A/N: ((Warning: There is a spoiler in this note.)) In this story, Akito is male. I know he is revealed as being a she. And I do make references to the manga. Nevertheless, the plot for my story requires that Akito not be female. Thanks and I hope you enjoy!



Look, mom. I'm in my second year of junior college. Can you believe it?

"I'm home!" Tohru called as she stepped through the door and removed her shoes.

Shigure poked his head into the hallway. "Welcome back. How was school?"

"Fine, thank you," Tohru replied. "I'll go start dinner."

Shigure nodded, and his head disappeared back into his room. He, Yuki and Kyo joined Tohru at the table for dinner a couple hours later.

I had planned on going straight to work after high school, but Yuki and the others persuaded me into going two years at the local community college first. Shigure insisted on lending me the money, and said I could pay him back over time. I got a second job anyway, working at the café on campus.

"Very nice, Miss Honda," Yuki complimented after taking a few bites.

Yuki and Kyo are both attending an all boys' college nearby so they did not have to move out of Shigure's house. Because the school is only for boys, all of the fan club girls who did not get into the neighboring all girls' school go the community college as well.

"Yes, another lovely meal made especially for us by our wonderful flower," Shigure sang.

When I found out that Kyo was going to be locked up after high school, I went and saw Akito. We talked for a while, and he agreed to wait, though he did not promise to never lock Kyo up. I go to see him at least once a month. He has not told me to stop coming yet, so I do not think he minds.

"You're such a great cook, Tohru!" Momiji added.

Momiji and Hatsuharu are going to the community college with me this year as freshmen. Their parents let them go as long as they attended two more years at a regular university afterwards. When they walk me home from school, they usually stay for dinner.

"Do you like it, Kyo?" Tohru asked hopefully.

We have all grown, but I think Momiji has grown the most. Yuki looks a bit more like Ayame, but I do not think he would take that as a compliment if I told him so.

He paused with his chopsticks at his mouth and looked at her. Something caught his eye and his gaze dropped to her hand, which was holding her own chopsticks. A bandage was barely visible just above her long sleeve.

"What happened to your hand?"

Uo is taking a couple of classes at the community college, too, but she mostly works. She says she only signed up so she is allowed on campus to keep an eye on me. Hana attends a more distant college, but we still see each other.

Kyo's words brought the attention of Yuki and Shigure to her. "Oh, it—it's nothing. I just burned my hand a little in cooking class today, is all."

I thought this year was going to be fun, despite the schoolwork—which Yuki still helps me with, sometimes—but all of these accidents started to happen. I never was very graceful.

- - - -

Throughout their high school years, Kyo, Momiji and Hatsuharu had gained their own fans, though never the multitude that Yuki had.

Seeing Kyo and Yuki occasionally walk Tohru to school roused jealous feelings amongst the fan girls. When the next year Momiji and therefore Hatsuharu could be found usually at Tohru's side, the fan girls who had followed to two younger male Sohmas to the community college shared the same emotions. The sentiments against Tohru deepened into resentment bordering hate. Soon, action was being taken against enemy number one.

Tohru collided with people and would be bumped into the corner of a desk or the handle of a door. Before she could apologize, she would be scolded. Her books and papers would be knocked from her hands. The bruises were usually small and always hidden beneath her clothing. During cooking class, food would spill, sometimes on her, sometimes not. In either case, food was wasted, an act that was frowned upon. Working at the café, she would get orders wrong when she was certain she had written them down correctly, but the customer is always right. She would also be yelled at for taking too long.

"Idiot," Kyo said softly, knocking her gently on the head. "Be more careful."

"Y-yes. I will."

"Tohru," Shigure said seriously. "I have some burn cream. Remind me to get it for you after dinner."

"You don't have to do that," Tohru said hastily. "I don't want to be any trouble."

"Now, now. We can't have your lovely skinned scarring, can we?"

Tohru smiled. "Thanks, Shigure."

The idea once occurred to Tohruthat she was being bullied, but she dismissed the thought. She could not comprehend who would want to hurt her or why.

- - - - - - - -

"See you later, Tohru!" Momiji called as he and Hatsuharu went to their next class.

"Bye, Momiji," Tohru said in reply. She had a short break before her next class. As she turned to walk away, a passerby's elbow harshly hit hers, and she dropped her bag, and a few papers spilled out.

"Oh no!" She scrambled to pick them up. "Please don't walk on those," she asked timidly as her papers were repeatedly treaded on.

"Hey! Don't step on those!"

The crowd instantly parted.

"Uo!" Tohru said, surprised.

"Almost like déjà vu," Uo laughed as she bent down to help Tohru. When Tohru had all of her papers back, Uo said, "Come on, let's starting heading towards the classroom."

After an uneventful class period, Uo walked Tohru to work, where she waited until Tohru got off. "I don't have work until late tonight," she explained.

As Tohru rushed around, taking and delivering orders, she periodically came by to ask Uo if she wanted anything. Finally, Uo laughed and wrapped her arm around Tohru affectionately. "Don't worry about me, Tohru. You work hard enough as it is, I'm not going to make your job any harder."

Tohru tried to insist that getting something for Uo would not be any trouble and that she would not mind, but Uo only smiled warmly and told her to go back to work and not worry.

The display of fondness did not go unnoticed.