Amu: 16 – 10th grade (Joker)

Ikuto: 17 – 11th grade (King's Chair)

Tadase: 16 – 10th grade (King's Chair)

Utau: 16 – 10th grade (Ace Chair)

Nadeshiko (Nade): 16 – 10th grade (Queen's Chair)

Nagihiko (Nagi): 16 – 10th grade (Jack's Chair)

Yaya: 15 – 9th grade (Ace Chair)

Rima: 15 – 9th grade (Queen's Chair)

Kairi: 15 – 9th grade (King's Chair)

Kukai: 17 – 11th grade (Jack's Chair)

Saaya: 17 – 11th grade (Ace Chair)

*There are four Guardians per grade at Seiyo Academy (King, Queen, Ace, Jack) and one Joker out of all four grades (junior high not included though in the same building). Just so you don't get confused or anything.*

Utau: She's "Utau Tsukyomi" at school and around friends. But since she wanted to be a singer/pop idol, she's "Utau Hoshina" on stage or at some celebrity-related thing.

Dia: She's much more like Ran, Miki, and Su and less "mystery chara" (although she's still the most powerful chara ever found/known).

Sky: This is a new story. I hope you like it!

Amu: Hey! Didn't you say you were going to introduce –

Sky: Enjoy!

Sky:…..Um, why isn't anyone enjoying my latest masterpiece? Looks at Amu

Amu: Grins evilly Sorry but no one will "enjoy" your latest "masterpiece" until I'm introduced.

Sky: Sighs Fine. This here's Amu. She's the main character of the story (although I have no idea why….)

Amu: Grr.

Sky: You didn't say "properly".

Amu: Fine.

Sky: Disclaimer, please.

Amu: Lazy butt.

Sky: You know, I could always change the main character….

Amu: FINE! CrystalBookworm does not own Shugo Chara. Happy?

It's October again, HinamoriAmu thought as she walked along the road. It was both a happy and sad time; she would be in eleventh grade next year, but that would mean another year was over and done with.

Amu sighed contently. Oh well. I guess there's no point in worrying about it.

She didn't realize that she had said her thoughts aloud until a tiny voice squeaked out: "Yes, yes. Amu-chan should just try and enjoy life!" It was Ran.

Amu groaned. "Can't you stop reading my mind for, like, five seconds?"

"Sorry, Amu-chan," Ran apologized. "But you're the one who wished for me – technically speaking – so we're connected through mind and body."

"That's kind of scary," Miki said, appearing on the other side of Amu..

"You should speak," Su retorted, settling onto Amu's shoulder. "It's not like you're one of Amu's charas or anything." She was dressed in her usual frilly green dress.

Amu noticed that one Guardian Character was – as usual – staying quiet. Dia was sitting silently on Amu's other shoulder.

"You know, Dia," Amu teased, trying to awkwardly crane her neck so she could see the chara. "You're supposed to be the one standing out here. Where's the singing and dancing?"

Dia looked up gratefully at her owner. Her mind had been wandering to unsavory places and was thankful that Amu had snapped her back. She grinned slyly. "You want a song? Okay. Character Ch –"

"No, no, no!" Amu exclaimed, earning herself several 'she's cuckoo' glances from passer-bys – all who don't have charas and therefore can't see any.

Amu blushed. "Thanks, Dia," she said sarcastically. She began walking again.

Dia grinned to herself. "No problem, Amu-chan."

"Why you little –"

"Amu-chan!" Su interrupted urgently. "You better run or you'll be late for school!"

Amu sighed. She had Nikaidou-sensei for homeroom and knew that – although they knew each other from…..other activities – he would immediately pounce on her if she was late.

She ran.

Only three more minutes to go, Amu reassured her grumbling stomach. Her gaze was locked on the ever-so-slowly ticking clock.

However, she was so focused on the clock that she didn't realize Sanjo-sensei (A/N: She works part-time as a teacher now, since she's married to Nikaidou and Utau wants to do some of her own managing) had asked her a question until she felt Tadase nudge her from behind.

"Hinamori-san," Sanjo-sensei said sternly.

Amu bowed her head and muttered, "Gomenasai" while blushing like crazy. She never liked the attention.

Thankfully, Sanjo-sensei shrugged it off. "It wasn't that big of a question, anyways. But I expect you to be paying attention while I'm talking, Hinamori-san."

"Hai," Amu mumbled.

Sanjo-sensei glanced at the clock. "All right. Lunch time. I guess I should leave now." As soon as she left, the class exploded with voices.

In ten seconds flat, Amu's desk was crowded by Hotori Tadase, Fujisaki Nadeshiko and Nagihiko, and Tsukyomi Utau.

"Give me some room, will ya?" Amu complained.

Nagji just rolled his eyes. His younger twin sister, however, smacked him on the arm. "Don't be so rude," Nade scolded.

"Hey, shouldn't I be telling you that?" Nagi asked.

"Not when you're the one who's not setting an example by acting like the younger one," Nade pointed out.

"So?" Nagi crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm still the older one."

"Being older doesn't matter," Nadeshiko argued.

"Says who?" Nagi demanded.

"Says me," Nade retorted.

"You can't just say that! That's –"

"Stop!" Utau interrupted.

The twins glared at each other but stopped their bickering….for now.

"So what are you going to be for Halloween?" Utau asked, desperate to change the subject

"A witch," was Nade's reply.

"Wizard," said Nagihiko.

"King," Tadase said automatically. Everyone rolled their eyes at that: Of course. Why even bother asking him?

"Pop idol," Utatu announced.

Four pairs of eyes turned on Amu.

"I don't have a costume," Amu said simply, pulling out her math homework from inside her desk.

"NANI?"

"I'm fifteen now, guys. Actually, we're all fifteen. Don't you think that this is a bit…..childish?"

"Ah," Nagi said, understanding. "Her 'cool & spicy' side is coming in. Okay."

"There's going to be a dance," Nadeshiko reminded.

"And Ikuto's going to be there," Utau added. At the mention of Utau's year-older brother, Tadase narrowed his eyes. He gets along great with Ikuto now….but a past can never be completely erased.

"You can't get me to do something just by mentioning your brother," Amu said. "I don't even like him, so what use is that?" After a full year, she's still trying to play match-maker.

"We'll see," Utau said slyly. Tadase didn't like the tone of that.

"Can we still go shopping, though?" Nade asked. "I really want to see you in a costume, Amu-chan." Besides, I'll even pay for the whole thing and you won't even have to wear it anywhere." Out of the small group of friends, the Fujisakis are definitely the richest.

"Oh! Oh!" Utau squealed. "Can I come too?"

"Don't you have an album coming out soon?" Nagi questioned.

"And your point is?"

"Doesn't that take some time? Hoshina Utau can't be wandering around looking for Halloween costumes when she's busy recording."

"Hoshina Utau can't; Tsukyomi Utau can." Even after Utau quit/was fired by Easter, she still wanted to sing. Sanjo – once fired too – helped her with this; making Hoshina Utau the top teen idol in Japan. Utau still wanted to go to school and be a normal teenager too, though, so she took on her family name for her "Normal Life" and mother's maiden name for her "Stage Life".

Just then, the lunch cart with the lunch boxes came to the group. They each took one and began eating.

"I would really like it if you came to the Halloween dance, Hinamori-san," Tadase whispered from behind Amu. "All the other Guardians will be there. I wanted to do a little presentation with all of us, but it wouldn't be right if we're missing the Joker."

Amu blushed at this, although she didn't know why; wasn't this just an extensive persuasion of what Utau and Nadeshiko wanted?

"You never know. Maybe I will go to the dance. After all, I was practically forced to go costume-shopping." Baka, Amu scolded herself. Baka, baka, baka! Loose the "cool & spicy" attitude already! He'll never like you if you're always like that.

"You should listen to Nadeshiko and Utau once in a while. They give good advice sometimes. Damnit, Tadase! Just go out and say it already!

"S-sure," Amu mumbled into her lunch.

What was Tadase up to?