The Beginning of a New Life

Ryō gazed out the window, watching the landscape pass by. The streets of Japan were neat and orderly, somehow different from what he had seen in America. He had come to this new country because of his father’s job on the US military base. But for Ryō, who could barely speak Japanese, adapting to this new environment was proving far more difficult than he had imagined.

It had been several weeks since Ryō transferred to his new school in Japan, but he still hadn’t been able to fit in. During recess, his classmates would chat and laugh together, while he sat alone at his desk, staring at his textbooks. He couldn’t understand a word of what was being said or what was happening around him. The language barrier was bigger than he had ever expected.

“How can I make friends…?” Ryō sighed, asking himself quietly. But it was from his encounter with Aoi that his quiet days slowly began to change.

A New Friend

One day, after class, Ryō sat in a corner of the classroom, silently reading through his English textbook. Suddenly, he heard a soft voice next to him.

“Hello...”

Startled, Ryō looked up towards the voice. Standing there with a gentle smile was a girl with black hair. Her name was Aoi, a classmate of Ryō’s, though they hadn’t spoken much before.

“Hello...” Ryō responded, hesitantly.

He was surprised that instead of speaking Japanese, Aoi had addressed him in English. Noticing his confusion, Aoi smiled even more warmly and said,

“I can speak a little English. I went to school in America for a while. So, if you ever need help, just ask me.”

Ryō felt a wave of relief wash over him. For the first time since coming to Japan, he had someone to rely on. The isolation he had felt from not being able to speak Japanese was now less overwhelming, thanks to Aoi.

Finding a New Routine

From that day on, Aoi would come to Ryō’s desk during lunch breaks, and they would eat together. She not only taught him Japanese, but also explained what his classmates were talking about and introduced him to various aspects of Japanese culture.

“For example, you say ‘Konnichiwa.’ It’s like ‘Hello’ in English.” Aoi would cheerfully guide him through the basics of the language. Ryō tried to mimic her pronunciation, but his first few attempts were clumsy. Aoi patiently helped him practice over and over again until he could say it right.

“You’re doing great! Keep practicing, and you’ll get even better!” Aoi encouraged him in her bright, reassuring voice.

As days passed, Ryō began to feel like he was slowly fitting in. Thanks to Aoi leading their conversations in Japanese, he started to bridge the gap with his classmates. The language barrier was beginning to crumble, and for the first time, Ryō felt a glimmer of hope in his new school life in Japan.

A Slight Distance

However, there were times when Ryō felt a subtle sense of distance from Aoi. Whenever he tried to express his gratitude to her in Japanese, she would simply smile and say nothing more. While Aoi was kind, there were moments when she seemed distant, like she was in another world.

Despite this, Ryō remained grateful for her friendship and slowly adapted to his new life.

“Thank you, Aoi. I think I’ll be okay, thanks to you.” Ryō said one day, speaking fluent Japanese for the first time to express his gratitude. Aoi smiled again, silently nodding. But in her eyes, Ryō sensed there was something hidden, something he didn’t yet understand.

Memories of Another Life

Aoi stood by the classroom window, the soft spring sunlight illuminating her face. She stared distantly out at the horizon, memories from her past resurfacing in her mind.

When she was younger, Aoi had lived in America for several years because of her father’s job in international trade. For her, America had been a special place. It was where she first learned English, attended school, and experienced a new culture. But life there wasn’t always easy.

“Aoi, did you make any friends at school today?” Her mother would ask every time Aoi returned from school.

“Yeah...” Aoi would respond vaguely, looking down. The truth was, she hadn’t really connected with anyone.

The language barrier was tough. It was hard for Aoi to join in on conversations, and the feeling of not understanding left her feeling isolated. No matter how hard she tried, her English never seemed good enough, and she often felt like an outsider in her class.

The Guardian Cat

During that difficult time, there was one thing that gave Aoi comfort—a small guardian cat charm her grandmother had given her before she left Japan.

“I made this for you when you go to America,” her grandmother had said, handing her the small cloth cat charm. The fabric was white, with handwritten characters sewn into it, reading “Fumiusagi,” the name of her grandmother’s calligraphy shop.

“This is your good luck charm. This little cat will protect you, no matter what happens.” Her grandmother smiled warmly as she placed the charm in Aoi’s hand.

From that day on, Aoi kept the charm with her wherever she went. Even during the loneliest days in America, clutching the little cat in her hand helped her find peace. It reminded her of the warmth of her family back in Japan and reassured her that she wasn’t truly alone.

Offering Help

“That’s why I want to help someone else now,” Aoi thought as she smiled to herself, recalling those memories. Ryō’s loneliness reminded her so much of her own.

Ryō, like her younger self, struggled to speak the language and felt isolated. She wanted to be there for him, just as her family and the little guardian cat had been there for her. That was why she had offered to teach him Japanese and support him as he navigated the unfamiliar environment of their classroom.

Learning Together

One lunch break, Aoi approached Ryō’s desk, as she always did.

“What would you like to learn in Japanese today?” she asked gently.

Ryō hesitated for a moment before replying, “Um, can you teach me how to use ‘arigatō’ correctly?”

Aoi smiled and nodded. “Of course! ‘Arigatō’ is a very important word. In Japan, it’s used all the time to show gratitude. Let’s practice together, so you can say it clearly and with feeling.”

Ryō repeated “arigatō” again and again, trying to get it right. Aoi patiently corrected his pronunciation each time.

“Try adding a little more emotion to your voice,” Aoi suggested, guiding him through the proper way to say it.

Through their exchanges, Ryō realized just how much he had come to rely on Aoi. Her kindness gave him the strength to keep going, and for the first time, he started to feel hopeful about his new life in Japan.

A Shared Experience

With Aoi’s support, Ryō learned more Japanese and began to blend into the class. It felt similar to how Aoi had once clung to her guardian cat charm during her own lonely days in America. She was now passing on the support she had received to someone else.

But Ryō still didn’t know the whole story. He had yet to discover the secret Aoi held deep inside.

From time to time, Aoi’s gaze would drift towards Shōta, who sat in the corner of the classroom. Ryō never noticed, but for a brief moment, Aoi’s expression darkened. Then, just as quickly, she would look away, smiling at Ryō as if nothing had happened.