Break Time: A Toyomi Short Story Series

By Funakounasoul

Disclaimer: Don't own Tomo, Yomi, or Azumanga Daioh. There.

Author's Notes: Okay...after this one, the next story's main focus will be on Yomi. This next story's idea was brought to you by Jay. Enjoy!

TOMO'S "ANTI-DIET" DIET

"Ah, let's see what Mama cooked for me this time!" Tomo happily opened her bento and marveled at its contents. "Big helping of rice, a couple of meatballs, a croquette, and...what's this? A few pieces of candy?! All right! Score!" With a shout of "Itadakimasu," the girl quickly devoured her lunch, not leaving a single piece of food in the process.

Meanwhile, Yomi gulped at the sight of her friend eating a hearty meal. She envied Tomo and her fast metabolism. If only she could have a meal as big as her. Alas...she was always on a diet. She wanted to be fit and attractive – all girls do, after all...right? Of course, this was Yomi's ideal view. None of her friends really liked the idea of dieting, and Tomo, especially, teased her night and day about it. If she decided to eat just one thing sweet, Tomo would be there to tell her she had automatically gained weight. Even though she hated it when she did that, in a way, she should be thankful Tomo is there to remind her to stay thin.

"Hey, aren't you gonna eat?" Yomi blinked. Tomo was already done with her lunch, and she had forgotten to even open her own bento. "Don't tell me...You're planning on skipping lunch, aren't you?"

"No...No. Of course not," Yomi muttered, unwrapping the cloth that surrounded the box. "I have food..." As soon as she opened the lid on the box, Tomo was already looking over her shoulder. The box contained a few items – a tiny riceball, two cherry tomatoes, and a small packet filled with clear liquid.

"Wh...what's that?" Tomo asked, pointing to the packet.

"Water."

"Ohhh..." Tomo grimaced. Once again, Yomi had basically brought nothing for lunch. This was starting to tick her off. For the past four years, she had watched Yomi's dieting phase go down the drain. At first, she did not mind – even she had the typical teenage urge to lose weight at one point. Even the diets were more tolerable back then. Nowadays, it seemed Yomi was reading tabloids to find new diets. Sure she poked fun, but the constant dieting habits of her friend were beginning to worry her. If only she could do something to snap her out of this phase...or at least bring her back to a sensible level.

That was it! Just like Yomi's ways of disciplining her were of the physical kind, she, too, had to physically show Yomi the evils of overdoing dieting. It worked for Tomo, so it might work on her.

"Would you mind getting off my shoulder? I'm trying to eat..."

"Ah, sorry!" Sitting back down, she added, "Say...I heard of a new diet the other day."

This, of course, caught Yomi's attention. "Really? This isn't a joke...is it?"

"Oh, no...Actually, I though you might be interested in it."

"And what is this diet, anyway?"

Tomo had some lucky timing, as the bell to return to class had rung. Quickly grabbing her things before her friend could repeat the question, she simply yelled out, "Just come to my house tonight! I'll even reveal it to you myself!"

Yomi was very curious now, as well as suspicious. Tomo had never shown interest in helping her diet before. Then again, this could be a step up from the weight-teasing. On the other hand, it could be a trap, and she might be teased nonstop. Of course, no matter what could happen, Yomi always had the upper hand, mentally as well as physically. If this was truly a joke, she could easily knock Tomo silly then make her exit – simple as that.

That afternoon, Yomi made her way towards the Takino residence. She had already finished her homework for the day, so in case things got crazy at Tomo's, she would not have to add another pain to her eventually-throbbing headache. She turned one last corner and stopped. She could turn back now, and tell Tomo she had errands to do...but that would be suspicious. Even though she was always cautious of Tomo's ways, she was loyal in the end.

She had no choice. She was going to enter dangerous territory now.

Before the bespectacled girl would even hit the buzzer, the door was instantly opened by none other than Tomo. "You're late! Just get in and I will tell you everything!" With a simple tug, Yomi had no choice but to enter the house.

Now in the kitchen, Yomi watched as Tomo grabbed a few plates and things. She was told to stay in the kitchen, as she was going to learn about this new diet, and try its foods, here. There was nowhere to sit, though, so she had to make due with leaning against a counter while Tomo explained this new diet.

"This diet might be the diet to end all diets!" she exclaimed as she grabbed a few more things. "It's the one that will surely bring out the beauty in you! No more crazy foods from now on!"

"So? What is this diet called? What does it involve?"

"Hehehe...Behold your first course!" Tomo handed the girl a plate. The plate contained a few pieces of...paper. "This is just the appetizer. Wait until you see the main course!"

"What the...heck...am I supposed to do with this?"

"Eat it, of course!"

Yomi stared at her plate. "You really expect me to...eat this?" Tomo nodded in reply. Yomi looked at her plate again, gulped, then grabbed a piece of paper. She hesitated for a couple of minutes until she finally decided to just stick it in her mouth. Having to chew, and swallow, a piece of paper was almost nauseating to the girl. Feeling the paper get moist inside her very mouth was almost too much. She never swallowed, however, having decided to spit the piece out after "chewing" on it for less than ten seconds.

"Aww...So the appetizer didn't work out for you?"

"Tomo...blech...What kind of diet is this?!"

"It's the diet of tomorrow! The diet to end all diets!"

"Yeah yeah...yuck..."

"I guess it's time to bring out the main course, then..."

"Wait a minute..." It was too late. Tomo had already turned around to "prepare" the next dish. In Tomo's mind, she knew this would be the one to freak Yomi out. After that, she thought, it's confession time...

"Alright, Yomi, prepare to be amazed. This'll be the meal that will surely convert you!" With a swift motion, the cheerful girl turned around and revealed to Yomi the "magnificent" main course. Yomi's mouth went agape. She now knew this had to be some sort of joke.

"A giant...rock?!"

"Yeah!"

"What are you trying to do? Make fun of my dieting?!"

"Maybe..."

Yomi shook in rage. "It was just another one of your teasing moments...You always have to make fun of me, don't you?"

"There's a reason I do, though!" The kitchen was silent after Tomo's angry remark, but she continued. "Yomi...your dieting habits have really gone cuckoo lately. It's not like you. You're a sensible person – you should know what's good and what's bad! When it comes to dieting, though, you just go all-out! Do you even know what you're getting yourself into?! Eat like the rest of us! Exercise all you want, but eating normally while exercising is way better than barely eating anything, eating weird stuff, or even nothing at all!"

Yomi was frozen in place, but Tomo still continued. "Yeah, I was making fun of you just now...but I figured it was the only way to get my message across. Sure, I make fun of you all the time, but all this time, I've been worrying about you. After seeing today's lunch, I just couldn't take it anymore. You needed help, and I was going to give you the medicine you always give me...That's right...harsh, physical discipline! ...Well...it was harsh, but the physical part was only the dishes...but you know what I mean!"

"Tomo...Y-you...think...I'm going overboard?"

"We all think you're going overboard, but I'm the only one who's vocal about it...because I care for you!"

Yomi looked at the serious Tomo, then at the dishes – the rock and the shreds of paper – then looked at Tomo again. Well, the girl was right; the strange "diet", along with the speech, knocked some sense into her. Actually, it was more like a blow to the gut, followed by a one-two punch to the face, and finishing off with a massive uppercut. Yomi was truly stunned by it all. She was so stunned, in fact, she actually fainted.

"Yomi?...Yomi? Are you awake now?"

Yomi's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Tomo's worried face. They were now in Tomo's room, and everything was quiet. Slowly sitting up, Yomi already knew what to say. "Tomo...I'm sorry for worrying you...I'll...make sure to watch my habits from now on..."

"You better...but are you alright now?"

"Yeah...I guess it's just the shocking explanation, and a...lack of food..."

Tomo crossed her arms. "Uh-huh. See what I mean? I'm glad I finally knocked some sense into you. You were going to get sick one of these days..."

"...I'm sorry..."

"Don't be. At least you're fine now." Reaching behind her, she gave the girl a sandwich. "I just made it, so don't think it's stale or rotten or something."

The taller girl could not help but chuckle. Leave it to Tomo to liven up the mood no matter what. She was grateful for the girl's actions. It surely made her think twice about her dieting habits. Sure, in a realistic sense, it would take a long time to completely change her ideals, but she could at least stay fit in a more sensible way.

Still, one thing still bugged her mind. "Say, Tomo...What's the name of this 'diet to end all diets', anyway?"

Tomo grinned. "I call it...Tomo's Anti-Diet diet! It only works on glasses-wearing brown-haired girls named Koyomi Mizuhara! Guaranteed to work 100 percent!"

Yomi laughed once more. "And, boy, did it worked wonders..."

Ideas are still wanted! I have two on hold...but I could sure use some more! Please?