This is technically my second FanFic, but I do have some knowledge in writing so hopefully it won't seem that way. This one is an inspiration I randomly had….. so I probably update this more than others. I will not necessarily stick with the characters' personality from the anime, but I will try to incorporate it as much as possible. Hopefully you will like it. Read and review. No reviews means no updates.

"Ugh, I can't believe its Junior year already! I have a feeling that this year will bring hell!" Arisa complained to Tohru. She grudgingly eyed all the students returning for another year, each scurrying quickly past the ex-Yankee.

"Aw, it can't be that bad. Look, we are Juniors! Can you believe. Soon it will be college!" Torhu said cheerily, then it struck her, Oh no! College! I'm not ready for college! I don't even know where to go or if I will have enough money! I'm not smart enough for a scholarship. So many people are much smarter than me!

Panic rose in Tohru as she heard a voice behind her. "You are worried Tohru. Why the panic?" Saki suddenly appeared behind the two girls. Tohru turned around and screamed in joy. She hasn't seen her friend for almost the entire summer due to her work.

"Hana-chan! I missed you!"

"Yes, yes, I missed you too." Saki hugged Tohru gently then pressed on the subject. "So why are you worried Tohru? Did something happen over the summer?"

"What? Oh, no, I was just thinking that it is Junior year and I don't even know what college to apply to. It is important to know now, that's all." Tohru shrugged, she did not like worrying her friends.

"What!" exclaimed Arisa. "You were worried about that! Oh Tohru, Junior year just began so you have a whole year. Stop worrying now. Geesh, whether you find out now or day before sending out the applications does not matter. Chill!" Arisa patted Tohru on the head. "Well, I got to split to class. It's too bad we don't have any classes together, except for Chemistry. It makes me sad."

Tohru, whose mood was brought up by Arisa's words, were shunned back down. "I know! I don't know what I am going to do! I don't have any friends but you guys! And I don't even have any classes with Hana-chan!" Tohru slouched but when she saw the worry on her friends' faces, she quickly took back her statement. "You know what, we're good friends so it's no big deal. I mean, making new friends is fun and it's not like it's the end of the world, right?" Her friends agreed at her positive outlook, and each girl hurried to class.

"Ugh! I can't find it!" Tohru exclaimed. She went through all her classes and was at her last one, History. She had a Mr. Souma, Hatori. She would be late, she knew it. She found her class and saw a youngish-looking man sitting at a desk. Quickly, she took a seat in the back of the classroom. (She was not late).

"Morning class, my name is Mr. Souma. However, due to the fact that we have another Mr. Souma in this school, just call me Mr. Hatori. When I call your name do not tell me who you are. Want to try and figure it out myself. Then once I point you out, please come up and grab a textbook." Mr. Hatori went through a list of names though he only got a few right. One such name was Chei. When he got it wrong, Chei raised his hand, indicating it was him. "You're Chei?" Mr. Hatori asked.

"Yes."

"You don't look like a Chei."

"That's what my parents named me!" Chei protested.

"Well then, your parents were wrong." The class burst out in laughter and Tohru herself couldn't suppress a few giggles. The list went on. Finally, Mr. Hatori reached Tohru's name. "Tohru…." He searched the faces and looked right at Tohru. "You're Tohru." Tohru nodded then got up to grab the textbook. Mr. Hatori handed it to her without a second glance. The book was worn and old and the cover was ready to fall out. Wow, these must be pretty old. I will have to do something about it at home.

When Mr. Hatori was finished with attendance, he stood up. Looking around, he tested the class, then spoke, "In this class I will test your limits. You will find that there are many things that annoy me. One such things is saying the word "like" every other sentence. I don't care what your teachers permit you, you will not use "like" in this class unless it is used in the correct context. I will be lenient at first, but if it persist, I will take off points.

My class is hard. Probably the hardest class you will have this year. It is not hard because the subject is hard but because I will keep challenging you and raising the bar, whether you are ready or not. Most of you, probably, will hate me by the end of the year. Well, guess what, I don't care!" Mr. Hatori spoke the last words with enthusiasm. Tohru was surprised by his voice, expecting a dead monotone, like a robot. Instead, he had different pitches and volumes, as if this wasn't work and he was as comfortable as ever.

"However, even if you hate me, and even if some of the things I do don't make sense, all is essential to life. You will find me talking very little of history and more on building you character and what is out there. There were many parents that questioned my teaching style, and your probably will do the same. However, once again, I don't care. This is my class and I will teach it how I see fit. By the end of the year your presentation skills will increase, you test taking skills will increase, and overall, you will act, think, and talk smarter than you are now.

You will also learn that you can't know everything! Nobody can. Except me, I'm the exception." Once again the whole class laughed and Tohru joined. Afterwards, As Mr. Hatori went over the rules, Tohru smiled, listening intently. This will be an interesting class. I like this teacher already. There is no way I could hate him. He is so cool!

"I thought Mr. Hatori was awesome!" Arisa exclaimed when Tohru and she were exchanging thoughts about their current classes. Saki has stayed after-school so they were not walking home together.

"I know! I agree."

"So many Seniors told me he is mean and that they hate him. I don't know what their problems were." Arisa added enthusiastically. She was in bright spirits now that school was over, even though that day was filled with introductions more than actual classes. Tohru smiled at her friend. They walked together until they had to take separate roads to get home. As soon as Arisa was out of sight, Tohru's insecurity claimed her and she hunched her shoulders, brought her head down, and walked home as quickly as her legs could take her.

Kyoko was already making lunch when Tohru returned. She was surprised to find her mother home. "Mom, why aren't you at work? Are you sick?"

"Do I look sick to you? I doubt I would be cooking if I was sick." Kyoko said sarcastically. Tohru smiled, she loved playing this game.

"Oh, well, if you're not sick, aren't you being irresponsible for not going to work?" Tohru answered back. Kyoko laughed.

"Well, I see I have a very ungrateful daughter. I came here to make her lunch and see how her first day of school is and this is how she treats me!" It was Tohru's turn to laugh and she ran up to hug her mother in greeting. The two girls chatted animatedly while the spaghetti sauce was heating. Tohru loved spaghetti.

September came and went and October was near its end. Junior year did seem to clash with everything, just as Arisa has predicted. Tohru did not seem to have time with her friends at all, not able to juggle it in between schoolwork and work. She tried to hang out with them during lunch but she was barely ever able to find them. With everything that was happening, Tohru began to feel alone. She liked her classes, it seemed that the teachers really want you to learn, but Tohru couldn't help but feel that everything she cherished and knew was slipping away.

Her only highlight of the day were classes with Mr. Hatori. She only had him every other day (the school ran an A-day and B-day schedule) which never seemed enough. She did learn that his test were extremely hard, his pop quizzes impossible, and his character very outspoken, sarcastic, and blunt. However, she had no complaints. He was intelligent and even though he was slightly ignorant due to his huge ego, Tohru couldn't help but admire him.

Tohru learned a great horror, or at least is seemed like a horror to her on a rainy day in October. It was nearing Halloween, winter had come with sudden force, and rain began to pour during lunch. The cafeteria was in another building so all the students were forced to run through the pouring rain. Tohru did not put in mind to bring an umbrella and her jacket was not waterproof. However, even though on her way to the cafeteria it rained cats and dogs, on her way to class it was a drizzle. Not wanting to get wet, Tohru wrapped her jacket around and went into a slight jog. She saw Mr. Hatori on the way school.

Tohru always learned to be polite and she was used to saying "Hello" or "Good-Morning" or "Good-Afternoon" to all the teachers she passed. This was no exception. Slowing her jog to a swift walk, once she was beside the teacher, Tohru turned her head and spoke, "Hello, Mr. Hatori."

His response was nothing of the ordinary. Every gentleman, when seeing a girl, whether she was 30 or just 17, would reply. Mr. Hatori, though sarcastic in all his ways, was still raised under parents who adhered to respect. He simply spoke one word, yet it made Tohru smile the greatest smile. Without a change in his voice, Mr. Hatori simply spoke, "Ma'am."

Tohru kept on walking, her heart beating faster, her smile wider, and head light, and her brain repeating over and over again, He said ma'am. He called me ma'am! Oh my God, he called me ma'am! That's when she stopped. She was near her locker when she froze in her tracks, realizing her actions and thoughts. It can't be! She thought to herself. Her breathing became rapid as new thoughts swarmed in. A regular person should not feel these things. He is my teacher! Why is my heart beating so fast? Why do I feel happy that he spoke one word?

Tohru's head spun as she came to only one explanation. Tohru couldn't like…

Well, that is all for this chapter. Hope you enjoy it. I will not give pairs for they MIGHT very. Surprise! Review so I will know what you think. If it is bad or if no reviews come then I might just end the project. (I will still write, but I will NOT post. See, now you're forced to review). Once I get a decent amount of reviews, I shall update.