Narration: Hi, My name is Jay Rivera. I'm a 17 year-old Hispanic-American, who is late on his first day at his new High School. Why am I late you ask? Well you see, my family had just recently moved from the United States to Japan because of my Father's job, and I don't know my way around just yet. The only good thing about this, is that the high school is an only English speaking high school. I would use the GPS app that is in my phone, but I wanted to use a map so I could feel proud of myself. Sadly, it is not working out. All I want is to have a normal high school experience, before I head off to college. Soon, I will realize that my wish will not come true.

Jay checks the time on his phone. The time was 8:20 AM. "Crap! I'm going to be late!" Jay said to himself. "Screw this! I'll never make it to homeroom if I keep this up." said Jay as he puts the map in his book bag.

Jay then proceeds to type the high school's address into the GPS, when out of no where, a girl taps him on the shoulder. Jay turns around and saw a beautiful Japanese girl. "Woah, she's beautiful," he thought to himself. Jay then noticed that, not one of them has said a word yet. Jay thought to himself, "This is awkward. She probably only knows Japanese." He then proceeds to speak in Japanese, which he is not very good at yet, "Good Morning, how is your ham today?" The girl started laughing. Jay, looking confused as ever, asks himself, "All I asked was 'how are you?' I don't know what's so funny." The girl responds back to Jay, in English, "Well I wouldn't know, because I don't have ham on me."

Jay, with a shocked expression on his face, then asks the girl, "Wait you can speak English!?" The girl responds back, "Yes I can. Studied the English language since I was in middle school." Jay felt embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I'm still learning the Japanese language little by little," said Jay. "It was pretty good. You only messed up one word," responded the girl. Jay gained a little bit of confidence from that. Jay then looks at his phone for the time. The time read 8:25 AM. "Shit! I'm sorry to cut you off, but I'm running late." Jay runs off and as he's running, he yells, "I hope we get to meet again!"

Jay follows the GPS as he runs for his life towards the school. "Man, if only I wasn't running late. I would have at least exchanged contact information with her." As the time stuck 8:28 AM, Jay entered the school. He quickly changed into his Uwabaki (Indoors only slippers) and ran towards class 3-A, where he met with his home room teacher. "Hey! No running is the halls!" Jay stops in his tracks, in front of class 3-A. "I'm sorry! I'm new here and was running late to class." Jay said, as he bows. "You don't happen to be Jay Rivera?" The teacher asks. Jay then responds, "Yes ma'am I am." The teacher the gives a sigh of of relief. "I was waiting for you in the faculty room. I thought you weren't going to show up," says the teacher. Jay bows again and replies, "I'm sorry, I got lost on my way to the school. I still don't know my way around the city." "It's alright. I just hope this doesn't become an everyday thing," said the teacher. "By the way, I'm Mrs. Toma. Your home room teacher." Jay bows and says, "It's a pleasure to have you as my teacher."

They both then enter class 3-A. "God, if you're listening to me. Please! Let me have a normal school year!" Jay thought to himself. Both Mrs. Toma and Jay stand side by side in front of the classroom. Mrs. Toma then proceeds to write Jay's name on the chalkboard. "Good morning class! As you can see, we have a new transfer student joining us this school year! His name is Jay Rivera. Jay please introduce yourself to the class." "Ok Jay, it's time for introductions. Don't say nothing stupid. For the love of God, don't make things awkward," Jay says to himself. "Hi, my name is Jay Rivera...um... I'm from America." Jay feels the pressure of all of the eyes in the room looking at him. "I hope I can become friends with all of you." The room stays silent. "Ok. Thank you for that Jay," says Mrs. Toma to break the awkward silence in the room. Mrs. Toma then says, "You're seat is right next to Yuriko. Yuriko can you please raise your hand." Jay then scans the room to see Yuriko's hand. He spots the raised hand and was surprised to find out, that Yuriko was actually the beautiful girl that he bumped into earlier this morning. Jay then walks to his new seat. "Ok. Now let's get started," says Mrs. Toma.

It's now lunchtime, and Jay turns towards Yuriko. "What a coincidence, that we go to the same school and we're in the same classroom," says Jay with a chuckle. "Indeed it is," says Yuriko. Jay then asks, "So... how did you get here before I did?" Yuriko responded with, "I took a shortcut." "There's a shortcut!?" asked Jay. "Yeah there is. If you want, I can show you after school," says Yuriko. "Please do," Jay begged. That made Yuriko grin. "Well, I'm going to the cafeteria to eat lunch. Want to join me?" says Yuriko. "I'll have to pass up on your offer. I brought my own lunch today." responded Jay. "Alright, your loss." says Yuriko as she stands up, and walks out of the classroom. Jay then proceeds to take out his lunch from his book bag, and starts to eat. One of Jay's classmate sits in Yuriko's desk, and pushes the desk towards Jay. "What's up Jay, my name is Shiro." Shiro then extends his right arm for a hand shake. Jay extends his right arm, and both gave each other a hand shake. "So, I see you've met Yuriko." says Shiro. Jay responded, "Yeah. I actually met her earlier this morning on my way here." Shiro, with a serious face, tells Jay, "It's good to be friends with Yuriko, but I'm warning you. Don't get to close to her." Jay then looks at Shiro with a confusing face. "What do you mean? Are you her boyfriend? If you are the-," Shiro cuts Jay off and says, "No, I'm not her boyfriend! Just trust me, from one guy to another. She's not your typical girl, and her boyfriend is not someone you should mess with." Jay then looks at Shiro with concern. "Thanks for the warning. I'll be careful," Jay replies. After that strange warning from Shiro, they both got to know each other until lunchtime was over.

Finally, school has finished for the day, and it was time to go back home. Yuriko and Jay both walked together to their lockers, changed shoes, and walked out of the building. "Man! Today was exhausting," said Jay. "It sure was. Hopefully tomorrow is less exhausting," said Yuriko. As they both start walking to the shortcut, Jay looks at Yuriko. "How can someone, this beautiful, be so bad to be with?" Jay asked himself. "Hey, I know this is a weird, but your name," says Jay before being cutoff by Yuriko. "Yes what about my name?" asked Yuriko. "Doesn't it mean perfect in Kanji?" asked Jay. "Someone did their research," says Yuriko in an impressed tone. "So, I was right?" asked Jay. "Sort of," replied Yuriko. "Sort of? Is it or is it not?" Jay thought to himself. "Well, here we are." Says Yoriko showing Jay the shortcut she took. "An alleyway?" asks Jay. "Yup. I've taken this alleyway to get to school on time, ever since I first started attending," said Yuriko. "And when was that?" asked Jay. "When I was a first year," stayed Yuriko. "You've been taking this same alleyway, to and from school for three years, without getting hurt or sexually assaulted?" Asked Jay. "You're correct." Replied Yuriko. "In America, we are told that we have to be careful when walking through alleyways, because we can be jumped by thugs, or for females, they can get raped," stated Jay. "Well, I don't have to worry about that," said Yuriko. "Why's that?" asked Jay. "Because my boyfriend is part of the Yakuza." Jay then stops in his tracks and had a scared expression on his face. "Now I see why Shiro warned me about not getting too close to Yuriko." Jay said to himself. "Jay are you feeling alright? You're looking kind of pale," asked Yuriko. "Who me? I'm fine. Nothing to be worried about," said Jay. They both start walking through the alleyway back home. Jay then feels like someone is following them. Jay stops and turns around. He saw no one behind them. "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?" asked Yuriko. Jay then double checks the alleyway, and still finds no one following them. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go home." They both started walking again.

After leaving the alleyway, they finally arrived at Jay's house. "Thanks for showing me the shortcut, and walking me all the way home," said Jay. "Anytime. I mean that is what neighbors are for," said Yuriko. "Yeah you're rig- hold up. Neighbors?" asked Jay. "Yeah I just noticed we live right next to each other," said Yuriko while pointing at the house right next to Jay's. "Huh. If Yuriko didn't have a boyfriend. I would say this is fate." Yuriko then starts walking towards her house. "Well, see you tomorrow new neighbor. Goodnight!" said Yuriko as she waved at Jay. "Goodnight." said Jay as he waves back. "Oh man, it can't get crazier than this." said Jay to himself.

Jay has finished doing homework, taking a bath, eating his dinner, and now he can finally lay down on his bed. "I still can't believe, that Yuriko's boyfriend is part of the Yakuza." Jay thought you himself. "I have to be extra careful when I'm around Yuriko. I don't want her boyfriend nor any Yakuza that knows both Yuriko and her boyfriend to think, that I'm trying to get with her. That's the last thing I need." said Jay to himself as shivers run down his spine. "Alright, I need to go to sleep. Before, I start to worry more about it and get no sleep." Jay then closes his eyes, and falls asleep with little to no worries.

Jay has only seen the tip of the iceberg, and what he doesn't know, is what awaits him this school year.

-End of First Day of School-