Youzitsu: To Protect Her Smile (Patreon)

Chapter 2: Honami Ichinose

"Hey, your bag." He tossed the checked messenger bag to me and lit a cigarette from his suit pocket, exhaling a thick puff of smoke in front of me.

"The school's official website specifically states that there will be a security check before enrollment. Why the extra step?" I casually took the bag, holding it in my hand.

"It's necessary. I don't fully trust you. Without a personal check, I wouldn't feel at ease. By the way, it seems like there's nothing decent in it this time."

"Did I bring anything decent before?"

"You know in your heart."

"Can I leave now?" I didn't intend to respond to his probing, just wanting to get away from him as soon as possible.

"You can— Wait, there's one more thing I forgot to mention."

"What?"

"Didn't I mention the class assignment to you before? Recently, I received a notification that you've been transferred from Class D to Class B."

"... How long ago was that?"

"Well, let me think... It was shortly after the entrance exam."

"Is there any significance to this?"

"No significance, just a new student was inserted into the class temporarily, that's all."

Is it really as he said? If so, why didn't he just enter Class B directly? That means there's a certain balance being maintained in the class assignments.

"Besides this, I don't have anything else to add." The man extinguished his cigarette and casually tossed it on the ground, kicking it a few times with his foot.

"You'll get fined for that." I made a half-hearted jab at him.

"I'll take care of it myself later. Well then, I wish you a safe journey."

"You should be saying that to yourself. After all, this trouble was caused by you, I'm just the one completing the mission."

"You're so heartless. I even came to see you off."

You just wanted to give me one last check.

Humans are beings who act with purpose, and no matter how small the action, it contains deeper meaning.

Ignoring his last farewell, I left my apartment straight away.

Although the man didn't allow me to personally investigate information about the school, he did provide some details.

Kōdo Ikusei High School

A national high school located in Tokyo, Japan, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and an almost 100% college acceptance rate.

The school's system is slightly unique, or rather, something that most schools wouldn't do.

【Stay continuously at Kōdo Ikusei High School for three years until graduation.】

I've heard of boarding schools, but most of them are for staying and studying from Monday to Friday, with weekends for going home and leisure. I never thought about a boarding school where contact with the outside world is prohibited for three years, except for special circumstances, even contact with family members is not allowed.

In summary, I'll be completely cut off from the outside world, like being in prison, for three years at that place. I didn't feel panicked about this, after all, I've spent more than three years in a similar situation.

It's just a change of scenery.

Additionally, this school only allows new students to bring items specified in the regulations.

In my backpack, aside from some necessary stationery, irrelevant books, and the required set of school uniforms, there's nothing else.

No bedding, household items, etc. If the school provides these, that would be ideal.

I strolled to the bus stop. It was early, and the bus I needed to take hadn't arrived yet, and the surroundings were quiet. Despite being spring, the street lacked any signs of life.

There were no people around, but there were three cameras installed in the corners.

As for blind spots... it should be at this spot.

I pretended to be a regular person waiting for the bus, while feeling annoyed and irritated, I paced back and forth between the blind spot and the surveillance area, taking out two items hidden under my tongue.

They were a mini bug and a mini monitor.

Different from the "mini" devices on the market, what I meant by mini was truly mini, the size of a small finger, no, not even the size of a fingernail.

After cleaning them, I stuck them under the metal zipper of my messenger bag. Although I didn't think a school would require me to use these, it's better to be cautious.

This year, the man had also begun to suspect my identity, leading to his recent actions. However, it was just suspicion, and he wouldn't ever know the truth. After all, those who knew the truth...

Bzzt bzzt—

The air compressor of the bus released a relaxed sigh as I boarded the bus to school. Apart from the regular passengers, there were no extra beings on board, as the stop I was at was the first station, the starting point of the route. Looking at the empty seats, I pondered in my mind and finally chose to sit in the third-to-last row by the window.

I chose this seat because the emergency hammer was nearby. One couldn't predict what accidents might happen during the journey.

After a rumbling sound, the bus started moving. I gazed out the window at the scenery, idle. If I remember correctly, this route to the school is quite long. Instead of waiting idly like this, it's better to take a nap.

With a serene mindset, I fell into a deep sleep amidst the bumpy ride.

Just kidding.

The nap didn't last long. Alert consciousness urged me to wake up quickly. I tried to force myself to succumb to the sudden desire, but unfortunately, I failed.

In the end, I could only reluctantly open my eyes.

More passengers boarded the bus, and the crowdedness inside was almost the same as during rush hour. Someone occupied the seat next to me, a girl with pink hair wearing a uniform. My first impression of her couldn't ignore the conspicuous feature that caught the attention of men.

She's at least a C cup, if not D or E.

"Oh, sorry, did I wake you up?" The girl stopped her actions of stuffing a book into her backpack, looking concerned. I observed carefully.

"No, I think I woke up naturally. I'm quite satisfied with my sleep quality last night, so I should have plenty of energy and wouldn't go into a long sleep." I explained to her with a hint of pride, though it didn't seem to impress her much.

"That's good. Speaking of which, I didn't sleep well last night because of the start of school. It's always a bit hard to fall asleep because of the excitement." She finished her task and continued chatting with me.

For students, the start of school does tend to make one's nerves excited. For example, unfinished homework assigned by teachers before the holiday, or the chance to start a new phase of life and set a fresh persona.

"Don't you have any thoughts about starting school?" She turned her face to me, continuing her questioning.

"Hmm, what do you mean?" I didn't quite catch her question for a moment. It seems like I forgot something.

"Aren't you a new student at Kōdo Ikusei High School like me?" She pointed at my clothes, and I looked down.

Right, I'm also a new student. I'll be starting a three-year study journey there.

"Sorry, I asked a stupid question. It's probably because I just woke up." I pretended to massage my temples, trying to clear my mind a bit.

"It happens, I also feel groggy when I wake up." She didn't mock my response, instead showing understanding.

For a moment, I felt the sensation of tenderness.

"Well, if you ask about feelings, I don't seem to have many feelings about it, just a very ordinary thing," I replied to her previous question.

"Very ordinary? Then it seems like I'm just overexcited," she said.

"These things vary from person to person, maybe it's just me," I responded.

"Well then— since we're both freshmen, let me introduce myself first. I'm Honami Ichinose, a new student in Class B of the first year. Nice to meet you!" Ichinose turned her face towards me and flashed a sweet smile, the kind that would make anyone's heart skip a beat.

At that moment, I could fully see her entire face. Her pupils were a clear sky blue, free from any impurities. At the same time, a sense of retreat emerged within me. It's not that I detested purity; rather, I detested the reflection of myself in those clear pupils.

That sinful image couldn't be erased no matter what.

However, come to think of it, where have I seen Ichinose before...?

My inner thoughts churned, but of course, I didn't show any of this on my face.

"I'm called Luo Mu. Please to meet you," I nodded and responded to her greeting.

"Luo Mu? Are you an exchange student?" Ichinose put her index finger on her tempting lips, her eyes a bit distant. She seemed to be pondering.

Ah, I feel like my heart is melting; she's too adorable, slightly breaking the rules.

"Ah, I'm not an exchange student, although I know my name does seem to lean towards other countries, but I'm really not an exchange student."

But I'm not sure where I'm from, probably from Huaxia...

As far back as I can remember, I've always been alone, living in a place filled with bloodshed. So I don't know who I am or where I belong.

"Hmm... then what class are you in, Luo Mu?"

"I'm also in Class B of the first year," I recalled his reminder before leaving.

"Are you also in Class B? That's great! I didn't expect to meet a classmate I'll be spending the next three years with on the bus," she said, looking very happy, grasping my forearm with her hand. I was startled by this sudden gesture, and at the moment her hand reached out, I felt the urge to retreat, but I forced myself to endure it.

Reflexes are truly terrifying.

She seemed to be very good at socializing. But speaking of which, the sentence she just said seems a bit misleading. With such an adorable appearance and saying such words, there's a feeling of confession.

Even though I know such a thing is absolutely impossible, I couldn't stop the fantasy from happening. If that were the case, would I feel happy?

I harbored this question from the bottom of my heart.

"I didn't expect it either," I echoed to avoid an abrupt end and leaving a bad impression.

"Hey hey, Luo Mu, which middle school did you attend before?"

"Um...," I awkwardly scratched the back of my head.

"Is there something inconvenient? If so, don't force yourself," she seemed to realize that she might have touched on a taboo, her eyes showing obvious apology.

Ah, she's truly gentle, like an angel.

With that, I just needed to go along with her words to smoothly resolve the situation.

"It's not inconvenient..."

"What's wrong then?"

Oops, I unconsciously blurted out while looking into her eyes.

"Um, well, actually, I don't know the name of the school I studied at..." I had to push forward with a brave face.

"Huh? You don't know the name of your middle school?" Ichinose looked puzzled.

"I know it's a bit strange, but it's true. Because most of the time in our lives, we never mentioned the name of the school. Maybe I remembered it at the beginning, but due to the lack of use over time, I forgot it. It's just like the piano and tea ceremony."

"Is that so?" She looked at me strangely.

"Yeah, that's right. Although I don't remember the name of the middle school, I at least know how to get there."

"Okay," she nodded a bit confusedly, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Ichinose seemed to doubt the truthfulness of this matter, fortunately, she didn't dwell on the question and instead turned to the topic I brought up as a diversion.

"Did you learn to play the piano and tea ceremony?" she asked.

"Um, I've learned a bit of both," I nodded, not denying it.

In today's society, whether children or adults, everyone learns extra skills, making those who don't learn seem extremely abnormal and inferior. I didn't know how the course of society's development had unfolded, but no matter what, those who followed the masses could be considered normal humans.

When I realized this, I didn't feel particularly pleased with society's progress.

"I also wanted to learn to play the piano, but due to certain circumstances, I couldn't finish learning," I said, noticing a hint of melancholy on her face after that.

"If you want to learn, Ichinose, you should be able to do it in high school, since there are clubs and such," I suggested.

"Maybe there will be a chance," she said with renewed kindness, nodding at me.

Her demeanor was truly gentle, almost enough to melt a person.

And thus, my three-year life of survival began on this public bus.