I tapped my foot as I was waiting at the airport, anxious for my flight. I was in California at the moment, almost ready to fly across the Pacific Ocean.
Hana had accompanied me during the various flights we had to get here, helping me and explaining the program throughout the journey.
Apparently, my parents had already known about the school being in Japan. They were pretty cool about it, but made sure to drill in my mind that I was absolutely required to call once a week, minimum. Yay.
I huffed in anticipation. It wasn't that I didn't like going on flights; actually, I loved the feeling of being in an airplane, being so far above all the rest of the world. But no, I was nervous for the start of school. I had already experienced the first day of school nerves, on the day I walked into the school a sophomore. That was just two weeks ago.
Now, I have that feeling all over again. Except, of course, I will know none of the people there and I will be in Japan. Essentially, it was worse than a simple first-day-of-school nervousness.
It was way, way worse.
Although, I was more excited for it to start than I would be for regular school. With all of the new places, traditions, and people.
My mind started to wander towards the thought of my soon-to-be fellow peers. Would they be nice? Would they accept me? Will there be a social hierarchy like it was at my school? I try not to dwell on the thought of being an outcast. No, that wouldn't happen. All of the people there were especially interviewed, and got in according to their qualities. Most likely, all of them will be nice, and I'll make friends easily.
What if I meet someone there?
I think about the kinds of guys that would be there. Sure, they would be nice- But would there be any difference in personality? Well, duh. Of course there will be. I wonder if the guys there are cute... or hot. I wouldn't mind sharing a class with a sexy dude with a sexy accent.
Accents. All of the people there will have accents! I got even more excited thinking about the languages and cultures I'll get to experience. Hana had said that they were choosing a couple people from each country, so will I get to meet another student from America?
My thought are broken when I hear someone shouting. I look around, wondering who would make such a racket in the airport.
I look over at the other side of the extensive room to where the sound was coming from, and I see a relatively tall (and attractive) teenager. He had dirty blond hair, glasses, and was wearing jeans and an... Aviator jacket? It's not even that cold...
The teen was waving ecstatically at me whilst smiling broadly. I was confused. I look towards Hana in question, and for the first time since I met her, she look kind of nervous and... Embarrassed. That was the only word to describe her worried features and the reddening of her cheeks.
"Oh, dear...," She says. She turns her head to look at me. "I forgot to tell you that-"
Hana was cut off by the booming voice of the teen, who, as Hana was talking, had made a beeline towards her and I.
"Yo! So, you're in the program, too? I recognized Hana from my interview. My guide's back at the food place, so I thought I'd stop by to say hi to you!" He said enthusiastically. He seemed like a cheery person, not that I minded. Those kinds of people were fun and nice. I looked back at Hana, and she had a sheepish smile on her face.
"Yes, I remember you as well, Alfred," Hana said calmly. She shook his hand, and if it was even possible, Alfred's smile got wider.
Alfred turned towards me, holding out his hand for me to shake. I took it, admiring his strong grip.
"I'm (f/n) (l/n)," I said. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, (f/n)," He replies, releasing my hand. I realize that his voice had traces of a southern accent, so faint you could hardly detect it. "As you know, I'm Alfred. Alfred Jones. So, you're the other one chosen? That's awesome!"
I return his smile. "Yeah, I'm super excited. Although, quite frankly, I'm a bit nervous, as well."
"I know what you mean," He responds as he sits down in the chair next to me. I follow suit. "I'm pretty nervous, too, but I'm also super hyped!"
I smile at his optimistic attitude. I think he and I will get along just fine.
"So, are you on the same flight as us?" I ask him. He nods.
"Yeah, I think we got seats next to each other, too!"
"That's cool," I say. "I was worried I'd have to sit next to a complete stranger."
"Same! Though, I was more worried that the other one chosen for the program would be kind of a prick, or wouldn't like me. How would I get along with people from across the globe if I couldn't get along with the person from next door?" He exclaims.
"I'm also glad that it was you who got chosen. You seem like a fun, nice guy!"
He blushes lightly and looks down. "Aw, shucks. I'm not that great or anything..."
I persist. "Don't say that! You honestly seem like a great friend!"
"Some people find me annoying," He confessed. His voice was just above a whisper, so I don't think anyone else around us could hear.
I lean over, closer to him. "I don't find you annoying."
He looks up to meet my eyes. "Really?"
"Really. Actually, I think we're friends already!"
He smiles, flashing his straight, pearly-white teeth. "That's awesome. I think you'd be a great friend, too."
For the first time, I really look into his eyes. They were gorgeous shade of baby blue. I felt like I had to tell him this.
"Hey, Al?" I said. He beamed at the nickname.
"Yeah?"
"You're eyes are really pretty. Has anyone ever told you that?" He blushes once more and shakes his head.
"Er, no. I don't think that much of them, really."
"Well, they're absolutely gorgeous. I just thought I had to comment on them. You know, seeing as how we're friends and all."
I gave him a friendly elbow nudge and he smiled.
"Yeah," He said. "I guess we are."
After we had boarded our flight, flew across the Pacific Ocean (Alfred and I chatting up a storm the entire way) , and landed in an airport in Japan, we were so tired and jet-lagged that we could hardly tell where we were going.
I had met Alfred's guide, Timothy, a tubby man with a small beard and kind smile. He and Hana sat in the seats behind us, so Alfred and I got to know each other better.
I learned that Alfred used to live in Georgia, which explains the accent, and he had a younger half-brother whom he had never met that lived in Canada. His parents divorced when he was young, and he hardly remembers his dad. Not that he minds. Alfred is the type of person to put the past behind him, and keep moving with an optimistic attitude. I really admired that about him.
Hana, who was magical and seemingly didn't have the jet-lag, dragged us to our hotel that we were staying in. It was sometime around noon, since Hana and I left Virginia at about 7 AM, taking the time difference into account.
Alfred and I were about to pass out in the airport, but Hana kept us awake by talking. She said we had to stay awake until it's our regular bed time here, in order to get used to the time. Tim had bought me (fav. energy drink/soda/tea/coffee) and Alfred mountain dew to help us stay awake.
As we got into the car that the government had transport all of the new students, my fatigue slowly faded as I looked at the different shops and signs (all I could read, save that select few kanji characters) that were so different from my own in Richmond. My excitement grew as we drove along the crowded streets. I was in the country I've wanted to visit for so long! Alfred could sense my overflowing happiness.
"Hey, (f/n)? You okay?" He sleepily asked.
"What? Of course. I'm just so happy to finally be there. I mean, here. Argh, I'm just so excited!"
Alfred chuckled. "Yeah, I'm happy, too. I just wish I could read all of this."
A glint appeared in my eyes. "Like, that sign over there?" I pointed to a quaint looking shop. We were at a stop light, so Alfred had a chance to glance at it.
"Yeah. It looks cool, I just don't know what it is."
"That's Mizuki no iryōhinten, or Mizuki's clothing store." I said simply.
Alfred looked at me in wonder. "Y-you can read that stuff?"
I shrugged. "I've been studying the Japanese language since I was ten."
Alfred smiled. "What's that sign say?"
"Ishibashi-san's ramen shop."
"And that?"
"Floral decorations."
"What about that?"
"Alfred, that's a stop sign."
I laughed at my friend's antics as he gave me a sheepish smile.
"What?" he said, feigning ignorance. "How would I know that? It's written in Japanese."
I sighed. "Alfred, you are so dorky."
"I'm taking that as a compliment."
"It was meant as a compliment."
For the rest of the drive to our hotel, Alfred would point out random things and ask what they said or what they were. I had to explain what a washiki, a traditional Japanese toilet, was and how you use it. He found the thought exotic and exciting, but his mood fell when I told him that the bathrooms in the hotel, as well as (I'm hoping) the ones in the school are, in fact, the western-style toilets that we are used to.
We arrived at the hotel, Hana explained who we were, and we took our luggage and such to the room that we'd be staying in.
We entered the living area. Its walls were a pale shade of yellow, and the sink looked freshly clean. The two couches across from each other against the wall were an earthy shade of brown, inviting you to come and take a seat. In the middle of the room, there was a low-set table with four cushions around it, meant for seating. I looked closer and saw that the table's legs could extend, making it taller. I also spotted some chairs in the corner. We explored a bit more, sliding open the screen paper door that separated us from the bedroom. The bedroom was fairly large, as it had to house four people, with a traditional tatami mat covering the floor. It had two queen-sized beds, the covers were stark white, looking awfully comfortable. It was agreed that Hana and I would share a bed, and so would Alfred and Tim.
I learned that Tim spoke fluent Japanese when he was talking with the airport security. As of now, Alfred was the only one who couldn't understand what people were saying.
I could tell that he kind of felt left out because of that, so while Hana and Tim were out buying dinner, I decided to confront him about it. I slid the screen door back, stepping into a room of complete darkness, save for the glow of Alfred's phone.
"Hey, Alfie?" I said, using the cute nickname I thought of on our flight. "You awake?"
Alfred shifts and looks at me from the bed he was laying on. His eyes are red and puffy.
It never occurred to me that he would be crying.
I gasp lightly and rush to his side. Tear marks streak his face. I wrap both of my arms around him as he buries his face into the crook of my neck. I can hear him quietly sniffling.
"Alfie? Whats wrong?" I ask him softly. It takes a moment for him to respond, but I was patient and rubbed circles into his back as he pulled himself together enough to speak.
"I-it's my mom," He says, voice cracking. I send him a questioning glance. He hands me his phone, screen glowing as messages popped up.
He takes one look at the screen and turns away, fresh tears staining his cheeks and dripping down his chin. I start to read the messages. The contact it was on was labeled 'Mom'.
I read through the texts, my heart breaking for both her and Alfred.
Alfred's mom was apparently in a car crash, and she was sent to the hospital. The messages were from the doctor, explaining that she had several broken bones and bruised ribs. She was unconscious at the moment, and they had yet to find out if she was going to slip into a coma. The doctor said that she had taken a blow to the head, and that they were hoping it wasn't too severe.
I looked at Alfred's balled up form, shoulders shaking. I hug him tightly, and he embraces me and cries into the crook of my neck, similar to what he was doing earlier.
"Oh, Alfred...," I say. There isn't much else I can say that would make him feel better.
We sit like that for some time, him crying on my shoulder and me rubbing soothing circles on his back.
"I'm just so worried," He whispers, voice hoarse from sobbing.
"I know," I respond. All of a sudden, his phone's screen lights up and dings, alerting that there was a new text. We both take attention to it. I pick it up and hand it to him, insisting that he should read it first. He nods and takes the device with shaky hands.
He unlocks the screen. His eyes scan the message. He looks up into my eyes.
"They said she's going to be okay," He said softly, a smile breaking out on his face. I embrace him, this time out of happiness. He laughs and snuggles closer to me. After a couple seconds, we break apart and look at each other. He rubs the back of his head sheepishly.
"Thanks for, uh, that," He says. "I know it might be awkward for you, since you kinda just met me..."
"It's no problem. I'd always help my friend, or anyone for that matter, who's in need of comforting."
"No, seriously," He insists. "Not many people would do this, and it's rare for me to get weak like that, especially in front of another person. So, really, thanks."
Your heart was warmed by what he said. You smiled sweetly at him.
"Anything for you, Alfred."
The next day, I walked through the extensive halls in the hotel, trying to find the one that I had stayed in.
"331, 331, where the heck are you?" I mutter to myself as I continue my search.
I was so absorbed in my task of checking the door numbers, I didn't notice the quiet Japanese boy with his nose buried in a brochure walking right towards me until--
SLAM!
I found myself on the ground, my butt sore from being landed on. The room key had slipped out of my grip, and I scurried to pick it up again.
"A-ah, sumimasen! I didn't realize I was going to walk into you," said a startled voice in rapid Japanese. I turn to said voice. It belonged to a short, blushing teen who was also on the ground, with bowl cut raven black hair and chocolate brown eyes with porcelain skin. He was wearing a white shirt and smooth black pants and indoor shoes.
"Oh, don't worry. It was partially my fault, anyway," I responded in English.
The teen looked even more flustered and embarrassed to know that I was a foreigner.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't rearize that you spoke Engrish...," He said as he stood up and grabbed his brochure. His English had a Japanese accent, making his R's sound like L's and his Th's sound like D's. I stood up as well, dusting myself off.
"It's okay! You don't have to apologize for speaking your own language." The teen looks down at me, seeming to take in my appearance. "You're English is really good, though."
If possible, his blush deepened at my comment. "A-arigatō..."
I look at the brochure that he was holding, and realized where I recognized it.
"You're going to Sekai no Akademii, too?"