive relationship with Horikita? This situation took a turn for the worst... but I thought back to when I met this girl two months ago.

~~~

Two Months Ago

I was sitting on a bus that was continuously being filled with highschool students. Kiyotaka and I were very lucky to find seats because the bus was already filled to the brim with students. Speaking of Kiyotaka, I look to my right to see him looking out the window and as if he sensed my look, he turns his head and looks right back at me. I smile and he nods his head before turning his head back to the window. This moment of peace, however, was annihilated.

"Uh, excuse me, but shouldn't you offer up your seat?"

I direct my attention to the front of the bus and soon realize someone is being scolded.

A young, well-built man who looked like a high schooler was sitting in one of the priority seats. There's also an old lady and what appears to be an office slave standing next to him.

"Young man, can't you see that this old lady is having trouble?" The office slave said.

"That's a really crazy question lady," The man said as he crossed his legs and shot the lady a grin.

"Why should I offer up my seat? There's no reason for me to do so."

"You're sitting in a priority seat. It's natural to offer up those seats to the elderly."

"I don't understand. Priority seats are just that: priority seats. I have no legal obligation to move. Since I'm currently occupying the seat, I should be the one who determines whether or not I move. Am I supposed to give up my seat because I'm young? HA! It's nonsense."

This guy does not speak like a normal high school student.

"I am a healthy young man. Certainly, I don't feel that standing up would inconvenience me. However, standing up will consume more physical strength than sitting down will. Doing something like that is pointless. Or maybe, are you telling me to be more lively and energetic?"

"Y-You brat! What kind of attitude is that towards your superiors?!"

"Superior? There's no doubt in my mind that both you and the old lady have lived longer than me. However, that 'above' refers to height. I also have a problem with you. Although there is a difference in age, isn't that an awfully rude and impertinent attitude?"

Wow, what a smug piece of shit but still, I agree with him. As soon as the moral dilemma is solved, the obligation to give up your seat disintegrates.

I start to ignore the ordeal because it started to give me a headache. I look to my left and I did a double-take. The girl that's sitting next to me has got to be one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen. There's no doubt in my mind that she's going to be popular with the guys. She looks like she came from the heavens.

I felt my cheeks heating up and I look away from her, if she spotted me staring at her she would probably think I'm a creep. I turn to look at her again and notice that she's reading "Crime and Punishment."

My eyes widen upon seeing this. This could be my chance to talk to her! I have already read that book, it's the perfect icebreaker!

"Oh wow, you're reading 'Crimes and Punishment.' You must like reading books. I also like books. That book is truly a masterpiece-"

"Not interested."

"Huh?"

"Did I stutter? I said I have no interest in talking to someone like you."

What's that supposed to mean?

"O-Okay then..." I say while looking away from her.

"I also saw you staring at me. I suggest you refrain from doing that again. Creep."

Damn. She saw that too? Great. I blew my one chance at becoming friends with this goddess.

"Um... I also think that the lady is right."

I look back to the front of the bus and see a pretty girl standing over the smug blondie. Judging from her uniform, it appears that she is a high schooler.

"This time it's a pretty girl. Looks like I have luck with women today."

"You should really give up your seat to this old lady. You'll be contributing to society."

"Heh. Contributing to society is an interesting way to put it. However, I have no interest in contributing to society."

I stopped listening because listening to that guy speak was starting to give me a headache. I look around to see if anyone is willing to give up their seat, and it seems like no one is willing to. Kiyotaka seems to be thinking the same thing because he was looking around before his eyes landed upon me.

I let out an annoyed sigh and stand up.

"You can have my seat."

Everyone turned their heads to look at me, which made me feel uncomfortable.

"Thank you so much!" The girl said with a smile. I walked to the front of the bus but before I could grab one of the hanging straps and look out the window, someone grabbed my hand. I turn my head and laid my eyes upon the cute girl that stood up to that blonde guy.

"You're a very nice person, you were the only one that was willing to give up your seat!" She said while gripping my hand tighter.

My heart started to beat faster as I looked into her bright eyes. This is the first time a girl has ever held my hand, a pretty one too! My headache went away immediately.

"Ah, it was nothing..." I said while awkwardly scratching the back of my head.

"Still it was nice of you to do that. My name is Kikyo Kushida, what's your name?"

"Um, my name is Akira Nishida."

"Nice to meet you Nishida-kun!"

"Likewise," I said.Though her smile felt forced, I could help but smile back. She looks adorable.

Kushida and I kept talking to each other, well mainly her. I just listened while adding a couple comments here and there, for a couple minutes before the bus finally came to a stop.

"Well bye, Nishida-kun it was nice talking to you! I look forward to seeing you at school!" Kushida said with a giggle before walking towards the stone gate.

She's actually looking forward to seeing me at school?

With that thought in my head, all I could do was sheepishly wave to her as she walked away. Students were still coming out of the bus, so I waited outside until I spotted Kiyotaka walking off the bus.

"You seem to be in a good mood. Did something happen between you and that girl?"

"She said she's looking forward to seeing me at school," I said with a smirk.

"Congratulations" was all Kiyotaka said before he started walking towards the stone gate, I let out a sigh before walking next to Kiyotaka.

Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. The high school created by the Japanese government with the purpose of developing future leaders. This would be my school from now on. Just as Kiyotaka and I were about to walk in, a familiar voice called out to us.

"Wait!"

It's the girl that I was sitting next to.

"You were looking at me. Why?"

I got nervous but I soon realized she was talking to Kiyotaka, practically ignoring my presence.

"Sorry. I was just looking around to see if anyone was willing to give up their seats."

"Well, your friend ended up giving up his seat." She said while turning her head towards me.

"I originally wasn't going to but I was beginning to get a bad headache so I gave it up."

"I doubt it being that bad of a headache because you immediately started talking to the annoying girl at the front of the bus. If you actually had one, you would have politely declined her conversation."

She's sharp.

"You also didn't want to give up your seat," I said, avoiding her accusation.

"Don't compare me to someone like you. I chose not to give up my seat because I thought it was pointless."

Huh? That wasn't my intention. Besides if I did, I would be in the right since I gave up my seat.

"I've already wasted enough time speaking to you two. I'm leaving." She said before walking to the school.

Well if you didn't talk to us then you wouldn't have wasted your time.

"Stuck-up bitch"

I look to Ayanokoji in frustration.

"Don't worry about it. She seems pretty smart so she will probably be in class A."

I couldn't help but agree with Kiyotaka because I also arrived at that conclusion. Despite acting like an arrogant bitch, her posture and the way she spoke, not to mention she was reading "Crimes and Punishment," gave me the impression that she was going to be placed in class A. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Well... are you ready?"

Kiyotaka nods and we both walk towards the school, ready to discover what living actually feels like.