There were 26 of us, 27 if you count the Janitor. Each of us got there in our own unique way, with our own unique experiences along the way.
The first person to walk into the classroom that day was our teacher, Mr. Fabio, but we didn't know that yet.
His footsteps echoed across the empty courtyard as his thoughts drifted from the past, to the new job. He remembered when he had first been informed of this job offer, it was quite enticing. He squinted as he walked into a patch of light, and then glanced around as his eyes adjusted to the light. It was quite a beautiful place, much too large for just the one class that he would be teaching. He looked around, but there was no sign of anyone else in the building. As he finally reached the door that led into the main hallway, he heard a bell in the clock tower begin to ring; it was nearly time for his students to arrive.
Keia and Kana were the first students to arrive. They walked in side by side, and if you didn't look any closer, you might have mistakenly assumed that they were old friends. On the contrary, they had never spoken a single word to each other before. There was a bond between them, one so solid that no words or lack thereof could ever break them apart. No time or space could ruin their faith in each other.
The pair walked silently into the classroom and picked their desks. There were twenty-five desks in the room arranged into a perfect square. Kana walked to the back row and picked the fourth desk. Just as quickly, Keia went to the fourth row and sat down in the third desk.
It all happened so quickly and silently that Fabio would not have seen it had he not been waiting for them. "It all seems so planned out" thought Fabio to himself. And thus the first words to be spoken in the classroom were spoken by the teacher. The words that would be remembered by all who were in the class, even those not present at the time.
Fabio said these words:
"Children, you cannot outsmart me nor outplay me. It has not been done before, and it will not be done now."
Keia and Kana looked at each other for the first time ever. Their eyes locked. Neither showed any hint of shock, surprise, or any other emotion, just a wave of calm confidence.
Their eyes shifted to Fabio, who smiled to himself. No matter how tough they were now, he would break them, he could do so easily with the rules of this place.
The rest of the students came into the room one at a time.
Misa walked into the room next with a slightly agitated look on her face. Fabio's eyes followed her closely, picking up on everything. She chose to sit in the second chair on the second row.
As the next few students walked in, Fabio thought to himself about how interesting it would be to see how the different ethnic groups and customs would affect the class.
Juno came in next. He was wearing a hoodie, so his face was not visible. He took the seat farthest back on the right side, next to Kana. Then came Ricardo and Devin who took the first desk on the fifth row, and the fourth desk on the fourth row respectively.
So far, Fabio was the only one to have spoken, but the silence was broken again when an old man walked in with a box of Chalk in one hand, and a cup of Udon (Japanese noodles) in the other. As he walked in, it was plain to see that there was a string attached to his leg which made him limp a little every time he took a step. After a few steps, a blackboard rolled in behind him.
The man opened his mouth to speak, and as he did so, everyone could see that he was missing most of his teeth.
"Heya evewon, I'm ya' Janida. Ya can call me whadevea ya feel like"
Juno spoke next.
"Noodles."
Everyone turned to look at him
"We're calling him noodles."
The Janitor was sent off in peals of laughter, but no one else joined in.
"If yur gonna call me noodles, may's'well make it 'Udon' seein' as wer in Japan."
Kana spoke up this time.
"A disgusting name for a disgusting food, but it fits him well. You have earned my respect. What is your name?"
"Juno."
Mr. Udon, as he was called thereafter, gave the chalk to Fabio, and untied the string from the chalkboard. He took a large gulp of udon, and then walked out of the room with the string trailing behind him, still attached to his leg.
Haruka came in next. She skipped in with a smile on her face.
"Hello everyone, I'm Haruka"
She took the third seat in the third row.
Then Soren walked in. He looked around the room, and his eyes locked with Keia's for a second. He smiled at her and then introduced himself to the class. He took the second seat in the fourth row. Directly next to Keia.
Each of the other kids is important too, but it will suffice you to know that they are: Elize; third seat fifth row, Andre; fifth seat third row, Yousukei; fifth seat first row, Carlia; third seat second row, Willam; fifth seat second row, Karl; first seat fourth row, Tykie; first seat first row, Bruno; first seat third row, Yukio; fourth seat second row, Nariko; fourth seat third row, Okami; second seat first row, Luke; fifth row second seat, Hayley; third seat first row, Kai; fifth seat fourth row, Shira; second seat third row, Yoshiro; first seat second row, and Tina; fourth seat first row.
After everyone had arrived, Fabio walked up to his desk at the front of the room. It was a handcrafted beauty made from the finest Mahogany wood. It seemed to sparkle like new even though it was nearly two-hundred and fifty years old.
"Welcome to Japan, and to this prestigious academy."
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