Fan club Member number zero...

So, here's a new thing...

Last week, I'm waiting in the hallway to go into my 1st year 3rd class (I prefer to wait until the chime rings to enter the class, it is something I've seen Mr. Japanese Teacher do and it feels like we are letting the kids have the classroom to themselves for a few minutes) when three 1st year girls come out of the classroom.

"Guy-sensei, you are cute!" One of them yells in Japanese.

"We think you are cute!" Another one yells.

then they duck back in the room.

Mr. Japanese teacher grins at me from the next class over (He is usually teaching the next class).

The girls return a few minutes later, I'm guessing thinking that since I didn't kill them, they could continue.

"Do you think you are cute?" One of them asks (A very convoluted question... but they definitely said my name twice, once with the Japanese "Wa" which is the subject marker...). So I said "I think everyone is cute" Which, in my inability to include myself (That's a little different in Japanese), ended up sort of implying that I thought they were cute. Which is okay, it got the point across...

Oh... I was so wrong.

They now make a point of calling out my name and waving when I pass them I smile and wave back, and I'm excited that they do actually say "Good Morning" to me in English (Even in the afternoon... it's the little victories...), so at least that is something....

Today they corner me again, and this is the exchange I get:

"Guy-sensei!" says the first girl, pointing to herself, "Guy-Sensei fan club member number 1!" She declares proudly.

The next girl steps up: "Guy-Sensei fan club member number 2!"

The last girl blushes and adds: "Guy-Sensei fan club member number 3."

Trying very hard not to laugh at this (It must have taken all day to screw up member number 3's courage) I tell them that they are really cute (Because... well... they are...) And then I add "Disgustingly cute" in English (Which, since they are my first years, means they maybe understood "Cute")... they giggle and run back to class (They all run everywhere... they are first years...)

Maia alerts me that they will have buttons soon, to which I laughed with her and then it struck me... they just might...

I knew I would have so many cool experiences to report back to you folks... but to be honest, this one surprises me...

I mean... I have a fan club?

Woah...

---Object of Guy Sensei Fan Club...