My homeroom was full of nothing but strangers this year. Again. Well that's what happens when you move not only to a new city but a new country every year. I hate it; but my parents work for a world wide trading company and it makes us move every year. And you know what's funny? Every year they say, "This is the last time, you get to stay there this time," but it's never true. So in a year's time we move again. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love seeing the world and learning about all the different cultures. That's great. It's just that, I wish I could settle down and I could make some friends and really get used to living in one place. Instead I always feel like I'm on some sort of extended vacation that never ends and while vacations are great you have to come back to reality at some point. And I never do. This year we're in Japan and I don't know why but I feel like we might actually stay here this time. I hope so.
So anyway here I am on the first day of my first year of high school in Japan; where I've never been before and therefore know no one. Even though it's everyone's first day I still have to stand in front of the class and introduce myself which is still awkward for me because I'm shy and self conscious.
"Hi, I'm Anato Yuhiko and I just moved to Japan about a week ago." I announced in perfect Japanese. At least this year I don't have to learn a new language. Thanks dad. My dad is Japanese so I learned the language from him while growing up. My mother is American so I can speak English fluently too.
I finish saying whatever else I need to say and go take the one empty seat in the back wondering whether I seemed too nervous.
I sit down and inwardly curse myself for forgetting the new book I bought yesterday for this very occasion. Homeroom.
Just as I prepared to endure what I expected to be a long boring period, my unhappy thoughts, which were dwelling on the forgotten book at home, were interrupted by a high, cheerful voice saying,
"Hi Ana-chan! I'm Momiji Sohma!"
It was the boy sitting to the left of me. Wait he was a boy wasn't he? He had blonde hair, looked like he was in middle school, and was wearing a girl's uniform so I wasn't sure. I was also surprised that this stranger had given me a nickname. I'd never had one before.
"Um, hi Momiji-san." I responded. I wasn't sure what else to say so I was glad that the person, whom I had decided was indeed a boy, went on to say,
"I'm really excited to start high school aren't you?" then before I could respond, "Where did you come from? Did you like it there? What was it like? Why did you come here instead? Do you like it here in Japan?"
Then on the other side of me a deeper, calmer voice said,
"Momiji, slow down. You're asking too many questions too fast. She can't even answer."
I turned to see another peculiar boy, because this one was definitely a boy; he was wearing the right uniform and everything. He had mostly white hair but I could see black hair underneath it in the back, which intrigued me.
"Oh you're right, sorry Ana-chan. This is my cousin Hatsuharu Sohma but we just call him Haru." Momiji explained.
"Hi Haru." I said.
"Hello Ana-chan, nice to meet you." Haru said as he bowed to me. I quickly bowed back and said,
"Nice to meet you too." He's so polite. I thought. And he used my new nickname. The nickname would take getting used to.
"So where did you come from, Ana-chan?" Momiji asked again.
"Well last year I lived in Denmark. That was fun. They have the best amusement park in Copenhagen called Tivoli; it was great. Also in Denmark you bike everywhere." I ranted unexpectedly. It was unexpected for me because I'm so shy, however it was also unexpected for Momiji and Haru for a different reason.
"Last year? You lived somewhere else the year before that? Momiji inquired.
"Yep. And the year before that and the year before that and the year before that and so on." I replied.
"Why?" Momiji wanted to know.
"Because of my parent's job. The company they work for has us move to a new country every year always saying that, 'This time you can stay,' and always sending us away a year later." I told him rather gloomily.
"Wow! So you've been all over the world? That's so cool!" he cried excitedly, his eyes becoming huge as he started jumping up and down in his seat.
I giggled at how happy he looked and said,
"Yeah, it's pretty cool getting to see all these countries and learn their cultures. And I'm really happy that I get to be in Japan because I've always wanted to go to Japan. I love manga and anime and Japan is just awesome anyway. I mean, I love Japanese music as well as the culture of Japan and I'm amazed at how successful Japan is economically. I was actually really excited when I got all my money converted to yen. And- oh, wow I probably sound like some tourist don't I?" I finished my rant sheepishly. I was surprised that I had talked so freely. Who knows? Maybe my shyness is going away. I thought hopefully but doubtfully. If my shyness had gone away then I wouldn't be so embarrassed.
"Well yes, except most tourists don't speak fluent Japanese." Haru pointed out.
"Oh that's because my dad is Japanese so I learned the language as a child along with English because my mother is American." I explained.
"Wow! You know, you're really interesting Ana-chan!" Momiji exclaimed happily.
"Yes you are." Haru agreed lightly.
"Oh, well thank you!" I said surprised. "I don't know how interesting I really am but thanks."
"No, you're fascinating Ana-chan! Really, you are!" His eyes got all huge again. "It's not everyday you meet someone who's traveled all around the world! And you're really pretty too!" He added.
I started to blush and got really bashful,
"Aww, thank you, Momiji-kun." I smiled feeling almost embarrassed. People don't give me many compliments because they don't talk to me in general since I'm so not talkative.
For a moment Momiji looked like he was about to glomp me but from behind my back Haru gave him a warning look that said, "Don't do it." So instead he danced around in his chair squealing about how cute I was which caused me to do the same thing only thinking of him, so we looked like a couple of squealing idiots dancing in our chairs. Then the bell rang and I started to worry about finding my way to class. Luckily I had my next class with both Momiji and Haru; in fact I had all my classes with them. I was relieved when I found that out because it would mean that I was less likely to get lost and more importantly I would get to spend more time with my new friends. Never, for as long as I can remember, have I made friends so quickly. It almost made me giddy!
The morning classes went by without incident. Then at lunch Momiji and Haru introduced me to their friends, two of which were also cousins of theirs.
"Ana-chan, Ana-chan! Come here you have to meet everyone!" Momiji yelled as he dragged me over to a group of older students.
"Everyone this is Anato Yuhiko she just moved to Japan recently! Ana-chan, this is Tohru Honda, " he said pointing to a nice looking brown haired girl, "Yuki Sohma," who was an older also very girlish though beautiful, purple haired boy, "Kyo Sohma," an orange haired boy who kept giving death glares to the boy named Yuki, "Uotani Arisa," a blonde haired girl who wore a mask and a long skirt that kind of made her look like a Yankee, "and Hanajima Saki," who had beautiful jet-black hair, wore all black clothes, and had an otherworldly aura about her. As Momiji introduced each person I gave them a small wave or at least I would have if the kind looking Tohru hadn't given me a huge hug. Yuki politely said, "Nice to meet you, Miss Yuhiko," Kyo said, "Yeah, yeah hi," as he turned his head away, Uo patted me on the head and said, "Hey kiddo don't worry about orange top over there. He's always like that," Hana said to me, "Hello Ana-chan, you have very nice electric waves."
I was a little overwhelmed and didn't quite know how to respond to so much attention all at once. Eventually they all calmed down and started asking the same questions Momiji had asked which I answered still a little flustered.
When I got home, for the first time in a while I had a lot to tell my parents. They listened and seemed very happy that I had made so many new friends.
Exhausted I went to bed feeling excited for what tomorrow would bring and what would happen with my new friends.