During his seventeen years long life, Kozume Kenma has been having too many troublesome experiences: unfortunately, summer was (and still is) one of these. He probably will never understand why summer is too hot, anyway. Doing his usual things with a weather like this made him always feel sluggish.
Not that he isn’t sluggish when it comes to responsibilities per se.
Even though he can’t stand summer like other teenagers do, Kenm can’t deny that it is still the only perk of being a student. During this time of the year, there’s not much to do at school; he can wake up later than when he’s used to or could just keep sleeping if he wanted.
Oddly enough, that summer day was chilly; a gentle breeze softly intruded in Kenma’s room through its half opened window and slightly moved the only lock of hair clearly visible from above the sheets. The sun was rising when Kenma had woken up, but he thought he still had time to laze around in his bed until he was completely awake.
That day was a special… no, more than just special since for the first time in forever nobody forced him out of his room. He’s always been more comfortable in his own half-dark room, but once in a while he felt the need to go outside and explore the nature’s creations– not.
Who is he honestly kidding? Maybe someone who didn’t know him might have thought he liked going out and that he had some friends after all, but no, that wasn’t the case at all. The only actual reason why he’s going out is because he needs more battery for his controller. There was an event going on the past week and he literally spent all the time he could playing to get what he wanted, and that lead to zero batteries at home.
After going out and completing his “mission”, the blond haired teenager was ready to go home and relax all day on his bed with his fan on… if only he remembered the way back to get home. It hasn’t been much since he moved to this new city so of course he didn’t know much of the streets and things like that. Luckily enough, he charged his phone the night before and brought it with him, so there was a way to get back safe and sound after all, but he thought he deserved a small break for he has worked so hard and decided to ender the nearest public space: Starlight Garden, was the name on the big sign at the entrance. He quickly pulled out his phone and checked some informations about the palce, last thing he wanted was a garden full of annoying distractions: “a big garden in the most quiet location of Stella City” that’s all he needed at the moment.
Sighing to himself, the young man stepped in.
The place had a strange effect on Kenma, but at the same time pleasant. It was really quiet as he read, the only thing he could hear were the birds’ sweet chirping in the background. He quickly found himself a spot under a big tree, sat down, took out his handheld consoles and began to play.
Robert prefers to save bar hopping for the later hours of the day, but it couldn’t be helped; he arrived without his usually necessities and was in dire need of his bread and water (aka cigarettes and liquor). Somehow he managed to mooch off the bars and its occupants for the day. When he couldn’t convince the bartender to initiate a tab, he grifted a few occupants with five finger filet, three shells and a pea, and three card monte. If he were thinking logically, instead of getting his quick fix, he would’ve walked out with the big stardust bucks. Robert finished his daily duty once his buzz kicked in.
He attempts to stick to his usual routine and stumble in the woods to study the cryptids that inhabit this city; unfortunately, the let’s get high (wonderland) woods is too far to truck the distance alone. He settles for the next best thing: let’s make out and fondle romantically (starlight) garden. Stepping into it, he is overcome with tranquil silence the garden has to offer. He scans the inhabitants of the garden, realizing majority of the flowers happened to be found in Damien’s garden (nope, he’s never snuck into Damien’s garden drunk at night, nope).
Despite his willingness to explore further, his body is becoming increasing heavy and tired. He settles beneath a tree, who’s shadow is wide enough he could stretch out his legs and still refuse to touch sunlight. The silence and calm atmosphere is just what Robert needs to take a drunken snooze.
A constant stream of electronic beeps and keys clicking arouse Robert from his slumber. He searches the landscape with puffy, tired eyes, unable to pinpoint the source of the annoyance. His mind realizes it derives from behind him. Leaning over the thick tree, he sees a young blond, drawn into a electronic device that he’s seen Amanda play once or twice on the sidewalk. He frowns, leaning against the trunk of the tree once more. After a curt attempt to ignore the constant noises of the video game, he says in a rather loud (whiskey) voice, “If you wanted to insult the men and women who worked hard on this garden, you could just dump your waste here instead.”
Ah, maybe that’s too harsh for a kid to understand. He sighs audibly and continues, “Kid, you can play that game anywhere. Why not do it when you’re on the pot as opposed to this beautiful garden? These days, it’s a rare occurrence that humankind takes responsibility in what mother nature has to offer-- what’s your name, bud?”
