A.N. – Seeing what the newest "offerings" in the Azumanga Daioh section were, I had to whip something up to post. And I do mean whip up – this was 600 words in 30 minutes during a lull at work. Man, I miss this show. Anyway, I don't own Azu or profit off this work monetarily.

New Year, New Dream

Sakaki had never put much stock into the first dream of the New Year. Recalling half-muddled symbolism from barely remembered slumber land was not her specialty. Of course, then she had to go and dream about Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga one New Years, and there was no way she was ever forgetting that. Osaka and all the rest of her band of friends at school, she was certain, were indelibly etched into her brain.

But now high school was over, and college was Sakaki's life now. Winter break was a welcome reprieve from courses that were more challenging that Yukari's had ever been. Being settled back at home in her old room, her old bed, had Sakaki feeling nostalgic. As she drifted off to sleep she couldn't help but wonder if her first dream would portend the coming year in any way by harkening back to her past. If it did, she was looking forward to it.

Sakaki awoke the next morning to the smell of breakfast. Lying in bed a moment to comport herself, Sakaki thought hard about what she dreamt of overnight. And, as it all came back to her, Sakaki's incredulity grew and grew.

Really, the big yellow talking cat was to be expected. Chiyo-chichi was something of a regular in her dreamscape. But the cat popping its head off to reveal not Chiyo-chan's dad but Kaorin was pretty unexpected. And, rather than warning Sakaki off of tomatoes or imploring her to find another cat (for she was sure the dream knew about Maya), a beaming cat-Kaorin only told Sakaki to find happiness in the coming year.

Was there any deeper meaning in this New Year's dream? Sakaki was sure she wasn't awake enough to know for sure. Happiness, at the moment, was getting up, getting dressed and getting to the table for her morning meal. Happiness down the road…that could be anything. Before she started college, Sakaki's answer would've been living with Maya and being a veterinarian or a florist. But now, there was a pallor of doubt across that. And all over a vague dream!

Sakaki shook her head to clear it, throwing the duvet off her to get ready for the day. But the question still remained – why was Kaorin pulling a cameo in her dream? In a daze, Sakaki went through the motions of the morning, only coming to when putting the first bite of food in her mouth. Her chopsticks clattered to the plate as her posture went ramrod-straight in her chair. Sakaki's parents looked askance at her, but a quickly ducked head and mumbled apology on their daughter's part and the incident was forgotten for them.

For Sakaki, it was as if a spotlight had been shone on her soul. She wasn't happy. Not really. She was living out the dream her past self had wanted. In the process, she had no idea what she truly desired out of her life. Was the path she was following even the one she should be on?

Well, she had one clue. Kaorin had been in her dream. And there was no underlying meaning hidden there; she was a friend that, like the rest, she had simply drifted out of touch with since graduation. But that could be remedied. That would be remedied.

Quietly excusing herself from the table, Sakaki got up and went to the phone. Kaorin might not have all the answers, might not even be the answer, but there was one thing Sakaki was one hundred percent certain of on this New Year's Day: happiness was not something you could find alone.