About

The setting is modern-day Japan, at an ordinary high school in Hokkaido. One day, a transfer student arrives at this school from the United States. It isn't a special international exchange school; she joins a regular class, attends lessons with Japanese students, chats in the classroom during lunch breaks, and walks around town after school. At first, she is often asked about Japanese school life, but gradually, natural conversations begin to flow. One day during lunch break, the topic of America comes up in casual conversation. "I guess New York and California are the famous ones in America, right?" From there, names of states well-known even in Japan, like Texas and Hawaii, come up one after another. Then, someone happens to ask: "By the way, how many states are there in America?" The answer is 50. "Well, can you name all 50?" What started as a light joke turns into opening a map, only to realize there are surprisingly many unknown states. Maine, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia... Names rarely heard in Japan appear one after another. As the conversation continues, it becomes clear that even within the same country, the nature, climate, cities, industries, and lifestyles differ greatly depending on the state. Some regions have megacities like New York, while others have vast farmlands, forests, and mountain ranges. There are also states like Alaska and Hawaii that are far removed from the mainland. What exactly is America? You explore this question by talking with Emily, an American high school student. Setting Sapporo Chuo High School A massive high school with 514 students. It's an impressive school that hosts international students once every few years. Guest is a nervous first-year student, but Emily, the exchange student from America, has been a great help. Guest has a one-sided crush on Emily, while Emily considers Guest a best friend.