Mikan stared at the ceiling above, her hair falling free from the tight wig that had built up a sweat throughout the day. A little gross, but it was the last thing on her mind. Her head was filled with other, more bothersome things. School was starting the next morning, yet her eyes remained unclosed and focused on the darn crack that the school didn't fix on the ceiling before she moved in, but even then, that wasn't what her thoughts were centred around.

When was the last time I've felt like this… Elementary School?

She wondered aloud, lips parted with a breathy sigh when she turned to her side in the remembrance of that dreadful time. Ah. That's right. It was the time when… God, I thought Hotaru was a boy…

Her face fell in her palms at the shame of the abrupt and brazen confession she made not long after falling attracted to the raven-haired charmer, only to have her childhood hopes crushed with the blunt words of "I don't bend that way". Heartbreaker from the age of eight, was little Miss Imai Hotaru.

God. The embarrassment.

But back to more important issues, like the individual that was making her feel this way. It'd barely been a night and two days since Youichi and herself had arrived at Alice Academy, and here she was in a predicament that was occupying her mind wholly.

Hyuuga Natsume.

Mikan grew frustrated at the name that repeated itself for the nth time in her head as calloused fingers roughened from endless nights of training from her father dragged themselves through her hair. The Hyuuga was a huge dick, that much could be summarised, because the barely countable times she ran into him on the damned campus grounds the day before, still induced no hint of an apology. Not even an inquiry if she had been hurt – though he was a victim himself… but still.

However, with his cockiness, came that gorgeous face. Oh boy. Who even needs a damn apology when Hyuuga Natsume's gloriously thin eyebrows were raised at the sight of you; even if it wasn't for a good reason? Or his doll-like burning eyes, scanning the length of you in a judgemental manner, because all Mikan could focus on within the moment was the way his face crumpled into a scowl and within a moment, he was gone before her subconscious state could take control and… and caress his face creepily or something.

She prayed this wasn't history repeating itself because the embarrassment and suffering that came with the held up feelings of some stupid crush were a punishment worse than the burning pits of hell. If she were to ever even blurt something along the lines of a confession… that was an abrupt end to her dreamy high school love life fantasy.

Mikan shook her head quickly. Her eyes quickly switched to the digital clock beside her head which flashed the numbers 12:37, before regrettably pulling the covers of her new bed for the upcoming years to come over her head, and falling asleep. The day that awaited was going to be a long one.

"So there's a thunderstorm…"

"Thunderstorm?"

"Y-Yeah, and so there's no school today. It isn't safe to go to the school building right now, so remain in your dorms, kids-"

Eh, that doesn't make sense at all!

It doesn't even sound like it's raining.

Are these guys kidding around, seriously… I woke up early for this…

Come on, no classes today, how much better can it get?

Mikan frowned as students began to settle down in the cafeteria after the sudden announcement at breakfast. All that mental preparation the night before, no, the moment she woke up at 6:00am on the dot to fix her hair and uniform – it was all a waste now, because of some suspicious thunderstorm that was hardly credible.

Scooping spoonfuls of cereal depressingly past her lips, she wasn't aware of the presence behind her before she felt the slap to her upper back; which also sent out a splutter of milk and spewed cornflakes. "Aw, gross!"

"Yome! That was your fault, god—What brings you here, huh?" Mikan made a grab at the tissues situated in the middle of the round table, using it to wipe her face quickly while Koko took a seat with a tray of his lunch.

"Breakfast!" Came his simple-minded reply paired with the toothy smile that Mikan noticed was practically plastered to his face on a day-to-day basis. It was almost creepy. Just almost. "I brought a friend you should meet too."

"Huh? Where?"

"Up here, pretty boy!" A similar sounding voice to Koko's chimed, but from above her head, so logically she looked up in confusion. "That's right, here!"

Her eyes were met with an individual that seemed to be floating, or rather, lying in the air pretty comfortably. "Woah, you're flying!"

"Don't look so surprised, Yukihara, it's a fairly common alice." He waved a hand dismissively before he was finally lowered down to the ground. He held out a hand for a currently flabbergasted Mikan to shake, with a look of 'senpai-notice-me' in her eyes. "Koko's roommate, he's told me a lot about you."

"I know, I've just never seen it in person, but wooow…" after a few blinks, her posture was straightened and she looked up at his towering figure with a large smile. "Glad you know my name. And yours?"

"Ah,I'm Akeshi. I go by Kitsu though – or Kitkat. Nice to meet you, man."

"Don't involve yourself with those brats. They'll only give you trouble." Hotaru popped beside Mikan which made her jump. Youichi followed beside her silently, secluding himself from the rest in a groggy manner. The morning was really unforgiving today.

"Agreed, Imai-san." An unfamiliar voice piped in and Mikan's head was all over the place now. Too much to comprehend.

"Permy, that's heartbreaking coming from you." The mind-reader added in a tone far from sulky. It irked Mikan that he could look so happy, or rather, awake.

"Yeah, Permy, I thought we had something going on, you know."

"You thought wrong, boys." The charming lady shot them a look before tottering beside Mikan who was beside herself at the bespectacled beauty. "Don't mind those brats—"

"Kitsu's older than you."

"Fuck off." Was the ungraceful reply that came along with a stare that could kill, before her head turned in Mikan's direction once more in a classy smile. "Shouda Sumire, head of the high school dormitories. If you have any troubles, you can tell me or… those two."

"A-Ah, nice to meet you! Yukihara Mikoto, Imai's partner in crime-"

BAKABAKABAKABAKABAKABAKA.

"Haha, look, he's stupid like us."

*a multitude of scratches and muffled screams are heard in the background*

.

...

.

"That was really uncalled for."

"Ultra uncalled for."

"My face hurts."

The three idiots stood gloomily in a row after breakfast, situated just outside of the entrance of the cafeteria, rubbing their cheeks pitifully. What was seemingly going to be an uneventful day to Mikan after the announcement, had already gotten off to a bad start with some serious brain haemorrhaging damage from Hotaru's baka-gun and as if that wasn't enough, Hyuuga Natsume was nowhere to be seen, even after she specifically took a seat nearby him. (Not really, but coincidentally she had sat behind him).

"So you really are gay, huh?"

"Excuse me?" Mikan snapped her head in the direction of Koko and Kitsu who seemed to know all too well, mischievous grins donning their features. Darn mind-reader read her mind again. "W-What?"

"Yukihara, man… Hyuuga totally swings that way."

"Yeah, he's never dated a single girl in this whole school."

"You serious? Never?"

"Yeah, I mean, he got multiple offers and all. Not sure about his guy count though." Kitsu gave a semi-serious nod with a raise of his brows. "You've got some hope, give it a go."

Mikan looked all too hopeful. "Should I?"

"…yeah. Do it."

"Oh no, you don't."

"Imai, don't be a pooper."

"They've got no good intentions cheering you on like that." Her lids narrowed in scrutiny, looping an arm through Mikan's quickly. "Look at their faces. Look at it. Does that shit-faced grin scream 'compassionate, caring friend' to you?"

Mikan looked at the mischievous pair. And then at Hotaru. Then at the pair. And then back at Hotaru. "I wouldn't know. You're the only friend I've ever had, Hotaru."

.

...

.

...

.

...

"WE'RE SORRY, YUKIHARA, WE'RE SO SO SORRY."

"N-No, no! It's okay, I get that you want to prank the new kid and all-"

"...if you want to get close to Natsume, kiddo, there's always that plan where..."

"Where?"

"...come here, we'll tell you."

As always, Narumi was a bad liar. Natsume simply rolled his eyes at the thought of the morning announcement before turning on his side to face the large trunk of the Sakura tree. If anything, it had to be the most beautiful day of the year – and he was expected to miss it? Not a chance.

But why would they lie…?

"Natsume, I'm sure there's a purpose… let's go in, come on."

"Okay, bye. Shoo." He raised a tanned arm, rolling his wrist in a wave before barely turning his head to meet squinted blue eyes. "What, Ruka?"

"It could be dangerous!" Ruka mumbled in a slight whine, kicking his friend when the only response he got was a carefree grunt. It didn't seem like Natsume was going to budge any time soon.

"…"

"…"

"…oh look, it's Yukihara."

"Who's that?"

"The creep that likes you."

"That's a cheap tactic, Ruka. Try harder."

"Don't believe me – Yukihara-san!"

"Eh, Nogi?! You're not inside in this… 'thunderstorm'?"

Natsume could hear the shuffling of grass behind him as well as two laughs (a fake one on Ruka's part), and immediately regretted not leaving when he was warned.

"Ah! Hyuuga-san!"

"I'm going to the bathroom." Natsume stood up as quickly as he could, ignoring the accumulated dirt on his new pristine uniform. Scrambling for his bag, he kept his gaze down before walking away from the Sakura tree.

"H-Hey, wait!"

"…tch, what's with this guy, he's fucking creepy…" He grumbled beneath his breath, speeding the pace of his footsteps until he collided with someone once again. For the second freaking time within the same week. "I swear, what is your prob—"

"I didn't get to pay you back for lunch the other time!"

"Forget it, I don't care."

"I'll feel guilty!"

"So?"

"Let me buy you lunch."