The humid morning air had a smell hinting of plant life and earthen ground as he stepped out the door. "Just another morning? I guess it's just another morning." But little did Taishi know that this would be not "just another morning." For the hands of fate and time were slowly ticking by, unrecognized by most of the world, Taishi included.

Looking at the grey and cloudy sky, Taishi pondered what the day may bring. He watched the clouds slowly moving towards the east, as clouds normally do. As he tried to come up with some motivational thought to start the day, and coming up with nothing, Taishi took a few steps down the path towards the street. Stopping somewhat abruptly, he turned around, facing again the door from where he had just exited. "I thought I forgot something. I guess not," Tai thought to himself before turning around again and continuing on his original route.

As Taishi reached the street he was to cross before continuing on his walk to school, he caught from the corner of his eye Janeru to his left, also beginning her walk to school. Janeru was a 12-year old school-aged girl carrying a backpack over her shoulder not unlike the one Taishi had slung over his own shoulder, save the bright purple color as compared to his black one.

"Hi Taishi!" exclaimed Janeru with a highly raised waving right hand. "Hey!" replied Taishi in a more calm manner as he returned a wave of his own and finished his cross to the other side of the street. He there stopped and waited for Janeru to approach him. As Tai was 19 and enrolled in college, their walks to their schools took different routes but Tai usually took a minute to chat with Janeru, provided he was leaving in time to not be late.

"How's it going today?" Janeru brightly asked as she reached Taishi's position on the sidewalk. "Good. I guess," he continued as he looked over his shoulder at nothing in particular, mostly just in thought, before returning his attention to Janeru. "You guess?" she asked, curious. "I don't know. Just feel kind of weird today." "Oh?" Janeru inquired. "About what?" "It's... sort of a long story I guess... I'll have to tell you later. After school," Tai tried to explain. "O.K. then," Janeru said as she turned to take her walk to school. "See you later!" she said as Taishi watched her walk away for a few moments before turning to take his own walk to school. "See ya... later," Taishi responded, half lost in thought.