Despite passing on to autumn, the culmination of the past summer seemed to linger.

Globules of sweat beaded down [b]Howlite Maeda's[/b] face as he jogged around the grand track for the fifth or so time. Passing the drill instructor of a physical education instructor once more, the man raised his arm and pointed towards the shadow of an enormous tree at his flank, advising him to rest since he had completed his laps for the day.

Raising the bottom of his shirt and up to his face to dry it off, Howlite took a seat against the tree bark and watched as the rest of the gym class droned by, groaning as they had two more laps to complete. A detached group of students walked by, chattering rather loudly as they turned back and forth between him and their friends.

[b]"Holy shit, he's already done,"[/b] one of the boys said. [b]"Who is that?"[/b]

[b]"One of the upperclassmen, I think."[/b] another answered.

The last one snickered, [b]"Probably one of [i]those[/i] rich kids. What a showoff."[/b]

Howlite frowned at the last comment, scratching the back of his head. As much as he was used to ridicule for being [i]one of those rich kids,[/i] he still never understood why it was such a big deal. Other than the fact that his [i]family[/i] possessed all of that money, he was just a normal teenager who was lucky to have access to those privileges. It slightly annoyed him, how wealth was frowned down upon simply because of the mass stereotype.

Given, Howlite never let the thought bother him as it did before; the only thing that mattered to him was that he was enjoying each day. Seeing his friends and doing well in both school and sports, that was all he really needed. [b]"Just have to wait, now.."[/b] he leaned back, resting up as he patiently waited for the class to finish.