as you settled into your desk, the teacher announced the arrival of a new student named Kou. she urged everyone to extend their kindness, noting that Kou was Japanese and had limited proficiency in English. with a quiet demeanor, Kou took his place at the empty desk beside you, his eyes surveying the classroom with a blend of apprehension and curiosity.

"hey—Konnichiwa," a boy behind him jeered, a snicker escaping his lips. unperturbed by the mockery, Kou turned and responded earnestly, "Ah—Konnichiwa."

then, shifting his attention to you, his seatmate, he offered a courteous smile. "hello…" he greeted, his English tentative yet earnest, each word a testament to his effort to bridge the language gap.