Chapter Text
Somehow, he got that acceptance letter.
His parents told him getting a job over the summer would help him prepare for college and ease his anxiety which prompted him to send a self-recommendation letter to Camp Shining Sun even though he thought it would never happen considering he was probably one of the quietest, most nervous kids in all of Japan and yet somehow –
He got it.
The CIT director wrote that she was impressed by his work ethic, which, in Yuuri’s opinion, was about all he had going for him. She said that sessions would begin on June 22nd and suggested he fly to America early to sign up for camp activities he liked. Yuuri frowned in thought.
What did he like?
When he first registered, he got so caught up in the idealism of kids of different cultures learning about one another that he forgot there was actual camping to be had. What even was camping? How could he possibly learn to row a canoe, or cook a marshmallow?
Why, he’d probably burn it to a crisp!
With so many questions left unanswered, he hugged his family goodbye at the airport outside of Hasetsu and boarded a flight to America. Now, whole new problems began to rise. His English was decent enough, but how would the other campers’ be? Suppose they laughed at him. Suppose he didn’t like it there. Who would take care of the family dog while he was gone?
Sweating, he dialed his family’s phone number and left a quick voice message to feed Vic-chan twice every day and change his water bowl just as much so he wouldn’t get germs –
“No cell phones on board,” a flight attendant’s voice boomed above him.
“Oh! Sorry!” Yuuri jumped, hiding his red face as he tucked the phone under his coat. The man chuckled.
“You nervous?”
“Hm? Well,” he sighed, “maybe just a little.”
“I was too, on my first flight. You get used to it after a while.” The man gave him a friendly nod and went on his way. Once he was gone, Yuuri pulled his white surgical mask over his face and closed his eyes, trying not to think about the plane plunging into the ocean below.
It took nearly a day to fly to America plus a two-hour drive to the campsite, so it was no wonder Yuuri arrived on the first day looking like a wreck. Already, he could feel several pairs of eyes taking in his unwashed hair and disheveled clothing. He began to feel a little anxious.
Luckily, the lady in front of him smiled and welcomed him to the camp, handing him a clipboard on which he could sign his name. He eyed the other names. Some of them were too messy for him to read and others were in perfect cursive. One was even written in purple ink.
He wondered who that could be.
“You signed up for ‘Kids of the Earth’, right?” the lady reaffirmed, startling him out of his daze.
“Yes,” said Yuuri. She nodded at that and got out a map.
“The boy’s cabin is on the eastern side, near the bathhouse and high ropes course. Think you’ll make it there okay?”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
“Very well. Good luck with your training!” She waved goodbye to him as he made his way over to the cabin.
From a distance, he could see a lanky man with chiseled features stumbling backwards and yelling as a parade of small children pounced on him. A red-haired girl stood nearby, laughing at his misfortune. Yuuri grimaced. He made a smart decision signing up for the oldest kid group – he had no idea how to interact with kindergarteners.
The rest of the day did not run as smoothly. Several times Yuuri tripped over the gravel pathways and heard at least one person laugh. Whenever someone saw him and tried to meet him, he freaked out and ran away in fear that his face would turn red or he’d mess up his English. As a result, he ended up eating dinner alone in his room – except for the daddy long-leg that made a startling appearance on his window.
He couldn't have screamed louder if he tried.
***
Now, it is late evening.
Yuuri turns on his laptop and rereads the main website for the eighth time that week:
Welcome to Camp Shining Sun, the Land of Good Times!
As you know, we are a non-profit organization built for the purpose of promoting individual growth and creativity within children over the summer through age-appropriate yet challenging activities.
Here, at Camp Shining Sun, there are three major divisions: Kids of the Earth hosts kids from ages nine through fifteen and focuses upon children around the world getting to know each other. The Wild Explorers are for kids aged six through eight who simply can’t get enough of the great outdoors and daily adventure. And then there are the Little Cubs (arguably the cutest of the bunch!), from ages four to five, who go during the daytime when parents have to work except for the occasional sleepovers.
Our staff pledges to be a friend to all campers and –
Yuuri stops there.
He knows this isn't what the mission statement meant, but how can he possibly become friends with all the campers? Who would want to be his friend after the pathetic display from this afternoon?
And oh, the homesickness! Cold salad for supper was nothing like the juicy pork cutlet bowls back at the inn, nor the steaming hot springs and cherry blossoms. He knows camp counselors are supposed to be positive, but how can he be when he’s more than six thousand miles from everything - everyone - he’s ever known?
Yuuri sits on the edge of his bed, curling in on himself.
He’s starting to think this was a bad idea.