Chapter 21 – Learning Your Half-Native Language
Nodoka's POV
"Ugh…my head. This is too damn much. I want to stop."
"Come on, Miharu-san. You can't stop now." I said to her as she fell back-first on the floor.
"But Nodoka! This crap is infuriating and confusing! I don't get how these tiny-ass scribbles are a freaking language!"
"They're not that tiny…" I gained a sweatdrop.
This particular Sunday was not a normal day for me. I've been tasked to help teach Miharu-san how to speak Japanese before she and the other Light Music Club members head out for Okinawa. I honestly don't get why me of all people. I'm still just as confused now as I was that Wednesday morning.
*WEDNESDAY…*
"You want me to help teach Miharu-san Japanese?"
"I know this sounds sudden, Nodoka-senpai…" Azusa-san said to me. "…But we're leaving for Okinawa next week and Miharu-senpai has proven time and time again that her lack of Japanese is a dangerous thing."
R-Right. Yui did tell me about the mistranslation thing earlier…
"But why not ask the other members?"
"*sigh* Well, to be completely honest…I have high doubts that they would be of any help. The four of them aren't really the productive type. Learning from past experiences."
"I-I see…" I gained a sweatdrop. Knowing that statement is true with at least Yui. From past experiences.
"Well, even if you make that point, Azusa-san…I can't possibly do such a thing on my own."
"Oh, don't worry. I'll help, too. After all, she is my…m-my…m-m-my…g-girl…friend…" Azusa-san then started blushing.
"You're still not used to that?"
"G-Give me a break. S-Six months ago, the possibility of being a lesbian never crossed my mind."
"That's true."
A lot of things seemed to have changed since Miharu-san moved here…
"Manabe-san."
"Oh. Good morning, Tachibana-san." I greeted the classmate as she walked up to us.
"Oh hello, uh…Nakano-san, was it? What are you two talking about?"
"I was just asking Nodoka-senpai if she could help teach Miharu-san Japanese."
"Oh, really? Well, I can help out with that."
"S-Seriously?" We both asked in shock.
"Sure, I don't mind. Hirasawa-san struggles with Japanese herself sometimes and often asks me for help. So, I have some tutoring experience from that."
"How does a Japanese girl struggle with Japanese?" Azusa-san mumbled to herself.
"Wow, okay then. Thank you, Tachibana-san." I was still shocked that someone was willing to volunteer to help us teach a foreigner Japanese. I still don't understand why Azusa-san thought I would be the best for this job. But I guess I'm just helping out a friend.
"By the way, Tachibana-san. Did you need anything from me?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Hirasawa-san…sent me this text last night and I was hoping you knew what it meant. You know…since you're her childhood friend and all."
"Okay…let me see."
Tachibana-san pulled up the text she got from Yui and…well…even after reading it multiple times, I had no idea what it was supposed to mean.
""Sometimes, you have to just walk your potato. Because it might just be the only thing there."? What?"
"Walk your…potato?" Azusa-san was just as confused as I was.
"I was looking for spiritual quotes to use for an upcoming paper and Hirasawa-san suggested that. Though, I have no idea what it means."
"Uh…I see." I said. "Well, sorry, Tachibana-san. I don't…really understand it myself."
"Oh. Okay, then." Tachibana-san then turned to the classroom. "No dice. She doesn't know."
"Aw, man." The rest of the class whined.
"Wait, did she send that quote to the ENTIRE class?!"
"She posted it onto the class chat room and it's been bugging us all throughout the night. Hence why I asked you."
"Yui-senpai. You are truly something else." Azusa-san said with a facepalm.
"I second that, Azusa-san. I really do." I said with a bigger facepalm of my own. Probably big enough to break the glasses on my face.
Just what goes on in that head of hers? I really want to know.
*PRESENT TIME*
And so, here we are. And by "we", I mean myself, Miharu-san, Azusa-san, and Tachibana-san. All gathered up at my house on a late Sunday morning reading through a bunch of workbooks on how to speak Japanese.
Well, it's not like I had anything else to do. Plus, I am helping out a friend with…
"Geez, Nodoka. You sure have a lot of pictures of you and Yui on here. Heh. You kinda look like a dork in this one."
"Wh-What the? G-Get off my phone!" I yelled as I snatched my phone out of Miharu-san's hands. "H-How did you guess my security code, anyway?!"
"I just looked at you and thought of the numbers that fit you personally. 12261991."
"Th…Th-That's my birthday!"
"Seriously?"
"Yes. December 26, 1991. I can't believe you guessed that right just by looking at me. I'm honestly creeped out by that."
"So, you can pretty much guess what our birthdays are just by looking at us?" Azusa-san asked.
"I guess. I mean, I didn't know that Nodoka's security code was her birthday. That was just a lucky guess."
"Geez. Now I gotta change my password." I said in an exhausted tone.
"Okay, then. What are my special numbers?"
"Uh…" Miharu-san took one good look at Azusa-san before coming up with an answer. "…11111992."
"Wh-Why so many ones?" Tachibana-san asked.
"B-Because that's MY birthday." Azusa-san said. "November 11, 1992."
"Really now?" Miharu-san began laughing a little. "I guessed my girlfriend's birthday without any effort whatsoever. That's pretty badass, don't ya think?"
"W-Well, when you put it that way…" Azusa-san began to blush.
"Okay, now I'm curious. What are my numbers, Miharu-san?" Tachibana-san asked.
"Well…looking at you, Himeko, I'd say your numbers are…03171990."
"March 17, 1990…wait, a second. Tachibana-san…are you 19?" I asked.
"And in your third year of high school?" Azusa-san asked.
"Hehhehheh. I, uh…failed the third grade once." Tachibana-san rubbed the back of her head.
"Woah." We were all no doubt surprised.
"Lunch is ready, everyone." As that was going on, Ui came into the living room with a tray of food. Spending her time making lunch for us as we did this.
"Thanks, Ui." I said. "You know…you really didn't have to do this."
"It's okay, Nodoka-san. Onee-chan and the others are busy with a study session with Mio-senpai. So, I had nothing else to do."
"You didn't go over to Jun?" Azusa-san asked.
"She's with Mikuru-chan, oddly enough. The two went to go pick out a Mother's Day gift for Tamura-san."
"Oh. Well, that's nice of her." Tachibana-san said.
"I guess. But why did she ask Jun? She isn't exactly the best choice for gift-giving advice."
"I'm not entirely sure myself, Azusa-chan."
"*sigh* So, that's what Mikuru was doing. No wonder she didn't tell me…"
"Huh? Did you say something, Miharu-san?" I asked.
"Huh? O-Oh, no. I-I was just…t-talking to myself. Y-Yeah, that's it. Nothing to, um…w-worry about." She then sighed again.
"You sound sad, Miharu-san. Is something bothering you?" Tachibana-san asked.
"N-No. I'm fine."
"You don't really sound like it, Senpai." Ui said.
"I-I'm fine. Really, I am. Let's just…get back to this Japanese thing."
"Um…okay, then. If you say so." I was still pretty positive that Miharu-san was upset about something. But I didn't pursue much further. I'm not the type of person to interrogate people until they give in.
…
D-Despite what Yui says.
About two hours later, we decided to take another break. Miharu-san was slowly getting used to speaking Japanese. Only getting out one word at a time. But it's something. Considering that she knew absolutely nothing earlier this morning.
But there was a reason why we decided to stop. Miharu-san's depressed aura was getting the best of us. Something was clearly bothering her. And as her friend and student council president, it felt like my duty to help her.
…
Although...talking to her directly was going to get us nowhere. So, as she was in the bathroom, I went with the next best thing.
"You think I know what's wrong with Miharu-senpai?"
"Well, you are her girlfriend, Azusa-san." I said to her. "Other than Mugi, you're the only person to be with her a lot."
"She must've told you something, Azusa-chan." Ui said. "Maybe something about herself is making her upset."
"W-Well…" Azusa-san went silent for a bit. "…sh-she did tell me a few things. Back during the welcome party. But I promised her that wouldn't tell anyone. She doesn't want anyone to know…yet."
"Yet?" We asked.
"She wants to tell…but at the same time, she doesn't. It's kinda complicated for her."
"Hmm…I see." I said. "Guess I should've known this wouldn't be easy."
"What wouldn't be easy?"
"Gah! M-Miharu-san!" I panicked as she spoke up behind me. "W-We were just uh…"
"*sigh* It's fine, Nodoka. I heard enough."
"How much did you hear?" Tachibana-san asked.
"I heard Azusa explain that she promised to not tell anyone. That's about it."
"I'm sorry, Miharu-san." I said. "It's just…something was clearly bothering you and it was starting to become noticeable."
"Extremely noticeable." Ui added.
"*sigh* Bon sang. I really suck at keeping my emotions to myself."
"Senpai…" Azusa-san said in a worried tone.
"No, it's fine, Azusa. I guess I can explain it a little."
Explain? Sh-She's actually going to tell us? We weren't going to force her or anything, but…maybe now we can try to help her in some way.
"Well, first off…I'm sure that Azusa already told you that I told her back at the welcome party, right?"
"Yes." The three of us replied.
"Well…other than her, Mugi, Mikuru, and Yoriko, I've kept this a secret until now. The reason why I moved to Japan."
"There's a reason?" Ui asked.
"Yeah, there is. And that reason being…m…m-my mom."
"Your mom?"
"She was born here. And spent most of her life here. She even went to Sakuragaoka when she was my age."
"Wow. That's pretty cool, Miharu-san." Tachibana-san said.
"But…why are you living with Tamura-san and not your mother?" I asked.
"W-Well…th-that's because…my mother…died. Before I moved here, to be exact."
"O-Oh. I-I see…" Now I felt really bad for asking.
"Like with most people, my mom was everything to me. Every night before going to bed, she would tell me stories of her life here in Japan. Her school life, what my grandparents were like, all the places she went to, all the things she did…she even explained how she met Yoriko. And that one's my personal favorite." Miharu-san then giggled a little.
"Whoa…" We all said.
"But the main part is…before she died, she told me that one day she would take me on a trip here. As it was always a dream of hers to have me experience the Japanese lifestyle. But then she got sick. And never got the chance. So, I convinced my dad to let me fulfill that dream. My mom's final wish. And so, here I am. A mostly French girl living in Japan. Kinda cliché, huh?"
"Cliché? Senpai, that's a really good thing you're doing." Azusa-san said to her girlfriend.
"You're just saying that because you're my girlfriend."
"She's right, Miharu-senpai." Ui said. "It's really sweet that you're fulfilling your late mother's final wish."
"Most people would be too depressed to do such a thing." Tachibana-san added.
"Well, I admit. I was depressed about it for a little while. I mean, who wouldn't be? One of your parents died of an incurable illness without ever making their dreams come true. It freaking hurts a lot."
Miharu-san then sat down and leaned her head on the table in a depressed position. Letting out another sigh before continuing.
"None of this was ever on my mind. At least, not to this extent. But when Ui said that Jun was helping Mikuru look for a Mother's Day gift for Yoriko…"
"Oh…I get it now. This is going to be your first Mother's Day without your mom, huh?" I asked. To which, Miharu-san replied with a simple depressed nod.
"I see. So, that's the reason." Ui said. Feeling guilty for bringing that fact up so nonchalantly before.
"Don't feel bad about it, Ui. I'm sure a lot of people are doing it now than at the last minute. It makes sense when you think about it."
Even if you say that, Miharu-san…this isn't something you can just suppress within your mind so easily. I want to help…but I can't possibly relate to what you're going through. For one, both of my parents are still alive.
If only there was a way…to help you somehow…
"I wish deatta kono basho de
Go fight inochi ga moeru made
I don't forget hateshinai tabi e
Promise to you chikai wa hitotsu ni"
We all then stared at Miharu-san with huge looks of shock on our faces. Not believing what we just heard.
"Wh-What?"
"Wh-What did you just say?" I asked her.
"What, that? Those were lyrics to a song that my mom would sing to me often. Thinking of her made me think of that song. Why, what's wrong?"
"N-Nothing's wrong. It's just…you were speaking Japanese just now."
"Huh? Really?"
"Well, there was some English there, too. It's kinda hard to tell."
"What's the next line of the song, Senpai?" Ui asked.
"Um, well…I think it went like…" Miharu-san went silent for a bit.
Then, like the last time…
"Kanashimi no kazu dake kizuna ga musuba reru
Megami-sama ga oshiete kureta"
"Th-That was full-on Japanese!"
"Was that really Japanese? I honestly had no idea what those words were. But I was always able to say them perfectly. Probably because Mom sang them to me a lot."
"You seriously couldn't tell that your JAPANESE-BORN mother was singing to you a JAPANESE song…IN JAPANESE?" Azusa-san asked in disbelief.
"M-My parents never taught me Japanese, okay? Lay off."
"Well…at least Miharu-san knows Japanese." Tachibana-san said. "To an extent."
"Yeah, but that "to an extent" part isn't going to help much in Okinawa." Azusa-san said.
"Hmm…" I thought for a moment as I kept this newly discovered trait of Miharu-san's in my head. I then gained an idea and started flipping through the pages of one of the workbooks. "Hey, Miharu-san. Try reciting this sentence but as a song."
"Huh? A song?"
"I have a theory. Maybe if you think of that song your mom used to sing to you, it will help you learn Japanese faster."
"Oh, I get it." Azusa-san said. "Give it a try, Senpai."
"Well…okay, I guess." Miharu-san read the sentence I picked out. Then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
I hope this works…
"Mise ni ikimashita. Soshite pan o katta. Sugoku oishikattadesu."
"H-Holy crap! It worked!"
"M-Miharu-san actually spoke Japanese!" Tachibana-san said in the same shocked tone.
"I honestly just replaced the next line of the song with the sentence Nodoka picked out. I'm actually shocked myself."
"Well then, Miharu-san." I gained a confident grin as I pushed up my glasses. "If this strategy is the way to go, then we're going to abuse it as much as possible."
"A-Abuse?"
"Oh. Good idea, Nodoka-senpai." Azusa-san said. "Let's use this up until we can't no more, Miharu-senpai."
"G-Guys…" Miharu-san gained a sweatdrop.
"Ooh. It looks like you're in for a huge study session, Miharu-san." Tachibana-san said.
"Yes, indeed." Ui said. "I'll go prepare some more food for everyone."
"H-Himeko…U-Ui…"
"Come now, Miharu-san." I said.
"Time to cram like you've never crammed before, Senpai." Azusa-san added.
"B-But…*sigh* Kuso ttare..." Miharu-san swore in Japanese.
Already making progress…
Miharu's POV
*THE NEXT DAY…*
"Minasan, kon'nichiwa. Namae wa Neroni Miharu. Sakuragaoka no kōkō 3-nensei. Hajimemashite!"
"Holy crap…it's like she's fully Japanese!" Ritsu yelled in shock as I was showing the others the result of what I went through at Nodoka's house yesterday.
"I can't believe Nodoka-san actually got you to speak Japanese." Mio said. "And it's near perfect, too."
"And in only a day." Sawako added. "It makes my profession as a teacher look like crap."
"Wasn't it always crap?" Jun asked.
"Watch it, you…"
"Wowie. You really did a great job, Nodoka-chan." Yui praised her childhood friend.
"Thanks, Yui. Although, it was a difficult task, at first."
"M-Miharu-san speaking Japanese…th-that will be hard to get used to." Mikuru said.
"Yeah, no kidding." Jun said. "I'm so used to her swearing in French."
"I can still do that, you know. Want me to prove it?"
"We don't need you to prove it, Senpai." Azusa said to me.
"Hmph. Now that you can speak Japanese, maybe you can finally get my name right."
"Oh, yeah. Sure thing, uh…Tsumorru."
"S-Seriously?! You speak THREE FREAKING LANGUAGES and yet, you STILL cannot get my name right?!"
"What can I say? It's a really hard name."
"No, it is not!"
"Sumire. Please calm down." Mugi said to her. "*sigh* Who would've thought that the both of us would go through changes before going to Okinawa? Pretty weird, huh?"
"Well, yeah. I guess. But your change was a suggestion. I was pretty much forced to learn Japanese."
"For a very good reason, thank you!" Mio yelled.
"Geez, Mio. Are you still mad about the Chin-Chin thing?"
"A-Anyone would be mad with you saying it so freaking casually!"
"Eh bien, quelqu'un doit se faire baiser ..."
(Well, someone needs to get laid...)
"Miharu…"
"Senpai…" Both Mugi and Azusa said with a facepalm.
"Wh-What did she say?!"
"U-Uh…n-nothing, Mio-senpai."
"Y-You don't really need to know, Mio-chan. Please calm down."
"Well, anyway." Ritsu said. "Now that Mugi's got her disguise and Miharu can speak Japanese, there's nothing stopping us from going to Okinawa now!"
"Yay! Tropical Island Time!" Yui cheered.
"Man, you guys are lucky." Jun said. "I sure as hell wish I can go to Okinawa."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Sawako asked.
"You said that your friend wanted to hear us out for a musical festival." Ritsu said. "You even gave me the tickets once I told you what we were doing."
"I did say that…but did you even count the tickets, Tainaka?"
"Count the tickets? Of course, I did." Ritsu then took the tickets out of her schoolbag and began counting them. "See? 1-2-3-4-5-6…wait…7-8-9-10-11-12?! There are 6 extra tickets?! Where the hell did they come from?!"
"R-Ricchan…I think you just counted each pair as one the first time." Yui said with a sweatdrop.
"S-So…we ALL can go to Okinawa?" Ui asked.
"You can't perform in a music festival without having friends cheer you on, after all." Sawako said with a light giggle.
"Al…RIGHT! We're going to Okinawa!" Jun definitely sounded happy about it."
"A trip to Okinawa Island…this is quite interesting." Nodoka said.
"I've never been to Okinawa. I'm so glad I get to experience it." Himeko said.
"*moan* A-A place as big as Okinawa…I-I do not think I can…h-handle that…"
"Do not worry, Mikuru-san." Su…what's-her-face said to her. "I will be there to help you out."
"Th-Thank you…S-Sumire-san."
As everyone was chatting amongst each other about the sudden discovery, Mugi and I went into the hallway. Just to talk between the two of us.
"So, we're all going to Okinawa, huh?" I asked. "This is going to be a crazy as hell trip, ain't it?"
"*giggle* Yep, it sure is. I can already feel it. And with your new language and my new look, I think we just raised the stakes to it all."
"Yeah." I went silent for a bit. "Hey, Mugi. I've…never really said this before, but…I'm really glad that I met you."
"I'm glad that I met you too, Miharu. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"*giggle* Same here, Mugi. So, I guess we can agree on one good thing about our parent's weird and crazy sexcapades."
"I'm still highly disturbed by that…but, yes. I can agree that one good thing came out of it. My dear half-sister."
We then cheerfully hugged each other in pure happiness as we enjoyed this (when you think about it) messed-up situation that our parents had gotten us into. Neither one of us ever expecting the events that it brought us up until now.
"Love ya…Sis." I said.
"Love you too…Sis." Mugi said.
And you know…I really don't mind. Not a damn bit.
Author's Note: Miharu learns Japanese! And just in time for the big trip to Okinawa, too. Now it's time for warm weather, sandy beaches, and the musical performance of a lifetime.
All in the final 10 chapters of The New Band Mate.
Yes, this story is coming to an end soon. It can't go on forever, as much as I want it to. But, hey…maybe I'll write more K-ON fics in the future. This one turned out to be a success (at least in my eyes).
I made Himeko older than the rest of the girls because, for one, her birthday isn't listed anywhere. And two, I just thought it would be interesting. Having a character that failed a grade and thus is older than the rest of the class.
The song that Miharu sang is called "Go Love & Peace" (yes, the arrow is in the actual title), which is the end credits them for a video game called Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2. It's a series of RPG's that I've gotten into recently. Although, it's a very obscure series. And I mean VERY obscure. Not that many people know about it and I'm just trying to spread the word a little. Hence why this song was referenced.
Thanks for reading. Later.