Disclaimer: I do not owe Assassination Classroom.
III.
I was currently sitting on my mother's lap and attempting to read a children's book. I was really trying to learn how to read Japanese. If I was already in Japan I was going to master the language. No more animes with subtitles!
I was first learning the phonetic alphabet. The hiragana came easy to me, but I had problems in putting the words together. My mother was watching me with fond eyes and amusement, as I was struggling to understand the simple words.
''Kaa-san!''
''Hai, Sayo-chan?'' I had finally enough. Urgh, my brain...
''Kaa-san, please read this for me! Reeaaally slow, please,'' I requested. I was going to trace the hiragana during her reading. I was tired of staring at those letters.
After a few more books my mother wanted to do something else.
''How about some food? I have some sakura mochi.''
I nodded. The whole thing was getting boring anyway and I understood the most things now. Seriously, my attention span was very short. A book could hold my interest very long but if I was doing something else I would drop it after a few minutes. It was seriously annoying. At least I was able to pick up the language skills I wanted.
My mother was getting the snacks from the kitchen and left me alone for a while. It seemed a bit irresponsible but my parents knew about my advanced level of intelligence. They even encouraged me and helped me with everything I wanted to learn. It reminded me of my old family where my parents just did the same, as long as they saw a use in it. They had supported me with my life choices and didn't question them. Even if my old mother had been a worrywart.
I was spacing out again I noticed. I should probably do something against it. We wouldn't want some pervert attacking me while I was thinking.
My mother came back into the room with a plate of sakura mochi. I wasn't a fan of sweets but mochi had wormed its way into my heart. It wasn't too sweet and you could enjoy it wonderfully with tea.
As I munched on my treat a question popped into my head.
''Kaa-san? What is our family name?'' It was random, but I wanted to know.
''Kitani,'' she answered. '' Written with the kanji for tree and the kanji for valley.'' She wrote it down for me.
''Ok, Kaa-san? Can we buy more books for me? Those at home are boring.''
''Sure, Sayo-chan. Do you have something in mind?''
I pondered about that. I had no idea actually. Maybe something with fantasy or more realistic books?
''No, kaa-san!'' I answered in the end. ''Can you choose some for me? I don't know what to read.'' my answer came slowly and carefully pronounced. I still had to get a good grasp on my pronunciation.
''I can do that for you,'' my mother was now smiling at me.
''Thank you!'' I beamed up to her.
I was going to burry my nose in books because spending my whole time sleeping, eating and playing was getting boring. Suddenly, reliving childhood and puberty again didn't seem so fantastic anymore...
Must control those depressing thoughts! I was going to be positive about it. Maybe I should get an additional hobby. Something to look forward to and to distract myself. Well... Hobbies for a two years old... Maybe I was going to go with books first.
A year passed by. I had been studying seriously and could now read slightly advanced books for fourth graders and wasn't that a progress? My mother had said she was going to work again and would send me into a kindergarten, since there was no one to watch after me. I was maybe a little kid with an adult's mind, but that didn't mean I hadn't had any childish, destructive ideas. I had ruined our couch with my sudden urge to be creative. The color was never going to be the same again.
I wasn't so sad about me going to kindergarten, but a small childish part in me whispered, that she was abandoning me for her work.
So when I stood in front of the building, I was reluctant to leave her side. My father was there too, so that he could see me on my first day outside on my own. I think my mother was tearing up. Her eyes had gained a wet glimmer and her lips were slightly trembling.
''Behave on your first day, will you? I just want to hear good things about you, when I come to get you, ok?'' my mother was rambling. ''Do you have your bag? Your books? And do you have your jacket? Yuiichiro, did you check the numbers on the list that we packed inside her bag? And-''
''Calm down, Kana. Sayo-chan will be fine. She has a good head on her shoulders,'' reassured my father my mother. My father, Kitani Yuiichiro, was a cool-headed and easygoing man and could calm my mother, Kana, with just a few words.
''Yes, I know, darling, but that doesn't keep me from worrying about our little girl. She's growing up so fast.''
I let my parents their little moment of melodramatics. It was just kindergarten and not like me going to the other end of the world. They would see me in a few hours again. I stared at the outer gate. This was the next step into my new life. Hopefully it wouldn't be too boring. I had my books with me after all.
''Sayo-chan!'' my mother called out to me. ''We will be going now. Be brave, alright?''
Nodding, I started trotting towards the building. This was going to be easy.
It wasn't exactly easy. The other children weren't as advanced as me, and I had problems fitting in. I wasn't going to sit there and listen to them rambling. I didn't have the patience for that. I noticed that I didn't have the patience for many things, probably from being a little kid again. Things were never going fast enough for me. That was kind of annoying.
As some kids approached my table, where I was reading my book, I didn't look up to them. Maybe it was mean but wasn't interested in their childish games.
''Wanna play with us?'' asked a little boy. He seemed to be the leader of the group and quite popular looking at the way other kids were crowding around him.
''No, thank you. I want to read my book,'' I responded a little awkwardly. I didn't think I would fit in this. I wanted to spend my time reading and just interacting with them as little as possible. Nothing against kids, but I just didn't want to.
The boy looked a bit dejected, but seemed to bounce back to being cheerful again.
''Ok, next time!''
The day went over quite fast. I had read my book and participated in the group games but nothing more. When we were released, I saw my mother already standing there. Quickly, I approached her.
''Kaa-san!''
''Oh, Sayo-chan.'' she swooped me into her arms. ''How was your first day?''
''It was boring. The others were so slow!''
''Oh, is that so? Did you get any new friends?''
''No,'' I responded. I was going to be truthful. ''I just read my book.''
''My, my, Sayo-chan, you should befriend someone at least, you know?''
''Yes, I know, kaa-san, but not here. Maybe when I'm older.'' I didn't really intend to get to know a few toddlers.
My mother sighed. ''As long as you're happy, but one day you should come home with a friend, ok?''
''I got it.'' Yeah, one day I was going to have a few friends, but let's wait a bit.
I had a lot of time.
The next chapter is out. I'm going to describe her childhood a bit. Next chapter she's going to meet someone from canon. I'm sure you all know him.
Wish you a nice day!
-Yuki
Edited: 2/14/2016