"Were you really there....because it explains the stare just now?"
I don't know what to say to her. At the moment, we are just like two people trying to save ourselves, hide things, and somehow get past this situation.
Thinking why this happened?
You can feel tension without anyone pointing it out, my lack of response, and this just....
Her grip loosened up a bit, and she looked down a little probably fed up by the silent eye contact.
"Yagami-kun, what can I do to make sure you won't tell anyone about this? Please give me some response."
Instead of answering her, I couldn't help but look sideways outside the bus through window. I don't know where I am heading, "How many stops are left?"
"...I am guessing. But last stop should not be more than five minutes if there's no rush on the bridge."
I see. Resting my head back on same window, it's fairly obvious that I will notice vehicles or just anything that comes by.
Problem is that only for a certain radius, I can see with a clear vision but beyond that everything starts to blur.
If I continue to try, I can feel my eye watering. So, just by concentrating on the ones most nearby, I noticed a certain pattern....Toyota, Suzuki.
Most, if not every car is of those two. Especially mini version, not the ones like Sports Utility, sedan but compact, and sub....three seaters type even.
I am pretty sure of them being EVs.
My workplace is a pretty standard area for business corporates, so the kind of rich luxury life, well developed, expensive perse...but it's still not that crowded with EV's yet.
But here....dominated. This bus I am riding curently, is air-conditioned. Probably cost around 2 or more for my distance. Should be even large in their local currency.....
"I have two requests. If you can do that, I will keep my mouth shut."
In fact, this girl... there's a high chance she could at least afford for two, if judging by her outfit says anything.
She nodded her head. But why are you getting more depressed? I haven't even told you anything yet.
"I want you to pay bus fare for me."
"Nah-nee yo....?"
Can you stop leaning over so much?
She is practically breathing on me, and just exhaled the air from inside her cheeks...Wait, why am I thinking about every single action or movement she is making?
Scratching probably a itch down her eyelids, I watched her face becoming pale by the second. How is it so visible, I can even see her eyes losing colour or what's that called life inside?
This can actually happen outside of 2D world...You learn something new everyday, I guess. Shouldn't pay too much attention to shaking her head as if to convince herself, I really don't know what.
It's actually disturbing, she cares if I spread rumours about "Ichinose."
"What about second...."
"I think you should know by now."
"Haah. So, it's really that. I was naive to think...."
Slumping her back too on the window just like me, she closed her eyes while I straightened my shirt to get all curls, waiting for her to actually talk that makes sense.
Man, finally she gave me some space.
I have never been that close to a girl in that manner, and my first experience was like this.
I hope she takes responsibility.
I am not scum, I am not. I just asked her to pay bus fare for me, will definitely return when I have the means for it.
I might be unfair to her, even though she probably doesn't have any obligation to help me. But...I need to get something out of her.
Unreasonable from Ichinose's narrative, but for me, it's a much larger issue. There is no need to be on perfect match.
I moved on my left a little to make some distance between our shoulders.
"My first day at high school, I didn't sleep well last night. It's always a bit hard to fall asleep because of the anxiety."
Well, it's quite astonishing, I am not under some kind of panic attack. That should be the first to come when you are probably in my type of situation.
Ears ringing. Voice not reaching. Heart beat so loud, so fast. Lips quivering, trembling....that sort.
"I've never gone to any free school before this. I didn't want to do that, but I wanted to see Kokanae smile."
"Kokanae....?"
"Yes, my little sister. It was her birthday, she wanted that hairpin. But well... It's just us and our mother."
"Mistake. Yes, Ichinose di--I mean you did. At least, you showed guilt and admitted it publicly. Not many people can do that....."
"But it was only after I was caught. If not for that, I would have stayed silent."
Is it okay to discuss matter of stealing here? Can others hea---When, I looked over, I noticed that not a single individual is looking here, or seems like they are trying to overhear the conversation.
Even with blurry...you know that it's face, and what's hair.
....Are you so civilized? Where is this politeness from?
"We can't control our situation, circumstances. If it demands you to steal, lie, manipulate, putting down others, or just about anything which can ensure your own benefit, survival. You will do it."
That's what I am doing right now, taking advantage of your passion for a novel to make....
"But that's....that's crime. I did it right, shouldn't I be in juvenile instead of going to such a prestigious high school?"
"Being selfish. It's actually a good thing to an extent. You will learn it when you grow up."
I lost my home, and financial back when Dad had a dispute with two of my aunts, and my Grandmother left with second oldest....us coming down to renting for more than a decade.
A huge setback with only a little bit of help from Mom's side, just because her parents are vegan. My Dad's family didn't accept her.
He started earning from nineteen to support, having five sisters...and then suddenly Dad's all savings, properties that should have or even some parts belonged to him just....gone.
But now, I am aware enough to understand...it was all about money.
No one cares about familial relations.
Even at workplace for more than a year, I witnessed a lot of crap. I won't say I know everything, but I have seen enough dirt.
How much people can go down to....
"So, I should just take it as a lesson, and not do it again?"
"Quite opposite in fact. True poverty to feed young siblings, sick parents, yourself. If it requires stealing to live and see the next day. Why not?"
Ichinose turned her face towards me and flashed a suspicious look, the kind that would...."You are telling me to steal. Be more selfish."
"I am not asking you to do anything. It's your choice to interpret however you like. But if you do, just don't get caught."
In fact, if you are not wanting something, you won't get it.
Same goes for my job through placement, or better marks in presentation, being more 'social' 'helpful' for incentives, promotion etc....
Confessing to your crush before someone else takes her. There are just too many waiting for you to fall down, and take what.....
I glanced at her sideways to see her reaction, but it wasn't anything good from what I can make of. She's probably thinking something bad.
Would have been better if she was standing on left instead.
"I feel like...you are corrupting me, Yagami-kun."
Smacking my shoulder to look playful won't do anything, "So, are you going to pay me or not, Ichinose?"
I should at least charge more notes for pep talk, right? Now I don't regret watching Flash last couple of seasons in CW just to get enemies/metahumans/ Eobard/Godspeed/random villains defeated by pep talk.
Whether it's Barry, Caitlin, Joe, Cecile....meh.
This girl...Um, Ichinose is acting like she ended someone's life. Don't give me bullshit, crime is crime.
I myself 'collected' a lot of incense sticks from a friend's place just because they were clayey and soft.
I never returned it. Throw me behind bars for it! Take my middle finger.
(Forgetting hairclip was expensive in my sign of probably getting money from Ichinose.....)
Speed is getting slow. I think we are probably about to reach her destination....
Hey, come to think I didn't even pay attention but number of passengers here are not getting to decrease in the slightest from previous stop when I was looking out the window....
It's about ten to fifteen minutes since I woke up, I think.
Bus stopped twice, yes. Now it should be last according to her. Five minutes she said.
What's going on, are they all going for her route?
Should be some big place.... because not all of them are office workers.
"Are we still going forward with those conditions? I thought we were talking heart to heart."
"No, don't add more cringe words. I am barely holding it together."
Ichinose put her index finger on her tempting.... lips? Hey, girl what are you doing?
Her eyes are wide and filled with curiosity, even those who are deaf can see her intentions from looking at nothing but her expression.
Ah, that's just breaking the rules isn't it? How come someone this adorable exists in this world?
I am doing it again. Stop passing commentary, me!
"Yagami-kun....do you find me attractive?"
Why? Jesus christ, you just gave me goosebumps all of a sudden, I am not exaggerating, very very similar to how Tom Holland's spider man's hair stood up on ends.
That's how I know I am.
Forget about being attractive, she's out of my league. In fact, girl should be from a magazine or working as a model, idol....if not will most likely do so in the coming years.
I won't be surprised at all. That's reason for my taking of pictures.
Besides, I would only have to say one word about people in entertainment, star, pop culture type industry.
It's "gutter" for us ordinary people. Yes, even I huge fan of Hermione Granger don't actually care anything about her real life actress. There are reasons well....duh.
So to say, their world is completely different. Cheating, Cuckolding, Husbands, wives, both, illegal sperms, children, sleeping with who knows on a daily basis, husband is somewhere else kissing, wife doing erotica in some other country.
Doing just almost anything for reels, views, public, better roles etc.
Ignoring this, she is going on her first day of high school... what's 15 or 16 maybe? Yes, I accept, that age gap is not a factor in today's world. It has actually changed a lot from when I was a kid back then.
Sugar Daddies, Mommy's, Gold diggers, virtual auction of virg....17, 20, 47, 73 years gap! Damn it, I could go on for hours.
But....But...personally do I really find her attractive? Yes, if I have to say a lot of words, in subway kids her age I usually see are not really mature.
They are in that "Phase."
Seeing them wasting so much time playing games, time... it's so precious.
So, do I find her attractive? In fact, if I was, her every action towards me now whether it was taking me here by "Hand-holding." "Too close."
I am so nervous, or like hand holding is too lewd, type of stuff.
There is not a single vibration in me, being self conscious, butterflies flying... that's what people describe.
No..Nope... Nothing...Nada. Is it because of my school to college one?
No, it's not because of her either. I have moved on for years, three to be exact, since I stopped responding, from her side too.
"No."
xxxxx
Add to your Library! ❣️ Vote Power Stone's