Ai Supeeku Eeengrish!(Open)

[Deleted]

The flight had been long, and there were at least two layovers, one in Tokyo and one in Los Angeles, which sapped more than enough of his energy and had him suckling on whatever b-vitamin filled drink he could get his hands on. He'd at least made sure that his traveling attire was comfortable enough to endure the long journey, one which began early Friday morning. However, by the end of it, Junpei's loose jeans were starting to crease into his thighs and his simple graphic T was covered in the oil and sweats of about a million different people. He made sure to change at least his T-shirt to something less rancid.

At the moment that Junpei stepped off the plane at Burlington International Airport, he already felt like he had stepped into a new world. He was lost, confused, and unsure of where to go. But one airport was just like the other and all he really had to do was follow the crowd which threatened to run him over, and when that failed, there were signs to follow down to the baggage claim area. He only had one, which contained enough of his personal effects to last him until the rest of his things arrived and which he carried with him in the cabin.

When he stepped out of the airport, it was yet another world, though the greenery somehow reminded him of home. The air was just as humid, though a touch cooler than the summers of Kyoto. Definitely more comfortable than Tokyo summers.

The drive to the Institute itself had been long and he spend the hours sitting in the back seat of a car, staring at the passing scenery through the window. Even that looked the same as home, with just a few un-notable differences in the flora. Junpei supposed that that might make the transition easier.

When they finally arrived at the Hammel Institue, it was yet another world, one which was both similar and different from his life at Eisai. There were students of all ages, which was to be expected, but the atmosphere just seemed a little bit... freer. Junpei hoped from the bottom of his heart that he could get along well with the other students. He would explore the campus later, either by himself or with a guide, and try to get a better feel for the life he had before him.

For now, Junpei strolled absently through the halls of the dormitories, checking the numbers on the doors as he passed them, looking for a one 504, where he would be staying for the next few years until graduation.

"Koko ni....deshou," the Japanese boy muttered once he'd located the appropriate room. He produced a key from his pocket and tried it in the door, opening it to...emptiness. There didn't seem to be anyone here. Junpei stood in the doorway, debating whether he should go in. How ridiculous was that? It was his room, he shouldn't be this hesitant. With a sigh and a polite "Ochamashimasu...", Junpei stepped over the threshold into his new home.

Though while standing there, taking in the scenery of the generously large accommodations, Junpei was startled by a noise which came from behind, and he turned to make eye contact with the person standing in the doorway. "Herro," he said with a meek smile.

[Vincent Meian]

Vincent normally didn't wander around in the dorms - they were the living spaces and private sanctums of the children hat lived there, and seeing an adult (let alone a trainer) meandering through made some of them nervous. For the most part, teachers and such weren't even allow access to the dorms unless they had a reason or were expressly invited. Fortunately enough, Vincet had a reason - Lei had graduated (against all odds) and the tall man had helped him move out of the dorms and into town. It wasn't doing much really, but there was an American saying about "many hands" and "light work".

The box he carried now was cleaning supplies - things the graduate had borrowed earlier from the groundskeeper to tidy up the room. It was full and heavy, so while Lei carried the last of his things down to the bus with his friends, the older Asian man opted to return the supplies to their owners.

Navigating down the hall was mildly hazardous, what with summer break allowing students to rampage through the halls freely. Unfortunately, this meant various objects had been left strewn through the narrow corridor, and Vincent's legs were very long with his center of gravity high.

In short, he stumbled and down went the box with him.

Cursing lowly in his native language, he didn't even notice the new student nearby, scrambling to pick up the chemicals and replace them in the box.

[Deleted]

The first thing that Junpei was was concerned about the person who had just stumbled and fallen in the hallway outside of his door, scattering a box full of cleaning supplies across the floor. The second thing was that he was far from noticing the curse which had fallen from the man's lips, uttered in a language that Junpei had been familiar with all his life. This sparked a bit of hope in the young Japanese boy for he was not expecting to encounter one of his own so early after his arrival and his smile grew wider in anticipation.

The third thing was surprised. Surprised and pleasantly delighted to see the face of the stumbled man once he had finally lifted his head to reveal the recognizable features of that stupidly tall and infamously tempered Eisai trainer that everyone at his former school knew, loved, and missed(some uundeniably more than others).

"Meian-sensei!" Junpei exclaimed, his voice raising up about three octaves in his excitement. Junpei was practically beaming with sunshine as he abandoned his suitcase in the common room of his dorm and flew to the trainer's side. Not bothering with English anymore, the boy spoke rapidly in Japanese, "//It's been such a long time, Sensei! Do you remember me? I'm Hirai, Junpei! I heard you came to America, but I didn't think to see you so soon! How have you been.//" If he were thinking at all, Junpei might've realized that it would have been a better idea to offer assistance to the other man rather than kneel there like a naive school boy reminiscing about a connection that was barely there.

[Vincent Meian]

The sudden shriek (or maybe it was a squeal - it was hard to tell) startled the trainer into jolting away from it, slamming his shoulder into the wall and knocking his characteristic sunglasses askew. For a minute, he just sat there, mildly uncomprehending even as his brain registered the language this vaguely familiar teen was speaking. "Hirai... Junpei," he reiterated, searching his memory for the name.

Oh, yes - I remember him.

["Ah, Hirai-san,"] he replied, understanding setting in as he relaxed. The boy had startled him, and only now did the tension in the Japanese man's shoulders ease away. He adjusted the dark lenses on his face again, settling them back into place over his honey-colored eyes. ["Yes, yes - I remember you. You came to Eisai... what would have been, four years ago? You look well."]

Realizing that there was a suitcase behind the teen, Vincent straightened further, bottles of cleaning solution momentarily forgotten. ["You're moving in? I hadn't thought you were on track for transfer. What changed?"]

[Deleted]

"Hai." Junpei nodded. He came to Eisai when he was 11 and had immediately become taken with Meian-sensei, though it was a hero worship that he was forced to be content with from afar, as classes and trainer assignments didn't allow them for much interaction. Though it was after Junpei discovered that Meian-sensei shared an interest in mythology and folklore that Junpei was frequently hunting the trainer down to learn more from him. Really, if Junpei showed that much initiative in the rest of his studies then he might not be in the situation he was today, or at least that's what his Aunt Mio would say.

Junpei blushed slightly and looked away. How do you say that you couldn't take the pressure anymore from your teachers and trainer without sounding like a whiner? And Junpei couldn't tell a lie to save his life. "//Nothing really, I....I just needed a change....?//" he said with a hesitant smile. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. He needed to get away from the school and especially his family who were staring him down daily with expectations and rules and traditions, none of which he ever wanted to follow, but few of them which hadn't been engrained into him already. Despite Junpei being the reserved boy he was from all those lessons, he still was considered a good-for-nothing by his great aunt and uncle.

With a flustered pause and his child-like eyes dancing, Junpei looked at his old mentor then down at the item still strewn about the floor, and he realized that they should probably get out of the way before somebody came and ran them over. "//Here, let me help you,//" Junpei offered as he started collecting the bottles and rags and settling them into the box nearby. "//.....How is your family, Sensei?//"

[Vincent Meian]

As Junpei knew, Vincent was very well-studied in folklore and mythology from all around the world. Having earned a college degree in it (which was mostly useless unless he wanted to teach in a university, but sufficed as enough of a certificate to get him into a training position at the Japanese metahuman school), he knew more than the average person about things that went bump in the night - even multiple iterations of such legends. It was, in fact, how the boy had earned the courage to hunt him down and talk to him one afternoon.

Honestly, he missed those kind of conversations.

["Very well, thankfully,"] he answered with a hint of a smile, settling back onto one knee so that he could reclaim the fallen objects. ["Cassi-chan is her normal bundle of energy, though unlike last year she can't attend the same school as her sister. But the public schools are challenging enough, and she's made quite a few friends."] While the trainer tended to wax poetic on philosophy and other metaphysical topics, him speaking directly was certainly the norm. He rarely talked this much about his family to students. ["Kenjutsushi-sensei is also here, if you would care to meet her."]

Junpei (and most of the Eisai student body) had never met Vincent's wife - she had worked in a hospital and mostly catered to foreign clients due to her ability to speak both Russian and English conversationally. Even when she was on the grounds, she tended to be shied away from due to her physical differences. Japan was a cruel place for those with genetic abnormalities, even from the view of those who grew up in such a culture.

Putting a bottle back in the box, the tall man glanced back at the teen. ["Did you ever manage to get those grades back up?"] he asked, a hit of humor in the informal tone. ["Or were your aunt and uncle disappointed again?"]

Oh yes, Vincent knew those two. In fact, he'd had several "conversations" with them during the last year he spent at Eisai due to the fact that the ex-soldier had supported Junpei's extracurricular studies in world mythos. The majority of them had not ended well, and several had lead to calls to Eisai's headmaster. Idle threats, and all the more amusing in hindsight. At the time, they were an annoyance at best and infuriating at worst. Honestly, the dimensionalist was almost certain that the grandmother (and matriarch) was the only sensible one in the family.

And equally as honest, he was sure that they were the reason Junpei left his homeland.

[Deleted]

Junpei had enjoyed his talks with Meian-sensei. His favorites would have to be the comparisons of folk-tales based on regional differences. Lots of towns had the same general legends, but the details changed based on which prefecture and town they were told in. He wondered if it was the same in other countries too?

Junpei's expression beamed even brighter. So his wife was out here as well! Junpei had never met her, but he remembered Meian-sensei speaking of her on occasion, and Junpei had always wished to meet with her. Junpei was also familiar with Kenjutsushi-sensei's brother, Hatsuharu-sensei. Haru-sensei was a little intimidating with his bleached hair(because it made him look rough and like a delinquent), but considering how well both of them spoke of the woman, Junpei was certain that he wanted to finally meet her. In fact, he was excited for the opportunity and nodded his head fiercly. "//Yes! I'd like to meet her very much!//"

As for his grades, Junpei hesitated again before answering, his progress on gathering the scattered items slowing to reflect his uncertainty. He ground his molars together, a habit whenever he felt frustrated and trapped by expectations. "//Mio-basama and Tada-jisama are only concerned for my future. I am sure they mean well.//" Despite Mio's venomous tongue and Tadayuki's overbearing demeanor, both of which knocked countless points off of Junpei's self-esteem, the boy still was stuck in speaking well of them if just for politeness sake. It seemed as if, if he spoke ill of them then terrible things would happen. Kotodama was merely a silly superstition, but it was one that Junpei wasn't willing to risk. In any case, he didn't like speaking poorly of people, even if they deserved it.

Now silenced and uncomfortable, Junpei placed the last bottle in the box and stood, taking it with him. After all, Junpei was the student, he should be the one to have to do the grunt work. With a sigh, Junpei looked back to Meian-sensei, "//Where is this going?//"

[Vincent Meian]

The boy took a moment to answer his question about his relatives, something that Vincent knew meant that he really didn't want to talk about it. So, that bad, eh? The double-speak made him want to turn around and speak bluntly again; he never did care for the idea of being completely polite to people who were (in his opinion) so aggravating. But, then again, he wasn't the heir to a mega-conglomerate. So there.

Junpei also managed to swipe the box from him before he could grab it again, so the trainer simply hefted himself back to his normal outrageous height and nodded down the hallway. ["A former student of mine borrowed these from the janitor, so I was on my way to return them."] Plucking the box from Junpei's arms (it was his obligation, damn it), he added, ["You're more than welcome to come with me, if you want."]

He hadn't talked with any of his former students since he left Japan, mostly because he'd refused to leave loose ends when he did transfer. He trained all of his students until they graduated, then left the summer after the last one finally received their diploma. So, since the opportunity had arisen, the trainer wasn't going to just let it pass up if he could help it.

[Deleted]

Junpei looked up to Vincent. Quite literally, Junpei had to crink his neck back in order to look at Meian-sensei in the face, despite the fact that Junpei was already just short of reaching six feet himself. Ok, more like 5'10, but he was still growing! When Meian-sensei took the box back from Junpei, his face dropped a bit, but only for a moment, since he was invited to accompany the trainer on his mission to return the supplies. Junpei nodded and promptly followed beside the tall man.

"//So...how is life here in America? Is it very different from home?//" Junpei started off with. He wanted to know what Sensei had been up to and had an onslaught of questions to bombard the trainer with, but he held himself back as best he could. After all, there was no rush. Neither of them were going anywhere anytime soon. At least Junpei didn't think so.

[Vincent Meian]

Back to navigating the slightly cluttered hallway, Vincent nodded absently to the question. ["Yes, it is."] He caught movement around a door and lifted the heavy box above his head, the cardboard barely missing a student that barreled out of the room and down the hall to the stairwell, not even noticing the trainer and the new student. Crisis averted, he sighed and lowered the box. Teenage exuberance at its finest.

["There are a number of differences between here and Japan,"] he continued, moving along on his way again. ["Social customs, expectations, the hand religion has in shaping the youth of the nation... even things as simple as cuisine. There's so much more variety, and the people are far more open."] He pondered that statement a moment and added, ["Well, in a way. They speak more and say less. It can be very frustrating, so try not to let it bother you."]

Watching the first step carefully, the tall man began walking down the steps towards the next floor. ["It looks like you've only just arrived, so I imagine you haven't seen much of the town. Perhaps you can visit during the summer break - it'll be here shortly, and the school lets out for a month."] Yet again, something different from Japan - even Eisai only let out students for two weeks during the summer.

[Deleted]

Junpei quickly moved to the side of the hallway as another student hurried past. People moved so fast while indoors here. Not that people didn't move fast back in Japan, but....usually when you passed by someone like that, you bowed and excused yourself for the intrusion. People here in America were so far...very impolite.

"//I can see that,//" Junpei said as he watched the student continue barreling down the hall and past the door Junpei had left open. The though of closing it and locking the room before leaving with Meian-sensei didn't even occur to him....it still didn't. "//There are so many differences. I look forward to learning them all, but I'm afraid I will be overwhelmed.//" Junpei smiled, laughing silently at his own ineptitude.

Junpei trailed behind Meian-sensei as the tall man attempted to descend the steps with the box. The asian boy felt awkward merely standing by and watching the older man carry the load, thinking that he should be doing something to help as well. The best he could do was continue with the conversation. "//I didn't get to see much of the American towns while I was traveling. I'd like very much to see the town and try some American food!//" Yes, that prospect was very exciting to Junpei. He wanted to know what real American food tasted like. "//Once my belongings arrive and I finish getting settled in my room, I think I will take a trip down to the town and explore.//" He should probably take a guide, because Junpei had very little sense of direction. Then again, he did have GPS on his phone, so the boy might be alright on his own.

[Vincent Meian]

The trainer chuckled, understanding the confusion and irritation. ["Think about it like this,"] he offered. ["They're on subway behavior almost constantly. Just act accordingly when you're not in class - it'll help you adapt."] The concept was something he was well used to, despite having rarely ridden the subway or trains in Japan. So long as Junpei understood that everyone was always in a hurry, he'd be prepared for the more unintelligible parts of American culture.

["Take each piece at a time. Learn a little bit every day. No one is asking you to become an American overnight."] If it had been a requirement, Vincent himself would likely have been deported within his first month despite his work visa and agreement with Hammel.

Once the first step was out of the way, the rest of the descent was much easier, and the tall man took it at the same speed he would have normally (albeit one step at a time rather than three). ["There's a restaurant or two in town I can recommended if you'd like,"] he added. ["Both are relatively high-quality, given their selections, and are owned and operated by a single person. Perhaps I can show you in the coming weeks, if you haven't gone with your friends."]

Vincent didn't expect Junpei to have many (if any) friends at Hammel yet, but the statement was made because he felt assured of the teen's ability to make them. He was a friendly sort, if a bit shy. ["If you'd like, I'm sure I can ask Appoline-chan to help; she knows the area very well."] And she may open up a little more to another Japanese transfer student.

[Deleted]

The idea that everyone was always rushing as if they were rushing to catch the trains and subways brought a snicker out of Junpei. While he understood that mentality, since he'd been officially taken in by the Hirai family, the boy hardly ever had to use them anymore, though he remembered using them frequently with his mother when he was a small child. "//I understand. But I'm still getting run over so much. Everyone here walks on the wrong side.//" He was referring to the way people customarily traveled when walking. Back in Japan, people walked on the left side, just like they drove, but in America it was all on the right. It was just another thing he was going to have to get used to.

Junpei followed behind Meian-sensei as he listened to the man speak. "//Yes! I'd like that! Anything you can recommend would be helpful!//" Junpei looked forward to seeing and doing and eating as much as he could in his time here. While there really was no rush, Junpei was a little impatient. "//I wouldn't mind going with you, but I do hope to have friends by then.//" No, Junpei never really had a problem making friends. He was the sort who got along with almost everybody, however half of that was because he was a bit of a pushover and had a tendency to just sit there and laugh silently even when he was uncomfortable with the people around him.

"//Really? I would like that!//" He remembered Meian-sensei speaking of his daughter on more than a few occasions. "/Appoline-chan is really cute,//" he commented with a nostalgic smile and a twinge of pink in his cheeks. He remembered they were about the same age and had actually had a few classes together back at Eisai. Honestly, Junpei would be very pleased to see her again.

[Vincent Meian]

["Just remember to respect the culture,"] the older man warned, though he didn't seem terribly serious. ["Here, it's you who walks on the wrong side, not them. Fortunately, something as simple as walking on the sidewalk isn't a matter of etiquette; if you're in the way, often times they simply move around rather than causing a scene."] Such as the boy who hadn't even seemed to notice them earlier.

Thinking back in the last few months, Vincent rattled off a couple names of restaurants and stores he'd seen that the boy may be interested in. There was even a new age shop that had a friendly owner that he mentioned in an off-handed manner. ["If it's American food you want, Honest Abe's is a very good place. There's also an ice cream parlor in the local mall that doubles as a diner, if you happen to be nearby. The owners are locals and serve very good food."]

He chuckled a little at the slight impetuousness in the respectful decline of the offer of going into town together, but made no other remark on it. He was rarely one to punish someone for speaking their mind.

["Yes, she is,"] the tall man agreed with a smirk over his shoulder at the blushing boy. ["She's still quite shy, though, so if you prefer a more exuberant guide I can send Cassi-chan along with you two - she likes venturing into town."] Although the statement was a joke, it was also a cultural obligation; as a father, he needed to at least attempt to be seen as protecting his daughters from potential suitors. Personally, he thought a boyfriend might be good for his oldest, but Nakia had set some firm rules on the subject and Vincent had to admit that their daughter was rather compliant in the face of assertiveness. But Junpei was a (truly) good kid - the trainer was sure he wouldn't do anything foolish.

[Deleted]

Junpei had to laugh at that. As someone who liked to study cultures and history and all those beliefs that made each one unique, Junpei had expected things to be different. He was mostly just complaining and pointing things out with a wide-eyed little boy perspective, considering he'd never been allowed to venture outside of Japan before. Heck, after he'd joined the main Hirai family, Junpei had hardly been allowed to leave Kyoto, save for schooling and some vacations in Okinawa, Sendai, and Karuizawa, where his family had seasonal homes located. "//That's good. I was afraid they would all be like the classic "running into a yakuza" scenario where they wear scary headbands and demand I pay for a fake injury.//" That was an experience that Junpei hadn't experienced himself, but the way it was always depicted in manga made him think that maybe that kind of thing really did happen. As it was, American's were scary with all their fashion and body-art. While Junpei was fine with those qualities on people he knew well, it was hard to tell whether a person who looked scary was actually going to be so when he ran into them accidentally.

Junpei would have been taking mental notes if he thought he'd remember the places that Meian-sensei was rattling off to him, but the asian boy knew himself well. Once Meian-sensei started his list, Junpei pulled his phone out and his fingers started flying over the touch-screen as he documented the list into his phone at a speed only possible for a person as techno-dependent as Junpei. "//I see...//" he said in passing as he listened to the trainer.

Junpei had not meant to be rude with his previous comment regarding with whom he would venture into the town with, he was merely stating the truth. He wasn't even aware it was something that Vincent might have taken offense to, which, luckily, he didn't.

The shy boy was now actually looking forward to possibly being escorted around town with Appoline-chan. He remembered how pretty she had been and, like many of the boys, had probably developed a tiny crush on the exotic looking girl. Unfortunately, since she was so shy and reserved, and also Meian-sensei's daughter, Junpei was sure none of the other boys had dared approach her for affections.....at least, that was what was always going through Junpei's head when he saw her. But if Meian-sensei himself was offering her for a social event, even for something as simple as a tour guide, Junpei wasn't going to decline. "//No disrespect, but I think I will be alright with just Appoline-chan's company.//" That, and he really didn't want to play babysitter with the younger daughter....that would interfere with the chance of Appoline-chan and Junpei having the time to be alone and getting to know each other....not that he was planning on doing anything untoward, but still.....

The thoughts and possibilities ran rampant through his head, only making his already ruddy cheeks a more deep crimson.....maybe this wasn't such a good idea. At this rate, Junpei wasn't going to be able to stream together sentences of more than three words without stumbling over them like an idiot. "//Sorry...//" he said again to the Father beside him with his fingers resting on his forehead in an attempt to hide his red face and shy smile behind his large palm. "//This is really embarrassing.....I'm not....We can do whatever you're....//" His voice trailed off into hesitant chuckles before he cleared his throat and tried again. "//Sorry...//"