“I feel you on that one.” I chase my last bite of daikon with a swig of highball. “But I’m not going to complain about it anymore. I said I was going to do my best, and I meant it. Can’t let things like Hitomu-tantrums and co-worker side-eye get me down; otherwise, I’d never be able to leave the house. Just got to keep being myself!”

“You know what?” Yoshino takes a long, thoughtful drag on her cigarette. “I’ve been thinking. That boy Hitomu has issues. Hell, his mother has issues. You should hear some of the things she says to him in Japanese! And she thought eikaiwa lessons would fix him? Please. More like she wants a couple of hours a week to have some peace and quiet.”

“Well, something is definitely going on between Hitomu and me. I just wish I knew what it was.”

“It’s not just you!” says Yoshino. “I saw him point and scream at Aoi’s Jibanyan backpack, and Aiko’s Pikachu raincoat. Geez … what’s he going to do come Halloween?”

“Explode?”

Yoshino bursts out laughing. “That’s awful! But I wouldn’t be surprised. I don’t know. Maybe he’s scared of quality anime.”

I laugh. “I’m not an anime!”

“No, no! You’re a quality teacher! I meant for that to be a compliment.”

“It was. I was kidding.” I polish off the rest of my highball.

“How was it? You want another one? Or, time for rum and Coke?”

“Hmm, let’s see …” I pick up the laminated menu. “Ooh, Fuzzy Navel. Haven’t had one of those in a minute.” My voice drops as I read the katakana one more time. It’ll be peachy, and delicious, and won’t leave a giant stain on my shirt if some punk starts a shoving war again.

“Okay.” She walks over to the bar and talks to the mama-san behind it. She returns with our drinks. Behind her, the mama-san gives me a cute wave, which I return. “Thanks a lot for coming here with me, again. I owe you big time. Sorry, I don’t know what’s taking Matt so long.”

“No worries. Thank YOU for letting me change first! Sorry I can’t stay much longer. But I won’t go anywhere until you see what’s his face and you feel comfortable enough.” I may hate this place but I’m not about to leave Yoshino here with some weirdo.

“Thank you! And remember: anything you want to drink is on me.”

“Oh, I remember. Tee hee hee.”