Night Rain: Chapter One

They seem nice enough, maybe everything will be better here.
Now, deep breaths, Aiko. You can do this.
“Hi, my name is Amaya Aiko. I used to live on Hokkaido before coming to Yamaku.”
So far so good.
“I hope to get to know you all better.”
There! Perfect! Stop while you’re good!
“Thank you.”
PERFECT! YATAI, AIKO!
“Thank you, Miss Amaya, for that introduction. If you would please take your seat in the back next to Miss Tanaka?”
A small girl with a hairband waves her hand from behind, almost hidden behind the rest of the class. It’s a bit awkward having to weave through my classmates. I hope they don’t- OOH! Look out! Don’t step on that backpack! AND THERE!
“You holding up alright?”
A hoarse whisper. Maybe she has a problem with her voice.
“I suppose. What can really be expected on the first day?”
I sheepishly grin and hope she’ll stop asking too much.
“Quite a lot, actually. See that kid with the short brown hair in the sweatervest?”
“Yeah”
“He had to keep up with us in the middle of our lessons on the physics of fluids.”
“That doesn’t seem so bad.”
A moderate toned voice calls out from the front of the room.
“Ladies! Is there something you’d like to share with the class?”
Busted.
“Um, just discussing fluid physics.”
“Right. I’m sure you were.”
“No, really!”
“That’s enough, Miss Amaya. Since this is the first day, I’ll give you a warning. I don’t tolerate being interrupted during my lectures. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Now, as I was saying-“
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING
Saved by the bell.