"Summer Vacation"

Chapter One

He giggled.

The class deadpanned. They wondered why their annoying teacher wouldn't hurry to dismiss class. This was one of their rare half school days after all!

Finally, calming down from his giggle fit Narumi continued speaking, "Now, class as you know due to recent circumstances within the academy..." He was sure to stray away from any events mentioning the close death of one of his students or Mikan. "...The high school principal has arranged for more lenient structure within the academy."

In his peripheral vision, he saw a hand raised. Kokoro Yome waved his hand frantically wanting to be called on. Narumi pouted. Koko often messed with his lesson plans, so he pretended not to notice the boy. Narumi wanted to reveal his new information without the mind reader spoiling it.

"Hey! So, you're ignoring me on purpose!" Koko whined.

"Just like we all do," Sumire quipped, half listening and half trying to catch a peek of her beloved Natsume's face, which was difficult since she sat next to her partner Koko whose huge bush of hair was blocking Natsume's head from her view.

"Anyway, your high school principal Yukihara has issued a three-month departure from the academy for all students."

"WHAT!" The protests of the students were almost deafening. Narumi became surprised because he had thought his students would relish leaving the academy. He rolled his eyes and rested one of his elongated fingers on his cheek. "Tough canoodles, my babies..."

"Natsume's thinking that if you ever refer to any of us as your babies or say canoodles again he'll burn you alive! Sorry, I just had to tell it!"

"Aw, you've gotten so protective of the class since you met little Mikan, Natsume" Narumi smiled. His smile didn't waver for a moment even when he saw two students, Yuu and Kitsuneme, try to extinguish the sudden flames in Koko's hair. He really should have intervened, but it was satisfying to see his mischievous student get what was coming to him.

"Well, class, are you excited? The arrangements will be made this week and it is MANDATORY for all students to leave." Many of the students were frowning though some had gladdened to the point of forgetting about early dismissal.

Cheerful as always Mikan Sakura, his favorite student, broke into a smile. After having her memories returned, the bright girl had picked up where she left off from which was being an effusive honey-brunette who loved everyone. His teacher's pet whispered something excitedly to Anna and Nonoko, sitting behind her.

"Mikan, would you like to say something for the class to hear?" He asked. The floor is yours. Say something to brighten our days. If they have your acceptance, the crowd will surely follow.

"Of course, our special little snowflake or should I say ball of sunshine, Mikan has something to say." The dark green, permed girl nearly spat out. Ever since the Sakura Law (All living creatures that come into contact with Mikan Sakura will eventually befriend her, whether in life or impending death) placed its effects on Sumire, the two had gotten along well especially with Hotaru still missing. So, her sudden disgust against Mikan seemed uncalled for in Narumi's eyes.

Natsume rolled his eyes. "Way to go, Polka..."

Mikan stuck her tongue out at her grumpy partner before speaking, "Okay! I'm super glad about the new changes made! It's so sad the old Alice Academy students never got to experience going home before leaving the academy like we will now. My entire time here I really missed my grandfather! I tried to send him letters, to run away to see him and to call him, but of course, the academy disconnected my call as soon as he answered."

She continued,"Anyway, Narumi-sensei's right! This is a once of a lifetime opportunity we all have. We are all around fourteen to eighteen so most of us only have two years left to enjoy this change. And... You can travel the world for once! Five months ago was the first time any of us had even seen the beach! We all have to see the desert-Okay, not that but an actual mall or a concert or a mountain are things we need to see! No one wants to be sheltered in these walls forever, am I right?"

'YEAH!' Clapping followed Mikan's impromptu speech.

'Mikan's right! I can't wait to see my mom again!"

"My big brothers are SO going to dote on me when I come back. I won the best student award the year after Yuu and racked up in 'I miss you' gifts!"

"I want to kiss my baby sister's chubby cheeks, back at home! However, she won't be a baby anymore! I can't wait to see how much she grew up!"

"Settle down, children or you will disappoint me—"

The lively chatter continued.

"—And have to wear the pink, alice-restricting tutu of shame, which had fondly been donated by Imai Corporations. Bless her heart wherever she is."

Silence.

There was roughly five minutes left of class, enough time to get something set straight. Being a free-spirited teacher like him, he normally didn't follow lesson plans or predetermined times to release his prized canoodling babies out of class. His agenda as of now was to figure out why a mandated summer vacation would be opposed by some.

"Hey Narumi!" He sweat-dropped a bit, when would they learn to respect him as their teacher without him having to use his alice? "I read your mind again! You just used canoodle and babies again in your head! You were also thinking dirty stuff like—"

"Ahem. Thank you, Mister Yome for your comment. Moving forward, Per—Uh, Miss Shouda, I see you and a number of other students with such sour expressions on your faces since the announcement. Do tell the rest of us what's wrong?"

The students watched the feisty girl stand up from her seat, practically shooting daggers at the blonde man. Her cheeks were turning red from obvious frustration, and she looked ready to claw someone's eyes out. Thankfully, he, the number one teacher, had her de-clawed at the start of every semester. His lovely face would not be tampered with at any cost.

"What if some of us have no homes to go to!? Then what? I bet none of you thought of that! Isn't this the entire reason we all live on campus!" Sumire hissed. The classroom's cheers died down, obviously some students thinking of their home situations. Those who were originally happy became somber. "Do tell us how will you prevent a bunch of homeless kids. Lord, don't forget the defenseless babies and parents who are ashamed of their alice kids. We shouldn't be forced to live with simpletons or alice-haters!"

His lips thinned into a line, and he rubbed his forehead in a move to calm himself from Sumire's radiating anger. "Does anyone else agree with Miss Shouda's sentiments or have any other worries?"

Their voices started as mumbling, but morphed into audible anxieties:

"The last time I saw my mom she was so sick... I'm afraid she won't be alive if I return. It broke her into pieces when they took me. Her heart just couldn't take it—I am part of the reason she got sick."

"I love my parents, but every time I see them it reminds me why I left. My self-esteem finally got to a healthy place and going back will just maim it."

"If I go back, I'll be all alone. Everyone's going to call me the freak with the alice like they did before I came here. My family loves me, but they don't want the scrutiny from our village."

"I was glad about going to this academy even at the cost of leaving my single mom by herself. We were barely managing financially, and maybe my departure might be an aid to her finding the husband she always wanted. I don't want to return as a burden."

"My alice gives me skin blotches and turns my tongue blue! If I go back, no one's going to understand why, and they will look at me weird! It's too hot to cover them up with sleeves! I'm not going back!"

"I don't wanna return! I heard my mom and dad had an alice-less kid to replace me. I know it was to get over the hurt of the academy forcing me away, but it hurts more that they had to have another kid! Yes, I'm jealous so what! Couldn't they have mourned more for me instead of getting my replacement so soon?"

"AND SOME OF US DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO A DIRT-POOR ORPHANAGE!" Sumire yelled as she grabbed her backpack. She sent a nasty glare toward Narumi and stalked out the classroom.

Narumi sighed. She acted as if it were his fault though he had helped come up with the idea. To be honest, he was paranoid about his students hating him for this change. He wished he could ease their minds.

Sumire's outburst sent a wave of shock through her classmates excluding Koko who Narumi knew was from the same place. Koko's trademark smile faltered slightly.

"Narumi-sensei, should I go after her?" Sweet, sweet Mikan asked. Her brown eyes mirroring her concern for her closest female friend.

As if answering for him, Natsume replied, "Don't. She will be okay... later."

"Yes, she will be fine. She just needs to blow off some steam." Narumi turned his attention back to his classroom. Three minutes left and he didn't want them gloomy. "To those with worries let me offer you my wonderful advice in order:

"Don't worry for your ill mother. Once, see she sees you, she will rejuvenate. Your mere being there will cure her; thus, this is the cure for all sicknesses of the heart.

"I know it's not much, but it might become helpful to you in the long run. I can arrange for encouraging messages to be sent to you hourly throughout the three months you are gone. For every nasty word uttered to you, you can have four hundred pleasant ones repeated to you by the touch of your phone. All you have to do is download my new app, Anju Narumi's Encouraging Words.

"For the next two of you or anyone who may find themselves homeless, I may be able to pull some strings and get you all temporary hotels paid by the academy. Although the one with the single mother who has money troubles, I think she would be willing to sacrifice to let you stay with her. If she financed you for however many years with no financial support, keeping you for three months should be easy. That's just my guess though..."

"Also, to the one with the alice whose skin causes blemishes, I have a special cream I can lend you for that. It will disguise them to the non-alice."

Narumi flipped his hair. Once he began solving his student's problems, he felt so much lighter. Maybe this was true love? Having the ability to care for people so profoundly and not ask or want anything in return, but to—

"Yo! Narumi, what is this therapy hour? You are keeping us from leaving class!"

Sigh. His students were getting rowdy.

"Okay, anyone else who is having anxiety about summer vacation see me after class and without further adieu—"

He held his breath to further dramatic effect.

"Class dismissed."

Finally, wrote out an idea I've had since like... early August? You know during the time I got back into GA big time!

Oh yeah! Narumi's calling the kids by their last names in school for this chapter. I used to love when my old ballet teacher called me miss, as a seven-year-old. I had felt so sophisticated!

Thanks for reading and/or reviewing. Have a lovely day!