Broken Memory
A/N: This is my first attempt at a serious story, flame if you want, though don't be rediculous. Reveiws/suggestions are always appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't own Azumanga Daioh!
-------
Chiyo Mihama yawned softly as she chewed her home-made lunch. Lack of sleep from the approaching finals had left her somewhat out of it, though still quirky when she felt the need be. Her friends, cheery as ever (they were undaunted by tests, you could say) were chatting next to her, though Chiyo couldn't really make out what they were saying. Her mind wandering from Mr. Tadakichi to octopus balls, Chiyo shook her head to try to wake herself up.
"This must be what Osaka feels like all the time," Chiyo thought to herself.
"HEY CHIYO-CHAN!" Osaka called from down the table, "What you gettin' ya mother for Mother's Day?"
Chiyo froze. Mother's Day! She had totally forgotten! A happy celebration for most families, every year Chiyo had locked herself in her room, being "sick" or "tired". Honestly, the sunny little girl did not want her friends to see her sad. She had no idea what had become of her mother. In fact, Chiyo didn't remember even having a mother. For the most part, she took care of herself and her dad worked. Her dad always tried his best to fill both rolls, so she never asked him about it. Everyone knows a father is not a mother, so she couldn't help being a little down once in awhile.
"Uh, well, um...I-I don't know yet." Chiyo stuttered.
"You could get 'er a juice." suggested simple-minded Osaka.
"Neko Coneko's cute." Quiet, mysterious Sakaki added.
"A ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE FACE!" The obnoxious and somewhat immature Tomo cheered.
"How about you invite to the park? That's where my mother and I always go." Spoke up serious, school-devoted Yomi.
"Uh, well...it's kind of a tradition for us... togoonvacationsomewherefaraway!" Chiyo spat out. It was a lie of course, but it was nessicary.
"What...? Uh, ok..." Yomi raised an eyebrow. "Well that's cool too, whatever you said. I'm sure it's fun."
Chiyo nodded quickly and pretended to be concentrating on her food. What a nerve-racking lunch! Of course Chiyo could just tell her friends about her mother, but she knew that they would treat her differently, even if they said they wouldn't. The kids in her elementary school were afraid to mention their moms, and the teacher wouldn't even allow them to mention Mother's Day after they found out Chiyo didn't have one. That fear, the fear of sadness, had been what made Chiyo the saddest of all.
Finally, lunch was over and the rest of the day went without a hitch. Later that night, after her ritual walk with Sakaki and the big and lovable dog Mr. Tadakichi, Chiyo's thoughts returned to the lunchtime discussion. They had learned alot in school about genetics and inheriting traits. Now that she thought about it, she wondered what she had gotten from her mother. Her father was a serious business man, so why was she so cheerful? Was her mother tall? What color hair did she have?
The thoughts swirled in her mind as Chiyo climbed into bed and pulled the covers up. Just after she flicked of the bedside lamp and closed her eyes, a new determination filled sleepy Chiyo. What had happened to her family? Did something happen? Why haven't I ever heard from them?
By the time Chiyo drifted to sleep, the determination to discover her past had grown larger than she ever expected it could be.
-------
Alot of paragraph, I know, but hopefully as the story develops there will be more dialogue. So is it interesting? Boring? Whatever? It's a random limb I'm going out on, so I'd like to know. Thanks!
xBrokenShadow