'Well, this is the place.'
Looking at the small house, it actually didn't appear as terrible as you imagined. It was "kind of" worn down and out of place compared to the street with shops left and right of the home, not in a residential neighborhood-the place was cute and rustic, to say the least. You lightened up at the sight of a balcony on the second story and was looking forward to seeing what the view from up there was like. Figuring you spent enough time stalling, your focus switched back to the front entrance as you dragged your weight in carry-on's up to the porch of the residence. Your pulse began to race. 'Focus, focus. Just be nice and remember what you practiced and you'll be fine. You are fine.' With a shaky inhale you knocked on the front door and braced yourself, fighting back the anticipation that was building up inside your chest.
Chp 1 | The First Impression
NOTE: italic for English speaking, ()'s for some Japanese translations. _'s for unknown words in Japanese
"Just a _!" a gentle call followed by the sound of footsteps could be heard from inside and you took in one last calming breath in. The front door slided open, you smiled [but then you remembered the mask covering half of your face] to the elderly woman as she greeted you and bowed your head. "Good evening, Matsuno-san. I am the foreigner from the Mr. Flag's work study program." You looked up and noticed her complexed expression behind her circular specs, and you slightly panicked. "Uh, I-I am here to homestay in your home?" 'Oh no. This is the right house, right? I tripled checked the direc-'
"Oh, that's right!" Matsuyo spoke up, and you concentrated very hard to get the gist of what she was about to say, "I'm so sorry. My N.E. had told me about you. Please, come in!" 'Whew!' You thought you were going to faint. Exhaling out and bowed again in relief as you walked inside the home. "Arigatou (thank you)." Remembering the proper etiquette videos, you took off your shoes and set them next to the eight pairs lined up by the entrance. How many family members were said to be living here again? The place seems too small to fit this many people. And what did she say about N.E. ? What language is-
Matsuyo had just asked you something while you were distracted and you only picked up the words, "Make you tea?"
"Y-yes, please." Your mouth stretched to an awkward smile which the nice woman couldn't see as she left gestured you to wait in the room to your right. Kneeling down at the coffee table (or kotatsu), you draped your criss-crossed legs underneath the blanket and sighed. It was sooo warm, your socked feet and chilled jeans just absorbed the heat. You decided not to move from this spot for a while and craned your neck around to observe the neat and tidy living room. To your left was the T.V propped up on a stand and to your right was another doorway, which you assumed led to the kitchen. The pink hand chair in the corner seemed to pop out the most to you, not because the chair itself. 'Is...is that porn?' You leaned forward and found you were indeed right, those were boobs were you seeing on that magazine cover over there.
"Here you are! _ _ _, the tea is hot." Matsuyo set your tea down in front of you and was puzzled when you didn't turn to thank her. She uttered something and looked to the object of your main focus, her round face turned red. "Oh my-NEETS!" her sudden shout gave you a start, almost falling to your side. You watched as she quickly excused herself to go elsewhere. The moment she shut the door, you could hear hurried footsteps and muttered voices moving all around the house while all you can do was wait patiently. With a sigh, you leaned your elbows against the table and let your fingers embrace the hot cup of tea. It singed your skin but it felt nicer compared to the numbness your fingertips had to deal with earlier. You gazed down into the green liquid, letting the steam kiss away the cold sweats your mask and beanie did well to conceal. The minutes that passed sitting in the cozy home was the most peace and isolation you had since you got here, and you were enjoying every millisecond of it. Attempting to ignore the persons shuffling into the room from behind, you blew into the steamy cup of green tea. The noise they were emitting got louder and louder however, and it was all concentrated in the space across from you. A chorus of screaming, rambunctious men was all it took for you to lose all patience in five seconds flat.
"HEY." your voice raised close to a shout, "What is wrong?" This wasn't exactly what you wanted to say, but it was the first phrase that came to mind. Setting your tea down, you glanced up to see multiple people's gazes turn towards you. You blinked, blinked...and blinked. You rubbed your eyes yet every time you looked, you saw the same thing. Five young men frozen in place, all trampled over each other, trying to grab for the dirty magazine that has now fallen onto the table with its pages wide open for you to...avoid staring at. The men were all very flustered and surprised-as if they didn't know you were in the room till right then. Well, this was awkward but that wasn't the problem. You pulled out the mini dictionary in you pocket that contained multi-colored sticky notes at the top. When you found the words and phrases you needed to know, you read, "I'm sorry I yelled,"
"You mean, 'I'm sorry I screamed'?"
"AHHH!"
To Be Continued After This Commercial-less Break