DSM S01-E04:
'TWAS ALL JUST A DREAM, ALICE
FEATURED SONG:
"Always Running Out of Time" by Motion City Soundtrack.
*** Any featured song may contain explicit content! ***
Please listen at your own discretion.
CONTENT WARNING:
Contains:
- Mild language
RIMA • 李眞
"Aaahh!"
I wake with a start, my hair in complete disarray. I search my body to find myself still in one piece. Ren's jacket is hanging on its usual hook. But my ribbon is no longer in my hair. Instead, it lies neatly folded on the dresser.
That's weird.
I don't remember getting home last night.
And I definitely don't remember taking my ribbon out.
What I do remember is finding something terrifying at the clearing and falling off the cliff edge. And those red eyes. The only thing that would explain how I didn't die, is that it was all just a bad dream.
But it felt way too real to be just a dream.
Little do I know, that locks of white flash just out of sight, hopping down from the tree near my window.
There's a light knock on my door, followed by a sleepy Suzume-chan wandering in, rubbing her eyes.
"Rima-oneesan¹," she yawns "You're gonna be late if ya don't get ready soon."
I look at the time on the alarm clock sitting on the dresser and confirm she is not only correct, but that I've already missed my usual train. Like a lightning bolt, I shoot from my bed, and start running around to grab my things. Thankfully, I prepacked most of it yesterday, but I'm definitely going to be late. I'll have to figure this "dream thing" out another day. For now, I just need to focus on not being more late today than I already am.
It's not long before I'm running out the front door like a tornado, bag and jacket in hand, with a cliché slice of breakfast toast in my mouth.
~ ~ ~
After running to catch the next train, being sandwiched by the crowds of people in it, and sprinting to the school's front gate, I find it closed shut. Crap! This means that I've definitely missed the final bell, and am officially late for class. And on my very first day too. Not exactly the first impression I wanted to make today. But it is what it is; something about life, lemons, and making lemonade.
I hike myself over the fence on the other side, careful to avoid the gatekeeper's view. The last thing I need is a demerit added to the list of things going wrong today. I quickly get to my shoe locker, and change into my Uwabaki².
I slowly slide the classroom door open, hoping the teacher is out or something, literally anything, so that I can slip inside without being noticed.
Of course, it's never that easy. As luck would have it, Sensei is finishing up the role-call, having already passed the T's.
"Ah, you've arrived," she says in English, turning to me as she whispers "please introduce yourself to the class." At least she doesn't seem mad about my tardiness.
"Uh . . . hello, er konnichiwa³. "{My name is Rima Takai, but my fellow classmates can call me Takai-chan, if they want to.}" ⁴
I feel my cheeks blush, embarrassed by my own jumbled Japanese. I memorized that phrase all week and it still sounds terrible. Well, that's one thing I hope to improve during my stay abroad.
Sensei then switches back to Japanese to address the rest of the class. "{Everyone please welcome our newest addition, Takai Rima-san. She has traveled all the way from the United States of America. So, if you want to improve your English grade, I'm sure she would be happy to practice with you, if you ask her nicely. Please help her if she needs anything, and hopefully she will enjoy her time here with us.}"
Once she releases me with a nod, I quickly move towards the only seats left available, both of which are in the back half of the classroom. One desk is to the right of a girl with hair dyed so blue there's no way it's allowed. The other is in front of that one, to the right of a boy, who appears to have unauthorized hair coloring as well.
Did I miss the memo? Is there some kind of trend to rebel here utilizing hair dye? According to my research, typically dyed hair isn't allowed in Japanese schools. I'm joining the class mid-semester so either they did this over the recent break, or it's a pretty relaxed class. If the latter is the case, then maybe my own red color will blend in for once. Or perhaps it's simply a case of Anime Hair.⁵
I move to take the one next to the girl, but right before I can sit down, her hand shoots out over the chair. "{This one is already claimed. She is just sick today,}" followed by an awkward "sorry" in English as she slowly retracts her hand.
Normally, I'd sum this up similarly to a "seat's taken" scene from a certain a movie involving a man talking about chocolate being like life, but one look at her expression and I can tell she actually feels a bit bad, so I try not to take it personally.
That doesn't make it any less awkward though.
Okaaaay, that just leaves the one next to Mr. Rebel. I sit down in it quickly before he too can say something about it. At this point, I'm just trying to be done with this whole awkward-ass situation. As I contemplate if it is, in fact, actually possible to die of embarrassment, he finally looks up from his textbook, as if to acknowledge my existence.
Now that I can see his face, he's actually kind of cute. In an edgy sort of way, and aside from his odd choice of hairstyle. Maybe he's one of those Visual Kei⁶ guys or something? He has shaggy jet black hair with the tips bleached white at the ends, which somewhat cover his eyes. I note a few piercings in his ear, like my own, hidden by his hair length. But most noticeable of all are definitely his eyes.
They are the color of dark sapphires, their depth impossibly deep, like you would have to take a journey to reach his soul. Their collective hue seems too surreal to exist in nature. Especially since he is very clearly Japanese.
They gotta be contacts. No doubt in my mind.
I turn to introduce myself to him, maybe strike up friendship through conversation, seeing how we're going to be desk neighbors and all. But right as I open my mouth to speak, he narrows his eyes and says:
"{Why do you wear that ribbon? It doesn't even match}."
I clamp my mouth shut, feeling moronic. So . . . Mr. Rebel is actually Mr. Asshole. I take back what I thought earlier about him being cute; he's a turd. Seriously, I'm so embarrassed that I just want to dig myself a hole to crawl into right now. Maybe I'll come out in about ten or so years like it's Groundhog Day⁷, once everyone has forgotten today?
Who knows; anything's possible at this point.
"None of your beeswax⁸," I retort back in English with a fake smile on my face, but I can feel my eyebrow starting to twitch in irritation. He gives me a confused look in response.
Ah, it appears this jerk doesn't understand English. Maybe that's for the best then.
~ ~ ~
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
¹ Oneesan: The Japanese honorific term for "big sister". Sometimes used with non-blood relations, such as in this case, as a sign of endearment.
² Uwabaki: Essentially indoor slippers. Outdoor shoes are not allowed to be worn inside Japanese schools, residences, etc. Instead, shoes are left by the front door, entryway, or in lockers like this, and a pair of uwabaki slippers are worn instead. To ignore this rule is incredibly rude and frowned upon.
³ Konnichiwa: A general greeting or "hello" in Japanese.
⁴ The use of { } denotes a different language translated to English for readers to understand. In most cases throughout the story, it's used to translate Japanese to English.
⁵ Anime Hair: Ranging from mild to outrageous hair styles and colors used in anime and manga to make the characters more memorable and not accidentally confused with other characters in that series or in other franchises. They don't conform to normal school-required standards.
⁶ Visual Kei ( ヴィジュアル系 ): A Japanese fashion style that was popular starting in the 1980s, and is known for its extravagant costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, as well as its dramatic live performances if done by band members. Visual kei attire often involves leather, having bouffant hairstyles, and the use of intense makeup. Their aesthetics can range from androgynous to cross-dressing.
⁷ Groundhog Day: A popular tradition celebrated every year on February 2nd in the U.S.A. and Canada, where people observe a groundhog emerging from his winter hibernation. Though widely debated about it's accuracy, it is believed that if the groundhog sees his shadow, then there will be 6 more weeks of winter and he will return to hibernation. If not, then he stays above ground, predicting that spring has arrived. The holiday has its roots in ancient European folklore, particularly the Celtic tradition of Imbolc and the Christian feast of Candlemas, and marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. A famous movie was also made where the main character's day repeated over and over with new beginnings on the holiday.
⁸ Beeswax: American slang for someone's personal life or their "business". Not used to refer to an actual business / company though.
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