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Every year, Jackson spent a few days before the event pondering whether he would go to the Star Festival or not, and every year he ended up going. He always had a decent time once he got there, but it was always the convincing himself that he shouldn't stay cooped up in his flat with his guitar and paints and studies that needed doing. Especially if he was intent on being a teacher, it wouldn't do to give in to this more introverted nature and just stay home. So, on the afternoon of the first day, he dressed in a black T shirt, black jeans, and black converse high top sneakers, and headed towards the festival grounds.

Once there, Jackson took a long walk around the festival, taking in the sights, figuring out what there was to do this year, grabbing a snack or 2 and a drink, and eventually making his way over to the lantern booth.

The information provided about the lanterns was actually rather fascinating. He had vaguely heard about the cave with the newly discovered caterpillars and their glowing properties but he hadn't given a lot of real thought to the information. It was interesting that scientists had already found some real application for them aside from just being cool and lighting up the caves that they came from. He looked at the lanterns being sold, he continued to read on how the lanterns were basically designed to fly out, land, degrade, and grow more plants and greenery for the environment.

Frankly, Jackson wasn't much for any kind of active conservation, but he always enjoyed the outside and appreciated the effort that other people actively took to make sure he could continue to enjoy the outside and nature, in general. That being said, it wasn't like he would decline to participate in efforts like this that presented themselves to him and were not overtly out of his way to take part in. So, he bought a lantern with a gold star charm and started to wander off to set it up and set it off into the sky With the thousands of other lanterns.

As he walked and tried to find somewhere to set up, Jackson saw a familiar waterfall of long silver hair. Familiar in the fact that he had seen Roka Toshiro in quite a few of his music related classes at the university. He wasn't sure what major the other man was in aside from they shared a few classes in the music department, and he didn't know too much about him other than he was quiet, did his work, and then seemed to vanish before Jackson could pack his things away. Jackson also rarely saw the man anywhere other than classes.

Jackson had thought a few times about trying to talk to the man and find out more about him, but the opportunity never presented itself for more than a moment. Maybe now would be the moment as Rocco seemed to be setting up his own lantern.

"It is interesting to see you here, Mr. Toshiro." Jackson said gently as he walked over to the other man. He smirked a little. " I wasn't sure you existed outside of the music department." He continued, slightly teasing the shoulder man. We generally hoped that his teasing wasn't offensive. It wasn't like Jacqueline had any real social life this weekend. Usually did his classes and either immediately went home to do homework, practice his instruments, or paint, or he was meeting someone for an instrument or art lesson of some kind. Jackson was friendly with his classmates, but he wouldn't call almost any of them friends. It's hard to make connections and real friendships as an adult but Jackson was open to the opportunity to make one. Something made him feel like he and Roka had maybe a little more in common.

Jackson couldn't help if a small amount of color came into his face at the bright smile that spread across his classmate's face at the sight of his darker classmate coming to talk to him. Jackson wasn't exactly used to people other than his parents being quite so happy to see him and so wasn't prepared for that enthusiastic of a greeting.

He also hadn't expected the shy, elusive man to, well, say so much so suddenly. The taller man smoothed his bangs down over his non-functioning right eye a little shyly as he responded to the slurry of questions.

"You can call me Jackson if you want." He started with. It would be nice if they could be less formal after all. "I'm rather the same. I usually don’t do a lot outside of the university and my flat, but I think my family name would be shamed if I didn't go to the Star Festival for at least one night." He continued with a small chuckle, teasing himself. "I always enjoy it when I can convince myself that it's worth coming out for. How about you? What do you think of what they've done with the lanterns?"

As shy as they both were, or as Roka seemed to be, it was surprisingly easy to talk to him. For half a second, Jackson wondered why he hadn't talked to the other man before this.