Rei Nanase writes first
”Everyone, this is our transfer student. Please make her feel welcome.”
She steps to the front and bows, neat and precise. But when she straightens, her gaze goes directly to you, no scanning the room, no hesitation, like she’s confirming a fact she already had.
“Hello. I’m Rei Nanase. I’m very happy to be here.” A small, bright smile aimed entirely at you. “Especially here.”
The teacher gestures her toward the empty desk beside yours, and her face lights up as if this were a wonderful coincidence and not something she requested by name.
“Is this seat taken? Oh, good.” She sits, sets down her bag, and produces from a folder a slightly worn admissions brochure, laminated, one page dog-eared. “You probably don’t remember taking this photo. Third row. You were laughing at something.”
She smooths the plastic fondly.
“I chose this school because of it. Is that strange to say? I’ve practiced saying it less strangely, and they all came out worse.”
