I was already very bored, and I went through the extremely boring school opening address that I don't even understand due to the language. My classmates and I will now spend a year in the classroom, and the students started introducing themselves.
“My name's Ryo. I hope that we can get along well.”
After the boy in front of me introduced himself, he went back to his seat. It's my turn next.
I felt somewhat nervous as I walked forward. It's important to give a good first impression if I'm to mix into the Japanese environment. I must make sure that I don't do anything strange.
I remembered the self-introduction I worked so hard to practice on, and use the chalk to write my name on the blackboard. Then, I turn around to say loudly to everyone.
“My name is, Shimada, Minami. Nice to meet you.” (TN: Note that Minami's text was given in katakana to specify the accent.)
After saying that, everyone widened their eyes in shock. Eh? What's going on? Did I say something wrong so soon?
I feel a slight chill down my back. Why is everyone looking at me like that?
“Shimada-san is a Japanese from Germany, and she just returned back, so everyone, please help her out.”
After the homeroom teacher said that in Japanese, everyone seemed to understand as they nodded their heads. Sensei said that so quickly that I was unable to catch it…but it seemed that he just explained my plight to the other students. Ah, I know, I look like a Japanese, but my stuttering made everyone so shocked.
After realizing the reason, I relaxed someone—just when I was thinking that, a few classmates of mine were trying to hold back their giggles. Wha, what? What’s going on?
“It’s alright, Shimada-san, just remember how to write the kanji of your name.”
Even sensei smiled at me after seeing the blackboard. But I did only write my name on the whiteboard…
After looking around, I find that everyone’s looking at the name I wrote on the board. Eh? Is there something wrong with that?
I look at the notebook in my pocket to check. Did I write my name wrongly?
--‘Shimada Minami’. (島田美波)
I did write that on my notebook, and yet the kanji I wrote was Shimayumi Mikare (島由美彼)
Ah! Looks like I got something wrong!
“…Uu!!”
I hurriedly wiped away the words on the board and wrote it out in romaji ‘Minami Shimada’. What in the world!? If I wrote it wrongly, just tell me that I wrote it wrongly! Only caring about laughing, aren’t these guys too heinous already!?
“I hope we can get along!”
As it was too embarrassing, that was all for my self-introduction as I hurriedly returned back to my seat. Uuu…I accidentally made such an embarrassing mistake…
“I’m Sakamoto Yuuji from Kaminazuki Middle School.”
The next guy after me introduced himself, and then walked back to his seat. Crude…no, this guy’s more like a violent person, and cold. Seeing him like this, the surrounding classmates started whispering things to each other.
“That guy’s Kaminzauki’s…”
“The infamous devil…”
“That guy seems really amazing…”
“…Fu”
Seeing such a noisy conversation, that guy just snorted with disdain. I guess…he’s called Sakamoto, right? He looks really unapproachable, but those kind of guys should be normal in Japan, right? Daddy said before that ‘Japan’s a country with good security, so you don’t have to worry’. So that person just looks fierce, but he should be a typical Japanese guy, right? Hm, no problems. No need to worry.
As I try to convince myself that, the next student went up, and it seemed like a girl this time.
“My name’s Kinoshita Hideyoshi. I hope we can get along.”
I don’t understand this guy’s Japanese at all, but it should be normal, I guess? But she’s a girl, yet she’s wearing guy’s clothing. It’s weird, but I don’t really mind. That must be because she’s not using to wearing skirt or something that she’s wearing guys’ clothing.
It’s alright, it’s alright. I should be able to get used to this place called Japan. Daddy said that ‘Japan’s not scary at all, and no weird thing’s going to happen’. I must believe in daddy.
I immediately shook off the anxiety that floated in my head and focused on the next classmate who’s going to do the self-introduction. Should be a guy now.
He seemed to be mumbling to himself as he said slowly and softly that I could understand.
“…Tsuchiya Kouta. Interests are perv…no, speciality is stealing pho…nothing much.”
The classmate who said this revealed a digital camera vaguely from his point.
This, this should be normal…right? His interest should be voice recording insitead of photo taking…to record the things the teachers would teach in class. That’s right, it must be like that! Just a small thing. It can’t prove that Japan’s full of weirdos…right? Daddy, I think I can believe you now!
I bucked myself up to get ready for the next student’s self-introduction. It should be another guy.
“I’m Yoshii Akihisa from Kaminazuki Middle School. I hope we can get along.”
The boy who bowed to everyone at the front—seemed different for some reason. He’s the only one with a sailor uniform top.
“…”
I got tricked…I got tricked by daddy!!!
My life after this was dyed an unhappy grey. Since when is Japan not scary and weird! Our class’ full of scary, strange and dangerous people!
Because of those three impactful guys, I didn’t manage to listen to the other classmates introduce themselves. Unknowingly, everyone finished their self-introduction.
Our homeroom teacher gave a little briefing before leaving the classroom. It seems that today’s only the opening ceremony and homeroom session, so we could go home after that. Should I go home immediately after this? Daddy and the rest did show up for the opening ceremony. They should be home now?
Just when I thought that and wanted to stand up, I found a lot of people gathering around me. Eh? Wha, what is it?
“Shimada-san’s a Japanese resident right? When did you come back to Japan?”
“Were you born in Japan or outside Japan?”
“Is your English good?”
The questions came over one after another, and I didn’t know how to answer for a while. Wha…what is Japanese resident? I was born in Japan, but I’m not too good in English or Japanese—erm, how to answer them back in Japanese?
“Where do you stay at now?”
“Do you have any clubs you want to join?”
“Did you get a boyfriend in Japan?”
Just when I was thinking, there were a lot more questions. I’m thinking of how to answer. Can you please wait for me!
“What are your interests?”
“What food do you like?”
“What’s your bust size?”
Ahh!! That’s irritating!! Can’t you people just calm down first!? I can’t answer them all! How do I say ‘please be quiet’ in Japanese?
I really wanted to shout out. At this moment, I suddenly remember what I heard a girl said this morning. A guy was trying to woo her, but she looked irritated and just said something to quiet that guy down. Then, I should follow what she said.
I remember what that girl said is—
“Sh…”
“““Sh?”””
“Shut up, you swines.”
I tried to smile as I said that, trying not to leave a bad impression.
I remember that girl who said that has a hairstyle of curls.
Did I express my intention clearly? I timidly looked at everyone’s expression, and found that the surrounding students were all staring at my face silently.
“I, I see. I’m really sorry.”
“This is the first time I was called ‘swine’ ever since I was born…”
“Should be normal to say that in foreign countries…”
My classmates looked awkward and left me.
Eh? Tha, that’s weird? You don’t have to go. I just hope that you can wait for me to answer properly. Did I choose the wrong words?
I wanted to tell them that I had no intention of chasing them away, but I couldn’t express my feelings properly through Japanese.”
“Warten Sie bitte Horen Sie meine Geschincite bitte. (Wait, please listen to me!)”
I anxiously shouted out the German I was familiar with, but everyone just looked troubled as they smiled at me awkwardly and left me silent.
Uu…doesn’t anyone understand German here?
“We, well…do not misunderstand, please.”
I couldn’t speak Japanese, but at least I can use English to communicate with them, right? English’s not my strong point, but at least it’s better than Japanese.
“Ah…I can’t speak English.”
But everyone just responded like that and didn’t stop in their tracks. As I recovered, I found myself standing blankly over there.
“…”
I fought a loss on the first day of school.
Everyone in class kept their distance away from me and started to look for others to talk with. They either got together to know each other or intended to go out with their friends (most likely, they graduated from the same middle school).
…I’m so jealous…
I really want to make friends soon, and I want to play with everyone.
“Haa…”
I sighed deeply and packed my stuff as I prepare to leave the classroom.
At this moment—
“Ah, well…you’re Shimada-san, right?”
A boy’s voice came from behind. That’s great! I don’t know why I failed, but at least someone was willing to talk to me!
“Yes?”
I turn my head around expectantly, but—
“…Haa…”
“Eh? What’s wrong? Why do you look so disappointed when you saw my face?”
Standing in front of me is the mysterious boy in sailor uniform. It, it really feels like my expectations were dampened…
Ah, no. I shouldn’t judge people by their appearances. Maybe I find find him as a nice guy after talking to him. Maybe there’s a reason why he’s dressed like that?
“?”
After being stared at by me, that biy tilted his head in a puzzled manner. Ah, like a little animal. He looks cute…I remember he’s called Yoshii, right?
“Well…”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
After I said that, he said that really slowly, perhaps because he considered that I was still not used to saying Japanese, and then answered in a way I can understand. What, so he’s a nice guy.
“Why, are, your, clothes…”
Anyway, I asked the biggest question in my mind.
“Eh? Ahh, you’re talking about this? Well, the reason, that’s…”
The boy in front of me seemed to have trouble opening his mouth.
“Because I overslept and panicked, so I…”
Would Japanese students wear sailor uniforms when they panic? I really don’t understand. This really needs a whole lot of understanding.”
“Oi, idiot! Don’t block me and talk about such a stupid thing.”
Just when I wanted trying to understand the meaning behind that boy’s words, another voice can be heard.
“Don’t be like this, Sakamoto-kun. Shimada-san’s still not used to Japan. How can you call her stupid?”
“I’m talking about you, Yoshii.”
Responding with an unhappy look was Sakamoto, that guy who looks violent.
At this moment, Yoshii, who was scolded an idiot, glared at him unhappy.
“Muu…where do you find me as an idiot?”
“Every single action you do.”
“What are you saying! Don’t decide someone’s character based on appearance!”
“I think there’s no need for more when I see you like that.”
Yoshii and Sakamoto seemed to be arguing about something.
As they said that too quickly, I couldn’t understand their conversation at all.
“Calling me stupid!? You’re the stupid one here! Having such a pretty girl talking to you and you practically ignored her…”
“That, that person has nothing to do with you, you idiotic moron!”
“What are you saying!? You’re the damned stupid guy!”
Both of them started to quarrel with even more intensity. Eh…what should I do in this situation?
“I FOUND YOU ANNOYING EVER SINCE I FIRST MET YOU THIS MORNING! ESPECIALLY THAT IDIOT NAΟVE FACE OF YOURS! CAN’T YOU BE MORE MANLY!?”
“THAT’S SOMETHING I WANT TO SAY! CALLING SOMEONE STUPID THE FIRST TIME YOU MEET, DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE WORD, COURTESY!?”
“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT FROM SOMEONE WHO WORE A SAILOR UNIFORM TO THE OPENING CEREMONY!”
Those two guys continued to argue even more intensively, ignoring me while I’m all confused. As they were talking too fast, I don’t even understand a single word they said. However, I understand something clear—if I get involved with these guys, it’s likely that I won’t be able to live an ordinary school life.
“Well, then, bye.”
I glanced at the boys who didn’t even look and me, grabbed by bag hurriedly and left.
2011-10-03, 21:50
Why can't we have more Yuuji/Shouko?!
