The Japanese Tutor (PART I-II) [ONGOING]

I: Ayako Yamaguchi's Beginning

June 1892.

It was a time of imperial political dilemma and fast-paced development in the 1890s. During this time, women were into finding romance and hopes of marrying men with titles. Fortunately, in this world of stereotypes, Ms. Ayako Yamaguchi wasn't into that. Living in a country where modernization grew in spiking rates, finding an ideal man for her was very vague as a diplomat's smart daughter.

As her father became busier in national affairs, he handed over the torch to his intelligent daughter. Aya swore to continue analyzing the West for the Far East's prosperity, regardless of her sex's conservative ideals. This led her to where she was now - at the Port of Tokyo, who was about to board a British passenger ship.

Going to the passenger ship as a first-class passenger, funded by the imperial government, she had to wear something luxurious. She wore a red and black Victorian dress with white gloves. Her hair was well done - it was a bun hairstyle tied with braids not touching her nape but not on the crown. She carried her suitcases by herself until two butlers from her family came to assist her. As the butlers made their way to the ship, Aya heard rushing footsteps behind her.

"Aya-sensei!"

"Aya!"

The woman looked behind to see who called her, and to her surprise, they were from the people she beloved. In front of her were her mother, her mother's best friend, her mentor, and her only son. When Aya faced them, her mentor's son ran to embrace her. Tears flew from his brown eyes as he bid farewell to the person he looked up to.

"Aya-sensei, please don't leave!" Yuuto pleaded, "you need to stay for my birthday."

Aya laughed in response. "I'm sorry, Yuuto. This is the only time that the ship from Britain will come. I need to go up there before they leave the port."

Yuuto let go of her and wiped his own tears. Then, she assured him, "don't worry. I will give you a lot of souvenirs when I come back. I can even mail them if I have free time."

"Aya, your father doesn't come with us today," her mother, Hana, told her daughter, "he has an urgent talk with (Koshaku) Prince Saichi Kujo, but he wished you good luck."

Her mother chuckled.

"Ah yes, Hana-san. It's unavoidable for them not to talk regardless of their titles in the House of Peers," Aya's mentor commented. Tsuki Yamaguchi and Saichi Kujo were best friends since their first diplomatic mission to Britain.

Then she spoke to her student, "Aya, during your journey and your stay in Britain, remember what I taught you, okay?"

Aya nodded. "Yes, Yui-sensei."

Hana came closer to peck her daughter's cheek. "Stay safe out there. Perhaps you might have a handsome man with you when you come back," she joked.

Aya sighed. How dare her mother speak to her like that as if she would get one. "Mom, do you think that I'll have a handsome man? I rejected a lot of men here so that it will apply to British men too."