7. True Love, Forever.
Three years has passed, a beautiful girl, aged 13, and tied her chestnut colored hair with deep crimson ribbons into pigtails. She had her headband, neatly curled around her head. She stepped to the court, getting ready for the race. Yes, she's Mikan. Three years have passed after Natsume went for a mission, and now he's gone. No news for the Academy, nor gossips for her friends. Yes, she's heartbroken, everyone could guess.
She remembered how she cried day after night for a month long for Natsume's sudden leave; she couldn't prepare any gifts or parties for him. She's always dozing off in class, although now she could grab the 4th rank after Ruka. She's determined to make him proud, no matter where he is. But one thing for sure, her thoughts scared her.
What if he never comes back?
What if he's hurt?
WHAT IF HE HAS DIED?
She couldn't bare the thoughts, so she studied really hard, to make them disappear. Those displeasing thoughts. And now, she got everything any girl her age ever wanted, brain, beauty, and popularity. But for her, they meant nothing. She just wanted one thing, for him to come back.
"Mikan, it's nearly your turn, so prepare yourself, okay! Go for the sake of our class!" shouted Anna.
"Yeah, Mikan! We'll cheer for you!" said Nonoko.
She smiled to them, "Thank you!"
And now, she's standing behind the start line. Her heart is pounding, her breath is heavy. She's really nervous. She can't lose. She clamed herself, getting ready.
"Ready, set, go!"
She ran her fastest. Then, one by one, she passed her rivals. But she's still in the second position.
Man, she's fast! How could I get ahead of her?
"Go, Mikan!"
A voice from the finish line is heard. She looked up, and she saw…
"Natsume!" she shouted with surprise.
"See, Mikan? I fulfilled my promise! I'm back!"
My, she's dumbfounded. She couldn't believe her eyes! She got faster and faster, she really wanted to approach him. Hotaru took a picture of her running, and she looked at the result of her digital camera.
"Hmm? Tears?" She saw some sparkle behind her.
"Natsumeeeeee!" She's closer to the finish line, passed her last rival, and she broke the ribbon! She won!
But she didn't care. As she tear the ribbon apart, she kept running, and she jumped into Natsume's arm. She hugged him really tight, and whispered, "I miss you." "I miss you too, baka." Answered Natsume. But after that, she pulled his shirt and shouted, "Really? How dare you call me 'Baka'. You see, I've gotten strong enough to punch you 'till you faint, you now. With just one whip. Now who's the baka here? You disappeared for three years, without anyone knowing where you were! I thought you've died, you know? I'm so scared, I couldn't sleep all night! And no, you popped out of nowhere! Did you even think abut my feelings? I… I…!"
Mikan couldn't continue, she started to sob softly. Natsume patted her head, "Now, now… I'm sorry I didn't think of your feelings before. It's just that it's really hard to contact you when I'm always in battles. And there's no telephone or even any signals there." Mikan stopped crying, and looked up to Natsume, who's now taller than her. "Really? There isn't?" "Mikan, I would never lie to you." She hugged him very tight, and he hugged her, too."
"Okay… So, this year's winner is Mikan! So Mikan, could you please stand on the podium, to get your medal and trophy?"
"Sorry, but will you give it later? I've got some business here to do." Mikan winked to the MC. She grabbed Natsume's hand and said, "Let's go, Natsume!" Natsume's amused, and he started running with Mikan.
"Hey, Mikan, wait! Don't run!"
"Sorry, give it later, okay?" They said as they turned back and laughed together.
~• ~ • ~ • ~ • ~
They went to the Sakura Tree, where they confessed their feelings for the first time, said farewell words, where Natsume walked into the darkness, and disappears from her sight.
"So, we're here!"
"Yeah."
"Aww, don't just say 'Yeah'. Don't you have anything else to say to me?"
Natsume stared at her, and 3 minutes later, he kneeled in front of her.
"W-wait, Natsume! What are you doing? I'm just kidding!"
"No, I'm serious. I've always wanted to say these words, and I have the chance now. Mikan, I love you, I really do. So, will you be my girlfriend?" Natsume pulled out a box, where Mikan found a beautiful necklace inside, with a pendant shaped like a heart.
"So, what do you say about it?"
Mikan is lost her words. She's really happy, and her tears started falling down.
"I-it's really lovely Ntasume." She stared at the necklace. "Can I wear it?"
"Of course, it's yours now. So, what's your answer?"
"Silly, you should've guessed you know. Of course it's a…. Yes!"
She jumped to him and kissed him on the lips. Natsume's surprised at first, but then he kissed her back.
"So, how about we get your prize now, my girlfriend?"
"Don't say that! It's embarrassing! But… yes."
"All right. Lets race to the podium." And Natsume ran ahead of her.
"Hey, no fair! You ran first!" And she tried to catch up with him.
"Hey, you guys! Finished your business yet?" Ruka shouted from afar.
"Yes!" Mikan and Natsume replied together, and laughed together.
Love is a string, that's fragile,
And it's easily broken.
But when you keep it from tearing,
It will last forever.
The End.
At last! The story is completed. Thank you for all the people out there who spent their time reading my first story. A weird ending, isn't it? Well, I hope you guys who read my story enjoyed this last chapter!
Lots of thanks,
~MangaWizardChan