Author's Note: Okay. One, they are all in HIGH SCHOOL, say, second year, (by Japanese grades; they're juniors if they're in our school system which they aren't), and I actually wanted everyone to be around 16 and 17, not 17 and 18. Except Josh is 18 or so and has graduated already. Sorry! Also, I really do suck at writing, so please don't hurt me if this, and any other possible chapters, are crappy. This is my first real attempt at writing this sort of thing, so I don't really know what I'm doing. Oh, by the way, now that I think of it, I don't care if I get flames. I really don't; that means all of you people who hate me can flame!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kodomo no Omocha or any of its characters. Plot, nicknames, (except Aki), Josh, Miwa, their families, etc., I do own. So don't steal without asking me, ok? Here's crappy chapter 2! Bye!

Oh! Some info coming your way. I'm gonna explain how the classes work. Every day you start with a different period. Sana's schedule for the first day of school was as follows: Period 1–History, Period 2–PE/Health, Period 3–Elective, Period 4–Math, Period 5–Grammar, Period 6–Science. After Periods 1 and 2 is Break. After Periods 3 and 4 is Lunch. After Periods 5 and 6 it's the end of the day-unless you have extra-curricular activities to attend to. Sana's not in any because of Miwa, etc. Each day the order of the periods attended changes. It'slike a cycle. Therefore, each day the periods rotate so that if Sana had History first, the next day she'd have it last. Because of this, each class period is called Mod 1 through Mod 6. Does that make any sense? If it doesn't, never mind. I guess it doesn't really matter.

Chapter 2

"Are you okay?"

Sana turned her head up from her desk where she was resting and blinked. Aya was looking at her worriedly and seemed to have a hint of another emotion in her eyes. Tiredly, Sana mumbled, "Who– yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you seem out of it, although who could blame you after yesterday, and I just wanted to know if I could help," Aya replied almost apologetically. She then looked down sadly. "That guy you met when you were saving that–that girl, do you know who he is?"

Duh! Of course I do! He was my manager! Sana thought to herself. Wait, I need to be inconspicuous. I have to say something! "Uh . . .no. . . . Who . . . uh . . . was he?" Bad cover-up! Bad! Bad! Bad!

"He was me and the gang's–Hayama-kun, Tsuyoshi, and Fuka-chan–friend's manager. Before she disappeared anyway. I wonder where she is now and if she's happy . . ." Aya trailed off, thinking wistfully of the old days, before Sana left.

Sana watched as Aya slowly went and sank down in her seat, the same expression on her face. Okay, I know this is kind of cruel to say, but, man! She seems like she's in a trance without me! I thought that it'd be Fuka-chan who would look like that, not Aya! Sana thought. Oops! Class is starting!

Sana groaned silently when she realized what class she had first. Aw man! Not Math! I hate it! Our sensei is such a– a– Ugh! I don't know! She's just plain horrible!

"Class, today we are going to be learning the . . ." Sana tuned out her teacher as she stared out the window next to her desk. Absentmindedly, she tapped her fingers on the desk in rhythm to the theme song of her old show 'Kodomo no Omocha' and thought about Josh and Miwa. She sighed. I still haven't made up with him yet. I guess it really wasn't his fault. But what if Miwa had– Sana shuddered slightly. That was definitely a close one.

Sana moved her foot a bit, then winced. My ankle is not going to heal any time soon, I bet. I really shouldn't of put so much pressure on it. . . . It was worth it, though. To know that Miwa didn't get hurt. That was clearly a relief to know. Sana ruefully smiled. I wonder if I should tell my old friends that I–

Sana's thought were abruptly cut off by a yell that was, of course, directed at her. "Kitahoshi-san! Stop daydreaming this instant! That is the 3rd time this week that this has happened! Do I need to send you to the office? Or should I give you detention?" her sensei scolded.

Sheepishly, Sana replied softly, "No."

The teacher glared at her. "THEN PAY ATTENTION!"

The teacher looked at Tsuyoshi, who was also in Sana's Algebra 2 class. However, Sana thought he should be in a higher class since he was so smart. "Sasaki-san. What is the answer to number 31?"

As Tsuyoshi said the correct answer, Sana heard a snicker behind her. Sana fumed but calmed herself so that the teacher wouldn't snap at her again. She knew exactly who sat behind her and who was sniggering. Jerk, she thought. At least I didn't talk back to her like you used to do with the teachers in 6th grade. Just wait until Break Hayama-kun. You are dead.

The bell soon rang and Sana walked off to her Grammar class. Unfortunately for her, the sensei decided to make her stay after class. Because of this, Sana couldn't attack Hayama. Dang. Oh well. I'll just find him at Lunch.

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As lunch time rolled around Sana quickly left her History class to go find Hayama and give him a beating for earlier in Math class. Unluckily, she found him seated with Fuka, Aya, and Tsuyoshi at a table.

Dang it! Sana thought. Now I can't beat him up! She walked up to their table with her lunch and sat down next to them.

Sana smiled vibrantly that she was going to dye her hair.

"What?" Fuka questioned. "Why?"

So that I don't run the risk of you discovering who I am, Sana thought to herself.Aloud she said, "Well, I've always wanted a different color. That way I could do different things with it: wear different colored clothes, use different make-up; that sort of thing. I just wanna try something brand-new."

"Well, that's your decision, girl. But one question." Fuka looked at Sana. "What is your natural hair color? We never see it. It's always hiding."

Hm . . . It wouldn't hurt to tell them. "My natural hair color is like a bright orangish-red hue."

A barely noticeable wave of pain reverberated through Aya's, Tsuyoshi's, and Fuka's bodies. Yet, Sana couldn't imagine why at that moment.

Sana continued about her hair. "So . . . I'm gonna get it dyed a mahogany color or maybe a chestnut color with dark brown. Something like that. What do you guys think?"

"I think that you're a stupid bitch and that you're shitty-looking. You are also a complete moron."

Sana saw red as her anger flared. No one, no one, insults her. Ever. She turned, murderous-looking, toward the person. "Hayama-kun," she said venomously. "You are a dead man. Start running. Now." She stressed each word she said as she glared at him.

Hayama smirked smugly and sauntered out of the cafeteria toward the outside benches. He called to Sana teasingly, "Come on, Kitahoshi-san. I thought you said you were gonna kill me. Aw, darn. You're not going to? And here I was thinking you were a girl who lived up to her word. Damn." He walked out.

Sana bristled as she glared at him. She started to get up when Fuka told her, "Sachiko-chan." Somehow, her old friends had gotten close enough to call her by her first 'name.' "Whatever you do, don't piss off Aki-kun. He will hurt you: he takes karate. Don't mess with him."

Sana grinned evilly. "Don't worry Fuka-chan." Sanahad gotten close to her old friends as well. "I think I can handle him."

Fuka sighed. "Be careful 'kay, girl? Don't hurt yourself."

"Uh-huh. Whatever you say Fuka-chan." Sana ran off after Hayama like lightning. This is gonna be so much fun, she thought. I haven't smacked or annoyed–whatever–Hayama-kun in, like, forever. Sana quickened her pace when suddenly the bell rang, signaling that Lunch was over and that she had to go to class. Darn it, she thought angrily. She sighed. At least it's Health right now and not that stupid Biology class. Why are all my teachers so evil?

Sana walked back to the lunch table, grabbed her stuff, and sprinted to her Health class. As she went through the halls, Aya and Tsuyoshi watched her, amused.

"She really reminds me of Sana-chan," Aya said to him quietly. "She's just as airheaded and carefree as she was. Plus, she lets herself be ruled by emotions at times. Did you see how she went after Hayama-kun? It was just what Sana-chan would've done."

"That's true, Aya," Tsuyoshi replied. "That's definitely true. I wonder if she might be able to help us just like Sana-chan used to. That would be nice."

He put an arm around Aya's shoulder as the two of them started to walk toward their class. Aya looked up at him. "It'd be nice, for sure. I just wonder if Sana-chan will ever show up again or tell us where she is and how she's doing. We've been worrying about her so much."

"Don't worry, Aya. I'm positive she will. Maybe not now, but one day she will. It may be years from now for all we know. But when she does show up, I'm not gonna be mad at her because she at least came back." Tsuyoshi pulled Aya closer to him.

Ironically for them, their old friend was right under their noses. However, she wouldn't be revealing herself before a later time-if she could help it, that is.

Glossary of Translations:

sensei-teacher, doctor, writer, etcetera. When talking to anyone in this area, you add this type of honorific to their last name. (i.e.Kurata-sensei (Misako/Mariko. They couldn't decide which name they wanted to use, could they?))

chan-a honorific that represents a closeness with the person it is attached to. A friend will usually add this to their friends' names (i.e. Tomoyo-chan). However, this honorific is only used for girls and women-or for cute stuffed animals or pets, even if it's a boy. (i.e. Kero-chan. This is still a male, but the owner adds the female '-chan' honorific instead of the male equivalent '-kun.')

kun-a honorific that represents a closeness with the person it is attached to. A friend will usually add this to their friends' names (i.e. Yamazaki-kun). However, this honorific is only used for boys and men. It is never used on a female. This is the equivalent of the female '-chan' honorific.

blank(no honorific)-the person who does not attach an honorific to the person they're referring to's name has special permission from the person, allowing them to speak to them in an intimate way (i.e. a boyfriend and girlfriend may say this to each other; for example, Aya and Tsuyoshi do not add honorifics to each others names when speaking to each other.) In spite of this, if someone who does not have this permission does not attatch any honorific, it is very rude and insulting.

Author's Note: There's chapter 2! How was it? I think this one sucks even more than the first chapter. Also, I know it's short. I was trying to show how much the people around Sana have changed and how she herself has, too. Plus, I wanted to show that Sana and the gang still retained a bit of their old qualities. Anyway, ja until next time! Bye-bye!