Title: Trying to be late
Author: Ree
Theme: Motoki - drag
Genre: General
Version: Anime - preseries
Rating: G

Most of these characters belong to Takeuchi Naoko. I just asked Motoki and friends to tell us some tales.

Trying to be late

Dragging his feet, Motoki intentionally took his time as he walked to school. Today they were doing practice exams. 'And we're only in the seventh grade. I could understand practice high school entrance exams next year... even cram school. But why do we have to do them now?' The answer was that their teacher wanted them to understand how much they still had to learn.

Judging the distance between him and the school grounds, Motoki calculated how slow to walk. He wanted to be right outside the gate when it closed. With all the rigmarole of being late, he should miss most of the test. Fidgeting with his book bag, he was preparing to drop it, when he spotted a boy he had never seen before wearing his school's uniform. The uncertainty of his stance, and the hesitance in his step declared him a newbie. 'If he doesn't hurry, he is going to be late, too. And it wouldn't do to be late on your first day of school.' Another glance at the gates told him that he needed to act quickly. He gave up on being late.

Running up to the boy, he grabbed his arm and started to drag him.

"Hey! Let me go!" The boy pulled against Motoki's grasp, slowing them down. 'I gave up being late for you, don't spoil it now.'

Throwing a hurried glance at the boy, Motoki called back to him. "Come on! If we don't hurry we'll never make it in time!"

The startled blue eyes widened in understanding, and the newbie started to run with him. Stretching their legs out as far as they could, both of them slid through the gate as it was closing.

Pale brown eyes met dark blue eyes, both filled with elation. "We made!" With matching smiles, they savored their accomplishment for a second more.

"Thank you." Motoki grinned as the other boy bowed slightly towards him. 'I wonder if I could eek out more time by helping the newbie find his way around. Then he would be my excused for being late, and still avoid the test.' "Do you know where the teacher's room is?" His hope were dashed when the boy nodded that he did.

They lingered for a moment longer. Motoki felt certain that he had possible found a good friend, and the boy looked like he felt the same. The bell jolted them both into action. With a promise to look for him during lunch, Motoki rushed off to class.