Chapter 3

Mikan was on her way to the parking lot when she remembered that the guard from earlier advised her to have her car registered. She quickly turned back to the school.

"Damn! I hope the registrar's office is still open". Mikan checked her watch and it was almost 6pm. When she got there, there was still a person stationed at the booth to assist students.

"How may I help you?" Assistant Naku asked. "New Student, Mikan Sakura, right?"

"Ah... Yes! Hi! Nice to meet you… Mr…." Mikan said doubtfully.

"Oh, call me Mr. Naku. I'm one your dads friends. That old man is sure happy to get you to this school. Can't stop blabbering about you." He said.

"Great. How embarrassing" Mikan said shyly. "The thing is, I have to have my car registered. I brought the registration form of my car that is if you need it."

"No need, I fixed everything up for you. Here's the sticker of the school, please stick it up to your car so that the guard will notice it right away… make it visible to avoid traffic in campus, got it?" Mr. Naru handed Mikan the sticker.

"Okay, no prob. I guess I'll be going now, I'm in charge of dinner, you see." Mikan said

"Yes, please do take care of your dad. He has been lonely lately without Yuka." Mr. Naku said sadly.

"Wait, you knew my Mom?" Mikan asked.

"Well, didn't you know? Your Mom and Dad graduated here. Here is where the both of them met. Here at Gakuen Alice." Mr. Naku said and left Mikan dumbfound.

While walking at the parking lot, Mikan was lost in her thoughts. "Hmm, Gakuen Alice, huh? If mom studied here, why was she opposing to come back here? I know mom loves dad so much and I just hate it when I know I am the cause of their breakup. And that Hotaru girl, I feel like I've met her before, it's just that I can't remember." Mikan kept walking and walking, lost in her thoughts that she already passed her car and bumped into someone, "Ouch!"

Mikan noticed that she was being held and her face was buried to someone's chest, "But who?" Mikan thought. "I'm too shy to look".

Then Mikan heard another voice, "That's enough Natsume, let her go." With that, Mikan looks up and is now face-to-face with Natsume.

"Please watch where you're going. Your car is parked over there." Natsume pointed to her car with a boring face.

"I—I'm sorry." Mikan blurted and turned away and was now, to her shock, facing Hotaru.

"It's not safe for you to go alone wandering the parking lot by yourself. Please take care." Hotaru said coolly and walked away.

Mikan watched the two walk together toward their car. "Are they together?" Mikan thought. "Oh well, I guess they do match together. Both acting so cool that I hate it. "

Then, still staring at those two, Mikan saw Natsume smirked. "Wha? What does that smirk mean?" She turned away and started walking back to her car blushing for the fact that Natsume still saw her staring.

---

"What were you thinking, Natsume?" Hotaru asked.

Both went inside the car, at the back was Ruka and Mochu.

"What? I just held her so that she wouldn't fall or bump into a post or something." Natsume said.

"No, I don't think so… you deliberately stood in front of her to make her bump into you." Hotaru said snobbishly.

"Well, it was quite a funny act though," Mochu butted in, "I mean is she really the one? Another member of the circle?"

"Well, that's what my dad said. But my dad is so confusing because he also said that he could also feel the same way with Yuu, Sumiere, Luna, Koko, Nonoko and Anna, just like how he felt with you Mochu. But from the time being, my dad said to stay distant from them first until he is confirmed." Ruka said.

"Well, then that is what we are going to do, stay away from them until we get the go signal." Hotaru said. "And Natsume, stay away from Mikan, seriously."

"Wha? Where in this part of the world are you getting your ideas from Hotaru?" Natsume asked while driving.

"Mikan is different, she's a special friend of mine though I don't think that idiot remembers." Hotaru said making a sigh.

"Whoa! Is that you Hotaru?" Ruka jokes around and gets hit in the head but still laughing.

"Cut it out, and Hotaru, you know from the start I don't plan to involve myself to anyone." Natsume said. "Not just to anyone" Natsume added in his thoughts, "Until the right one comes."

"Hmm… I don't know. You don't really treat girls too well. You can't even stand to be near them. What more is you held her… held her too long... Which is so unlikely for you to do…" Hotaru said and Natsume smirked.

---

"Dad! I'm home! Where are you? I'll fix dinner right away!" Mikan said shouting while taking off her jacket and placing it at the cabinet beside their front door.

"Dad?" Mikan continued. "Is someone in the kitchen? The water is running." Mikan thought.

She went to the kitchen to see what's going on only to find out, to her surprise, "Mom?"

"Darling! You're home! Are you surprised to see me?" Yuka said smiling brightly. Yuka was fixing dinner.

Mikan too stunned to answer…

"Oh! Hi Honey! Welcome home" Shizu said kissing Mikan in the forehead then went straight to Yuka hugging her from the back.

"Ah, guys! Hello? What's going on?" Mikan said looking confused.

It was a relief for Mikan to see both of them doing well and happy but all of a sudden?

Yuka turned to face Mikan and said, "Well, I miss you… and I miss your dad and it was just a petty fight anyway. Both of us knew we can't stay away from each other. So…. Guess what Mikan? I decided to quit my job in the city and move back here with you and your father. Isn't that great?"

"Are you sure Mom? I mean you were so angry with dad for some reasons and… oh well, I'm glad that you're back with us Mom." Mikan approached her parents and hugged them both.

"Oh and Mikan, I heard your dad bought you a car, is that true?" Yuka said with one eyebrow raising.

"Ah.. well, homework… yes, I have to do my homework! Dad do the explaining!" and Mikan rushed out of the kitchen, "Call me when dinner is ready! I love you both"

Yuka looked at her husband and Shizu just hugged her and said, "Well, she is our darling! And she is almost 18 anyway. Let her be."

"I guess it's alright. I mean Gakuen Alice is a private school with rich people. I don't want her to be left out and we can probably afford it, I guess. I guess she needs it. Are we going to be okay? Is she going to be alright?" Yuka asked looking worried.

"She will be. She is our daughter after all." Shizu said determined.

---

Mikan went to her room smiling cheerfully. "I can't believe they act like kids! Getting mad, then file a divorce, then get back together! Geez, they are so complicated. But whatever! I'm happy!" Mikan thought.

She went to her bathroom, took out her house clothes, took of her dress and threw it at the damper then turned around… big mistake… a shadow… at the end of her room… quickly, Mikan got her dress again and placed it as a cover to her body. "Who's there?" Mikan asked. "Damn, I should have turned on the lights."

In an instant the shadow that she saw, within seconds reached to her and said, "Not bad! Not bad for a girl like you"

Dumbfounded, blushing, heartbeat beating so fast, she couldn't talk but was just staring face-to-face to NATUSME HYUUGA.

Mikan got to her senses, just a little, was able to say, "Wha… Wha.."

"Uh… I don't understand. Wha? Is that even a word?" Natsume said sitting in Mikan's queen size bed. "Such a big bed for a slim girl like you."

Mikan blushed again and looked down only to notice that she was not wearing anything except holding her dress that was just being covered to her body. Rapidly, she turned her back to close her bathroom door, another big mistake, which made Natsume see her back. Nothing was left to do, she slammed the door, unable to speak and really felt embarrassed. "Most embarrassing moment in my life". Mikan thought.

Mikan now dressed up, in plain shorts and shirt went out the bathroom and composed herself to ask questions.

"Hyuuga!" Mikan said crossed arms

"Hmm.." Natusme replied lying down at her bed, closed eyes.

"Hyuuga! Get up! What the hell are doing here?" Mikan asked patiently.

Natsume did as he was told, sat up, faced her. "Oh look, you're dressed up now. If you want my opinion, you looked so much better without it."

Mikan blushed a hundred folds, and shouted, "How dare you!"

Natsume quickly jumped in front of Mikan, covering her mouth. "Quiet you fool; do you want your parents to hear you?"

Mikan bit him and said, "I wouldn't have shouted if you even have 1% of being a gentleman!"

"Hmm…. Well, what if I was a gentleman, would you make me come near you… like this?" Natsume gripped on Mikan's waist, and Mikan again and again found herself embarrassed in their position.

"Let go… what do you want Hyuuga? And.. and… how did you get here? Here in my room…" Mikan asked sitting at the other side of the bed.

"Natsume is fine… Call me Natsume" Natsume said and again, relaxed by lying down on Mikan's bed.

"I said, H-YUU-GA, what do you want?" Mikan losing her patience.

Natsume not answering.

"Hyuuga!" Mikan said once more.

Still no answer…

"Fine! Na.. Hmph! Na--, Nat-sume, what do you want?" Mikan said

Natsume switched sides, faced her calmly, and smiled, "See, don't you think that's better?

"What?" Mikan asked looking stupid, "What's better?"

Natsume pulled Mikan to him which made Mikan close to him and whispered to her, "Better… It's better to call your boyfriend by his first name… MI-Kan!"

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A/N: Okay guys! Another chapter done. Please review and comment. I hope you enjoyed this one. Thanks everyone for your support with all my stories! =)