"Yuki...Meshida" the girl said. She seemed to be bracing for something...but when Karyn didn't react, she seemed to relax. "It is your pleasure to meet me...I mean..." she seemed a bit frustrated.
"It's fine...I wish I knew another language. I take Spanish and I couldn't carry a conversation outside of class."
"Father made us speak only English in the house for the month before we moved. He pretended he did not speak Japanese. He said we would learn faster that way."
"Your Dad sounds kind of strict," Karyn said.
"Yes," Yuki agreed. "But he wishes the best for his family...even if we do not always like what he says. I worry I will not fit in here..."
"Well, the school has a mix of rich and not so rich students. Most of the not so rich students...their parents work for companies owned by the richer ones...or the businesses people want in a town like this...you know, nice restaurants and stuff. And there are cliques..."
"What is cliques?"
"Groups people organize into...like sports teams, clubs, sometimes other stuff."
"Ah, we had these where I attended before," Yuki said.
The teacher started to quiet the class. "Welcome to Lakeview," Karyn said, focusing on the teacher and quieting down.
Outside of the simulation, Taylor burst into the office where Roger was working. "Did you see the review?"
Roger looked at her. "Which one?"
"I'm talking about the big ones...the serious ones..." Taylor said, seeming excited. "I mean....it's only the first episode, but...."
"Did Doctor Ellis find you?" Roger asked.
"No...was he looking for me? But...I'll find him after this. Look at this..." She handed him a tablet.
He had a look. "New Season of KS Chronicles Is Worth a Second Look...okay, good so far in the title." He kept reading, excerpting out loud with commentary. "Looping back to the beginning of the school year gives the creative team a chance to set things on a new course...okay, we knew that...They've set up some interesting plot points....Without the Jon character, Karyn is interacting with other characters. The studio promised the introduction of new background characters and other changes, and they have delivered. They seem to be looking to try new mashups of established characters to see what plays. We've already seen Karyn and Yuki, something brewing with Tiffany, and Amber having some dialogue that isn't her just agreeing with whatever Sarah says. The subject of much debate is the new student named Julia Serrano. One member of our team insists she was there last season as a background extra, and they've just brought her to the front...and the rest of us think she's an entirely new character they have thrown into the mix...we're checking the footage. It is clear the fans have been heard, and the studio is making an effort to deliver...We even had a walk on by Rebecca Hart...Dedicated KS Chronicles fans may remember her last appearance two seasons ago when both Karyn and Sarah debated entering the school talent show. We just hope they can sustain this throughout the season, and we don't end up with Karyn benched again while Sarah takes center stage. The true power of this show is when we see both of them and all the other characters we've come to love. We're working on a top ten list of underrated characters we'd like to see make a return like Rebecca...subscribe for that list when it arrives...we already have some deep cuts..." Roger paused. "Well, that's interesting...who threw Rebecca at Karyn again so soon...I thought we agreed..."
"But..it's good, right? I mean...they get it....we're shaking things up. And...my new Zoe got some love..." Taylor said.
"Where?"
"In that linked article...what happened to Jon...five theories...They said that they are curious about the new Zoe, and assume this is Zoe freed from having Jon around...I mean...curious...that's something. I didn't think she'd make the cut so soon... I mean...I sabotaged her locker so she'd be in the hallway....so people would know she was still there...but I didn't think Karyn would talk to her" she seemed excited.
"About Zoe....I think that's what he wanted to talk to you about..." Roger said.
"He saw her....making a splash in the first episode? I mean...did you see how she was grateful to Karyn? I mean...look at the depth...." It's just...I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be..."
Roger sighed. "Maybe you'd better get it out of your system before you go talk to him..."
"He's mad?" She said.
"No...he's wondering how much trouble the studio will give him if we go over budget on the rewrites..."
Taylor paused. she hadn't wanted to get anyone in trouble....but she'd been so certain about her Zoe code... "I...guess I should go find him."
