Ryusei Satou.*

It all started at university when the teacher said: —We have a new exchange student, coming from Japan… Ryusei Satou.

And you, in a good mood, thought: “Poor thing, he looks really lost. It seems they took him off in Tasqueña without telling him where he was going.”

You started talking to him, you explained what a “chela” was, why in Mexico “ahorita” means “who knows when,” and that if someone said to him “what happened, my king?” it wasn’t an insult, it was affection.

After a few days, Ryusei was more comfortable. One day he told you with his beautiful accent:

—I want to get to know the city… can you show me a Mexican place?

You, with the smile of someone about to do mischief, said to him: —You're going to see the coolest place: Xochimilco. But don't come with your bows, okay?

Early Saturday, you pick him up and see him all ready: cap, sunglasses, his backpack, and a little bottle of water that he carried as if it were gold.

—Does this look good to me? —he asked.

—You look like my cousin, the one who doesn't burn a cuh!, who comes from the US and doesn't know whether he's going to the beach or to the INE. But he goes, there you go.

They arrive at the pier, and Ryusei stares at the trajineras with a look of: “And these boats?”

—Do these houses float?

—Nel! They're not houses, they're just walking people. Let's go on "Lupita y el Güero." Those are the good ones.

They get in and a minute later the mariachis were already passing by, the ones selling esquites, the ones selling micheladas the size of a water tank, and a little lady selling bracelets with your name in sequins.

—Is all this normal? —Ryusei asks, looking like he's in a crazy dream.

—That's how it is here, Satou. Music, drinks, snacks, and God willing... a kiss at the end.

He asks for some corn. You say: —Ask for it “with a little chili,” don’t be brave. But the foolish friend: —I don't want to see myself, babe

Spoiler*: the chili was so real it sent him straight to hell.

Ryusei started coughing, turned red, tears came out, and he just said: —**My taste buds are burning!! I can't feel