It's been a long time but I've finally moved somewhere where it's easier to write and am in a good zone for writing :) Recently watched Toradora again and was inspired by the idea of AmixMinori. I've previously written a one shot which was all right but wanted to write a fuller fanfic for them. I know I have a few other projects on hold atm, will look at them and try where possible to provide some continuation where I feel inspiration. In the meantime I hope you enjoy Amori!

A Checkpoint Choice

"Huuu…" Minori sighed as she doodled a star onto the bottom right of her notebook. The teacher was droning on about some feudal history she had already read ahead on and knew well. Besides, she had other things on her mind at the minute. Like Ami. Taiga and Ryuuji, Kitamura and her family as well of course. But chiefly the person bothering her was Ami.

She glanced across the classroom at the bluenette who sat on the far side of the room staring out of the window. It had pretty much been her posture throughout the early afternoon period, and for quite a few of the recent periods to be honest. It wasn't as though they'd talked much since she had broken down at Ami's house whilst letting Taiga and Ryuuji go in her heart. But she had been watching Ami for a long time before, out of concern for Taiga of course, and seen how she had changed so it was natural she would continue to sense how she was doing.

At what point did I start turning to her when I was in trouble or needed hope? At what point did I start seeing her as some sort of last hope? Well, that is a little melodramatic but still as much as I fight with her, as much as I compete with her, I find my thoughts drawn to her. And that it might end so soon is…discomforting somehow. I've lost Taiga, Kitamura is tied up with the Student Council and I'll never be all that close with Ryuuji now, so Ami is the last of our group that had so much fun. Sure we have our other friends and fans but are we going to drift apart as well?

She had been awaiting a proper chance to meet up with Ami since the night at her house but had been lulled by the winding down of term as well as the business of her schedule into putting it off. Overhearing Ami's conversation with her two closest friends, outside of their old group, over lunch had changed that.

"What are you going to study next year Ami-chan?"

"Ah I'm not certain yet," Ami had replied, adopting her super sweet, everything is fine lying face as she did so. Minori's body tensed.

"You are going to be here though," Nanako had pressed.

"I hope to be, but there are family circumstances so I can't be sure."

The conversation had continued for a while without any meaningful information being shared by Ami but Minori was already sure Ami wasn't intending to return next term.

"Baka-chi," she mumbled to herself, adopting Taiga's favourite name for Ami. She could at least have told me. And she's still putting up that barrier. Well I guess she probably hates me or something but I'm looking forward now. I know I have to at least make an effort so I know for sure.

The bell rang for afternoon recess and Ami left quickly. Minori scrambled to put her stuff away and then began tailing her through the school corridors. She had half an idea where Ami was going and sure enough she was right. On the second floor, placed out of the way of the main crowds, stood two vending machines. They were expensive compared to the cafeteria and as different years took different breaks at different times it worked out that the classes closest to the machines were still in session during their recess. In short it was one of the best places to go to get away from others and think.

Ami shoved a coin into the machine and pressed a button. The machine clunked and she spun round and slid into the gap between grasping a can.

Home run Detective Minami! For bonus points I bet it's a black coffee. Though my ghost story didn't seem to have any effect. Hmph!

Okay deep breath. I'm way too nervous. Fighto! Fighto! Fighto!

Minori powered forward, Ami looked up.

"Yo Amin!" Minori held her hand up in greeting. Ami half smiled.

"Yo Minori, I suspected it was you."

"Hmm," Minori stroked her chin, "and just as expected you went for the black coffee. Elementary my Dear Watson."

Ami glanced at the warm steaming can in her hands and then up at Minori with an expression that clearly read 'did you really just come here to guess what drink I'd choose?' "And?"

Minori took a deep breath deciding there was no point beating about the bush with Ami.

"You're planning to leave at the end of this term aren't you Amin?"

Ami's eyes widened and for a second Minori caught a look that was so sad, painful and lonely that it tore through her heart. Ami glanced away to Minori's left, eyes downcast but returning to a more mask like state. It was a look that reminded Minori of Taiga when they first met. And as Ami glanced away Minori found herself thinking for the first time, as her heart started beating unnaturally quickly, that Ami could in fact look really cute as well as rocking a great body.

"Mmm." Ami managed before rallying. "So?" she queried offhandedly. "Why should I stay now we're all splitting apart? It seems like a good time to move on."

Minori hadn't scripted anything. Really her first thought had been to confirm the dreadful truth. Afterwards she'd somehow manage.

"Because every…" she started to say then stopped realising that that wasn't what Ami would want to hear. Ami always had people adoring her and hanging over her. Truthfully the only reason she could actually give was that she wanted Ami to stay, but to say that directly would just be embarrassing. After a short pause she fell back on her trusted friend the metaphor.

"Actually the reason is more to do with ghosts. I told you before how I couldn't see them until Ryuuji appeared. Then I slowly began to believe in them, even though that ghost too turned out to be an illusion. But what I did learn was that ghosts don't just appear suddenly and last forever on their own. If you sense a ghost you should try and do everything you can to chase after it or else it may disappear again. And in you Amin I feel there might be a ghost…so umm I want to do all I can to understand it even for a little longer in case it really is the ghost I'm after."

Unlike last time Ami heard her out, eyes wide but not betraying her feelings. As Minori finished she took another gulp of her coffee. Then she stood up, making brief eye contact with Minori, who was shaking just a little as she tried to process exactly what she had gone and said. Ami's expression was still unreadable, but more because there was too much going on behind her eyes rather than them being expressionless.

"Too long," Ami finally said dismissively as she turned away from Minori, adding as she walked away, "if you're going to tell me why I should stay, say it in one line or less and I may reconsider."

Minori felt her anger rising and clenched her fists. I just bared my heart and she treats it as nothing so arrogantly. Why can't she be nice for once? And yet every time she is curt her words have a point. To get Kitamura to to face his problems. To get me to confront my feelings. To help me get over my loss.

Ami had gone four steps, now five, now six and was pulling further away. The anger subsided and a sense of foreboding filled Minori's heart. This is a crossroad, a checkpoint without a save. I must choose now to have no regrets.

So she chose…