The brown-haired girl clearly hadn't expected such a reaction from him. Kogenji's scorn, naked utilitarianism, and unyielding attitude made it difficult for her to feel.
Her fair face flushed slightly with indignation, and her chest rose and fell. She took a deep breath, preparing to argue her point again.
Just then, the smile on Kogenji's face lessened, and his narrow eyes squinted, carrying a mocking disdain as if scrutinising an ant. He spoke again, his voice clearly overriding the brown-haired girl's unspoken words:
"Oh? Troubled? I'm merely stating a fact. The existence of this 'elderly lady' indeed causes me inconvenience. Furthermore," his gaze, like a cold probe, swept over the silent or restless students around, finally returning to the brown-haired girl, the sarcasm in his tone thick and undeniable.
"The existence of hypocrites like you makes me even more displeased. You clearly think,'Someone should give up their seat,' yet you pretend to be considerate of others, standing on a moral high ground and gesticulating.
And you guys," his long fingers casually and disdainfully pointed at the students around who were either looking down or averting their eyes, "you clearly see the elderly person standing, and you probably feel, to some extent, that you should offer your seat, yet you remain silent out of fear of trouble or waiting for someone else to step up. This collective hypocrisy and cowardice are more nauseating than this elderly lady standing here."
His words, like poisoned ice blades, mercilessly pierced through the false calm in the car, exposing the hidden thoughts of many—that unmentionable selfishness, cowardice, and wait-and-see attitude.
Many students he pointed at flushed, bowed their heads in shame, or averted their gaze, yet their bodies seemed to be nailed to their seats, even more afraid to move.
The brown-haired girl's face instantly turned pale. Immense grievance, the embarrassment of being exposed in public, and intense anger left her speechless for a moment. Her bright eyes even welled up slightly, and she bit her lower lip tightly, not wanting to show her vulnerability.
Kogenji watched the effect of his words with satisfaction, as if he had completed a trivial task, and leaned back lazily in his seat, as if the astonishing words he had just uttered were merely brushing away a speck of dust.
However, facing Kogenji's blatant humiliation and the deathly silence and collective shame around, the brown-haired girl's chest heaving violently was not a sign of collapse.
The grievance and embarrassment did not make her retreat; instead, like firewood thrown into a fire, they ignited the more fervent and resilient parts of her character.
She suddenly straightened her back, and her pure determination to seek help for the elderly woman was not extinguished; instead, it burned even brighter and more steadfast.
She no longer faced Kogenji, that stubborn stone, but resolutely turned to the entire car, clearly raising her voice to a level that everyone could hear. Her clear and pleasant voice carried an undeniable, penetrating power, resonating clearly in every corner of the car:
"Excuse me, everyone! May I ask—is there anyone who can conveniently give up their seat for this elderly lady? She's having a very hard time standing. Please!"
This voice, containing a clear request, significantly louder than the previous conversation, and filled with strong emotion and penetrating power, was like a huge stone thrown into a suppressed deep pool, stirring up strong ripples.
It pierced through the background noise, through the suffocating atmosphere of oppression created by Kogenji, and finally, it pierced through Jin's deep barrier of sleep.
Jin was awakened by this raised, emotionally charged, and penetrating voice.
He slowly opened his eyes. Beneath his thick eyelashes, a trace of lingering sleepiness remained in his dark eyes, like a thin mist on the surface of a deep pool.
There was no displeasure or emotional fluctuation on his face from being disturbed, only a deep-sea-like calm.
Jin quietly let his eyes adjust to the slightly dim light inside the car (influenced by the dark blue seawater outside the window), then calmly cast his gaze in the direction of the sound's source—the front of the car near the door.
He saw the brown-haired girl standing there, her face showing stubbornness after humiliation and an even stronger plea.
He also saw the elderly woman beside her, leaning on a cane, looking isolated and helpless, and the arrogant, dazzling blonde young man who called himself 'Kogenji Rokusuke.' The air was filled with the lingering aftermath of tension, the cold sarcasm left by Kogenji's words, and a vast, awkward silence.
Just then, in the middle of the car by the window, a figure steadily stood up.
Jin rose from his seat and stood in the aisle, not moving an inch. His movements were concise and natural.
His gaze calmly passed through the crowd, looking towards the brown-haired girl and the elderly woman.
His voice was not loud, but it clearly cut through the quiet of the car, "Please sit here."
His voice was flat, without any fluctuation, simply stating a fact. He pointed to his previously window-side seat, now empty.
The elderly woman paused, seemingly a little bewildered by this sudden kindness. The brown-haired girl was the first to react, and a brilliant smile, full of gratitude and warmth, like sunlight breaking through clouds, instantly bloomed on her face.
The smile was sincere and bright, as if it could instantly dispel the gloom left by Kogenji's words. "Ah! Thank you so much, classmate!"
She said sincerely, her voice clear and pleasant, with the joy of relief. She quickly and carefully helped the still somewhat bewildered elderly woman, her movements gentle and full of respect.
"Grandma, this classmate gave up his seat for you, please come sit here quickly! Watch your step."
With the girl's careful assistance, the elderly woman finally sat down in the window seat. "Thank you, thank you, good child..." Once seated, the elderly woman repeatedly thanked Jin, who was standing in the aisle, her wrinkled face full of gratitude and kindness.
Jin merely nodded slightly, accepting the thanks, his face still unruffled. He stood quietly in the aisle next to his seat, as if he had merely done a trivial thing.
As the bus lurched forward, the tension that had gripped the cabin began to dissipate, replaced by the mundane hum of the engine and the rhythmic splashing of the sea against the glass.
However, the girl's gaze remained fixed on Jin. She moved toward him, her steps light but determined, her expression a mix of lingering indignation toward Koenji and genuine curiosity toward her savior.
"Thank you again," she said, lowering her voice so as not to disturb the elderly woman. She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear, her eyes searching Jin's face.
"I'm Kushida Kikyo. Honestly, I was starting to think everyone on this bus had just... given up. Your timing was perfect."
Jin remained standing, his hand lightly gripping the overhead strap. He didn't turn his head fully toward her, keeping his gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside.
"There's no need for gratitude," he replied, his voice a steady, low baritone. "The seat was mine to give. The logic behind it is no more complex than that."
Kushida tilted her head, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. She seemed to be measuring his lack of ego against Koenji's overflowing pride.
"You say that, but you did what no one else dared to do after that blonde guy started talking. You broke the silence."
She leaned in slightly, her tone shifting to one of shared confidence. "Are you also from the Advanced Nurturing High School? I noticed your uniform."
"I am," Jin stated simply.
"Then I hope we're in the same class," Kushida said, her smile widening into something more radiant. "It would be nice to have someone reliable around."
Behind them, Koenji let out a short, sharp bark of laughter, though he didn't even look up from his well-manicured nails. The contrast between Jin's stoic silence and Kushida's bubbly warmth hung in the air, a precursor to the volatile social ecosystem they were about to enter.