A/N: Oh my gosh, I just discovered the most awesome thing today! InYuJi, an artist on deviantart, drew fanart for this story! I've never had that happen before, and I am so honored! If you'd like to check it out, go to my profile and click on the link to her profile. In her gallery, click the folder for The Cat Returns and look for the pages labeled "From the Heart" (her pages contain spoilers, so view at your own risk... but I hope you do view them because they're awesome!).

Gosh, I'm so excited! Anyway, on with the story; I hope you like it!

Kokoro chewed the end of her pencil as she stared at the test she was supposed to be taking. She really regretted not studying and choosing instead to watch a movie that was on TV. She only knew the answers to a few questions, and that was strictly from her memories of note taking.

The bell rang, signifying the lunch hour had started, and she had to hand in her unfinished test. Oh well, she thought dejectedly. I don't think I failed too badly.

As she collected her things, Kokoro gazed out the window. It was such a clear, beautiful day outside. She wished she could be out there in the sunshine instead of stuck inside a drab school building listening to lectures and taking dull tests.

Her best friend since third grade, Ami Tanaka, came up behind her and flicked the back of her head. "Come on Kokoro, I'm hungry," she whined, flopping into the seat in front of her.

Kokoro was snapped out of her daze and hurriedly shoved her things in her book bag. "Sorry, sorry," she mumbled, tripping over her chair as she got out of her seat.

As they walked down the hallway, Ami going on about her latest boyfriend, Kokoro let her mind wander again. She wondered what she was having for dinner, and when her dad would get home. She also wondered when she would have time to go to the public library and pay off her fines so she could check out books again. Then, she wondered when…

Suddenly, Kokoro felt her chest bump into something, and she was snapped back to reality. She had to tilt her head back to see the person's face that she'd bumped into.

"Excuse me," the young man said before he sidestepped Kokoro and continued down the hall.

She and Ami turned and watched the boy walk until he linked arms with a girl, and then Kokoro looked away. Her racing heart slowed to a pounding beat and sank in her chest.

Ami watched her friend's eyes. "I still don't understand what you see in Tora Shibuki Kokoro," she said.

"He's just so darn cute!" Kokoro exclaimed, pumping her fist. "And he's a grade ahead of us, which makes him even cooler!" Then she sighed. "But he'd never go out with me."

"Come on Kokoro, you're cute too!" Ami said. "Tora doesn't know what he's missing by not going out with you."

Kokoro smiled. "Thanks Ami."

Ami smiled back. "Anytime. That's what friends are for, right?"

The two girls reached a staircase and started climbing the steps. "Oh, by the way, I can't hang out after school today," Kokoro said, sighing.

"Why? What's up?"

She groaned. "Environment Club. We're going to go clean a river today."

Ami crinkled up her nose. "I can't believe you joined that club just because Tora did. You don't even care about the environment, do you?" she asked accusingly.

"It's not that bad. It'd be better if you came with me…" Kokoro looked pleadingly at her friend.

Ami shook her head. "No thanks. I just got my nails done yesterday, and sticking them in a dirty river is so not good for them."

She sighed again. "Oh, right. Sorry I asked."

Ami suddenly brightened. "Have I told you that Seiji's on the soccer team?" she asked cheerfully, turning to her.

Kokoro laughed, amazed at how short Ami's attention was and trying not to feel too bummed out about Tora. "Not yet. But that's what lunch is for, right?"