The Name Changer
One of Kenji's new students has an odd request. [Script form]
[Kenji hears an argument at the door to his office]
Voice 1: I wanna go by myself!
Voice 2: Then why did you need me to walk you here?
Voice 1: Because…!
Voice 2: Because you’re a big baby?
Voice 1: Am not!
Voice 2: Are too!
Voice 1: Am not!
Voice 2: Are too!
[With this amount of ruckus, Kenji feels like it would be impossible to continue his work. He opens the door. Two of his new students, Toni and Maxy, continue to argue even as he steps out of his office.]
Toni: I am not a big baby!
Maxy: I know you are but what am I? [realizes his mistake] Wait! Wait, I meant--!
Kenji: Ahem?
Maxy: Oh, hey Sensei!
Kenji: Hello Maxy, Toni. Do either of you have any business at my office? This isn’t really the best location for arguing.
Toni: [sad] Sorry, Mr. Kenji…
Maxy: Toni wanted to ask ya something, but he won’t let me know what it is!
Kenji: He’s allowed to do that.
Maxy: Hmph!
Kenji: Toni, would you like to step into my office?
Toni: Yes, please! [to Maxy] Can you wait outside for me?
Maxy: Fiiiiiine. Don’t be too long, though.
Toni: I won’t!
[The younger student follows Kenji into his office. Maxy crosses his arms and gives the teacher a serious, almost expectant look, but Kenji has no idea what it’s for or why.]
Kenji: Toni, can you get the door for me?
[Toni nods, then shuts the door. It was just out of his line of sight, but Kenji could swear he saw the freckled kid stick his tongue out at the other one before shutting the door. He faintly hears Maxy’s protests from the other side. The two of them are shaping up to be a problem already. Kenji sits down at his desk.]
Kenji: Have a seat, Mr. [checks a list] O’Hara. Did I pronounce that right?
Toni: [sitting down, nodding] Mm-hm. [looks around] Woah, Mr. Kenji, you really have a lot of….a lot of….. shoku--....a lot of…..[embarrassed] What’s ‘shokubutsu’ in English?
Kenji: Plants?
Toni: [slapping face with both hands] Oh yeah! I should’ve remembered that one…
Kenji: Don’t worry about it, it’s fine. Was there something you need to ask me?
Toni: Oh, yeah! Could you call me Konno and not O’Hara? I-I know it sounds dumb, because O’Hara is my...true name, but I feel weird when people call me that.
Kenji: Sure! I can definitely do that for you. Is there any particular reason why?
Toni: I…
Kenji: Or are you uncomfortable talking about it? Don’t feel pressured to tell me.
Toni: It’s okay! It’s just. I don’t feel like a part of my family when people call me that. It makes me feel...bad.
Kenji: I see…
[So he must be related to Maxy Konno. Kenji would’ve never made the connection; he knew two of the new students were brothers despite all having different surnames, but assumed it was Yoshinori who was related to Maxy. Both of them were around the same age, the same size, and they seemed close. But thinking back to Toni and Maxy’s bickering, Kenji thinks he should have found it obvious that they were siblings.]
Kenji: I understand. Me and my younger brother have a hard time convincing people we’re related.
Toni: Nicky?
Kenji: Yes.
Toni: He’s younger than you?
Kenji: If he wasn’t, he’d be teaching the class, not me.
Toni: Ahhhhhh. I thought little brothers were always smaller. [stretching arms above him] Yours is big!
Kenji: [chuckles] Yes, Nicky is very tall. Is there anything else you needed to ask me about?
Toni: [shaking head] No. [smiling] Thank you for helping me, Mr. Kenji!
Kenji:You’re welcome. If you need anything else from me, just come by again.
Toni: Okay! [standing up, walking out] Goodbye!
Kenji: Have a nice afternoon, Mr. Konno.
Toni: [beaming, waving fast] Thanks again!!
[Toni leaves. Kenji resumes his work with a smile on his face, crossing out O’Hara in the gradebook and replacing it with Konno.]