Note: Well, like I said in `Melon Drabbles`, I have completely reorganised my fanfiction. This is a series of shorts, each about 100 words, that goes through chronologically the story in the manga, starting at April year 1. Some of my favorite chapters from MD will make an appearence as specials as I go, but mostly this will be just the written version of the four panel strips.

I am also planning an epic crossover with Phoenix Wright where Yomi becomes a defence lawyer after college. Don't know when that will be, as I want it planned out properly. Murders are bloody hard to write....

Anyway. Enjoy. Or not. And please give feedback for improvements.

THE HEART OF AZUMANGA DAIOH. YEAR 1: APRIL

SHOELACE.

Now remember. Over and under and around. Over and under and around. Over and under and...

"Hey Yomi?" A small yet annoying voice sounded from by the girl's elbow as she changed her indoor shoes for her outside ones. She sighed, crossed her arms and looked down.

"The hell is it Tomo?" She said, staring at the girl, who kept her eyes straight down on the ground.

"Can you help me? I've tied my hands to my shoe..."

HOW THE HELL?

Yomi sighed and put her light blue plimsolls back in her student box.
"Shut up Tomo, and stop pretending. Let's go home already." Yomi turned away from her friend and walked towards the door, stretching her arms and swinging her bag alongside her. Reaching the double doors, she turned back and stared at her friend, who was still crouched over by the shoe lockers.

"Tomo!" She called, getting annoyed now. "Come on idiot, I want to go the long way home to get some more exercise."

The hyperactive girl nodded, and slowly turned on the spot to face Yomi. Her movements were odd, pushing off with her back leg while her front leg, hands still holding onto the shoe and head remaining determinedly bent over her knee.

As Tomo finally reached her upright companion, Yomi put her head in her hands.

"Yomi, I told you, I've-"

"Tied your hands to your foot, yes, I can see." She gave a short moan. "What are we going to do with you?"

"Can you do it quick? These damn laces are cutting off my blood to my hands..."

KNOTS

"Damn things." Said Yomi as she reached down to untie Tomo's hands from the shoelaces. "How did you manage to get them on so tight?"

"I dunnoooo" Tomo said, who was starting to become slightly teary eyed from the strings on her hands. "Hurry up Yomi, it really hurts..."

"Oh for-" Yomi continued on, pulling and pushing on stray fragments of the knot.

"Owowow! You made it tighter Yomi!"

"Well just hold still then idiot!"

"You're the idiot!"

"Idiot!"

"Idiot!"

"Excuse me, Yomi-san, Tomo-san?" Asked a very small voice just above Yomi's ear. A small pair of hands gently moved Yomi's out of the way and pulled on a small loop of string in the knot. Tomo sighed in relief as her bounds were loosened slightly, enough to wriggle her hands free. She looked up into the face of her savior.
"Thanks, Chiyo-chan. I owe ya one."

The small girl smiled and bowed briefly.
"Think nothing of it! Now, shall we go home?"