Well, I hope you didn't mind the long wait! I hope you like the chapter. Nothing else to say.

That night of the election, Tohru was lively as ever. Her mother returned early which only made the day more pleasant. So, while her mother cooked spaghetti, Tohru logged onto her computer and put on live election results. Throughout the rest of the day she kept sharing with her mother the new results while predicting the winner. She was in a good mood. "I hope ------ wins. He is more toward taking care of the environment and its creatures. The other one is just worried about the gas prices. I mean, if we take care of the world it will take care of us. In other words, we take care of the natural resources, we can make more use of it, hence better use of what we can reuse, hence more power in our control, hence, less money to be spent."" Kyoko looked at Tohru with awe, and with the wooden spoon still in her hand, she hugged Tohru tightly.

"Oh my sweet daughter! When did you grow up?" Tohru smiled as she held on to her mother. She loved her mother, she was her whole world. She was her idol, her life. Kyoko probably would have held onto her daughter until time itself ended but then the sauce began to bubble which ended the intimate and silent sharing of love. Kyoko quickly released Tohru and began to stir the sauce, smiling softly. After a cheery dinner, Tohru helped washing dishes and went to sleep.

A time of revelation came that next day. Tohru didn't even have Mr. Hatori's class that day! However, it was inevitable; the day that Tohru finally knew whether she liked him or not. She was in the computer room as always, sitting on the floor by the desk. By now she knew that Mr. Hatori supervised those days and so she would sit nearest the desk always. While waiting for him to arrive, she read.

However, she got very attached to the book, it was about Vikings. She hoped only to read for the period he is not there and then, at the end of the period, put the book away and think of some brilliant idea to ask Mr. Hatori. Yet, it never happened. She was reading when she heard someone speak by her. Looking up, she saw three students asking something to someone. Since she was sitting right by the desk (against the wall in the corner), she couldn't see who they were talking to. She didn't have to. When the teacher replied, Tohru's heart gave a sudden leap. It was Mr. Hatori! Closing her book, Tohru sat there, waiting for the students to leave. Minutes ticked and they were still talking. She wasn't worried because this time they were all boys but she was getting more and more anxious. She won't have time to talk to him! Her chance and they were taking it from her!

However, fate was kind to her. There was still twenty minutes left in the period when the boys left, leaving Mr. Hatori alone. Tohru smiled at her chance and racked her brains for a nonchalant question. Not finding anything impressive, she settled on asking Mr. Hatori if he always liked History. Tohru, herself, always used to hate history though Mr. Hatori was changing that. She wanted to know if he went through the same issue.

With the question ready and rehearsed, there was still eighteen minutes left. Tohru prepared to stand only to find herself paralyzed with fear. The thought of speaking to Mr. Hatori seemed unimaginable. Her heart was racing, her fear wide, and she suddenly felt self-conscious. She was scared to talk to him! She did not fear him but she was almost embarrassed to speak to him! What's going on? Why can't I ask him one simple question? Tohru breathed in heavily, feeling her breathe shake as her heart beat faster. She decided to count to three and get up. She willed herself that once she counts to three she will get up and ask him. One…….two…… okay, I can do this. One, two...th- …. Ah! Say it already! One, two, three! Tohru found she couldn't move her body. Okay, again! One, two, three! Three! Three! However, no matter how much she reassured herself that all she was going to do was ask a simple question to a teacher, something she never had a problem with, her body would not obey and her heart was nearing an attack. Looking up at the time, Tohru realized there were only ten minutes left. Wah! I wasted all this time! I got to get up!

Finally, wobbling gently, Tohru was able to stand on shaky legs. Proud of her accomplishment, she smiled and moved forward. Only, her legs would not move. She saw it clearly. She could see herself walking and asking the question and she was repeating to her brain to follow her will, yet she stood there dumbly, right next to Mr. Hatori's desk, staring straight ahead at the clock, in which the minutes were ticking away. Finally, when there was five minutes until next class, Tohru moved. She didn't even realize it at first since she's been willing her brain for some time. One minute she was facing the other side of the room, the next minute she was facing toward Mr. Hatori and speaking his name. "Mr. Hatori?" Mr. Hatori paused from typing on the computer and looked up. "Did you always like history? Or do you just appreciate it?"

Mr. Hatori shrugged his shoulders and thought in confusion. He seemed to think of the answer, as if the thought never came to him. Finally, he decided upon it. "I guess I started to appreciate it while teaching and hope to do the same to my students." The word "students" pierced Tohru but she kept her calm.

"Umm, if you just started to appreciate it then why did you become a history teacher."

"I'd like to be a basketball coach." Tohru was surprised at the answer, as Mr. Hatori leaned forward, hands on the desk.

"Wait, what? You like basketball? That doesn't make sense! Why are you a history teacher if you like basketball?"

"Well, that's easy," Mr. Hatori answered. He did not even take the time to think, his answers confident and we thought out. "Being a teacher is the only way to give me time to be a basketball coach."

Tohru didn't have an answer for that. However, not wanting to sound clueless, she said the first thing that lighted up in her brain. "Oh! That makes sense! Well, it's almost class time. Have a good day Mr. Hatori."

"You too," he answered, facing towards the computer again. Once Tohru was out of the computer room she smacked her forehead. What in the world is wrong with me? That was the stupidest thing I could have said! And why was I so scared to ask him a stupid question? OMG! I do like him! Oh darn!

Tohru ran towards the next class with only one minute to spare. She cursed herself for the lame questions and response but, by the time she was in Physics, she was smiling. She like Mr. Hatori and she could have cared less!

That's it! More coming soon!