My application to the Utrecht Metropolitan Self-Development School had been accepted. I packed my bags and headed straight to the airport, on my way to Schiphol, the Netherlands' most famous airport.
"Thank you, Azusa-chan," I said on the phone, "the police arrested those girls. They'll get what they deserve."
"I'm glad you didn't do anything stupid..."
Well, I actually did... but somehow, I reversed it.
"Are you heading somewhere?" she asked. "I hear a lot of noise in the background."
"I'm heading to the Netherlands," I replied, offering a faint smile.
"Did you get in?!" Azusa's voice jumped in excitement.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
"I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, I have a surprise for you too..."
"What's that?"
"They rejected my application."
"Seriously?!"
"Yes, seriously!"
"Why didn't you tell me before?!"
"I wanted to surprise you too..."
"That sucks," I sighed. "What's the point of attending the school if you won't be there?"
"No, you still have to go, Chisa-chan," she insisted. "I think you'll meet people who you'll connect with there. People who are searching for themselves, people who are like you and me."
"Why do you think that?"
"The Netherlands is full of fascinating people... People who grapple with society. People who are mixed, who don't know where they belong, so they're trying to find themselves. People searching for something deeper—whether it's God's guidance or true love."
"You can find those people anywhere, even in Japan," I countered. "You and I came from Japan, after all."
"That's true," she chuckled.
"I still prefer Japan," I said. "As you've said before, most people there are okay with people like me. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Japan is my home. I don't need a sense of belonging, or a community. Since my parents abandoned me, and people in general have failed me, I'm better off sticking to myself. I can do that just fine in Japan. In a foreign country, I'd probably need help adjusting."
"Chisa-chan..." she said softly.
"But I'll go to the school and see what it's like. If I like the education system, the teachers, and the students, I'll stay. If not, I'm going back to Japan—unless you can find me a studio."
"Deal!" I could hear the smile in her voice. "I'll pick you up at Schiphol."
"No need," I replied. "I'll be there at six in the morning. You shouldn't disturb your beauty sleep."
"It's fine," she laughed. "I missed you, you know?"
"Yeah..."
When I arrived at Schiphol Airport, Azusa was there waiting for me, overjoyed to see me.
"Chisa-chan!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me in an embrace.
"It's been a while..." I said, offering a faint smile. "How have you been?"
"Mhm!" she beamed. "Now, let's get to Utrecht! I don't want you to be late on your first day of school!"
Azusa and I took the train from Schiphol to the city of Utrecht.
"How would you describe the Netherlands, Azusa?" I asked.
"Well..." She paused, thinking. "People here are blunt, forthright, and straightforward. Everyone's direct, even the immigrants."
"Heh..." I smirked. "So even the immigrants here have picked up on Dutch manners?"
"Mhm!" she nodded. "And honestly, sometimes it's good to be straightforward, unapologetically honest about your thoughts and feelings. But other times, it's better to hold back and be more considerate. You need a mix of Dutch and Japanese manners—knowing when to be open and when to be reserved."
"Interesting..."
"And I get a lot of stares here," Azusa continued. "Westerners love girls like us—biracial girls. They find us exotic, beautiful, and appealing."
"Well, I'm used to getting stares," I chuckled.
"Yeah, but the stares here are different than in Japan. Here, everyone would approach you, try to talk to you, even try to hang out. So be prepared."
"That sounds like such a pain..." I sighed.
"It really sucks that I wasn't accepted into the school," Azusa pouted. "I really wanted to go with you."
"Same..." I sighed again.
We arrived in Utrecht and walked to the Utrecht Metropolitan Self-Development School, standing in front of the gates.
"Keep me updated about your experience at the school—and with the Netherlands in general, okay?" Azusa said, a little sad that we'd soon part ways.
"I will," I replied with a faint smile. "We'll meet up on weekends and holidays. We'll have plenty of time to see each other."
"Are you trying to console me?" she teased, smiling. "That's really sweet of you."
"I'm not trying to do anything," I said, blushing and looking away.
"I wish you the best of luck, Chisa-chan!" She gave me a big smile.
Azusa and I hugged, and I watched her walk away. She turned back to wave at me, and I waved back.
It was August 27th, 2030.
I stepped through the gates of the school, suitcase in hand, and headed toward the digital board to find my class and dorm room assignment.
There I saw eight peculiar-looking girls. Each of them had either completely white or gray hair, and all of them had blue eyes.
This is the Netherlands, I guess.
What struck me as strange was that a few of them weren't even white. One girl was black, another looked Japanese, two looked Arab, and another was a mix of Japanese and black—but they all had light hair and blue eyes.
Are they wearing blue contact lenses? Did they dye their hair?
They were clearly unrelated to each other, yet they seemed very familiar with each other. Childhood friends, perhaps.
Anyway, I found my class—1-C—and my dorm room number—33.
The black girl stared at me, clearly shocked.
"Hold on a second..." she muttered.
She grabbed me by the shoulder. I turned to face her, wondering if she needed something.
"Diebe nnganyi?" she asked.
I didn't understand the language, but it definitely wasn't Dutch.
"Huh?" I responded, confused.
"If you didn't understand me, why are you wearing that scrunchie?" she asked. "Where did you get that from?"
"Someone gave it to me," I answered, feeling uneasy. What was with her fascination with the scrunchie? I knew it looked peculiar, but it wasn't a big deal.
"Are you from the Royal House of Japan?"
"Huh? No, why would I be?" I said, clicking my tongue in annoyance. "And don't touch me."
I shrugged off her grip and walked away.
"Hey! Stop right there!" she shouted, but I didn't turn back.
My first encounter at the school had already been unpleasant.
What's in store for me next?