Ryoma Takami

Just finished reading the summer English diary from Ryoma Takami, who may or may not have a crush on Amy. He sent her a letter about the location of local art museums and the bus/train schedules to reach them, when he found out that Amy likes art from his 4th grade sister. Hmm. Kid`s smooth. Anyway, his diary is definitely one of the most insightful and introspective. Some quotes that I REALLY quoted:

"I hate Tottori because it has bad atmosphere" (Takami 7/17).
"I was sad because I didn`t know why" (Takami 7/18). This is either incorrect grammar or incredibly deep Zen meta-insight.
"I suddenly turned on the TV. It had environmental problems program. And it give a question to us. What is true rich?" (Takami 7/19).
"I watched the sun set, I had like in a story" (Takami 7/19).
"I cut bamboo like hard paper" (Takami 7/28).
"We went to Shimane Museum of Art...We went to Tanabe Museum" (Takami 7/31).
"I went to the library because I was looking for the picturepostcard between the pages of the book" (Takami 8/1). I`ve seen lots of my students hanging out in the library, so that`s what they`re doing--treasure-hunting between the pages.
"I went to the sea to clear the beach today" (Takami 8/8)

added after kunitade practice:

So, as it turned out, Ryoma is the same kid as the soccer/ekiden player whom has attracted my attention from my first day of work. On the first day, Yoshida-sensei pulled Ryoma aside and introduced him to me, added that "He is very fast." I saw him at the ekiden meet, and he is indeed fast (<10:20 for 3000 meters). He is pretty short, but I dont`t think that it is simply because he hasn`t hit puberty--his voice is pretty deep already. Perhaps it is merely because of the baritone voice, but he seems more mature to me. He carries himself with an air of quiet confidence and self-sufficiency. He seems so self-contained to the extent of appearing loner-esque. He does not attach himself with any cliques or regular groups, and yet he does not lack friends. Kids gravitate towards him without him making any apparent effort to appease or stand out. He is the only kid at school whom I`ve seen kids approach for one-on-one conversations, boys AS WELL as girls (at the ekiden race, the volleyball captain Yuka sat side by side next to him in the rain and they talked quietly...it was drizzling, and Kageyama-sensei put an umbrella over them but they turned around before I had a chance to take a picture; you had to be there for this middle-school moment). I don`t know, he kind of reminds me of myself a little bit when I was his age.