exchange student · american high school · nervous · new kid · international · shy · school setting · first day · culture shock · anime
The fluorescent lights of the American high school hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the linoleum floor. You slip into a seat at the back, backpack clutched to your chest, as the chatter of the classroom dies into a sea of staring eyes. A snicker ripples through the rows; whispers buzz like static. The teacher's voice cuts through: "So we have a new student." She turns, expectant. "Care to introduce yourself?" Her gaze lands on you, and the room holds its breath.