Last minute cramming, it was the unspoken tradition of high school students everywhere; especially in Yukari's class. Different groups were huddled together, pouring over notes and study sheets. Even Kagura seemed to be making a genuine effort. That wasn't to say she was making any headway. In fact, she was completely lost.
Picking up her text book, she tried turning it this way and that. She even tried looking at it with her head turned sideways. But the strange words and letters made no sense, no matter how she looked at them. And was she supposed to do a dialogue? No way! She going to look like a complete idiot. She finally gave up and slumped back in her seat, tossing the book back on her desk with a miserable sigh.
This is hopeless. I'm just no good at this stuff.
Her upturned book sat on her desk, the page turned to the bit of dialogue they were covering. There was a boy and girl in the depiction (of a Japanese transfer student and an American classmate) seen smiling and talking. For some reason, they seemed to be laughing and pointing at her. A rough hand slapped down her shoulder, making her yelp unexpectedly. Kagura immediately looked up, to her left, not surprised to find it was Tomo. The mischief maker smiled as if she'd done nothing wrong and casually raised a hand in greeting.
"Ohayo!" she said cheerfully.
"Ohayo, my ass." Kagura groaned in reply. She rubbed her shoulder a bit, wincing at the faint stinging sensation.
"Uh, uh, uuh!" Tomo teased. Hand on her hip, her other finger raised, she smiled and quipped, "You gotta have an ass first. Now your chest on the other hand..." Tomo left the last bit open ended for effect, well aware that Kagura didn't take kindly to remarks about her breasts. She never understood why though. You'd think she'd proud to have a rack like that. If it'd been her, she'd show 'em off. Tomo supposed that's what made teasing her about it so much fun.
"I'm warning you...." Kagura told her.
"What?" Tomo shrugged, feigning innocence. "All I'm saying is-"
"Shouldn't you be studying?" Kagura asked offhandedly, changing the subject. Usually, she'd let her have it. But, with the threat of an impending "F" looming over her head, she just wasn't in the mood. In any event, it seemed to work. The mention of school work, making her forget what she'd been saying before.
Tomo blinked, "What for?"
Kagura nearly fell out of her seat. How in the world could she-
"The test, stupid!" she snapped at her. When Tomo still failed to understand what she was getting at, Kagura wanted to scream. Snatching her textbook off the desk, she held it in front of Tomo's face and pointed to where she'd written the words, "Test. Today. In ENGLISH." It was circled in red marker as a reminder.
Tomo's eyes whited out as it finally dawned on her. "That's... today?"
A patient nod was Kagura's only reply.
Tomo sighed, not unlike the way she'd done moments earlier. Then suddenly, her face brightened and smiled, "Who cares?"
This time, Kagura did fall out of her seat. About a second later, she was up again, shaking Tomo by her collar. "What do you mean, "who cares"?! In case you forgot, which wouldn't surprise me, this test counts for a third of our grade!" she yelled at her.
"Don't waste your time." a familiar voice said. The two of them stopped what they were doing and looked toward the front of the classroom. There they saw Yomi, taking her seat. She sat her school bag next to her seat, then took out her mini recorder and a pair of earphones. Her notes were neatly arranged on her desk, along with her text book. "Ignorance is bliss. So she's destined to be happy." she finished saying with a smirk.
The witty remark made Tomo grit her teeth, wishing she had a comeback for that one. Then she'd show her. Thinks she's so smart. she thought to herself. Forgetting Kagura (who was snickering herself silly), she approached the front, taking a seat atop the desk next to Yomi's. The shapely brunette adjusted her glasses and eyed her warily.
Before anything happened, there was a collective gasp as Sakaki entered the room. They'd only heard rumors about the reason for her absence til now. Yomi had been the only one to know beforehand since she'd gone to visit with her. It was no wonder she hadn't said anything. She'd been protecting her. Even Kagura and Tomo had been in the dark until yesterday.
"Whoa, check it out." one boy whispered in amazement.
"Can you believe it?" asked another. "I mean, she was a looker before, but man!"
"No kiddin'. Imagine, keeping something like that a secret."
Here, several of them exchanged glances and nodded, meaningfully. They rose from their seats, en masse, and surrounded Yomi's desk, causing her to shrink in fear. Their eyes were accusing, their fists clenched at their sides, and then... and then....
They broke down crying.
"Koyomi Mizuhara, how could you?" one of them sobbed. "We'd expect that sort of conduct out of Tanizaki, but... we trusted you!" That last bit triggered a crying spell and caused Tomo to facefault. Yomi, meanwhile, looked mildly annoyed.
"Gee. I'm sorry for your suffering." she droned as she watched the pitiful display.
Sakaki's expression mirrored Yomi's. To their credit, they'd actually been paying her compliments. That didn't make them any less perverted though. Glancing at them, from the corner of her eye, she said in a low, inaudible tone, "Hentai." Then quietly took her seat. She actually wanted to speak with Yomi herself, but it would have to wait. Besides, she had some last minute studying to do.
Unnoticed by the rest of the class, Osaka stared into open space and smiled. Her irises followed Sakaki's movement, paying particular attention to her ears and tail. They were warm and fuzzy looking. She found herself having to resist the urge to poke at them. They seemed to call to her, like Chiyo's pigtails. Slowly, her hand reached out, but she caught it and pulled it back. It reached again. She pulled it back. Then again... and again... and again... and again....
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(Posted Tue, 27 Nov 2007 01:23)
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