Not a story as such, just a weird brooding litte thing I wrote and don't intend to continue.

It's weird, I'm a fan of lots of sci-fi and anime but I always write about the Azumanga girls for some reason.

Tomo stood hesitating. She was scared but she knew she had to go. Finally she sighed and stepped into the elevator.

She adjusted the flowers in her arms. She was always right. I'm so stupid. So fucking stupid.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she swiped them away angrily with her fist. Don't cry, damn it! It's just selfish. She doesn't need that shit! She'd been crying since Yomi had been in the hospital.

It had always seemed funny ever since they were kids. Teasing Yomi about her glasses, teasing her about being a brain, teasing her about the time she threw up on that boy she liked. But more than anything teasing her about her weight. She'd never been fat at all but when her breasts started growing before Tomo's Tomo had started in on it and never stopped.

A few months ago she'd noticed Yomi starting to lose weight but that just made it seem even funnier and made her tease even more. Then she started to look sickly and her breasts started getting smaller. But she'd been sick with the flu at the time and Tomo had thought little of it. They didn't have any classes together now and hung out with some different people but if she hadn't been so damn self centered she would have realized something was wrong. Then, a week ago after missing most of a week of classes Yomi was admitted to the hospital for anorexia.

Tomo walked down the hall, wishing the ground would just open up and swallow her as she clearly deserved but knowing that she had a duty to face the girl who used to be her best friend.

She found the right room. She took a deep breath and entered.

Yomi sat up in bed. She was alarmingly thin and had dark circles under her eyes. Her glasses were on the bedside table. When she saw Tomo she smiled and put them on.

"Hi stupid." She said good naturedly.

"H-hi." Tomo tried to smile back. She hadn't cracked a smile or a joke all week. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh, not too bad. Sakaki was just here." She pointed to a huge, fluffy teddy bear sitting on the chair. "Good news. I managed to talk them into going on the usual summer trip. Everybody wanted to cancel it."

"Oh, that's good. I don't think I'll be going though."

"What? It's all you've been talking about."

"Yeah…I've got a lot of studying to do."

Yomi laughed. "Studying? You?"

Tomo shrugged. In truth she had been feeling too guilty to study much either.

"What's with you?? I was looking forward to you cheering me up. Are you really scared of hospitals or something?"

"I…I'm surprised you even wanted to see me."

"Well, you're okay in small doses. Just do one stupid thing and then get out." Yomi joked.

"Don't-don't you hate me?" Tears slid down her cheeks despite her best efforts to hold them in.

"Tomo, seriously, what's wrong?"

Tomo rushed forward and threw her arms around Yomi "I'm so, so sorry!! This is all my fault! You were never fat, Yomi! Never!"

"Oh, so that's it. You think this happened because of all your stupid jokes."

"I'd do anything if you'd just get better, Yomi. Anything!"

Yomi pushed Tomo back and looked into her tear streaked face. "This was my own stupid fault. I've never taken anything you say seriously. Not until now. You're really stressed about this aren't you?" She hugged Tomo again. "It really means a lot that you're this concerned. You're a good friend, Tomo."

Tomo felt her guilt grow exponentially. "What can I do for you?"

"Just keep me company. Make some dumb jokes, not about how fat I am," She chuckled. "but about something. And go on the trip with everybody."

Tomo didn't reply but she had no intention of going. She was going to stay here and take care of Yomi.