After a long, LONG discussion with - or rather, interrogation by - Stephanie about the move ["Have you found a place? How much is it? There's good schools there, right? Do you know JSL? Or Japanese, even?" etc.], she had finally agreed to come along. She had already graduated, so she would be able to find a job easier, and he had some stockpiled from his little fix-ups. It had taken around two weeks, maybe some less or more, to get everything properly put in place. The proceedings for their apartment were covered, (he'd made sure to keep it in Yongen-Jaya. Their apartment was not the prettiest place, but it was a place), the one-way tickets were purchased, and his mother was out of town for the weekend. Perfect.

It was time to make his move.

His texts to Stephanie were rushed as he hurried out the door with all his bags; with his tools, and guitar, it was all...a bit much, to say the least.

Ken: IM OUT HALLELUJAH
Ken: mom wont be back til we're long gone
Ken: im headin to the airport now! ill meet u there

His heart raced as he piled all his things into his - "his" - car. This was really happening. He was really going to just go. He could hardly believe that it wasn't some convoluted dream.

(That would be just his luck, though, right?)

He almost wanted to text Akira, to tell him that he'd be there soon...but he held off. He wanted it to be a surprise. Akira knew by now that he would be arriving sometime. He didn't have to know when sometime was going to be.

He barely noticed how long the flight was. He didn't even sleep on the way - he was too excited. He nearly burst into tears when the plane landed and needed a few minutes to compose himself. It was real. They were here.

He shook Stephanie awake without a second thought and moved so fast, he nearly left her behind. He shot Akira a quick text - he'd been silent a while, he didn't want him to worry.

Ken: hey! sorry, i conked out
Ken: hope i didnt worry u too much!
Ken: im gonna be busy for a bit, so i'll be quiet again, ill message when i can! ily!

Given, Akira was probably in school right about now...he'd have to drop by for a visit. Tomorrow, anyway; they needed to get everything into their new home!

(He was already getting used to the sound of that. It gave him a warm, fuzzy, happy feeling. He probably looked like a maniac to anyone who didn't know the situation, with his ear-to-ear grin.)

The apartment was...a bit small. Cramped, one might even say. It came pre-furnished, though sparsely, along with basic utilities; a creaky bed in each bedroom, and a couch in the living room.

Kennith was absolutely ecstatic.

"Steph - this feels just like my old bed, thank god, I was terrified about having to adjust...And with my sheets, too, it'll be like home just got a thousand times better!"

Stephanie was not impressed. She couldn't help a smile, though, seeing her best friend so happy. While he was babbling away, she went to write herself a note about looking for jobs the next morning. She could unpack later, she felt - the ride had been long, and she was jetlagged to all hell. She wished Kennith a quick goodnight, flopped onto the couch, and promptly passed out.

Kennith, on the other hand, went about unpacking their things in a flurry of excitement. Halfway through, however, the lack of sleep - and his lack of food - caught up to him. He didn't even make it to his bed before just curling up on the floor and falling right asleep.

Not the healthiest thing, certainly, but it was all uphill from here. Anything was going to be better than "home".

-srry this one is a bit shorter! more of a transition chapter + im super tired, gettin 2 the good stuff soon-