Chance
By Graci

"I’m sorry I didn’t..." Yumi stuttered.

"You don’t belong here, one day I’ll make you disappear" Miyabi whispered into Yumi's ear as he pressed her against a tree in the courtyard.

Yumi’s eyes were wide as she looked into Miyabis cold eyes. Her heart was racing, she had been avoiding Miyabi for a couple days, and she didn’t want any more trouble.

"Miyabi, let her go" Toshio’s mellow voice came from behind the irritated Miyabi.

Miyabi suddenly let go of Yumi and turned toward Toshio and walked toward his group of friends who had been waiting. Miyabi passed Toshio with out even a glance.

"Yeah, whatever lets go" Miyabi snarled as he reached the others. Toshio walked up to Yumi who was now on the ground breathing heavily. He reached down toward her to offer her a hand up. Tears welled in Yumi’s eyes as she stared up at Toshio's hand.

"Come on Yumi, we better get to class" Toshio said in a gentle voice trying to soothe Yumi, who was still shaken.

"I don’t know what to do, I've tried being nice to him. I’ve even tried avoiding him but nothing works." Yumi held onto Toshio’s hand and pulled herself up. She nodded a thank you.

"He still needs to work a lot of things out, it’s not your fault." Toshio held her hand in support. He then looked down at Yumi who was now dusting herself off.

"Would you like to come over to my house for dinner? It’s the least I could do... you're always helping me" Yumi blushed a little as she asked Toshio over for dinner.

Toshio stood there for a few minutes thinking about what she had just asked, it had surprised him. In the distance Yumi heard Eizo-kun and Miyoko.

They were laughing as they walked toward Yumi.

"Let me think about it" Toshio turned and walked off toward class.

"Hey Yumi, was that Toshio?" Miyoko kind of tilted her head to one side, she gave Yumi a curious look.

"Yeah I was helping him with class work before class started..." Yumi replied without thinking.

"He plays the best drum solo I’ve ever heard" Eizo-kun swooned as he thought about Toshio playing. Miyoko Hit him over the head to snap him out of it.

"Hey Yumi, Eizo-kun and I are going to grab something at the café after school you in?" Miyoko‘s smile was back.

"No sorry, I cant I have to help Toshio with class" Yumi looked down for a second then back to her friends faces. "I'm sorry... how about tomorrow?"

"Yeah sounds good to me, how bout you Eizo-kun" Miyoko turned to the energetic Eizo.

"Yeah... sounds great, then we can all go to my house and get ready for the Orochi concert" Eizo-kuns eyes lit up as he said Orochi... true fan right here.


In class Toshio was silent, he stared at him chem. book as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. The class was supposed to be working on an experiment, but Toshio was off in his own little world.

"Hey Toshio, can you help me with this beaker?" Yumi tried to encourage Toshio to start on the assignment, but he was still spacing. Finally the teacher came around and asked how the experiment was going. Toshio looked up and set the book down.

"We're doing good... right Yumi?" Toshio looked at Yumi as if saying play along.

"Yeah, we're almost finished" Yumi smiled at the teacher sweetly as she said it.

"Good good, its nice to see you participation Toshio" the teacher walked away to another group.

"Hey what’s up, did I do something wrong?" Yumi looked at Toshio with worried eye, she didn’t want to up set Toshio, he was nice and she enjoyed being around him.

"No, I..." before he could answer, Miyabi burst through the door.

"Toshio lets go, Mitsuzuka-san wants to have a meeting" Miyabi yelled, he seemed really irritated by something. Toshio stood up and started to walk out of class, but before he left he looked back at Yumi.

"Yes, I would be delighted" he said over the murmuring as Miyabi ushered him out. Miyabi shot a wicked glance toward Yumi.

‘What did he mean by yes? Was he accepting my invitation?’ Yumi walked out of class thinking about what he had said. While Yumi was thinking she didn’t realize that she had forgotten to head home, she was still in the school... and by the practice room for Orochi nonetheless. Suddenly the door swung open and everyone came out. They were all yelling and they looked upset. As Toshio walked out he noticed Yumi. Yumi’s eyes got wide when she saw Miyabi walk out of the room. Before Miyabi had a chance to see Yumi Toshio grabbed her arm and walked to around the corner.

"This may not be the best time for Miyabi to see you" Toshio looked concerned.

"Is everything alright?" Yumi was worried, Toshio sounded a little upset.

"Yeah, everything’s fine... what time did you want me to be at your house for dinner?" he was quick to change the subject; he’s face was now completely cleared of the concern.

Yumi was startled by the change in subject that she had forgotten she had asked Toshio to dinner. "Um... 8 tonight... is that okay?" Yumi was nervous, she ’d never cooked for a guy before let alone ask them to have dinner.

"See you at 8 then, now you should get going before Miyabi sees you." With that Toshio walked back around the corner.


Yumi was running around the kitchen getting things ready for dinner. It was 7: 55 and she was setting the table. Her mom had, had to work late so the house was empty. Knock... Knock. ‘Oh my god he’s here already? I haven’t even gotten dressed yet’ "Just one second" Yumi yelled at the door as she ran to get dressed. She decided to put her hair in pigtails, she wore a black summer dress with a picture of a white cat on the front, and underneath that she wore a long sleeve shirt that was striped black and white. She ran back to the door and opened it.

"Sorry it took so long..." Yumi opened the door and started to apologize when she looked up.

"Wow, you look..." Yumi couldn’t find the words.

Toshio stood in the doorway wearing a long sleeve black button up dress shirt, with a red tie loosely knotted. He wore black slacks and had his hair pulled up into a high ponytail. A necklace hung around his neck, it was a small blue star.

"May I come in?" he asked as Yumi continued to stare at him. She managed to squeeze out one-word "yes" then she moved out of the way.

Yumi closed the door and turned to lead Toshio to the kitchen. "This is for you" he held out his hand and a necklace dropped. At the end was a small jade heart.

"I know this isn’t your grandmothers but I thought it might make you feel better" Toshio unclasped the necklace and held it open. Yumi looked a little puzzled for a moment but then turned around and moved her hair. Toshio moved up close and placed the necklace around Yumi’s neck.

"Thank you, it's beautiful" Yumi turned to Toshio and hugged him without thinking about it. Her eyes were full of tears.

"Thank you" she whispered against his neck.

Toshio was a little shocked at Yumi hugging him but he didn’t pull away. He knew she needed some happiness and he was happy to be the one who did it.

"I’m glad you like it" he said softly as her wrapped his arms around her small waist.

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