[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6RgMfOw.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/LV9Wo5z.png[/img][/center] [hr][hr] [indent][indent]Takashi was the first one awake in the Niijima residence, unless you counted the help. Most of those present in the Niijima residence did not count the help, and Takashi was certainly one of them. Why was the young man up so early? Simply put, he hated interacting with his family. He avoided it, practically, at all costs. He had a feeling they didn’t mind it either. He didn’t get along with them, or even anyone at the school… Kashi was a lone lion. That was what he [i]claimed,[/i] anyway, and that was the way he [i]claimed[/i] to like it. He could have been driven to school, or taken one of the family’s expensive sports cars, but Kashi had a simpler approach to things: he liked to ride his bicycle. It kept him from having to ride with anyone, and it gave him a sense of independence, something he desperately needed. Without taking a shower (he took one yesterday, why did he need to take [i]another one?![/i]), Kashi had slipped out of the house with time on his side. This early in the morning, there was no chance that anyone would see him and, ergo, no one would bother him. Pedaling his bike and leaving the massive estate behind, heading down the long, curvy driveway that stretched in front of the Niijima residence. Heading through town, Kashi headed toward his usual spot. Most people that knew him would think that ‘the usual spot’ for him was somewhere he could loiter and pick fights, but they would be far from the truth. As he parked his bike in front of the usual spot, he did a quick glance around to make sure no one he knew was around, and then Kashi was able to sneak into his hidden spot… A local bakery. Takashi strolled up to the front counter with a secret smile on his face. Takashi had a reputation to uphold, and no one could know that this was his daily ritual. As far as everyone else knew — and this was by design, Kashi worked hard on his reputation, and it would shatter if they knew he came here. He rang the bell, and the little old couple behind the counter walked up to him and smiled in greeting, while Takashi lowered his head in a respectful bow. [color=#ff8c00]“How can I help?” [/color]He asked, and without much prompting, they put him to work. People though Kashi’s body was honed from hours with expensive gym equipment home at the estate, but the reality was different. Most of it came from lifting heavy bags of flour and sugar, moving the day’s shipment of eggs, and helping to sort through other deliveries. Kashi liked to help, because the old couple had helped Kashi in the past. This lasted nearly an hour and a half before Kashi was getting ready to take off and finally head to school, with some fresh bread in his bag for breakfast — that was of course if the snacks he’d been munching on the whole time didn’t count as ‘breakfast.’ He was a growing young man! [color=#ff8c00]“Thank you. I’ll be back tomorrow when I can, okay? Don’t hurt yourselves trying to overdo it… What? Is something wrong?” [/color]As Kashi had spoken, the old woman had slowly lifted a hand up and pointed out the window. Kashi followed the finger pointing toward the window, and saw some of his schoolmates looking at his bike, and mumbling. Without another word, Kashi headed out the door. “That’s Takashi Niijima’s bike, right? No way. What would he be doing, in a bakery like this? He eats kids, not sweets! We should pop the tires, maybe that would make us even for the las—” [color=#ff8c00]“Ya idiots! What'd ya think you’re doing?” [/color]Kashi demanded, looking between the two other boys staring at his bike as he punched his palm. [color=#ff8c00]“Ya better not mess with my bike! It’s one of a kind.” [/color]The only things that made it ‘one of a kind,’ were a card stuck in the spoke (a card that had been drawn on and given to him by his youngest sister), and the addition of some flames that Kashi himself had painted on the frame. They were not painted well. “What are you doing here, man? This isn’t the kind of place someone like you should be at —” [color=#ff8c00]“I’m getting something for my sister, ya dumbass! Ya have a problem with someone taking care of their sister? I’ll kick your ass!” [/color]Kashi threatened, punching his palm again. This threat was not empty, and it caused the other two boys to gulp, before turning tail and running away from him. [color=#ff8c00]“Yeah, ya better run, ya buncha lousy cowards! If I catch ya lookin’ at my bike, or messin’ around with the geezer or granny, I’ll kick your asses!” [/color]That was a threat that Kashi shouted often. There was, after all, only one person who’s ass he could not kick (two, if you counted Aki, and three if Zuzu wasn’t on his nerves — she often was). Kashi undid the bike lock, and hopped on, pedaling toward the school. As he did so, he reached into the bag and pulled out some of the milk bread — which was absolutely [i]not[/i] for his ungrateful sister(s). [color=#ff8c00]“Awesome! It’s still warm.” [/color]He said, stuffing some of it into his mouth. [color=#ff8c00]“I’ll have to try and get gramps to teach me this recipe…” [/color]Kashi spoke to himself with a mouthful, knowing full well he wasn’t going to get the recipe anytime soon. He wasn’t [i]ready[/i] according to the old couple. Normal students may have been worried about being late by then, but not people like Kashi or the fellow delinquents that had been looking at his bike. Those people had no problem filing into school later than late, without a care in the world. Truth be told, Takashi wasn’t looking forward to being back in school… School was such a drag. [color=#ff8c00]“Oh yeah, Zuzu’s in charge of that stupid festival isn’t she?” [/color]Takashi grimaced as he remembered Izumi’s ramblings about how important the ceremony was. [color=#ff8c00]“Please, as if I care about [i]this[/i] kind of thing. Better not be anyone tryin’ to get me to join any clubs!” [/color]Kashi grumbled, stuffing the last piece of bread in his mouth as he locked his bike up in front of Meadow Ridge. [color=#ff8c00]“I should have taken longer. Those bastards delayed me! I better not see them anywhere around here.” [/color]He muttered, finishing off the last of the bread from his bag, but sticking a hand in looking for more anyway — only to come up disappointed. [color=#ff8c00]“I’m out already!? Dammit! What the hell?! Now I’m really itchin’ for a fight.” [/color]Kashi huffed, heading toward the sounds of the festival, locking his hands behind his head. [color=#ff8c00]“I shoulda skipped this whole thing, not just the welcoming ceremony…”[/color][/indent][/indent]