Disclaimer: I don't own any Azumanga Daioh characters.
The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the locusts were… doing whatever it is that locusts do; there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was a beautiful day and all the girls were enjoying every last bit of it, except for Kagura, who looked and felt as if the world was going to end. She sat with Yomi under the cool shade of one of the many trees in the park and watched her friends (Tomo, Chiyo-chan, Osaka, Sakaki, and Kaorin) jumping rope, but her mind was elsewhere.
Yomi would have been playing with the others, but her allergies were acting up and she felt like death itself. She let out an exasperated sigh and averted her eyes to a rather worrisome Kagura. Concerned for the usually laid back athlete, Yomi softly asked, "Is there something wrong, Kagura?"
Kagura jumped at Yomi's words like she had been tapped on the head for sleeping in class. She hadn't realized that she was in her on little world. Yomi had jumped herself; she wasn't expecting a reaction like that. Kagura noticed that she had startled her four eyed friend, and quickly apologized, "Oh, I'm sorry…er… what did you say?"
Yomi couldn't help but laugh, which made Kagura blush furiously and give and awkward smile as she nervously rubbed the back of her neck. After her little laughing fit had subsided, Yomi repeated her previously asked question, "I asked you if there was anything wrong. Seeing as you were deep in thought, I am assuming that there is something amiss…"
Kagura sighed as she nodded. Yomi continued, "Do you want to talk about it?" She wasn't quite sure if she had the right to ask; she wasn't nearly as close with her as she was with Tomo, but they are still friends and she was worried.
Kagura was a little hesitant with answering the other girl's question. Not that she didn't trust Yomi, but because she was ashamed of herself for being in this predicament. 'I do feel comfortable around her and maybe she could give me some badly needed advice…' She took a deep breath and began, "Miss Kurosawa pulled me aside today after gym and told me that if I didn't pull my grades up then she would take me off the swim team. She said that she doesn't want it to come to that, but she says that education is more important than sports and if she let me go on without improving it would end up hurting me in the future… She also said that people look up to me and that she wants to me to be a good role model in every department."
Yomi managed to stifle her laughter, for she knew that if she were to burst out laughing Kagura would be offended. It wasn't really funny, but Yomi had thought that it was something bigger; she was relieved to find out that that wasn't the case. She thought what Miss Kurosawa was doing is sweet and she was slightly jealous that the teacher cared so much for the troubled girl. Always quick to put out her opinion, Yomi stated, "I agree with Miss Kurosawa. At least she isn't taking you right off the team… just raise your grades…"
Kagura's eyes almost popped right out of her head. "JUST RAISE MY GRADES! JUST RAISE MY GRADES! I CAN'T 'JUST RAISE MY GRADES'!"
A drop of sweat rolled down the back of Yomi's head, "W-why not?"
Realizing that she was a little out of line she calmed down before replying, "It just doesn't work that way. I was born with the intelligence that would be an exact match with one of a Dodo bird."
Yomi couldn't restrain herself with that one; she was literally rolling on the ground. Kagura giggled and added, "I'm serious… I have less of a chance of making a 180 on my academics then Tomo has with getting a boyfriend…" If it was even humanly possible, Yomi started laughing even harder and Kagura was soon rolling on the ground along with Yomi.
As if on cue, Tomo comes over and puts an end to Kagura and Yomi laughing at her expense. She looks at them quizzically and says, "I thought you guys were being sticks in the mud for not wanting to play with us, but you two seem to be having more fun then we did…" Chiyo-chan appears by Tomo's side along with the rest of them and asks, "Hi guys! What's so funny?"
Kagura and Yomi give each other a look and silently agree on not telling them. Yomi was the one to speak up, "Oh, nothing. We were just talking about Mr. Kimura…" Everyone, except for Yomi and Kagura, became silent and drops of sweat appeared on the backs of their heads. Kaorin actually looked pale… It was hard, but the two girls maintained straight faces.
The topic was instantly dropped and they all started heading off for their homes. Kagura and Yomi were at the back while the others were chatting away; Tomo being at the center of the conversation of course. Kagura faltered a bit but finally got the nerve to do one of the most difficult things she had ever had to do. She mustered up all her strength, put her pride on the back burner, and asked in a low tone so that no one would be able to over hear, "Yomi… would you…" She paused to clear her throat and to recompose herself. Yomi cocked her head. Kagura forged on, "Would you please… tutor me?"
Author's Note: Please review. Let me know if I should continue or just delete it and forget that I ever wrote it. But not before I print out two copies... one to burn and the other to use as some sort of sick torture against my english teacher.