A/N: Wow, 4,000 views. For such a small fandom that's a pretty big number, I think. Not like I have anything to compare it to.

EDIT: I was going to do a triple upload, but things didn't work as planned. Returning to standard schedule.

Cheers!


I don't know what I dreamt about, but it was pleasant.

What I dream about is far more pleasant, though. A dream of a future of relative normality. A dream with-

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Well, there goes that plan. Wearily, I get up and walk over to the door, opening it after a moment's pause.

Oh. It's Kenji. I was honestly kind of hoping that I'd never have to deal with him again, but that was pretty idealistic. We're dorm mates, after all.

I'm prepared, though. Before he can open his mouth to say whatever line of insanity he has prepared:

"I'm a woman." I say.

I'm admittedly not prepared for him to leap away as if I've burned him, but I continue with my counterattack.

"I was a man, but now I am a woman." I add. "Isn't it great?"

Kenji seems to disagree, if the way he turns tail and bolts into his room is of any indication. I can hear several locks clicking into place immediately after my statement.

I feel kind of bad about it, actually, rather than relieved. I wasn't sure how serious he was about all the feminism stuff, but it looks like he actually took it to heart.

On considering this I feel even more like a bully. I resolve to make it up to him, somehow, but I'm not sure even where to begin. I settle for writing up a note and taping it to his door.

"I'm sorry for that. That was a prank."

It doesn't feel like nearly enough, but it's a start.

Gah. I still feel like an ass for doing that, and want to apologize, but I don't think he'd exactly be open to an approach right now. Whatever. I'll figure out how to deal with this later on. Otherwise I'm going to be late for my run with Emi.

Ah, running. I will actually be allowed to do this, now; run. I'm Emi's running partner now, and she relies on me, and I rely on her. I think that's how it's supposed to go.

Did what I say yesterday mean anything? I hope it did. I don't like seeing the evidence under her eyes that proves she hasn't been sleeping well; or the frantic way she runs to force every thought out of her mind.

I don't even have to be her friend to not want whatever is happening to her to happen. I don't make a habit of leaving people to hurt alone. Especially girls.

Something about a crying girl moves me more than it does a boy. Basic attraction principles, I guess, though I'd like to avoid thinking about what my unconscious gets up to.

With nothing much else to do to distract me from my steady worry, I dress appropriately, donning a T-shirt and some shorts before slipping on my shoes.

I've decided to start at three laps. Since I collapsed pretty early on into my fifth lap, it should be alright if I cut off just one. Any more is risking it. I'll be able to tack on a lap every few weeks, and possibly improve my speed in short bursts, too.

I have no delusions of ever running at Emi's pace, but perhaps I'll be able to keep up with her "light exercise", as she so calls it. Maybe one day, anyways.

This mindless rambling works to help alleviate my anxiety as I get within view of the track, though my heart drops as I realize that it is completely silent.

My eyes scan the bleachers, the track, down to the equipment shed...empty. Devoid of life.

Well...now what?

I need not answer that, as an odd sound reaches my ears. Rhythmic like footsteps, but much more metallic. I spin around to see the source.

"You're late!" Emi announces cheerfully, and I give her a relieved smile. I had forgotten that I was ahead of time...

"Well, then you're later!" I accuse. She grins as she steps closer, taking care not to smash my feet with her prosthetics, until we're face-to-face.

"Thank you, Hisao." Emi's arms snake around me as she carefully pulls me into a hug, her head buried into my chest. I tentatively return it, unsure of what to say in return.

Thank you? For what? My friendship? What I said? I don't know. I don't know what to make of it, and Emi's proximity isn't making it any easier. I might not feel the warmth that her touch undoubtedly brings, but I can certainly see the tenseness in her whole body.

"Ah...you're welcome?" I say. Her responding giggle is the purest thing I've heard. "I...don't know what you're thanking me for. We're friends. And sometimes we have to be there to tell the other person that they're doing something stupid."

Emi pulls her head off of my chest to show me her scowl. I can't help but compare it to a small puppy growling at a door, or something like that.

"And anyways, I would be remiss not to make you feel better. Your smile lights up the world. How could I leave everyone else in darkness?" I murmur.

To my surprise, she gapes at me, as if not believing what I've just said. Than, slowly, her face transforms into one of those genuine smiles.

"Th-Thank you, Hisao..." And she's blushing, too?

I shrug. "All I'm doing is stating facts."

There's a fairly awkward silence while Emi visibly tries to regain control over her emotions. I eventually take pity on her and point towards the track.

"Let's go. Before we're really late." I say.

"Oh! Yeah!" Emi laughs sheepishly, before pulling away and sprinting towards the track. I smile before making my way down, too.

...

Hm.

Classroom is somewhat uneventful, but that's really nothing new. Considering this, I allow myself to slip into my thoughts.

The hurt of yesterday has faded. I'm back on track with Emi and Hanako; literally, in the first case, and maybe even better off than I started.

And as for Hanako...

Was it a date?

I took Hanako out to town to shop, and then we came back up and had dinner with each other. We planned it, even.

Technically, it was a date, but that doesn't matter right now. I don't understand what happened, exactly, but something did. Something important.

But was it what I'm thinking it was? I can't ask Hanako, definitely not. The potential for something terribly awkward is just too high. How am I even going to face her at lunch with Lilly?

Speaking of which, does Lilly know? I can assume that she does; Hanako likely told her. Anyone else? No. I don't think Hanako knows anyone besides us too well and Lilly wouldn't tell. Okay. I can do this.

Without turning I can feel that my partner's eyes are on me, or maybe they're not and I think they are. I don't know. I feel like everyone is looking at me oddly, but when I look at them I can tell that they're not. I'm really overthinking this, aren't I? Hanako's next to me, perfectly calm, not freaking out, either.

Do I even...like her like that? I've barely known her for a week!

But she has a nice smile...

The screeching of desks scraping across the floor snap me back to attention.

"H-Hisao? Are you okay?" My gaze flickers over to Hanako, who's giving me a curious look. I flush slightly. She must have noticed me spacing out.

"Y-Yes. I'm fine." I scramble to figure out what I'm supposed to say, my eyes flickering around the classroom. "Um, is this a group assignment again?" Hanako nods, face blank. If she's picked up on anything, she isn't going to say, and I'm grateful for that.

"Ah, okay. Do you want to...?" Hanako answers in the affirmative and we slide our desks together again, prepared to tackle the latest science worksheets.

They aren't too difficult, but I'm having a hard time concentrating. Solving the long-answer problems absently proves to be impossible.

"Er...Hisao, a-aren't you supposed to divide here...?" I blink at my paper and correct my mistake.

"Yeah. Sorry about that." She seems mostly content to follow my lead today. Whether that's because she doesn't understand the subject material or for some reason is up for discussion.

As Hanako takes the time to tack on an explanation for one of her answers, I conclude that it must be the latter. This is frustrating, because I don't have a clue what it is. I try to inconspicuously scrutinize her as she writes.

She unconsciously chews on her lower lip as she struggles to figure out how to word a phrase, but quickly figures it out and relaxes. I stiffen slightly when she idly brushes her hair out of her face, unintentionally revealing some of her scars.

They're a lot less jarring than I thought they would be. This is the first time I've really actually looked at them...but maybe I've just gotten used to them over time, even without really looking at them.

Her neat handwriting grows to spread over the page, accurately detailing her answers. She successfully does most of it alone, with only the occasional question to help make sure she's on the right track.

It's rather interesting to watch her at work, quietly focused on the sheet in front of her. Though the classroom is loud and chatty, we're here, quietly working in our own little corner of the world.

"You seem off today...a-are you okay?" Hanako asks, setting down her pencil. I guess she's done with her assignment; I'm barely halfway done.

"Yeah." And I am okay. Just...pensive, I guess. She seems to accept this excuse and I get back to hastily finishing up the assignment, writing in the last answer with a messy scrawl just as the lunch bell rings.

"Ah, just in time." I say, relieved. We split our desks away and hand the papers up to be collected. I'm not sure what to make of today.

Hanako's questioning glance, though, at least reassures me that I have lunch with someone else.


A/N: How do you like the story so far? Review!