At Calmento Academy, the new program of studying abroad was introduced.
I, Ken Sato, chose to take my second year in the United States of America,
But the question is, where should I apply?
I did some research and decided on 3 potential schools I could go to.
The first school is located in Los Angeles, California, the second one is in Seattle, Washington, and the last one is in Atlanta, Georgia.
I'll decide it with my teachers tomorrow.
#
Walking to school, I met up with my best friend Tomora Hayashi
"Hey Ken, have you chosen a school yet?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got some in mind."
"Well, alright then, just decide quickly. The deadline is on March 22."
"I know, I kn.."
Right there in front of me was Illya Emi. A second year and the volleyball vice captain.
"What's up? You got a little crush on Emi-chan?" He said with a smirk
"What! No.." I said with a slight blush
But he was kinda right. I mean, who wouldn't be charmed by her?
Her smooth skin, her silky hair, and her angelic voice.
She was basically a walking model.
#
When class ended, I decided to go to the staff room to talk it over with my homeroom teacher about studying abroad.
I went up to Daisuki-sensei to hand in my registration.
"So, is this the school you want to go to?"
"Yes, sir, this school offers curriculums Calmento does have. It is also famous for its sports teams."
After saying that, Daisuki-sensei typed something out on his computer and handed me an English test.
"Stay here and finish that English test. Then we'll determine whether or not you're ready for the United States."
"Yes, sir."
Lucky for me, I've always loved Western movies and music, so English was always so easy for me.
I was going through this test pretty quickly and after a few minutes handed it in to Daisuki-sensei.
I was nervously standing when I heard the words
"You passed," He said with a smile on his face
I was so happy that I was jumping for joy in my heart.
So it was decided I would go to the school, Southern Atlanta High School.
#
When I got home, I immediately went to tell my parents.
"Mom, Dad, I got in."
"That's great, Ken."
"Ken, that means you'll be moving out, right?"
Now thinking about it, I do have to move to the U.S by myself. That also means cooking my own meals and cleaning my own apartment, too.
Honestly, I wasn't fond of the idea of cooking and cleaning. Let alone being good at either.
"Yeah. I'll figure everything out when it comes."
"Well, at least figure out how to cook and clean first Ken."
"I'll try, Mom."
After talking to my parents about the school and money situation, I ran up the stairs to my room to study.
I want to be able to talk properly to Americans and understand their culture.
Their culture seems so free and fun.
Like on social media, I see so many delicious food spots I would love to try.
I've also seen many places I would like to explore.
Right before I was going to study, I got a text from Tomora
"Yo bro, get on the game. Let's play that FPS game you wanted me to try out."
Seeing that message made me lean to skip out on studying and playing the game with Tomora.
I'll study another time.
I wanted to show him how many cool features this game had.
I texted back with, "Sure, give me a second to find the game first."
Soon after, I called him and we started playing.
"Yo Ken, invite me to your party."
"Hold up, let me pick out my skin."
The game is on an island with natural disasters and unique weapons.
In each game, you will pick a faction to play for.
There are 10 total, and you must be the superior faction at the end of the game.
"Which faction should we go to?"
"Let's go to the light faction. Their weapons are easy to use."
"Alright, let's get our weapons and go for the fire faction."
"I don't know Tomora, they have a ray that can kill you if you're in their base."
The fire faction has a ray inside their base that can kill anyone in one shot, but the ray can't be moved, and the range is limited.
"Then we could use snipers to kill them."
"Great idea, I didn't think about that."
After getting our weapon, we headed to the fire factions' base.
Multiple factions were already out, and there were only 6 factions left.
Luckily, we weren't spotted heading over to the fire faction.
"I'm going to go ahead; you can lie here with your sniper."
"Ok, I'll keep an eye out for you."
I headed for the entrance and spotted a person with an assault rifle and a pistol on his hip.
Ducking down, I was setting up my sniper and getting ready to shoot.
Before he could see me, I shot the sniper and hit his leg, doing only 65 damage to him.
He spotted me and was shooting the assault rifle aimlessly.
None of the shots connected, and before he could hit m,e a loud shot hit the guy in the head.
It was Tomora
"Thanks for the backup."
"Don't worry, I've got your back."
Having that reassurance of having him have my back, I picked up the assault rifle and headed inside the base.
Looking right and left, I quickly took out the enemies.
Soon enough, only two factions were left, and it was the blood faction.
Their faction has enhanced bullets and can use an invisibility coat.
Even with all of that, our buffs are better.
All we had to do was take out the leader and conquer their base.
With that in mind, we wiped out their leader and overtook their faction.
"Ah,h what a good game that was."
"Yeah, I'm so glad I found that game. Alright, I'm going to get off and study now."
"Huh, just after one game bro? Let's just play one more."
"Nah, I really have to study."
"Ok fine I'll just play by myself."
Saying goodbye, I opened my textbook and started studying.
#
Once I woke up it was the same usual routine.
Brush my teeth, eat breakfast and go to school.
Doing this everyday really gets boring.
I can't wait to go to the U.S to experience something else.
Thinking this I felt a slap on my back.
Knowing who it was I pretend not to care.
"Morning Ken, how was studying yesterday."
"You know it is always boring to study."
"I mean it's your fault for leaving me to play by myself."
"Yea yea whatever."
Sprin break was about to begin anyways.
I could play games all day without worrying about school.
"Wow. Ken, Emi-chan is getting confessed too."
Breaking my train of thought I saw Emi getting confessed to.
Honestly I feel bad for people who confess to her.
I mean they always get rejected.
It was the same response that she always uses.
"Sorry I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now, but how about we start as friends."
If it wasn't "how about we start as friends" it was "how about we just stay as friends."
She would also look so grim when saying this.
I've always thought that she had a fiance or had really strict parents.
"I feel bad for the guy."
"Yea… I mean no guy has successfully become her boyfriend yet."
"You think she has a secret lover? Like a sugar daddy or some hot shot from a different school?"
"Nah no way she's like that. You think of the most outrageous things."
Laughing it off with Tomora we continued going to school.
#
Lunch started and I was about to go to the cafeteria but before I got out of my seat the class rep came to my desk and wanted to know if I was going abroad next year.
It was surprising that she was asking.
"Umm yea I am. What about you?"
"Huh me? Uhh yeah I'm also going."
"Well that's cool but if you don't mind I'm going to go eat lunch now."
"Sure we can talk about this later I guess."
That's pretty weird. I never thought the class rep would just come up to me and start talking to me.
Ohh shot Tomora and the others are waiting for me in the cafeteria.
#
"Why were you so late, Sato?"
"Well the class rep wanted to talk to me."
"What for?" My other friend, Hoshizuki Ayaka Projected.
"Something about studying abroad and where I'm going."
"That's pretty weird man."
"I guess but what schools did you guys choose?"
"Let me go first!" Tomora insisted "I'm going to this prestigious France school called International High School of Elite Sciences of Paris."
"Woah no way you're making it into that school."
"Well you don't know, I like to aim high."
"Alright let me go next." Retsuma Haruto exclaimed.
I didn't expect much since I've known Restsuma for 2 years already.
We all expected some high that's known for their sports.
"Alright I know it might seem crazy but there's this school that has a medical course that I want to take. It is located in South Korea and called Haengbokwon Future Sciences High School."
We all listened and were absolutely surprised by his choice.
I was thinking of him going to Spain or Brazil since those countries are pretty known for their soccer.
"Wait, you're seriously not going to pursue soccer?"Ayaka said in shock.
"I mean I love playing soccer but that doesn't mean I could go pro after high school. Plus med school is only a back up if I don't make it pro."
"But why med school? I never thought you would go to med school." I said in confusion
"Well I always wanted to save lives and have a big impact on the world, So I guess being a doctor or a surgeon will help me achieve that dream."
We all looked in amazement.
"Well that's enough about me, how about you guys, Sato? Ayaka? What are y'alls schools?"
"I'll go." I said
"Well since my english was always pretty good I've decided to go to the U.S."
They all look so shocked about my statement.
"Woah Ken for real? The United States?"
"Yea I just want to know what it's like there. I mean their pop culture and freedom is nothing like Japans."
"Sure but Sato you know what's also there too. Right?" Ayaka said in concern
"Yea I know Ayaka, the gun violence and drugs but I mean it can't be all too bad and it's probably different in real life.:
"Are you going to do any sports?"
Of course Haruto wanted to know, but I haven't given it that much thought up until now.
"Actually I have no idea if I should or not. Their sports teams are intense but it seems so much more fun over there though."
"I think you should Sato. You'd have a blast."
"Wait wait wait Haruto, Ken isn't that good at sports."
Way to hurt my ego Tomora.
"I'll think about it later but I think we should move on to Ayaka's school."
We all started at Ayaka intensely ready for her answer.
"No need to look so intense guys."
We all snapped back and realized we made her uncomfortable.
"Ahh my bad Akaya I didn't want to add pressure on your choice." I said
"All good. Well my choice was Australia because of the wildlife."
"Pretty fitting. I mean you were always good at handling stray cats." Said Haruto
"The school is called Wallaroo Ridge Wildlife High in Bega Valley Shire."
"Dang you're pretty close to the ocean. You're pretty lucky." Tomora said.
"I know I get to work with so many more animals." Ayaka said with a huge smile.
"Not really what I meant but sure."
After discussing our schools the day came to an end.
#
Wow, 1 more day until spring break. I can't wait.
While thinking about this I saw Emi walking out of a cafe but she wasn't alone.
She was with some man and they were holding hands.
Without thinking I snapped a pic.
Ohh shoot I shouldn't be taking random pictures.
Wait, is that her boyfriend?
I guess Tomora was right about her and her secret lover.
Maybe I should tell Tomora. Nah I don't want to make a scene for her.
Well I guess she couldn't resist getting a boyfriend.
I wonder what school he goes to.
Well I should get going.
Walking away I felt a piercing gaze on me.
#
Today was our last day. It feels so unreal.
Walking to school I met up with everyone for our last time this school year.
"Yo Ken, today is our last day at Calmento Academy."
"It feels so weird thinking we have one more year but we're not staying here though."
"I know what you mean, Sato. I mean now we have to prepare for our new high schools." Ayaka said
We all kept talking until we saw Emi-san at the school gate.
She stood waiting for someone.
Not thinking much about it I tried to walk past her but..
"Hey you, we need to talk."
This beauty, this model was talking to me.
"Huh me?" I said in confusion
"Yes you."
Without saying much she took my hand and we ended up behind the gym.
"Look, I'll keep this short. Don't spread rumors about what you saw yesterday."
"Wait, you saw me?"
Was she the one who was gazing at me yesterday?
"Look before you get the wrong idea he's not my boyfriend, so just don't go around saying that alright?"
"I wasn't planning to anyway."
Clearing this misunderstanding we parted ways.
"Ken, what did Emi-chan say to you?"
I can't tell him about the guy.
"Uhhh It was just about where I was going next year."
"Huh why would she want to know about that?"
"I don't know, don't ask me."
After telling Tomora about that I headed to my seat.
Before I could sit down the class rep came to my desk.
"Hey you free tomorrow."
"Yea, Why?"
"I wanna talk about your school choice."
"Ok then."
"I'll text you the information about where and when we'll meet."
I hope this is the last girl that will come up to me today.
#
"Hey Sato, we got to say goodbye to everyone."
"Alright Haruto, give me a second."
Since this is our last day actually here we have to say goodbye to our friends and teachers.
"Let's go to each class and say our goodbyes."
I nodded with the idea and we went to every classroom to say our goodbyes.
Lastly we went to the staff room to thank our teachers.
Afterwards our group decided to go to karaoke.
"Damn this is the last time we go to karaoke together." Ayaka said.
"Don't worry once we all graduate we'll go out for karaoke together like we're doing right now " Tomora said with a smile.
We all nodded and went to sing our hearts out one last time.