Ackk...! I'm way too late! I hope I made it up to you guys with this. Please forgive me! It really is short though...

Hnn... I'm skipping scenarios 'cause Natsume and Ruka already know Mikan, buuut there will be some details from those times. Thank you, reviewers, for reviewing my story! It means a lot to me!

-Hikari-chama

POV: Mikan

To the permed, catty Shouda Sumire to the mindreading Kokoro Yome, all means trouble in this school. First of all... it's now Jinno-sensei's lesson. Second of all, it's so uncomfortably silent, the intimidating teacher's also stiff. The only sounds are coming from the chalk scratching on the board, ...and the frog on JinJin's shoulder.

Scratch, scratch...

Croak...

Scratch, scratch...

Croak...

Jeez... Maybe I should do something. But what...?

"New girl, come up and answer this question," JinJin suddenly requests. Well, that was quick. Fate has answered my question.

"Ah, okay," I nervously get out of my seat and awkwardly walk up to the blackboard. Chalk in hand, I peer up at the math problem and slump. Math is seriously not my strength. Even though I'm an average-grade student, I somehow end up almost failing this subject... I squeeze my eyes shut so I don't see what random answer I write on the board. I cringe at the scratchy sound the chalk makes and put it down.

"Correct," JinJin says. I nod in thanks. The atmosphere hasn't changed one bit... But...

..

..

Wait. I got it right?

..

..

"...," my eyes are slightly wider than usual as I approach my seat next to Natsume. Jinno-sensei resumes his lessons about this and that, knowing nothing of me. I stare into space while slightly narrowing my eyes when I feel a tap on my forehead. Low and behold, there was Natsume looking at me with a folded note in my area of the desk. I take the paper to read:

"You're definitely not good at math, from what I remember... The problem on the board wasn't exactly an easy one either. It's making me suspicious, Polkadots."

I glare at him, and start scribbling on a piece of notebook paper. I write down:

"Well, excuse me for being a little bit lucky. I'm suspicious about this too, I'm usually unlucky. No more notes."

I toss the paper to him while looking forward. I hear the paper crinkling as it's being opened. I glance at hi, raising a brow at a crumpled wad of my note. Natsume's eyebrows are furrowed, and he seems to be in deep thought. JinJin has been staring in space for quite a while too...

"New girl, your star ranking hasn't been determined, am I correct?" JinJin suddenly asks.

"Ah... That's true...," I flinch a bit at his strict-looking face. He rubs his chin thoughtfully.

"Well, you've proven that you can answer such a math problem... Imai-san, what do you think? Narumi-sensei says that you are an aquaintance of the new girl."

"...Mikan has been an idiot at some times. She's been a bit of a nuisance, too..," she criticises, making everyone sweat-drop,"But she can get a large riot to calm down, she's a good athlete, singer, and negotiator... She at least deserves one star or two stars."

" I see... I'll give her one star for now... She'll have to prove that she deserves another star..."

Wait..., Hotaru... is promoting me? This may be a bit more concerning than I thought...

...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...o...

At the dorms... well, I am being introduced to Auntie Takahashi... Who is a... robot. Yes, I said that correctly. Shouldn't the school have a human to run the dorms? Not a large engine with wires and metal covering that needs to be charged every seventy-two hours.

"...," shivers run up my spine. I don't think a person from the school should have this job... Definitely not at this school, I prefer the robot. Auntie Takahashi leads me to my room so I can find my way. I put my things down and flop onto the bed. Rolling over, I think of the note I left for Jii-chan... I hope he isn't too mad. All of my failures in math had made me more concious of Jii-chan's wrath. My stomach rumbles as loud as waves crashing into the beaches of Okinawa. As if I am the cue, a mechanical bird announces that it's dinnertime. I walk out and follow the crowd. As soon as I see Hotaru, I dash over to the empty seat next to her and Iinchou.

My dinner consists of an average portion of veggies, a plate of spaghetti, a dinner roll, and a glass of water. Pretty normal, I guess. Finishing the food quickly, I trot back to my room so I can get ready for bed. Even though it's only six P.M., I want to get ready to sleep over at Hotaru's cabin. While I'm walking out, I hear children crying.

"There, there. Don't cry... You're afraid of the dark, right? It's alright, I'll stay with you until you fall asleep," says an all too familiar robotic voice. Two young children sob quietly, holding their precious belongings. Auntie Takahashi leads the children to their cabin and leaves the hallway.

"...," I intently think to myself. Will I be able to live through such a lonesome life?