The Fourth Period Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

"No, no, no, I told you, I'm just a beginner."

Hayato sounded modest, but he looked a little pleased.

"...So what did that 'Koopai' mean just now?"

"Please give me a receipt."

"Whoa! You want a receipt? Is a receipt for mint candy from a convenience store okay?"

Tobe hurriedly searched through his pants pockets.

He pulled a crumpled receipt from his back pocket and placed it on the desk.

"No... thank you, that was just an example sentence."

"Oh, is that so? Then you don't need a receipt. Anyway, anyway, anyway! Why Thai?"

"I think the future belongs to Thai."

Hayato's tone was full of confidence.

"Huh? Really?"

This was Hayato's opinion, after all, so Tobe wanted to agree as much as possible, but...

He simply couldn't understand it, question marks popping up one after another over his head.

"Tobe, listen. America's hegemony is beginning to waver, while China's power keeps growing stronger. The future will be an era of competition between two great powers, China and the United States. That means we should learn Chinese first... but that era will probably pass quickly too. Next will likely be India's era. But that era will pass as well. Then it'll be Africa's era... Taking into account the balance of power between nations and the number of people in Japan studying each country's language, Thai is the best choice. That's my judgment."

Hayato was currently a second-year high school student. Even if he entered the workforce immediately after graduating from college, it would still be five years at the earliest.

When doing things, you had to keep looking ahead.

That idea had driven Hayato to study Thai.

"I don't really get it... Hayato, aren't you overthinking this? If you're interested in Thai, that's one thing, but is there any point