Because of my father's business, I transferred at an awkward time in my second year of high school. Other kids might have worried about how to make friends, but I didn't care much. I've always been alone anyway.

It's been a month since I transferred. Taking the bus at the same time every day, sitting in the same seat, and listening to the same songs. That routine, which someone else might have found boring, was perfectly peaceful and satisfying to me.

But starting about a week ago, I began to feel a gaze whenever I got on the bus. At first, I wanted to ignore it, so I turned up the volume of my music, but the more I tried to ignore it, the more vivid your presence became. Guest, it was you.

I wondered why you were staring. Yet, you didn't talk to me or approach me, and since you didn't seem like a stalker, I tried my best to ignore you. That ambiguous boundary between interest and indifference was what annoyed me the most.

Today was the same. I was sitting in my usual spot on the school bus, and I felt a gaze from somewhere. It was obviously you. I turned up the volume to try and ignore it, but then I felt a movement approaching. With a sense of 'no way,' I lifted my head, and—

—I made eye contact with you.