Gripping the overhanging safety handle, Masayoshi Suzuki gazed out from the train window at the passing scenery. Because the train for commuting to school was always overcrowded, it was a view he was quite fed up with. Besides those taking the train to their offices in Tokyo, along the Uchibou Line there are a large number of High Schools and Universities, as well as it being part of the Keiyou Engineering Area, the morning rush wasn't something to take lightly. He could hear the conversation of a group of office ladies nearby.

"That looks like a groping"

"Really? Which girl?"

"By the window with the curly hair, and the white sailor uniform."

"Ah, it is. Poor thing, she's shaking like a little bird."

The white sailor uniform was the designated uniform for Motochiba High School. Thinking "Eh?" to himself, he turned his head towards the door and saw waving, lightly dyed hair.

He couldn't make out the face without squinting, but he could make out some color distinction around her collar. Her ears and cheeks were flushed red, and he could tell she looked about ready to cry.

The girl with the small build was Alice Azekura from the same class.

---She was a strange one.

Alice was someone who really stood out.

Just short of being an celebrity singer she was otherworldly beautiful, and wore her classically designed uniform such that all the girls would think of it as a fashionable piece. Her large dark eyes and long eyebrows stood out, and when she smiled it reminded one of Alice in Wonderland from the Disney animation.

She was often called the hidden Idol of Motochiba High. She was undeniably someone who would be sought out as a target for groping.

The university-like student who stood just behind her had a strange smile on his face, as his arm moved strangely up and down. His sordid expression made it hard to draw a conclusion.

"Poor thing, she's crying..."

People were whispering quietly, but nobody said anything, nobody did anything.

The train was ruled by a certain type of nervous atmosphere, as it continued on unslowing to the next station.

"Excuse me, please let me through."

As Masayoshi proceeded through the crowd of people, he twisted his body before Alice. The office worker he displaced looked annoyed with the action.

"Suzuki-kun..."

With her eyes brimming with tears, Alice looked up at Masayoshi. Keeping her covered with his back, he whispered to her.

"Stay behind me, and I'll protect you."

Masayoshi glared at the university student. He didn't say any cool lines like "Stop groping," but just moved his school bag behind him, and continued to stare intently at the groper.

---This is scary after all...Ah, I'm freaked...Dang I'm sweating... ---Don't shake...Don't shake, me...

Telling this to himself, he suppressed the shaking that was welling up deep in his body.

"Wh, what is it, jerk?"

The university students voice came out weak and stuttering. The perverted smile from a moment ago had vanished, replaced with an expression that revealed his nervousness.

Masayoshi knew how others thought of him.

Of average build and normal height. The collar on his uniform wasn't popped, but kept neat. His face was nothing special. His grades showed he was good at the sciences, but was weak in the liberal arts. He preferred track-and-field to sports where a ball was used. In other words he was just an ordinary student like any other.

However, if one thing could be said of his differences, it is that his hair was of unusual length proceeding past his shoulders, and his bangs covered his eyes, causing him to be called dark or creepy on occasion. Rumors of his parents only added to the scariness, and were like spurs to a horse.

So taking his impression in a different direction, he should be able to help out his classmate without resorting to physical means.

"Hey, ain't that Suzuki?"

"Yeah, isn't he the son of a Yakuza member?"

"Aah, I've heard that. He's a punk around here right? His old man is shaved, and called Boss or Teacher."

"Also Suzuki's mother wears a kimono everywhere, is called Big Sister and is crazy strong."

With inexplicably good timing, the students at Motochiba High started voicing the rumors about him. Usually upon hearing these rumors he wouldn't feel pleased in any way, but just this once he felt thankful for them.

The university student turned a shade of deep green. It seemed he really thought the long haired youth in front of him really was the son of a Yakuza gang leader.

The train stopped suddenly, and the door slid open. It was Motochiba Station. Extremely nervous and fearful, Masayoshi hadn't noticed the train decreasing in speed.

Pushed out by the crowd he exited onto the platform.

"Kyaa!"

He grabbed ahold of Alice just before she fell.

"You okay?"

The hand was small yet warm.

"Waaa!"

The university student had disembarked simultaneously, and letting out a small cry he leapt back into the train. Masayoshi noticed his face was pulled back and pale.

The doors closed, and the train holding the terrified university student headed off to Chiba Station.

Alice, who's face was redder than a tomato, turned her head downward, and with a face tearing up, sniffed quietly.

"You okay?"

Upon hearing his question a second time, Alice blew her nose, and scrunched up her face. Tear drops continued to drip from her eyes. Masayoshi had an epiphany that a cute girl looks cute no matter what.

"So....Na.....I..."

"Heh?"

"Suzuki-kun, I hate you.....!"

Her sharp voice lashed out, and she shook her fists violently. Averting her gaze, she turned on her heel and ran off. The direction she chose wasn't for the Station's West Gate, which most of the students exited by, but the East Gate. The East Gate was farther away, so what kind of reason could she have?

Her attitude was just as if he had bullied her, which caused him to feel a pain in his chest.

He took a deep breath.

---Whatever, it's no big deal. I'm used to this kinda thing anyway.

It seemed his act of kindness had been unwarranted. Human relations is such a difficult topic. But, Masayoshi thought to himself, it didn't really matter because he hadn't helped her while hoping for gratitude in return.

There was no one he could really call a friend. Nearly a floating existence in the classroom, he wasn't really connected, but he still knew what people said about Alice.

"It can't be helped. After all, she is strange-chan."

Masayoshi shook his head, causing his hair to wave around. Giving out one more deep breath, he ejected his melancholic mood, then proceed off towards the West Exit.

At this time, practically all of those exiting the station are Motochiba High students. The road that led to the school was filled with students wearing the dull colored, standard school uniform.

"Kyaa...!"

As though his feelings were conveyed through a dark aura surrounding him, a first year girl walking beside him let out a faint scream.

There was another student with a concerned expression on her face watching as the long haired boy walked off.

It was a girl wearing silver glasses and giving off an impression of deep wisdom.

Atsuko Yuzuki. The Student President of Motochiba High.

She wore her uniform per code, and her scarf was evenly balanced to the left and right.

She had just been about to call out to Masayoshi when she had been tapped on the shoulder by a friend. After talking light heartedly with her, she turned again to the station exit, but Masayoshi had already gone.

Her lips formed the words, "Sorry."