Yuta nods. His mother answers for him, anyway. “Yes! Yuta has been practising. We have stickers — toy stickers — in bathroom! On the wall! So … we have been practising. Ah, together — at bath time!”

“That’s awesome! Way to go!” I deliver the high-fives and help usher the students out. Toshiro’s mother also practises a bit of English on me: “Now, your home … you have snow?”

“No, we still don’t have any snow yet. In Canada, it’s fall — just like Japan.” She looks relieved.

Around the corner from the classroom, the lobby is packed with students. Most of the parents get the play-by-play from teachers about their lessons. Some kids have just arrived and are fighting for puzzles and toys. Sotaro is in the middle of a melee over a Winnie-the-Pooh plushie. His mother and Manager watch with serene smiles as Sotaro decks two kids in the face at the same time. They both drop the stuffed toy, screaming. Sotaro takes his prize under the darkest corner of the desk to play alone.

“Ah, Cybelle-sensei,” Manager greets me. “Twelve o’clock, right on time. Sotaro is your trial lesson. Only ten minutes. Sotaro … is here!” He points under the desk. Great.

“Great!” I say out loud. “Room Three is all ready for him.”

“Okay!” Manager claps his hands together. “Sotaro, time for lesson! Time to put down Pooh-san! Cybelle-sensei is exciting for your lesson! Are you exciting?”

From the darkness, Sotaro lets out a shriek and throws Winnie-the-Pooh at Manager.

“Cybelle-sensei, maybe let’s tell Sotaro it’s time — time to enjoy English! Let’s say, ‘Come, Sotaro! Let’s enjoy English! Let’s enjoy English! Let’s enjoy English!’”

Behind me, Yoshino stifles a snicker. “Yes, Sotaro-kun. Let’s enjoy English!” She manages to grab Sotaro’s hand and get him into the room. Yoshino is a lifesaver. She knows darn well Zozo doesn’t pay me enough money in the world to jump up and down singing slogans and pretend English is the best thing since sliced sushi. I grimace at the giant clown mascot on the wall, then turn to Sotaro’s mother and try to assuage her guilt with an enthusiastic smile and bow before I follow Yoshino to Room Three. The mother smiles and bows back; I can tell she is embarrassed. I must put my best foot forward for her sake. For the company’s sake. For my sake. I close the door behind me, smiling at Sotaro. I must be professional … must be professional …

“Hello, Sotaro? How are you today?”

Sotaro sticks his tongue out at me. I look him dead in the eye, waiting for a response. After a few seconds, he tucks his tongue back in and looks down at his hands. He sniffs. “I’m fine, thank you, and you?” he says soberly.

“I’m fine, thank you!” I sing. “Now, Sotaro, do you know who this is?” I take out my Yo-kai Watch puppet.