Stepping off the bus alongside the other passengers, we are quickly escorted by the authorities into the nearby tent.
One by one the passengers gave their names and their testimony of the consequent events that have transpired inside the bus; most, if not all, passengers looked in my direction, pointing and explaining the events.
Some looked at me for permission, while the others immediately answered the questions to immediately be freed and go to their loved ones and home, as, although quick, the events still made it quite traumatic to some, earning sympathy from the officers after listening to them.
On Kushida-san's side, the hostage girl, the brown-haired student that almost tried to stab the hostage taker with his pen, and a well-built young man with shoulder-length blonde hair are alongside those that are being questioned by the officers; they especially looked in my direction as they explained the traumatic event and the subsequent events.
'Oh, that's the student that Kushida-san tried to plead for a seat for the old woman earlier; quite a haughty one, yet he looked meek when the robbery happened.' Looking at the guy, donning a similar student uniform, so that makes us 5 of the same student of the same academy in the bus robbery incident.
'I hope we won't get punished for arriving late on our first day at the school later.' Thinking so, I could not help but worry, as I am the quite punctual type.
Remembering that the school that I'll be attending is among the top of the most sought-after academies that have a 100% acceptance rate for every career after graduation and that they have higher members of the society at their disposal, I thought to myself,
'They should soon have the information about the incident, right? Let's see if the hype about the school is correct and not just propaganda made by their higher-ups to get more donations from the influential families.'
With a glint of my sapphire eyes, I ponder if I'll have to change their board of directors and its members.
After hearing the testimonies of all the passengers and victims of the robbery, most of the officers looked in my direction, some with awe, incredulousness, and praise in their eyes, as hearing the feat of a student subduing a group of armed adult men without having any casualties, while also saving a hostage girl, are astonishing feats.
Coming in front of me, a police captain with a rough face and disapproving gaze said, "I am Police Captain Bashira Boton. State your name and affiliations, and give me a summary of the incident."
Looking at me contemptuously, he demanded that Igive him the concise events that have transpired.
Raising an eyebrow at his attitude towards me, I started with introducing myself.
"My name is Yuuki Aki—"
But before I could finish talking, the police captain's radio buzzed, and someone spoke, and before the captain could reprimand the officer on the line, he shakily explained,
"P-Police Captain, i-it's him, the one we were just informed about earlier at Headquarters!"
"T-The Yuuki Family Heir!" Startled by the revelation, the captain voiced his thoughts in a high-pitched voice, causing the surrounding people to look in our direction.
"W-What? The Heir of the Yuuki Family is here? The rumoured prodigy who innovates the use of hydrogen-powered electricity without the use of coal or chemicals that can harm the environment? The Prince of Innovations and the beloved grandson of the 5-star General, Sir Yuuki Daimatso?"
Looking at my direction, since I am the only one in front of the police captain, they surmise that it really is me.
Proving their conjecture to be correct, the police captain saluted me and apologised for his earlier conduct.
"I apologise for my earlier actions; please rest assured, as I'll personally handle these scums who dared to even touch you, Sir." He then promised with an ingratiating smile, with cold sweat trailing down his forehead, fearing that I would report him to the higher-ups.
Smiling gently, but inside cursing at how now everyone is looking in my direction with swooning and awe-filled gazes because of the loudmouth Captain, I decided to ignore him.
Panic was now etched on the captain's face, as the prospect of getting at least yelled at by the higher-ups was looking more likely with the young man not abating his unease and ignoring his presence.
Leaving the camp of the now adoring gazes of the authorities and the nervous mess of a captain, I approached the students at the Sakura Tokyo Nurturing School.
"H-Hey, Y-Yuuki Aki." Looking at Kushida-san, I hear her calling out to me with an awkward tone of voice.
Understanding the situation, I wryly smiled and responded to her,
"You can call me Aki just fine."
With a bit of nervousness in her voice, she argued,
"B-But you're HIM! I recognised you at first glance, but only now did I ascertain that you're indeed the Yuuki Ak of the Yuuki family. I first saw you on television, but back then you were wearing glasses and a scientist's robe."
Adding more with excitement in her voice, she said,
"You're also the one who invented the Gel Face Mask! Oh, the rejuvenating feeling it gives when applied. You don't know how much you change the life of every woman in this world. I can count more of your achievements, but those alone make your stature big in the society!"
Scratching my cheek, I said,
"Please don't tell anyone in the school about those; I want to experience being someone off the radar for once, haha."
Punctuating my reason, I continued with a gentle smile.
"Besides, I'm already your friend, right, Kushida-san? Or are you alluding that it's only me that felt that we're friends?" he ended with a dejected face.
Panicked, Kushida-san immediately replied,
"N-No, we're friends! Yes, I am your friend!" She hurriedly said with a shout, fearing I would be sad.
With a victory smile inside, I replied with a mischievous smile.
"Then continue on calling me Aki from now on."
With a look that she's been hoodwinked, she puffed her cheeks and poutingly said,
"Mou~ Aki-kun, teasing a girl to your game without asking is bad manners; you know that?"
Being forced to watch the flirting, the 2 remaining students, the girl and the brown-haired boy, looked like they were being fed cat food.
Speaking up, the blonde one said,
"Hah! I'm finally meeting someone of high-class pedigree like me! My name is Rokuske Koenji! Pleasure being of your acquaintance; I would also like, if possible, to be your friend." Brushing his hair, he said haughtily, but considerably less when talking with others.
"Likewise," I perfunctorily nodded to him and replied.
The braided-hair girl, placing one of her hands on her breast, then introduced herself.
"My name is Horikita Suzune; now knowing your identity, I finally understand your confidence and subsequent actions against the robbers earlier." She said so with understanding and admiration in her tone.
"As you've already heard and know, my name is Yuuki Aki, but it would be better if you disassociated me with the so-called 'Prince of Innovation' inside the school." I asked and gently smiled in her direction.
Looking at the earlier level-headed brown-haired student, the 4 of us looked in his direction, waiting for his introduction, as he's the only one who hasn't.
With a face that looked of resignation, he finally introduced himself.
"The name is Ayanakoji Kiyotaka," he said blandly and shortly, then stared at me for a moment, then closed his eyes, muttering in a low voice, "Is he also from that place?"
Now finished with introductions, I finally broached the subject of why I approached them in the first place.
"Do you guys have a lift? If not, I would like to invite you guys, as we're all going to the same destination," I asked them, as earlier, when we stepped off the bus, I called for my chauffeur.
'I really wanted to not draw attention to me, but now that the cat's out of the bag, I really don't have any reason not to call for my ride.' Thinking so, I shook my head and smiled wryly.
Shortly after my invitation, a limousine parked in front of us 5, and someone with a chauffeur's uniform came out of the driver's seat and said in a respectful manner,
"Sir Aki, please enter; the mistress also called to drop you off to the academy." Saying so, he bowed and looked at me and the group of students behind me.
Sporting another wry smile, I turned around and invited them once again.
"Come, we're already late."
Looking behind me, the only one looking surprised is Kushida-san, while the other 3 just have a look that says they already expected that I would have a chauffeur at my disposal.
Entering first, I took a comfortable seat; soon the two entered, followed by the chauffeur closing the car door.
Next to me, Kushida-san took the seat on my right, while on her side sat Horikita-san; the two guys then took the seat on the other side.
Closing my eyes, feeling weary, I decided to take another quick nap, as the events made me a bit sleepy.
Feeling worn-out, especially now that 4 of my schoolmates already know my identity and I haven't even stepped foot at the Academy, I sleepily thought, 'Finally a break.'