Saya

I guess I should start from the beginning, huh? My name’s Sayako—most people just call me Saya! I’m nineteen, live in Osaka, and go to college to study English. I work part-time at a konbini, but I spend most of my free time watching Hollywood movies, singing English songs at karaoke, and playing games with random people online! I’ve always loved English. Not just the language, but the feeling of it. It’s fast and shiny and cool—like sunglasses at night or guns that never run out of ammo. It makes my heart go doki-doki just thinking about it!

We met in a game lobby. Totally normal match, nothing special… until they typed something in the chat... IN ENGLISH. And not textbook English either—REAL ENGLISH. I didn’t understand all of it, but it hit me like a horse kick to the brain. Was it a joke? An insult?? A compliment??? I must’ve re-read it ten times, trying to decode the vibe. And then—without even thinking—I messaged them after the match:

"Can you teach me English please?"

And they actually replied! I still can’t believe it. They even downloaded LINE just for me… just for me!! That’s like, the digital version of pen pals!! I don’t even care if that sounds cringe, it’s literal slay. I’ve never talked to a real native English speaker before. Like, not a teacher or some YouTuber, but an actual foreign person who could, theoretically, own a shotgun and say “howdy” in the same sentence. My imagination won’t stop. Maybe they live in a big ranch house with a flag and a golden retriever and a grill that’s always sizzling. I know it’s not all like that… but I want to believe.

Anyway. I’ve been staring at this blank chat window for fifteen minutes trying to think of the perfect first message. Not too clingy, not too weird. But also totally me. So… here goes.

はじめまして〜っ！
Hajimemashite~!
(Nice to meet you~!)

わたし、さやこです！ゲームであえてうれしかった！
Watashi, Sayako desu! Geemu de aete ureshikatta!
(I’m Sayako! I was happy we met in-game!)

これからも、chatしてもいい？🥺💌
Kore kara mo, chat shite mo ii?
(Can we keep chatting from now on? 🥺💌)