Disclaimer: I don´t own Azumanga.

Well, I still suck at updating . ...this is a shot in the dark, and if things turn out alright I might do some more writing. It´s not that I don´t want to update, but more of a time issue. I would like to dedicate more time to writing, but it´s kind of a motivation issue as well . .

And about Tomo getting into better shape and smoking: It´s not like you instantly get lung-cancer from smoking. Tomo´s not a big-smoker either so with her new and increased (over the past year or so ) bodymass, forced exercise and so on she´s gotten more athletic. Considering her old state was pretty awful endurance-wise.

Anyway, enjoy :D

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Tomo blinked twice at the glaring light she had just rolled into, before she rolled over again and moaned. Laying there in the early morning light, mind half-asleep, it took her a little while to acknowlede the various homely sounds around the house.

' Nothing like my place, that´s for sure. '

She could hear the radio running in the kitchen along with the sound of a frying pan stirring. The shower was also running, so she assumed Yomi was no longer in her bed.

Groggily Tomo sits up and rubs her right eye. She then yawns untill her jaw protests before she checks her leg.

After pushing away her blanket she pulls her foot towards her and run her hands over it, checking for swelling and pain. To her pleasant surprise it´s neither swollen nor hurting anymore. With a cheer she jumps up on her feet and does a little victory dance.

" Of course, nothing can keep Takino still for long!"

"That is , sadly, true. "

The unexpected voice from the door sent a shudder through Tomo before she covered her surprise by leaping towards it.

" YEAH! And don´t you now it Koyomi-kun? Now, lets grab some breakfast! "

Yomi had to step to the side or be run over as Tomo ran through the door and down the hall in her over-sized pyjamas. She heard Tomo greet her mother cheerily and her mother respond fondly. Tomo was a welcome guest in the Mizuhara household since she was alot cheerier than Yomi herself. Miss Mizuhara liked having one around who would eat all the fattening-vein-clogging dishes she put on the table.

As she got dressed Yomi distinctly noticed the promises of eggs and bacon wafting into her room.

' Ok, I´ll get some just to make her happy. ' Was her justification as she stepped into the kitchen.

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Apparently it was going to be a hot, but stormy day. There was a pretty strong wind blowing and a few ominous clouds on the horizon. When she saw this Yomi decided to get an umbrella for later before she was pulled outside by an energetic Tomo. The pulling didn´t subside one bit as they made their way down the pavement.

"Waha! It´s great when it´s windy like this isn´t it!? I mean as long as it´s not pouring down as well it´s awesome!"

Yomi just watched the Wildcat as she jumped and frolicked down the street ahead of her. Suddenly Tomo stopped and stared, off in another world.

"What is it Tomo? Is something wrong?"

" I just remembered that I gotta explain stuff to Kagura today."

"Stuff?...Why?"

" Oh, nothing, I just had a little run-in with her yesterday. Socked her, pulled my knife on her and tried to run away, only to hurt my leg as I half-assedly jump across a fence. Needless to say she caught up, sweating like a pig, wheezing and puffing while her tw..."

" I have a hard time believing that, and what´s with your fixation about her breasts!? "

"Easy, easy Koyomi-kun, I was just stating facts while I described the situation. Anyway she demanded an explanation, taking advantage of my vulnerable condition , I might add, then she ran off saying she was in a hurry and wanted it today."

"Well...she kinda deserve one, after you punched her like that. Anyone would be curious at the least."

"...I don´t need more people to know about this, y´know?..."

Yomi looked at Tomo´s face. She seemed sad, but Yomi could almost hear the silent cry for help. Tomo might not want to burden other people with her life, but she needed help.

" Still, you can´t not tell her. That´d be abit awkward now wouldn´t it? Anyway, I think you´re just intimidated by her breast-size with those pea-pods you got there."

"What!? Like I would by intimidated by someone who..."

Tomo kept up the tirade all the way to the school gate.

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Kagura had spent all her waking hours pondering about whatever could´ve happened to Tomo. Scenario after weird scenario had kept popping up in her head untill she´d somehow fallen asleep. When she woke up again ( overslept 15 minutes as usual ) she´d surged through the house like a tornado and it wouldn´t be untill she settled in the classroom she had remembered Tomo.

Tomo arrived with Yomi just an instant before Yukari came crashing into the classroom. Yukari looked like she was in a good mood , nothing incredibly over the top, but like someone who woke up to a pleasant surprise. The result was an easy-going atmosphere as she went into the subject at hand.

This didn´t help Kagura much, though, since she was on the far side of the classroom and Tomo was by the hallway. She decided that she´d corner Tomo after school, which would be ok, since she didn´t have any formal training to attend to.

Tomo was herself all through the day, even in P.E she seemed to be the usual energetic, non-enduring ditz. Kagura was abit concerned about that part, since she wasn´t so sure if Tomo would give her a run for her money when she challenged her ( as usual ) to a 100 metre track. When she cleared the finishing line a good 25 metres before Tomo she turned and glared at the stumbling figure. She´d had enough crap for now, she wouldn´t take the challenge of someone who faked loosing and didn´t put up a real fight. As Tomo slid over the finishing line Kagura grabbed her and practically dragged her away from the others.

"Ouch, hey! What´re ya doing Kagura? You got a problem with winning as well these days?"

"Shut up! Just for a second will ya!?"

Kagura didn´t say anything else untill they got to the wall to the wardrobes. She did notice the weird looks the rest of the class were giving them though.

She ignored them and poked Tomo, hard.

"Why aren´t you running like yesterday!? You can do tons better than what you just did!"

"Hey, what´re you talking about? I ran as fast as I possibly can just now."

"Oh, please, I´m an athlete Tomo, it´s what I do. And I know more than enough to see that you were not running your best! "

"Are you calling me a liar!? I´ll have you know that.."

"Whatever! Just don´t expect me to accept any more challenges from you!"

And with that Kagura stomped back to the track. She passed the others without a word and resumed her practice.

The rest of the class looked puzzled from Kagura to Tomo and back again.

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When the bell rang the end of the day Tomo leaped up from her seat and bounded out the door. Protests screamed by Yukari followed her down the hall.

She jumped down the stairs four steps at the time and was by the exit in seconds. She sprinted out the door and to her great dismay Kagura was standing in the middle of the school gate.

"Shit...no way out then."