the_big_ol_book_o_stories

For Ritsuka

The first day of is a harrowing even for some but it gets harder the farther you are from what you know. A new school, a new city, a new class, any one of these is a challenge for most teens and this is only harder when the pressure to succeed hangs on their shoulders like a weight. One Noah LeClair feels all of this anxiety and more.

A foreign learning program where only the brightest can qualify. He'd worked hard, harder than he ever had in his life and he had made it - the third slot of only three open spaces, but he couldn't be relieved just yet. The program brought him to Japan, the other side of the globe and worlds apart from what he knows, but he was told to learn the language beforehand so some part of him expected it. What he was not expecting just how hard the culture shock would hit. The night he arrived already had him furrowing his brow in confusion, then there was how cramped the streets were, then all the people in those outrageous outfits but the weirder thing was that no one was paying attention at all. Information overload was an understatement but thankfully he could hide in his apartment and focus on just prepping for school.

Once there, which was an effort all on it's own, he was late and with no good excuse other than "I got lost". His teacher was understanding enough but it didn't stop her from laying it on him for being late and wearing outdoor shoes indoors. Oh boy. There were expectations of him and he can't afford to betray them. Still, he made it and soon enough he was waiting outside the room where he'll have to figure out how to be a highschool student.

"Come on in." He was called and he stepped into the room as confidently as he could, though the bit of sweat at his neck and brow may tell a different story.

"Please introduce yourself." He took a breath and looked out the crowd of students, their eyes looking like they're about to roast him alive.

"Noah LeClair. Fr-" He stopped, nearly introducing himself in English. "F-From England. Please call me Noah. Nice to meet you." His accent was very very apparent in his speech, not to mention he raised his hand to wave. "Noah-kun, here in Japan we bow when we meet new people." The advisor corrected and he quickly did as told....a bit too much as he bowed three times. A few giggles and chuckles reverberated around the room and his face turned a slight slight shade of red. "Well, now that we've finished, why don't you sit down over there in the back." "R-Right."

Such is his first day, walking awkwardly to the back of the class, avoiding gazes and quietly taking his seat....and wanting to see where he can hide.

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"They think you're cute."

She says it completely casually, the same way someone might announce the weather. She's busy packing her own things, glancing at the girls and then back at him.

"For one thing, the fact that you're new is definitely a plus. And light hair is kind of exotic around here. I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless you're interested."

Not my business, her tone implies. They've only just met, after all; she's more than happy to be his friend and guide, but his love life won't be her business ~~unless he makes it so~~.

"--Anyway, yeah, the go-home club is just a way of saying you don't have any club activities. Most people who use it don't have any, but I've got a swinging membership. I'm taking advantage of it today."

He hums in thought as he tilts his head and catches a glimpse of the girls from earlier peeking at him from behind the door.

"That right?"

He didn't even notice her tone or lack thereof and instead started to pack up his things. "I guess I'll be joining you for that. Though won't be headed home just yet. I also need to get some stuff. Groceries, a few supplies, body wipes, and....maybe some cologne." He says trailing off a bit as he peeks out the door again to see another of their classmates leaving while waving and smiling at him.

He watches them leave, smiling the whole while and waiting a full second before finally responding. "Have you got anything after this? I mean, I know you said you're headed home but, you know, still daylight out."

"Definitely not my homework."

She says it innocently, though she does look around quickly to make sure there aren't any teachers around to hear her saying that. The thing about Ritsuka as a student is that she's not even the worst--when she applies herself, she does well. It's just the getting her to apply herself that is the problem.

"Other than that? Nah. I was thinking maybe I'd hit up the arcade, but my usual karaoke group is busy this whole week, so I was gonna go for a walk. Just 'cause I don't have my club activities doesn't mean I don't wanna move around, you know?"

There's something refreshing about someone being so open that homework is not going to be a thing. Also slightly panicking.

"In that case, do you mind keeping me company a little bit longer? New city and all. I took a wrong turn and ended up elsewhere, if it weren't for bumping into this American fella, I probably wouldn't have made it to school." It's a bit bitter for him to admit that, mostly out of stupid pride as a man.

"I live...here." He says fishing out an identification card. "The landlady said that to get here to school is just a fifteen to twenty minute commute from there, but I royaly messed that up. Hoping you could show me around. Even just the immediate area." And then his cheeks turn a shade of red and his smile turns sheepish. "I know I've been relying on you all day, so if you'd rather not I understand."

"I don't mind!" she says cheerily. She doesn't bother padding it with the fluff of oh, it's just the nice thing to do or anything like that; Ritsuka just genuinely likes hanging out with people in general, and she deeply enjoys the getting-to-know-someone point in time.

Plus, as someone who lives alone... it's nice to have company for a little bit longer. She reaches out a hand to take the card, if he'll let her.

"If anyone knows their way around here, it'll be me. I wrecked my bike a few months ago and I haven't gotten around to getting it fixed, so I walk a lot. I can definitely show you all the shortcuts you'd need."

"Brilliant!" He hands over the card without any hesitation. Indeed the location would just be a quick commute by either bus or subway, though the station still has a bit of a walk to the school.

If she knows it, she'd know the place is close to the shopping district in the area and known to have generally old houses and studio apartments. Not quite the expected dormitory for a student on an exchange program.

Noah finished packing his bag and checking his desk to make sure he left all the heavy items there, along with other things he'd need for class. He's organized, meticulously so as he fixes up his books and notebooks, arranging them by order of when the class is and what day. Even the pencils are arranged in order and dense.

"Right, I'm all set. How's about I treat you to something nice, for all the trouble. The landlady showed me this nice bakery cafe sort of deal yesterday. I think I remember where that is." A beat. "Well, from where my apartment is at least."

"Those're the magic words right there!" Ritsuka laughs. She takes the card to skim it, then nods a little in recognition. She's familiar with the neighborhood's general location, if not the specifics. Easy enough. "As long as food is involved, I'm pretty easy."

Once he's got his stuff gathered up, she starts to walk, half-leading him out of the halls and out of the building. As they walk, other students call greetings to Ritsuka as they go; no one tries to actually stop them or engage in conversation, but she clearly at least has a friendly reputation with a large part of the student body.

"It's pretty straightforward, once you get used to it," she tells him as they walk. "But if you really wanna treat me to snacks, I'll never say no."

He's going to remember that. Lure with food.

He notes all the people that pass, particularly noting that some of those guys they passed gave him...looks. He wasn't sure if it was agressive or resentful, but they were looks. Clearly, she isn't aware of how popular she actually is.

"Well, I grew up in the poor side of London where the streets barely make sense, the alleys even less, and the locals call that straightforward. So, you'd have to navigate assuming I'd lose my way down a straight alley." He pauses for a long while. "Which may or may not have actually happened this morning."

It happened.

He's not wrong: Ritsuka has no real idea anyone might be looking at her with any sincerity or seriousness. She's mostly content to drift and scatter her affections thoughtlessly and happily, unpinned by anyone's field of gravity just yet. What she's doing instead is listening to his story, laughing outright at his may or may not. She knows what's implied there.

"I'll try and make it easy, then. Most of the streets here are pretty simple! It's just a matter of getting used to a new setting. Y'know, like in a game, when you move on to a new area. Some of the enemies are new, but some of them are just reskinned from earlier. And when you recognize that, you've already got an idea of how to deal with them."

She points. "Like that four-way intersection up there? You'll wanna go the opposite direction from that laundromat. And the next one, you'll be going opposite of the combini. Same action, same kind of building, but different spots and different cosmetics."

Noah takes quiet note of everything she pointed out, as well as some landmarks that he could use and of course, street names. He does so as best as he could since the video game analogy is a bit lost on him given he's touched a video game only a few times in his life.

"Everything here is a bit copy pasted, innit? Lots of places back home are the same but even this kind of throws me off." A beat. "And it's so bloody clean. There's a bin at every corner. How do you lot manage to keep it this way all year round?"

He asks just as they pass by a homeowner outside their abode, fittingly sweeping the front.

"Nevermind. I got my answer." Another lesson in looking before opening his big mouth. "Do you live around here? You know this place like the back of your hand."

She laughs, though it's more teasing than mocking. "People here are just tidy! There's lots of rules about that kind of thing." She nods in greeting to the homeowner, who nods back, though she doesn't slow her stride.

"--But yeah, I live a couple of streets over. I've lived in this city my whole life, so I'm really used to it! And I've got friends who like to hang out in different areas, so I've learned lots of shortcuts and tips about getting around."

In fact, she lifts a hand to point as they round another corner. At the end of the street is the bakery he'd mentioned, or so she hopes. It's the one she'd been thinking of, at least, when he'd mentioned. "See? Jackpot! That didn't take too long, right?"

He waved to the old gal as they passed, idly listening to Ritsuka until he saw the bakery.

"....Well, look at that. It is." He said dryly before looking at her. "How convenient that we ended up here as our first stop." He wasn't born yesterday, girlie.

Noah just sighed despite feeling like he got played somehow. "Alright, come along then. I did promise a snack." He grumbled as they approached the bakery, the smell of freshly baked goods already filling the air along with the scent of sweet breads and coffee. The shop is a simple one, just like one would expect of a fairly small shop in the residential area, but cozy with cakes being displayed in the airconditioned counter, with their pastries and bread products to their left, and to their right a few tables where customers can dine and relax. The lady behind the counter looks to be about their age but she was relaxing on the counter while reading a magazine before she greeted them.

"Right, go on. Go pick something out."

"Don't mind if I do!" Ritsuka says, in cheery singsong. There's no embarrassment or repentance for what she chose to lead him to first. She's an active girl! She needs her snacks! So with his "permission," she makes a beeline for the counter to peer at the cakes. They're the sort of cute aesthetic thing that one might expect from popular spot, and Ritsuka is not immune to things that are cute.

After a moment, she waves him over, still grinning. "I'll take that one," she says, pointing.

It's not the biggest cake, or even one of the more expensive ones; it's just a small single-serving round thing, with just a bit of decorative piping and several glossy red strawberries on top. Frankly, it's one of the most basic things in the whole case.

"I'll split with you, if you want, but it's the best thing they've got."

He takes a seat when she dashed to the cakes, putting his bag down before going over when she beckons.

"That's alright. You can have it. Excuse me." He paused with an 'ah' before switching to Japanese to make his order. The strawberry cake for her, a slice of apple pie for him, and two cups of coffee. He manages to order well enough as the cashier girl goes to prepare their order.

"So other than volleyball, going home, and ignoring homework, what else do you do, Ritsuka? Hobby-wise I mean." A beat. "Oh! I actually managed to say your name right. I must be getting better."

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