KidzTalk - Recent questions tagged yumeka

Kyuusei Chapter 6: Jitenshatoreru

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:20:55 +0000

Kyuusei Chapter 6: Jitenshatoreru

The next morning, Makoto had already left to spend time with his new friends. I did not really want to face Makoto anyway, he would have asked me why I came inside crying and why I put my bike in the garage instead of in our bike rack in the patio. And he would ask other useless questions, like, why did you not eat last night and why did you slam your door and WHY DID YOU NOT REFER TO ME AS MAKOTO-SAN AS USUAL WHEN YOU MAKE FUN OF ME?!

...I did not get up right away that morning. I lay there, staring at the tall ceiling, and listened to Shiriusu wimper outside the door. I hadn't let him in last night and he had been crying all night in his high pitched howls. Neighbors yelled so he shut up a few times when I yelled at him.

The door opened and Shiriusu leaped in, slithering past my bed drapes and licking my face, hard.

"Shiriusu! Get off!" I said, then saw John Michael at the door, grinning like a devil. "Get out, creep!!!" I yelled, chucking a slipper at him. He dodged, smiling widely, but my second strike got him in the face and he toppled back. That's why you have two slippers, one to miss, another one to hit 'em after they think they dodged the bullet.

"Yumeka," said John Michael, "you okay?" He had gotten up and was ready for another strike. I would have got him if I had three feet, and therefore, three slippers. But I was all out of slippers.

"No," I said. "You shouldn't be the one asking that question, look at your face!" It was bruised.

"Oh, it was your brother," John Michael said.

"What?" was all I said, confused.

"He thought I had made you cry, so he hit me a few times, but don't worry, after I explained, he stopped." he said.

I bet he had to explain while dodging, ducking, and weaving around the entire front yard. Maybe this kid has more skill in defending himself than I thought.

"Oh, yeah, also, he got me almost every time, but it's cleared up cuz that was last night and my Mom is a doctor," John Michael said. "So don't worry about that either."

Nevermind…

"I fixed up your bike for you," he said.

"Huh?" I peered over my covers as he sat down in a beanbag chair with little nyan kitties all over it. He looked at it in distaste and I said, "Dad bought it when I was 5."

"Yeah, I took it the bike repairman . He kept on asking, 'Who in the world would do this to a poor kid?' I told him the bullies, and you know, he understood right away."

"Thanks..."

"No problem."

We sat in silence until I said, "You know, I have to dress."

"Oh! Sorry," he said, and closed the door once he exited. "Dress for going out, we will be going to my favorite arcade today!"

I groaned. "Ugh...Michael..."

"Heh, heh."

After I got dressed, Mom came by and utterly embarrassed me by hugging me. "Mom-"

"You two have fun! And Yumeka, make sure you get the ingredients for ramen tonight, you're gonna make some for Mr. Jones here."

"Uh, Michael, is your dad the sensei at the dojo?" I asked suddenly.

"No, that's my uncle, did you go the other day?"

"Yeah," I said. He took the hint and didn't mention it again.

Makoto was back, twirling the car keys on his finger, and was looking at us steadily. "Yumeka-chan, John," he said, "I'll take you, okay?"

"Okay," I said.

"Get in the car, then." Makoto said, and he drove us to the mall. "Oh, and I'm coming with you. Mom said to." he looked at John Michael, who looked back, confused.

'Let's go on in," Makoto said.

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Sorry for such a short chapter, the next one will be longer. This is more of a warm-up for Chap. 7. If you enjoy, vote up or/and comment!

Kyuusei Chapter 5: Tekishitsu Part 2

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 10:09:05 +0000

Kyuusei Chapter 5: Tekishitsu Part 2

One of the most commonly used Japanese words in foreign countries is the word sensei. Almost everyone knows what it means, and who to address as such.

America? No different.

"Okay!" said the karate teacher in a British accent, observing Makoto and I. Hinoki had stayed home because he had pitched a fit. A huge fit that caused Mom to threaten him with no squishes for a week. He calmed right down, but, a flying foot broke one of Mom's French vases. So no squishes for a month, and Hinoki cannot spend his allowance so that he could cover some of the cost of repairing the vase.

The teacher bowed at us and invited us onto the matted dojo floors. It was a small place, with one side of the building being matted floors and the other side being chairs for observers.

I glanced at Makoto, who was staring at the teacher with hard eyes. He had bowed quite low, which had meant, in Japan customs at least, that we were worthy of more respect that him. I grinned and leaped onto the mats with Makoto. This meant trouble.

"Please bow, and assume guard stance," Sensei Jones said. I am using Sensei lightly here. He hardly looked like a karate teacher. He bore a resemblance to my homeroom teacher in his belly and arm areas. AKA he didn't have any muscles, only fat.

We quickly bowed, but Jones pushed up down to a low bow.

Makoto cracked. The teacher being a "sensei", bowing wrong, and the Chinese and Japanese décor on the walls seemed to have made him lose his temper.

"Listen, sensei," he said with gritted teeth, "you're doing the bows wrong." He could have pointed out so much more. For example, the canvases on the wall that read in Hirgana where mistakenly referred to as Kanji by the so called Asia-expert who sat in the desk when you first entered the dojo. There is an obvious difference between hirgana and kanji.

Jones smiled. "No, no, no," he said.

"No, it's wrong, in our country-" Makoto began.

"But this isn't your country, is it?" inquired Jones.

"Excuse me, in Japan, a deep bow means deep respect-" I started, trying to explain simply.

"Shush," said Jones, "and show me what you two Asian kids can do. Maybe if you do well, I'll rank you at yellow."

Yellow? First there's white, then there's yellow! The dojo teaches Krav Maga, so surely they wouldn't rank us so low! We are at least at brown or red!

"Anyway, proceed." Jones said.

Makoto proceeded into a round kick, and I dodged and weaved in order to make him miss me. He leaped back as I brought an axe kick to his head (boy am I flexible), and then he preformed a tornado kick right to my stomach. It stung greatly, but I managed to dodge of his other attacks. I got a few palm strikes on him though he said afterwards that I actually did not.

"Stop, stop, stop," said Jones. We stopped, and stood there panting a bit.

"What?" hissed Makoto.

"You two can't be taught here, I teach amateurs," he said.

"Excuses," said Makoto. "We want to be taught here. Or are you saying you're not up to the task?"

'No," Jones said, scared, "I am saying you are too dangerous to teach any more moves! Now, go. Find someone else, just don't come back here."

The parents in the chairs, as well as the kids who took class after us, were all staring and gawking.

As we left, we heard him say, "Bloody Asians. The lot of them, all of them! Can't trust a single Korean or he'll beat you up!"

"...I'm not Korean!" I shouted. "Get your bloody facts straight!!!"

"Shut up, Yumeka, you'll get us in trouble," Makoto said, and seized me by the arm. He marched me out of the place and then pushed me over to my bike. "Get on and let's go."

We rode our bikes to the bookstore, which was the halfway point between home and the dojo. I punched in Mom's number on Makoto's small phone to tell her what had happened because, according to Makoto, she was less likely to get mad at me. Frankly, I expected the opposite.

"Hey, akachan," said Mom. I could hear her washing dishes. "How'd it go?" Clank, clank, clank, splash.

"Uh... we got rejected."

"WHAT?"

"...yeah," I said. Makoto made wild hand motions to me out of the corner of my eye. "The teacher said he couldn't teach us cuz we were too dangerous?"

"Too dangerous?" she said, then swore. Loudly.

"Mommy, don't swear!" Hinoki said in the background.

"Yumeka, lemme talk to your brother. Anyway, don't you have somewhere to be this afternoon?" Mom asked.

"Michael wanted to meet me at the park we went to the other day," I said.

"Okay, just be back by... dinner, okay? Maybe bring him if his parents say okay."

Bring John Michael? Ugh... Mom... "Fine," I said.

I handed the phone to Makoto. "See you," I said, hasty to get away before Mom started yelling so loudly at Makoto that speaker phone would have been useless and the speakers would have gone out. Again. Kid me not, Mom has damaged our phones by screaming, which has earned her the nickname Banshee in our family.

I rode off down the road, arriving at the park. I noticed lots of bikes in the rack: I had trouble finding a space. When I did and ran off to the park to find John Michael, I realized tons of kids were there, lots of them from school.

"Yumeka!" shouted John Michael. I looked around, he had Roxy following him quite closely. So close that if John Michael had stopped, she would have crashed into him.

"Why all these kids?" I asked.

'I invited them to meet ya!!!" said John Michael.

"Oh..." I do not do well in crowds.

Roxy smiled for the first time. "I am from the country of Scotland," she said in a thick accent. Now I know why she only spoke to me once, she didn't want anyone to heard her accent. She must have practiced saying 'My name is Roxy' quite a lot to make it sound American-standard normal.

I smiled slightly. "Cool," I said.

John Michael smiled wider and beckoned some friends over. I hadn't seen the bullies for days now, and I was grateful, until I saw them hanging around the bike rack, hovering over my light green mountain bike.

They had spray cans and markers.

"What are you doing?!" I shouted at them. They scurried off, but I had already jumped the fence and skidded to my bike.

They had scrawled words all over it. "Asian" was one, then 'Korean', along with words I dare not mention in text. Really bad offensive words, along with marker scribbles to create crude drawings. I screamed at them but they had already ran off.

"What is it?" asked John Michael, chasing after me. I pointed and he stared.

"I need to go," I said quickly, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Hey, I'll come with you," he said.

"No," I said, leaping on my bike and speeding off before he could say another word. I coasted down the hill to my house in silence, and stowed my bike away in the garage, thinking about all the humiliation that would happen the next time I rode my bike to school.

I received tons of texts from John Michael that I didn't check.

Just stop.

Stop!

First the bullies on the first day, the racism of the sensei, and down the bullies again. I know some people go through some much more, but I'm already at the breaking point.

Just give me a solution. An easy fix.

But there are never easy fixes, are there?

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Sorry to end this chapter on a depressing note, and sorry it is shorter! I will not be able to write over the weekend, so look forward to Monday! Also, enjoy and I will cont. soon!

Kyuusei Japanese Translations Chap4-Pt4

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:48:17 +0000

"Mikata" means 'friend".

"Kotori" means songbird.

"Wanko" means dog.

"Innauea" means undergarment/wear.

"Baka" means idiot,

Oyasuminasai means good night.

Kaachan means mom.

Musume means my daughter.

Niisan means older brother.

Otouto means younger brother.

Mataashita means see you tomorrow.

Oneesan means elder sister.

Imouto means younger sister.

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I will not be on tomorrow, but I will try to write more on Friday!

Kyuusei Chapter 4: Mikata

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:41:41 +0000

Kyuusei Chapter 4: Mikata

The next day, I rode my bike to school because Mom had just applied for a job and needed to be at an interview: she applied to be a teacher for Japanese at a local school. She had been a teacher for English back in Japan, so I guess she wanted to switch it up; her students would call all her Ms. Songbird cuz her first name is Kotori.

I sometimes ask Mom and Dad why they called me Yumeka. Mom said she liked the name because it was beautiful-sounding, but Dad, who is interested in the geology of names, liked the meaning and decided it would be perfect for me. "I want people to feel as if they are dreaming when they see you," he used to tell me. Dad is an author in his spare time, so he wrote many stories and always paid attention to the names of his characters, and usually he would pair up with a manga artist to bring his stories to life in manga or anime. It was always cool watching his stories on TV or reading about them. That's why I wanted to be an artist, but lately I have been feeling a bit odd since I am surrounded by this American style of drawing. You know, Marvel and DC. I miss my old home so much.

Anyway, as soon as I got to school, John Michael was waiting for me.

"Hi," I said, and he smiled, not the annoying smile, but a nice one. Like he wasn't trying to tick me off, for a change.

"Hey! C'mon, if we get to class early, the bullies won't be able to get cha!" he grabbed my bike and helped me set it up in the steal-proof bike rack beside the school fence. Then he grabbed my hoodie: I shook him off, he laughed, and we skidded down the hallways to class.

Roxy was sitting with her face in a book. "To Kill a Mockingbird?" I said to her, and startled, she looked around and nodded. "Do you like it?" I said.

She gave me the so-so motion with her hands like, 'not really'. Then, "Do you?"

"Yeah," I said. "The first novel I read in both Japanese and English, actually. I like the English version better." I only said that so that she would smile. She never did. I sighed and sat down. What a difficult person.

During lunch, John Michael sat down and began eating his American sandwiches. I pulled out the leftover ramen from last night and ate the food in silence until John Michael broke it.

"So," he said, "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I forgive you," I said shortly.

"Huh?"

"I said I forgive you, don't make me repeat myself."

"Oh," he said.

"What?"

"Nothing, p-please don't get mad at me again."

"No, why are you surprised that I'd forgive you?"

"Oh, just that I wouldn't. You're a much better person than me, haha. And also, every girl, and guy for that matter, who I have said sorry to always reject my apology. So, I guess it's me." John Michael said.

"Yeah, maybe," I said, "But I don't know you well enough to judge."

"So, did you bring some poems?"

"Do I look like a haiku machine?!" I spat. As he grinned demonically, I said, "On second thought, don't answer that, I know you're gonna be racist." Plus, I'm not really a haiku person. I like freeverse.

"See? You know me already," John Michael laughed, finishing his sandwiches. "Anyway, how do you like it here in America so far?"

"It'd be a lot better without you, but it's okay so far," I lied.

He smiled sadly. "Yeah."

We sat in silence. He fiddled with his thumbs and waited for he bell to ring. Once class resumed, I didn't may much attention, I just stared out the window, wishing I could see cherry blossoms float by instead of the occasional red or brown leaf.

As Mr. Franklin droned on, I wrote a poem.

Autumn

is slow death of the world

red and brown

withering away into the decay

if I could

I would save you

my only green tree

my tree that stood tall

when none would

but even the strongest tree

that never fell in the strongest storms

will one day

be stripped of it's life.

Depressing, I know, but I didn't feel very happy. Mr. Frankin was talking about Macbeth and Hamlet, after all. Plus, since John Michael kept craning over my shoulder to read it, I couldn't think very well. And when I can't think very well, I don't write very well.

Nothing goes very well with John Michael.

Mom texted me during health, telling me she wanted me to go get some groceries at the store. You can take a friend with you, she said. Makoto will meet you there with Hinoki.

Just great.

I grabbed my bike and rolled it to the street after school. The school is beside a small backroad that lots of parents complain about driving on, but it's actually very safe. The school is in a small part of town and since the town isn't a city it has a Winn-Dixie. A small grocery store, mind you.

"Where you going?" said John Michael, running up to me as I flung myself over my bike. I looked back at him as Makoto rode up on his bike, Hinoki grasping him from behind on a little seat Mom installed. Dad couldn't have done it, he's not a handyman, so Mom did.

'Grocery store," I said bluntly.

"These are your brothers?" John Michael said, his smile fading as Makoto looked at him.

"Is this your friend, Yumeka?" asked Makoto.

"More or less. He can come," I said. "Grab your bike, Michael."

"Okay, just let me text my mom real quick." he said brightly. We waited a few minutes and he said, "okay, let's go"

He seemed slightly scared of Makoto on the way down. Makoto wasn't burly or anything, but he could seem scary. Like a Yukuza, my dad would say. Makoto kept his eyes on the road, leading us all, but occasionally Hinoki would start talking to me about personal matters. In English.

"Hey, Yume-chan," he said at one point, " I haven't seen any wild wankos , have you?"

"No, Hinoki, I haven't seen any dogs lately." I said back.

"Yume-chan, I saw that you had some innauea lying around the other day-"

"Shush," Makoto and I said in unison. "Hinoki, do not talk about that in public!" I am sure John Michael had no idea what we were talking about, but I could see him smiling.

"Michael-chan," said Hinoki, and it surprised me to see that John Michael seemed to understand what he was saying, "do you have a wanko?"

After a minute, John Michael said, " Yeah, his name is Buster," and everyone went quiet.

Then, "Have you been teaching him Japanese, Yumeka?" Makoto said to me, as if it was a crime.

"No, of course not-"

'I've been learning on my own," said John Michael brightly, "so I can understand Yumeka a bit more." He smiled and boosted, "I can say a few sentences in Japanese now and write a few kanji!"

"Big deal," said Makoto. "We can speak your language like we were born here." Something about the way he said 'big deal' made me laugh. It sounded more like 'big DEAL', then a quiet 'big deal'.

We arrived at the grocery store, and Hinoki found a good place to park. We did and went into Winn Dixie to get some groceries. Hinoki suggested going to the park afterwards, and after checking up with John Michael's mom, we rode our bikes there and began talking whlist Hinoki went to go play.

"So, how'd your test go, Makoto-san?" I asked politely.

"Not as good as I'd hoped."

"What'd you get on the test,?" John Michael said, watching with rapt attention.

"A 97." Makoto said. "Bad, isn't it?"

"Out of 100?"

"Yeah."

"WHAT?!" John Michael exclaimed. "No way! That's bad?!"

"Isn't it for you?"

"Of course not! My family is happy as long as you get a 60 or 70! A 90 would be the highest I could get!"

"Wow, you Americans are different." Makoto looked at me and mumbled, "The bunch of bakas." I smiled.

'Ditto." I said.

"Yes, speaking of Japanese words I don't know, Yumeka, what does akachan mean?"

Makoto butted in. "It means 'baby'."

John Michael almost gagged. "I called you THAT?" I nodded, and he said, "So that's why you were so offended yesterday?"

"Among other things," I said bluntly.

"So, -chan means friend, right? Can I call you that?"

'You'd have to attach it to her name," Makoto said. 'Like, Yumeka-chan."

"What about in your case? Would I call you Makoto-chan?"

Makoto looked at him like he was an idiot. "No, baka," he said. "Just because you know my sister does not make you my friend. You would have to call me Makoto-san, -san meaning respect."

"Oh, um... but didn't Yumeka call you that? I thought it was a siblings thing..."

"She does it to make fun of me," Makoto said, but he didn't sound mad. He sounded annoyed.

John Michael laughed, but Makoto looked at him with distaste, so he stopped.

'Hinoko-chan," I called, "time to go!"

Hinoko leaped off his swing in mid air, and I rushed forward to catch him like we used to do everyday back in Japan. I caught him and he squealed, and after getting on our bikes, we all road off home.

"This is where I go," John Michael said, gesturing to the break in the road after we had gone a few miles. 'I'll text you, Yumeka-chan!" he said, grinning.

He road off, and Makoto, Hinoko, and I rode on to our house. We put our bikes up in the garage and went inside. Our Mom was waiting and ready to tell us some news, like she would do every night.

It was rarely meaningful, but tonight she told us that since the next day was Saturday, we had to go down to our new karate studio the next morning.

"Listen," she said, "I want you all to go. They will be assessing your rank by testing you. Please do not show off, Makoto. I think it may help you, Yumeka, after what you told me about the bullies the other day."

I nodded. "Oyasuminasai, kaachan," I said in Japanese.

"Oyasuminasai, musume," Mom said back, smiling.

"Niisan, otouto, mataashita," I said to Makoto and Hinoko.

Hinoko said, "Good night, Yumeka-chan, oneesan!!!" while Makoto said quietly, "'Night, imouto."

It had been the most Japanese we had spoken in a long time.

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Hope you enjoyed, and be sure to check out the translations!

Kyuusei Japanese Translations Pt. 3-Chap3

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:15:36 +0000

"Otousan" means "dad".

"Hinoki" means "cypress".

"Makoto" means "mountain language".

"Shiriusu" means "the dog star".

I will be writing the 4th Chapter very soon! Be on the lookout!

Kyuusei Chapter 3: Otousan

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:02:24 +0000

Kyuusei Chapter 3: Otousan

Our house is the average American house on an average American street in an average American subdivision. 2 floors, a short driveway, and a quaint, modest little back yard.

"We're home," said Mom, kicking off her shoes, as she threw open the door, her arms laddened with groceries. "And we got food!"

I hadn't noticed that Mom had gotten food, but now that she mentioned it, on the ride home, I could totally smell cooked, hot ramen in takeout bowls. My little brother, Hinoki, and my older brother, Makoto, came in to sit down and eat. Hinoki , 6 years old, ran in, leaped into his seat, and looked longingly at the food, while Makoto, who was 17, slid into his seat quietly and waited patiently.

Dad waltzed in, excited to tell us about his first work day and excited to know about our school one. As soon as we sat down, Hinoki, who sat between Makoto and I, seized our hands to pray. I grabbed Dad's from across the table and Makoto did the same to Mom.

After the prayer, the ramen was dished out and everyone stirred some leftover meat from the night before in it to give it more favor.

"How was everyone's day?" Dad asked I Japanese, taking off his glasses so he could eat. I handed him mine and he set them aside on an extra chair.

Hinoki was the first to speak between mouthfuls of ramen. "My class was too hard," he said, munching away, on his knees in his seat so he could see everyone. "They talked about American government and," he paused, "and the legislature branch, whatever that is."

"I aced all my classes," was all Makoto said. He was texting his friend, Narushi, who was back in Japan. He put away his phone and began eating, brushing his dark brown bangs out of his eyes.

Mom said she had a fine day, but nothing really exciting happened. I was thankful she didn't mention the bullies to Dad. Dad was brains but no brawn.

"I... had an okay day," I said, not wanting to think about the school day or John Michael. "How about you, Dad?"

"Oh, nothing much, really! Unless count a medical breakthrough," Dad said excitedly, but also a little mysteriously, so one of us would beg him to tell us more.

"Ooh!" it was Mom who cracked. "What happened, honey?"

Dad grinned. "Some med students came over. And while they were there, my lab had their first major breakthrough in 15 years!"

"That's awesome!" Mom said excitedly, and in her excitement, she accidently knocked over her glass of green tea. Right away, Makoto caught the glass and started cleaning. Makoto was the black sheep of the family, but that didn't keep him from constantly helping Mom.

I smiled and said to Dad, 'It's because you were there."

He smiled, "You think so?"

'I know so, Dad, you are smartest person here." Dad had graduated from Yale after all.

After dinner, Dad went out to play baseball with Hinoki. The sky was getting darker by the minute, but Hinoki still insisted on going out to play with Dad. Makoto went to take a shower and then go to bed, since he had a huge review test the next day. I went upstairs to my bedroom to check my phone messages.

I flicked on the light. It was a large room, painted teal on 2 walls and pastel green on the other 2. The large 2 window that let me see the front yard in one and the back yard in other had their heavy curtains drawn across them. In the middle was a big green bed with thick teal drapes around it. I had taken my shoes off at the door of the house and left them in a neat little row with the rest of my family's shoes, so I ran across the soft carpet and threw myself on my bed.

Shiriusu, the dog my Dad got me, leaped on me. He had been lying on my bed until I had crashed onto it.

"Hey, Shiriusu," I said. He licked me and started panting as I flung myself across the bed, closing the drapes, and I checked my messages.

I literally spat out the Jolly Rancher I was sucking on as I saw who had been sending the messages that had made me silence my phone cuz there were so many.

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
10 new messages
Hi Yumeka how r u
Srry about today, didnt know that would offend u
um can u respond plz?
Like I said, Im srry, ok?
talk 2 u tmrrw @ school ;)
plz dont ignore me
I wanna be ure friend is that ok?
btw what does akachan mean
(Sent at 7:32, August 1st)

YUMEKA HARUESAKI
How did you get my number?! I don't remember giving it to you, creep.
(Sent at 8:35PM, August 1st)

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
1 new message
I saw it when ure mum texted u plus u had it written on a sticky note in ure locker, so I saw that 2
(Sent at 8:35PM, August 1st)

YUMEKA HARUESAKI
Still doesn't explain why'd you want to text me
No, you can't be my friend.
(Sent at 8:37PM, August 1st)

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
3 new messages
Y not? U need a friend ;)
Listen I moved from europe
so u need someone whose gone thru what u have
(Sent at 8:37PM, August 1st)

YUMEKA HARUESAKI
I do not need a friend! I have my family you know
And moving from Europe isn't the same as moving from Japan
Plus you didn't have to learn a different language
(Sent at 8:40PM, August 1st)

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
4 new messages
I did have to learn a new language
im from paris but I was young so I learned english pretty quickly
btw how did you learn english so quickly
I read the poem u wrote during lunch ure english is beautiful
(Sent at 8:45PM, August 1st)

YUMEKA HARUESAKI
And your English needs improvement LOL
We just moved from Japan but I bet you didn't know students have to take English as a subject
That's why I'm good at English
BTW don't look at my poems!
(Sent at 8:50PM, August 1st)

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
2 new messages
Oh so thats y
can u plz talk 2 me @ school tomorrow ok, bring some poems maybe haikus, isnt that a jap thing
(Sent at 8:53PM, August 1st)

YUMEKA HARUESAKI
Ugh IDK John
(Sent at 8:55PM, August 1st)

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
1 new message
Its Michael
(Sent at 8:55PM, August 1st)

YUMEKA HARUESAKI
Okay Michael...
I'll talk to you tomorrow.
But promise me a few things
Okay?
(Sent at 8:58PM, August 1st)

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
1 new message
Sure, what is it
(Sent at 9:01PM, August 1st)

YUMEKA HARUESAKI
Okay then
First off don't call me a cute little Jap
and two
fix your English, it bothers me.
(Sent at 9:03PM, August 1st)

JOHN MICHAEL JONES
1 new message
Okay Yumeka. See you tomorrow
(Sent at 9:05PM, August 1st)

I waited a few minutes before turning off my phone and hooking it up to it's charging station on my bedside table. I heard the shower go off in the distance as I turned around to face Shiriusu. He made a little whimper. Coming from a pitbull dog, it was surprising, but I paid no mind to it and stroked his ears.

Even though he was my dog, he wasn't any comfort because he was just another American thing in this American world.

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Hope you enjoyed it and to be cont.!

Links to Chapter 1:https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/34996/kyuusei-chapter-1-hedateru

Link to Chapter 2: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35072/kyuusei-chapter-2-tekishitsu

Link to Chapter 3: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35077/kyuusei-chapter-3-otousan

Link to chapter 1 translation: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35068/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt1-chap1

Link to chapter 2 translation: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35074/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt2-chap2

Link to chapter 3 translation:https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35079/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt-3-chap3

Kyuusei Japanese Translations Pt2-Chap2

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 10:20:47 +0000

"Tekishitsu" means "error made by an enemy".

"Sofubo" means "grandparents".

"Akachan" means "baby".

Kyuusei Chapter 2: Tekishitsu

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 10:12:21 +0000

Kyuusei Chapter 2: Tekishitsu

"Thank you kindly, Yu-meh-la," said the teacher, his small, fat little face twisting as his tongue wrestled with the strange word. He looked at me as if for help, and I facepalmed in my head. He had said it right the first few times! What's so hard about saying a name?! But maybe he only imitated my mother when she called me Yumeka before leaving and before I introduced myself.

"It's Yumeka," I said squeakily.

"Would you mind if I just called you Yuma?" he said, as if scared I would refuse. Listen, Teach, I can't kick you without getting in trouble, so calm down.

I had half a mind to scream because Yumeka is such a simple name to say. Yume-e-ka. Why can't you say that?! I want to be called Yumeka, or even Ms. Haruesaki, but NOT a cheap nickname just because you won't try!

"Sure."

Americans are so stupid. The homeroom teacher smiled a big chesire smile as if to win me over and said, "Very well, Yuma. Please take your seat" -he gestured to a desk very close to his own- "and let me introduce myself."

I sat down right between a guy and a girl. The guy was tall and lean and had a hint of muscle on his arms, and the girl was thin- like, unhealthy thin- and had huge glasses. They both smiled, but not in a genuine way. It was more forced, like they had lost all hope in newcomers.

"I am Mr. Sharp," said the teacher happily. He stood up and I got the first good look at him. He was still fat and sweaty, but I noticed that he had pinstripe pants and a thin white shirt that were painstakingly tight. He had black hair, green eyes, and a charming-if not annoying-demeanor.

"Hello, Mr. Sharp," said all the students in a drone. I heard a few of the guys in the back laugh. "Hello, Yuma," the class said to me. Some actually said Yumeka, while others tried mid sentence and switched to Yuma once they failed to say it correctly.

Class began.

"Hi, I'm Roxy," said the girl beside me, the one with glasses, and I turned towards her.

"You don't look like one," I said, and she grinned, pushing her glasses up. "Why are you so thin?" she smiled, and went silent, opening her math textbook as I asked, realizing how rude my inquiry sounded.

"It's a mystery," said the boy. "The name's John!" he said, shaking my hand. He had feathery brown hair and the brightest blue eyes, which added to his good-natured and well-refined appearance. "I know, my name's plain, right?" he grinned, "I have friends call me Michael, cuz it's my middle name, so maybe you can call me that too."

"Okay, but that means you are basically inviting me to be your friend," I said.

He nodded. "Sure. Never had a cute little Jap as a friend before," he said.

"And you never will," I said, angered by the comment, and turned away sharply to face the teacher. 'Cute little Jap'? Really? Do not comment on my height, or anything! Though I am honored he didn't call me Chinese or Korean, it's just wrong to say that to someone.

"Hey," he said, "I'm sorry, okay?! I know that sounded racist-"

"Don't be," I cut him off.

We sat in silence the rest of the class. Mr. Sharp taught us all the core subjects, such as math, science, history, and English. Then he sent us off to the more enjoyable subjects that were taught by Mr. Franklin (reading), Ms. Norbert (music), Mr. and Mrs. Ashton (health), and Mr. Petson (art). I didn't enjoy reading very much because Mr. Frankin droned on and on, but art was cool though I had no talent in the drawing Mr. Petson was teaching.

"Mr. Petson," I said, raising my hand, "do you teach how to draw anime here?" Anything to make me feel at home. Anything. Even if it's cartoons.

"Huh-? Oh, Ms. Haruesaki," he said, and I felt thrilled he could say my name correctly. You just may become my favorite teacher, Petson! He was tall and williowly, like a tree, and silver grey like one too, he was maybe in his early 70s. "I hold after-class tutoring tailored for different drawing styles, but no, I do not teach anime in class."

"Is there a section on it?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes, later on in May. It is one of the last sections," he said, smiling. "You have something to look forward to, no?"

I nodded and he grinned. "Back to the lesson at hand," he said, and began to draw swiftly on his blackboard, sketching away a vase of white chalk, pointing out shadows and light.

Art was the last subject, then there was a 30 minute break before we were let out. Several people left during this time, but lots of people stayed. Curious, I did too.

"Why are you here?" asked John Michael. He didn't say it meanly but like a question he was curious about.

I ignored him.

He walked up to me, and began poking my shoulder. He earned "the most immature 15 year old in the class" label from me as soon as he began doing that. After about 5 minutes of his prodding, which got sharper and quicker the longer I ignored him, I whipped around.

"What?!" I hissed like a snake.

He grinned that annoying grin.

I had half a mind to slap him.

"Soooooo," he said, "why you here?"

As I was about to say it was none of his dang business, the boys from that morning burst into the room. Obviously detention had let out early cuz it was the first day of school. The ringleader spotted me and made a beeline, his minions following like mindless zombies.

"Yumeka, Yumeka, Yumeka," he said, keeping a distance like he thought if he was far away, my short range attacks couldn't get him.

"Shut up, please?" I said, "or I'll give you a bloody nose again."

"Korean, Korean, Korean," the ringleader said, and his friends entered the chant with confidence. I stood up, and the ringleader flinched and his friends slowly faded in their chant as their boss went silent.

"Um, Yumeka," said John Michael.

"What?!" I said loudly.

"You got a message," he said, handing me my powder green-cased phone. "I think it's from your mom."

I glared at the bullies, walked backwards towards the school door, and slipped out as I checked my messages.

MOM
1 new message
Coming to pick you up! See you soon, call me when you can. xoxo Mom(
(Sent at 3:48PM, August 1st)

I groaned and punched in her number. She picked up first ring and I leaned on the school wall, which was brick and red and rough, and began talking to her.

"Hi Mom," I said, "how's it going?" I spoke in English, and, taking my lead, Mom answered in English.

"Your brother is being a little jerk as usual," she said playfully, but I knew she was serious.

"What'd he do this time?"

"Began complaining about wanting to go back to Japan," Mom said. "Got any tips for dealing with him?"

"Mom, you're the parent," I said. "But tell him his big sis feels the same."

"I know, honey, but your dad needs this job. We all need it. Don't worry, we will go back soon to visit your sofubo. 'Kay?" she said in a voice that hinted sadness.

I said, "Okay Mom...", thinking about my cheerful grandparents, who were so sad to see us go. They said that they would visit first chance they got, but we've already been here 3 months.

"Okay! See you in 5 minutes then!"

"I'll be in the school."

"Okay, my little akachan."

"Bye, Mom." I hung up, and went back into the school building. The bullies had left.

John Michael jumped me as soon as I got back inside. "Hello, my little akachan," he said playfully.

"You don't even know what that word means," I said.

"True, what's it mean?"

I stared at him with distaste. Mom danced in and looked at John Michael. "Oh, hello," she said, 'what's your name?"

"Michael," he said, grinning at me.

"You got yourself a friend, Yumeka?" Mom said cheerfully, "I am so proud!!!"

"He's not my frien-"

"I am!" he said, throwing an arm around my shoulders, and squeezing me in a side hug. I growled at him and he said, "Oh, what was that, Yumeka?"

I leaped away, grabbed my mom by the shoulder, and pulled her out of the school and into her small little Toyota; I sat shotgun. "He's not my friend, Mom," I said in Japanese so John Michael couldn't try to eavesdrop.

"Maybe he should, he seemed nice," Mom said.

'UGH," I said, burying my head in my lap. She patted my shoulder.

"I know it's hard," she said.

We drove home in silence. At least I could talk to Dad when I got home. Maybe he could help me somehow.

___________________________________________________

Dairy Entry 1- August 1st

I hate you, John Michael! You are such a little brat and I do NOT want to have anything to do with you! If you ever even LOOK AT ME again I promise I will STUFF your ego down your THROAT!!!

-Yumeka

____________________________________________________

Hope you enjoyed and to be cont.!

Links to Chapter 1:https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/34996/kyuusei-chapter-1-hedateru

Link to Chapter 2: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35072/kyuusei-chapter-2-tekishitsu

Link to Chapter 3: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35077/kyuusei-chapter-3-otousan

Link to chapter 1 translation: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35068/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt1-chap1

Link to chapter 2 translation: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35074/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt2-chap2

Link to chapter 3 translation:https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35079/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt-3-chap3

Kyuusei Japanese Translations Pt1-Chap1

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 08:39:13 +0000

"Kyuusei" means "one's old home".

"Hedateru" means "to separate or to isolate".

Yumeka's name means "feeling as if in a dream".

"Harue" means "springtime"; "-saki" is a common suffix for last names.

"Sakura" means cherry blossom, which are very common in Japan.

"Sama" is a honorific of great respect.

"Chan" is a honorific of friendship between lovers, close friends, and family.

Be on the lookout for the next chapter! After each chapter, I will post a translation handbook and link it to the chapter. ;)

Kyuusei Chapter 1: Hedateru

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:51:48 +0000

Kyuusei Chapter 1: Hedateru

"My name is Yumeka Haruesaki, 15 years old. I am from the island of Japan, and I look forward to getting to know you all." I practiced those words in my head, over and over, then I said them out loud, the uncomfortable English words rolling around my mouth like sharp knives. The only words that felt natural was my own name, which was the only beacon of light.

"Honey! We're here," Mom said in Japanese, as the car rumbled to a halt. Cars were odd to me. Living in Toyko, we had used taxis a lot. The United States were so different from my own home.

"Mom!" I said in English, and she grinned, and wagged a finger at me.

"Yumeka, I can speak Japanese if I want." Mom was fluent in Japanese, obviously, but she was also adept at English. Which annoyed me. Please speak English when we are in America, Mom.

Oh! And it's not like we are never going back to Japan. Mom promised we would visit once or twice a year. We have grandparents there, anyway. The only reason we are stuck in America right now is because of stupid Dad. He got a job in computer programming. He's the normal Japanese man, wears suits every day and is the smartest person in his workplace, but he couldn't be smart or Japanese enough to say, "No. We are staying here in Japan, with the sakura trees and perfect life." NO. He said, "Yumeka! This will be a great experience! And I will be making lots more money. Maybe we can get you that dog you always wanted!"

Yeah. I wanted a dog, Dad, not a trip to America! We could've gotten one off the streets or something! But no, as soon as we got here, Dad got me a dog. A tiny puppy. He's really sweet but Mom hates him cuz he pees on everything. She keeps on telling me to train him. I'm trying, Mom! Don't bug me! Sheesh! It's already stressful enough, being here-

"HEY!" shouted someone. "KOREAN KID!"

I'm. Not. Korean. I get out of the car, my fists knotted up in my jacket.

It's a tall boy, maybe 17 or 18, his back to the school. Blond hair and blue eyes. The perfect American appearance, one that in Japan is unheard of. "Look who we have here. A cute little four-eyes. Maybe she can do our work. Right boys?" He grinned at his buddies, then stepped forward and shoved me into Mom's car. She saw this, got up, and strolled towards the bullies.

"Hey, get away from my daughter!"

"Oh. Whatcha gonna do about it, shortie?" the boy said in a manner that made my mom grind her teeth. She was short, but she also could hold her temper.

"Yumeka, if these boys do anything"- she glared at them-"to you, you tell me, got it?"

I stayed quiet. The bullies were muttering my name in a high pitched squeak. "Yumeka, Yumeka, Yumeka," they taunted.

"Yumeka, did you heard me?"

"Yes..." I said quietly, and the boys howled with laughter. Angered, I turned around, bringing my leg high and hitting the ringleader with my heel. He fell back, not hard, but with a slight thud. His mouth was bloody and I felt proud.

Not my mom.

"Yumeka!" she said. But then the bell rang. So, taking my arm in her tight little fist, she slowly marched me to the classroom. 1-7. She opened the door, gave me a kiss, and said quietly, "Honey, please. I don't want us to get in trouble. If you are gonna defend yourself, please, please, please, be careful. I do not wanna get mad at you. Okay?"

I nodded, the pride slowly going away.

She smiled.

"See you after school, then. Be safe, and don't use karate on everyone, please. Only on those who are looking to hurt you, okay?"

"Yes, Mom-sama."

She pulled me close and hugged me. "That's my little Yume-chan..." she said, then she let go. "Now, have fun and learn!"

I nodded and entered the room. The teacher came in and said, "Class, we have a new student, Yumeka. Please come here, Yumeka!" I approached the homeroom teacher, who was a stout man, and began my speech.

"My name is Yumeka Haruesaki, 15 years old. I am from the Island of Japan, and I look forward to getting to know you all." I said. I had practiced those words in my head, over and over, then I had said them out loud, the uncomfortable English words rolling around in my mouth like sharp knives. The only words that felt natural was my own name, which was the only beacon of light.

_________________________________________________

America? Please listen to me.

I don't wanna be here, but I am.

Please accept me the way I am. Isn't that what you're here for?

Well, I hope I learn to accept you.

I hope we can be friends, and that you can be my home away from home.

Cuz one of these days, I wanna be able to say I have a friend.

A friend.

___________________________________________

To be cont.! Hope you liked it.

Links to Chapter 1:https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/34996/kyuusei-chapter-1-hedateru

Link to Chapter 2: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35072/kyuusei-chapter-2-tekishitsu

Link to Chapter 3: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35077/kyuusei-chapter-3-otousan

_______________________________________________

Link to chapter 1 translation: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35068/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt1-chap1

Link to chapter 2 translation: https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35074/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt2-chap2

Link to chapter 3 translation:https://www.kidzsearch.com/questions/35079/kyuusei-japanese-translations-pt-3-chap3

My New Story! "Kyuusei"

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 14:15:22 +0000

I am writing a BRAND NEW story that I am going to freehand, so there will not be much planning. I am going to write about a young Japanese girl called Yumeka ("feeling as if in a dream") Haruesaki (Harue means springtime while -saki is a suffix for last names), who just moved to the U.S and is finding it hard to fit in with her new school.

The book is called Kyuusei, which means "One's old home".

I will be using Japanese throughout the story (Romanji).

I hope you enjoy it and this will be my ongoing story!