Here's the revised version of the first part of your character introduction:
I want to emphasize that Issei won't be in this story. Instead, I plan to introduce characters from Turkish Mythology, which will lead to some events unfolding differently. However, I aim to maintain the harem event within the ORC without exaggeration, with the main focus being on the relationship with Rias Gremory.
Without further ado, let's begin the tale.
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Chapter 1
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Japan is one of the rare countries that has a deep appreciation for Turks. Why do I say that? Because these two communities have a history of assisting each other during the most challenging times, without expecting anything in return. The Ertuğrul Disaster, for instance, stands as a testament to the resilience of the people in the region, who managed to survive despite the harsh conditions and took care of the 62 military personnel affected by the accident in the 1890s. Over a century later, in 1985, during a conflict in Tehran, 215 Japanese citizens found themselves trapped, and the Turkish nation made the selfless sacrifice to ensure their safe return home. It's a profound and poignant act of kindness, isn't it? Perhaps that's why I was immediately drawn to a certain advertisement when I first encountered it. But enough about history for now.
When I landed at Japan Airport after a long flight, they graciously provided someone to welcome me. Ordinarily, if you're under 18 years old and don't have family accompanying you on the plane, you'd need a guardian. I, however, am 18 years old and have no one to rely on, which might be a bit awkward to admit, but it's the truth. Before coming to Japan, I successfully passed the high school freshman exams in Turkey. Now, I find myself attending the second grade at Kuoh High School, which I thought was just a regular high school, but upon arriving, I was awe-struck by its size and facilities.
"Wow," I thought, "This isn't just a school; it's like an entire city!"
I can only imagine the significant investment that went into creating such a place. The facilities are top-notch, with a gigantic new building, an old building that houses a museum, swimming pool, jogging track, and so much more. Speaking of the swimming pool, I had seen pictures of it on the internet prior to my arrival.
However, what truly surprised me during my initial exploration was the fact that this school had only recently transitioned to co-education. The ratio of girls to boys was quite staggering: 85% girls and only around 15% boys. As I walked further into the school grounds, I couldn't help but notice the girls' whispers as I passed by:
"Who's that?"
"Isn't he so cool?"
"He doesn't look Japanese."
"Look at his physique!"
"How old do you think he is? He looks a bit older."
I could only hope that their comments wouldn't come back to haunt me in the future. My knowledge of Japanese is limited to phrases I picked up from anime, such as "Arigato" (Thanks), "Sugoi" (Great), "Wakatta" (Understood), and "Yamero" (Stop)...
Nonetheless, I was eager to introduce myself properly. After practicing, I approached a female student to inquire about the school principal's office. Of course, I didn't attempt to speak in Japanese; I stuck to English.
"Excuse me! Can you tell me where the school principal's office is?"
The Japanese people are known for their respect, so she responded with a warm smile:
"Of course! If you'd like, I can take you there."
I gladly accepted her offer, as navigating such a massive campus without assistance seemed quite daunting. As we walked together, I took in the surroundings and mentally mapped out the school. After all, one can't always rely on others for help; it's essential to be self-sufficient as well.
Finally, after navigating through corridors and hallways, we arrived at the principal's office. I expressed my gratitude:
"Thank you so much. Without your help, I'd have been completely lost in this school."
"You're welcome. It was evident that you're not from here."
"Indeed. I am originally from Turkey. I applied for a scholarship and was fortunate enough to be accepted."
"Pleased to meet you. By the way, my name is Hanakai Momo."
I remembered that "Momo" might be a given name. In Turkish culture, we don't use surnames when introducing ourselves; it's a sign of respect.
"Halil Bozkurt. You can call me Halil or Bozkurt."
"Understood. Good day, Bozkurt-kun."
It was nice to exchange such polite greetings. I made a mental note to continue learning Japanese to improve my communication further.
"You too, Momo-san."
Did I do it right? Well, I'm still learning Japanese, and I'll undoubtedly get better with time. I already asked her about my question in English, as my Japanese isn't proficient enough yet.
"See you!" she said as she left. I had seen girls with unique hairstyles before, but Momo... her hair was as white as snow. Regardless, there was no denying that she was a beautiful girl.
As she departed, I knocked twice on the door.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in!"
To my surprise, I hadn't expected the school principal to be a woman. However, I soon found myself stunned by her beauty. She had light brown hair, a captivating face that could leave anyone mesmerized, and a perfectly proportioned body that seemed almost too good to be true. I quickly shook my head, trying to clear my mind of any inappropriate thoughts.
"Pull yourself together! She's your teacher, for heaven's sake. What are you thinking, man?"
I introduced myself with a slight hesitation:
"Hello, ma'am! I'm a scholarship student, and I thought it would be best to meet you first upon my arrival. My name is Halil Bozkurt, and I'm from Turkey."
I was sweating slightly, but I managed to convey my message. It felt easier than talking to Momo-san earlier. The principal walked towards me with a warm smile and placed her hand on my shoulder.
"No need to be so nervous. Male students who come to my office for the first time often react this way."
That smile could undoubtedly melt many hearts. What was I thinking? I needed to compose myself, as my face was slowly turning red.
"I mean... I'm just surprised to see such a young and beautiful principal."
Whoa! What am I doing? It's as if I just asked her to marry me. But she seemed to read my mind and smiled back at me. Ahh... my face is probably as red as a tomato.
"Thank you for the kind compliment. Well, let me introduce myself. I'm the Director of Kuoh Academy, Venelana Gremory. It's a pleasure to meet you, Halil Bozkurt-san."
I bowed my head respectfully and replied:
"I'm delighted, Hocam."
Hocam? Did I just say "Hocam" (teacher) in Turkish? What's wrong with me? How would she understand? I scolded myself mentally for my slip-up.
"Excuse me!"
"No need to apologize, Halil-san. You're still getting used to it. By the way, I can know Turkish. So feel free to speak comfortably. Did you mean to say 'teacher'?"
Huu... she knows Turkish! I felt like a weight had been lifted. Well, if she's okay with it, I'll stick to Turkish. Finally, I felt at ease.
"Now I can relax, Hocam."
"I'm glad to hear that. While we received information about you from your previous school, I still wanted to hear about your experiences directly from you, if you don't mind."
Now, the conversation took a serious turn. She wanted to delve into my past, which stirred up a whirlwind of emotions inside me. The image of Risa's face was imprinted in my mind, and talking about it again seemed unbearable.
But she must have sensed my hesitation, as she smiled kindly and said:
"It's alright. I completely understand. Well, consider this conversation never happened. Deal?"
She offered me a gentle smile, and at that moment, I felt like she could be someone I could confide in. My anger was directed solely toward myself for what happened.
And she leaned in, whispering in my ear:
"If you ever want to talk, I'll listen to you until the end."
Her words felt like a soothing balm for my troubled soul. Is this what they call a mother's comforting touch? I had never experienced anything like this before. I didn't want to move at all; I just wanted to stay in her comforting presence.
But I managed to gather myself and lifted my head:
"Thank you for your understanding!"
"It's not a problem at all. As a mother, I can empathize with your situation."
A mother? She's a mother?
"Do you have children, Hocam?"
Her warm smile remained as she replied, "Yes, I have two children. One of them is currently a junior in the 3rd year of high school, and the other is happily married."
I couldn't help but be astonished. How could someone so young and vibrant have a child in the 3rd year of high school? She seemed to be in her mid-20s at most. Trying to hide my surprise, I managed to stammer, "Hocam, you're not kidding me, are you? It's hard to believe. And it looks like you're not lying. I can only tell you one thing: the Creator created you as an example of humanity."
Venelana chuckled gracefully, "Thank you for your kind words. Although I must admit, you're being a little generous with your praise."
My curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but inquire about her background, "Excuse me, Hocam! You're not from around here, are you?"
She nodded with a twinkle in her eyes, "That's correct. I am originally from Norway. My wife and I decided to establish this institution with a mission to discover and support talented individuals. As our students succeed, the school's reputation grows, and that brings us double benefits. Quite clever, don't you think?"
I was in awe of this remarkable woman, who had traveled all the way from Norway to Japan with her wife to create a prestigious educational institution. Not only was she wise and generous, but her beauty and grace were undeniable. Her presence seemed to exude a sense of authority and warmth, making me feel comfortable and accepted.
As our conversation continued, I couldn't help but admire the dedication and passion she poured into her work. Her commitment to nurturing young minds and providing them with opportunities to flourish was inspiring. His husband is a very much lucky man because he has Venelana Gremory. I was very jealous of him, really.
"I think that's enough chatting for now. Let's head to your class. This way, you can start building connections with your classmates."
She's right! I completely forgot to inquire about my class while we were talking.
As we made our way to the classroom, I heard the mysterious voice again:
"Power lies within you. If you don't start growing, enemies will come for you. Be careful, boy!"
Am I going crazy? Where is this voice coming from? It sounded so close as if it were whispering in my ear. What's going on?
"Is everything alright? You look pale."
"No, it's just that air travel can be tiring. But it's nothing to worry about. Shall we go?"
She smiled reassuringly and said:
"Of course! Follow me, will you?"
Easier said than done. I tried my best not to stare at her; after all, hormones were probably in full swing at my age young man.
We descended the stairs, and I saw the sign for Class 2/B. So, this is it? Venelana-san knocked twice on the door and entered. I could hear the whispers from inside:
"What kind of person do you think it is?"
"Is he the transfer student from this morning?"
"Could he be the tall one?"
"I hope he's handsome!"
Well, is it good to be this popular already? Let me take a deep breath. The chatter in the principal's office seemed to last for ages.
And then, the moment came:
"Come in!"
I took a deep breath. Remember, first impressions are essential. I counted to three in my head.
'One... Two... Three...'
I entered the classroom with confident steps. I greeted the class with a cool and composed entrance. Beautiful! Now I wrote my name in Turkish on the board, as I wasn't familiar with Kanji.
-Halil BOZKURT-
And with confidence:
"My name is Halil Bozkurt. I'm delighted to meet all of you."
As I scanned the faces in the classroom, I could feel the excitement and curiosity in the air. I was the new student, after all, and I hoped that this encounter would be the beginning of new friendships and adventures in my life at Kuoh High School.
