... AND THEY IMMEDIATELY CLICKED...
"Guys, the day couldn't have been more boring..." Commented Mike, speaking in good-sounding English, instead of the typical Japanese.
This was because he was not speaking to any native students there, but rather to a somewhat unique pair of other people.
"That is true. More than half of all that content was stuff we already knew... I mean, World War I and all. " Replied another boy, already finished organizing his things.
"Fact. But now we can rest a little bit of it all! " The third, with his slightly more positive attitude, made his presence known.
"Yeah, you two are really right ... So what? What are you going to do for now? I mean, after lunch? " Mike asked, taking his bento-style meal from under the table.
"I would ask you the same question ... I think I'll stop by the library and see what's good over there ..." said the first.
"What a surprise, I also thought of going after something in the library!" The second zipped up his bag when he said it.
"Oh? So I think that's it! " Said Mike. "Come on, boys! Let's walk like a trio of egyptians on the very first day!"
Just as the main groups of books and cinema usually go in threes, there was the newest trio formed on the first day of classes at Asahiyama High School.
In the center, walking as if he were the leader of the trio, - when in fact it was just a big coincidence - was Michael, the student coming from Brazil. A boy who can be somewhat dense for certain situations, but who is always accompanied by a light atmosphere. He carried in his right hand the lunch box he had made earlier, and in his left pocket, he felt the small tube-shaped object, which he was supposed to deliver to a certain girl.
"Yeah... I still need to return this." He thought.
To his left, a tall student, representing the USA. Also in his uniform, he stood out thanks to the immense height compared to students of Japan. His name was James Williams, an African-American boy who had been sent to Mike's same classroom as part of the program. He has a way of being somewhat intimidating and serious, but shows being a great person when talked to for more than five minutes. He likes to play sports and is remarkably intelligent.
And on the right, the third and last of the group, representing the Netherlands. Lukas Stout, the shortest and most peaceful-looking of the trio. His temperament was unique, always in a calm state, making anyone believe that he is the type of guy who has gardening as a hobby in the very first minute of conversation. He enjoys reading as his main activity. He is also a member of the same class as the other two.
The trio occupied an empty table in the cafeteria. Everyone else looked at them suspiciously, mainly because of the occasional laugher that fit between conversations in fluent English, a language that the three mastered very well, even though only one of them was a native speaker.
They clicked together from the very start, just as their eyes met in the meeting room... It felt like fate. And then, many words and "wake up paperballs" took over the classroom.
Each one of them was talking about their own country, and comparing it with the other two. During their conversation, Michael was asked to explain how violence and crime work in Brazil.
"... And so is Brazil ... It is as if an RPG screen appeared on your face, showing a mission ..." Mike took a sip of the differentiated soft drink he had purchased from a vending machine. "... I took my cell phone from the repair - already in deep fear, because I had to go there - and that screen popped up in my head: 'Mission: Return home without being robbed!' this is how things work there ... There is always someone on the corner, waiting for you to cross the wrong place ... at the wrong time!" He finished with a light laugh.
James, who laughed out of the corner of his mouth, rested his cola can, and digesting that story, replied.
"Dude, so are all the rumors that talk about Brazil really true? Like, does every brazilian house have a half-bred dog with a caramel-colored fur? It's really like that?" He asked, biting off a piece of a homemade sandwich.
"Look bro... I wouldn't say in every house - that would be going way too far! ... But in every street, yes! Every single holy street has a caramel colored dog that rules over the territory like a boss ... which by the way is almost always accompanied by another smaller and more agressive one, in black fur! I'm telling you!"
Mike finished his strange drink as he said. He had surprisingly liked that thing. The name was "Matcha Soda" and according to the other two, it tasted terribly of grass ... But for some reason, he liked it, even drinking the three cans of it.
"But what about you, Lukas? Do you have anything interesting to say about the Netherlands? What is it like to live there? Is the cold nice?" Asked Michael. He was genuinely curious about it.
"I honestly sometimes can't understand what is up with you, tropical people, to want to know what life is like in a place where everything is just constant waves of cold and lots of snow!" Said Lukas, raising the speed and tone of speech as each word passed.
"He does have a point, though. You guys are addicted to knowing about cold places when there is nothing truly special there for anyone. Snow and cold are too overrated by you tropical people. " James, coming from icy lands as well, agreed with Lukas.
"I mean ... That's exactly what we miss - the cold! That's why I want to know. Japan is not even that cold, and it's already torturing me...! " Mike replied, pretending to be cold as he slid his hands down his arms, joined around his body.
The two others laughed at that. Anyone who saw them would find it amazing how quickly a friendship had been formed. It was almost as if a "sense of community" was created among the students of the exchange program, where they tend to "stick" to each other.
Not to mention the immense luck that they are studying in the same class ... All of this only contributed to the atmosphere of companionship that was being formed.
"Well, since you really want to know, it gets kinda cool when it starts snowing. We play games over frozen lakes and sometimes almost die... Maybe make one or two snow sculptures or so ... And stuff alike, but that's mostly about all. " Said Lukas, picking something on his bag.
"Oh! I could sell my very soul just to see some snow ...! " Mike laid his head on the table, pretending to be disappointed.
"You kinda sold it already, man! We are all in the same rollercoaster, dude... For now it's all fun and games, but i wonder for how long. " Said James, taking another sandwich.
Curious, Lukas looked up and stared at James.
"What do you mean with that?" He asked.
"I mean ..." James stopped eating for a minute, also putting his can down. "These kids are still in the 'surprise' stage of us being here ... Once they snap out of it and realize we are not going away anytime soon, the 'rejection' stage will begin."
This even made Mike give up on complaining and pay attention to what he was saying in such a serious way.
"So you're basically telling us they will go through some "seven stages of acceptance" or something like that? Is that what you mean? " Mike mentally read the writings on the Macha Soda can while saying.
"Yeah, something like that ... Although some of these kids will never truly accept us, or will keep hostility towards certain ones. We will just have to put up with that and survive, I suppose. " James finished his interrupted monologue.
Mike thought about it a little, just as Lukas did. The two had already considered the possibility of suffering some kind of prejudice, but never imagined that this would happen in stages, as in the theory presented.
"First, like i said, we have 'surprise'... They will most likely only stare or so. Then, 'exploring', when they will try and see what we are made of. Next, we have 'rejection', when the bullying will really start. This stage may last for quite long...! Then, hopefully, they will come in terms with us and jump to 'neutrality' or even 'acceptance' - although some of them clearly won't." James elaborated on his theory.
Mike took some time to think, trying to get some leftover Matcha Soda that could, or not, be inside the can.
"Well, guess we can only hope they do..." He said, sticking his tongue inside the can.
"You really liked this thing, huh?" Asked Lukas, feeling nauseous after thinking about the taste.
"What can I say? It's good!"
/
After the meal, it was time for the trio to separate. James was seduced by the idea of checking out the Basketball Club, which by a happy coincidence was in need of some new members.
"That guy is going to be a bomb on their side..." Michael thought. Considering James' towering height of 1,95m, any Japanese team with him in it has an immediate advantage.
Mike and Lukas went to the same place, the school library. Once there, they settled at one of the tables, and each focused on doing one thing.
Lukas started to read a manga. It was a rather cute title, visible from the cover art. In his curiosity, Mike asked what the manga was about.
"What is that one about?" He looked at the cover, which displayed colorful characters smiling together.
"This one? It is about this one girl who is extremely studious and always excels in all tests. Then one day, she is hired as a tutor to teach five guys who are failing, who also happen to be brothers... That's pretty much about it. " Lukas waved the rather thick manga in the air.
"Man..." Mike seemed to hold a disappointed stare at Lukas, almost if portraying pity. "Are you reading shoujo romance?"
In a pretty standard, carefree way, Lukas just stared at him back.
"Why, yes. I am. Want this borrowed later?"
"Sure thing!" ... In the end, showing it was just a facade. "But I'll need to get some things ready, first... I'll take on the offer later."
"And what would that be?" He asked, resuming his reading.
"You know ... That math homework that Yoshida-sensei gave us sounds like trouble, so i'll just try and do this already, or at least start it, i suppose. Just seeing that amount of pages already made me want it done fast."
Lukas shrugged at the explanation, nodding slightly to confirm.
"I see ... So, yeah. Good luck on that. Don't forget to text me the answers later! "
... ... ...
"Excuse me, but this is a very wrong thing to do."
A voice caught their attention. For Mike, that sound had a familiar touch about itself, as if he had heard that voice before, somewhere ... And in a quick movement, he turned back, having a vision that made him question what he had seen earlier ...
"If you don't do your own homework, you'll never learn anything from it. I'm sorry for intruding - as this isn't my business, but I felt like saying it. " She said, holding a couple books closer to her chest.
She was a girl with red hair, vibrant and long, in a somewhat messy style, yet in a harmonious way. She wore star-shaped ornaments on her locks, as well as glasses with red plastic frames.
... But that would be a somewhat common view, so why bother or be surprised by it? Simply, that girl ...
"When did her hair got that long ...?" Mike asked himself, trying to check if he wasn't hallucinating.
She had the exact same face as that girl he had run into earlier ... Almost the same face, actually. Looking closer, Mike could see subtle dark circles and wrinkles of tiredness appearing under her blue eyes, which differentiated her from that past vision.
"Ah ... Uhm ... I'm sorry for that." Lukas tried to apologize.
She was scolding him ... And rather harshly. The mere mention of "copying someone else's answers" almost made that girl's blood boil ... Her presence screamed, like that of a powerful authority.
"Much better now. And please, i ask you not to do that again. You need to conquer your own grades. " She finished, switching her focus to Michael, who was still staring at her figure, trying to figure out who she was. "And you..."
She dangerously approached him, pulling out a chair to take a seat next to him, and wasted no time in asking.
"I just heard you say it must be hard. You can just ask me if you need anything, as I will do my best to assist you. " She said, in a very professional tone for someone who is just a student.
... The truth is that Michael was a little scared by all that change ... How can anyone change their temper in such a way? In a moment, she was deeply mad at Lukas, and now...
"Uh ... No, thanks. I can figure myself out here. It's not that hard anyway. " He tried to evade that.
"Are you sure you don't want my help? I can help you... I can! I want to form a study group and help other students in need. You can join it!" She kept pressuring.
"I appreciate it, but I don't need it. Thank you..."
... But, she didn't stop ... The girl kept getting closer and closer each time, completely disregarding his attempt to reject her help offer ... To the point it was getting really creepy.
"Don't you have any questions? No doubts? I can help you, you know?" She only seemed to more and more desperate at each word... "All you need to do is ask! You don't need to be shy about asking for help! I can teach you if you want- "
"Stop that, please...! You are scaring me!"
... ... ...
Everyone in the room looked at him, who had already grabbed his bag and was getting ready to leave the room in a hurry. In quick steps, Mike picked up his things and left the library, leaving the girl and Lukas there.
Realizing how he had simply run away from her presence, the red-haired girl sat down in the chair he occupied, and holding the strands of hair tightly, looked down in a way that looked full of the most absolute despair...
And, for a moment, she just froze in place.
"Why ... Why doesn't he want my help ...? I can help him ... I can ... Why? Why? Why? "
She was mumbling those words again and again, asking "why?" to herself a thousand times over. From his place, Lukas could see the liquid sparkles on the sides of her drooping eyes.
Soon, she started scratching the sides of her face. However, that was unlike any itch and felt more like pure anxiety and panic.
"Hey, are you-" He tried reaching out to her, extending a hand, but before the Dutch boy could do anything, she just snapped...
"Why?!" She jumped out of her seat, screaming... Not caring at all for the amount of noise being made by such action.
Lukas felt a psychological impact hitting him when he heard that. She seemed to be in extreme pain as she asked about something.
Quickly, the girl also hurried out of that place, holding her own head as if a bomb was about to explode inside it.
...
...
...
Why? Why? Why?
Why did he reject my help? Didn't i do good enough? Haven't i approached him properly? Am i not good enough to teach?
I need to help... I need to make sure everyone can have good grades! I need to teach everyone, to carry on what you wanted of us...
Why? Why all of this? Why did he say "no"? Why didn't he have any questions? Was he shy? He didn't have to be ... I could help! I can help ...! Then ... Why?
Why? Why? Why?
Why ...? Why is this happening to me ...? To us ...? Why do we have to suffer so much? Why?
Is it because we didn't study hard enough? Where you mad at us... at me for not giving results, so you were unnatentive to the bus...?
Was it all my fault ...?
... ... ...
"Is that why you left us, Uesugi-kun ...?"
AUTHOR NOTES
"Little meta here, huh, Author?" Yes, why not?
OC INFO
James Williams
Age - 19
Gender - Male
Country of Origin: United States of America
-Has a "tough guy" look that can be quite intimidating, but reveals to be a gentle giant in no time. He is intellectual and likes to theorize on a wide number of things, being mostly serious.
Likes: Basketball, Introspection and dark drinks.
Dislikes: Crime, Racism and onions.
/
Lukas Stout
Age - 18
Gender - Male
Country of Origin: Netherlands
-Is calm and peaceful, surrounded by an air of quietness. Can still be quite energetic and may attempt to play around every now and then. Is kind and mostly respectful, but can be quite spiteful and cruel in given circumstances.
Likes: Reading, Contemplating nature and sandwiches.
Dislikes: Coffee, Frozen lakes and Liver.