Subject: {Fanfic][Original] The Exchange Student From: nyckid97@aol.com A few notes before I start... Hi! It's me, Roehl Sybing (if you read Operation: Reality Check here on RAAC, then you should know me). This is an original story that I wrote for a creative writing contest, and hopefully it passes RAAC guidelines. Anyways, you'll read this and know that my cultural experience of Japan is...somewhat limited. I'd review and add more parts to this story to give it a more realistic display, but I've reached the five-page limit stated in the contest. Maybe in the future, I'll write the long version of The Exchange Student (I started writing the long version last Christmas, but I stopped for some reason). Anyways, this story is based on the series of Sailor Moon, You're Under Arrest, Ranma 1/2, and Maison Ikkoku. It may not look like I took concepts from these series, but they were definitely my inspiration. OK, here we go. Enjoy! -------------------------------------------- The Exchange Student By Roehl Sybing "Attention all passengers . . . Eastern Airlines flight 642, nonstop service from Tokyo to Los Angeles, final boarding call . . . " was the message heard from the speakers all across the terminal. First in Japanese, then in English. Then you could hear, "Wait up! Wait for me!!" as Jake Tyler came running down the hall toward the gate leading to the plane. Luckily he arrived just when the doors were about to close. The attendant there took his ticket and allowed the minor to race through the narrow passageway into the airplane. Five minutes later, Jake packed away his belongings and sat in his seat. Out of breath, he leaned back as he fastened his seat belt. A man next to him asked, "Excuse me, but where's your parents?" Jake replied, "I'm all alone. I'm an exchange student." He smiled. He remembered the first time he said that, just three weeks ago . . . ------------------------------------------- "Hi . . . I'm the exchange . . . student, Jake . . . Tyler," he said at the door. He was saying to the most beautiful girl he had ever met. The girl replied, "Hi! I'm Miyuki, nice to meet you. My parents aren't home right now, but come in!" As Jake entered the house, he was thankful that the family he was assigned to for three weeks spoke English. "So," Miyuki asked as Jake put his bags down, "You'll be going to my school for three weeks?" "Um . . . yeah . . . " he was still dazed by the beauty of his newest roommate, but had to ask something, "C-could I-I water some h-have?" Miyuki giggled as he stumbled on the sentence. ------------------------------------------- During the flight, lunch was served in the main cabin. Not that Jake was crazy about airplane food, but he did skip breakfast in order to make his flight. As the attendant set food down on Jake's tray table, Jake asked, "Um, what time is it?" The attendant replied, "It's noon where we're headed. Don't you have a watch?" "Ah, I forgot it back at the house where I was staying." How could he forget about that watch? After all, Miyuki gave it to him. ------------------------------------------- "WAKE UP!" the girl shouted as Jake fell out of bed. "It's already 8:30, and you haven't put on your uniform yet!" Jake slowly brought himself off the floor. Having crossed the Pacific, he still wasn't adjusted to local time. "Sorry," he said. "I must've . . . um, overslept." "The third time in three days! We're going to be late! Again! What excuse shall I give to my teacher today?" Later that day at around 16:00 (that's four in the afternoon), Jake walked out of school with Miyuki. Instead of going home, the girl led her roommate to the shopping center. "Wait here," Miyuki said as she entered one of the stores. After five minutes, she came out with a small box in her hand. "What is it?" Jake asked as Miyuki gave it to him. "Open it." He did. Inside the box lay a digital watch. Jake was surprised, "What's this for?" Miyuki smiled, "To keep track of time, of course! You don't seem to wake up for school on time, so I thought . . . " "Miyuki, I can't take this! I don't deserve it!" "That's why it's a gift, Jake-san! Take it, alright? I have to go meet some friends, later!" As soon as she finished her sentence and ran off while waving goodbye. Jake smiled as the figure of Miyuki disappeared beyond the street. "She's so sweet," he thought. "That's why I like her." ------------------------------------------- Hours passed before the plane touched down in Los Angeles. Jake presented his passport as entered the public terminal. Having caught no sleep during the flight, the tired passenger yawned and sat on a chair. "Two hours," Jake thought. Two more hours before his flight back to New York. Before he knew it, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. ------------------------------------------- "That was really smart," Miyuki said in a sarcastic tone as she continued to bandage up Jake's bruised left leg. "Picking a fight with Ryusuke-san like that. You could've been hurt . . . " "I am hurt!" Jake said as he impatiently rotated in his chair. "He kicked me in the leg and in the head! I didn't know he could jump that high! Besides, he was asking for it! You know how he picks on everyone in the class!" "It was brave what you did today . . . none of us could stand up to Ryusuke. And it was also foolish! He could do more damage to you than you think." Now that Jake thought about it, he did get lucky. He was lucky enough to puncture the guy's chest before he could deliver another kick. "Besides," Miyuki added. "I didn't want you to get hurt." Well, Jake thought. What was he hearing? "Hmm? How come?" he asked softly. Miyuki looked up hesitantly, "W-well, it . . . wouldn't be any fun to have you going home in stitches . . . right?" Jake smiled. Wasn't what he thought after all. How could he even think it anyway? Did he expect her to admire him for that stunt today? This is not New York, he continually said to himself. And even there . . . The girl's voice interrupted Jake's thoughts, "There . . . you can stand now." Good, he could walk again. Not well, considering he had to wear a leg brace for two days, but he was content with standing rather than sitting. Slowly and carefully, he rose with his one good leg. Just when Jake found himself standing face to face with Miyuki at eye level again, a sharp pain attacked his left leg, causing him to stumble. He could've very well fallen to the ground if it wasn't for Miyuki, who caught him by the arm. Startled by the sudden pain, Jake said, "N-nice catch." The girl smiled as she looked into his blue eyes. She replied, "Be careful." The boy found himself looking into Miyuki's brown eyes. Something was going on. Throughout his body, Jake experienced both fear and relief, but from what? "Miyuki?" "Yes?" "My stomach feels . . . funny." "Mine too." But no more words came from either one as Jake's lips pressed against Miyuki's. They held that position for a long while. ------------------------------------------- "Sir? Excuse me, sir?" a flight attendant shook Jake back and forth until he opened his eyes. The woman in uniform asked, "Are you on a flight, sir?" Jake, just getting out of his unconscious state, replied, "Unh . . . y-yeah, I'm on a flight to New York." "The Eastern Airlines flight? You'd better hurry, it boards in five minutes!" Jake jumped up. "WHAT!?" he said before he grabbed his backpack at scrambled toward the gate. As he ran through the terminal, Jake reminded himself that he never had enough time. Not for morning classes, not for evening homework . . . not even for Miyuki. ------------------------------------------- "I know we've been in a hurry all morning 'cause you overslept . . . again," Miyuki said after Jake received his boarding pass. There was a lot of concern in her voice. "But you've been ignoring me ever since we left for the airport! What's wrong?" Jake stopped for a moment and put his hand on her shoulder. "You're perfect, Miyuki." The girl was puzzled. "Jake?" she said. "That's exactly what you are - perfect. I loved these past few weeks. I got to tour Japan, experienced your customs, and lived with a very, very beautiful girl. But . . . " "You will miss me, won't you?" Jake nodded. "Chances are we're not going to see each other, ever again . . . " "But Jake, we'll get to talk over the phone, we'll get to write each other letters . . . " "Is this how it's going to be? It's better that we just stop . . . right now, before we get too far." Miyuki stared at him for a second, then said, "If that's how you want it, Jake, then fine." She then ran away in the opposite direction. Sadness filled her voice and tears filled her eyes, Jake noticed. Jake was already regretting that he ever mentioned it, but also knew they would both be better off. But he couldn't be sure. Was he doing the right thing? What if . . . Suddenly, something went over the loudspeaker of the terminal, "Attention all passengers . . . Eastern Airlines flight 642, nonstop service from Tokyo to Los Angeles, final boarding call . . . " "Uh oh," Jake thought as he raced toward the gate. He also wondered about another thing, "Where's my watch?" ------------------------------------------- Jake was greeted by his parents at Newark Airport back in New York. They helped him with his bags and took him home. He was home again, and that made him forget about the girl he left in Japan . . . for a while. A week after Jake's return came and went, just like any other week. As he resumed his work at his old school, he was deeply regretting the decision he had made. If he could only get a second chance, he thought to himself over and over and over. On one fine Saturday, the former exchange student received a package in the mail. He tore the box apart just trying to get it open. He very happily smiled as he viewed the contents of the package: the watch that Miyuki gave to him, and a letter with a picture of a fine dark-haired, brown-eyed girl attached at the bottom. His heart was filled with joy as he read the letter. "Konnichiwa, Jake-san, It has been one week since you left my home. Since then, the house has felt empty. It is missing one exchange student from the city of New York. I know you told me we should quit our short relationship, but since you left your watch here . . . alright, I needed an excuse. But it was worth it. Please don't leave me. Ever since you entered my life, I could only be happy to know that you were happy. It may be awhile before we'll ever kiss again, but I don't mind waiting. I sure hope you feel the same way too (I know you didn't mean what you said at the airport!) Miyuki" THE END Roehl Sybing (Yeah, I use an AOL address - again. What of it?)