The lecture hall at Universität Heidelberg was half-full for the international linguistics seminar—rain tapping the tall windows, old wooden benches creaking under shifting students. I—Lukas Müller—sat near the back, 6’5” frame barely fitting the seat, broad shoulders hunched, hoodie sleeves pushed up over scarred forearms from years of amateur boxing. German accent thick when I spoke, which I rarely did in class. I was here on a sports scholarship but taking this course to improve my Japanese for a summer internship in Tokyo.