This is the rewrite of my original second chapter, what has now
been integrated into the first section of my story. Please feel free
to C&C with comments criticism or anything else. If you want to
archive it somewhere please feel free but let me know so I can
make a list.
Kelly Schultz
Waking up with nightmares of ending up in Japan is not
the best way to start your day. Finding out that they are all true
and you have lost a month of your life is worse. Much worse.
It took Conrad the better part of an hour to come to grips
with where he was. Once that was taken care of however he
quickly managed to get back to his normal carefree self. Having
accepted what happened he gave a simple sigh and moved on,
deciding not to worry about it any longer. Or so he tried to do.
From now on I=92ll just go on as though it never happened, as
if, he sighed to himself. There has to be a reason for this. I just
have to figure out what it is, Conrad lapsed from thought to
speaking aloud, =93and deal with it myself.=94
Despite his own decision to learn for himself what had
happened and how, he still asked around the embassy to learn
what he had been doing for the past month and how he had
arrived in Japan.
=93Well Conrad, we have done some checking for you=94 said
Mr. Hollister, Conrad=92s main contact with the embassy officials.
=93We managed to contact your Grandfather Johnny, It seems that
about a week after you arrived here in Japan your parents left on
a driving tour of the U.S. and we have not been able to reach
them. We will of course try to get word to them but you will
likely be on your own for another week or more.=94 Here he
paused to study Con=92s reaction before continuing. =93The Dr.
Hillard and I have discussed matters and both believe that it is in
your best interest to remain here and finish your summer trip as
planned. We have made some arrangements to help you
become involved with the local school system to help gently
reintroduce you to Japanese society in a controlled environment.=94
Conrad interrupted him briefly, =93Why a school, what will I
be doing?=94
=93The best way to help you remember what you have
forgotten is to reintroduce you to it. You were learning
Japanese at another school, and although that is too far away
Dr. Hillard feels that it is important that you try to continue those
lessons that you started. We=92ve made arrangements for you to
attend a fifth year English course at the local high school, the
Japanese are always eager to have help in learning real
conversational English and in exchange they have arranged to
have private lessons in Japanese made available for you as well.=94
Although feeling just a bit railroaded Conrad nodded and
agreed to the arrangements that had been made for him, partly
because it was what the doctor recommended and partly
because he had nothing else to do with his time. Only a short
time later he found himself being dropped off in a familiar looking
schoolyard and being introduced to Shido Sensei, a tall
Japanese man in his middle years who was in charge of the
language program at Juuban Kotogakko.
=93It is very good to meet you Mr. Borsting.=94 Shido sensei
said, =93We do not often have the opportunity of having a native
speaker assist in our classrooms. I hope that you enjoy your
time with us.=94 After giving Conrad a tour of the building he
showed him to a waiting room. =93If you can please wait here I
will arrange to have a tutor and guide assigned to you for when
you are not otherwise occupied in classes.=94
Conrad only gave him a smile and nod, waiting until he had
left to wonder how his summer vacation had turned into summer
school without his being able to work a word in edgewise.
His first class began about half an hour later and with it his
official introduction to the school. =93Class, this is Conrad
Borsting, an American who will be staying in Japan this summer
and helping you to learn English while he learns Japanese. You
will all be courteous and helpful. Mizuno san, I am assigning you
to be his personal tutor, it will be your responsibility to help him
pass the level one examinations that will be held next
Wednesday. Your grade will be affected by his for this
quarter.=94 With his announcement a wave of speculation quickly
rippled through the class until with slightly stern look Shido
sensei silenced the class and began on the days lesson.
Three days of classes and hard practicing later
=93Well,=94 Ami said, =93I think you might be ready now to meet a
few of my friends, perhaps go to a movie without embarrassing
yourself.=94 Her smile took any sting out of the words, as Conrad
smiled back finding himself comfortable with her. =93It will be a
good test of how much you=92ve learned or remembered so far.=94
She finished, having been told the truth of his strange
circumstances two days ago.
=93Watashi ga shitai desu.=94 He offered in his pidgin Japanese,
hoping that it was close enough to be understood.
=93I=92m glad you like the idea.=94 Ami replied, her eyes twinkling
slightly. =93But we better hurry or we=92ll miss the bus,=94 she
continued already turning to wave, making sure that the driver
noticed them, hurrying towards the stop.
=93Hey wait up, how am I doing?=94 He called after her, hustling
along himself so as not to be left behind. The trip was short
compared to most and Ami spent the brief time explaining a bit
more about what grammar rules were supposed to be used
when, privately worrying over her own grade but grateful despite
that for the opportunity to both teach and learn from him
nonetheless.
Outside the theater Conrad noticed two figures waiting there
who looked almost disturbingly familiar. No, it couldn=92t be, he
thought. This is life, not some kind of show. He was forced to
change his mind a few moments later as they spotted Ami and
began making a bee line over towards him.
The first girl to reach them was an absolute knockout. She
had long silky blond hair held back by a red ribbon and eyes
that were an even richer blue than Conrad=92s own.
=93Mina, meet my new friend Conrad. He is from the U.S.
visiting for a few months and I am helping to tutor him in
Japanese. Conrad, meet one of my two best friends, Aino
Mina.=94 Ami=92s smile was bright as she introduced the two.
=93Um, hello, its very nice to meet you Aino san.=94 Con
stammered, having difficulty believing the proof before him. His
mind whirled, the sailor scouts cant really be real can they? His
mind was in such turmoil he almost missed being introduced to
Makoto. However as the four walked the rest of the way to the
theater and waited in line for tickets he began to calm down. As
he felt himself relax they began talking about college and their
hope for the future. This state of calm lasted only until he saw
what movie they had picked out to go to.
=93Wow, that was really creepy.=94 Said Mina as they walked
away from the theater.
=93You can say that again.=94 Makoto agreed, =93I mean, not only
were the characters named after us, but the looked just like us
too. I wonder what the odds of that happening are?=94
=93Well, they would be approximately one in five hundred and
sixty seven million.=94 Ami replied after a short pause and with an
absolutely straight face.
=93Five sixty seven what?=94 Asked Conrad, who=92s Japanese
was not quite up to the task of following the quickly flowing
conversation.
=93Those are the odds against having animated characters
named after and based on three friends appear in the same
movie.=94 Ami replied, a slight mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Con just nodded to her and bowed briefly saying his
farewells. =93Thank you for taking me with you to the movie. I
enjoyed it a lot. I=92ll see you in school tomorrow.=94
The girls nodded to him and smiled, breaking into a fast
paced conversation as they turned to take another route home.
Conrad could just hear Mina=92s voice asking how Ami could
possible know the odds of that before they drifted out of
earshot.
As he walked home through the Juban area he had a thought
he just had to check out. Changing course he headed quickly to
the school, and to his delight found it was still open. First he
checked the current yearbook, no luck. Ami, Makoto, and
Mina the only name=92s with which he was familiar. Taking a look
through a few of the older ones he again came up blank. Finally
checking a phone book he couldn=92t find any Tsukino Usagi or
Serena listed.
Arriving home late at the embassy he went to his room and
lay back, trying to think. After several hours he decided that he
was not, in fact, going insane. Things were just a mere
coincidence. That Ami, Mina, and Makoto were not part of a
secret team tasked with defending the earth and no moon
princess existed. The movie only served to prove it. There is no
Sailor Moon. Feeling better he lay back and drifted off to sleep.
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