-Sorry for the cliffhanger, but you gotta admit that I'm doing better, right? o_o;; Right? Anyway, as for this story I would like to point out some stuff. Such as no major couples have been really decided yet, but as usual I am leaning for Mimato and maybe a good Michi relationship on the way. And for those who've heard of Love Hina, Sora sort of takes the role of Mutsumi, mmk? ^^; Clingy, clueless, and a totally nice ditz. But I don't intend to make her look bad! And if anyone's noticed n_n; Mimi and Yamato's personalities have somewhat changed throughout the story, especially now that they've been singled out, but still you wonder why Mimi made it to military school…o_O-

Ugh…

I slammed my fist onto my alarm clock and grabbed the sheets over my head. Why did I even set my clock on so early…

Wait—what day is it? I quickly bolted up and fell out of my bed to search for my calendar. I scanned and finally landed on—January 2nd! I squealed and hurriedly got up to look at myself on the mirror. Today I have a date with destiny—or well, Yamato Ishida! Ooo, just the sound of that makes me tingly all over!

"Oh, I wonder how he's been, I haven't seen him since a little before Christmas," I said as I fixed my messy hair. "Mmm…I'm going back to the Academy in two days…a part of me is really excited to go back and see everyone but, being home and having Matt all to myself is," I sighed. "Sort of all I can ask for. We've been hanging around each other and having a good time for some time now, and I'm not sure I want to go back into sharing him with everyone. Including Jun."

Just the thought of Her Loon-ness gave me the chills I didn't ask for. So, with the thought of Matt waiting for me I happily skipped to my nice, warm shower and dreamed of what the day will be like…

"Taichi!"

"Sora!" Taichi yelped, almost falling back. Sora smiled widely at him that Taichi started to back away. "Ano, what are you to today?" How and where does this girl always pop up from nowhere?

Sora shrugged, "Shouldn't I be asking you that? What are you standing outside the main office for, you looked like you were talking to yourself," she giggled, Taichi blushed and rubbed the nape of his neck.

"I was just," he fumbled and looked at the main office door, "I was just going to, go call Mimi—she's coming back in two days and, I was just wondering how she was doing and all since I haven't talked to her…since before Christmas and…I was just wondering." He trailed off, redder than before.

Snickering a bit, Sora patted his head, "Aw, that's what I like about you, Tai-kun, you're so sweet, just like a little boy." She slightly blushed and Taichi responded with a small chuckle.

"Well, I uh, guess I better be going to, make that call now," Taichi said and excused himself.

"Alright, I'll see you later," Sora waved as Taichi walked up the steps. As he was walking away, Taichi heaved a small sigh, mou, she's really clingy. Taichi looked back and, surprisingly enough she was still there smiling, Taichi sweated, eh, well, she is a sweet girl—not to mention pretty but, she's the total opposite of Mimi.

"I'm going out to meet my friend!" I called to my Mom as I threw on my jacket, it still was a bit snowy outside. I almost reached the front door when my Mom called out again.

"And who's this friend, Mimi?" she suspiciously asked. I frowned. I guess I still haven't regained her trust after the incident yet…Sighing, I walked into the kitchen while she kept talking. "You've been going out rather often now, dear, who is this boy you're seeing?"

I blushed and twirled a piece of string that came out of my skirt, "Just, someone. Don't get any ideas, he's from the Academy and he's really nice—Ask Katie, she met him!" I pointed out.

"And what grade is he in? And what is his name again?"

That I happily answered, "He's a Cadet Major, that's like a grade above me," by saying that Yamato was a high-leveled cadet, my Mom arched a brow and smiled approvingly. "Oh, and his name's Yamato Ishida—"

"Ishida? Oh, now I remember why that name sounded so familiar!" she replied. "Oh, I've known his parents from way back, a good boy I tell you. You should learn from him, Mimi," I crossed my arms, somehow I wasn't following what she was saying. How did she know Matt? "—a real gentleman, that Yamato, he's majoring in Biology and," she put her spatula to her chin. "If my memory's right I think he was dreaming of becoming a Commandant like your uncle."

"Nani? Wait," I interrupted. Matt, be a Commandant? He never mentioned anything like that. "He wants to be in charge of a military school?"

Mom laughed, "It was long ago, Mimi, he might have already moved onto another goal. Well, have fun!" she smiled. Sugoi…Suddenly I have a gut feeling about Matt, and it doesn't feel too good on my case. Matt never gave me the impression that he wants to be just like my Uncle, somehow I just don't like that idea at all. Quickly I excused myself before she could ask anymore questions and got ready to leave when the phone rang.

"I got it," I mumbled, as if I'm not in a hurry to leave already. "Tachikawa Residence."

"Um, may I speak to Mimi, please?"

My heart skipped, "Taichi!" I smiled widely, how I missed hearing his voice!

"Mimi—is it really you? Sugoi! How are you? Did you have a fun Christmas? Having a great time being home?" I giggled—typical Tai to ask so many questions when he's nervous. Heh, I could just see him right now fidgeting over the phone.  

I sat down, "I'm doing great, Tai! And you'll never guess who's staying at the same city as mine—Matt! Isn't that great?"

There was a rather small pause then, "Um—yeah, actually, I called Yamato, too, and he told me about how you two have been going around the city and stuff," Was I hearing correct? Matt actually tells Tai these sort of things like I do to Katie and Karen? Well—I smacked myself, Matt is a human being after all with emotions! "Mimi. That's great. So, how is Yamato doing lately?"

"I'm off to meet him in a few minutes, actually," I replied when suddenly I heard some loud, funny noises from the other line. "Ano, Tai-kun, daijibou? What's all that noise?"

"—Mimi-chan!" a voice greeted, I squealed! It's her!

"Karen! Karen, is it really? Oh, I've missed you so much!" I did, gosh, I really did…I never noticed just how much of a void there was in me since I left the Academy.

"Mimi-chan, it's been so lonely without you here," Karen replied when I heard another rumbling and giggled hearing Karen scold Tai. "Gomen nasai…Anyway, Taichi's told me that Yamato was there with you?" and then she whispered. "You are so lucky, Mimi-chan! Yamato and you—it's almost perfect! Has anything happened that I should know about?"

I blushed madly and waved my hand, "Nani?! Iie! Karen, don't even think or say that where can you get such an idea—of course nothing's happened!" I protested which she quickly laughed at.

"Alright, alright, I'll buy that for now," she smirked. "Oi, I almost forgot—you're coming home in a couple of days, aren't you? Oh, I've got so much to tell you! Did you know that your Uncle's moved the Moonlit Isle to the last day of exams? That's at the 16th! Talk about disappointment," As I listened to her, a frown crept up on my face. Sure spending time with Matt and being home was great but—could it be possible that the Academy and everyone there has made a special place in my heart already? "—And there's also this new girl whom I know you'll just perfectly get along with and—Mimi-chan?"

"Heh, gomen nasai," I said. "I'm listening—is, is Tai still there?"

Karen laughed a bit, "Hai, he said he's got 'ants in his pants'," I laughed. "Okay, I guess I should let Taichi talk to you now, I'll see you when you get back, Mimi-chan!" and, followed by some loud yelps and murfs, Tai finally came back.

"A-ahem. Well," he started. "I guess I should let you go to Yamato, now, heh, wouldn't want to hold you back or anything."

"Oh, Tai!…" I smiled and shook my head, and then there was a pause. "Taichi?"

His voice was rather weak, "I really miss you, Mimi, it's been, pretty lonely without you around."

Huh? I laughed a bit, Tai can be so goofy, "Oh, Tai-kun! I miss you, too, but I'll be coming back in two days so you don't have to act so gloomy!"

"Hai, hai, you're right," he chuckled. "Alright then, I'll be waiting the day you come back, Tachikawa-san!"

"So, where we headed today?" Matt asked as I met him at the train station. I shrugged and he chuckled. "Well, that's not really an answer, is it?" he smiled and looked up at the train schedules, the speakers announced that a train was leaving soon. "Alright, now when's the next train…" I looked at him—Matt looked so handsome and cool!

"Ach," I quickly shook my head and scolded myself. "What was I thinking?! Oh, Karen's tainted my mind with all her theories!" I watched as a train slowly departed and sighed. That call from Tai and Karen, and what Mom said about Matt being a Commandant, somehow it all made me feel peculiar. Maybe I could ask Matt all this later…

"Hey!" Matt shook my arm. "Why don't we go over to Morioka? There's lots to see there and I'd love to take you to the Ashteru Tower. What do you think, Mimi? I mean, I promise I'll get you home by curfew and all. C'mon, the train doesn't leave for another hour so let's go get something to eat."

I nodded as he began leading me through the crowd, we finally found a fast-food place beside the train station and took our seats by the window—Matt was so chivalrous when he pulled out my seat for me! Resting my chin on my hand, I sighed and watched as he ordered, later on I will definitely have to discipline myself for staring at him too much. Funny, even when we're not in school anymore Matt still acted with such authority.

When the waitress left Matt looked back and smiled at me, "So, tell me, what exactly did you do to make your parents send you to military school again?"

I smirked a bit thinking how many times he's asked me that, "Like I said before…I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," I smiled sweetly.

Matt just laughed and nodded approvingly, "Okay, okay. But anyway—you'll love Morioka, I spent most of my time growing up visiting my grandfather there."

"Oh, awesome, you have a grandfather in Morioka?" I asked. "Are you sure he won't mind if you bring me?"

The waitress then returned with out orders. Matt thanked her and looked at me again, "Mind? Of course he won't, Grandfather loves visitors and I'm sure he'll just adore you, anata," he said, nudging my chin. I felt my cheeks turn red that I had to look away, Matt chuckled. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that Taichi called a few days ago."

"Hai! I talked to him and Karen this morning!"

He nodded and leaned back as our food arrived, "It's funny, you know, I never realized just how lonely I got after leaving the Academy—I mean, it's like I suddenly got so homesick, for the Academy and not my actual home, you know?" he looked at me, and I slowly slurped my spaghetti. Matt chuckled. "Guess I'm not making much sense, ne."

Oh, Matt, if only you knew how much you were. I cleared my throat and quickly blurted out the question of if and why Matt wanted to be a Commandant—

"Huh? What did you say?" we both said in unison and laughed after it. I was about to ask him my question again when what he said struck me. "Did you just say, Jun called you, too?" I arched a brow. Matt looked up and nodded. "Well, um, what did she say?"

"You know Jun," he simply replied and I shrugged, he had a point.

"You should've told her about us," I snickered and took a sip of my tea—but remembering what I said I quickly looked up, blushing. "I mean! Us hanging out, a-ahem," I pretended to cough and avoid his eyes, he just shook his head and chuckled before checking his watch.

"Oh, we better be heading or we'll miss the train," he smacked his forehead and quickly got up to head to the cashier. I looked at my watch—10:55?! Swiftly I stuffed a last bite into my mouth, grabbed my backpack and sweater before running to join Matt.

"Coming through, sumimasen!" Matt shouted as he pulled himself and me through the train station crowds. We ran down the stairs, weaved through the ticket lines and scrambled up the escalator. "Excuse us, sorry!" Matt kept repeating as we sped down the platforms. Looking at him, I felt a sudden rush of excitement spark in me, I guess despite how stiff he can be Matt really is a fun guy to be around with…

"Attention: The train to Morioka is departing Tokyo in one minute."

Just before the train doors closed Matt and I finally got in, both hunched over and breathing heavily. The train finally started and soon we were off. I was still trying to catch my breath when Matt tapped my shoulder and signaled an empty box of seats, I nodded and followed him—and we were both quiet for a while after that. Placing my bag on my lap, I looked behind me and outside the zooming scenery of snow-capped buildings and distant mountains. I breathed a deep sigh—I sure missed riding home in the subway every afternoon and staring outside the window…But now that I go to that military school I can't do that—or any of the normal stuff I usually do—anymore.

"Hey, Matt," I looked beside me and met his eyes. "Don't you ever miss it?"

"Miss what?"

Somehow I feel so dumb asking, "You know, doing the normal stuff everyday has to offer. Waking up by an alarm clock, walking with your friends to school, actually getting to sleep in class without having to do five sit-ups when you get in trouble—" Matt began laughing. "It's not funny! Well do you?"

"Mimi-san, I honestly would not know," Matt shrugged and looked outside with me. "Like I said, my parents sent me to the Academy as fast as they can—so the word 'normal childhood' to me defines nothing but military terminology, heh."

I sighed and gave up, "Matt, you are hopeless."

"Why thank you," he grinned mischievously. "But, if you really want to know, I did go to a public school when I was little. It seems so long ago that I barely remember much, but I'll tell you this much…I don't really think I would want to go back to it, military school is the only life for me," he stayed quiet after…I wondered why but I didn't want to pry so much.

"Attention passengers. You are now arriving at the Morioka train station."

I ran out to the railing that looked over the waters, admiring the small tugboats that hovered beyond the icy areas. It was such a different change of surroundings—already most of the snow has melted away and it seemed as if it were already summer over here! The scenery almost reminded me of Hong Kong or some sort.

"Is Morioka always this gorgeous?" I exclaimed as Matt came up beside me, he had taken off his coat and I figured I should, too.

"If I knew I would've loved to have brought you here during summer," Matt ran his hand through his hair as the wind ruffled it. "If you think it's gorgeous now, summer here is ten times better—uh, Mimi-chan?" he arched a brow. I had jumped up on the railing and leaned over, staring down at the water as if I were a little child.

"Look at the water!" I exclaimed. "It looks like a chandelier!"

Matt chuckled and gently pulled me down, "I'm glad you like it here, but you haven't seen anything yet. C'mon, my grandfather's house isn't that far away. We just have to take the trolley car up the hill."

My smile grew wider, I've never taken a trolley car before! Quickly I grabbed Matt's hand and pulled him towards it, "Sugoi, Yama-kun, let's go!!" I said, tugging harder. The whole ride up I acted like some excited little girl who hasn't been out to see the sun all her life—it was a bit embarrassing but Matt didn't seem to mind, he laughed the whole way.

"There it is."

I followed the direction Matt pointed at and saw the lovely white house before us. There was a small knot in my stomach all the sudden—what if his grandfather doesn't like me? What if I do something completely klutzy and, I don't know, trip over and break something!

Gulping, I stiffened, "You know, Yamato, maybe this isn't such a good idea…"

"What are you talking about? Come on," Matt laid a hand on my back and began pushing me towards the door. I stiffened some more and didn't budge. "Mimi, come on!" I groaned and trudged inside, it was even more nicer inside, though. "Grandfather! It's me, Matt!" he called, putting our coats away. So his family called him Matt, too, that makes me feel special.

"Mmm," I inhaled deeply and walked around. "It smells like, like roses and…"

"Rain," Matt put in and nodded over to a window, where I saw a small greenhouse nearby. "My grandfather loves to grow roses, and his house sits at the very top of the hill so it receives the most rain. The scent just fills the whole area."

"Better late than ever," a rather deep voice cut in from behind. Matt turned around and quickly addressed him as his grandfather before running to hug him, "Matt, my boy, how long has it been? A year and you've grown so much." Then he looked at me and I stiffened. "Oh, I see you've brought a friend."

Matt hurried to fetch me and brought me over to him, "Grandfather, this is the friend I was talking about. Mimi Tachikawa, meet my grandfather, Kahapo Ishida." I nodded and smiled sincerely as his grandfather took my hand, I noticed how soft his skin was, almost like my own grandfather.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ishida, Matt's told me so much," I said politely.

"Please, just call me Popo, it's what Matt here used to call me when he was learning to talk," he when Matt's cheeks turned red, I laughed, too, I had never seen Matt blush before.

I nodded, "Popo? That's so kawaii—sounds like candy!" I laughed nervously, what was I thinking by saying that? Mr. Ishi—I mean, Popo invited us over by the garden to have tea with him before we set out again. By the way they were treating me, it's as if I had known Yamato Ishida's family as my own…

"So where are you planning to take Mimi today, Matt?" Popo asked.

Matt put down his cup and smiled, "I thought I would take her to see Ashteru Tower," I seemed to have missed something when Popo raised a brow at Matt then smiled warmly at me, I turned to look at Matt for an answer but he seemed to have avoided my gaze. Nani…? I was about to say something when someone called out for Matt.

"Kitori!" he exclaimed and went to go give the raven-haired girl a hug. Who is she? I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous at the way Matt seemed to glow at the sight of her, but she was really pretty, I guess…"Kitori, you haven't changed a bit!" Matt seemed to have forgotten I was there.

As the two conversed I leaned in closer to Popo, "Ano, who is she, Popo?"

"Kitori is almost like a daughter to me," Popo replied, taking sips of his tea. "We adopted her after her parents died, her and Matt have been the best of friends since childhood." I looked at Matt, so he actually did have someone already, someone who knows him much more than I do.

"Sumimasen, 'we'?"

Popo nodded, "My wife and I—" he looked over to the greenhouse and sighed. "Before she died, my wife Priya loved spending time with those roses of hers. Kitori and Yamato always helped her, too…Yamato would always find some excuse to stay home from school and visit us."

I laughed a bit, "Hai, Yama-kun did mention that he never really liked going to ordinary schools, I guess they always seemed rather boring to him."

Popo both nodded then shook his head, "Boring? Of course not! In some ways you are right but that is not the half of it…" he looked at Matt. "Poor boy always got bullied and ganged up on, he always came home crying about how the older kids picked on him…"

"Oh, my," I frowned and looked at Matt. I never knew…Matt never seemed to give me the impression about his childhood, he always seemed to avoid it. "Oh, Matt…is that why you've grown so silent and distant?"

-That was fairly long, right? ^_^; Sorry, have to cut it off there but the next shall pick up where I left off. Got *a lot* in store before these two make it back to the Academy! Please review.-