II.
The days of unpacking passed quickly, and a week later, her mother brought up the idea of school. This was not fondly received by either of the girls, for an inability to speak the language would greatly effect the ability to make friends. Even worse, they still missed their old friends from their homeland. However, there was nothing to be said, as Mother quickly recruited a translator to aid them in classwork, and signed them up for the best school in the area. Education had always been a value of hers.
Which was why Madi and Monoe found themselves huddled together, walking along the street to the local bus stop, wrapped in their scarves and hats, hiding from the wind in swaddling winter clothes. They caught the bus, and approximately an hour later, arrived at the school. After checking in to their respective classes, Madi found herself alone, being introduced to the ranks of strangers with strange tongues. Her translator, a tall, thin man who looked native-American, and walked with a hunch, guided her to her spot.
She looked around from her spot, at the two girls next to her. On her left there was a girl approximately her height, with the pigtails, but a school uniform, a sad expression, and black hair. On the right, a short, squat girl with a dyed blond pony-tail, and a green outfit. She and Madi were the only ones in the classroom not wearing the black-and-white uniform. Madi was wearing her usual purple skirt and red skirt, her brown hair in the same pigtails as the girl on the left.
The lesson passed slowly, but after awhile, the lunch cue occurred, signaling a rush for the door. Madi followed slowly, and the girl from the left dropped back to her, and spoke, surprisingly, in Madi's own tongue.
"Hello, Madotsuki, I'm Monoko. I learned your language privately a few years ago. It's nice to have someone else who knows it. Do you want to be friends?"
This strangely matter-of-fact monolog reminiscent of a kindergarten class caught Madi of guard. But she decided manners were the best option.
"That would be delightful. You can call me Madi, okay? It's shorter."
"Thank you, Madi. Call me Mono Here, follow me, I'll show you how our cafeteria works."
"Why, thank you, Monoko. It's much more pleasant to talk to you than that scary man who was hired for me."
This was, of course, overheard by the slightly frightening Mister Akai, following behind shortly in case of need. The man was quite kindly at heart, and decided his skills were only needed in the classroom. Therefore he left the girls, and headed for the staff lounge.
The girls went through the cafeteria, and sat in the corner of the room to eat. As they ate, the girl with dyed blond hair came over to them and sat down. Madi noticed Monoko's expression change from sad to slightly scared. The blond girl pointed at herself, and stated one word. "Poniko". Monoko turned to Madi, and said "That's Poniko... she's the best student in class, and everyone obeys her."
Poniko looked at Monoko and spoke a few strange sentences, and turned back to Madi. Monoko's expression went from scared to terrified. "She wants me to translate for her. You are to listen to everything she says."
A long string of rules and regulations of the school's social circles flowed out of Poniko, translated for Madi by Monoko. It was quite annoying, and Madi, already fed up with the new land, interrupted and told Monoko a few choice words for Poniko. Poniko, however, apparently already knew what those words meant, and went from governing to conniptional. She swung her tray across the table, and hit Monoko in the stomach. Madi, surprised at the reaction, and concerned for Monoko, pushed her out of the way and turned to Poniko. She grabbed the tray in the next swing, and tossed it aside. Poniko saw the anger in her eyes, and backed away, surprised at her disarmament. She said a few more lines, and returned to the group.
Monoko stumbled to her feet, and hastily tried and failed to wipe off a blood trail from her mouth before Madi saw it.
"She says she'll get you back for that."
"I don't care."
The two girls went to the nurse's office for Monoko to recover. Madi looked in her eyes and seen she had won a friend. She remembered Poniko's face, and knew she had won an enemy. She would not tell Monoe about this.