The Story of Us

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Hanako and I were standing in line to get ourselves some lunch.

She had showed me around campus in the morning, telling me where my classes would take place and where the library was among other things.

Now we were present in one of the many gakushoku* scattered around the big campus. The one we were currently in was one where most foreign students came to eat according to Hanako. So she thought it nice to show me this one.

There were many students here already, both foreign and Japanese ones. All going back and forth between the many tables.

"I hope we'll find a seat." I said.

She nodded, "Hai, but normally we should. There are still some empty seats on the other side of this room."

It was our turn to be served, I ordered some miso- soup and gyũdon or cooked beef on rice. Hanako seemed to have a good dish as well. I planned to ask her about it later on, but first we'd have to find a place to sit.

Following my Japanese buddy, I let my eyes travel around the room. My ears caught many different languages mixed with Japanese and for a moment it felt a little unreal that I was actually here.

In Japan.

We found some empty seats near a big window, that gave us a nice view of the campus.I snapped my hashi* apart from each other and placed them in my right hand, waiting for Hanako to say the well- known Japanese expression before eating.

But she was just staring at me and smiled.

Oh right! Since I was her 'guest' so to speak, it was up to me to say it.

I smiled, "Itadakimasu*!"

We started eating and during the meal I asked, "Hanako- san, have you ever been to London?"

She nodded, "Hm, I was there last summer."

"Were you there long?"

She shook her head, "Iee, only for three weeks. To follow English classes."

I nodded, "I see. Did you like it there?"

"Hai, very much. I really liked the Big Ben and..." but before she could finish her sentence, her cellphone vibrated.

She looked at me, smiling apologetically, "Sumimasen, I have to answer this."

I nodded, "No problem. Please, take your time."

Hanako's fingers quickly moved over the screen of her phone, clearly texting the other person back. Then she put it down on the table and asked, "Would it be okay if two of my tomodachi* joined us?"

I felt a little bit nervous at meeting two new people again, but shook my head, "No, not at all."

We ate in silence for a few minutes, before I looked at her dish and remembered I wanted to ask her about that.

"Hanako- san, sore wa nan desu ka?*" I asked.

She looked at her meal and said, "Oh, this is karē-raisu."

"Curry and rice? Is it good?"

She nodded, "Hai, it's very good."

Then she seemed to notice someone behind me and she signed at that person to come to us.

Here we go, I thought, new people. Just stay calm.

From the corner of my eye, I could see that two people had arrived next to our table. Hanako greeted them and I turned my head to say something to them aswell.