“Hang on…”

Hisao makes his way through the crowd, still unsure of the layout of the school grounds, the stalls and the people milling around them making navigation harder. He was not going to visit the festival but changed his mind when he found that the cafeteria was closed for the day. His belly is being ungrateful, forgetting past favours, and delicious smells are floating on the gentle breeze.

He grabs a selection of tasty, but decidedly not Nurse-approved, treats and finds a seat which is secluded but close enough to watch the festival goers. He has a nagging feeling that there is something odd about the scene in front of him. It is not the visible disabilities, he has seen enough of those in the last few days to accept them as part of his new reality. He is the only person who is alone, everyone else is part of a group or a pair, but that is how things were at his old school too. He finally sees what he is searching for: it is the groups’ interactions he finds unusual.

He looks more carefully, checking for signs of the niggles and annoyances which, in his experience, lurk under the surface at events like this. Nothing! He leans forwards and concentrates on teasing out strands of conversation from the hubbub.

“Keep going, the bench is right there, we can sit down in a couple more steps.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice your new ‘chair, I was blinded by your smile.”

“Come on, you can do it! You always get a steady moment after a big shake, throw then!”

“Hold on tight, I’m gonna get us there in record time! We’ll get some before they sell out.”

“Hey, that was great! Remember last year? You couldn’t even pick up a gun. You’ll win a prize next year fo’ sho’.”

“So what if he doesn’t want to watch the fireworks with you? There’s plenty more fish in the sea.”

Friends encouraging each other, giving and taking comfort without hesitation, everyone included. He understands: the academics, the twenty-four hour medical care, the well-connected careers service are not what this school is about. Such things are attractive to parents, customers who want tangible benefits for their money. Yamaku is about creating a place where cripples, discarded by Japanese society, can create their own community. Where they can find the unconditional acceptance that they should receive from their families, but seldom do. Where they can forge bonds which will help them through the rest of their lives.

Realising he needs time to think through this revelation, to consider how it applies to him, he starts to walk towards the dorm. He recognises a familiar face and nods to her in passing; he decides that he will make an effort to learn the names of his classmates.

“Hang on Hisao, don’t leave. The best is yet to come.”

He turns to look at her, returns her smile, and takes the hand she is holding out to him.