4. I'll Come Running
"So Chiyo, do you have any ideas about what college you're going to go to when you finish high school?" Yomi asked as she rested her head in her hand. The girls were all sat together in Yukari's classroom during break.
"Where'd that come from?" Kagura asked. "We're only in our second year. It's a little early to be thinking about college."
"On the contrary; it's never too early. And Chiyo seems the kind of person who'd plan ahead for this sort of thing." Yomi said. "I bet you could get into any college you wanted with your track record, Chiyo-chan!"
"Hmm...I was thinking of going abroad, to America. I've heard it's more common for students to skip grades there." Chiyo said after some thought.
"That sounds like a nice idea." Sakaki chimed in quietly. The others nodded in agreement before they returned to chatting among themselves. All except for Osaka, who looked to be deep in thought, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Chiyo noticed her friends uneasy disposition but decided to wait until they had returned to their own desks in order to speak a little more privately. Once she'd sat down in her own chair, Chiyo turned around to Osaka.
"Miss Osaka, is everything alright? It seems like something's bothering you." Chiyo never liked to see Osaka looking so troubled and wished to help her friend.
"Chiyo-chan, did ya...did ya mean it when ya'll said y'd like t' go t' another country when school's over?" Osaka tried to look merely curious, but she couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes.
"Yes, I think it would be good to go abroad to study. I would like to see more of the world and meet lots of new people!" Chiyo said enthusiastically.
"Oh, that's...real nice Chiyo-chan." Osaka's voice was soft and quiet, different from her usual joyful tone.
"Is there something wrong Miss Osaka?" Chiyo lowered her head to try and meet Osaka's downcast eyes.
"It's jus' that Ah'd miss you, Chiyo." Osaka blushed slightly as she spoke. She took a deep breath. "You mean a lot to me Chiyo." Osaka's voice serious, carrying a sincerity that was rarely heard from the spacey young girl.
"I'd miss you too, Osaka. But I wouldn't be gone forever!" Chiyo reached out and placed a hand on Osaka's. "I'll always come back to you, Miss Osaka." She said reassuringly.
"Ah'll be right here waitin' for ya." Osaka said as she smiled brightly, her eyes going back to their usual happy selves.
The girls were broken from their tender moment as a loud bang sounded from the front of the room, causing Chiyo to yelp.
"Mihama, Osaka! No talking while class is in session!" Yukari began her lesson in earnest as Osaka considered her and Chiyo's future together. They might be separated one day, but for now they were with one another. And to Osaka, that was all that mattered.
5. Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Chiyo walked alone towards the school cafeteria. It was lunch time and she had foregone a packed lunch today in favour of buying something from the school's menu.
"Hey, Chiyo-chan!" Turning around Chiyo saw Osaka running to catch up with her. Despite the short distance she had covered Osaka had to stop to catch her breath once she reached Chiyo.
"Miss Osaka, is something the matter?" Chiyo never could predict Osaka. It was one of the many things that made it so fun to spend time with the air-headed girl.
"Ah...Ah wanted to say sorry." Osaka let out a breath as she straightened her back, her eyes on Chiyo's own.
"Sorry?" Chiyo tilted her head as her smile faded. "What for?"
"For this mornin', when me an' Tomo yelled at ya for correctin' her 'bout Christmas time and yule." It took a few seconds for her to remember, but Chiyo did recall Tomo getting upset at her for 'ruining her punchline'. She had only wanted to inform Tomo of something she may not have known about, but both Tomo and Osaka had insisted that 'stealing the punchline' was not okay.
Yomi had told Chiyo not to take them seriously. Still, it hurt to see Osaka mad at her, whatever the reason. Chiyo, however, was not one to hold a grudge. Osaka had come here to apologize and that more than made up for it in Chiyo's mind. However…
"Well, I might need some convincing before I can really forgive you." Chiyo folded her arms as she played hard to get.
"Convincin'? Wha'd'ya mean?" Osaka turned her eyes to the ceiling as she thought about what Chiyo meant.
"I mean...well, I mean I'd like you to show me. That you're sorry, that is." Chiyo suddenly felt nervous, her heart beating fast, as she thought about exactly what she wanted.
"Oh, Ah see." Osaka nodded before taking a step forward and placing her hands on Chiyo's shoulders. She began to move closer until her face was only a few inch away from Chiyo's.
"Do ya mind, Chiyo, if Ah…"
"Not at all, Osaka." Chiyo whispered. She could feel her heart going a mile a minute. This was going exactly the way she had wanted. Osaka moved closer and closer, until their lips were on the verge of meeting.
"Yo, Osaka, why did the chicken cross the road!" Chiyo and Osaka bolted away from each other as Tomo yelled down the corridor at them.
"Uh, Ah dunno Tomo, why did the road cross the chicken. Ah mean, why did the chicken cross the road, yeah that's what Ah meant!" Osaka said quickly, trying her best to look normal. As normal as she could, anyway.
"To get to the brothel!" Tomo said, apparently not noticing the awkwardness of the situation she had just walked into. Chiyo put her face into her hands as she shook her head.
"Ah don't get it."
"Knock knock." Tomo didn't stop to explain to Osaka.
"Who...who's there?" Osaka asked confusedly.
"The chicken!" Tomo hit her punchline before she doubled over laughing. Chiyo slowly looked up at Tomo while Osaka put on the most deadpan face she could muster. The two were silent as Tomo continued howling with laughter.
"I'm going to go get food now." Chiyo turned and stormed away.
"Me too." Osaka copied Chiyo, leaving Tomo by herself. She shrugged and pulled at her collar.
"Sheesh, tough crowd."
6. You Raise Me Up
"Chiyo-chan, Ah had an idea!" Osaka announced excitedly as she ran up to Chiyo after class had finished for the day.
"Oh, what was your idea Miss Osaka?" Chiyo asked curiously as she packed her bag.
"Ah was thinkin' about our talk with Miss Sakaki today an' Ah've decided!" Osaka declared. Chiyo continued to look expectantly at her friend. "If Miss Sakaki stole your height, then Ah'll give ya some o' mine!"
"Miss Osaka, I don't think that's going to wo-AHH!" Chiyo yelped as Osaka slid beneath her legs and stood up. The result was Chiyo perched precariously upon Osaka's shoulders. "Osaka, what on earth are you doing?" Chiyo wrapped her arms around Osaka's neck to balance herself, though she was careful not to hurt Osaka in the process.
"See Chiyo, now ya'll can be as tall as Miss Sakaki!" Osaka's voiced strained as she struggled to hold Chiyo's tiny frame aloft. Most of the other students who remained in the room had stopped what they were doing to look over at the odd display at the front of the classroom.
"Miss Osaka, please be careful!" Chiyo cried as Osaka began to wobble on her feet.
"Uh, are you guys alright? Seems like an awful lot of commotion over here." Chihiro asked confusedly as she walked beside the pair.
"Hey there Chihiro! Ah'm jus'-woah-Ah'm givin' Chiyo mah height so-hah-so she can be as tall as Sakaki!" Osaka explained, even as her balance began to fail.
"You sure you don't need any…" Chihiro began to offer, but Osaka's legs finally gave way, and both she and Chiyo fell unceremoniously to the ground. "...Help."
In her fall, Osaka had managed to spin herself around enough that she landed on her back with Chiyo on her chest, both of them wailing and flailing as they fell. Chiyo was first to regain composure. "Miss Kasuga, are you okay?" She asked, concerned, as she looked down between her legs at Osaka.
"Ah'm fine, sorry 'bout that Chiyo." Osaka apologised. She looked up at Chiyo, who was straddled across her chest, her skirt partly lifted up from the fall. "Chiyo...do ya think…" She began.
"What is it, Miss Osaka?" Chiyo looked down into Osaka's eyes.
"Do ya'll think...ya could get off me now, ya'll're startin' t' hurt me!" Osaka wheezed. Chiyo flustered as she scrambled to get up, with Chihiro offering her a hand.
"Please Miss Osaka, don't do anything like that again without warning me first." Chiyo scolded.
"Ah promise! Oh, an' by the way Chiyo…" Osaka began. Chiyo tilted her head expectantly.
"Nice panties!" Chiyo turned beet red as Chihiro began to laugh.
(A/N: I'd love to be able to write some drabbles about Chihiro one day, preferably KaorixChihiro stuff. She doesn't get enough attention, in the anime, manga or fandom.)
