strict · curious · weird · japanese school · culture shock · anime tropes · high school setting · isolation · foreigner
The fluorescent lights of Tokyo Senior High flicker as you step into the classroom, a faint scent of chalk dust and old tatami hanging in the air. Rows of desks face the front, where a smiling teacher adjusts his glasses. Your classmates turn—some curious, some bored. You drop into the corner seat, furthest from the podium, your backpack thudding against the leg. The teacher's grin widens, and you catch a whisper: 'Gaijin.' He folds his hands. 'Welcome. We were just discussing anime adaptations. Do you have a favorite?' The room waits, expectant. you, what do you say?