Her legs hurt, her lungs burned, and her head felt hot, but she couldn't bring herself to stop running. She had made a personal goal of hers to make it all the way to end of the block. As she reached the seventh house, her body began to give out. No, no only three more houses. Come on. She tried to speed up, looking to her left and seeing the eighth house through her bangs. Why are these houses so wide? All of a sudden, she just had to catch her breath and slowed to a stop as she reached the ninth house.

She pleased her hands on her knees and breathed heavily and quickly. She had the incentive to sit own on the curve. Not healthy. Gotta walk it off. She walked past the two remaining houses. "Almost made it," she said to no one in particular, only wanting verification of how far she ran. "Tomorrow, I'll make it." Of course, she always said this. She had started running everyday the year before, but for some reason she could never reach the end of the longest block she knew of. But, being very dedicated for a nine year old, Yuso Kagura wouldn't be satisfied until she accomplished the feat.

The young girl made her way back home. She realized she had run a little later than usual and it was getting dark really fast. She wondered if her mom would be mad. It was a hassle to get her mom to let her go running alone everyday. "Kids like you are always being picked up and kidnaped. Did you hear fifteen kids were kidnaped last month? Fifteen," is usually what her mom told her. "Why do you even want to do that anyways?" To be honest, she couldn't give an answer. She just enjoyed it. Just like birds enjoy flying, she guessed. Or fish enjoy swimming. Birds have wings, fish have fins and I have legs. I want to run.

The familiar setting of her neighborhood eased the fear she sometimes had when she was out alone. And as she reached her house, the warm smell of tonjiru made her realize she was hungry. She opened the door and was welcomed by the full impact of the scent. "I'm home!"

"Oh, Yu-chan! I was worried," her mother called from the kitchen. A few seconds later, she emerged as her daughter sat down on the couch. She kneeled down, grabbed her arm and began to formally inspect her.

Even though used to this happening every time she walked into the house after running, the nine year old couldn't help but let out an annoyed, "What are you doing?"

Satisfied with what she saw, she stood up. "Good no scratches." She inspected the girl's face. "Honestly. You need to do something about that hair. It's always so messy." She fussed through the nest that was the girl's light brown hair.

"I like my hair," was all she said."

Her mother just sighed. "Go eat. I've already set your plate." The daughter just nodded and went to the kitchen. "And when you're done, I want you to do your homework. Your teacher says you're slacking, and you need good grade to get into the nice high school I told you about."

zzZzz

She just stared at the blank paper in front of her, then to the book next to it, and then finally her journal with her assignment. She twirled the pencil in her hand and scratched her head, messing with her hair, in confusion. I don't want to do this. It wasn't that she didn't like school, she just didn't understand it. And wanted to do all her homework and get grades, but it was too hard. The only reason she tried was because she didn't want to disappoint her mother. I'm only in fourth grade, and she's already talking to me about high school. She stared at her paper. The faster I finish this, the faster I can start playing my games.

zzZzz

The young girl was sitting at her desk waiting for class to start. Se heard a group of girls laughing two desks away from her. She suddenly found herself wishing she had more friends, but having switched schools three times, she was too shy to go up and introduce herself to anyone. She mostly stayed to herself. The bell rang and everyone who wasn't already at their desk, took their respective seats. Then teacher walked in. "Stand," the class representative said, and everyone obeyed. "Bow."

Today would be a long day.

zzZzz

When she arrived home that day, her mom immediately said, "You're not running today."

"What?"

"It's too hot. Look at you." She felt her forehead and neck dripping with sweat. It was really hot today. "And that's just from walking home. You're crazy if you think I'm letting you go running in this heat."

She put on her best pout face. "But mom, I always run. What am I supposed to do?"

Her mom thought for a while. "Go swimming."

It would be nice and cool to go swimming. Plus it's better than running since it works all the muscles. "Alright," she said as she headed up to her room to start changing.

"And don't come home too late, like yesterday."

zzZzz

With a towel in hand, and a bathing suit underneath her clothes, she made her way to the pool that was only a block away. She reached the gate and pushed it open, entering the pool area. She went to the changing room, took off her shirt, shorts and shoes, and then continued to the swimming area. She put her towel on the fence in front of a table and then entered the pool.

It was really cold at first, but it settled to a perfect temperature after a few minutes of her body adjusting to the temperature. She swam back and forth aimlessly for thirty minutes before a girl with black hair she had never seen before approached her. "Are you a good swimmer?"

She quickly tried to hide under the water. "Kind of," she responded.

"I challenge you to a race then." Another girl, her friend the short haired girl assumed, came up swimming behind her.

"Why do you always challenge random people," the friend asked.

The girl looked between both of them. "Okay."

The black haired girl squealed with delight. "Yes! Over here!" The short haired girl followed her to one end of the pool. "From here to there and back," she pointed to the other end. "Ready?" A nod of approval. "Hey, hey," the black haired girl poked her friend. "You're ref. Tell us when to start."

"Alright. Ready. Set...Go!"

Both girls took off and a big splash emerged from the force of the take off. The young short haired girl could feel the water passing by her as she swam. She felt as if it was for dear life. She could feel her heart pacing as she kicked. With her legs powerful and conditioned from running everyday, and her arms strong from the occasional set of push ups, she was already back at the starting point by the time her challenger reached the opposite side of the pool. She waited for her to get back. "No fair! You cheated!"

"Huh?"

"I want to go home!" The black haired girl looked at her friend. "Let's go."

"Bye," the nameless friend said. As they swam away, she heard them talking. "She didn't cheat. I'm surprised you didn't cheat."

"I should've."

The short haired girl suddenly heard herself shout, "Hey, wait! What's your name? Wanna race again?" She heard a faint reply, but she didn't catch the name. It starts with a "T"...I think. Either way, that was fun. She had never gotten so worked up over swimming before. But, then again, she had never been part of a swimming race. She remembered walking past a high school one time and watching some high schoolers racing. She wondered what the big deal was. But now she knew. It was just fun. I wonder if there's a swimming team at my school.

So, thought I disappeared? Ah, I was sleeping and working. Haha. Hope you liked it. There will be more. Just review please. Weird title huh? I think my writing style is different in this.
I forgot my disclaimer...but is it really needed? We all know that I don't own Azumanga. Take care.