Here it is, the Milestone Chapter! We're halfway through the story now! While you're here, enjoy Pt. 3! I don't own Azumanga Daioh.
Chapter 13, "The Last Summer Vacation, Pt. 3".
"Ah, I wish we didn't have to go back…" Tomo trailed off while floating in the water next to Yomi. The latter silently thought about her girlfriend. 'Where should I take her? I don't know that much about what she likes…I've gotta be the one to…' she drifted in thought, only to be interrupted when Tomo dove and pulled her under with her. Sakaki sat on the beach, and as a result Kaorin did as well. Kagura was out swimming, thinking about what to say at the dinner they had planned. A toast? Or just a 'Congratulations!'? Anything along those lines. When she came up, she was disturbed to see Kaorin practically on top of Sakaki. Osaka and Chiyo played with a beach ball, passing it in the water. Yukari and Nyamo shared a beach blanket as a result of lack of them, which sat just fine with Nyamo. 'I wonder if maybe…I could say something to her? If I don't, I know we'd stay friends, but…' Nyamo thought. She decided to take the leap. She slowly crept her hand to take hold of Yukari's, but was foiled when said teacher started yelling at Tomo to let go of Yomi, and as a result was flailing her arms about. Kaorin slowly edged over to Sakaki. "Uhhh…Miss…Miss Sakaki?" she squeaked. "Hmmm? Yes?" Sakaki replied, figuring that this was it. "Well… there's something…I want…I need to tell you…" Kaorin slowly said to her. "Kaorin, I already know…" Sakaki replied sternly; she didn't want to break her heart, but it was beginning to look like there was no other alternative. "Y-you do?" Kaorin asked timidly. "Yes. And I'm sorry, Kaorin…but I'm already with someone." Sakaki finished, but looked straight at her. They were alone, so no one heard when Kaorin began to sniffle. "…I understand…I'm really sorry!" she said quietly before getting up to go back to the house. Chihiro looked on worriedly, and decided to follow her.
"Kaorin…?" Chihiro whispered, walking inside. Kaorin sat at the table, sobbing. "K-Kaorin?" Chihiro called again. "I was an idiot! I should have known it'd never work out for me!" Kaorin cursed quietly. "Was it Miss Sakaki?" Chihiro asked. "…Yes. She was already with someone…Miss Kagura…" Kaorin replied. "Kaorin, don't beat yourself up over it. I'm sure you'll be over her soon." She tried to comfort Kaorin, but it only seemed to worsen the situation. "I SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING SOONER! IT'S MY FAULT!" Kaorin nearly yelled. "…Are you going to be coming out…anymore?" Chihiro asked, knowing the answer. "N-no…you go ahead." Kaorin lightly denied the invitation. "…Do you want me to stay here? Or leave? Or anything?" she asked Kaorin. "…Stay with me?" Kaorin requested after a long pause, wiping some of her tears. Chihiro smiled and accepted her request. "Man, they're taking forever!" Tomo said aloud, pertaining to Chihiro and Kaorin. "If I'm right…then Sakaki shot her down…" Yomi interjected tentatively. "You really think she did?" Tomo asked seriously, but Yomi figured it was cheap sarcasm, and proceeded to plunge her under the water. "Hey, what're we so somber for?" Nyamo asked, finally getting into the water. "Ah…it's nothing, Miss Kurosawa. Anyway, it's starting to get dark. Why did you come in now?" Yomi changed the subject while allowing Tomo up for air. "I figured I wouldn't burn up this late, and I only wanted to get in for a bit anyway, so it worked for me." Nyamo told them. Osaka and Chiyo were just getting out, as was Kagura. The latter walked toward Sakaki. "So…did you tell her?" she asked. "Yeah…she took it lightly out here, but I'm not sure after that. She went inside and Chihiro followed her." Sakaki informed her. "I feel sorry for her…but maybe Chihiro will be able to make her feel better…" Kagura trailed off. Yomi, Tomo, and Nyamo left the water, and they packed up to head inside.
When they entered the house, they found Kaorin and Chihiro at the table together. "Ah…" Kaorin sighed, unable to find any words. An awkward silence settle as Kaorin and Chihiro looked back at Sakaki and Kagura. "Did I miss something?" Yukari broke the silence. "It's nothing that concerns us, so let's leave them alone." Nyamo told her, and she urged them all into the kitchen. Sakaki and Kagura sat across the table from the other two. "This went all wrong…we had it planned differently…" Kagura told them. "Actually…it's a-alright…" Kaorin said after another pause. "It is?" Sakaki asked, surprised. "Yes. I was pretty mad at myself and the situation, but…Chihiro cheered me up…" Kaorin replied, looking to Chihiro. "I understand if you're mad at me or anything like that…" Kagura spoke up. "Well, to be honest…I am, but I don't want it to get in the way of us being friends." Kaorin finished. "You're being pretty understanding about this. Really, thanks Kaorin." Sakaki said to her. "Of course, Miss Sakaki." Kaorin replied cheerfully, but hurt was evident in her voice. "Well…should we call the others back in?" Chihiro asked. "No…let's make'em squirm." Kagura smirked, and the other 3 didn't complain.
"Jeez! What're they doing in there?" Tomo asked. "They're sortin' everything out. Sakaki's gonna make peace with Kaorin, and then hopefully they'll still be friends." Osaka replied in a rare moment of intellect. The rest of them stared at her for a moment, and then decided not to bother. "Alright, you guys can come back in." Kagura called after about 20 minutes. They filed in, and were shocked to find the four sitting as if nothing had gone on. "Well…anyway, I guess we should be turning in for tonight…" Nyamo suggested. "Alright, who's sleeping where?" Yukari asked. "Well, there're 3 official couples here. I say we base it on that!" Tomo said aloud. "C-c-couples…with an "s"?" Kaorin asked reluctantly. "Huh? Well…yeah!" Tomo replied, not fazed in the least. "What? Since when?" Nyamo asked, surprised and curious. "Recently. Sakaki and Kagura, Osaka and Chiyo, and Tomo and I." Yomi elaborated. At this Kaorin nearly passed out. "Well, altogether there are 5 rooms. Would you mind sharing a room with Miss Chihiro, Miss Kaorin?" Chiyo asked. "Since," she continued, "we'll be in rooms respectively." She pointed to the named couples. "O-of course I wouldn't mind…do you, Chihiro?" Kaorin asked. "No, I don't mind." Chihiro replied, letting on a slight blush. "And I suppose that means I'll be rooming with her?" Yukari asked, looking to Nyamo. "Yeah, you two are stuck together for the weekend!" Tomo informed them, laughing. "Well, um…let's get some sleep then." Nyamo quickly suggested before bolting up the stairs.
Nyamo sat on the end of the bed, kicking her feet as if she were a kid. "What's got you so energetic?" Yukari asked, looking for anything interesting in their room. "Huh? What do you mean?" Nyamo asked. "I mean, why are you suggesting everyone go to bed when you're still so awake?" Yukari returned with a glance. "Ah…well, I just…" she trailed off. 'Wanted to be alone with you for a bit, is all.' She told her internally. "…Yeah. Anyway, there's nothing worth glancing at in here other than…GAH! What am I thinking? Bad Yukari!" Yukari scolded herself, and hit herself on the head. "What did you say?" Nyamo asked, suddenly intrigued. "I-it was nothing! NOTHING! Drop it! I don't even know what made me say it…" Yukari avoided, and Nyamo thought that, for just a second, she glimpsed a blush on her. Not the kind they got when they went out drinking, but…the good kind. "Anyway, I think I'm gonna go to sleep. You go ahead and do what you want." Yukari grumbled, and flopped on the bed beside Nyamo. "A-alright. I'm going to sleep too. Don't cause any trouble while I'm asleep." Nyamo told her sarcastically, and lay down with her. Yukari got up to turn the lights off, and returned to bed. "Good night." She growled tiredly, and within seconds she was asleep. Nyamo was left to think. 'This is heaven! I just wish…that we could be like this…all the time.' She thought to herself. She was tempted to confess everything to her friend right that second, but held her feelings back. She nestled into the bed, and fell asleep herself.
Kaorin and Chihiro were dealing with their own feelings. "There's only one bed…" Kaorin stated, taking the room in. "…Uhhh…does that mean…we'll be…?" Chihiro asked. "I s-suppose s-so." Kaorin stammered. She sat at the foot of the bed, and let herself fall back. 'Everything that's happened today…the ride here…Miss Sakaki and Miss Kagura…Chihiro.' She lingered on the last thought. Chihiro was helping her cope with the loss of her idol, and another thought flickered across her mind for a moment. 'She's so nice…she's sweet and caring…maybe…' she thought as she glanced at her friend. Chihiro was currently looking about the room, sizing it up. "Uhhh…Chihiro…" Kaorin quietly called. "What is it?" Chihiro asked, turning to her. "Well…why did you come looking for me…after what happened at the beach?" she asked Chihiro quickly. "I, well…I was worried." Chihiro replied, blushing. "Y-you were? But w-what for?" Kaorin stuttered, confused. "Well…you'd probably hate me if I told you…" Chihiro evaded, her blush more prominent now. "T-tell me. Please?" Kaorin asked. "It's because I have a…a…crush on you." She finished almost too quietly and quickly for Kaorin to catch it. "W-what…did you s-s-say?" Kaorin questioned, in a slight daze. "I have a crush on you. I would have told you before, but you would have rejected me for Miss Sakaki." Chihiro told her, and turned away. "Chihiro! That's not rue! I mean…well…well, before, I guess I would have. Now I'm not sure what I saw in her other than her being cool and that stuff. Now…I guess I have someone I really care about." Kaorin smiled at her. "Ah…I…does this mean…we…?" Chihiro searched for the words. "Yeah, I guess we are…" Kaorin stood. Chihiro walked over to her. Nothing really intimate, but she hugged Kaorin tightly. The moment was accidentally ruined by a scream from Tomo and Yomi's room. "Wonder what that was about?" Chihiro questioned, weary of getting into anything involving Tomo and a scream in the same room. "Oh well. I think…I'm going to go to bed." Kaorin released her, yawning. "Yeah. I didn't realize how tired I was either." Chihiro agreed, and the two threw themselves on the bed and fell asleep soon after.
About that scream. Rewind about 5 minutes: Yomi was contemplating what to do for a date when Tomo got the idea to creep up on her. Yomi was so deep in thought that she hadn't realized her girlfriend was wrapped around her. She continued to go unfazed until Tomo began smacking her head. When she attempted to turn, she fell off the bed and sprawled out on the floor. She blushed when she found Tomo sitting on top of her. "What are you doing? You could've hurt me!" she growled angrily at Tomo. "Settle down. I was just having some fun!" Tomo pouted. "Well…I was thinking about stuff!" Yomi faltered, trying to make sense out of the situation. "Stuff? That's pretty descriptive. What kind of stuff?" Tomo inquired. "Well…that's for me to know. And why are you on top of me?" she asked quickly, hoping to avoid her questions. "Well, you haven't made a move to get me off of you…" Tomo said, smirking. This caused Yomi to blush even more. Kagura had decided to make good on her promise of helping Tomo. Figuring nothing was going on, she walked into the room, and found them in that position. And thus, she screamed in embarrassment. "AH! Crap! I'm sorry! I didn't realize you were doing stuff in here!" she apologized. Tomo could do nothing but laugh uncontrollably, and Yomi felt like her face would explode. "We're not doing 'stuff'!" Yomi cried, and Tomo took this as a loop hole. "Maybe," she elaborated with an evil grin, "but according to what she was saying, she was thinking about…'stuff'. At least that's what she said." She finished, and began laughing again. Kagura, for reasons she wasn't sure of, began cackling at the joke too. "Gah! Nothing's going on! What're you doing here anyway?" she asked, shoving a still-laughing Tomo off of her. "Well…I was hoping Tomo might be alone, like we planned, and-"Kagura began, but her blood went cold at what she'd said. As did Tomo's. "…EXCUSE ME?" Yomi nearly screamed. "N-n-now, Yomi…she wasn't saying-"Tomo tried to tell her, but Yomi already had her by the neck. "Yomi, it's not like that! It wasn't anything!" Kagura tried to calm her. "If you know what's good for you, YOU'LL LEAVE NOW." Yomi snarled at her. Kagura laid out her plan, and Yomi slowly stopped. She didn't let go of Tomo, though. "I see…I guess I did overreact a bit…" she admitted, earning a glare from Tomo. "A BIT? You choked me!" she ranted, rubbing her neck. "Well what was I supposed to think?" Yomi asked, trying to defend herself. "It makes me wonder if I should really forgive you!" Tomo bluffed, trying to get a reaction out of her. "N-now wait! I'm sorry! Don't be mad at me!" Yomi pleaded. They discussed things into the early morning before Kagura returned to her room and Tomo and Yomi finally fell asleep.
"What do ya suppose the ruckus is?" Osaka asked Chiyo, fiddling with her pigtails. "Sounds like Tomo and Yomi are arguing. Which means that they're getting along without hurting each other." Chiyo surmised. "What do you think about them?" Osaka asked, staring off into space. "Huh? What do you mean?" Chiyo asked her. "Well…I mean, they've been friends since elementary school. I wish we'd known each other that long, don't you?" Osaka replied. "I suppose that would be nice, but we've been friends for 3 years now, and now we're a couple! So I suppose it's about equal, right?" Chiyo decided. "…Yeah, I guess it is." Osaka agreed. She fell back on the bed and closed her eyes. 'I hope I can do somethin' to impress her while we're still, here. But what could I do? I'm not even sure what she likes!' Osaka stressed mentally as she slowly fell asleep. Chiyo lay down beside her, pondering the same thing. But, less inclined to stay up this late, she fell into a quiet slumber before Osaka. Said girl looked at her in curiosity. 'She's just too cute!' she thought as she too slipped away from an alert state to sleep.
"So, what happened? Someone screamed." Sakaki asked as Kagura walked in and closed the door. "Well, I was gonna help Tomo out in fixing up a date, and…well…I'd rather not go into detail." She mumbled the last part, and sighed deeply. "That means something interesting?" Sakaki prodded. "You seem to have come out of your shell." Kagura pointed at her enthusiastic behavior. "Ah…well, I thought…" Sakaki fumbled her words. "Not that I'm complaining. I like the change!" Kagura told her. "Oh…well, what did happen over there?" Sakaki asked again. "I…walked in on them…not in the bad way! They were messing around, or at least I think they were…anyway, we sorted everything out, and so they've got a date fixed for when we get back to the city." Kagura laid it out to her. "I'm glad you're helping them. Maybe we should…help Kaorin?" Sakaki proposed. "I suppose it might help to even things out." Kagura agreed. She fell beside Sakaki and lie there thinking. "Do you think we have a future together?" Kagura asked seriously. "What…do you mean?" Sakaki asked. "Well, we're going to America, right? Do you think we have a future together there?" Kagura detailed her question. "I want to! I mean…if you do." Sakaki blurted. "Ah? Alright then! I just wanted to know about that!" Kagura said, reverting back to her normal, easy-going self. She ruined it by yawning loudly. Sakaki sweat dropped. "Ah, well, I think I'm going to sleep. Good night." Kagura finished, and did so almost immediately. Sakaki soon followed.
The next morning proved to be the usual chaos, starting with Yukari's attempt at cooking edible food. "It can't be that hard, can it?" she questioned as she cracked some eggs. "Maybe I can impress Nyamo! Wait…WHY am I thinking about THAT?" she slapped herself to keep her mind on the task at hand. Nyamo was just waking up, and started to freak out when she found herself alone. "She's probably trying to find something to drink…or worse yet, trying to cook…" she shuddered at the latter for obvious reasons. She slowly got up and went downstairs, finding herself correct on the cooking situation. "Weird…this isn't how they usually make'em. Am I doing it right?" she heard Yukari grumble in the kitchen. She decided to sneak up on her and see what she was doing. She was surprised to see real breakfast food, not charred remnants. "Y-Yukari?" Nyamo called. "GAH! When did you get there?" Yukari asked, jumping slightly. "I've been here for a few minutes. What were you doing?" Nyamo asked. "I…well, I was just fixing breakfast." Yukari said, but Nyamo figured she was hiding something. 'W-why…am I feeling so weird around her now? Nothing's different about her…is there something different? Damnit! I can't stop thinking about it!' Yukari grumbled internally. "Do you need any help?" Nyamo asked. "Nah, I'm fine. Go wait…" Yukari waved her off. When Nyamo didn't leave, she said "Somewhere else.". At that Nyamo got the hint and left for the main room. About that time, Chiyo and Osaka were waking up. When they came down they exchanged a 'Good Morning' with her, and Chiyo screamed finding Yukari cooking for them. "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" Yukari yelled at her, scaring her away. She ran back into the other room and behind Osaka. "Yeah, I should've warned you." Nyamo admitted, too late however. The others were waking up, and everyone was down soon enough.
After eating a rather suspiciously good breakfast, they hit the beach. Tomo ran into the water and swam out, coaxing Yomi to join her. "I think I'll wait a bit." Yomi called to her, not wanting to get any cramps. "Owww!" she heard from Tomo a few minutes later. "Figures." Yomi growled, and swam out to get her. She went to grab Tomo, to find that she wasn't even in any trouble. "Hey. What took you? I could've drowned ya'know?" Tomo said, giving her a smug look of satisfaction. "…Alright, then." Yomi simply replied, and decided to finally take care of Tomo; in raw strength, she picked Tomo up and threw her out farther. When she came back up, Tomo was spitting out water and freaking out. "Y-y-you…THREW ME!" she yelled at Yomi. The rest looked on at the arguing couple from the beach. "Yeah, they definitely belong together." Kagura stated vacantly. "We should play volleyball!" Osaka suggested eagerly. "Hey, yeah. We can have "Couples" matches, eh?" Kagura agreed. "Hey you two! Get back up here so we can play!" she yelled at Yomi and Tomo, who were pinching each other's cheeks and calling names.
"Alright, heathens. Start when you're ready, I guess we'll keep score." Yukari called, lying next to Nyamo. "She's not going to," Kagura said, "so I guess we'll just play." She finished, and lobbed the ball into the air. First Match was Sakaki/Kagura vs. Yomi/Tomo. Tomo jumped and spiked the ball at Sakaki, who nailed it into the sky, and it descended toward Yomi. "Crap! I've got it!" Yomi called, and hit it over the net…with her face. "That seems familiar somehow…" Tomo reminisced, hitting the ball over again. Yomi got up, only to have a repeat happen, and she fell down. The others moved in around her. "Man, she's out cold." Yukari said, suddenly awake and interested. Nyamo pulled her up onto a blanket near them. "Well, I suppose Kagura and Sakaki win by default." She told Tomo. "WHAT? That's cheating! They knocked her out on purpose!" Tomo argued. "You'd think that, Tomo! It was an accident!" Kagura countered, and they began arguing. "Well, anyway, next up. Osaka/Chiyo vs. Kaorin/Chihiro." Nyamo called them. Osaka and Chiyo got the ball first. "Alright, here!" Osaka called, serving the ball. Chihiro moved to hit it back, and it was sent flying back at Osaka, who then hit it to Kaorin. Kaorin, however, tripped right before hitting it and that gave Osaka and Chiyo a point. "Are you alright, Kaorin?" Chihiro asked, helping her up. "Yeah, thanks." Kaorin replied, blushing. "Osaka's serve again." Nyamo instructed. "Here it comes!" Osaka wailed, and sent it flying, causing everyone present to wonder why she wasn't a pro at volleyball. "Kaorin!" Chihiro called, and hit it over to her. Kaorin spiked it, but was dismayed when Chiyo dove and hit it to the apparent-pro Osaka. She nailed it, and it launched over the net toward Kaorin. She caught it square in the stomach and doubled over. "AH! I'm sorry, Kaorin!" Osaka apologized frantically. "And so the casualties rack up!" Yukari laughed malevolently. Kaorin too was pulled up onto a blanket and next to Yomi, who was starting to wake up. Tomo saw her move. "HEY! She's fine again, so I demand a rematch!" she yelled. "No way! You lost! Deal with it." Kagura retorted. "Well…I guess this is our final game. Sakaki/Kagura vs. Osaka/Chiyo!" Nyamo called. "They knocked 2 people out already! This game's gonna be carnage!" Yukari smirked, and Nyamo sighed. "My serve!" Kagura called, and shot it straight at Osaka. Osaka in turn fired it into the stratosphere, or a least it seemed like it, and it came down hard. Sakaki returned it, and Chiyo caught it via face. It dropped to the ground. After deliberation, Nyamo and Yukari decided it counted for a point. This continued, until Sakaki and Kagura finally one.
"Ah! My arms are killing me!" Kagura wailed, her arms blood red from returning Osaka's shots. "Bubblehead's a freakin' pro. I want her on my team next time!" Tomo called, slapping Osaka on the back. "Hey!" Yomi yelled. "What? You weren't any help." Tomo told her. Yomi looked at her, and then turned away. "Aw, come on! I'm sorry!" Tomo approached her. Yomi avoided her, and walked down the beach a little. "Yomi!" Tomo called, and went after her. "Well today was fun! I say we play volleyball more often!" Yukari suggested, an evil gleam in her eyes. "How about if I play you? One on one?" Nyamo challenged. "…Alright! It won't take long to beat you, though. Don't think that just because you teach Phys. Ed. that you've got an advantage." Yukari accepted, taking her position. Nyamo fell in opposite of her. "First to 5 wins!" she instructed to Yukari. "Too easy! My serve!" Yukari replied, and shot it just over the net. Nyamo countered by spiking it and Yukari dove and knocked it past her. "That's 1 point for me. Sure you're not a bit rusty?" Yukari gloated. Nyamo just shot her a glance, and gave the ball to her again. "Here it goes!" Yukari bellowed, and served it bull's-eye into Nyamo's court. "Oh! and there's Point 2 for Yukari!" she yelled. "Don't celebrate yet!" Nyamo whispered, and passed it to her. "Here comes the serve!" Yukari announced again. After she hit it over the net, Nyamo jumped and slammed it down, just into Yukari's court. "HEY! That was cheap!" Yukari yelled, her bragging suddenly stopping. "Now it's mine!" Nyamo stated, taking the ball from Yukari. She served it into the air, but was caught by surprise when Yukari charged it and spiked. Nyamo smacked it over, into Yukari's face, and to the ground. "That's a point for me. Where's your gloating now?" Nyamo asked. "Hey, you two. It's getting late!" Kagura called, wanting to head inside before it got any darker. "Aw! Come on, I'm about to wipe that smug smile off her face!" Nyamo complained. "Sorry, but it looks like Tanizaki gets the win!" Yukari screamed, laughing. "You know you'd have lost…" Nyamo grumbled as they headed in to change.
"She didn't really beat me! It was Kagura's fault!" Nyamo defended, having been made fun of by Tomo for losing to Yukari. "She totally schooled you, Miss Kurosawa!" Tomo rubbed it in. "Don't worry about it, Nyamo. "It's no big deal, Nyamo. Don't worry about it." Yukari told her. "…You weren't saying that EARLIER!" Nyamo yelled. (Flashback: "I won! I'm never gonna let you forget it, either!" Yukari laughed at her. End Flashback.) "Ah…well…anyway…" Yukari put it off, and sat down beside her. "So, what'll we do when we go back?" Osaka asked. "Ah…I guess we survive until Christmas, and then after that we'll finish up to graduation." Tomo elaborated. "It's dark already. I'm going to sleep." Nyamo got up hurriedly and left them. "…Is she mad at me?" Yukari asked no one in particular, and went after her. "I'll bet those two end up together too." Tomo joked. "I suggest we all go to bed." Kagura advised. And so they did. Not without each couple's standard mishaps of the night, though. .
The first day back to school came, dreaded by Tomo. They resumed their normal practices, and so everything went back to normal, with another couple formed and the final waiting to come together.
A little vague at the end, but I'm on Writer's Block again. Sorry it took this long, but RR as always!