"Life wasn't what you can call easy but the challenges in it were the reason as to why I learned to become strong."

Mikan looked out the window. She took a deep breath and exhaled. She closed her journal before standing up. She went to bed, relishing her last night on it, the bed that comforted her for the last five years of her life here in Paris. Studying abroad wasn't easy but when an opportunity comes, it's best to take it before it slips away. Tomorrow would be the day, the day of her return to her motherland. The day she would be returning back to Japan and back to her family and friends.

It takes a minimum of twelve hours of air travel to arrive from Paris to Tokyo that is if no delayed flights occur and thankfully Mikan's flight did not get delayed.

"I'm glad to be back home." Mikan whispered to herself as she took her first step out of the airport. She walked to the waiting area, where she got a glimpse of a woman with short jet black hair with her back to her. She couldn't contain her excitement. She ran to the woman and hugged her from behind, screaming, "Hotaru!"

"I missed you." Mikan said, letting go of the woman. Someone tapped her from behind. She turned around to see a female with violet eyes and an eyebrow raised. Hotaru.

"Idiot." Hotaru muttered, shaking her head in disappointment.

Mikan immediately bowed her head to the woman with the same short jet black hair as her bestfriend, whose back was still facing her. "Gomenasai!"

The woman turned towards her, revealing a pretty face with a long, upturned nose and slim lips. But her eyes were what caught Mikan off guard. Her eyes were the color of blood, a mesmerizing color of crimson-red.

The woman smiled and laughed in such a feminine way that made Mikan suddenly conscious. "It's fine. I consider it as a complement, seeing that the person who you mistook me for is such a beautiful maiden." The woman said before excusing herself saying that she has to look for her brother.

Mikan turned to Hotaru and bowed her head, asking for forgiveness. Hotaru shook her head and walked away, pulling Mikan's suitcase with her.

"Gomen, Hotaru. I really thought that was you. I'm really sorry. It won't happen again. I promise." Mikan followed Hotaru towards her car. Hotaru opened the trunk of her car and deposited Mikan's suitcase inside. She walked to the driver's seat without a word, with Mikan behind her heels.

"Hotaru talk to me. I said I'm sorry." Mikan moaned, grabbing her friend's arm in desperation.

Hotaru did not turn around but she muttered, "Five years of being away and the moment she comes back, she can't even give her bestfriend a hug." Mikan stopped on her tracks upon hearing this. She laughed and hugged her bestfriend. "I really missed you."

"I missed you too." Hotaru replied and opened the door.

Mikan let go of Hotaru and whined, "Mou Hotaru, aren't you gonna hug me?"

"No," Hotaru replied. "And stop whining, you're not a little girl." She got into the car, leaving Mikan outside pouting. She rolled her eyes and looked at the pouting girl. "If you're not getting on the car, I'm leaving you behind." Mikan's eyes enlarged and she ran to the other side of the car, in fear of being left behind.

Hotaru shook her head and closed the door. With a small smile, she muttered, "She didn't even change."

Aoi Hyuuga smiled as she waited for her brother's arrival. That woman was so cute, although it's inappropriate for her to say such things, she can't help it. She thought it was her brother that hugged her from behind but before she even realized that the arms of the hugger were slim, the hugger screamed in a high pitched voice. That definitely isn't her brother's voice.

Aio must have been lost in her thought when suddenly a deep voice pulled her back to reality saying, "Earth to Aio." She looked up to see her brother's nonchalant face.

"What are you daydreaming about? You have such an idiotic expression on your face." Her brother muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Aio raised an eyebrow and said, "Really, Natsume? Your sister picks you up from the airport and the very first thing you can say to her is an insult. Wow, you really do amaze me. It's a good thing I didn't get the same personality as you have." She shook her head and walked away.

Natsume smiled and ran, catching up to his sister. He chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I was just messing up with you, Aio." He hugged her and whispered, "But you really did have an idiotic expression. You kept on smiling while staring at the ground. What was that about?"

Aio gave her brother a playful punch and replied, "Is it wrong to be happy knowing that you're coming back today?"

Natsume had a thoughtful expression before saying, "Actually yes, for the past years, you never had that expression while picking me up. You mostly have an irritated expression since mom always forced you to pick me up."

Aio shrugged and laughed, "Well, I guess you're right. It is kind of a bummer picking you up alone."

"So, are you gonna tell me what this significant thing that you kept smiling about?" Natsume asked as try walked to their car. Aio told him what happened.

Natsume raised an eyebrow and opened car door. He got in and muttered, "What an idiotic person. Both of you match, you know. Maybe that's why she hugged you." Natsume joked. He chuckled at this, earning a punch from his sister.

"That's not nice, you know." Aio muttered before Natsume pulled out of the parking space.