Collab done with<span style="color: #008040">thetruegarsot</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">Stepping out of the elevator Naoko checked her cellphone again as she walked past the lobby and towards the door. No calls, before she could build up a sigh her stomach rumbled and she stopped abruptly her face reddening. She almost forgot to eat breakfast. Naoko looked down at wristwatch, she still had some time for breakfast, at least thirty minutes. <br/><br/>Turning away from the door she headed for the lobby to grab something small from the kitchen. Her head was down as she went through a few healthy foods she could eat, something light but enough to provide her energy to last the long bus trip. She decided to grab a bowl of fresh fruits and a small cup of yogurt. After paying at the cashier she faltered looking around the room, students were scatter across but she wasn’t sure who to go to. She saw a boy she believed was in her class, she definitely recognized the cowboy hat. What could it hurt, she walked over.<br/><br/>“Hi.” She piped up, “Would you mind if I sit here?”</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #008040">After the short trip in the elevator with his classmate, Joseph agreed that a meal before the ride would probably do well for him. If he finds no one to talk to he will at least have the energy to watch the scenery during the trip. "I'll go see if there is something being served outta the kitchen, myself," he stated as he went into the other direction before realizing he did not get the other man's name. Well, there should be plenty of time for that later, he thought. <br/><br/>The smell of breakfast had entered his mind as he got closer to the kitchen area. He did not realize how hungry he had actually been, considering he did not eat a thing the day before as he was getting ready for the trip, and ended up with a plate packed with eggs on top of a decent sized steak. "This should hold me for a while," he said quietly to himself as he sat down next to a window that looked out at the students getting onto the buses. He watched as the classmate he had talked with briefly in the elevator make his way onto one of the buses with the cup of noodles in his hand. He kept his eyes outside, viewing all the students that were going on this trip, making him a little more nervous about it even though he had already seen most of them in the same classes. <br/><br/>His gaze was broken when he heard the sound of someone walking up to his table and saw the reflection of a young woman whom he had recognized from class asking him if she can sit. He looked at her with a polite smile and cheerfully answered, "Good morning. You are more than welcome to sit."</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">Relief allowed her shoulders to relax as the boy allowed her to sit. “Thanks.” She said returning the smile as she took the chair across from him placing her food before her and parked her luggage near her feet. Once she was settled Naoko turned to the boy and narrowed her eyes in thought. Unable to grasp a name her smile turned sheepish. “I’m sorry but, I don’t believe I’ve caught your name.” Naoko admitted but she shrugged and held out her hand out. “I’m Naoko. Naoko Chou. Please tell me you didn’t know my name too, it would make me feel a lot better.”</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #008040">Reaching out his hand to meet hers, Joseph shook it while laughing about what the young woman had said, "No, I had not learned your name until now myself. Pleasure to meet you, Naoko. My name is Joseph Cornwell." <br/><br/>After shaking her hand briefly, his own came back down to the table and gripped his fork while he gave a look at the luggage that was sitting near Naoko's feet. "Are you excited for the Expedition?"</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">She couldn’t help it, her smile brightened and stretched across her face as she immediately answered, “Of course I am.”<br/><br/>A small squeal escaped her to prove her ever growing excitement. Naoko then remembered her food sitting in front of her. Trying to relax she took the time to take the cover off her bowl of fruits as she continued on, “I mean, just think of everything that we can learn in just a week at this Expedition. Sure there is a chance of getting expelled but I say it’s worth the risk.”<br/><br/>With a nod at her own words she picked her fork up, stabbed a piece of fruit, and popped it in her mouth as she looked at the ceiling imagining a world with determination shining in her eyes. After she swallowed she turned to Joseph and asked, “Aren’t you? Excited I mean."</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #008040">Watching the smile crawl across the young girl's face followed by the squeal, it was more than enough of an answer for Joseph who chuckled a bit as the good spirits from her lifted his a bit. He cringed a bit when it came to the thought about being expelled but it did not damper his mood at all. As she was talking he was using the time to eat a small portion of his steak.<br/><br/>Joseph had just finished what food was in his mouth with Naoko returned the question to him to which he replied, "Excited? Yeah you can say that. To be honest, I am pretty nervous about the whole thing. I've even thought about forgetting the whole thing, considering I might just end up being expelled either way. But I figure I might as well give it a shot anyways." Joseph was not one to exaggerate his talents and knew that aside from his main style of cooking, he was a fish out of water for pretty much anything else.</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">As she listened to Joseph she placed another piece of melon in her mouth. When he expressed his nervousness and consideration of forgetting about everything, she nodded in understanding. Naoko had to admit, at least to herself, that she has thought about dropping her dream more than once, and wondered if she was really meant for this place. Everyone here was so serious, so determined to get every one of their dishes done perfectly. And her she was trying to have fun doing what she loved, would that really be enough to pull her through?<br/><br/>She brushed those thoughts aside when Joseph finished talking. Naoko again nodded in agreement and gave an encouraging smile, “Of course, we should always take the opportunities that are open to us.” Satisfied with her statement she allowed herself to eat, she’ll take things one step at a time, as well as let Joseph enjoy his meal. At least not everyone was so serious that they weren’t passionate, Joseph at least proved that much to her, everyone was just focused on working towards the same dream as she was.<br/><br/>Naoko’s cellphone began to ring just as she was about to start on her bagel. Putting the bagel back on the plastic wrap, she flipped her phone open and read her mom’s number off the screen. “Excuse me for a second.” She said as she quickly got up from her chair and moved a few feet away from the table before she answered the phone. “Hello? Mom?”<br/><br/>“Naoko? Just seeing if you are doing alright.” As always, her mother’s voice was clipped and precise. She sounded like she was talking to a worker than her own daughter.<br/><br/>Trying to keep her voice bright she said, “I’m doing just fine. I’m about to head out to the Expedition, can’t tell you how excited I am.” Naoko had to bite her lip to keep from squealing into the phone.<br/><br/>“That’s nice.” Came the curt reply causing Naoko’s bright mood to crumble. “Make sure to call us when you make it there safely. I’ll talk to you later, I need to go now. Bye”<br/><br/>Naoko gripped the phone as she spoke softly. “Of course, bye.” <br/><br/>She waited for the click on the other side of the phone before she closed her cellphone and went back to her seat. Picking her fork back up she looked to Joseph trying to give him a smile and said, “Sorry about that.” And went back to eating quietly.</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #008040">Joseph continued to eat his meal after Naoko had given her statement before pausing and eating more of hers as well. He had about halfway finished his eggs when a ringing sound came from across the table which turned out to be the young woman's cellphone. She excused herself from the table to answer it, which gave Joseph the time to eat the remainder of his meal and think about the time ahead of him. Expulsion was something he had not really been wanting to think about, but knew it was a real thing that he would be facing. How would that look when he finally went to go see his parents? He knew his mother would act supportive even though she would hint at the idea of him giving up the culinary arts. His father...well failing from it would be just a set up for the cliche 'I told you so's Joseph would get.<br/><br/>As he thought about the repercussions of failing this would mean, he could not help but overhear the conversation his breakfast mate was having on the phone. Once she finished and returned to the table, it was obvious that a change in her demeanor had taken place, though she seemed to do her best as she smiled at him.<br/><br/>"Oh no worries," he said in earnest as he finished the rest of what was on his plate. Sliding it to the side he felt a bit awkward, "Are you going to be ok?"</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">A smile still plastered to her face, Naoko answered reassuringly, “I’m fine. Please go on ahead if you want. Pretty sure there aren’t many window seats left on the buses. You should hurry and grab one before they’re all gone.”<br/><br/>Naoko was starting to babble and she knew it. She couldn’t help but feel bad for letting Joseph worry about her. It was obvious to him that her phone call ended badly in some way but she couldn’t drop her problems on a complete stranger. All she could do was smile. <br/><br/>“I’m almost done eating so I’ll probably see you later on the bus. If we even have the same one.” Naoko said before she turned back to her food. It was when she looked back at her bagel that she realized she was holding a fork. Placing it back down on the table she placed her hands on her lap where they tightened into fist under the table. She forced her smile to relax a bit to make it seem more genuine and let a small laugh out at her own silliness.</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #008040">Joseph, without wanting to pry, nodded his head slightly as he gathered up his mess and turned his body out from the table, "Well, I do want to get a good seat," he said jokingly as he stood up holding the plate and utensils he was using, "I could try to save you a seat if you want. I wouldn't mind being on the aisle and good company could make the trip a bit more enjoyable." This was equally an admittance of preference of his as well as a suggestion towards her that her presence along the trip would be well accepted as he has not really gotten to know anyone from class yet and figures between Naoko and the man from the elevator that perhaps he can find some friends during the whole experience, if nothing else.<br/><br/>Looking at the fork being placed back onto the table, he chuckled a bit to add to her laugh, "If you are interested of course."</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF">The tension from Naoko’s shoulders slipped away as Joseph didn’t question her about her call. He didn’t seem the type to really butt in but she still appreciated the space. A genuine smile formed on her face as Joseph played along with her as he gathered his empty plate.<br/><br/>Her smile brightened at his suggestion of saving a seat for her. Naoko’s been nervous about who she would end up sitting next to. Having a tendency of talking a bit too much was sometimes not the best way of making a good first impression. Last thing Naoko wanted as to annoy someone. But Joseph didn’t seem to mind her so at least she hasn’t annoyed him, yet. Regaining her good mood she answered, “That would be great, thank you. Well that is if we even on the same bus. I’m on bus 2.”</span><br/><br/>- - - - - -<br/><br/><span style="color: #008040">He looked out at the buses that the other students were loading onto, making out what sort of traffic that each bus is having before looking back at Naoko, "Well I don't know which one is bus 2 nor do I know which bus I am supposed to be on but I'm sure they won't mind it either way. I will meet you there then." With that he tipped his hat and picked up his luggage with his free hand before leaving the young woman to her meal.<br/><br/>He went back to the kitchen area and put his plate and utensils inside one of the sinks before giving them a quick wash. While drying his hands he looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall over the doorway, seeing that he still had a good bit of time left. Good, won't have to rush, He thought to himself as he walked out the kitchen and back through the lobby area before taking his first actual step outside for the day. The mix of the crisp air and rays from the sun felt wonderful against his body as he stood watching the other students go to and fro, some going on the trip while others have their own classes to attend. <br/><br/>Approaching the buses, Joseph saw a desk that had a listing of which buses the students would be traveling on. He nonchalantly passed by without really looking and walked up onto bus number 2, peering inside to see what kind of seating was available. Near the middle of bus he saw an open pair of seats, to his surprise, and made his way to there. Sitting on the aisle seat he would ensure that if someone asked about sitting with him that it would be made clear it was being saved for someone.</span>