April 12th

I had another strange dream. Fate and awakening? More importantly, I needed to hurry and get ready for school. In just two days, it had become routine for me to roll out of bed and immediately put on my school uniform. I got on the train from Yongen-Jaya.

"What was the conductor thinking, charging into the station at top speed like that?"

"Didn't you hear? The guy totally lost it. It's been happening a lot lately. All these accidents are because people are slowly losing their minds, right?"

"Well, between the economy sucking and how depressing the news always is, it's not all that surprising."

I got to the Shibuya Station and waited for the train.

"Look, isn't that her?" asked a girl.

"You mean that one with the red ribbon?" said a boy. "Uh, I guess so."

"She's so thin. It's not fair, I've got my hair in a ponytail too."

Just how stupid and petty can these people be?

"Okay, and what's that got to do with being thin?"

I didn't have the chance to look at the girl they were gossiping about as the train zoomed to the station, the doors opening as it came to a stop. However, I felt uneasy as I boarded the train.

On the train, the student with the red ribbon stood up.

"Please, take my seat," she said. "My station is coming up."

"Are ya sure? Then-" the old woman croaked before a black businessman took the seat before she could.

"Oh wow, what speed!" said the student with the red ribbon. "I mean excuse me, that seat was reserved for this lady."

The man fell asleep.

"Oh." said the student with the red ribbon.

"Want me to wake him up?" I asked.

"It's alright. I can understand his position as well. I'm sorry I couldn't be any help."

"It's alright, dearie," said the old woman, clearly trying to make her voice as reassuring as possible. "Don't you worry."

"Please allow me to carry your luggage, at least."

"Thank you! Ain't it heavy, though?"

"Not at all! I train plenty."

The girl caught up to me after I left the train.

"Pardon me. Thank you so much for earlier," the girl bowed towards me with her eyes shut.

"With what?" I asked.

"For speaking up when I offered my seat on the train. You're a third-year at Shujin Academy, correct? I'm also a third-year there, myself. Thanking you totally slipped my mind back on the train and I didn't want to be rude to you. Please, excuse me!"

I made it to school safely. What was that castle, though?

"I'm the social studies teacher, Mr. Ushimaru," said our social studies teacher. "I'll be teaching you the rules of society this year. Hmph, you all look like you've been spoiled growing up. Can't wait to see who disappoints me the most this year. A certain dictionary defines a year as 'a period of 365 disappointments'. The book's title is about as cynically satirical as the rest of it. It's the Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. Hey, new kid. Tell me, what the Devil's Dictionary defines as the chief factor in the process of the human race."

"Villains." I answered almost immediately.

"Correct, malefactors to be specific. You actually knew that, huh?" he grumbled. "Sure, villains can affect the Course of history but remember this definition is sardonic witticism, nothing more. Here in the real world, villains don't push humanity forward. All they do is spread chaos and strife."

"Wow, I got it right. Is he really a criminal?"

"He seems like a punk but maybe he's serious about studying?"

I felt like I got a little smarter from being able to answer that question.

"I know you've heard the reports of these agitators stirring up trouble," said Mr. Ushimaru. "We don't have any room for criminals here. Not in school and not in society. Am I clear?"