Sure, there were other boys to declare their undying devotion to me...there was Takeshi, the sensitive soul who is the 'in sickness and in health' kinda guy. Then there was the pervert, Shunsuke, always wanting to know 'what colour under hair?' I have (yes, a real charmer). I did have a soft spot for the dreamer, Kohei, waiting patiently on the sidelines for an opportunity to win me over...and lastly there was Hayate, who always came to my rescue in times of need, wanting to be my knight in shining armour.
All these boys had their own unique brand of seduction technique, but none of them compared to Yuji. None could beat the dogged (and humorous) persistence he threw into the task of wooing me over the last two years. And so I dedicate this post to Yuji: The Boy, The Baseball Player, The No.1 Comedian...
9th November 2010
Dear Diary,
Apparently I have 'small milky breasts'. How do I know this, you ask? Well today, one of my 2nd year students, Yuji Kikuchi, was kind enough to tell me. Yuji is on the baseball team and very cheeky. I found it hard to be mad at him when he grinned at me so innocently, he was using English, and let's face it...his observation is correct.
He seemed to derive great enjoyment from my shocked reaction, so I doubt this is the last I'll be hearing from Yuji...
The now very self conscious,
Carla
Dear Diary,
Apart from repeatedly telling me I have 'small milky breasts' over the last several months, Yuji has been rather quiet...until today. Clearly he realised (finally) that he needed new material to get my attention. This was actually kind of sweet...
Yuji's new muse,
Carla
Dear Diary,
Well, Yuji staged his comeback against Hayate in class today. Clearly he has realised his 'treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen' tactics are not working on me, so now he is trying his hand at the sweet approach. His statement today:
'I have been in love with Ms.Carla forever' The cheeky grin was an added bonus thrown in for free...
The object of unrequited love,
Carla
Yours in mortifying embarrassment,
Carla
Dear Diary,
Today Yuji ramped up his efforts to win me over with his creative writing in class...
Yours with a slightly swollen ego,
Carla
Dear Diary,
It came to my attention today that Yuji's hair has become quite tall of late. Since club activity came to an end for the 3rd year students four months ago, Yuji has abandoned his baseball team buzz cut in favour of this new gravity defying monstrosity. I questioned him about his new style today:
I will never understand the fashion trends of teenagers in Japan. Clearly Yuji is preparing himself to be one of the cool kids in high school. Quite why you need 'chicken hair' to achieve this, I'm not entirely sure.
Yours in Japanese fashion confusion,
Carla
Dear Diary,
He seemed to derive great enjoyment from my shocked reaction, so I doubt this is the last I'll be hearing from Yuji...
The now very self conscious,
Carla
28th June 2011
Dear Diary,
Apart from repeatedly telling me I have 'small milky breasts' over the last several months, Yuji has been rather quiet...until today. Clearly he realised (finally) that he needed new material to get my attention. This was actually kind of sweet...
Yuji's new muse,
Carla
9th September 2011
Dear Diary,
Yuji was completely upstaged by the sweet words of Hayate today...
Yuji: 'Ms.Carla, small milky breasts'
Me: 'Yes Yuji, so you keep telling me'
Hayate: 'Small breast, but beautiful face'
Bless Hayate, he made my day. But I dread to think how Yuji might retaliate to this blatant act of war.
Yours in fear,
Carla
Yuji was completely upstaged by the sweet words of Hayate today...
Yuji: 'Ms.Carla, small milky breasts'
Me: 'Yes Yuji, so you keep telling me'
Hayate: 'Small breast, but beautiful face'
Bless Hayate, he made my day. But I dread to think how Yuji might retaliate to this blatant act of war.
Yours in fear,
Carla
14th September 2011
Dear Diary,
Well, Yuji staged his comeback against Hayate in class today. Clearly he has realised his 'treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen' tactics are not working on me, so now he is trying his hand at the sweet approach. His statement today:
'I have been in love with Ms.Carla forever' The cheeky grin was an added bonus thrown in for free...
The object of unrequited love,
Carla
5th October 2011
Dear Diary,
Today Yuji decided to go public with his love for me, and dragged me into the declaration too. His neighbour was away so I got to fill in for dialogue creation...Yuji's grin as I walked toward his desk told me I was in for a treat. This was our dialogue...above the pink line is what we came up with together...under is what he added when I wasn't looking...
Then Yuji volunteered us to perform our dialogue in front of the class! The more the students (and O Sensei) laughed, the wider Yuji's grin became...and the redder my face became. Yuji was very pleased that he managed to squeeze the words 'I love you' out of me, especially in front of such an appreciative audience.
Today Yuji decided to go public with his love for me, and dragged me into the declaration too. His neighbour was away so I got to fill in for dialogue creation...Yuji's grin as I walked toward his desk told me I was in for a treat. This was our dialogue...above the pink line is what we came up with together...under is what he added when I wasn't looking...
Then Yuji volunteered us to perform our dialogue in front of the class! The more the students (and O Sensei) laughed, the wider Yuji's grin became...and the redder my face became. Yuji was very pleased that he managed to squeeze the words 'I love you' out of me, especially in front of such an appreciative audience.
Yours in mortifying embarrassment,
Carla
21st November 2011
Dear Diary,
Today Yuji ramped up his efforts to win me over with his creative writing in class...
Yours with a slightly swollen ego,
Carla
30th November 2011
Dear Diary,
It came to my attention today that Yuji's hair has become quite tall of late. Since club activity came to an end for the 3rd year students four months ago, Yuji has abandoned his baseball team buzz cut in favour of this new gravity defying monstrosity. I questioned him about his new style today:
Me: Yuji, you have a new haircut?
Yuji: Yes, you like?
Me: Umm, it's interesting. It's very...tall...
Yuji (excitedly): Yes, yes! Chicken hair!
Me: Chicken hair?
Yuji: Yes, look chicken.
Me: You look like a chicken? Why do you want to look like a chicken?!
Yuji: Chicken hair cool!!!
Me: Okaaaay...
I will never understand the fashion trends of teenagers in Japan. Clearly Yuji is preparing himself to be one of the cool kids in high school. Quite why you need 'chicken hair' to achieve this, I'm not entirely sure.
Yours in Japanese fashion confusion,
Carla
14th December 2011
Dear Diary,
Yuji got hold of a speaking electronic dictionary in class today...and he found the 'dating' vocab section. Intermittently throughout class I had a polite American woman say to me:
'You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.'
'I'm crazy for you.'
'You're the one for me.'
'I love you.'
'Can we talk?'
'Will you marry me?'
How does this kid not have a girlfriend?! Oh that's right, because apparently I am his girlfriend...lucky me.
The still giggling,
Carla
'You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.'
'I'm crazy for you.'
'You're the one for me.'
'I love you.'
'Can we talk?'
'Will you marry me?'
How does this kid not have a girlfriend?! Oh that's right, because apparently I am his girlfriend...lucky me.
The still giggling,
Carla
16th December 2011
Dear Diary,
Today I had lunch with Yuji (and the polite American woman):
'Can we talk? I have something to tell you...'
'It was love at first sight.'
'I can't live without you.'
'Stop playing hard to get!'
The apparently 'playing hard to get',
Carla
Today I had lunch with Yuji (and the polite American woman):
'Can we talk? I have something to tell you...'
'It was love at first sight.'
'I can't live without you.'
'Stop playing hard to get!'
The apparently 'playing hard to get',
Carla
11th January 2011
Dear Diary,
Yuji's hair has reached staggering new heights (literally):
Yuji: No, no, no, no. No chicken hair!
Me: It looks like chicken hair. What is it now?
Yuji: (motioning a wave washing over his head)
Me: Wave hair?!
Yuji: Yes, yes, YES!!!
Me: Ok. Why wave hair?
Yuji: Because it's coooooooool!
Whatever you say Yuji, whatever you say...
Despairing over Yuji's wave hair,
Carla
18th January 2012
Dear Diary,
3rd year graduation looms near. In two months my time with Yuji will end. He has become aware of the fact:
Do you think this counts as my first official marriage proposal?! Mum will be so pleased, I'm sure.
The blushing bride to be (ha),
Carla
19th January 2012
Dear Diary,
This was the extent of my interaction with Yuji today:
This morning...
Me: Good morning Yuji.
Yuji: I love you.
Me: I know.
Later...
Me: Hello Yuji.
Yuji: I love you.
Me: I know.
Warm up activity in class...
Me: What kind of girls are you interested in?
Yuji: Only Ms.Carla. Just Ms.Carla.
During class...
Yuji: I love you.
Me: I know.
Yuji: Do you love me?
Me: No.
Yuji: Yes!
Me: No.
Yuji: Yes!
Me: No.
Yuji: Yes you can!!!
This afternoon...
Me: Bye Yuji.
Yuji: I love you.
Me: I know.
It now feels like we have this skit well rehearsed...
Yuji's personal heart-breaker,
Carla
Warm up activity in class...
Me: What kind of girls are you interested in?
Yuji: Only Ms.Carla. Just Ms.Carla.
During class...
Yuji: I love you.
Me: I know.
Yuji: Do you love me?
Me: No.
Yuji: Yes!
Me: No.
Yuji: Yes!
Me: No.
Yuji: Yes you can!!!
This afternoon...
Me: Bye Yuji.
Yuji: I love you.
Me: I know.
It now feels like we have this skit well rehearsed...
Yuji's personal heart-breaker,
Carla
2nd February 2012
Dear Diary,
Yuji caught me with a surprise declaration-of-love-attack today:
Yuji: Standing outside the 3-4 classroom while I eat lunch. Knocks on the door for my attention.
Me: Look up to see Yuji grinning at me.
Yuji: Yells through the door (so the entire 3-4 class can hear), I LOVE YOU!!!
Me: I know Yuji!
Yuji: Blows kisses and runs away.
The amazed,
Carla
3rd February 2012
Dear Diary,
Today Yuji put in his order for Valentine's Day...
Yuji: Hi Ms.Carla!
Me: Hi Yuji!
Yuji (thinking and gesturing madly): You...me...Ms.Carla make chocolate...me...
Me: You want me to make you chocolates? For Valentine's Day?
Yuji (grinning): Yes!!! Ok?
Me: No, sorry Yuji.
Yuji: Yes. Ok?
Me: No.
Yuji: Yes. Ok!!!Killer of Yuji's hopes and dreams,
Carla
8th February 2012
Dear Diary,
Today's conversation with Yuji on the soccer field at lunch:
Today's conversation with Yuji on the soccer field at lunch:
Me: Yuji, I hear you broke Tomoya's arm playing soccer?
Yuji: Yes.
Me (knowing it was an accident): Why?!
Yuji (grinning): Because I'm No.1 Best Soccer Player!!! Please give chocolate.
9th February 2012
Dear Diary,
Yuji continues to be persistent about this Valentine's business...
Yuji: Give me chocolate.
Me: No Yuji...your girlfriend will give you chocolate for Valentines Day.
Yuji: No, no! Ms.Carla my girlfriend!
The Valentine's Grinch,
Carla
15th February 2012
Dear Diary,
Well, what do you know...Yuji got a Valentine's surprise yesterday...
Me: Did you get chocolates yesterday?
Yuji: No, no, no, no, no! BUT I got card!
Me: Really? Who from?
Yuji: Ms.Carla!
Me: Nooooo, I don't think so...
Yuji: Yes! I'm happy! I cry! (grinning)
Giver of false hope,
Carla
20th February 2012
Dear Diary,
The insatiable Yuji was at it again today:
Yuji: I love you!
Me: I know. But you are trouble.
Yuji: Trouble どう言ういみ?(What does 'trouble' mean?)
Me: (chuckling) めんどくさい (Mendokusai/troublesome)
Yuji: (grinning) I'm trouble! Do you love trouble?!
Attractor of trouble,
Carla
22nd February 2012
Dear Diary,
Today I did 'Crazy Sentences' with the 3rd year students. This is the gem Yuji and his group came up with...Yuji wrote the first sentence and then his loving classmates (knowing about his infatuation with me), kindly carried on the story for him...
A truly inspired piece of English literature...the legend of Yuji's love for me will be remembered by these kids forever.
The one who apparently doesn't like Yuji,
Carla
29th February 2012
Dear Diary,
Today was my last lesson with Yuji before he graduates. To mark the occasion, he wrote and said a speech for me:
After Yuji gave his speech he said he was sad...while grinning. I cried. Only eight more school days until he leaves my life...what will I do?!
Dreading the inevitable,
Carla
2nd March 2012
Dear Diary,
Today was my last lunch with 3-5 before graduation and fate ensured I had a seat opposite Yuji and his best mates Shu and Kenji for the occasion. We were all then treated to Yuji monologing for the duration of lunch...
I might actually miss Yuji's 'perfect face' when he isn't around any more.
Second to Yuji's other girlfriend, Eddy Murphy,
Carla
12th March 2012
Dear Diary,
Today Yuji graduated from Omiya Junior High School. I cried. Yuji did not. In fact, since he shaved off his eye brows last week and his obsession with his 'wave hair' reaches epic proportions, he seems to have lost all interest in winning me over. He is all grown up and moving on. After today I won't have Yuji's daily professions of love to amuse me in the hallways at school, but something tells me this isn't the last time I'll be seeing Yuji...
The now very sad and Yuji-less,
Carla
This is amazingly hilarious! And I can't believe it turns out that he actually lives around the block from you... heh heh!
ReplyDeleteI think the October 5th entry is my favorite... where he finished your conversation when you weren't looking and you had to play out the skit... I think I, too... will miss Yuji!