<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/ac/Taro03.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Taro Ikeda (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=257738.msg12730054#msg12730054)<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Cafeteria<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Flashback - a few days before school starts, breakfast time<br/><strong>With:</strong>Shizuma + Open<br/><hr/><br/>If he had to be honest with himself, Taro was a little proud of how he had turned his life around. Not that it had been all that much his own achievement. He had been thrown into the water and had to swim if he didn't want to sink. As caring as his parents were most of the time, they hadn't left him much choice in the matter. But while his parents could be unconventional at times, they had made certain he was raised properly. Boasting of his own achievements was one of the things that just weren't proper.<br/><br/>"I don't think I am an inspiration. A journey like that would have changed anyone, seeing how good we have it here in Japan, compared to other people all over the world."<br/><br/>He turned to his rice bowl, taking a bite while Shizuma continued, only nodding at her small remark about her own past, his mouth still full. Again he knew that there was something he should realize, but it just didn't click. Part of his mind was still dwelling on his past, another on Shizuma laying her hand on his arm earlier.<br/><br/>So, for a moment, they just ate in silence, enjoyed their breakfast, and Taro was ready to turn to his last dish, the fried egg and toast, when Shizuma offered to share her orange. "A few vitamins can never hurt. Thank you."<br/><br/>He reached out, took the orange piece from her, then it finally registered on his mind. His hand just hung there, over the table, motionless, while his eyes grew wider.<br/><br/>"Wait a minute. Did you say you are from Harajuku? Harajuku, Tokyo? That's where I went to school."