The smell of fresh paint and wooden floor polish lingered in the air as the sun rose over the Tokyo suburb. The house stood modestly yet elegantly, a harmonious blend of modern Japanese architecture and warm familiarity, a new home for Htet Myat. Boxes of all shapes and sizes cluttered the entrance, each filled with fragments of the life they left behind in Yangon. The Myat family had moved before, but this time was different. This was a leap across borders, cultures, and languages, a shift that felt as monumental as it did daunting. Htet Myat stood in the middle of his new room, gazing at the sunlight filtering through the shoji screen windows. The light softened the sharp edges of uncertainty in his chest. The room was smaller than his one back home, but there was something comforting about its simplicity. His family had always believed in adapting to change, but Htet couldn’t shake the weight of this one. "This will take some getting used to," he muttered, running a hand through his short black hair. His mother’s voice rang from downstairs, melodic and firm as always.
“Htet! Come down, we’re about to leave for your school!” He sighed, stealing a final glance at the room that would soon hold his secrets, his dreams, and his frustrations. Slipping on his shoes, he descended the staircase, where his parents were waiting. His father, a reserved man with a crisp demeanor, nodded approvingly at him. His mother, dressed in a simple yet elegant longyi, adjusted his collar.
“You’ll do well, Htet. It’s a good school, and this is a good opportunity,” she said with a smile that only barely masked her own nervousness.
“Good opportunity,” Htet echoed internally. It wasn’t that he doubted her words, he simply hadn’t yet found a way to embrace them. The drive to the international school was quiet at first, punctuated only by the hum of the car engine and the faint jazz playing on the radio. Htet stared out the window, taking in the unfamiliar scenery—tidy streets, uniform houses, and sakura trees that lined the roads like silent spectators. Occasionally, his father would point out landmarks or provide cultural trivia.
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“Did you know,” his father began, “this area used to be a rural farming village? Now it’s a hub for technology and education.” Htet nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Would he fit in here? Would anyone even understand him? He was fluent in English and his Burmese was impeccable, but his Japanese was clumsy at best, a mix of textbook grammar and awkwardly pronounced phrases. As the car pulled up to Mizuhara International Academy, his breath caught. The school stood grand yet welcoming, with its modern glass facade and sprawling green lawns. A group of students in crisp uniforms walked by, chatting animatedly, their voices mingling with the faint chirping of birds. His father parked the car and led the way to the administration office. Inside, the walls were adorned with banners boasting accolades and smiling students from all over the world. Htet’s mother handled the formalities with her usual grace, filling out forms and discussing schedules with the registrar. “Grade 10, huh?” the registrar said with a friendly smile, glancing at Htet. “A fresh start! Don’t worry, you’ll settle in quickly. Everyone here is quite welcoming.”
“Thank you,” Htet replied, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach. The moment felt surreal as he signed the final form. It was official—his journey here had begun. On their way back to the car, his mother clasped his shoulder.
“You’ll make friends, Htet,” she said. “And remember, no matter how far from home you are, we are with you.” As they drove back, Htet leaned against the window, watching the city blur into the countryside. For the first time that day, a small smile tugged at his lips. A new chapter awaited him..a blend of unknown challenges, unexpected joys, and the whispers of a future he couldn’t yet imagine. And though he didn’t know it, this move would bring with it not just lessons in academics, but lessons of love, laughter, and the art of belonging.
---(End of Prologue)---