Chapter 3 "Daydreaming" Revised 3/24/08
Yomi browsed through her wardrobe, looking for something comfortable to wear. She settled on a nice black kimono top and some relaxed flare jeans. Reaching for her glasses, she brushed off her shirt. She lifted her hair as she made it into a ponytail. Being satisfied with her appearance, she made a 360-degree turn in front of the mirror and tugged lightly on her kimono top.
"I accept your challenge, Tomo," Yomi said, as she gave a smug face to her reflection in the mirror..
Her eyes fixed upon herself in the mirror as she gazed over her body.
"Hey fat girl!"
A brief ghostly image entered Yomi's retinas, displaying a faint image of herself as a child.
"Leave me alone!"
Yomi stared blankly at the mirror as her mind spaced out of reality. Her pulse began to quicken and her breathing became erratic.
She broke out of the trance and then squinted her eyes. "No bad thoughts," she shook her head, rattling the them out, like hitting a ketchup bottle.
"Why don't bad memories stay under the rug like they're supposed to?" Yomi thought to herself, ruffling her hair.
Her thoughts ended when her cell phone went off. She picked up the phone to see who had texted her.
( Don't make me wait Yomi, or else you're treating me to a double helping of Okonomiyaki: Message arrived 21:47 TOMO ThE GreaT )
"Oh man, I lost track of the time!" Yomi grabbed her purse and headed towards the front door. She picked up her keys from the front end table and opened the door and went outside. After she locked the door she reached into her purse and pulled out a candy bar. The harsh wind blew from the north, hitting her body with full force. "God, why does Tomo choose the worst time to hang out." she mumbled, zipping up her jacket. She did one last check to make sure she had everything before leaving. She grabbed the candy bar from her jacket pocket and undid the wrapper.
"I'd better get a quick sweet bite," she thought, as her headache came back.
Yomi headed down the flight of stairs and walked across the street.
"230 calories... Dammit!"
--o--
Chiyo finished the last of her coffee as she approached the library. She discarded the cup in the trash can next to the library entrance as she walked through the main library doors. Heading towards the elevators she checked her backpack.
"I think I can finish this homework in an hour," she thought, as she ruffled through her papers.
Chiyo arrived at the second floor and made her way to one of the free tables.
"'Chiyo-chan'... It's been over a year," Chiyo thought to herself, putting down her backpack on the table.
Chiyo sat down in the chair and began going over her notes.
"I wonder if the gang still keeps in touch?"
Graduation was more then getting a diploma for the girls. It meant new lives for them as well. Tomo and Yomi both entered different colleges in Osaka, Japan. It was a hard choice, deep down for Yomi, to move to Osaka; leaving her friends and family behind. Tomo made the transition a little happier for Yomi when she followed in tow. Their friendship remained unchanged from the move, and it stayed just like they were still in high school. Tomo was far more childish and less responsible, since her parents were paying for her college and apartment. Yomi was mature, but, being under great stress from full time college, full time work, and full time Tomo, she felt a great burden was upon her shoulders.
Sakaki entered Hokkaido University in Sapporo Japan, along with Mayaa, they lived in a apartment complex near the school campus. She entered an internship at a local veterinarian's office in the city. Sakaki's emotions and feelings went through a roller coaster ride everyday, from the cutest animal patient to the sadness of an animal's death.
Yukari and Minamo were both still teaching at the high school, along with Kimura.
"I bet Osaka wouldn't recognize me without my pigtails," Chiyo said as she giggled to herself.
Ayumu entered TMU in Tokyo, where she was majoring in Physics. Chiyo was not only surprised that Ayumu was getting it together and doing well in her classes, but she heard that Ayumu now had a boyfriend. "And to think the rest of us are boyfriend-less."
Kaori and Chihiro were both attending Tokyo U., where Kaori was majoring in Astronomy and Chihiro in Fashion Design.
"I wonder if Kaorin still has feelings for Sakaki?" Chiyo thought, as she flipped through her notes.
Out of the whole gang, Kagura was the only one who didn't take part in going to college. She passed her entrance exams and had scholarships waiting for her. The last time Chiyo talked to her, she was a volunteer Swim Instructor at the local YMCA in Tokyo. Chiyo didn't question Kagura into why she didn't go to college after graduation, but knew that Kagura had her own reasons and whatever the case, she was happy.
Chiyo took out a clean sheet of paper and began writing out some equations. Chiyo paused, tapping her pencil on the paper.
"Excuse me..."
Chiyo looked to her left, where she saw a tall Asian male student. "Yes?" Chiyo asked.
"Is here a penkul yoouu haf?" the student asked Chiyo, in broken English.
"Hu?"
"Mia Englissh ees not good," the student answered.
Chiyo shifted her fingers toward the student. "Do you speak Japanese?"
"Yes I do."
"Nihongo ga hanashimasu.," Chiyo said.
"Daijoubu," the student responded, with a smile "Empitsu ga arimasuka?"
Chiyo reached into her backpack; pulling out a pencil. She handed the pencil to the student.
"Domo arigato gozaimasu.," the student responded.
"Do itashi mashite," Chiyo responded, nodding.
The student sat down at the other side of the table. Chiyo tried to get back to her studies; but she fell into a daydream of thoughts.
Chiyo shifted her weight in the chair as she made a yawn. "I really need to get into a regular sleeping schedule." Chiyo thought, as she continued writing out the equations.
A strong gust of wind whipped through the autumn trees outside the library. Looking out through the window, Chiyo watched the leaves dancing in motion
"Winter vacation is coming up," she thought. "It would be nice to see the gang again."
Chiyo tilted her head up, looking at the ceiling.
"Just a thought." Chiyo smiled to herself, as she went back to her studies.
Notes: Chapter 3 was made as a brief intro of the characters and some highlights into there lives. Thanks for the reviews, fan fiction can be a little tough at times. I totally forgot about the dividers so I added one in chapter 2. I have more of the story in drafts in my notebook. I just need to push them on my computer. Thanks for reading; chapter 4 in progress.
Culture Notes:
The chat with Chiyo and the male student was in Japanese. By reading the actions Chiyo took you can guess what the short conversation was about. I purposely tried to slur the dialog of the student the best I could to portray broken English.
