Author's Note

I hope you are enjoying the story. I do plan to make this one longer than my previous one :)

Let the story continue!

It was now lunch time at the Azumanga Daioh girls' high school, and Yomi was eating alone. Normally she ate with Tomo, but today that didn't seem something that either girl wanted to do. Sakaki, however, was determined to try to at least become better friends with Yomi, and so decided to try and have lunch with her in a place they could talk.

"Hey, Yomi?"

"Yes, Sakaki?" Yomi asked.

"Would you like to.. uh.. join me for lunch on the roof?" asked Sakaki.

Yomi smiled. She really does care about me, doesn't she? she thought.

"Sure!"

"So you really like cats, huh?" Yomi started.

"Yeah," Sakaki said while blushing.

"I think you'd be a good person for taking care of cats. You seem like a caring and gentle person."

Sakaki couldn't believe what Yomi was saying. No one had ever said anything like it before. She tried hard not to overreact.

"Th-thanks," Sakaki stuttered.

She's kind of cute, Yomi thought.

"Do you have any cats?"

"No. My mother's allergic, so we can't have any at our house."

"That's too bad. Maybe when you get your own place you can get some." Yomi felt bad for the girl. The only thing she really wanted was out of reach for at least several more years.

"So what do you like to do, Yomi?"

"I like to read a lot, I guess," she replied. Unlike Sakaki, Yomi didn't have an overarching interest or hobby.

"Me too."

"I bet you like to read about cats."

Sakaki giggled. "Yeah."

"Are you thinking about going to veterinary school?" Yomi asked.

"Yes. Ever since I've learned about the vet I've wanted to work there. What about you, Yomi?"

"Oh, I'll probably end up in an office like most other people."

Sakaki was surprised. She always viewed Yomi as someone special, but Yomi thought herself average. This needed to change. Sakaki, however, didn't mention it.

"We should probably go back now," she said, looking at her watch. "I'm glad we got to learn more about each other."

Yomi smiled. "Me too."

Sakaki needed help. She wanted to tell Yomi that she was special and that she liked her, but she didn't know how to go about it. On the walk home from school, she decided to ask Chiyo for help, figuring that her non-judgemental and walking encyclopedic nature would make her a good person to ask.

"Chiyo, can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure! I won't tell anybody unless you ask me to."

Sakaki smiled. She knew she could trust Chiyo.

"I..uh.. like someone."

"That's great Sakaki! Who's the lucky guy?"

Sakaki turned bright red. "It's..uh..it's a girl."

"Oh. Well that's okay too! May I ask then, who's the lucky girl?"

"Yomi."

"Yomi's a nice person. Have you told her yet?"

"That's the problem. Even though I know she's gay, I still can't bring myself to tell her."

"Do you want me to tell her?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't think that would be the best idea."

"Well, if you don't think you can tell her face-to-face you could try writing a note."

Sakaki had thought about this before, but was unsure of what to write.

"That's a good idea, but I don't know what to write."

"I can help you if you want," said Chiyo.

Chiyo does have a way with words, Sakaki thought.

"I wouldn't want to be a burden on you."

"It's no problem. Really."

"Okay," said Sakaki. "Thank you so much."

And with that, both girls headed over to Chiyo's house to start the note-writing process.