Immediately after the weekend…

I woke up seeing a hanged set of school uniform first thing in the morning. If I were to tell you that I opened my eyes at a few minutes after 7 in the morning, do you think that the two of us will freak out?

No, in this country, at least.

Originally in Orio's school system, classes start at 7am and that is why Orions always feel like turds every morning. On one hand, Blue Ink is the only high school in the country that clocks in at 8am. Although I really wished I was a student there as a fourth year when classes began at 10. But in typical Blue Ink's time, I will freak out a bit since my apartment is a little far from the school.

How about Isetsu High School, or other high schools in Japan? Passed 8, seriously? Can this also be a thing in Orio please?

But anyway, we still have plenty of time to get prepared so I'll talk stuff for a bit.

I love the uniform.

Still, I haven't found any uniform that is better than the one in my high school for having an accented sleeve that tells your dominant hand, may it be the lighter uniform or the black blazer.

But similarly to Blue Ink's color scheme, Isetsu has a good set of uniform. As it is still the time of spring although it has gotten warm, the students sport a dark gray blazer, white long sleeve shirt underneath and a black pair of pants. Additionally, they have a dark blue sweater that Souhei also gave us even though it is only used for the winter season along with the set. The only thing that we don't have is a summer uniform, really.

…

So now that I have had my fill on ogling on the uniform, I folded my futon and walked towards the other one just to repeatedly poke Mina's cheek to wake her up. Not gonna lie, my heart sort of throbs when I do this because I feel an apparent sensation of comfort inside me, or in other words, fluff. You know, she looks like she doesn't like it but her acting just seems pointless when I see her lips trembling to a smile.

And so, good morning.

One thing that I can't get used to is that our alternating schedule on making meals is nonexistent in this vacation. Every time we come out of our room, the breakfast is already on the table waiting for the monsters inside us to devour. We honestly felt lonely if not empty for not being able to do our food that we share for each other, but maybe it is a reminder to take a rest that is being said to us unconsciously.

Thinking about it, the Saonji family wakes up rather early so we actually don't eat with them together from time to time for breakfast; which I feel is quite rude. It is not everyday that we get to share the table, and to stare and laugh at Souhei's outrageous bedhead as a small addition.

After an obviously great breakfast, the household dispersed on their own places, especially Teo-san whose workplace is literally just a few steps away from the dining room. On the other hand, Mina and I unusually "prepared for school" as we will go together with Souhei.

The girl has dressed up and all, but it was just a gesture of respect to not go at least close on the room divider, but nonetheless, a thought surfaced from my mind.

"This is rather unusual, Mina…"

"Hmm? What is?"

"I was in Blue Ink for two years and you stayed at Wisteria. Isn't this the first time we're going to school together?"

"Now that you mention it, y-yeah…"

"Then this means that we'll also be eating lunch together, huh. Even though we've already graduated there are still a few new things that we can do."

"Mhm…"

"You know… it didn't really get awkward between us back in junior high but we never really ate together, huh? Were you too shy to invite me?"

"Then, were you too scared to tell me that you already knew that I like you?" somewhat sullen or upset, she asked.

"Ugh… that hit… I guess we're on a tie there."

"But well, I'm happier now that I don't see a reason why I should be shy."

"…

Hahh… You really can be assertive sometimes…

Anyway, you ready?"

"Yup."

"Let's head out, I guess. **Souhei…! We're good to go."

"**Alright, senpai! Waaah, that surprisingly looks good on you two!"

"**Well, first things first, don't call me senpai when we're at school."

Q: Why am I reluctant to be called senpai when I'm obviously older than him?

A: We barely know anyone here, so it is most convenient if we just get admitted as second year students just like Souhei. That way we can at least easily introduce ourselves to his classmates as we will be on the same class.

"**Actually, I don't know what I should bring so I just went with a notebook and… B4."

"**It's fine. I already told the admin that you will be in school just for the experience very temporarily. Wait, did you always bring B4 with you even at your high school, senpai…?"

"**I did… I used to drop a lot of my materials from my desk. Though, I graduated with only a handful of classmates knowing my work.

**Wait, do you actually know TAC by any chance?"

"**Is that an appliance brand?"

The girl beside me chuckled blatantly.

"**Then how about this…"

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and showed him an intro of a short film… like, in 21:9 and 24 frames per second. You probably know where this is going.

"**Oh! I watched this once! I was amazed how they pulled out the GFX on this one!"

"Sorry to say, Souhei, but the guy who jumped or the background weren't visual effects…"

"**You see the mural on the intro, right? Pause on when the man is running by the end of the mural."

"**Okay… Wait, aren't those the characters from Flower of the Unknown?!"

"**I'll send you the full film later."

We stopped on our walk, got in a train and got off on the next station, another walk, and school.

I'm very sorry… we are bad at transitioning again.

With that, Souhei led us to the staff room to meet their homeroom teacher while he went off to their classroom. We had our brief introduction and found out that Souhei introduced me as an Orion illustrator while Mina as my friend.

No friendzones here, okay?!

"**Then my name is Kirie Rin. You can call me Kirie-sensei. I hope that you enjoy your stay here."

Quite young for a female teacher. I inferred that perhaps it hasn't been five years since she became a teacher, seeing that she is probably still in her mid-20's. I can see her being friendly with her female students, at least.

But more importantly, I shall never say anything about her on a certain friend back in Orio because of her name.

After waiting for a while, she made us follow towards the door of the classroom. Obviously, she entered the room while we waited outside. We were then prompted to enter after her opening words for the day and stood in front of the entire class.

We were given our own stick of chalk and wrote our names… well, we didn't think this through so we first wrote our name in English characters while I wrote mine and Mina's name in Japanese. I was reluctant on writing our names in their respective kanji as we were not named the same way but I did anyway after a few hesitant strokes, but on what we think our names mean.

"**I am Ayame Yuuga. Nice to meet you all."

"**I'm Okuni Minase. We are pleased to meet you."

"**Even though we have Japanese names, we are originally of Orion birth. We are actually here to experience the country's culture and the high school life here for a project as I am an illustrator with an objective to broaden my knowledge."

And in simultaneous speech, "**We will be in your care for this month," and we bowed.

We took the vacant seats at the back and saw Souhei giving us a cheering gesture from where he was sitting.

But being new students does not mean that we are here to just run like headless chickens. Even before Teo-san's invitation, Mina took interest on learning the language after being able to at least communicate with Kuni-san back in ManCon. Because of that, I was or we were at least able to write after almost a year of practice while I am teaching her how to speak at the same time. Now this is the time where we thank ourselves for doing a lot studying. We can finally call ourselves multilingual, at the very least.

It just so happened that the second period is a self-study, and the students then began gathering on our desks.

"**How should we call you two?"

"**Please call us in our first names. We are not really that used to being called with our last names."

"**Then Yuuga-san, Minase-san, are you really second years?"

"**Ahhh… We actually just graduated high school. We're both 18 already, actually."

Of course, that information caused a bit of a commotion.

"**Minase-san do you have a boyfriend?" the girls suddenly asked.

I can at least guess what's on her mind right now. She is probably being hesitant on telling about us, but thought that it might be troublesome if she just turn a blind eye so…

"Ahahaha…" she timidly laughed and pointed at me."

And so, another ruckus.

"**And that's why the guys can't hit on her because she already has Yuuga-san!"

Souhei suddenly popped up inside the crowd while putting his arms on his male classmates with a cheerful look.

I then started, "**We are actually staying in Souhei's place for a while now so we already know each other."

"**Wait, the name… Ayame Yuuga…

**Could it be… you are @inkedyume from TAC?" a female student somehow brought that up.

"Finally someone that knows the club…!"

"**Ahahaha… So we are also known here in Japan…?"

"**Whaaaa, so it's true…! Chachan, Yuuga-san was actually from TheArtClub!"

"**Eeeehhhhh?! Is that true Yuuga-san?! Were you really able to invite Amagami Yuki-sensei to paint a mural with you?! I totally saw it on @Nanagi's film!"

"**Ahh, yes… Sensei did at the end of the mural."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Actually, I'm quite surprised. I have already appeared as Yuki Amagami in ManCon and the Open Event. I was already expecting that my face will be on the net, or in my wiki page, surprisingly. But no one has recognized me yet in this country… or they are just not approaching us if there is at least one? Anyway, I don't really mind it at this point.

~ ~ ~

Who would have thought that the second period got us so tired even though we didn't even do a single bit of studying. So that was how it felt like to be interrogated for an hour of endless questions.

But thankfully the teacher for the next period entered the classroom and began his lesson about Japanese history.

If we were legitimate students here, Mina and I would probably consider supplementary lessons as our second home. We totally sucked at the subject.

Our brains eventually gave up and almost slept through the lesson. I was brainstorming on what I could improve on my pages, while Mina thought about a good place of reference to visit.

But soon, the bell rang signifying lunch.

"Mina, you didn't forget your bento, right?"

"Yup. It's on my bag."

"Kinda hard to sneak up on the Saonji, huh? We seriously had to buy grocery in secret and quietly use their kitchen late at night. I'm betting that Kamiya-san had us already found out, to be honest."

"Housewives are the queens of the kitchen, Yuu."

"Then shall we head out to eat our lunch, my queen?"

Even I was surprised how I suddenly uttered that. I was just beside Mina, and there was no way that I will miss how her ears and cheeks slowly reddened.

"I'm so glad we're talking on our language right now…"

She stood up to walk outside the classroom and followed suit. I already had an idea on where we should eat for today, and I hoped that I could at least hide my little fluster on me as I'm walking behind her. With nothing better to do, I broke our silence.

"Say… I mentioned that we have never ate lunch together at school, right? Wisteria doesn't have a rooftop, right…?"

"…

Shall we go eat there… then? I'm a bit excited about this, you see… We've never really eaten outside before…"

⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄

"L-Let's go with that then…"

Woah, what in the world is going on. I'm pretty much acting like a character from my shoujo manga at this point! We're so much of a normal couple that we already feel out of place in this story…!

But then again, I have known Mina for so long that I already kind of understood her, either the best or the unnecessary things. That girl have read and watched so much manga and anime that she pretty much daydreams of having to go on a school with an open rooftop. It's so much of a big deal that she cried a lot after hearing that Blue Ink has it.

Mina in other words is (almost) obsessed with fictional romance, so the rooftop is basically a special place for her. But why do I know that personally? I have already drawn a confession on a rooftop and a lunch with the male and the heroine together while their friends hide and watch over them. And one more thing, didn't Ginji confess to Yui at the rooftop when it was Open Event?

I can say a hundred more words why the rooftop is (somehow) a romantic place at the very least, but don't get me started. Anyway, I also don't have many experience with dating, so shame on me.

But what did I expect. I am pretty sure that the rooftop should be populated at this time of the day, but there is literally no one here. At least Mina is now starting to hop on a kintoun cloud nine now that she has finally experienced how it is to be gazing upon the blue sky while clouds float in it, giving us shade that comes and goes.

There is however something unusual with this, and I have already mentioned it. I don't think it's a coincidence that there is no one here apart from us. I suddenly realized the words I uttered at some point—manga authors have their own kind of eccentricity. I am very sure that this is part of Souhei's antics, and what surprises me is how he was able to fish out all the students from the rooftop.

"Don't expect too much, kid…"

Having that figured out at most, the only thing I can do at this point is let out a long sigh. Disregarding that, I just went on and rode Mina's wave.

"Nice timing to have lunch quietly, huh. You brought a mat, Mina?"

"Yep."

"I have to say though… Gin and the others from the club really took care of the rooftop more than anyone can expect."

"Really? How?"

With that, we have established a conversation while savoring tamagoyaki and octopus wieners and such.

"It's something I haven't said to you, but the guys from the club are quite the builders. Our rooftop started like this—bare. But they up and built a durable shade, a bench, and even a plant box that is rather large."

"…

Imagining that make me think that this rooftop is cute. What did they plant anyway?"

"Flowers. But since other students might think that tending to them will be a pain in the butt, I'm pretty sure that they'll still come by to take care of them even though we have graduated."

"Waaahhh… I want to do something like that. Say, can I actually come to Blue Ink?"

"Uhhh… I don't quite catch that, Minase-san…"

"When we come back home, there are still some time before the next academic year begins, right? Do you think it's fine just to come to the rooftop?"

"Mmmmm…

I'll have to ask."

"Yay~

Oh by the wa- Mmmf…?"

Yes, I can definitely hear my heart palpitating right now. Even I ask myself how it is even after suddenly stuffing a meatball in her mouth with my chopsticks.

"You know, this is payback for always doing this to me whenever we eat together. Do you realize now how it's embarrassing for me?

Don't worry, I feel the same on what I'm doing right now."

"You cheeky…!"

Welcome back to another flavor of high school.

▪ ▪ ▪

"Oh, Kuni-san is inviting us for dinner, Mina. I guess this is a meeting."

We haven't even been that long in this high school but I can't even count anymore how many times we have failed on cultural subjects at this point. How is it that I was able to factually contextualize a lot of this country's culture in my manga when I'm basically sinking down the drain already?

But then again, there is balance, as all things should be. Even if a ten year-old has more knowledge than me in classics, being a former bilingual helped a lot as Orio's second language is English. Because of that, a lot of our quote unquote classmates approach us with things they don't get much. Having said that, I don't think English is a very popular language here, so I can at least help them pass without a lot of problems in this few days we have in this school.

And so, being an English tutor is largely the role we have for those students. Inevitably, they started calling us senpai, but am I really one to complain?

…

Instead of coming home with Souhei in the afternoon, we parted ways just after passing by the school gate to attend to Kuni-san's invitation. But because it is still quite early to have a meal, we rode the train and got off two stations away from home.

The surroundings felt incredibly bustling. The buildings began to tower over us while walking on the busy walkways of the downtown Tokyo, where we were headed to the publishing office that handles my manga. Needless to say, that is also where Kuni-san works.

We met again after a few days but he definitely looked very different from when I see him in person. I guess, being in Orio makes him relaxed is he didn't need to be so uptight with work, but it is an entirely different story now that I am the one visiting.

He however figured that it might get boring for us so he whispered such an unbelievable suggestion to us.

Immediately after that, we took the lift and went to the 17th floor of the building, which half of it is occupied by an animation studio. Great, we were granted entrance to the studio of UsaPyon Animation.

On the outermost door of the animation company, a man greeted us with a tone as though he is expecting us. He had an ID that says his name is Takao.

"**We assume that you're Amagami Yuki-sensei?"

"**Ah, good day to you. That is indeed me. This is Okuni Minase, my… uhh… secretary, I guess."

Oi, why did calling you a secretary made you abashed?

"**We received word from Weekly Leap that you are here in Japan so we figured that you would want to visit."

"They invited us… so it's the other way around?"

"**Does the company accepts visit frequently, Takao-san?"

"**Only a few in a month. Well, shall I tour you two?"

"**Ah, yes. We'll be in your care."

As expected of an animation studio, their offices are closed-door, mainly because a lot of leaks that come around before the announcement of production. We however have a limited time for the visit since we are attending a meeting in a few hours, so Takao-san immediately guided us to the departments that take care of all the production.

Firstly, we entered the animation department where we saw a lot of animators doing the "genga" of various anime that they are producing. In-between production keyframes are definitely a lovely sight to see, but I actually have tried to sketch a frame on a whim and it turned out quite mediocre as I expected, but it covered the structure well.

On the same room, they also have people that specialize on digital animation, and there are a lot more real estate around as all of their tools are just found on their computer screens.

Afterwards, we went to where the animations are given more visualization with the colors, visual effects and such. But then I noticed that there aren't many background artists here.

"**So there are only a few backgro- Nevermind…"

I then saw a completed animation cut that plays repeatedly in an unoccupied computer. I caught Mina and our guide's attention and pointed at it.

"**Takao-san, I actually helped on painting that background."

"**H-Huh…?! What do you mean, sensei?"

"**Uhh… You see… school system in Orio requires students to do work as training for 100 hours. It just happened that I got in to Stylo Studios for that… Corik-san actually knows about my work."

"**Corik-san could have told us…"

"**So Stylo does all of the CG and most of the backgrounds?"

"**Yes. There are many talented artists in Orio, and we wouldn't be able to finish our production without them."

"Yuu, look at the time," Mina whispered.

"**Ah, thank you for touring us around, Takao-san, but we have a meeting to attend to with my editor. I'm very sorry for our abrupt leave."

"**It is fine, sensei. We will see you off.

**But before that, can I get your autograph?"

~ ~ ~

I…

"I so want to ask the owner of the restaurant if I can feature this place in my manga."

"Yuu… your inner thoughts are leaking out."

"Ahhh…"

"**I heard that sensei and Okuni-san are going to Isetsu right now?"

"**Right, as you can see with our uniforms."

"**Honestly, I'm very thankful that you chose a blazer-type uniform for 'Tale of Love'. A gakuran will definitely not go well since you can't seem to remove your habits. It would look very much like 'Hana' if you did."

"**So that's the reason why you were reluctant with my early character designs…"

"**Anyway, I think that giving a very huge twist for Taiyou this early is not a very good idea. It might look amazing at first, but I think it is difficult to do a bigger twist than that later on."

"**About that, I already decided that it'll be for later."

"**O-Oh, that's good to hear."

"**Instead, I will give a small one for Mayumi. I've read my readers' feedback and they seem to want Mayumi to be on the spotlight mostly if not as equally as Taiyou. I'm thinking of improving or 'unlocking' a bit of her abilities."

"**Well… that does sound good."

"**Just a sec… I'll have a refill."

"**Then why are you holding a contact card, Yuu?"

"**I'm serious on what I said earlier, Mina."

"Hahh…"

…

"**What was that about, Okuni-san…?"

"**He seems to like this restaurant a lot so he's going to try talk to the owner if he can feature this."

"**Hmm, as long as he will get permission, I think that it will be fine.

**And it's amazing that you've gotten so fluent in just a year."

"**T-Thanks… but really, I still have a lot to learn, Kuni-san."

▪ ▪ ▪

A few days later.

"Yawn~ **Ahhh, this is bad. Sorry for oversleeping, Souhei.

**Where is sensei and Minase-san?"

"**Out on their excursion. They seem to be enjoying walking around the city."

"**Ahhh, nice to be young. You know, you shouldn't always stay at home, Souhei. Even though you see me sitting around, writing all day, I do a lot of exercise too.

**You could try some running, or go on a date with someone."

"**You'll get scolded again by mom if she hears you…

**But even if I find someone I like, and things go well, I might honestly stop drawing manga, Dad."

"…? **Where did that come from?"

"**Well… You're currently an editor for a magazine, while being an author is your second job. I'm always grateful that you are able to sustain us… but in the end this manga is your minor work.

**Yuuga-senpai made me realize that I really should think about my priorities wisely. Either I find a new job, or put manga as an auxiliary. But don't get me wrong, Dad. I enjoy making manga with you."

"**W-Wow… you're really honest with that."

"**Duh, we always see our faces every single day so I do my best to be open. You're my dad after all. Hahahaha."

"**Man… Well, let's set aside this for now. But do you agree with what I have in mind, son?"

"**We're just giving them a little push. I hope that they won't mind."

"**Of course they would mind, Souhei! Make sure that you're ready to kowtow with me especially in front of sensei."

"**Hahh… Let's expect for the best and the worst. I don't think even an apology like that will suffice. You really act what you write, Dad…"

"**They only have more than a week here… do you think we can do it in a few days' time?"

"**I should be the one asking you that, Dad."

▪ ▪ ▪

I would say that getting to live in this country for quite a while now has made me interpret well how Japanese people live their daily lives. I may have been living by myself for a few years now in Orio, but I can definitely say that living alone in a country you don't know very well, it would be a very hard time.

Moving domestically is not the same as moving to another country, is what I can conclude. If I was not able to learn the language and about at least a dollop of their culture, I may not be ways away from getting a strong case of culture shock.

Even if there is a lot of things that our country adapted from here, there are even more differences that I can enumerate.

And there are even more things that I am unable to expect.

~ ~ ~

The final bell for the day has rung.

"**Yuu…! Are you on cleaning duty today?"

"**Yeah, can you wait with Souhei outside? This won't take long."

"**We'll be outside then!"

…

"**Ah, thanks for helping us clean, Nagi-kun, Ame-san. You can leave the rest to us," a classmate said.

With that, it was only the two of us that are present in the room. But reasonably, I do think that closing the windows and putting back the rest of the seats aren't necessarily a job for two people especially when we ourselves are about to leave.

"**Uhh… Ayame-senpai… If it is okay with you… Can you sign here…?"

He then nighed towards me with a shikishi board on his hand.

"**Wait… so actually knew that I am a mangaka, Yabe-san?"

"**I thought that it would bother you if I say it out loud. With this, no one would really hear us."

"**Ahahahah, kinda refreshing that someone actually knows me from my job. I always have a Sharpy ready with me every time. Let me sign, then."

"**Amazing, I actually got your signature…!"

"**Are you also one of those people that thought I was a woman?"

"**I was… Well, most of the people, actually."

"**My shoujo style of drawing wasn't really that girly, though."

"**But your pen name sounds like a name of a girl, so it was unavoidable."

"**Hahh… I guess. Do we have to lock the room, Yabe-san?"

"**The janitor has the keys. He does inspection everyday after school."

"**I see. I'll go on ahead then. Mina and Souhei are waiting for me."

"**See you tomorrow, senpai."

"**Yeah!"

…

l could have sworn that it wasn't that long since Mina and Souhei left the room.

I have already changed my shoes and walked to the school gate but I don't see the two anywhere. I know that Mina isn't the kind of person who would get impatient quickly so I doubt that she would drag Souhei with her home.

"Maybe they went to the convenience store or something."

Under that assumption, I waited for them a little more by the gate.

But half an hour had passed, and they didn't come back.

I tried calling both of them, and even Souhei's parents, but they weren't answering at all. Amid the envelope of anxiety in me, my phone rang loudly on the quiet gate, and immediately pulled it up hoping that it was Mina or Souhei.

But it was only a number.

My hands began to shiver but for all the hope I have left, I still answered the call with my trembling thumb.

"Yuki Amagami-sensei, this is you right?"

(!)

The voice from the receiver was obviously changed artificially, but what surprised me the most is that whoever that person is, he was speaking my mother language.

"I have Minase Okuni with me. Follow my instructions if you want her alive."

"Yuuga-senpai…!" Souhei's voice loudly resonated as he came running towards me.

"**Souhei…! Where is Mina?!"

"**I just stopped by the convenience store for a second, but when I came back, she's not here anymore… I tried looking for her outside but I can't find her anywhere…"

"No… No, no, no…"

"**Senpai… did something happen…?"

"No… no…

**Mina got kidnapped, Souhei…"