[h2][center][color=a36209]JM MASON[/color][/center][/h2][hr]
JM never thought he was a good student. Hell, his age relative to the people in class was a dead giveaway. He'd been held back once and dropped out of school for a year afterwards - both instances, he was embarrassed to admit, were his fault, not that he cared at the time. He was angry and frustrated, and with no clear goal in life just doing whatever the hell he felt like doing seemed like the best thing to do. [i]At the time.[/i]

Now though he had a goal, and even more surprisingly people he wanted to prove himself to. But goddamn if the process wasn't frustrating. He wasn't used to this whole studying thing. He usually [i]skipped[/i] classes, never mind paying attention to the goddamned teacher - and that was when he attended a regular old school! This magic thing? It was something else altogether.

He'd scarcely finished putting together his notes about incantations (Ha! He was even taking down notes now!) when he noticed his teacher had already dismissed the class. Crap, he was missing something, he knew he was. Unfortunately the teacher had already bailed and there was no way he was making an ass of himself by asking his classmates and making it obvious he wasn't paying any fucking attention and-

He took a deep breath. He was getting pissed again and he didn't even know at what, which was just stupid.

Okay, whatever. He missed something, [i]probably[/i] wasn't anything important?

His pathetic attempt at rationalizing his fuck aside, it was now the start of Golden Week, which meant he had some time to kill and full shifts at work. On that note, if he didn't hoof it he was going to be late for his shift at the Department Store. He'd rather not have his supervisor get on his case just as Golden Week got started; the bastard would probably give him the night shift.

[hr]
[center][h3]Seidoujima Island - Market District[/h3]Department Store[/center]
"JM!"

Head swiveling to the side, JM looked at the man calling him, a senior coworker at the Department Store. [color=a36209]"Ah?"[/color] It was never a pleasure talking with him.

His senior scowled at him. "Show some respect kid. Whatever, you're needed to man one of the food stalls. Teiko's called in sick today."

[color=a36209]"What?"[/color] he groaned. [color=a36209]"Come on old man, why me?!"[/color]

"'Cause I said so! Now git!"

Grumbling, JM set the crates of supplies he was hefting down. It took a bit of patience to not just slam the damn things into the ground, fragile goods be damned. He hated working the front, especially for the food stalls. At least with cashiers he could keep interaction to a minimum, but with the stall he actually had to make an effort to be [i]nice[/i].

[color=a36209]"Alright, whatever. You better tell Teiko she owes me for this!"[/color]

Slipping on the apron with the logo of the department store in front, he made his way to the food court. It was especially busy today, what with all the students that were off enjoying the first day of a week long vacation. It was amazing really, how many there were.

[color=a36209]"[i]Okonomiyaki[/i]! Git yer fresh [i]Okonomiyaki[/i] for sale!"[/color]

Goddamn he hated working the front.