Scanlation = A combination of scanning and translation. When it comes to Japanese media this usually refers to the original Japanese manga being scanned by fans and then translated into English or other languages. Scanlations are a fan based thing and often a group effort. Apart from the scanner and the translation, who are often not the same person, there are often cleaners and typesetters involved. The cleaners take out the original Japanese text and clean up any edges and other irregularities while typesetters then put in the new English or other language text. This is dedication as scanlation groups do this for free, just so others can also read certain manga that aren't available here.

My bedroom is really big. When we moved here a couple of years ago, my parents remodelled the whole attic and made it into one big room for me. Sure, the ceilings are sloped and I'm living right under the roof, which is really hot in the summer. But it's still huge in comparison to what most people have.

The door to my bedroom is on the floor below, right next to the bathroom, and after going up the stairs, with walls all covered in anime and J-pop posters, you arrive at the first 'part' of my room.

It's got a TV with a Wii and a PlayStation connected to it and a couch and two beanbags to hang out in. Jason and I love sitting on the beanbags when we play videogames together.

Then next, there is my 'crafts' part of my bedroom. Most of this space is dominated by two huge tables, to make laying out patterns easier, and two mannequins, one standard one, though it's still pretty fancy, and one that was designed specifically for me, although, it needs more boob size now.

I've used some shelves to sort of separate the 'parts' of my bedroom and give extra storage space, since sloped roofs do not allow for many more traditional locations for shelves. The shelves of the 'craft' part are all filled with fabrics and things that I need when making cosplays. And everything that doesn't fit on my shelves here usually ends up in the storage behind the panels that line the sides of my room.

And the final 'part' of my bedroom is where I actually have my bed, and my computer, and my manga, and my anime, and things like that. It's a little separate from the rest because I easily get distracted and this way I can't do something else when I'm supposed to go to sleep. Apart from of course my computer, but it just didn't fit anywhere else.

It sounds really big, and it's bigger than most people would have, but it's actually pretty crowded up here. Especially since I have a habit of collecting so many things and come up with a new hobby to try out about five times a year... But it's my room and my parents let me design it the way I wanted to, which was awesome.

But as I stand at the top of the stairs now, dropping my bag on the floor next to the stairs, I look at it with different eyes. I try to look at it the way Elliot would see it if he came over. The mess, the clothes and fabric all over the place, the big anime girls and boys on the walls, some wearing little clothing... I look like such an otaku, really. I don't know, I guess that's just who I am, underneath it all.

I go over to my bed, stepping over two dirty loads of laundry on the floor, one black, one that needs sorting, and finally flop down on it, taking a deep breath.

I'm home, I'm finally home again. I love going to conventions, but getting back home after is the best feeling ever.

I grab my phone and look at the pictures from the weekend, looking at everyone's happy faces. But especially, looking at Elliot.

Butterflies start fluttering in my stomach just thinking of him, and I get a little nervous imagining him coming here in a couple of days...

Now I actually have to make my room presentable before he comes over... Always fun.

But not today, today I'm not moving from my bed again, no way. Too tired.

***

Friday afternoon sort of happened before I even realised it...

For the last couple of days I've been playing Destruction of Elysium with the guild, catching up on all that I missed this summer, did all my laundry, it turned out to be six loads in total, and even tried to neaten up my bedroom, not easy, especially when you get distracted by every new thing you find.

But, of course, I totally got inspiration for a new dress last night and I had to find the right fabric for it, which I was sure I still had, and that resulted in almost all my fabric being dumped on the floor to sort through it. So all the work on cleaning up my room was for nothing, mostly.

I'm waiting in the main hall at Utrecht Central station. It's a pretty new station and they redesigned the whole thing a couple of years ago. It's super open and bright these days. The rails and platforms are on the level below, and the main hall is basically this huge building built right over it. It's got all sorts of little shops for food or drinks or just things you may need or want when you travel. I prefer the look of old stations like Amsterdam Central, they're so nice, but at least this one is easier to navigate and it feels safer with more space and light.

I'm so nervous. There are people crowding all around me, coming and going, as I keep my eyes on the board that tells me what trains have arrived. It's ten past two, so Elliot's train should arrive in another two minutes, if there are no delays...

My phone buzzes and I pull it out, hoping it's not Elliot telling me he's late, but instead it's Jason. 'Your boy here yet?'

I sigh. 'I'm still waiting. He should be here soon.'

Jason sends me a broadly smiling smilie and then another message. 'I'll come annoy you two as much as possible this weekend.'

'No!' He's not allowed to do that!

'Of course, I should. Maybe I should come borrow some manga or videogames or something. Trying to come up with something really embarrassing now.'

'No. You can't do that. That's not fair.' I frown at my phone, like that's going to help anything. Jason can be so mean!

"Izzy!" I almost jump as Elliot's voice is suddenly really close.

I look up and Elliot is standing a couple of feet away, grinning at me. He's wearing black jeans, a shirt with Deimos from the Destruction of Elysium anime on it and really big shoes, probably New Rock or something similar.

"Is your phone not working right?" He comes closer, still smiling.

"Jason is not working right." I sigh.

"Ah." He grins again, then he cocks his head to the side. "Hug?"

I nod, stepping in close, and I wrap my arms around him. He feels so good to hug and I love how his arms tighten around me. "So good to see you again." Lame, but whatever.

Elliot lets out a laugh. "You too. That's a different look from before." He steps back a little and looks me up and down. I'm wearing a black jeans skirt with a lavender frilly top and I put on my cutest, while still pretty comfortable, pair of sandals I could find.

"I'm not the only one." I wink and then look around. "You want to go to the city centre first or drop your things off at my place? It's really fast to get back to the city centre from my place, so not too bad." I'm starting to ramble, I'm too nervous.

Elliot smiles, sliding his hand into mine, squeezing a little. "I think that dropping my bag off first is a good idea. I don't really want to lug my laptop all over the place."

"Okay." My heart is in my throat. Going to my place first means that he'll see my room first... Eep. "Then we need to get to the busses down those stairs. Unless you'd like to walk." I glance at him.

Elliot shakes his head. "Walking is fine, but no thank you, not today. It's way too hot."

I start tugging him along. "Maybe you shouldn't have put on those shoes then."

He laughs again. "Yeah, I should have thought of that too. But they're too comfortable. And I had to find something to impress you."

"Colour me impressed. For daring to wear them in this heat." I step onto the escalator and Elliot steps really close next to me, pressing to my side. I don't think my heart will calm down at all this weekend, not when I keep feeling like this everything he comes even near me.

Elliot leans in close. "You're grinning."

I stretch my cheeks. "I can't help it. Stop staring at me."

He lets out another laugh and we get off the escalator.

I quickly navigate us to the right bus stop and we have to wait there for a couple of minutes. There is a bus to my place every five minutes, but we just missed it, I saw it pass as we stepped on the escalator.

"So..." Elliot leans against the glass wall of the bus stop pulling me to him as he looks down at me. "What is your place like?"

"My parents' place is kind of old, but in a neighbourhood with pretty big houses. Ehh, what else?" I stare up at him, at the way he smiles and then pulls his teeth over his lower lip before he answers.

"How thin are the walls?" He smirks and my cheeks heat up fast.

"Really?" My voice is more of a squeak. "That's... That's..."

Elliot reaches up, running his fingers over my lower lip. "I'm kidding. Though, I did hear something about Dance Dance Revolution, so I do hope not too thin." He winks and I flash him a quick glare.

"Meanie." I look up, trying to see when the next bus will arrive. It looks like it'll take another couple of minutes. "Instead of being mean. What did your parents say about you coming here today?" I step out of his embrace because if I stay that close, I may get too distracted and miss the next bus. That seems to be a real danger right now, especially with the way I keep wanting to kiss him.

"They were curious about the girl I liked enough to travel two hours for. And my mom totally loved your cosplay. She's the one who taught me how to make clothes, so it's kind of something we have in common." He's smiling sweetly now, a different side to him. "They were surprised that I met someone at AmAnime, but they were like 'you're old enough, so whatever'." He shrugs a little. "What about your parents?"

I let out a breath before I try to shrug too, but fail. "They were happy for me. Though a little wary. But, yeah..." I look at my feet before I start rambling and saying nonsense things.

"Will they be there when we get to the house?"

I shake my head. "They're both at work. But they'll be home by dinner."

"Okay." Elliot's voice is soft. "I'll promise I'll try to behave." When I look up at him, he's smiling again and I shake my head.

"Everything is behaviour." I raise an eyebrow at him.

He flashes me a grin. "You got me."

I shake my head, smiling now. It'll be fine. It will all be fine. I don't have to worry about anything. Not about Elliot or about my parents. It's not that scary, even though it totally is.

Bringing home your first boyfriend... I just think that that's scary anyway, no matter who you are.

And then there's me being a huge fangirl and my room being covered in posters and such. What if I'm too much of an otaku for Elliot to handle? Maybe I should have covered up or taken down some of my posters... Maybe.

Maybe.

I don't know anymore.