Waving to the end of Seasons

[Lenny Robertson]

Lenny had just gotten into town, he had his acceptance letter in his pocket so he knew he was accepted to work at Kumorai High School. He was freshly shaved and his hair was cut fairly short but managable and also brought a few outfits to wear over the next few days so he will be clothed until his other clothes arrive through FedEx.

He made a bit of progress over the last few days, he had spent a long time outside over his 3 years of life so he had begun to enjoy the outdoors a bit more. Being inside and unpacking was a bit confining to him. He wanted to spend some time outside but he needed to get the unpacking done now or else it would never get will.

He still has more stuff coming from overseas but it will take days for it to get home. He eventually had all of his packages unpacked, had his papers placed in the right holders and his books stacked in the corner of a disused section of the apartment. He wiped his brow and spoke to himself, "I will need to get some shelves installed some time soon." The other ones are just to large to be put into a room as small as the living room. His blankets and sheets were tossed to the couch because that's were he was going to be sleeping. Over the next few days he will be receiving his server parts so he will have his bedroom converted into a large server room.

With all that he had with him put in its respective places, he stretched and pulled out his phone. He turned it on and opened his maps app to get a map for the surrounding area. He spotted a beach not to far away from his place. He rummaged through the cupboards and found his beach towel. He stared at it, "We can at least get one more beach time in before the end of the fall season." He pulled out a small bag putting his towel, swim trucks and some snacks and soda inside wrapped in  white hoodie.

He looked at the phone again and took a mental picture of the route he would need. Left the house, locking it behind him and starting his way to the beach. He spotted a lot of people out and about, going shopping, having coffee or tea in shops, cars and bikes zipping by him on the road. He smiled finally getting to the beach, he found the changing room put on his trunks and a thin white hoodie. The beach was nearly empty but it was clean. He found a quaint little spot over by some large rocks, he placed down his towel and laid back against the water smoothed rocks to watch the people and the scenery go by.

[Ayumi Nataki]

Ayumi was so excited! The day was warm and she actually had it off from work! Her long raven black hair was tied up into adorable pig tails high up, she had a little red wagon behind her and she was pulling it down the side walk. Her pace was rather quick, the little wagon creaked and kept up though with a small ice chest, two folding chairs, a large pink and red striped umbrella, and a towel.

The small girl only picked up pace as she reached the sandy shores, running to get a spot and grinned wide since it was still on dry shore but close to the waters. She was short in her flip flops at five foot even, wearing a tshirt and a pair of pants over her dark blue one piece. She grabbed the umbrella and staked it into the ground before opening it up wide. She unfolded the chairs to put them in the shade, putting the cooler in the shade too.

Quickly Ayumi pulled off her pants and shirt, putting it onto the wagon and then unfolded the towel to lay over it. If it stretched out it would be nice and sun kissed when she got out of the cold waters. A bing dinged off and she scurried back to her pants and pulled out her cellphone. It was the newest Iphone, waterproof case that was bejeweled with rhinestones to make a flower. The girl gave a pout as she read the screen though... Canary had to flake. Giving a soft sigh she looked at the ice chest, now knowing bringing so much water and soda. She shoved her phone back into her pants and sat down in her chair.

Admittedly she knew sulking wouldn't do any good but now she was all alone. Her shy nature suddenly thinking maybe coming in the first place wasn't a good idea. She fiddled a bit with her fingers and dug her toes into the sand as she sat in her chair.

[Lenny Robertson]

Lenny pulled out his phone, unlocked it and pulled up his music list. He took out his ear-buds and pushed them gently into his ear and plugged it into the phone. He started up his list starting with Summer by Calvin Harris. He thought it was funny since it was the middle of Autumn, he smirked slightly thinking about it. He started tapping his foot to the beat, unknowingly, causing the phone in his hand to catch the reflection of the sun.

The song was over and it switched to World is Our Playground by Vice. A new band that he had heard of recently, he was at a college party a few months back and started talking to the DJ and explained to him that he had been out of the country for a few years and hadn't heard of any music that was out. Lenny got a list from the DJ of most of the band that had been big over the years and turns out, to him, they weren't to bad.

About this time last year he was backpacking through Chile, it was busier than he expected but it was nice as long as you knew where to go, which Lenny didn't. He had gotten into some trouble but managed to get himself out of his due to some quick thinking and handy tech laying about. It gives him shivers anytime he thinks about it but if anyone was to ask him if it was fun, he would have the biggest smile on his face.

[Ayumi Nataki]

What he didn't notice was that as the sun glinted off the surface of his phone it reflected right into poor Ayumi's face. She blinked and turned her head, then leaned forward to see where it was coming from. There was a man there listening to music, just a smile on his face as he seemed to be jamming out. She drew a slow breath as she gazed at him and glanced down to all the food she had brought. He was alone, and she was alone and though she could take it all back to her dorm and keep it for later... it didn't seem right. She fidgeted for a good few minutes to gather her courage before standing and started to walk over to him.

"Ah...e...excuse me?" her voice was soft and she drew a breath as she stopped about a foot from where he was sitting. "I'm so sorry to just.. walk over and interrupt you but my friend canceled on me, and I have a lot of food with me. I was wondering if maybe you would like some?" she turned slightly, pointing to the large red and white cooler. "I work at the local sushi restaurant and I made all the rolls myself! It's probably enough to feed five.. and I really don't want it to spoil in my fridge." she blushed slightly as it was awkward for her to just walk over to a strange man and offer him food but it was true. She had far over packed, and she knew she couldn't eat it by herself.

She could feel her heart racing slightly... it was out of her nature to just talk to strangers and already she could hear Lien's voice ranting at her for just going up to a strange man and doing this. Lien was protective... especially when it came to Ayumi being around males but she knew her Senpai had her own reasons. But this guy didn't look that bad.. he seemed rather nice and he gave off a very kind aura.

[Lenny Robertson]

He was bobbing his head to his music until he heard a faint voice because of the end of the song, it startled him slightly. He opened his eyes, pulling the earbuds out of his ears and smiled at the young girl standing before him. "Hello there." He heard the mention of food, he looked down and he had nothing but a small bag of chips and a drink. He would welcome some good food if it was offered.

"Sure, I would love some sushi if isn't to much trouble." It would be like being in the east again. He met a few Asian folk that made some amazing sushi.

Lenny looked over the girl quickly not to be perverse or anything but just as an observational standpoint, she was maybe 14, maybe 15. She looked a bit young to be working in a sushi shop, family run possibly. Could be a student, what could be her abilities or is she a norm. He had referred to people that do not have a special ability as Norms, obviously short for normals (i.e. without ability). It was a word that he used for his own knowledge, people may look down upon that word.

He was making a speculated observation of course and he would learn more as they spoke.

He figured it would be a good start to getting use to the people in the area so it was good for him to accept the offer of food anyways. He smiled and offered to come sit with her.

[Ayumi Nataki]

She was patient as he removed the ear buds, letting it drop as he turned his attention to her. A wide grin spread over her face when he agreed to have some of her sushi. "Oh yay! Thank you so much!" she bounced and quickly headed over to where she had everything set up. she hefted the cooler and headed back to him, settling it down and opened it up. "Uhm.. are you allergic to anything?" she pulled out several containers of rolls, and sashimi as well as the ginger, wasabi, and a small bottle of soysauce. "Tuna, Salmon, Crab, egg, uhm.. I think this one is Halibut and that's scallops." She paused, looking it over and bit her lower lip gently. "Wow... I really over prepared." she gave a laugh as she settled down onto the warm sand and offered the food out to him.

"Oh! I'm am so rude I'm sorry. Not only coming over here to barge in on your day but I didn't even introduce myself to you. My name is Ayumi Nataki. I really hope I didn't disturb you." her smile was soft and her Japanese accent wasn't all that thick as she reached into the cooler and gently pulled out two platters and a chopsticks. She put a pair together and held it out towards him. "I had hoped a friend of mine would be joining me but she called to say she got stuck in school helping with tutoring. She's usually a really big eater so that's why I made so many."

[Lenny Robertson]

Lenny shook his head slightly in astonishment as he watched the young girl lift the large chest and set it down over by his sitting area. He watched as he saw the many many packages she pulled out, almost completely disregarding her question of being allergic to anything, "No, I should be fine with this." He saw the wasabi and he almost melted into the sand right there. Lenny never had problems with hot things but wasabi was the only thing that could get him to *feel the heat*.

Lenny shrugged off the rudeness, "No, don't worry to much about it. I came to enjoy the last few days of Autumn and whats better than doing so with a new friend. I am Lenard Robertson, Lenny when I am not teaching." He gaped noticeably as she began speak about the amount of food she had prepared, "You and another were going to eat all of this?" The mentioning of her friend explained it all, "That was generous of you." He close his mouth and grabbed the offered platter and chopsticks.

~Sushi on the beach in Autumn, that would have to be a official first for him.~ he thought to himself and waited silently for her to finish her preparation.

[Ayumi Nataki]

She opened the containers to show the many sliced rolls, sushi, and sashimi which she gently laid out. She opened the wasabi, ginger, and made sure the soy sauce bottle was opened correctly before brushing her long raven black hair to the side. "Yeah Canary usually needs protein to get her energy up since she's like.. involved in everything. Sadly it's why she couldn't make it as well. It's far too much for me to eat and I really don't want it going to waste since it is fish. Please feel free to help yourself!" she assured him and placed a bit of extra ginger on her plate.

"You're a teacher? You must be the new one for.. uhm.. computers? Canary is Principal Kinzoku's daughter by adoption... she told me that we would be getting a new teacher. It is very nice to meet you! I will be in your class since I am a freshman. I am... okay with technology. I like to take pictures and photoshop them but that is about it." she reached to her pocket and pulled out the flip phone, which was unusual in the US but highly popular in Japan still. "The camera is okay... I mostly use it at work to take pictures of the food and post them up." she smiled happily about it and used the chopsticks to put the sushi on her plate, and then popped the whole sushi piece into her mouth. With her manners the way she ate it.. it was clear to see that she was indeed from Japan.

[Lenny Robertson]

This girl was actually the first student he had come across since being in town. She seems like a gentle soul. Being in his class, he will have to know more about his students. "Yes, I am the Computer Tech Teacher, Mr. Robertson. It's good to know that I have someone attending my class." He would be teaching the basics of technology but with his extensive knowledge on the subject, he could try to make the class fun. "I am hoping to provide you with more than enough information to help you know more than just your phone." He said happily.

He watched as everything was place in front of them. He picked up a piece of Halibut and added a small dab of wasabi to it, putting it in his mouth to chew. It was delicious, it was exactly like being abroad. If you were to look directly into Lenny's eyes you could see his remembering his time there.

"Aurelian has been very helpful with my adjustments to the school. I should be heading in tomorrow and I figured that I would enjoy the last few days of Autumn by the water." He spoke as he watched a heavier set man run screaming with drunken enjoyment into the waves with a few of what looked to be his friends.

[Ayumi Nataki]

She blinked a bit and paused, quietly mouthing his name so she would remember it later. She still wasn't very good at English names so it took her a little bit longer to memorize them. After she did this she watched him try some of the sushi, delighted that seemed to like it and it almost seemed as if he was very familiar with style, especially since he ate the entire thing. Most Americans would take two bites, never knowing how rude this was considered where she was from. Perhaps this man knew culture as well as computers, or maybe he had even been to visit? Which was probably more likely since Japan was a mecha to technology really.

"The programs here are different from the ones I used back home. I used to help my mother with the book keeping of our restaurant, or with my father to make nice little advertisements in a Photoshop program but that's about the extent of my knowledge. The programs we used though are not the same as the ones used here. I use my phone to email my mother every week but.. that's about it." she gave a slight shrug. Her mother hardly emailed her back now a days... she supposed it was because she was busy with her new job.

"Today is very nice, and though there's a little chill in the air it's really a great day to come here. It's why we had been planning on coming. Did Prinipal Kinzoku tell you about here? Canary is the one who told me. She said she and her father come here during the summer quite often." She grinned widely, but behind all the smiles there was a slight sadness she tried so hard to hide because as much as she adored Canary, she had envy of what Canary and her father had since Ayumi's own father had passed away. She missed him dearly, but almost never spoke of it.

[Lenny Robertson]

Lenny could see the concentration she was using to remember his name, due to her accent, she had not quite grown accustom to the English Language quite yet but she was making improvements along the way, which was good to see. Everyone has there own method of understanding things in the world. If there is a way for people to make things easier for themselves, who is he to judge.

He had to adjust to the way life was being thrown at him at times and he did so quite well from the looked of it. He had to survive on his own quite often while abroad and still managed to live to this day.

Lenny could tell that Ayumi was worried about the class. It would be anything more than the basics like; typing speed, errors, calculations. "I am sure you will do perfectly fine. If you can type with speed with minimal errors, you have the class made. If you wanted to learn Business Technology, there would be a bunch more to learn."

He thought about it for a second, maybe he could speak with Aurelian and see if he would be able to set up an advanced class for those who may want to progress further. That might have to wait for another time thought, Lenny had only just started working for the school.

He took another few bites of the sushi and listened intently to her speak about her friend and her father. He could see the sadness she was trying to hold back but wouldn't address it.

Not to bring up the past for her, he spoke about the school, "I am aware of all of my students, though I have yet to make time to meet with anyone other than yourself." He laughed to himself, "This is actually the first day I have been out of my apartment. So much to do, so little time." he continued to smile. He was told that a kind smile to someone can be infectious, passing it on to another. He was covertly trying to make her smile without her knowing.

[Ayumi Nataki]

She liked his kind smile, it made her want to smile as well as she gazed at him and listened to him speak. She wondered if it would be like this in class.. he seemed like such a good soul and she was happy she had brought over food to him. She took another piece and popped it into her mouth, enjoying the delicate taste and texture before she swallowed it and took a bite of the lovely pink ginger. She flicked her hair to the side, making sure it wasn't in the way and looked back to listen to him.

"The students at Kumorai have been very kind to me. I am certain they will be nice to you too! The staff as well. When I first moved here English was much more difficult. They have been patient and I have never been picked on." she brightened as he said it. But then she was quite an adorable young girl so it figured that not many would pick on her, still there had been the chance and it had never risen.

"I type well, I practiced often with my mother guiding me. Business Technology sounds very interesting. You see right now I am an apprentice sushi maker. My father was a master, but... he passed away. So my mother sent me here to Kumorai to harness my unique gifts as well as study under the sushi master at Sushi House. I never knew! Western sushi is much different from back home! Perhaps when you are off sometime you should stop by the Sushi House! I will make more sushi for you if you like it." she grinned brightly as she explained. She was rather surprised how much she was talking with the Teacher. Normally she was so shy but around him she felt surprising relaxed and friendly.

[Lenny Robertson]

Lenny could tell that his infectious smile took hold inside the young girl, "I'm sure I will do just fine if all of the students are as sweet as you." He said trying to keep the mood uplifting. But the mentioning of her late father, the master sushi chef, made his a bit sullen.

He could understand the lose of a family, he hadn't lost his family but since he was so smart his whole family always seemed like he was better than them. Little by little his family slowly stopped talking to him and eventually only one or two of them speak with him and that is only for a few minutes during the holiday seasons. He could understand the feeling of lose she was putting off.

He wanted to address her passion for sushi making but couldn't find something to say other than, "Anytime I am need of some great sushi, I will make sure to call you first." He smiled as he enjoyed another roll of sushi.

[Ayumi Nataki]

She blushed slightly and laughed when he called her sweet. It was a comment she got often and once she had wondered if it was true but now she supposed it was. She liked being sweet, she found that it was a good to be sweet to others. "Arigato." she bowed her head slightly to him and then took another bite of sushi and nodded a little when he said he would call ahead first to let her know he was coming in.

"That would be wonderful. Then I can be prepared with some of our better quality items!" she chimed and gave a nod as she finished what she had on her plate and grabbed a few more using the large end of her chop sticks.

"You seem like you have eaten sushi before, Mr. Robertson. You don't take bites out of it and besides the wasabi extra you don't seem to be doing any of the usual American things. Have you ever been to Japan?" she brushed her hair back before picking up a piece of ginger and popped it into her mouth, cleansing her palate of the previous pieces she had eaten.

[Lenny Robertson]

Lenny smiled at the thought of being to Japan, "Oh, no. Ive never been but when I was abroad I met this small Oriental family that housed me for a while and they taught me a few things along the way. Of course, I helped around the village while I was there so I became familiar with most of the people."

He thought of the elderly man and young woman. There were three generations in that home, the older man, younger woman and her child. They were making ends meat but with his assistance he was able to bring in as much money as he could for those nice and gentle people. "It took a long time to become familiar with the process but I managed to get by quite well and I try to use them as often as possible so I don't forget those people that I helped."

He smiled happily again as he savored another bite of the delicious sushi in front of him.