Also, there are two versions of this novel : full English and progressive Japanese. The full EN ver. is only published so that people who don't want to learn Japanese can still enjoy the story. The Pro. JP ver. was made to help people learn Japanese without hurting their brain, it’ll be in hiragana and katakana for known words then will move to kanji later with furigana. The story length is without explanations and won’t change content from the EN ver.
Chapter where you meet new words (NWs)
Chapter two romaji for know words with their translation (RT-KWs)
Chapter three no translated romaji for previous «know words that were in romaji before/
«RT-KWs» (R-KWs)
Five chapters later kana (Ks) instead of R-KWs
Ten chapters later kanji (Kjs)
Last thing before you start reading : I have no freaking idea how long this story is gonna be and I’m not a native English or Japanese speaker so be kind and tell me if you see any mistake.
You're currently reading the full EN version.
Begin of Chapter one.
Sakura Senior High School, a private school in Sapporo on the peaceful island of Hokkaido, north of Japan. Future yakuza clan leaders, multinational CEOs, and international politicians all study here. Sakura is universally known for its excellent education in social studies, politics and business. But also for one key thing. You can voluntarily attend this prestigious school anonymously. We intentionally left our family name behind, traditionally wear a standard uniform without distinctive accessories, lives in the dormitories and should typically speak English or Japanese. Unexpectedly since Sakura is based precisely in Japan, everything is carefully translated to English.
« I, Akio Hayashi will begin to attend Sakura High School this spring, two years after my more elderly sister who politely refused to uphold our family legacy. That is precisely how I was naturally selected to be our clan heir. Oh, our clan is undoubtedly a yakuza one. Well, I guess that all I should record for the moment. I naturally have an entrance ceremony to attend this afternoon. Next I’ll move to the dormitories in the evening. »
A pen is put down on a wooden desk next to that is a notebook where I, an adolescent boy carefully record all my daily adventures, as it is an established custom in this family. I proceed to gently spread my arms, merely shifting my head to a movable mirror on the side of the desk. I’m naturally wearing a black uniform with grey buttons that has sakura flowers on them and a white shirt with short sleeves. Eventually, I look thoughtfully at my face. It’s a typical Japanese one : round face, tan skin with raven black hair in a two block haircut and chestnut brown deep set eyes typically taking an almond shape. Not wanting to search fruitlessly for any more corrections to do, I reluctantly decide it’s time to depart. And the road is a short but pleasant one, as I observe the passing sceneries as the driver informs me we’re now arriving. The moment I step outside the black car, I observe the odd number of people waiting at the gate: one adult who seems to be a teacher and a girl as tall as I am and with the same face. I move closer and can now perceive those two new characters voices clearly.
« Hey, lil’ brother. »
Announces triumphantly the girl, who can clearly be identified as Ryūka Hayashi, my older sister who’s now in her last year of high school. Her appearance is similar to mine, even if her kind eyes are black and her black hair is long and untied. She’s a ball of radiant energy next to the teacher who seems bored. As I look at the teacher, I instantly realize she must be korean and undoubtedly possesses short grey dyed hair which matches her grey calm eyes. Perceiving how I must be carefully inspecting her, the teacher begins to produce words if you can properly consider this tired way of speaking, well speaking.
« I’m Haneul Yun, class 3-A main teacher and art club supervisor. »
Oh, she is Ryūka’s teacher, unfortunate woman.
« Since it’s the first-years entrance ceremony, Ryūka will escort you to the gymnasium where will be held the ceremony. »
She gestures to Ryūka as she speaks before adding.
« Don’t be late, or I’ll have to punish both of you. And I’m not in the mood to take care of both Ryūka and her male version. »
At this moment, I had a feeling that Ryūka is already too much on her own but decide to prevent making the teacher undoubtedly suffer from my sister existence any longer as I start walking, soon guided by Ryūka. As we reach the gymnasium, the doors are open, people already started to wait for the entrance ceremony. Ryūka took three steps towards another building before turning in my direction.
« I need to help my club for new applicants. See you later, dear brother. »
I sigh in response to her happy go lucky attitude, as I head inside the gymnasium. One large crowd of people my age in uniforms stand waiting with two teachers in the front, looking at the crowd. Behind them, a wooden platform with someone approaching its center. Knowing this is the signal of the ceremony beginning soon, I move to be right after the latter ring of the eager crowd, being taller than the average person of my age, I can easily perceive what’s unfold on the platform. It’s now 1:30 pm as I watch a man, supposedly the principal begin his speech.
« Welcome to Sakura Senior High School. Each grade has two classes with 20 students. In the second year, you’ll have to choose what you want to study but before that, classes will learn the same thing. We considerate the first year as primordial to make a correct choice and to become acquaintances with your classmates. For the moment you get to your classrooms. You’ll be part of a team of four people without having the freedom of choice at first to ensure you learn how to adapt. Now, your teachers will call you by your first name. I hope you all have a good day and year. »
As he speaks his last word, one of the two teachers facing the crowd takes a step forward and starts calling students. I take my time to observe the two teachers as I still don’t know which one will be my class’s main teacher. The one calling all sort of first names is a normal sized Japanese man, wearing a nice brown suit and look in his thirties. However, he seems nice as he calmly guides his class to another building. My attention now focuses on the second teacher, who is shorter than me by only a centimeter or two. She is a long red-haired teacher with pale skin. Her eyes are blue and when anyone would have called each student by name, she just sighs.
« Well, I guess that’s my class. Let’s go. »
She starts walking without caring if the students follow her or not. Of course, nobody tries to skip class and follow her lead. We walk through the door next to the platform and pass through a small path that go directly inside another building. Inside this building, we take the first stairs to our left then take a path right and in less than one minute, we’re inside a classroom. All cooped up in the front, the teacher take a list from her desk.
« I’m going to call you all teams by teams. You can seat how you want but try to stay close to your teammates. The first name to be call will be the leader. »
« The first team is Isaak, Albina, Blaze and Jessica. »
I watch as four people takes their place.
« The second team is Jordan, Seth, Chun and Adele. »
Here goes another team.
« The third team is Aaron, Max, Alice and Akio. »
Finally, my team. We all look at each other before choosing to sit in the front row, left untouched by the other teams, settling down just behind us in square units. 2X2 if you don’t get my saying.
« The fourth team is Jiahao, Kaitlyn, Fang and An. »
I now watch carefully as they decide on taking the fourth row. Guess that means the last team sitting in the last row.
« The fifth team is Hanzo, Akane, Mason and Bai. »
Well, we’re at least 3 Japanese.
« Now, I’ll give you all papers on which you’ll write your dream job, a club you want to join and your first name in standard English. After that, each of you will take turns introducing yourself while standing in front of the board. Then we can talk about how things happen in Japan and this school. »
The first task is easily and fastly done and the introducing chore is a short one when you can’t say much about your identity.
« Well I guess that was fast. I’ll treat each subject so please take note if needed. There’s one inside all desks. »
Do I absolutely need to mention how everyone take that holy notebook ?
« First thing, you need to respect the school rules. I’m not going to explain those. They’re in your link book.*I’m not for a English speaking country. In my country, a link book is a small book teachers uses to inform parents about events, parents meetings, etc. Next are the Japanese ways. Here in Japanese, people typically address you by your latter name except here. Then we add -san, -sensei or -senpai to address people politely. You should call older students with -senpai, classmates with -san, -kun or -chan and teachers with -sensei. I’m Hikari Kaneko. You mean call me Kaneko-sensei. Also avoid physical contacts in public. As for other stuff, well take a pamphlet here. I don’t feel like listing all things during the whole class and most thing are actually indicated when needed. »
Kaneko-sensei was right on this one: when we moved to the classroom, we saw posters on walls telling us where different rooms are and how to proceed in certain conditions like the shoes removing at the genkan, a Japanese style entrance where you take off your outside shoes and put on inside shoes or slippers for bathrooms. The lazy teacher proceeds to sit before pointing the first row.
« You’ll introduce yourself first. Stand up and go in front of the board. »
As the boy next to me start to rise, I take my time to examine my team: He must be Aaron, our leader. I can’t guess his origin just by look but I notice he has yellow spiky hair with a fade and round green eyes. The way he walks suggests a calm and calculated personality. Which is a complete 180 degree turn from the two girls on my left, one sitting right next to me has mid long red dyed hair with round blue eyes and is busy annoying her classmate. That last one is a long brown haired with black eyes. She seems shy and uncomfortable next to the red-haired energy ball. Aaron reaches the front of the board as my analyze is complete. Without missing a beat, he looks at the pamphlet in his hand before speaking.
« Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Aaron desu. Hello. My name is Aaron. »
Welp, his Japanese pronunciation is terrible as he says words the American way and say desu instead of dess or kon-nichi-wa. I haven’t looked at that pamphlet yet, but I guess standard greetings are written on it. Less than five seconds pass as he searches for his words.
« I like music and books. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. Nice to meet you. »
He finishes with, bowing low. Well, I’m not going to complain more about his Japanese, he tried and that’s enough. It’s soon my turn then everyone else’s. That way I learn more about my teammates: Max likes debating and sports, Alice prefers Art and books. They seem to be the classic class clown and hime-chan duo while Aaron and I are the smart and delinquent one. Sensei proceeded to tell us about clubs too, even if I have no intention of joining one. Soon after this class we had to go apply to a club team by team if even one of us wanted to. Aaron joined the music club, as it is his whole life...His own words. As the third team to go, we actually crossed the second one in the music club room. When you’re a yakuza, learning to read people body reactions can play a major part in business and here I can see the way Aaron and the second team leader Jordan avoids each other. They won’t fool anyone at poker. Then Alice applied for the art club and as we entered the debate club room, all we could see are four people: two of them, which include Ryūka are standing on either side of a yellow-haired woman. That woman stares at the man on the opposite side of a large table. Well, knowing my sister, this is where trouble begins.
End of Chapter one.
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