Change is something that every human eventually faces. Time is not limitless. Pacing and the flow will eventually make this one thing to be seen in a different light. The past is something that is valuable information but must not be dwelled into it for too long. Catching yourself in this loop of rethinking and revising what’s already is gone. That is the most wasteful use of the time.

  The light installations were place all around Akasia. The very same park me and Athena walked through had been brightly composed with light shows. Different locations with different shows.

  By the beach side they had lit every three. Built multiple installations in different forms. They looked like random shapes at first but when coming closer. They came to look like different shapes of animals.

  A bright light that was made in the form of a cat. There was another with a dog. Smaller and bigger. Playing with a toy beautifully. Even a bear inside the park hiding next to an old tree. A small squirrel jumping between branches. A tall penguin very close to the central shopping area.

  In various locations there were giraffes, lions, monkeys…every zoo animal…small or big in reflections of lights. The overall details were made and installed to a perfection. They shone in every colour possible…changing the pace of the lights from fast to slowed down, to still. Eventually, resetting and repeating again and again.

  “Oh! Wow! This looks amazing!” My mom looked over as we walked through the park. She was mesmerised by the sights and shows.

  “It sure does!” Itsuki agreed.

  He was walking beside me.

  “Is your sister coming to this?” My mom asked Itsuki.

  I was walking between them, Itsuki to my left and mom to my right.

  “Sadly she can’t.” Itsuki replied.

  Em definitely was not Itsuki’s sister. But he said that when he met my mom at first. When he got eager to check me out.

  “Awee…Take lots of pictures to show her!” My mom encouraged Itsuki, whose eyes in this darkness brightened.

  “Thanks…I may do that!” He said as he winked at my direction.

  “Pictures of the sights would be really great…” I said.

  “And people!” Itsuki replied.

  “People are boring to capture!” I said motioning to what was around us. “These sights are worth remembering!” I emphasized.

  Silently this was me saying. Don't you dare take pictures of me!

  Itsuki did understand my subtext because he only snickered at my words.

  “There are so many people!” Mom expressed as we walked outside the park and approached the main area.

  I looked over in the same direction my mom glanced, and she was right. The number of people gathered here was hundreds. A very big crowd. All walking in the direction of Treasury Tower. We walked in the same direction. It was getting very close to half four in the evening.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Yes. It was dark and the sun was coming down, only a slight sliver or red at the horizon. The days at this time are very short. Sunset was now around this same time.

  They have scheduled a Passing the Key speech right at four thirty at the front of the Treasury Tower building. Which was fifteen minutes away from now. I was not sure what really Passing the Key meant but as I got explained by Athena.

  This is supposed to be Mr. Ichigo. The current head will officially pass the reins over to his son who is taking over as the next head of Akasia.

  Well…technically Nobu Ichigo has already taken the role but today they have scheduled the official event for the whole city too celebrate this event. It does not happen that often.

  Mr. Ichigo apparently has been head of Akasia for almost thirty years.

  “Do you know where Athena is?” Itsuki asked me.

  I glanced down at my phone and opened a text chain with my friend.

  She was asking to take a picture of my surroundings.

  I did exactly that. Then I looked over at Itsuki.

  “She just finished helping her mom to set up her stand and is now on the way to look for us.” I replied.

  “I am interested in this friend of yours!” My mom excitedly said.

  “Mom…behave!” I was warned not to embarrass myself.

  My mom only laughed. Happy to be included.

  “Your mom is cool! I can't see her embarrassing you…” Itsuki gave his opinion.

  “Well thank you young man. It’s nice to be appreciated.” My mom replied to Itsuki kindly exchanging their expressions.

  I ignored them.

  In my sight a familiar figure appeared. Athena coming right in our way, waving happily.

  “Rory!!!” She called out to come her way.

  And we all met up.

  “Athena!” I said.

  Looking over at my eager mom. “This is my mom Evelyn.” I introduced my mom to Athena.

  Athena opened her eyes wide. Looking at my mom.

  “Oh? Wooow…you look so…It’s nice to finally meet you!” Athena started to say something. Then cut herself and gave an open hug to my mom.

  My mom did not expect Athena to be so welcoming. She nervously laughed.

  “You look so good yourself darling! It’s nice to meet a friend of my daughter.” She expressed as they ended the hug and looked at each other again.

  “They don’t look like a mother and daughter! Don’t they?” Itsuki said. Taking the attention for himself.

  Athena turned towards Itsuki, positively smiling at him.

  “Itsuki! Rory told me that you are also gonna be here!” Athena greeted Itsuki.

  Then she looked back at my mom with her brightest smile and then at me.

  “I see the resemblance in your features but…so different that I imagined!” Athena agreed to Itsuki’s comment.

  “We get a lot of it…” My mom agreed what they meant.

  I did not comment.

  My mom in her clothing style was more advanced than me and I was more simple. They were expressing the difference of that.

  Athena then looked urgent.

  “Look…we got to move before our spot is taken!” Athena announced.

  The amount of people kept increasing. She urged us to move on and we followed her.

  Athena had saved a spot on the edge of the stage. Where also her mothers stand happened to be. We were heading that way.

  “I haven’t actually seen Mr. Ichigo…” Itsuki spoke to Athena.

  “Oh…for the last several years he isn’t really out there. I am curious about seeing him myself.” She replied to him.

  “What kind of person is he?” My mom asked them both.

  “He is known for his great business decisions for the city…personally I’ve heard he is quite intimidating.” Athena replied.

  “Like a typical politician?” My mom asked.

  “Something like that.” Athena nodded.

  My mom also nodded in understanding. She has had her own fair share of interacting with them. A picture in her mind formed of him.

  We eventually arrived at our spots. A made-up open stage was set up right in the front of the Treasury Tower building. Hundreds and hundreds of people gathered in the open space. The space may not look so big on a normal day but somehow with this many people around it seemed to look bigger than normal. Or it may be the sun setting shadowing the edges of the buildings.

  I felt quite warm right now. Even the weather has not changed since morning. The density of people made the cold not feel as cold. At least to my body. My feet were a different story.

  “Are you still cold?” Itsuki noticed me move my feet.

  “I am okay.” I replied.

  Itsuki didn’t say anything else. His eyes scanned the surroundings.

  My mom was slightly away from us with Athena. She was introducing her to my mom. They were having a small conversation.

  We happened to arrive at the same time the event started.

  My eyes for the first time landed on this infamous Nobu Ichigo person.