A/N: I hope you guys enjoy! I edited my first chapter a bit so I hope the tiny changes make a big difference.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.
"Under His Wing"
By
anamicah
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Chapter 1 – Birds of the same feather flock together
The cheerful atmosphere of the Special Ability classroom was now also part of Mikan Sakura's hidden tension. Although she was already thirteen years old, her life still didn't have any progress. Recently she started to wonder, 'What is happening to my life?' With very intricate decision making, she courageously walked forward, leaving everything behind just so she could be reunited with her best friend Hotaru.
In addition to that, she met Natsume, Ruka, Mr. Narumi, her Tsubasa sempai and everyone else. Each of them was her motivation to keep moving forward and forward but, 'To where?' she questioned, only making her pressure worse.
'They support me but, I don't know my path. All of them work so hard, and I'm sure that when we grow up, they'll have their own work to do. Own work to do…but if I keep clinging on to Hotaru…I'm her best friend! If that's who I truly am, I should be able to support her all the way to her personal dreams!' All the pressure ascended to her chest, but she kept everything in.
'But, Hotaru's different. She can stand with her own two feet on the outside world, and I can't. Bu-but, I don't want to be different! What will happen if any of them would need my support and I don't have anything to offer? No good, I want to be better, smarter! But…how can I? Most people laugh at me even if I put my best efforts to studying, I can't seem to improve my Alice, Noda sensei was never here, and all the Special Ability students just relax and fool around.'
"Mikan." Being startled out of her thoughts by a familiar voice, Mikan shook her head and turned.
"Tsubasa sempai, what is it?" Mikan curiously asked as she leaned closer to Tsubasa's desk.
"Noda sensei told me that everybody liked our newly improved RPG!...Thanks to Tsukishima over there who moved in with the Special Effects Alice. Anyway, he was hoping we'd let him join in one of the levels and also, he wants to talk about our next approach…whenever you're free." Tsubasa said blithely. This is also one of the rare moments where Mikan actually envied another's exuberance.
"I'm always free." Mikan grumpily muttered. "The real question is if he is! He's not even here in our class!" Feeling hopeless, Mikan took a deep breath as she positioned properly and continued her thinking.
Meanwhile a year ago…
"Not again, I'm going be late for my class. Where am I?...a classroom?" Noda sensei looked around and just as he thought, he was inside a classroom indeed. And although he should feel relieved that he was still within the walls of Alice Academy, the cold glares that surrounded Noda sensei gave him a dreaded idea of where he was. And to assure his assumption, he found himself looking through the fiery eyes of,
'Is that Natsume?' he nervously thought, looking at a pitchy haired boy sitting along with the other students, though somehow effortlessly standing out from everybody else.
'Oh my, my powers overdid it a little.' Noda sensei thought.
Suddenly, for some inexplicable reason, Noda sensei sensed a fearsome aura that slowly devoured the classroom and made his body quaver in terror.
"Noda sensei, what brings you here?" Persona asked with his usual stoic voice as he leaned against the classroom's doorway, wearing his cold, intimidating presence.
"Ma-may I ask what date it is?" Noda sensei tensely asked as he scratched his head.
"Hmm? It's November 7, the first week of our 78th Alice Festival." Persona frigidly answered.
'78th Festival? Thank goodness it's just exactly a year ago.' The realization of not being remotely dragged from the present time alleviated Noda sensei with a sigh.
"Oh that's right. Can we step outside for a while?" Persona asked without waiting for a response and went ahead. Feeling a little hesitant but curious, Noda sensei intently followed Persona and slowly felt less pressure now that all eyes are detached from his movements.
"I'll make this simple, Noda sensei." Persona stated with a sudden seriousness, as Noda sensei replied with the same look on his face. "I want Miss Sakura transferred to my class."
"Wh-what?" With his eyes looking straight into Persona's, Noda sensei's head slightly tilted down with the unchanged look of seriousness on his face. 'It's very shocking that someone like him would want something from Mikan…' Without having much of a choice on his corner, Noda sensei paused for a while to think it over. He took a deep breath and did his natural pale smile.
"I really don't know what you want with Mikan but, I give you my permission to claim her exactly a year later when my body already knows we had this talk." Just then, Noda sensei managed a more composed look of seriousness as he added,
"Don't hurt her." And he instantly vanished.
"Hey! Is that…?"
"What the…! You're right!"
"Keep it down you guys."
"I wonder what he's doing, walking about the school corridors at this hour."
"Yeah, it's the first time for me, it's just bizarre."
"He seems kinda cute!"
"Have you lost your senses? He looks way scary."
Whispers of the students filled the long stretch of the hallway like fire spreading through grass, passing word per word to the next person who passes by.
Using the finger tips on his right hand, Tsubasa incessantly tapped his desk as he looked down feeling helpless. 'I want to console her…but, I can't think of the right words to say!' He impatiently glanced at the sight of a long, vibrant, brunette hair that flowed brilliantly straight and landed with big, fine curls, before him. Knowing that what he was doing will not get him anywhere, he took a mouthful of air and released it with a newly-found confidence. Then he decided to speak up.
"Hey Mi—"
Suddenly, three knocks on the door disrupted the entire class from their senseless activities. And without a second further, the door slowly opened producing a long creaking sound that made it even more mysterious for the Special Ability students. After all, it has been a long time since someone stopped by for a visit. Well, there was Noda sensei….but he never came in through the front door. He just usually time traveled his way in there.
But so much for someone visiting, what they saw was just a very unwanted face. Persona's unexpected appearance altered the room's lively ambiance in just a blink of an eye, as an icy breeze leisurely penetrated the room, petrifying everyone by the ghastly sensation. Everyone except…
"Mikan Sakura." Persona suddenly spoke.
Hearing that, all faces turned to Mikan unnaturally at the same time.
"Hey…he-hey guys, what's with all the staring?" Mikan asked, simultaneously looking at them with a panic.
Persona began to walk nonchalantly towards the young brunette. Being flabbergasted by the unwonted scene, the Special Ability Class just observed the two.
'What a selfish crowd…' Tsubasa disgustedly thought with a sweatdrop, not doing anything himself.
Reaching a meter away from Mikan, Persona suddenly stopped as some students gave an exaggerated gasp of surprise. A long gap of silence filled the room as they spent it gazing at each other.
"Miss Sakura." Persona said, standing still as death.
"Ye-yes?" Mikan alarmingly answered, strangely without any uneasiness.
"Follow me." Persona plainly ordered.
"Okay." The calm answer of Mikan who skipped out of the room like she normally does, following Persona like an eight year old, tagging along with her older brother.
The door closed as the Special Ability Class froze, speechless. A very uncomfortable air wandered about the classroom, with everybody stunned but looking around with just their eyes wide open.
It was on a pleasant broad daylight; Persona casually walked, followed by Mikan who shyly looked down with her first fingers pressed against each other, as she every now and then, peeped at the sight of Persona's back.
"Listen carefully."
'Huh?' Mikan looked up, her vision still being obscured by Persona's back; she set her ears to their best listening condition as she attentively waited for what Persona had to say.
"I want you to be a part of my class."
Persona's words came with the wind that blew opposing Mikan with its soft hiss still echoing inside her head.
"Wh-What? But….but, the Special Ability Class is my home…they-…Tsubasa sempai, and-"
"Do you want to protect them?" Persona asked with a perceptible raise of tone.
"H-huh?"
"Mikan, we're over here!"
"What are you talking about?..Oh you cute little…!"
"Baka…"
"She's so tiny, how adorable!"
"Are you okay?"
"The most important thing here is freedom."
"As long as you have fun…"
Extreme pressure came out of Mikan without making any sense and caused tears to form in her eyes, another one of those emotional outbursts that her Misaki nee chan was now already used to. She silently sobbed. Although she was almost sure that Persona noticed her behavior even though he was not facing her, Mikan wondered why he did not mind as much. He should be scolding her from acting pathetic, or something very close to that.
Mikan felt really strange just like before, she did not feel even the slightest of fear when Persona appeared. 'Maybe it's because lately, for some reason, he never ignored me like he used to.' Mikan realized.
"The Special Ability students…they're important to you. You treated them as siblings because you thought that was where you belonged. For a short time, maybe you did. However, your Alice has great potential. And being a student here in the academy, you should develop it...and not ignore it." Persona blankly explained.
Mikan knew exactly where Persona was heading with this. Persona's words cut deep for Mikan since she felt the exact same thing. Yet, she seemed not to have the chance of doing anything about it. Mikan tried to conceal her crying, not to emit any sound from it.
"Being part of the Dangerous Ability…" Persona continued. "…does not mean you will become feared by everyone around you. Everything is up to you, how you use your power... your point of view. You must put into mind the inevitable risks and consequences when you choose a different path. Just like working for the academy…and I'm sure you know that part very well."
'He's right.' Mikan thought as she recalled one time, Natsume even came back to classes limping as he persistently ignored everyone's advice. 'Oh Natsume.'
Because of her now heavily crying, Mikan did not notice Persona stop as she slightly bumped her head to his back.
'Huh?' Mikan wondered. She hastily wiped her tears. She noticed Persona's left hand holding something. She couldn't be too sure of what it was. 'Wait a second…is that? Co-couldn't be…' Still not looking up, she saw Persona slowly turning to her, as it made her heart start to throb hard. She nervously looked up…
"Don't be afraid." Persona said, his wintry voice not making anything feel better.
Mikan just stared in awe, not knowing how to react. It's the first time for her to see Persona's face like this. Although, she was not thinking about Persona showing her his seemingly never unmasked face but, she was rather horrified as she carefully examined the numerous scars and bruises on it. 'Su-such damaged face…' She thought, feeling great sympathy.
"I suppose that you're wondering how I got these, that I shall not tell. Though, this is what should happen if you act at the last minute. You will have to exert much more effort to gain what you once had but ignored it. But, it's still your choice." Persona earnestly said.
'It's still my choice.' Mikan reflected to herself. 'Tsubasa sempai, Misaki nee chan, Noda sensei…It's not like I'll never be able to see them again. I have to…' Mikan gulped as she resolutely looked at Persona. "Okay…I'll go."
"Very well Mikan," Persona said. Thinking that Mikan did not disappoint him after all, he grinned to himself as he returned his mask on. "Welcome to the Dangerous Ability Class."
A few days later, the incident between Mikan and Persona became the principal talk of the academy. Most students felt pity for Mikan, being transferred to the Dangerous Ability Types and the fact she was asked by Persona himself. Whatever Persona did to her they said, if he forced her, or threatened her, it must've been something severely atrocious.
Meanwhile inside Seventh Grade, Class B, it was awfully noticeable how isolated Mikan was. She was sitting on her desk, being environed by everyone's whisperings, their faces showing pity but their eyes suspiciously staring.
"Everybody's acting weird these days." Mikan gallingly uttered as she heaved a sigh and relaxed her cheeks on her knuckles, vacantly staring at the blackboard.
"What's with the standing there…and that look?"
In the focus of the Teacher's Faculty room was Persona who just entered, standing motionlessly.
"I came for what is right." Persona said as he turned to Jinno sensei. Being startled, Jinno sweatdropped.
"What?" Jinno sensei asked doubtfully.
"I want Mikan Sakura to have a Special Star." Persona answered with a threatening glare.
"Wh-What are you talking about!?" Jinno furiously stood up, feeling a little afraid. "We can't do that!"
"All of you know perfectly well that she's earned it." Persona reprimanded.
"I simply refuse!" Jinno sensei banged his hands on his table as he received a smirk in reply.
"Now w-wh-what's with that look?" he asked with his admirable courage fading away, while Mr. Narumi was standing on the opposite side of the room, not confident of what to say.
"You bias hypocrites. You all know that she has a far better countenance and attitude than any person in this room. It has been a while and I don't see any of you taking an action. You Jinno sensei, just disregard her, neglect her abilities. You Narumi on the other hand, know that she is special but don't treat her with a different level of handling. You do not understand her true potential." Persona censured.
'He's…he's probably right.' Narumi said, just feeling the guilt as he clenched his fists.
"What did you say!?" Jinno heatedly exclaimed.
"Fool, what are you afraid of?" Persona asked with his eyes sharply aimed at Jinno's.
Unable to say anything, Jinno gnashed his teeth as he closed his eyes in despair.
"A Special Star student?...But…Persona, sir, what did I do that made me become one?" Mikan curiously questioned.
"You decided to join my class, did you not?" Persona vaguely answered.
"I…I can't believe it." Being rewarded as a Special Star student exhilarated Mikan to the heavens as she delightedly skipped; following Persona while singing a frolicsome tune with 'I am a Special Star', over and over.
"Mikan." Persona suddenly stopped causing Mikan to bump into his back again, as a door with a sign that read 'Dangerous Ability' stood before him.
"Let me introduce you…" Persona casually opened the door as he gestured Mikan to enter. With a little hesitation, she swallowed her breath and stiffly sheep walked her way just in front of the teacher's desk, as Persona followed and stood beside her.
'Natsume's not here…' she noticed.
"Class, this is Mikan Sakura transferring from the Special Ability Types."
To be continued…