Chapter 1: Life Outside of Japan

Seven Years Later...

Lilith Scott looked out her window from the airplane she is traveling in. Five hours ago, she used to live in Kamakura, Japan this morning. But now in eight hours, she'll be arriving in Brooklyn, New York. Lilith closed her eyes for the rest of the way. Recently, her parents divorced and her Dad won custody of her. Ultimately, Dad thought it would be best if she lives in America with him. That ultimately punched Lilith in the guts. She doesn't want to leave the place where she was born; her home, her school or her friends. She doesn't even know what America is like; one thing for sure, it won't be like Japan. Ichikawa Yoshimune, one Lilith's friends, told her, from all of the American TV shows he'd seen, that American teenagers are a bunch of party animals, who has a habit of disobeying the law and wears flashy clothes. Kinoshita Nene, another one of Lilith's friends, smacked Yoshimune upside the head. Fortunately, her father gave her more accurate information about America for he is an American himself. It put Lilith at ease just a little bit, but she's still not too thrilled about the move. They were planning on leaving by summer break in Japan; her father had already made arrangements for her to transfer schools to an American one. The day before when Lilith and her father depart, Lilith said her goodbyes to her mother and all of her good friends including her best friend, Takashima Sayomi.

"You'll video chat me at every chance you get, right?" Sayomi sobbingly asked.

"Of course I will," Lilith promised.

"We're gonna miss you, Lilith-chan," Nene weeped as she gave her a tight squeeze.

"Me too, Nene-chan," Lilith responded, hugging back Nene.

"Take care, Lilith," said Yoshimune, ruffling Lilith's hair, "And if any guy try to do things you're uncomfortable, just kick him in the crotch."

"Thanks, Yoshimune," acknowledged Lilith, rolling her eyes but smiling. Finally, it was her mother's turn. Lilith hugged her mother extremely tightly as she did her best to keep in the tears.

"Bye, Mom," breathed Lilith, as a tear trickled down her cheek, "I'm going to miss you."

"I know," her mother replied, pulling away and wiped away the tear from her daughter's face, "As will I. Never forget where you came from and never forget that no matter where you go, where you live or how far away you will be, we'll always be with you."

"I won't," promised Lilith, smiling as more tears were shed.

"Lilith, wake up!" Lilith aroused and drowsily opened her eyes at the sound of her father's voice.

"We're here," he said, pointing out the window.

She turned her head and found that he's right. They have finally arrived at their destination. Once the airplane has landed, Lilith and her father grabbed their luggage and exited out of the airport where her father called for a cab. During a ride in a taxi cab, Lilith stared throughout the window watching the scenery pass by her. Although it's not Japan, she does notice some similarities in New York. There are a lot of people crowding around on the sidewalks, really tall buildings with flashing lights and subway stations. As they traveled, Lilith noticed that they were leaving the city for the each different buildings were getting smaller and smaller.

Outside of the city, they've reached their new house. She got out of the car...but then frowns. It was a small two-story house, with a faded pink coloring. It doesn't have a yard and only has one drive-way. Well, looks isn't everything, Lilith thought, shrugging it off, maybe the inside will be better. With that thought, Lilith makes her way inside. Unfortunately, the inside wasn't any better. It was dim in light, colorless with terribly faded white walls and completely dusty. Do I really even want to see what my bedroom looks like? She dreadfully wondered and staggered up the stairs. As it turned out, she was right; her bedroom wasn't any better either. It was also as dim and dull as downstairs with equally terribly faded white wall. Her father came upstairs to where Lilith is.

"So, what do you think of your new room?" Her father asked.

Lilith bit her bottom lip and briefly stroked the back of her head. "It's okay...," Lilith struggled, "I mean it's not exactly good but it's not bad."

"Lilith I know it's not as good as your old room back in Japan," said her father, "But once we bring in the furniture, give it a paint job and put up some decorations then it won't be so bad." Lilith perked up a little.

"You know what... you're right," she said, smiling.

"Now c'mon, let's go bring in our stuff ," her father said. Lilith followed her father out of her room.

During the last two weeks before school started, the family duo were making themselves at home in their new house. First thing they've done is clean the house of all its dust and cobwebs. Second thing is repainting the walls in each room except for Lilith's for she gets to choose the color. Lilith painted her room pale pink. As soon as the paint dried up, They've placed all of their furniture in every room, and Lilith placed her decorations in her room including on her furniture. It was exhausting but it was all worth it. Lilith had received her new class schedule through the mail; in all honesty, she was rather nervous about it. Lilith lies on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. I wonder what it's like to be in an American high school? She wondered. Is it anything like the ones in Japan? She closed her eyes, rolled over and squeezed onto her pink stuffed bunny. Tomorrow is going to be a good day and an interesting experience.

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As soon as the alarm on her phone went off, Lilith turned it off and hopped out of bed. She ate her breakfast with fried eggs and ham on toast and rushed upstairs to wash her face and brush her teeth. She brushed her long dark hair and placed a plum headband on top. She put on her best uniform she had worn at the school back in Japan. Long navy blue skirt with white button up dress shirt, matching navy blue blazer, white thigh high socks, a pair of black Mary Janes, and (for the cherry topper) a bright red necktie. She looked exactly how she is back in Japan: organized and ready for success. She grabbed her school bag and head downstairs where she finds her father in his work clothes.

"Have a good day at school, Sweetie," said her father, giving her a hug.

"Thanks, Dad," said Lilith, giving him a genuine smile, "Well, see you later." And away she went.

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Brooklyn High School; so this is what an American high school look like. Lilith reached into her school bag and pulled out her class schedule. Alright, my first period as well as my homeroom is American History with a teacher named J. Owen, she thought smiling to herself, Alright, off I go then. She entered inside the school and started making her way to class. The school was pretty crowded in there, but something else stood out to her. Everyone wasn't wearing any sort of school uniforms, leaving Lilith sticking out like a sore thumb. Everyone seemed to noticed and gave a what appears to be a rather disapproving look on her clothes. Well, there was nothing Lilith could do about it; all she can do is continue on her way to class. It took Lilith a while to find her classroom (she had to ask a couple of teachers to help her find the way) until finally she found it. But when she entered the room she was greeted with not so welcoming faces.

"What is she wearing?"

"Does she realize what school this is?"

"Why does she look so preppy?"

Lilith licked her lips in apprehension and ignored their gawking sights and looked onto the desk for what seemed to be a seating chart. She noticed her name is on the second row from the front of the class. She walked over to her assigned seat where she sits and waits for class to begin, still ignoring the other students stare. A bell rang and everyone took their seats. A young woman walked in wearing a black pencil skirt with a teal blouse, a white cardigan and a pair of black pumps. She had her strawberry blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail. She write down her name on the dry erase board with a marker. Then the morning announcements had happened. First they were greeted by the sound of the principle's voice and what will be happening this year. Then there came the Pledge of Allegiance. All of the students except Lilith stood up and had their right hand over their heart; Lilith followed and did the same. Then they started chanting the words which Lilith had to just mouthed for she had no idea what those words are. She heard some snickering as she was doing so. When that was over, everyone took their seats and remained quiet for a moment. After the moment of silence was over, the morning announcement ended with wishing them a good day. Once that was over, the teacher stood up and face her students.

"Good morning, class. I'm Ms. Owen and I will be your teacher for this school year. Now Everyone, before we get started, I'd like to introduce our new student," Ms. Owen announced, "Lilith Scott, She came from Kamakura, Japan. I expect you all to make her feel welcome. Lilith, would you mind coming up here, please?"

As soon as she heard her name, Lilith stood up and walked up to the front of the class. As she was doing so, she can hear students sneering and whispering about her clothes. When she finally got there and faced her new classmates where she was met with faces of indifference and mockery. She can feel an uncomfortable senses crawling in her skin. Ms. Owen cleared her throat.

"Now, Lilith, say hello to your new classmates," Ms. Owen compelled.

"Hello, it's very nice to meet you," Lilith introduced herself, giving everyone her most genuine smile, bowing. Her smile suddenly faltered when she heard some snickering.

"What is she doing?" Someone whispered while sneering.

"It's wonderful to have you here," said Ms. Owen, giving a pleasant smile. "Why don't you tell us about Kamakura. It must be so nice growing up in Japan."

"Oh, yes," Lilith acknowledged, standing back up without losing her smile. "Kamakura is a seaside town. My family and I would often go to the beach every summer break and back at Kamakura, there's a whole lot of shrines and temples."

"How nice," commented Ms. Owen, "Does it feel a little odd to start off in a new school in the middle of this school year? If I'm correct, in Japan the school year usually start in the spring."

"Actually that's correct," Lilith acknowledged, "I find your school system rather unusual but I'm sure I'll adjust just fine."

"Well, I'm sure you're going to like it here," said Ms. Owen, "Now, let's begin class. Allow me to tell me about myself and how this class will go."

Lilith walked back over to her seat and while on the way, she glanced up and noticed that a couple of girls were smiling at her in a malicious manner. She took her seat and pretended to not mind those girls. It was just one little mishap, Lilith reassured herself, how bad can it possibly be?

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Unfortunately, the rest of the day didn't get any better. As soon as first period was over, the entire class started piling out. Lilith was confused at first, until Ms. Owen explained that in America the students change classes instead of the teachers (Which Lilith finds it doesn't make sense). After every time she changed classes, Lilith begins to feel entirely uncomfortable especially being in different classrooms with different complete strangers. Each time, Lilith had to change classroom, she felt all the things she's learned were slipping away from her mind as she hurried to her next class. At the cafeteria, when Lilith tried to find a seat she was either coldly ask to leave or someone would place their bags on their seat to make sure she doesn't sit with them. Eventually, she finds a completely empty table where she ate her lunch all alone.

The bus ride wasn't great either. It was overly crowded with all of the yelling, people trying to talk over one another. Lilith barely found a spot and has to listen all of this garbage and she could've sworn someone threw a wad of paper at her head, which she just simply ignored it. Finally, after what it felt like being inside an airplane when she was moving, she got off the bus at her stop and walked the rest of her way home. When she got home and went inside she found her father in the living room.

"Hi, Lilith," her father greeted, "How was school?"

Lilith hesitated; although she hated the new school, she doesn't want to disappoint her father nor worry him.

"It was different, but interesting," Lilith lied. "I'm going to go upstairs and get homework done."

"Okay," her father said.

Lilith hurried upstairs to her room and closed the door behind her. She stood there with her back pressed against the door, staring at the ground moodily into space. Subconsciously, she glided over to her bed and buried her face onto her pillow. Then she slowly rise up and kept her head down, her hands clenched onto her bedsheets as her knuckles turned white. She hates this. She hated here. She hates her new home, she hates her new school, she hates everything. She pounded her fist on her bed and buried her face into her pillow, sobbing silently. This is absolutely nothing like Japan.