Cote: Retelling

Chapter 6.1: Three Strikes on Kushida

There are three big reasons why I'm slightly wary of Kushida. It's not that she's dangerous, I just don't fully trust her image. My suspicion of her started on the bus ride. Back then, we were seated somewhat like this:

            First of all, Kushida was staring at Horikita. However, both the book she was reading and her uniform, the two most likely reasons for Kushida to look at her, was blocked by the seats in front of her. The line of sight doesn't match. And even if she did see out of the corner of her eye, if it was just for the uniform, the much more conspicuous Koenji was sitting right in front of her. It might have been for the book, but that was completely blocked by the seat-it's not like Horikita was holding her book upright for all to see. Besides, from my conversation with her today I confirmed she's not familiar with literature.

However, if Horikita was someone she knew, that wouldn't explain:

1) Her introduction, where she mentioned no one from her Junior High came here. I don't find it likely she remembers someone from elementary.

2) Why she hasn't mentioned anything like that once in our conversations

3) Why Kushida didn't just go up and talk to her then and there

I initially thought Kushida might be lesbian and was smitten by Horikita, but I've shelved that theory for being unfounded.

Another, slightly lesser fact about the bus ride was the incident with the grandma. Not only did she deliberately gesture as if she wanted to intervene, she also spoke loudly and clearly when announcing she would give up her seat, almost as if to emphasize her kindness. This point is also shelved, since not only do I not know people well enough to make such conclusions, it may have been perfectly natural on Kushida's part.

The second point of suspicion is also somewhat weak, but it's nonetheless relevant. Kushida mentioned she saw me and Horikita talk after getting off the bus. However, she was in front of us, meaning she got off first. I first walked up to Koenji then Horikita caught up to me, meaning she would've had to look back a good while after we left the bus. She may have had a valid reason for doing so, but even then, for Kushida to notice us talking and specifically take note of it shows she was paying attention to Horikita in the influx of students. That's somewhat suspicious of her. According to her story, she actively started paying attention after noticing Horikita's solitary nature, but then why was she paying attention to her back then? Could she just sense her loneliness? That's too silly of an answer.

And finally, the third point is that Kushida knew Horikita's name. Horikita said she didn't give out her name to anybody since coming to the school (except me, I guess). Perhaps Kushida heard from someone else in the class, but in that case it's suspicious Hirata doesn't know. It might have been someone from another class, but it was only the second day when Kushida asked for my help and mentioned Horikita by name. Even for her, that seems too fast. The other-class girls that was part of the swarm the other day turned out to be passerby that noticed Shibata, so even Hirata is yet to have strong connections with other classes. Besides, Horikita mentioned not having acquaintances back in Junior High, either. This likely means Kushida knew Horikita from before, saw her in the bus, recognized her and is now putting up this charade to get close to her while keeping the fact she knows her secret for some reason.

Of course, this is all theoretical, but it doesn't change the fact I'm suspicious of her. However, I have no intentions of poking at her intent. I'll just help and get a favour out of her. What she has planned with Horikita, if there even is anything behind all this, doesn't have anything to do with me. It might just be me being overcautious.

Though, if she really is smitten with Horikita, I'd like to see that.