A Chaotic First Day

****

As I gazed out the car window, I was captivated by the unfamiliar cityscape, each new sight filling me with wonder. Never having been here before, everything felt fresh and intriguing. Occasionally, I would let out a silly grin when I spotted something particularly fascinating.

“Is it exciting?” Leidi’s voice, tinged with a smile, came from behind me.

“Yeah, I’ve only seen most of this online. It’s my first time experiencing it in person.” I replied without turning around, completely absorbed in the view.

We were on our way to the neighboring city, Kyoto, I believe. What kind of city is it, I wondered?

“Aren’t you tired of sitting like that?”

“Actually, a bit.” I was craning my neck, which was indeed tiring. To compensate, I knelt on the seat, leaning against the car door. My skirt was long enough, so I doubted anyone could see my underwear.

“Sit down. I need to talk to you about something.” Leidi tugged at my skirt.

“Okay.” Although I wanted to keep looking, I settled back into my seat, noticing Leidi reading a book.

“I’ve been thinking, you should probably pretend you don’t speak Japanese.” Leidi glanced up from her book, a peculiar expression on her face.

“But I don’t speak Japanese, remember?”

It felt a bit absurd to tell someone who doesn’t speak a language to pretend they don’t.

Leidi closed her book and turned to me, playfully scratching my neck. I shrugged it off, feeling ticklish.

“With this on, you can communicate in Japanese. Don’t you remember?” Leidi’s expression was serious, almost intimidating.

“Oh, right. So?”

Around my neck was the high-tech “CHOKER” that Grandma had left me. When I first got it, it seemed like a simple black band, soft to the touch, hardly feeling like a piece of technology. But during a test, Leidi had spoken to me in rapid French and German, and I had understood perfectly. It was a true marvel—my brain would instantly translate what I heard into Chinese, and I could respond fluently in French and German, languages I had never studied. It was a strange and exciting feeling.

Another feature of the “CHOKER” was that it could translate spoken Japanese into Chinese. I was relieved to know that I wouldn’t only be able to speak Chinese when wearing it.

“You’re going to be noticed at school, you know.” Leidi’s voice carried a hint of exasperation.

“Huh?”

“What do you mean ‘huh’? You’re a beauty now…

“Um, so? What does that have to do with anything?”

I still didn’t grasp what Leidi was implying. She reached out and tapped my head, as if scolding a dumb student.

“You’ll definitely get hit on, but if you act like you can’t understand them, fewer guys will bother you. Or do you want a boyfriend?”

“Ow!!”

I yelped, tears almost welling up, but Leidi just stood there, unmoved, raising her hand again.

“Wait, wait, wait! I get it! Please stop!” I curled up, protecting my head with both hands.

“Good. That should save us some trouble.” Leidi gently moved my hands aside, rubbing the spot she had tapped.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

“Leidi, what about you? Won’t you get hit on?”

Leidi was beautiful, and I was sure she would face the same issue.

“Who would dare approach a ‘high and mighty flower’ like me?” Leidi looked at me with smug satisfaction.

Well… Leidi had charm and elegance on her side, unlike me. My charm? Well, I supposed it was more like a ‘magnet for trouble.’ I had always found it difficult to interact with others, even when I was a boy. As a girl now, this timid attitude would only invite more unwanted attention from boys. I imagined being surrounded by guys, trying to fend them off with weak refusals. Thank goodness for Leidi.

****

Soon, we pulled over at a crossroads. Leidi exchanged a few words with the driver before leading me towards the school. We walked side by side, carrying our bookbags. The early morning sun was warm and comforting, and the trees along the road rustled gently, creating a soothing atmosphere. Occasionally, a leaf would fall, adding to the tranquil scene.

“If we took the car, why didn’t we just go straight to the school?”

“We shouldn’t attract too much attention, and didn’t I say we should ‘walk’ yesterday?”

“But we did take the car…

Although I was just being picky, ‘neighboring city’ did sound like a long distance, and we wouldn’t have made it on foot.

As we walked, the roads became busier, with many people in uniforms, indicating that the school was nearby.

“[Day] Look, look! The girl next to the ‘Black Princess’ is so cute! Ah! She’s wearing our school uniform!”

I heard an excited girl’s voice.

“[Day] Hey, hey, I found a stunning beauty! Quick, take a photo!”

This time, it was a male voice, seeming to urge a companion.

“[Day] Her hair is chestnut-colored. Is she a foreigner?”

It was a curious female voice, with a hint of admiration.

“[Day] Who is the girl with the ‘Black Princess’?”

This girl sounded a bit hostile.

“[Day] Ah! I must invite them both to be models for the art club! I want to draw them!”

Don’t worry, Leidi and I would definitely decline.

The noise grew louder, and we became the center of attention. Although I couldn’t pinpoint where the voices were coming from, I felt numerous gazes on us. I thought I heard something important.

“Leidi, is ‘Black Princess’ you?” I leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

“Yes, that’s me.” Leidi’s expression didn’t change, but I sensed a smile lurking beneath the surface.

“How did you get that nickname?”

I was curious.

“Pure black hair, a dark heart, and a venomous tongue. The girls in my class summed it up.” Leidi’s expression shifted, her eyes gleaming with a playful, almost predatory look.

“I see…

So, this is the ‘black’ of a queen, huh? I guess if someone were to approach Leidi, they’d be left with a lasting trauma.

Under the curious stares of passersby, we eventually reached the school. Although the name was clearly displayed at the entrance, sadly, I couldn’t read it. I silently walked past it.

Inside the school, the stares seemed to intensify. Even some students were leaning out of upper-floor windows to get a better look. It was a bit unsettling.

Following Leidi, we entered the school building and arrived at a place with many lockers. Many students were changing their shoes here, a scene I recognized from Japanese manga.

Leidi stopped at a locker and opened the one labeled ‘Leidi Colt.’ She then opened the one next to it, labeled ‘Ping Colt,’ which had two layers, with white slippers on the upper layer.

I had no idea what these characters meant, or which one was mine.

Leidi handed me the slippers from ‘Ping Colt,’ so I guessed that was my name.

“Put these on, and put your outdoor shoes on the lower layer.” Leidi instructed.

“Okay.” I took the slippers and bent down deeply to change, my posture resembling a forward bend.

“Hey! Your skirt…

Oh, never mind.” Leidi called out suddenly. I turned to look, but everything seemed fine. I noticed a group of boys staring at my butt.

“What is it, Leidi?”

“Nothing, I was just going to warn you not to show your underwear, but it seems you don’t have that problem.” Leidi chuckled.

“How could you possibly show underwear with a skirt this long?” I retorted, a hint of mockery in my voice.

A skirt that reached just above the knees, even if I bent further, or even did a full split, the fabric would still cover me. How could anyone see my underwear?

“Haven’t you noticed? Your skirt is the only one that reaches the knees.” Leidi gestured for me to look at the other girls.

“Oh, really?”

A quick glance showed that most of the other girls were carefully covering their backs or squatting to change their shoes. And just as Leidi had said, their skirts were significantly shorter than mine. I looked at Leidi, and her skirt was shorter too.

“What’s going on?”

Aren’t school uniforms supposed to be standardized?

“Actually, all Japanese school skirts are designed to be no shorter than the knee. But many girls think knee-length skirts are unflattering, so they fold them up a bit, only letting them down when there’s an inspection.” Leidi pointed to her waist, indicating the hidden secret.

“Um…

I was taken aback, wondering what the point was of a design that made it easy for boys to see your underwear.

****

“[Day] Above! Leidi’s younger sister will be joining our class starting today. Since my sister doesn’t speak Japanese, please don’t tease her.” Leidi had already written ‘Ping Colt’ on the blackboard, and the teacher, who seemed to be the homeroom teacher, was introducing me, while I stood to the side, bookbag in hand, nervously fidgeting with the strap. I kept shifting my weight from one foot to the other, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Although the number of stares was nothing compared to what we had encountered on the street, every student (except Leidi) seemed to be staring at me with a physical intensity, as if their gazes were actual needles piercing my skin. Especially at my chest, butt, and face!

Stop it! Staring at my chest won’t make it smaller, and it won’t make my face uglier or my butt saggier!

Ugh, please stop staring! I’m about to cry!

I’m the type who gets really nervous when people stare at me!

I tried to think of something else, or I’d go crazy from the tension. I turned to look at the teacher’s profile, analyzing it seriously.

The teacher introducing me was quite handsome, with a neat and clean suit that looked like a western-style uniform, a well-proportioned face, and a hairstyle that suited a mature, attractive man. In my mind, I compared him to the male teachers I had in China… Okay, I had to admit, he was way better-looking.

And as I was using the teacher to distract myself,

“[Day] Does anyone have any questions?” the teacher seemed to be wrapping up the introduction.

“[Day] Are you two really sisters? You don’t look like it.” A boy with a crew cut raised his hand, asking a foolish question.

I thought it was foolish not because [Leidi and I look completely different, and anyone can tell we’re not related], but because he was asking about something that was clearly a personal matter. This was definitely a no-go zone.

But since I was supposed to be the one who didn’t speak Japanese, Leidi stood up from her seat in the corner of the classroom.

“[Day] Mountain, I think it’s best not to ask questions that delve into someone else’s family matters. But to answer you, yes, we are sisters. And just so you know, I’m actually European, despite my black hair.” Leidi responded with a smile that was both beautiful and terrifying. The boy, Mountain, shrank back into his seat.

“[Day] Mountain is such an idiot…

“[Day] He’s a fool!

“[Day] Who asks such a sensitive question?”

“…

“…

Gradually, I heard voices criticizing Mountain, and the class seemed to agree that he had messed up. Poor guy, was it his intelligence or his emotional intelligence that failed him?

“[Day] Quiet please!” The teacher raised his voice, stopping the commotion.

He then turned to Mountain with a troubled expression.

“[Day] Mountain, come see me in the staff room after first period.” Ah, I could only say… he deserved it.

“[Day] Does anyone else have any questions? Remember, don’t ask anything too personal.” The teacher asked again.

This time, a girl with three braids and round glasses, sitting in front of Leidi, raised her hand.

“[Day] Why is Leidi’s sister transferring in so late? School has been in session for a while now.” Leidi answered again, her expression now tinged with sadness.

“[Day] My sister has Sleeping Beauty Syndrome. She was actually supposed to enroll two months ago, but the syndrome flared up then. She only woke up yesterday.” I thought I saw tears glistening in Leidi’s eyes…

The classroom fell silent…

“[Day] I’m sorry…

The girl, named High, bowed her head in apology.

Leidi, you almost had me fooled there… And yes, there really is such a fantastical condition!

“[Day] It’s okay, High. You didn’t mean any harm.” Leidi turned to me.

“Right, Xiao Bai?”

“Ah, yes, it’s okay. You don’t need to feel bad.” I smiled back at High. Sorry, I deceived you.

“[Day] My sister just said it’s okay.” Leidi smiled.

As I spoke for the first time, the entire class’s attention shifted back to me. But I could feel some lecherous gazes mixed in.

“[Day] Thank you, your sister is so kind.” High looked up and smiled at me. Ah, my conscience ached…

“[Day] Should we be done with questions?”

The teacher asked again, and this time, everyone shook their heads.

“[Day] Alright, Leidi, your sister’s seat will be right behind you. Please take her to it.” Leidi motioned for me to come down.

I started walking towards Leidi, but I could barely move. Everyone was staring at me.

Was it because I hadn’t looked at their faces properly when I was on the stage? I felt like I was being pierced by countless gazes with each step I took.

My face flushed, and I kept my head down, focusing on the floor as I walked.

“[Day] Ugh, she’s so cute when she’s shy!

“[Day] I want to hug her, want to be her boyfriend!

“[Day] Why are both sisters so beautiful? I’m so jealous!

“…

Although I couldn’t see the expressions in the class, the soft murmurs reached my ears. Envious, admiring, jealous, lecherous—all sorts of faces flashed through my mind…

Ugh, is this path really that long? I tried to quicken my pace.

“Xiao Bai, wrong way! You’re off course!” Leidi’s voice called out.

I looked up, only to realize I had drifted quite far to the left, almost colliding with a desk. My gaze met that of the boy sitting there.

“Gulp~” He swallowed hard, staring at me.

“Ugh~” I was taken aback and stumbled.

“Ugh?”

Then, I tripped over my own feet and fell backward!

“[Day] Danger!” ×2.

My flailing arms, the bookbag being pulled along, and my chestnut-colored hair flying in the air—amidst all this, I saw the shocked expressions of my classmates and two girls rushing towards me.

“[Day] Ah, be careful!” ×2.

“Thud! ”

“Tap tap! ”

“Clatter! ”

“Rip! ”

“Splash! ”

Various sounds rang out, and I fell to the ground with the two girls. One had her arms wrapped around me from behind, the other had her arms around my waist from the front. Although it was tight, I was grateful.

I looked up to assess the situation in the classroom. When I fell, I seemed to have knocked over a water bottle from a desk. Fortunately, most of the water ended up on me, with only a few splashes on the girls.

Huh? Why was everyone (including the teacher) looking at me with their jaws dropped, as if time had frozen?

I looked down at myself. Due to the girl behind me hugging me, my uniform top was almost completely lifted, accentuating my chest. And to make matters worse, the girl in front of me was holding up my skirt…

My eyebrows twitched.

So, right now, I was…

Dripping wet from the water…

My school uniform was a mess…

My pink lace underwear was fully exposed to the entire class…

My chest was practically spilling out…

I was in a state of utter embarrassment, being stared at by everyone!!!!

“Um… ah—” My mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out, and the heat spread from my face to the rest of my body.

“Clink! ”

Something fell to the floor, and everyone turned to look.

It was the button that had been on my chest…

My mind went blank…

“Eeeeek!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” I screamed instinctively!

In that moment, time started moving again.

The overturned desks and chairs,

The windows shattered by the sound,

The boys running around with bloody noses and soiled pants,

The girls huddled together, frantically trying to plug their ears,

The teacher, unable to shout over the chaos, also with a bloody nose,

And finally, Leidi, standing in front of me, shaking with laughter, her thumbs up.

My first day at a Japanese school was, without a doubt, a disaster…

****

[Day] Translation Note: ‘Black Princess’ (TL Note: A nickname given to Leidi, implying she is both mysterious and intimidating, much like a ‘black’ rose.)

[Day] Translation Note: ‘Sleeping Beauty Syndrome’ (TL Note: A fictional condition mentioned by Leidi, referring to a rare disorder where the patient sleeps for extended periods.)