As I made my way up, I noticed students stealing quick glances as they passed by.
Oh yeah! The charming guy said seeing new students was refreshing. Is seeing a new student that "refreshing"? Or perhaps is it my absolutely perfect face that hides no weaknesses that caught their attention?
Yeah right. I should cut it out with the self-delusion. I'm not exactly that guy.
Back to what I was saying. If I saw a new student here, it's normal to take a quick glance, right? But, their interest had something to do with the novelty of an unfamiliar face rather than any outstanding feature of mine.
Aside from my sudden attraction, this school is almost unnaturally pristine. Not even a single speck of dust, not even a single scuff on the floor.
Do they run any secret covert operation when it's midnight? Or some experiment where they turn students into compulsive cleaning machines? I haven't seen any janitor since I've arrived. Yet, the floors are spotless, gleaming like the polished lanes of a bowling alley.
Either way, this place must have some strict standards for cleanliness, or perhaps it's some part of a unwritten code among students. It was unnerving to someone like me that doesn't clean their room in a decade. I couldn't help but wonder if I lack mandatory training on how to properly wield a mop.
When I finally stood tall on the second floor, I still saw students busily navigating their way to their assigned classes. Despite the crowd however, there was a surprising sense of order. No chaos, no bustling, just a steady flow of movement.
It reminded me of ants discovering a fresh food source, forming a neat organized line so that the others could follow to it. There's a cool beauty in that kind of organization, a natural efficiency in itself.
But, who am I to critique any of these students? This is Japan, after all, (And I'm proud of being one.) where propriety and etiquette are ingrained from an early age.
Knowing how to properly maintain oneself in public is more than just a suggestion; but a social standard, a necessary skill for co-existing in this tightly shut society.
It oddly put me in a sense of calmness knowing that everyone here had a basic understanding of manners. I wouldn't have to worry about students barreling through the corridors or any unexpected disturbances.
At least people in this school knew how to behave themselves, something that I could definitely appreciate.
I moved along the flow of students, maintaining a respectable distance between myself and those ahead of me. It was almost like we were on an escalator, each person on their own spot, moving steadily but never too close to the person in front.
Yeah, it's just like that, but on solid ground. The level of discipline and etiquette here was putting me off-balance. It felt so rehearsed, so meticulously organized, that I was still trying to wrap my head around this level of propriety.