17 years old

After the heartfelt reunion and exchange of tearful messages, everyone happily returned to the Academy. Mikan excitedly went to visit the different departments. She had a short tea session with the Junior High Principal. Mikan bowed her head on the tatami floor as she entered the room.

"Welcome back, Mikan. The Academy is glad to have you back again."

"Thank you, Hii-sama. It felt like entering the Academy for the first time... Nothing much have changed. It's as lively as it is before when I first came here."

"It has always been livelier whenever you're here... But you... You've changed. What I see before me is a lady."

Mikan smiled timidly.

"I'm still the Mikan everyone knew."

Himemiya eyed her as she settled the tea on the floor.

"How's you and Hyuuga?"

Mikan blushed, recalling her first encounter with Natsume after four years of not seeing each other.

"I-I think it's true that absence m-makes the heart grow fonder."

"That boy... There was never a day he never think of you."

"E-even if we part with each other, even if I lost my memories of him, my heart will always know when it's him."

"That's how strong the power of love is."

•••

Mikan decided to visit her old room. She scanned the area and plopped herself on the bed. She stood up and opened the window, savoring the fresh wind coming from the outside. She opened the closet and an elementary school uniform was hanged inside. She wanted to know how it feels wearing the Academy's uniform again. After that, she exited the room. When she closed the door, a deep voice spoke.

"You should rest."

She faced the person.

"I will- Natsume?"

"You've been hopping from building to building and room to room. I think you should take a rest first."

"I guess I was just excited to see everyone and be back in the Academy with all of you guys. Just like old times."

Silence.

"I'll take you to your room."

•••

Mikan and Natsume entered a spacious room. It was the same room Mikan was imprisoned as ordered by the ESP. It was the same room where she cried about not being with her friends during Christmas and was comforted by Mr. Bear. It was the same room where they shared their kisses as official lovers. It was the same room where they sealed their promise to be with each other forever in the future as witnessed by the moon.

Mikan went to the balcony and reminisced her memories in that room. In the process, tears fell from her eyes. Natsume simply watched her.

'I will never forget', they both thought.

Mikan wiped her eyes and went back inside the room as Natsume began walking toward the door.

"I'm going now. If you need some-"

Suddenly, Mikan wrapped her hands around Natsume's waist, hugging him from behind. She buried her face on his back.

"Natsume, I miss you."

Natsume gripped her small hands.

"Stupid. You think you're the only one?"

He removed her arms and faced her, cupping her cheeks.

"Mikan... I miss you so much."

Mikan smiled at him lovingly.

"Don't stare at me like that. You make me want to kiss you."

Heat started to creep on her cheeks.

"Natsume, you perv-"

Natsume didn't gave her a chance to finish what she is saying as he captured her lips with his own. Their lips fitted with each other's perfectly. They haven't done this within four years and weren't able to do it earlier. They cannot risked having people watched them share a private moment, especially their friends and her relatives.

Slowly, Natsume led the both of them to the bed with him supporting the back of Mikan's head. He stopped as he tucked loose strands of hair on her ear while she clung on his neck.

"Natsume... I still can't believe that I am with you right now, at this very moment."

"Then you should, because whatever happens, this idiot with me, I will never... I will never let her go anymore."

Natsume stared at her parted lips before swiftly delving his tongue into hers. Mikan gasped in surprise, gently pushing his chest. She has a horrified expression on her face as she covered her lips with the back of her hand.

"N-Natsume... Why did you do that?"

Natsume knew that he caught her off-guard with his sudden action. He wore a serious face.

"I know I shouldn't be rushing you but damn... Four years without you was a torture! I don't know what I will do without you. I almost gone insane."

It made her felt guilty. It must've been more difficult on his part since she is not aware of what's happening, having her memories erased, including him.

"I'm sorry. It's just... I was never 'this' intimate with a guy before. Those kisses we shared before... They seemed i-innocent to me. We're just thirteen at that time."

"Mikan... You're my girlfriend now so you should be used to these kind of things."

She did not respond and instead, put on a surprise expression as if realization hit her.

'That's right. We're a couple now.'

"Oi. Are you alright?"

"Natsume... you said it."

"Huh?"

"That word..."

"Speak clearly."

"G-Girlfriend... Does that mean that y-you are my b-boyfriend?"

"What do you think?"

'Natsume's my boyfriend and... I am his girlfriend...'

Mikan immediately grabbed Natsume's nape and they kissed deep—with so much passion, yearning, and longing; to make up for the years they haven't seen each other. Their noses were bumping into each other as he molded his tongue with hers, unconsciously scraping each other's teeth and wetting the sides of their mouths.

Gasping for air, they pulled away with Mikan panting and blushing hard. Natsume was the first one to talk.

"You didn't only grew physically."

"Eh?"

"You've matured, at least with the way you kiss. Didn't know you could kiss like that. I wouldn't mind getting used to that", Natsume teased, smirking as he got off from her and laid beside her.

Mikan faced on her back to hide her embarrassment.

"Idiot. That's just instinct, I guess. B-Because I love you."

He embraced her tightly and kissed her temple.

"I love you too, Mikan."