Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice or any songs in this fanfiction.
Previous Chapter:
"Passengers of the Bullet Train heading to Kyoto, the train will arrive in a few moments." the P.A. system announced.
"Finally." she sighed in relief when she saw the train came to a full stop.
Two familiar figures came to her line of sight, as she boarded the train.
"No way! It's Ruka-chi and Hotaru-chan! What are they doing here?" she thought, crouching down to hide herself from their view.
1
"Are these the designs for the maid cafe, for our class?" Hiro asked looking at the sketchbook.
"Yep. I couldn't help with the preparations myself because we're busy with the club," Mikan said pouring everyone a cup of lemon tea.
"These designs are perfect!" Tsuki commented.
"You're really good at designing!" April said.
"Thank you," Mikan said.
It was time for the School Festival and the club decided to have concert for the whole school.
"Minna-san, we haven't decided who are going to perform yet," Sapphire said, tapping her clipboard.
"Hmm, Daiichi-san if it's no trouble, could you perform a flute solo?" April asked.
"Ah...Um, alright, I'll do my best," he said.
"That's great!" Tsuki exclaimed.
"No, Daiichi-san can't perform," Mikan said looking at the finance report for the club's budget.
"Daiichi-san?" April thought.
"Eh, why not?" Tsuki asked.
Mikan looked up from the clipboard and smiled, "He's too busy with his wedding arrangements. Right?"
"Ah, yes, Suminasen." Daiichi replied.
"That's too bad..." Tsuki said.
"I know! How about Sa-chan sing a solo?" Tsuki suggested.
Sapphire dropped her clipboard shaking, "I can't do that!"
"Why not? You have done it in the party, haven't you?" April said.
"Your voice is fantastic. Right, Ruka-kun, Hiro-kun, Daiichi-kun?" Tsuki said.
The three nodded in approval.
"But... I can't possibly..."
Hotaru picked up the clipboard and gave it to Sapphire.
"You should do it. I hate wasting talent," Hotaru said smiled.
"Hotaru-chan," Sapphire said, looking at her with appreciation.
CLICK.
"It would earn me a lot of money." Hotaru smirked taking pictures of Sapphire.
"I knew it," Everyone's minds echoed.
Sapphire sighed, "Fine..."
"Hurray!" Tsuki exclaimed.
"Ah where are you going Mikan?" April asked noticing her.
"I'm going to look for Natsume." she said closing the door behind her.
"Ah Mikan wait!" April said.
"Mikan..." she thought.
2
"Gomenasai but... I can't... possibly face you guys right now... Not when I'm like this..." Mikan covered her face with her hands to cry.
"Oi."
"Eh?" she looked up to see Natsume standing in front of her.
"You found me." she smiled in embarassment.
She didn't want to be found, not when she's crying. She remembered what her mother always said, to not cry in front of anyone. It's weakness. An heiress, most especially to her family's business, cannot show weakness. Nobody will respect her. But, then again, she broke the rules twice already, in front of Natsume and in front of Hotaru.
Does the third time make any difference at all?
"And, why are you crying in the rooftop this time?" He said as he sat down beside her.
She wiped her tears and looked at the view below.
"Have you ever fallen in love before Natsume?" Mikan asked grasping the wire fence.
"Hahaha, sorry about that! I shouldn't have-" she said, laughing awkwardly.
"I have." he answered cutting her off.
Their eyes met, honey brown to bloody crimson eyes.
Thump
Thump
Thump
He looked at her intently. Her brown hair flying with the breeze, her clothes were a bit, skirt and blazer fluttering slightly. Her eyes were red from crying but she looked beautiful nothing less.
Mikan's P.O.V.
"I didn't know Natsume's eyes are that red... It's like he can see my soul." I could feel the heat rising up to my cheeks. I turned my back on him.
"Why is my heart beating this fast?" I placed my hand near my heart.
Kriiiiiinnnnnnggggggg
"Eep!" I jumped at the sound of the bell.
"Eh? Why am I thanking Kami-sama?" I sighed in relief, taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down.
"Natsume, lunch time is over. Let's go back to the room." I said, facing him.
He was just sitting there, unmoving. His crimson eyes that once looked at me intently, was closed. I could see his chest slowly rising up and down. He looked so... peaceful...
"Are you falling in love with me now, Polka? Or should I say Ichigo?" he said with one eye open.
I blushed, "How dare he! He looked at my underwear again!" I thought angrily.
"Pervert!" I hit him furiously.
"No need to beat me, Ichigo." he said standing up.
"You hentai." I mumbled angrily.
"I have no interest in girls who wear childish prints. Ichigo." he smirked, walking away.
"Matte! You perverted idiot!" I shouted, running towards him.
"Grrr, he makes me so mad!" I thought before catching up to him.
End of P.O.V.
"Hmmm, it's getting more and more interesting indeed." she said as she gazed through her binoculars.
"What are your plans from now on?" Dart asked leaning in the tree.
"Just watch and see, Dart-kun." she smiled.
He sighed, "You and Tsuki really need to mind your own business."
"It won't be as much fun is it?" She laughed melodically.
3
"Mikan..." April murmured, placing the teacups in the cupboard.
"Skipping classes?" Hiro asked.
"Same to you." April said continuing her work.
"Well, I just lost Ru-chan. We were skipping Narumi-sensei's class." Hiro said.
"I see." she answered, unmoving.
"Don't worry about Mi-chan." he said. "She'll be just fine."
She face him, her eyes glowing with anger, "What do you mean she'll be just fine! She's hurting Hiro!" she shouted, her whole body shaking with anger.
"I... To think... I helped in causing her this pain...If... Only I knew..." April cried.
"We can't help it. We didn't understand... We didn't know that she was in-love with Daiichi." Hiro said patting her head.
They heard a gasp; their eyes widen when they saw Saga standing in the door, looking as shocked as them.
"Saga-chan did you hear?" April asked unaware of what to do.
"No way. Mikan-chan... Is in love with Daiichi-kun?" She asked walking closer.
She grabbed April's shoulder and shook her uncontrollobly. "It isn't true right?"
The two remained silent, refusing to look Saga's eyes.
"April-chan! Hiro-kun answer me! Tell me it's a lie! It's a joke ne? Answer me!" Saga cried.
"If you won't answer me, I'll find Mikan-chan!" she said running away.
"It can't be true right?" she said to herself as tears blurred her vision causing her to bump into Hotaru but continued to ran.
"What happened?" Hotaru asked as she entered the clubroom.
"Hotaru..." April murmured.
4
"Please translate page 58 to English. Saito-san." Narumi asked twirling.
"Hai, I dream of her, more often than not. She haunts my thoughts and pains me deeply, for I am her humble servant. I cannot love her. Perhaps in another life time, I will have her." he said.
"Very good Saito-san." Narumi clasped his hands in glee.
Ruka sweat dropped at his reactions, "Can't he control his actions?"
He turned his focus on the window, it was best if he concentrate on other things. He can't focus with Narumi-sensei's actions.
"I wonder if the club had some kind of arrangement." he thought looking at the empty seats in the back.
"Even Hotaru's gone." he supported his head with a hand on the table and looked at the view, "Can't believe they skipped class."
He sighed, he proceeded to get his notebook from the small space underneath his table.
"Eh? My phone's vibrating." he thought, placing a notebook for cover; he checked his emails.
From: Imai Hotaru
To: Nogi Ruka
Subject: Order
Come here right now.
"I can't possibly do that!" he thought looking at Narumi before texting back.
From: Imai Hotaru
To: Nogi Ruka
Subject: Blackmail
I'll spread those pictures if you don't come right now.
"Damn, she can't possibly mean, those pictures." he grimaced.
From: Imai Hotaru
To: Nogi Ruka
Subject: Time limit
5
"What the hell?"
From: Imai Hotaru
To: Nogi Ruka
Subject: Your time is running.
4
"Damn."
From: Imai Hotaru
To: Nogi Ruka
Subject: Logging in the internet.
3
"She won't do it, will she?" he thought.
From: Imai Hotaru
To: Nogi Ruka
Subject: Uploading pictures.
2
"I have no choice." he mentally cursed before raising his hand.
"Yes, Ruka-kun?" Narumi asked.
"Sensei, I'm not feeling well. I'm going to the infirmary." he said walking towards the door.
"My my, the flu must be wide-spread in the confession research club." Narumi sighed.
"Idiot, they just don't want to attend your class." the class thought scanning his white long polo shirt, and studded purple pants with matching black platform boots.
"Scary." the class cringed.
5
"I'm so hungry!" she exclaimed.
"Idiot. If you're hungry, you shouldn't have cried in the rooftop." He said these with sacrasm.
They were heading towards the canteen for a late lunch. Skipping Narumi's class as usual.
"Let's just forget about that!"
She ate shrimp and avocado sandwich with baked potato on the side.
"Aren't you going to eat Natsume?" she asked in between meals.
"I'm not gluttonous like you," he teased, drinking his coke.
"Hey! I'm not gluttonous! Just hungry!"
"Hn."
She pouted, annoyed with his reply. She put down her half-eaten sandwich before taking her drink.
"I'm thinking of leaving the club for a while," she said, head down.
"I can't continue on like this. Sooner or later, they'll notice. I'm not strong enough to risk my friendship with them." She played with her drink, stirring the ice slowly.
"Are you happy?" He asked.
"Eh?" She looked up and saw his serious expression. His voice businesslike and aloof.
"I... I'm not sure... But I need to do something..." She turned her gaze from him and closed her honey brown eyes.
"Be selfish."
Surprise, she stared at his crimson eyes questioningly.
"Think about your happiness. Never mind others," he continued.
"But, they're my friends! I can't possibly hurt them!" She slammed her hands on the table, shaking the utensils.
He stared at her, unaffected by her outburst.
"If they're your friends, it doesn't matter. They'll understand." He shoved his hands in his pockets and turn away from her, leaving.
Her hands clenched, shaking. Letting her tears escape from her eyes, her knees gave in and she fell into the chair.
Koi ka na? Pin to kitara SAY [ Koi kanae!]tte
Chokusentekina ittari kitari datte tomaranai de
Itsuka hoshi wo egaite kimi he todoketai
Isshoni ireru dokoro ka yumeochi no sanrenpa
Todokisou ni miseru no ga imadoki no unmei?
Amai mono hodo somiru mune no sukima ni kimi no kureta egao
Mada tochuu dakedo arigatou
She wiped her tears away before checking her phone.
From: Hotaru Imai
To: Mikan Sakura
Subject: Idiot
She knows.
"No way." She stood up and run towards Natsume's direction.
"It's not yet time for you to know," she thought.
6
Saga continued walking down the halls without any real plan on where to go. She blinked through her teary eyes, as she looked for answers in her mind.
"You wouldn't do anything like this, right Mikan?" She murmured.
She closed her eyes in despair, and opened them to see Mikan talking to Natsume.
"I love you." She heard Mikan say, a blush forming in her cheeks. She saw Natsume placed his hand on Mikan's waist and the other tilting her face. He bends down and kissed her.
Saga clamped her mouth with her hand to avoid her gasp from being heard.
They were wrong! Mikan loves Natsume not Daiichi. She felt that a heavy weight has been lifted. Relief washed over her. She was a fool not to consult Mikan first. Perhaps Mikan did love Daiichi but not as lover, maybe as brother or close friend. She smiled to herself and wiped her eyes. She left the lovers to have their moment.
"She's gone." Natsume said, staring into Mikan's chocolate-brown eyes.
"Thank you, Natsume. Thank you," she hugged him tightly.
"You're welcome," he whispered comfortingly as he felt his jacket getting wet.
"Thank you so much..." she sobbed.
He just held her there in the empty corridor, whispering nothingness to her like her lover would do.
End of Chapter.
Title: Lover
Happy New Year. Review please?