[center][h3]Lucis[/h3][/center]

There was a huge difference between the architectural design and landscaping of schools in America and Japan. Lucis realized this fact the second he stepped foot onto the campus of Akiyama-Kreuz Academy. Pink and red hued leaves fluttered in the air as they fell from the cherry blossom trees that they once belonged to. Such trees did not exist back at home. It was rare to even see pink leaves in fall, and even then fall wasn't as beautiful as how it probably was here. Back home, fall was just a bunch of brown leaves, and even browner puddles of water surrounded by fallen, dead tress.

Lucis rubbed his eyes and shook his head, dwelling on the negative never did anyone any good. As he struggled to figure out what to change the subject to, he made his way over to the opening ceremony. [i]Another thing they don't have back at home.[/i] Lucis thought to himself quickly before focusing on the speaker at the podium. It was just as generic as the orientation speech back at home, work hard, make friends.

Soon everyone began to mill around and socialize, but Lucis kept to himself and stayed in his seat. He was usually much more sociable, but with everything that had happened to him over the last week, he slowly began to retreat into a shell.

[i]"Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way."[/i]

His father used to always tell him that, it was a philosophy that was inculcated into his very being, but it seemed that his father has forced him to go against that. He resented his father for that, but he had to understand that he was created to be a battery for society. 

Lucis sighed and raked his hand thru his hair in frustration, he hated feeling this way. Luckily, the stammering of one of the faculty members distracted him distracted from his sulking. [i]4B for partnering, seems like I'm going to find out who I'll be powering.[/i]


[hr]

[center][h3]Jaylen[/h3][/center]

Jaylen's outlook on his own situation was very different. The smells and sights that Japan invaded him with was welcomed. He enjoyed the people, thier language, and thier attitudes toward new people. Jaylen was always learning here, just today he realized that when giving a handshake, the Japanese was to initiate, and a weak handshake was preferred. Everything about this country was fascinating to him, probably because he had been born here.

Jaylen strolled toward the entrance of the auditorium, just so he could enjoy the beautiful scenery that the school lovingly provided. The cherry blossom trees were a sight to behold, although he had seen its beauty many times before, he still could not help but enjoy them. 

Jaylen took one more longing look at the tress before leaving for the Ceremony. Despite being called a ceremony, it wasn't as grand as he thought it would be. The students were given a simple and modest speech from what seemed to be the principal, and with that, they were off. Jaylen, like everyone else, clapped and filled out, socializing with other students just like his father thought him to. 

[i]"The Englishman should be the life of the party."[/i] His father always told him. 

No doubt Jaylen would have kept that party going if one of the schools teacher announced for thier departure to room 4B. Jaylen took note of this and gave a curt nod to those he had been speaking with before leaving. Its seemed like he had put up a good front for the students so far.