On my desk at work is a nendoroid figurine of Ritsu, which I got on the cheap in Kobe. For the most part, it just sits there, attracting little notice. But sometimes I get moments like the other day, at lunch recess, when I noticed two second-year middle schoolers sneaking around my desk and whispering:
Girl 1: Ask him if he likes Ricchan!
Girl 2: Ricchan? Who’s Ricchan?
Girl 1: Never mind that, just ask him!
Girl 2: Okay…. Uh, are you sure? He looks really preoccupied! (I was peeling the pith from an orange.)
Girl 1: Go! Ask! (She hides behind the shelf. Good going, kiddo.)
Girl 2: Okay, okay! Sensei, do you like Ricchan?
Me (still peeling): Of course.
Girl 2: (She calls over to her friend.) He said “of course”!
Girl 1: Okay, now ask him if he likes Tsumugi-chan.
Girl 2: Huh? Mugi-choco? (chocolate biscuits)
Girl 1: No, Tsu-Mu-Gi!
Girl 2: Why? What does that have to do with anything? (Oh, you poor dear. You’re like the Kagami to her Konata.)
Girl 1: Okay, okay, just ask him if he likes K-ON! Hurry! (She hides again.)
Girl 2: Um, sensei, do you like K-ON?
Me: Yup, I do. It’s fun.
Girl 2: What’s K-ON?
Girl 1: Look, on his desk, there’s that anime figurine!
Girl 2: Huh? (She looks.) You’re right!
Me (putting the orange down and looking at them): I understand everything you’re saying, you know.
Girl 2: That figurine is super cute! (“meccha kawaii”)
Me: Mm-hmm, it is really super cute. (“hontou ni meccha kawaii desu yo”)
Girl 1: Haha, he said it! (She walks away w/ Girl 2.) Wow, so he likes “Japanese animation.”
When they leave, I let out a long sigh. My co-teacher chuckles. Hey, man, don’t laugh. I know all about you and your love for Gamera, okay?
Anyway, what a funny pair. I’m glad I’ll be seeing them again next year.
If there’s a moral to the story, it’s this: Letting your colors show a little has its rewards.
February 28, 2010 at 1:23 am
Lemme guess, you’ll threaten Gamera-teacher with “if you diss my K-ON I will cut you.”.
I just hope when I get a job people won’t diss my hobbies via the things on my desk.
Oddly enough I talked to a cute Chinese girl in a bar at my University’s comedy night and I learned that:
a) Not all Asian girls love anime, but most of them either know it exists or likes the dedication of cosplayers because of the clothes.
b) Not all international students are in a bar to find love. T___T Some of them are just there because there’s a comedy night on, and even then they don’t usually go.
It also springs to mind that the international students on campus want to join the anime society because and related to the fact that it’s one of the least racist clubs on campus. Good luck trying to be an international Engineer, because the other Engineers, are, um, engineering new ways to make people feel uncomfortable and drink more beer.
I’d love to be a University lecturer, or a high school teacher, but at this point I can barely inspire myself to learn new things without help. The only upside is other-teacher-moe. I don’t go for schoolgirls, but since The Graduate ruined me, I go for the older spectrum.
February 28, 2010 at 5:20 am
Don’t worry, me and Gamera-sensei are tight. A couple weeks ago we teamed up to explain Godzilla’s flying mechanism to the second-years (short answer: he uses his radioactive breath to propel himself backwards). I wish I had gotten a picture.
It sounds like you’re learning new things every day. But be careful about hitting on Asian girls; understand that they’re wary of guys with “yellow fever,” perhaps rightfully so.
One of my long-term goals is to be a university lecturer as well, but that requires many, many years of schooling. Fortunately for you, the training to be a high school or community college instructor isn’t terribly long. You should consider it. Cheers.
February 28, 2010 at 5:44 am
Wait, WHAT? You managed to explain it? Nono, I demand the long explanation right now!
And what’re you talking about? Gamera’s awesome. No one would be able to threaten me with love for Gamera. A jet propelled fire-breathing turtle that can become a giant sawblade? If I could wear him on my chest I would.
That was a very cute story though. You’ve commendable self-control for not being all over them in a second. I suppose it’s part of the professional barrier that I’m yet to see. I would’ve done something regrettable like inviting them to my place to… see my extensive collection.
I don’t think Twitter’s thaat bad, sometimes you just have something stupid that you need to say.
February 28, 2010 at 6:07 am
I don’t have “yellow fever”. I have meganekko fever. I’m not kidding. No matter what race she is. Girls with glasses get passes, especially from me.
Keep in mind, I find most women’s reactions confusing. I talk to a girl, no matter what race she is, but when I try to hint I’m interested in them they’re just as clueless as I usually am.
I don’t have yellow fever. I merely have an interest in various Asian cultures. There’s a dude in my college named Jian Shi. He lol’d when I told him he was a G away from being a Chinese Vampire. As you can see, my interest in Asian cultures extends beyond females. It’s like that Painted Veil movie where the Edward Norton character actively tries to enrich the lives of locals in China he does business with.
My glasses girl moe-moe knows no race: Tina Fey is still appreciated by me, and there’s plenty of nerd girls who might be American exchange students or Indian students or even African students who still meet the criteria of glasses girl moe.
I don’t like the term Yellow Fever because I looked it up and it actually originated out of associating Asian people with disease. Don’t like that at all. “Asiaphile” is more appropriate since like “Japanophile” or “Anglophile” it connotates not just a love of women, but a love of CULTURE, ART AND HISTORY!
Sorry, I feel like Madarame now after he’s given his lecture on anime girls, or Ohno when she explains exactly what kind of trash she… you know.
February 28, 2010 at 6:16 am
For Ningyo:
The long explanation involved drawing Godzilla on the chalkboard, showing how he moves his tail beneath his body and shoots his atomic breath, and then drawing arrows for the trajectory of his flight. Sensei explained that this happened in “Godzilla versus Hedorah.” My English sentence for the kids: “Gamera is good, but I think Godzilla is better.” The subject was comparative adjectives… Never mind that this segment was nothing but an enormous tangent.
The girl who was asking me the questions looks like a tan Kagami with glasses, which was I thought was a charming coincidence. But you’d be surprised how paternal you become when you’re a twenty-something surrounded by twelve to fifteen year-olds. Sometimes they get bigger than you, but at the end of the day they’re just kids.
February 28, 2010 at 1:44 am
LMAO! What an adorable story!!! Also, in my head you look totally badass in this story. The way you were just observing the girls and not saying anything is just hilarious! Also, when I think ‘Mugi-choco’ I think Hitohira LOL.
It’s a shame, though, that if I kept something like that on a desk here, the classmates would probably not recognize the character, but just ask something like ‘IS THAT ANIME?!’ and because I have a terrible personality, I’d probably be more raging at their lack of knowledge, lol.
Actually, that reminds me of when I was with a group of friends at the mall a couple of months ago, and we were all taking turns playing Tekken 5 at a Gamestop for about 30 minutes. A middle-school aged boy came over and started meekly waiting for us to finish, and sometimes playing a match when we were feeling nice (and he was terrible >_<) the kid kept talking about things, but he would just repeat himself over and over and talk kind of to the air, and no one was really hearing him, since we were all talking to each-other – I recognized that he was one of those common middle school nerds who I might have hung out with back then myself.
When we were playing as girl characters, he kept saying 'DON'T THEY LOOK LIKE ANIME? SHE LOOKS LIKE ANIME!' and no matter how many times I said 'YES, THEY LOOK LIKE ANIME' he wouldn't stop saying it, lol. I think he wanted us to be anime fans, but I didn't want to just blast him with the full force of my power level or anything.
That's the shame about my city. Almost everyone around here has seen some kind of anime… but it doesn't make it any better, because I haven't seen/can't stand the shows that they have. But at least now I finally became a Bleach fan, so maybe I'll be able to carry on a conversation some time.
February 28, 2010 at 1:47 am
Oh, and man, if I was an elementary-school teacher over there, I’d probably be friends with every single boy in my class LOL. Every Monday it would be like ‘did you see the new One Piece/Shinkenger/etc.?!’
February 28, 2010 at 5:54 am
That reminds me: I asked a first-year boy what manga he liked to read, and he said “Gintama.”
“Ah, you mean the Edo-era one with the aliens and the swordsman?” I said.
Kid said yes, and he SMILED for the first time ever. That was good. I probably wouldn’t have had that moment if it weren’t for your blog. So, cheers.
February 28, 2010 at 5:58 am
Poor kid. I remember being that way a little bit. And then I grew up and became me now, hooray!
They’ll find their way eventually, this generation. I can just steer clear of the annoying ones until they change… or don’t.
Thanks for reading. Glad you liked the story.
February 28, 2010 at 7:00 am
Hahaha! Oh man, the Gintama kid and I would have been talking forever. Favorite characters, favorite episodes… that conversation would never end!
February 28, 2010 at 2:11 am
[...] 2DT gave me an idea for this post, expanding on a comment I made on his blog. The Anime Society, or AnimeSoc as it goes by its Orwellian abbreviation, is a complex beast. It’s either looked upon as one of the most interesting clubs on campus or one of its most outcast ones. [...]
February 28, 2010 at 2:14 am
Ritsu’s an underrated character. You are awesome for liking her.
February 28, 2010 at 5:51 am
I think tastes among American fans are a bit more diverse. At least it’s not the landslide of popularity for Mio and Azusa that it is for the Japanese.
Ritsu is hard to describe. In person I’m sure she’d annoy me to death, but as far as 2-D goes, it’s a delight to watch this bubbly, somewhat silly girl who makes things happen.
March 2, 2010 at 9:59 am
Yeah. The show would be pretty dull without her and her shenanigans.
February 28, 2010 at 2:19 am
2DT, what’s your advice on getting to know your Uni lecturers? I know you’re just an elementary school teacher but you must have gone to University sometime to get that teaching diploma…
Navigating the maze of lunches the societies have on is intense. Two lunches in two days at the same bar, for two different societies. There seems to be some overlap between AnimeSoc and PhotoSoc (hint, it’s the cosplay methinks).
At least the guy who runs AnimeSoc has heard of the random old anime I watch from the 1960s onwards. I was comforted to know Kimba is still loved in the 21st Century by the young. (And young at heart).
February 28, 2010 at 4:48 am
I teach middle school by default, actually. Elementary’s just my reward.
Getting to know the instructors, huh… Well, what I always used to do was get started with essays and projects early, so that I could visit the instructors and chat about the field without the usual rush of people who come around midterms/finals.
Also, if your school has a program for undergraduate research (or even just independent study), consider taking up a personal project and asking a professor to be your mentor. It’s a lot of work and personal responsibility, but the bond you make is worthwhile.
I’m still close with two of my old professors, and at least two lecturers would remember me fondly if I got in touch with them, so you could say this has worked for me. Ultimately, my advice is: Any instructor worth their salt is delighted by a (hopefully humble and deferential) student who shows an above-average interest in their subject.
Bear that in mind, and hopefully that helps you. Cheers.
February 28, 2010 at 2:56 am
Aw, that’s an adorable story. When I saw this post in my reader my first thought was, “there probably isn’t an advantage…”. Guess I was wrong there. orz;;
Kids are cute. ^^
February 28, 2010 at 5:44 am
They are. Then puberty hits and something happens to them, but I can’t quite tell because it’s getting harder and harder to remember what puberty was actually like.
Lots of pain, I guess.
Thanks for reading– and for having me on your reader! You’re too kind.
February 28, 2010 at 3:02 am
I can’t agree more with you. Being reserved and pretend for someone else’s sake is fucked up. I for one always let my hair down. Their opinion might varies but I decide to lead my life with no regret.
The rewards are awesome so far.
February 28, 2010 at 5:43 am
Well, I do practice a bit of restraint these days. But here, at least, I can let it hang out, warts and all.
Thanks for reading.
February 28, 2010 at 3:28 am
Hah, that’s cute. Thanks for sharing that humorous little anecdote. I remember I had anime keychains on my backpack during both my trips to Japan and students were always looking at them. Sometimes they’d ask me who the characters were (then be amazed at my knowledge of anime XD) or sometimes I’d just overhear them talk amongst themselves about it.
Unfortunately, if you have anime stuff on your person here in the U.S., most people will either ignore it or ask if it’s Pokemon. But I’ve noticed that it has been getting better in recent years as far as people’s familiarity with the more popular anime like Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha, etc,. Guess that’s a good thing.
February 28, 2010 at 5:41 am
I would have thought most people would assume you’re Japanese.
But hey, at least in your case it usually IS Pokemon.
February 28, 2010 at 5:52 pm
The people I was with this past summer knew I was American. That’s why they were pretty amazed that I knew more than they did about the cartoons from their country XD
LOL, usually when it is something Pokemon, they don’t ask if it is because it’s obvious. I think there was one time in high school where I had a Tenchi Muyo! picture on my folder and someone asked if it was Pokemon.
February 28, 2010 at 3:32 am
That’s funny because my 39-year old unmarried team leader (oh damn…poor guy) has a figure of Shinji Ikari on his desk. One day I told him, “I’d rather get the girls than him”, and he replied “I bought him to give me strength when I have hard time” (and I went, ooookaaayy).
Strangely he wasn’t surprised that I knew about Evangelion. I guess everyone knows about the cartoon, even if they didn’t watch it themselves.
February 28, 2010 at 4:25 am
ROFL! I can see him looking at a stack of paperwork, then looking at Shinji, and then thinking ‘I MUSN’T RUN AWAY! I MUSN’T RUN AWAY!’
February 28, 2010 at 4:50 am
That’s a good one. I pictured something more like the guy having an awful day, just shitty all around… Then he looks at Shinji and he whistles all the way home.
February 28, 2010 at 4:26 am
Heh, what an adorable little story. I’ve been hearing from a few friends of teachers and professors here in the States that are interested in games and anime. It’s kind of strange to think about how my generation is growing up and will soon start to teach future generations as well.
February 28, 2010 at 5:39 am
I suspect that by the time everyone comes of age proper, the things we like will be uncool and the new generation will enjoy, I don’t know, Tuvan throat singing or something.
Thanks for reading.
February 28, 2010 at 6:47 am
Strangely enough, I actually know what Tuvan throat singing is. A friend introduced me to it a few months ago. I dunno, if that became the new cool thing, I might just have to join the ranks of old fogeys telling kids about the good old days and yelling at them to get off my lawn.
I can appreciate the aesthetic and “wow” appeal, but it hurts my head to listen to it. >_<
February 28, 2010 at 4:40 am
lol, that’s right, I had forgotten you’re a teacher. Must be awesome for the kids to have a teacher who’s into the same stuff they are.
February 28, 2010 at 5:37 am
Well, somewhat. There’s still that pesky language barrier in most cases preventing me from being as loved as I feel I ought to be.
Also, hi! Haven’t heard from you in ages.
February 28, 2010 at 5:19 am
By the way 2DT I figured you wouldn’t end up seeing this since you don’t use twitter (*nudge*) but I’m interested in your thoughts:
http://scarletmonochrome.tumblr.com/post/416890164/nihon-no-supirittsu-mazamete-yuku
February 28, 2010 at 5:24 am
No Twitter for me until I figure out my comfort level for letting you bunch know every little detail of my life.
But this entry of yours is interesting. I’ll get on it tout-suite. Cheers.
February 28, 2010 at 5:42 am
Lol. As I’m sure you can see, I’m addicted to openness, but it’s because it does wonders for perspective. One of the biggest things I’ve feared is that people will misinterpret what I say because they don’t really know where I’m coming from (and it does happen, but I ignore those people or tell them to ‘lurk moar’) but as it stands, my readerbase pretty much knows everything about me, particularly about my anime fandom, and therefor they totally know what I’m talking about and what I mean when I make a post.
It also lets me connect better. If you are someone who isn’t going to get along with me, you can tell right off the bat, and if you are someone I can get along with, then we will be bonded much faster. I feel like a lot of my readers are able to speak very openly with me because they understand me instantly.
It’s all up to you, but I would personally love to know more about you. I think you are one of the most interesting personalities hanging around the sphere right now. I read your blog like I am watching a new show, with each post hoping that I’ll unlock the next ‘piece’ of who you are. I’ve got my sort of ‘predictions’ and ‘ideas’ about you. For instance, I have a theory that you are incredibly good at finding something to like about a show, that you watch with as close to zero pretension as possible, and that when you dislike a show, it is for pretty personal reasons. I’m always looking to see how you will prove these things to be true in your posts. I also sense that you have a pretty high capacity for ‘abnormal’ things, and may even be hiding a pretty big ‘power level’, though I might be pushing it by saying so :p
I apologize if any of that creeps you out, or if you wish you hadn’t revealed so much, or even if I’ve been too wrong about things, but I have a strong interest in getting closer to you, and because I am almost too honest, I have to tell you about it XD
February 28, 2010 at 6:27 am
Oh dear.
Well, I’m not creeped out… But now I am a LITTLE afraid of eventually disappointing people. Just a tiny bit.
Thank you for being so interested, though. I really get your M.O, and I have a lot of respect for it.
February 28, 2010 at 7:03 am
Oh, and every time you say something like ‘oh dear’ I hear ‘ara’ in my head, and your voice becomes a kind older woman voice, like Kikuko Inoue or Alicia from ARIA LOOLLOLOLOL
February 28, 2010 at 7:12 am
Oh and one MORE thing (sorry I always rape your comment threads!) You can’t disappoint me. Remember how I said that anime endings don’t disappoint me because I don’t build up expectations, and I embrace creator intent? It’s the same with people. You don’t become less likeable, just more well-rounded. I think that if I found myself getting disappointed in people for turning out to be who they were all along, I wouldn’t really be looking at them as people, would I?
February 28, 2010 at 7:14 am
Twitter is pure torture for me from a technological standpoint. It’s slow IRC is what it is. I’ve been looking into setting up an IRC channel relay for tweeting, that should be fun.
March 2, 2010 at 2:11 am
I find that “Oh Dear.” a little fitting, though I’m not sure why.
February 28, 2010 at 7:40 am
Imagining that scenario in my head made me smile.
Also, I don’t care what anyone else thinks, Ritsu is the best girl in K-ON. I’m glad you went with her, even if it was out of pity.
February 28, 2010 at 7:52 am
I’m glad you like Ritsu too, but I’m curious as to your reasons. One more potential entry in your queue for when you come back to us, perhaps? K-ON!’s new season is only a month away.
Thanks so much for commenting. Happiness overflows.
February 28, 2010 at 10:39 am
How interesting! I spend half my time at home (and half the time sleep… wait, what am I saying?), so there’s barely any chance for me to show anything to anyone. I blame my current course because I’ve got to sit at my screen all day just to code my program!
But really! While I was looking at the title on my RSS, I was thinking of “what kind of advantages would a figurine bring to you anyway?” but I guess there are advantages in having them lying around you xD.
As for me… back to leaving my poor figurines in the display cabinet while I continue coding my program. Not long till freedom though!
February 28, 2010 at 11:54 am
Seems a lot of people were asking that question. Glad to prove people wrong, I suppose?
I’m curious about what sort of programming you’re doing. But I know nothing about programming, so it’s entirely your choice to explain or not.
Thanks for reading.
February 28, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Ah, games programming actually. Basically, what I do in my course is to sit down in front of computer, creating cubes and spheres so that they look nice and presentable to people.
After they look nice enough, I make them move and all that kind of stuff. Pretty boring job actually, unless you’re the kind that can sit at a chair for half a day straight trying to create a particular algorithm for the AI’s movement or the spawning of everyone’s bullets in the game…
Still remember the time where I’ve spent 5 hours trying to fix a logic up, only to find out that there’s a simpler and more efficient one that I’ve made… orz.
Oh, why am I sharing my life story here anyway? But still, great post nonetheless! Inspired me to keep a lookout on opportunities in the near future
.
March 4, 2010 at 6:13 pm
@Netto GET BACK TO WORK! lol jk.
February 28, 2010 at 11:22 am
How cute! Ritsu really is a underrated girl who needs more love~
Ah, but this post is so inspiring. I ought to write something about my experience with letting my power levels show, too.
February 28, 2010 at 11:48 am
Ritsu is indeed underrated, but when I think of girls who don’t get enough love, Sawa-chan-sensei is probably more in need.
I’d love to see what you write about this. Thanks for reading.
February 28, 2010 at 12:01 pm
In spite of what we keep saying, this comment thread is almost proof itself that Ritsu ISN’T underrated, lol. That, or you pulled every Ritsu fan there is out of the woodwork.
She was my favorite K-On girl, too, though I’ve only seen 2 eps.
February 28, 2010 at 1:54 pm
^_^
I always had gobs of anime merch on my work desk, including a huge Kenshin wall scroll I’ve mentioned earlier I think. (When I left that company, a very attractive girl asked for the wall scroll — we were rather friendly, though we never really discussed anime, which surprised me when she asked for it).
Being weird makes me work harder at being badass at what I do. In the instances when I’m successful, I tend not to be judged by the stuff I’m into.
I think it also helps that I am into a whole lot of things. It helps me connect with many kinds of people so much that my hobby never has to come up — until they express interest in it.
When they do though, these made for rather interesting conversations.
March 1, 2010 at 11:55 am
Mm, you did mention the Kenshin wall scroll. Right now, for me, it’s just the Ritsu figure, but who knows? At least anime gets the kids talking to me a bit.
The thing about Japanese teachers is that they never really open up until it’s drinking party time. I haven’t been to one since I brought the figurine, but the year’s ending and it’s getting to be the right season… We’ll see what they have to say.
Thanks for reading.
March 1, 2010 at 12:24 am
I’ve just started my teaching program, and I have to set up an art competition, which has several categories, including anime. Yea…..that’s pretty much all I had to say.
March 1, 2010 at 11:58 am
That’s really cool, actually! I’d love if you could blog about it a little. Just so I can see what comes of your efforts. Cheers.
March 1, 2010 at 1:55 am
That was an amusing anecdote! It sounds like something straight out of a slice-of-life/comedy anime (as noted from your Lucky Star reference).
March 1, 2010 at 11:59 am
I know, right? Moments like these make me think I did the right thing by coming to Japan. Now they know people in other countries don’t hide their affiliations.
March 1, 2010 at 12:35 pm
This post reminded me why I love you so very much…
March 1, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Why, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by.
March 1, 2010 at 4:06 pm
When I read your story, I unintentionally pictured the two girls as Mugi(girl1 who was shy) and Yui(girl2 who was clueless). very adorable post
March 2, 2010 at 8:33 am
That would make it a little vain, Tsumugi asking if I like her.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.
March 1, 2010 at 9:21 pm
A very Slice of Life momenHNNNNNGGGGG
March 2, 2010 at 8:34 am
Well, most of the time they’re just plain afraid to talk to me, though it’s gotten better since my Japanese has improved. This was a relatively rare moment, which just makes it more precious.
March 2, 2010 at 2:15 am
Now I’m hoping that when I’m “free” to decide where I’m going to go after residency and such, if I have an office, I can place down a figure or two as well. My idea of flavor, or some sort.
I enjoyed this little vignette as well. And Ritsu is my favorite character from K-On! as well. \o
And like digitalboy, I also thought that the “Mugi-choco” was referencing the show Hitohira as well.
March 2, 2010 at 8:36 am
Oh my, you’re going to be a doctor of some kind? How exciting! (in theory– I know it’s dreadful in practice)
I have a pet hypothesis that Ritsu is popular with us non-Japanese types. Why, though, that’s the million dollar question. Anyway, cheers.
March 2, 2010 at 4:19 am
Awww, poor Ritsu! I’ve only actually seen the first ep of K-On, but her and Tsumugi are my favorite girls so far.
And this post gave me the warm fuzzies. Your blog never fails to disappoint.
March 2, 2010 at 8:40 am
Tsumugi, huh? That’s a bit unusual to me, but I can’t back that up with anything more than a feeling. Mugi seems more passively liked among the fanbase, as opposed to the rabidness of, say, Mio fandom.
Thank you! I’m glad I’m having this effect on people.
March 2, 2010 at 9:08 pm
That’s a really fun story.
“If there’s a moral to the story, it’s this: Letting your colors show a little has its rewards.”
I’ve come to understand the truth in this. ^ ^
March 5, 2010 at 8:46 am
The trick is finding the right balance.
Thanks for reading. Glad you enjoyed it.
March 4, 2010 at 6:16 pm
*CLAP* You know, I wonder if this scene would have played out differently had it been another character…
People are interesting, and it sounds like you’re enjoying this teaching thing XD
Cheerios!
March 5, 2010 at 8:47 am
Well, if it had been Mio or Azusa, I’m sure something would have happened. A graduating student already asked me in jest if I could give it to him. I said “zettai dame,” but if his English was better I would have said “you can pry it from my cold, dead hands.”
March 5, 2010 at 1:29 am
Pointless late comment is pointless and late, but this post brought a smile to my face.
March 5, 2010 at 8:48 am
Oh no, quite all right. I welcome all nice comments.
Thanks for reading.
April 8, 2010 at 10:58 am
[...] graduated now, sadly. (In a goodbye message from the third-years, he wrote, “Please give me your figurine.” Truly, one of my best students… But I’m afraid you’ll have to pry it from my [...]
April 9, 2010 at 12:17 pm
[...] A Personal Note 9: The Advantages of Having Tainaka Ritsu on Your Desk [...]
June 5, 2010 at 6:55 am
[...] was a surprise. This was the girl who asked me all those questions a few months ago, now a third-year student at the junior high school where I spend most of my [...]
June 5, 2010 at 6:03 pm
That is so cute. :3
June 5, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Thanks. It was the start of things.
July 12, 2011 at 1:24 am
[...] A Personal Note 9: The Advantages of Having Tainaka Ritsu on Your Desk [...]