The process [open]

[Lucas Blacke]

Time was fleeting and his moments as a bus-ridden student were soon to be over for him as he got off the bus and made his way over to what he was sure was the biggest mall he had ever seen. In the months he had been working, not in the mall mind you, he had saved up enough money to buy a car and some stuff for it, as well as just some neat doodads.

First up was some music though!

In Flames had just released a new album and while Luke had already ''borrowed'' it from the internet he wanted to start a habit of buying albums he liked just so he could say he had them. So far he just had one album by them, but he was sure that when he found a place that sold more albums of them he would buy them in a heartbeat. Sadly In Flames wasn't really people-music so there weren't a lot of stores carrying their music.

He had been browsing several stores now but found no sign of any album named ''Siren Charms'', it saddened him that he needed to be dissapppointed by this town again and again. Not only was it full of people who he assumed hated him, but it was also full of people who made getting a second chance really hard. Maybe a car would change that.

When he finally saw a music store with an advertisement for a band starting with the word ''In'' he examined closer, but as his luck would have it the part following it was written over and blacked out, though to his realization the people on the poster didn't look anything like what the members of In Flames looked like. As far as he knew none of them had boobs.

He then slantered on and threw out a sigh. If he couldn't find item number one on his list, what would the chance be he found the other things on his list?

[Akira Koizumi]

Akira got off the bus with his fellow students. He knew what he wanted to get and was hoping he could find it in one of the stores in the mall. The superstitious Japanese boy wanted to get another good luck charm. If he could find another cell phone charm he may get one. Akira also wanted to look around and see what the different stores had to offer.

His plan was to start at one end of the mall and work his way to the end of the mall. Akira didn’t have very much money. His parents were sending him an allowance since he didn’t have a job. Akira had thought about finding a job, but he hadn’t looked around for anyone who was hiring. So for now he had some of his allowance money. The rest of it was being saved.

Akira wondered in and out of stores. Nothing really caught his attention. He walked through the mall until he spotted one of his peers. The friendly Japanese teen walked up to his peer. “Lucas-san, hi.” Akira greeted him warmly.

[Lucas Blacke]

Luke was pretty upset about not finding the music he was looking for right away and went on to the second thing on his mental list with a shrug. He was looking around for stores who could have been selling what he was looking for when a surge of random new people both ran and strolled casually about. It was a monday either way, and still pretty early so people could have been scurrying artound for work. Coincidentally some of the stores did open right at that time, he had always thought everything opened at the same time.

Then one of the people strolling about took his attention as he walked up to Luke and greeted him. Even without the overly cheery way of saying hello Akira could be easily spotted in a crowd. It wasn't every day you saw a Japanese boy in an American town. Though Hammel seemed to be changing that a bit..

''Godzilla!'' He yelped out as he widened his arms with a smile. ''I mean Akira! Good to see ya. Isn't every day I get ta see a student outside of their usual habitat!'' He joked as he stuck out his hand for a shake. Tradition or not, this was America. And as nice as Luke could be, he was quite strong about not-American people to adjust to America.

''What brings ya here?''

[Akira Koizumi]

Akira laughed at Lucas’ greeting. “This Godzilla is terrorizing Pilot Ridge.” Akira shook Lucas’ hand. Akira had lived in America for four years now. He had learned American culture and customs. The Japanese teen even got into the habit to introduce himself as Akira Koizumi instead of Koizumi Akira. He always confused people by saying his last name first. He learned American habits but he still had some Japanese habits.

“I’m looking for some charms and just strolling around. I found some charms but they weren’t what I was looking for.” Akira did find some charms. None of them interested Akira to get them. He was kind of picky about charms.

“Are you looking for anything in particular, Lucas-san?”

[Lucas Blacke]

Apparently Akira had no problems adjusting to the American way as he shook the extended hand as if it was the most normal thing ever. Which it was. Luke looked around briefly before shooting the boy a smile in return of the laugh and was then asked what he was looking for as Akira had told him what he was looking for.

''Charms..?'' He repeated in a confused manner. This kid was superstitious? Or really into charms, either or. ''What kinda charms ya lookin' for?'' He asked as he subtly tried to scope out shops which could carry what he wanted next.

''Ya could say that..'' He replied with a slight nod, not wanting to say anything about a car to anyone. ''Just lookin' around right now though. Want some music CD's, but they're not carryin' the right ones.''

[Akira Koizumi]

“Good luck charms.” As silly as it may be, but Akira was superstitious. He believed in that kind of stuff. When he moved to America, he did research to know the superstitions in America. Akira already had three good luck charms. One charm is for doing well in sports, another one is to be protected from evil spirits, and one for passing tests. Akira wasn’t looking for a charm for a specific meaning to it. He was just looking for a charm to that would bring him good luck.

“That’s kind of what’s happening to me too. I can find them, but not what I want.” Akira chuckled. “It’s a pain in the butt, isn’t it?”

[Lucas Blacke]

''Charming.'' He joked. He didn't really peg Akira for someone superstitious, but looks could be deceiving he figured. He didn't like being judged solely on what people saw either, because in the end it is what is inside that counts and, in Luke's case, drives people away. Much like how Akira was superstitious and it most likely held no real effect other than bring comfort to people much like childhood memorabilia did Luke seemed to know for sure that everyone around him would end up hating him, and this boy in front of him was no exception. No matter how nice this kid acted and how friendly he was would all fade like snow before the sun when he really got to know Luke for the dick he was. Most he could do was be himself for the moment and try not to actively fuck shit up.

Maybe, just maybe he needed something like this kid did, maybe he needed some kind of 'lucky' object to keep his feelings in check so he wouldn't go irrational on people. Maybe he just needed to learn not to push people away from him, but that was something for another time. Crude as it was, he was here to do something he wanted to do and that didn't involve talking to someone from school, sure he wasn't one to outright state that, especially not when people were being so nice to him but that didn't mean he couldn't go on and look for whatever he wanted.

''I've.. kinda been lookin' for a sound system.'' He figured it couldn't hurt to tell this guy, mainly because he could beat him up if he ever told anyone. ''I'm gonna get a car soon enough, and I need a radio for it.'' He looked around slightly. ''But as ya said, it's a pain in the royal beehive,'' He slapped his butt as he said that and smiled slightly. '''Cos I dunno where they sell the right ones. I know shit 'bout electronics.''

[Akira Koizumi]

Akira totally missed Lucas’ joke. American humor and Japanese were different. Sometimes American humor was lost on Akira. His Japanese humor was sometimes lost on Americans.

“Cool.” Akira would have to find a job and save his money to be able to get a car. For now he was fine with walking. Plus he didn’t have any long commutes. “I would help you out but I don’t know anything about electronics.”

[Lucas Blacke]

He was used to his jokes being overlooked. As long as they were funny to him, right?

As far as Akira not being able to help him with electronics was not that much of a deal, mainly due to the fact he had been just figuring he'd need to do this on his own. ''So ya know just 'bout the same amount as I do. Good ta know!'' He joked with a thumbs up.

He didn't really have much use for a car, but somehow the idea of added freedom felt great. He could take random drives to clear his head or go places without having to wait for busses. He could date farther from campus or get to the city a bit more. There were people around there he wanted to see, he was sure of it. Though maybe he was just making up bullshit reasons to justify wanting to buy a car.

''Luckily I ain't that picky.'' He explained. ''Don't need ta know what I'm gettin' as long as it works an' does what I want. I'm sure someone will help me out if I ask fer help.''