Tomoko stood in front of a full length mirror pulling and stretching her lips apart. She had read a forum online that stretching the lips would make them puffier, and in turn, cuter. She wasn't sure so she thought she'd test it. "Still not any cuter." She mumbled looking at herself from every angle. She slumped back to her computer, solemn and lowly.

The second year would be different, she decided with a silent nod. No, she wasn't the freshman she was one year ago, she could talk and would be accepted and popular. And of course, the boys would notice her new alluring personality, and want to date her. She would give off a shy cuteness that boys couldn't possibly resist and then all those girls with their boyfriends would be jealous of her. She laughed to herself about the cleverness of her new plan, while browsing magazine covers.

Tomorrow she would walk in, with her new flirtatious attitude that would be irresistible to the opposite sex and then they would have no choice but to fall for her. And then all the boys with girlfriends would leave them to chase after her; because of her charm and smarts. And then they would get into fights over her and she would play adorably oblivious.

Summer was almost over, Tomoko did her best to convince herself that her nervous feelings were actually excitement. It was a time to start again, and make a new image out of herself. She was going to be one of the cool people, going to karaoke, and no one was going to get in her way of that.

She took a glance at her yellow uniform on her wall, hung like a trophy or a duty waiting to be fulfilled. "Yes." A smile crept onto her lips. "This year will be different."