My Voice - Tsukishima Kei

7-You're Safe

(Tw* this chapter contains ugly nasty boys and assault

In the months I've been at Karasuno- or rather the time I've spent in Japan as a whole- I didn't face any extreme racism or bullying.

I've heard stories and watched YouTube videos about Black people's experiences in Japan, and it seemed like it was mixed reviews. Some got treated well, others not so great. For the most part, a main theme I've collected from all the videos and blogs I've seen is staring.

Which, I've gotten plenty of since I came here. I've heard small phrases like "Oh, the black girl is here" or "it's the black girl!" But I wouldn't put that in the racism category.

So, up until now, my experience has been pretty good in Japan.

But today I'm starting to think it's just because I didn't know the language all too well back then.

"She's so dark, do you think she puts mud on herself everyday to get like that?" I hear someone snicker.

School has already ended, but I decided to stay in the classroom for a little bit to study otherwise I'd just be in my room and I'm tired of that.

What a mistake I've made.

For the past almost 10 minutes, a couple boys who had walked in the classroom and sat in seats at the front have been making comments about me and laughing.

I was hoping they'd leave by now, but they haven't.

"Eh? You think so? Maybe it's sharpie marker." Another of them says, making them all let out an obnoxious laugh.

I wish I was still shitty at Japanese.

"How can she be seen as attractive? Is that what they like in America? She's so...fat compared to Japanese girls. Why'd she even come here? I bet even her tits and ass are fake!"

"Hah! I heard almost all Americans get plastic surgery like that."

"Hey...should we check just to make sure?"

I tense up hearing that, and begin to calmly put my stuff away.

I'm scared. Holy shit- I'm actually scared right now.

I can't make it look like I'm in a hurry, because they'll know I understood them and probably rush at me. I try to keep calm as I stand up and put my backpack on.

I don't look at the boys as I head for the exit. Just before I get there, one of them slips past me and blocks the doorway.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Idiot, she doesn't even know what you're saying." A guy from behind us laughs.

"Excuse me." I mumble quietly, trying to move past him.

My hands are grabbed from behind me and held behind my back. I hiss in pain, my school bag sliding off my shoulder, the weight of it only holding down my hands even more.

The first guy roughly grabs my face, a nasty grin coming over his lips as he looks at me.

I'm really getting manhandled by guys who are like 2 inches shorter than me. This is embarrassing.

"Now, let's see..." Guy #1 hums.

He pushes my jaw up, and I whimper slightly at the pain.

"Please sto-"

My words get cut off when I feel this guys lips on my neck.

I think I'm going to throw up. I feel his tongue on my skin and I gag.