I’m A Citizen Of The World

Whilst I was eating my egg-fried rice for breakfast, I got a LINE notification. I’d have preferred the sender to actually text me. Whatever. I’ll just respond to it.

Huh. Aya-senpai added me. That’s interesting. I assume she got my number from Kazumi. Guess I’ll just add her back.

Ping.

An instant message came as soon as I put my phone down. I read what followed.

“Hi, Fukaze-kun! Could you pop down to Block D at lunch? Specifically D409 classroom. It’s about the Culture & Travel Club. The two other members agreed to do so as well.”

I texted back, “Sure thing, just wait for me outside the block. I don’t know where D409 is.”

“Just follow the signs, silly ( ◠‿◠ )”

Emoticons? Not emojis? Fair enough.

I gave her a thumbs up. I wanted to just walk with her in tow but I guess not. Well, that’s two things today I have to do.

Then I got another text.

“Btw Honzo-kun, do u think you could afford the train to Minami-ward since u complained earlier lol 😂 But seriously we’re going to the Meiji community center where there’s a few Nepalis there! They agreed for us to help plus there’s food. Prolly next week sunday.”

Wow. That was quite a heavy text to read. I’m not old-fashioned. This is normal text for our age. I guess I am old-fashioned. Or just never used any socials. Well… both then. I responded with a quick “Yeah, sure.”

It was time for school.

~~~

I’m sitting with Sayako at D409. Block D was so modern. Its mere presence blew my mind. The glass was well-cleaned. Fresh. The floors were so shiny it actually blinded me and left an afterimage. Opening the doors was so smooth, the mechanism must’ve been inexplicable with its perfect door hinges. We can see where Nagoya’s administration’s budget went. Aisaihashi must have had its supporters. The corridors were actually wide! Woohoo! No one needs to risk their life going home or transitioning. I hope the new buildings that replace the old complex are similar to this one. This is a Nagoya attraction up alongside that so-called beautiful castle or that tower.

Next, the first thing me and Sayako noticed was the jade-green ceiling. Stunningly, the white walls had no speck of any dirt. Nothing could block the whiteness. It was like a cleanroom, trying to make an impeccable satellite. Damn. This was the first time either of us was in Block D. Thank you Aya for getting us this room!

Yusuke told us that he’ll join us once he gets his food. I don’t really believe him. Thankfully, Sayako wanted to come with me. Both of us quietly ate our lunch in peace. I think Sayako really was eager to say something but I just wanted to eat for now. A beautiful silence. Sayako could be overbearing but she was definitely someone I considered important. I didn’t give her the moniker Saya-chan for no reason. In fact, I think she’s the most underrated beauty in our school. For real. Insert another eye-candy comment. Here’s one I made on the spot.

Sayako sat clean with her almost hueless complexion.

Actually, I gave it some thought and I realized it. A religious revelation. By the grace of God, I thank the stars that she decided to look over me. Her chlorophyll-green eyes stared at me deeply with purpose. A flower in the classroom. I was taken seriously aback and almost dropped my rice ball. Her stare was as powerful as a landlord over a tenant who just lost their job.

“What’s up Hanzo-kun?”

“What’s up with you Sayako… why are you looking at me?”

She laughed. Then, she said the words I knew she was going to say but didn’t and still don’t believe it.

“I told you, didn't I? I was going to look over you for a few weeks.”

It’s a few weeks now? I thought it was a week at most?

You know what, there I was. Abashed and embarrassed. Now I can’t even think about eating. I seem to have forgotten the mechanism of eating. Like a 2-year-old. In fact, I was shaking. No way Sayako seems to take that seriously? I just can’t believe it. I shan’t believe it.

These thoughts must be like a spectator. None of what I think seems to actually affect anything. I this, I that, I will, none of that matters.

Nothing.
Green.
Yellow.
Phone.
Onigiri.

It physically feels like I can see the back of my head. Third-person. It’s weird. But I know through my eyes that what I am seeing is first-person. Purity. I hate the sense of self. It is so fickle, at least in my opinion! I genuinely feel like I’m going to vomit.

Sony. Playstation. Home. Youtube. Sleep. Repeat. School. Talk.

That’s it.

I want to go home. But my legs are shaking. I don’t have any willpower. I’m assuming I must’ve used it up by going to this room/club. Am I afraid of joining the club? Is that it? Everything is starting to distort but… I must push through. Whatever. This is clearly a minor episode I have to push through, otherwise, my month is ruined.

“Hey… you okay Honzo?”

Please help me Sayako.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just again feeling a bit tired. You know how school is, right? Although I am feeling a bit sick.”

“Haha, I guess those are just life things. As long as you're fine. But if you genuinely don’t feel fine and you're just saying it, please text me or something. I gave you my phone number a year ago and you rarely even talk after school.”

I nodded. She was right. I do have to tell Sayako one day and stop hiding from it. At least to stop feeling sorry for myself. Or do I just hate myself and want to improve myself? Maybe it’s both?

It was getting late. St Peter, I mean Yusuke joined us. It was 12:50. As soon as I was about to leave I was surrounded by two smaller students.

“Hi senpais!” shouted the chipper girl.

“Greetings, everyone”, said the other frail boy.

I assume these were the first-year students that Aya-senpai was talking about a while ago. Speaking about Aya, there she was behind both of them. Strangely, her posture was similar to a guardian in a fantasy story.

“Hey, Aya-senpai.”

I said it on behalf of all of us, second years. Yusuke was on his phone just watching something whilst simultaneously munching on his fried chicken. It was an incredible sight. Meanwhile, Sayako was also mid-chewing when they arrived. After she finished, she gave greetings to them all.

“So Aya-senpai? Who are these two? They’re both pretty cute students!” said the teasing Sayako.

You know what, Sayako was right. They both were cute. More moe fluff for this school. Aisaihashi must be the breeding ground for models. I'm certainly not one of them, sadly. However, I could be, if I think about it objectively. I am... basically 6ft. I could also be 6ft under if I keep being so negative. Let’s just not talk about that specific height for now. Just know I probably could be a model.

The two first years cringed in front of us. Or were they just super red? They were both, I guess. Anywho, Aya introduced them. Kimura Sora and Suzuki Sakura. Sora and Sakura-chan. They were both cousins. Guess their cuteness ran in the family. Sakura was of a small stature. She reminded me more of a bunny than anything else. Or a cat? Sakuneko? Sora, on the other hand, was a frail skinny boy. He did seem to have a swagger. He was the first person I noticed coming into the room and he was at the back of Aya and Suzuki. When you’re that charming, you could walk late into a room like a scaredy cat and still have my attention.

After a few conversations with everyone, Aya stood in front of the smartboard. Yes. A smartboard. Our school had money to have an interactive smartboard. Insane. This is what we’ll be used to in third year but this is just a slight taster. She took out a laptop from her backpack and gave a presentation. Does she want to be a teacher?

“So everyone! This is the official beginning of the Culture & Travel Club! Let’s go!”

She said so preppy and with vigour. I can literally feel the excitement from her body language caressing me. Wild.

“Let me introduce myself to all of you formally. My name is Iijima Aya. I’m an 18-year-old girl who loves human culture. Notice how I didn’t say foreign, because I’m a citizen of the world! I’ve only been to Korea and Taiwan, but I plan on going to Europe as soon as I can. I’d like to see the world with my very eyes. I hope you all enjoy this club as I might be your club president, but we’re all equal here. Please take me in your care, everyone.”

We all clapped. Saya-chan seemed to give a cheer. That’s a nice sentiment. Personally? I didn’t really care. I think that ‘citizen of the world’ comment is cheesy, but I obviously get the sentiment. I hate war, so it would be nice if we all get along. Understatement of the year. Sadly, it was nearly time for the next class. All of us rushed our introductions. We then found out that Sakura and Sora lived in Iwatsukacho, a small area just north of our school. Then Aya-senpai had to rush out an announcement in just a few minutes.

“So everyone, coming this Sunday, I’ve asked to be a part of a community event in Minami-ward. It’s at a community center, near Toyodahommachi Station. It’s an event to help Nepali immigrants and their children to improve their Japanese but I’ll also be using it as a way to explore Nepalese culture. Did you know according to the latest statistics, Nagoya has 7,474 Nepalese people living in it? How cool is that! There are also 9,709 Filipinos and 11,132 Vietnamese nationals too! Look how lucky in Nagoya we are to have several people from other nations here. And their own nations have their own ethnic groups too! Diversity really does make for a more interesting world. Anywho, I’ve started a LINE group with all of us in it, including the advisor and school council president Kazumi-senpai who I’m sure most of you are familiar with. All the details will be there. Have a good day everyone! See you all on Sunday!”

Well. That was actually concise for what was probably going to take 10 - 15 minutes. About that diversity comment, I agree with it in principle but even I recognize how hard it must be for immigrants to truly integrate here. Well, I guess that’s why we’re helping out. I don’t know too much about Nepal, I just know about the mountain and they’re immigrating to Nagoya. Nagoya’s becoming a pretty multicultural city soon. I don’t know what that entails. Maybe I need to come to terms with my beliefs and challenge them. I just feel like what’s the point of immigration. You know what, I’ll be honest, I’m just talking for the sake of talking - I’m only 16 so I’m not really well informed on this issue so I’m going to stop.

Random weird rant over. Me, Sayako, and Yusuke said our goodbyes to the two cousins and Aya-senpai. Our advisor wasn’t here but I think Aya gave a quick comment saying she was too busy. Come on Tateishi-sensei. Should’ve come and dropped whatever commitment you had to be with us. We walked towards the science rooms in the maze complex. That’s what I’m going to call it now. I hope that sticks like the ‘Big Glass’. We had Minetaka as our teacher. I’m going to have that meeting with Minoru-san after school, I suppose.