Abroad

It was three o'clock and the American students were seated in a classroom waiting for their new teachers to come in and give them instruction. The classroom was small and only accommodated fifteen desks, a long table placed in front of a chalkboard on wheels. Duo was sitting in the center row's desk furthest from the chalkboard rocking his chair back onto two legs. Quatre was sitting in the desk in front of him slouching as much as his highbred etiquette would allow. Duo was always grateful that Quatre's economic standing never messed with his head. Quatre never looked down his nose at people and there had to be a pretty damn good reason for him not to like someone. Trowa was sitting next to Quatre, his long legs stretched out beneath the desk giving Trowa a relaxed look that could be broken at any moment. Duo had seen Trowa go from lounging to a full out run faster that you could blink. It made Trowa one of the top players on the Ultimate Frisbee team. Behind Trowa and next to Duo was Hilde. The first years were sticking together. They weren't first years in college, but because they had only taken one year of Japanese before they had come to Japan that was the name Duo had given the group in his head. They were starting to learn more about Hilde: she had a food allergy to shrimp and crab but was fine with other seafood, she liked the color yellow, but thought it looked awful against her skin, and some of her favorite bands included Incubus and Coldplay.

Precisely at three o'clock, the door to the classroom swung open. Three women of varying height walked in. The tallest one, the first woman to stride through the door and holding the most papers addressed the class.

"Good afternoon," she paused and waited to hear the greeting chorused back at her--she wasn't disappointed. "I am Shitada Sensei. This is Watanabe Sensei and Suzuki Sensei," the women both gave a small bow towards the class. "We will be administering your test shortly. Please wait here patiently until your name is called and please do not leave after you have been tested." Not checking to see if there were questions or confusion, the two women who had been quite walked out of the room and Shitada Sensei called Milliardo's name and he followed her out of the room.

"Man that was straight to the point. She did say to wait after the test right," Duo asked his classmates. The woman had spoken quickly, but the tone and lift in her voice made it easier to understand her.

The process went quickly. Most students came back into the room looking sheepish admitting they had forgotten how to say things and didn't understand some of the questions.

Fifteen minutes after everyone had finished being tested, the three Sensei walked back into the classroom. "We have decided that there will be two different classes. There is a Class 1 and Class 2," she swept the faces with her eyes to see if they were still with her. "Watanabe Sensei will call you name and tell you your class."

****

"Not bad. All us first years in C2. Tiny class though," Duo said as they walked out of the classroom. "Gonna be hard if we all wanted to skip one day."

"You would think of that," Hilde chided him.

“Yeah like you haven’t either,” Duo pouted.

Hilde only smiled at him and gave him a light slap on the arm.

"Why don't we run up and see Treize," Quatre suggested. "He said that he would be in the office today and we should stop by."

"In the office on a Sunday?" Duo looked confused.

"He said he had to get some things done today before classes start on tomorrow."

“I never heard him say that,” Duo said still very skeptical of the whole thing.

“You were in the bathroom in the airport,” Quatre was exasperated at Duo’s questioning.

“Alright. We go,” Duo said with a nod as the four Americans changed direction and walked towards the elevators.

Stepping inside the elevator Quatre, closest to the button board looked at it with furrowed eyebrows. “What floor,” Quatre asked. Trowa who was behind Quatre leaned over his shoulder and pushed the fourth floor button. “Thanks,” Quatre said smiling over his shoulder at Trowa. Trowa’s only response was to let a smile spread across his face that was equal to the smile that was dancing in his eyes. Duo and Hilde caught each other’s eyes and shared a knowing smirk.

The soft ding of the elevator doors announced their arrival to the fourth floor. Trekking down the hallway, they searched the nameplates next to the doors for Treize’s office. Four doors later they were greeted with a loud ‘come in’ after their knocks.

“Hey, Treize,” Duo said poking his head into the office. “You have a little free time,” he asked with a charming smile.

“Of course,” he said turning away from his computer. The four students came into the office and Treize motioned to the couch indicating to sit. There was room enough for three of them so Duo took up a spot next to the couch leaning against the wall.

“How is the jet-lag coming,” Treize said with a smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle.

“It’s hell and you know it,” Hilde retorted in good humor. “I’m sure you can see the bags under my eyes from across the room,” she said using her index finger to wipe under her eyes.

“You’ll get over it soon enough. I’d say give it another five days and you will be on Japan time.”

“Five days,” Hilde cried as Duo mumbled, “Well shit.”

“Well, I was trying to be optimistic, but I’ll tell you that it took me nearly two weeks to fully get over mine when I first came,” Treize said shaking his head. The Americans let out a frustrated sigh. “How did you all place on your test today,” Treize asked sitting back in his chair and crossing his legs so that his ankle rested on his knee.

“The lowest,” Duo replied. “We’re in Class 2.”

“Only Class 2? Last year we had kids that were in a Class 3. You guys must be doing something right,” he said with a smile.

“There is a Class 3,” Quatre asked.

“Well there is if there is a need for it. The make the classes depending on the skill levels of you guys, as I’m sure you found out today. They don’t even know how many classes there are going to be until they test you. I assure you they are prepared for all kinds of classes,” Treize reassured them. “I was taking to Shitada Sensei earlier today, and she was saying that…” Treize was interrupted by a knock on the office door. “Come in,” he called out. Through the door stepped Duo’s Grocery Boy.

“Shitsureshimasu,” he called out in a polite manner but with a strong voice. Treize waved him in, but Grocery Boy left the door cracked open behind him. “If you are busy I will come back later,” he said quickly in Japanese.

Treize waved him in once again. “No no, come in,” he replied in English. “I know you wanted to speak with me. And you know my rules, no Japanese in my office,” he paused, “unless you’re these guys.” He waved a hand in the direction of the American students. Grocery Boy’s eyes swept over the group of Americans and rested on Duo. Duo in return gave a small nod but Grocery Boy turned his head back to Treize.

“Of course. I wanted to talk about your recommendation for my English classes next semester,” Grocery Boy said in almost flawless English with only a small accent.

Duo couldn’t help but cringe and then roll his eyes skyward in a motion that silently said, ‘Why me?’. He caught Trowa’s curious look out of the corner of his eye and waved his hand at him in the ‘I’ll tell you later’ gesture. Hilde and Quatre seemed to have not noticed and started a conversation amongst themselves.

“What about your recommendation,” Treize asked him. “I had you recommended to move into the highest level. That will take you up to the time of the exam and then you won’t have to take anymore English classes here.”

“I know, but I cannot take this class because of the time. As I told before, I also need to take a job and this class is during the time I need to leave school to get to my work,” Grocery Boy said obviously frustrated.

“You know you need to take this test. It’s a national proficiency test and I want you practicing your English up until that time. I don’t want you to have to take this again next year. You need to be in my class studying up until the time of the exam,” Treize said with a shake of his head.

“Yes I know, dakedo--,” Grocery Boy bit out but was interrupted by Treize.

“Heero, I know you are great at English. Your skill level is very high, but you will loose it very quickly if you are not practicing. I want you in that class and I want you studying. You will have to talk to your boss and see if you can come in at a later time,” Treize said with some finality in his voice. Heero started shaking his head, but Treize didn’t let him say anything. “Heero, you need to be in this class. I’m sorry.”

Heero’s frustration was palpable, but he refrained from saying anything. “Hai, wakarimashita,” he said starting the polite way of leaving the office. “Shitsureshimasu, he said as he started to back out of the office.

“Hold on,” Duo put his hand up in a gesture for Heero to wait. “Treize, you said you wanted him keeping up with his English until the exam,” Duo gave a little shrug to show he didn’t really know what the exam was all about, “and this guy obviously really needs to keep the job.” Duo could sympathize with this guy’s situation. “If this would help, I would be willing to help him keep up on his English with an outline guidance from you Treize at a time that is more conducive for him.”

Heero was now standing in the office again looking at Duo like he had grown a second head. Meanwhile Treize crossed his arms over his chest and looked contemplative. “Hmm, an interesting idea. You obviously don’t need the credits for this class, right Heero?”

Heero looked away from Duo to answer Treize. “No I don’t.”

“Well because he would be following an outline dictated by me, I could see if I could possible work it to still get you some kind of credit through the college, but this would be just what you need Heero,” Treize said with a smile. “Alright, I will give Duo your email address today and I want both of you to work out a time that will be good for you. I will get all the necessary papers together and we will have a meeting in my office a week from today,” Treize said thumbing though his day planner, “at two o’clock. Okay?”

Duo was a little shocked at how quickly Treize had taken to the idea. “Yeah, next week at two, gotcha.”

Heero still looked a stunned but also gave his agreement to the meeting and quickly made his exit.

“Thank you for your help Duo. It was quite unexpected, but I think it will be really good for him,” Treize said with his eye crinkling smile.

“Yeah, uh, no problem,” Duo could only think to say.

“Hey Trieze! I wanna go cell phone shopping,” Hilde officially killed the subject.