By the time my right foot makes it out of the door, mother nature suddenly decides that the greenery needs some serious watering. It's a good thing I got up early - any later and I could be wading in muck. Early bird privileges.

The empty classroom clearly tells me that everybody else either slept in, or opted to come late. The chairs were deserted, and the floor beneath the black board was coated in dust from yesterday's lesson. Nothing else to do but to grab the broom and sweep away, I guess.

Repetitive sweeping lulls me into a stupor; I find myself thinking of what I had for breakfast, and whether or not I have enough loose change to grab a quick cup of hot chocolate before class starts.

"Good morning, Nodoka."

A cloud of white dust flutters as I nearly drop the broom.

Trying my best not to look too surprised, I bid Mio a good morning. Behind her the door is wide open - how did I not hear that?

More dust swirls in the air as she starts cleaning the blackboard erasers, clapping them together in a slow rhythm. Little flecks of white cling to her hair.

The room seems so much bigger with just the two of us standing around, finely coated in chalk. My throat feels dry... must be the dust. Breathing is starting to take a considerable amount of effort; another minute here and I just might start sputtering for air. Since when was I allergic to chalk?

On my way to the door, Mio follows me with her eyes. It would be awful to leave her alone.

"Want to get something to drink?"

"Sounds good."

We step out the room and shake the dust off our skirts. For some reason, the cool air doesn't make it easier to breathe.

Our footsteps echo as we walk through the empty halls. Every five seconds or so, there is a little squish sound - little puddles form where Mio's shoes touch the floor.

"I have extra socks."

They're usually reserved for Yui, but I think she'll be sleeping in today. Besides, walking around in sopping wet socks feels absolutely disgusting.

"Oh, no thanks. I'm fine, really."

Our steps fall out of sync as her feet move erratically, trying to minimize contact with the ground without falling over.

"Walk around with wet feet all day and you'll get a cold."

She slowed down. Well that seemed to get her attention.

"But-"

"Look, I'm just lending it to you and it's not going to cost me anything. Just promise me you'll wash it."

Glancing at her shoes, Mio gives me a slow nod. Getting her to accept my offer is strangely gratifying.

But then she makes a strangled sort of noise. Almost immediately my eyes dart to her face; there was the faintest hint of a frown on her lips. Maybe she enjoyed the feeling of wet socks, and I was ruining her fun.

Our mouths open at the same time, but she speaks first. To tell me to stop bothering her, I suppose.

"How's your head?"

I bring a shaky hand to the back of my head. The bruise is smaller but the pain is still there. Of course, I don't say this.

"Feels fine, thanks." Mio's fists, previously white at the knuckles , seems to be turning pinkish again.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. Barely felt a thing. You?"

"No, nothing. I'm glad you're fine." She's actually smiling now. Guess they had fun that day. I take it as a cue to move the subject in that direction. As much as I hated to admit it, I was curious. Why were they in such a rush?

"The both of you sure were in a hurry, running off like that."

"..." Her smile fades quickly. There is a glazed look in her eyes... like she's folding in on herself.

We walk on in silence, listening to the rain pounding outside these concrete walls.

The vending machine hums as it struggles to make a cup of hot chocolate. I try not to look too impatient, but the machine's taking ages. Seven minutes and counting for a five ounce cup... Nodoka got hers in less than two.

"Uh, Mio..." Oh no, not again. First her socks and now this.

"It's almost done." Probably the fifth time I've said that. She sighs and takes a sip out of her cup, while flipping her phone open.

"I suppose Yui will be late again." I see Yui's name flash on the screen before she presses send.

"Yeah." So will Ui. I wish I had a sister like her. Who doesn't? I wouldn't have to wait in front of a malfunctioning machine just to get a sip of over-sweetened re-hydrated freeze-dried chocolate.

The air between us grows thick with silence, punctuated by the pounding rain. I am not anxious to break it.

"How about Tainaka?"

I thought Nodoka knew better that to mention her name. An irrational anger wells up in my chest. I breathe slowly to calm down, but it's still there. Stubborn and loud and nearly uncontrollable.

But I manage.

"She has an alarm clock."

"So does Yui. She could get detention, you know."

The anger turns into guilt; my hand inches towards my pocket. But the machine finally beeps and I get my drink.

It's a sign - that idiot can sod off.

"If Ritsu gets detention, then that's her problem. Maybe it will teach her something." For crying out loud, I'm not her mother.

Nodoka raises her eyebrows and looks at me carefully, as if I had said something extraordinarily stupid. At least it feels that way - the haze of irritation makes it difficult to tell the difference between concern and sarcasm.

My eyes suddenly feel hot; I bite my lips and take a deep breath. But it doesn't help.

It's... it's just a joke. Ritsu was joking, and this isn't the first time. But why -

Why am I so angry?

My mouth is uncontrollable, saying things faster than I can even hear. Everything is blurry, my nose is running but I can't stop.

I wait for Nodoka to stop me. She just stands there, allowing me to make an idiot of myself.

"All she does is joke around and whine anyway. Have I told you how many times I've hit that gigantic forehead of hers? Well she deserved each and every one of those bruises. You know what, I'm starting to wonder why people listen to us in the first place. We're a mess, and she's the largest pile of - of..."

She interrupts.

"For a mess, you sound pretty good to me."

Instead of shock or disgust or even pity, there is a calmness in her eyes.

"...Really?" I ask, but there is only one answer I want to hear.

"Yeah... Although it would be nice if you passed those forms on time."

It takes me ages to respond. Cohorent words refuse to form, only garbled sounds. Finally, I just nod.

"If anyone asks, I'll tell them you had a bad cold. Wet feet can do that to you."

"Ritsu-"

Nodoka looked straight at me, effectively shutting me up.

"Look, Mio... before you say any more, think about it for a second. Is this something you really want me to know? She is your best friend, after all."

Just like that. No questions, no nonsense; as expected from the student council president. Behind her glasses, Nodoka's eyes are hidden by a wall of light - it is impossible to read them.

Of course, she is right. I should have known better, kept my emotions under control. God knows why she bothered to listen to me. She could... should have excused herself the moment I started to yell.

Yet as much as I hated Ritsu right now, I can't help but think that she would have let me scream into her shoulder without hesitation.

I guess... you can't ask that of everyone.

The bell rings. Nodoka walks me to the clinic and gives me those socks. As I put them on, my resolve weakens. The Light Music Club will just have to practice without a bassist today.