Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.

Uncanny As Always

Story 1: A Happy Feel

When should one person be happy—truly happy?

Can one person be happy if he lets the person he loves be happy? Or does it just stab them, right on the back?

No one really understood.

And as he watched from high up on the tree, his hands clutching on the rough surface of the thick bark, he thought what it was like to be really, really happy.

And he also thought life was being unfair. Not only to him, but to several other people.

The person he had planted his eyes on, he has to work, with sweat and blood, almost everyday. He would see him leaping from one branch to another, a black mask covering his face, controlling him. And for everyone's sake, he doesn't want to be happy. And because of his selfish want to be unhappy, another person is unhappy, and because of that, another, too, is unhappy.

Even if they weren't really close, he, too, was dissatisfied. Unhappy, behind his goofy smile he wears in broad daylight. Because he was human, because he knew how to love and how to hurt and keep it secret.

The moon shone, bathing the lad with raven hair in silver lights, the forest cladding him in mist, as he strolled, hoping that no one would see what he was doing, that he was unhappy.

But he knew, he could read him, like an open book. He could hear what he really wants to say, and perhaps, perceive how he felt, maybe not more than what she could feel, but he was capable, too. He was miserable… and tired.

And he couldn't take that because she was unhappy.

So he climbed back down, looked him in the eye—those fierce, red eyes that seemed to penetrate anything it came up against, burning it into cinders, sent him shivers down his spine.

"Natsume," he began, stopping momentarily to see if he would take acknowledgement. "What are you doing here?" Natsume seemed utterly pissed—he shouldn't be here. That was the purpose of his unhappiness, wasn't it?

They shouldn't be involved, they shouldn't be unhappy; since he was there… to be unhappy for them.

"You should go and see her first," he said, taking another step forth, entering into the frigid gleam of the moonlight. "She doesn't need to know," said Natsume, walking past him, sporting into that old cat mask.

"She worries about you," he said.

"I know." And Natsume fled, jumping into the shadows, a few rustles of the leaves.

--

He goes back and on his way, he sees her, clad in her pajamas, and wrapped up in a warm blanket. In her arms there was another blanket. It was probably for him, as expected—she does it ever time he leaves.

The nerve of that guy, leaving her without a goodbye.

But, he, too, was at fault. Because he didn't say anything, because he promised him he wouldn't tell. But for that, she has to suffer, everybody does.

He couldn't keep his mouth shut any longer. The selfish urges were winning against he, and he can't stop them.

He sighed in the defeat.

This time, maybe for once, he can console her, this time when Natsume can't. Because he loved her, too. But she didn't. She loved the person who always left her behind—Natsume.

Maybe, just maybe, if he says something just this once, he might ease the pain, for everyone, even for Natsume.

And he walks up to her, the same smile on his face and says, "Hey, Mikan! You're still waiting for Natsume? Don't worry, he'll be fine. You should go back to sleep now; I'll wait for him instead."

And she'd smile and hand him the blanket, warm because it was held by her, because she was warm. "Thanks, Koko. Don't stay up too long."

From a distance, he watches and he knows she's breaking inside. Because Natsume's unhappy, she's unhappy, and thus, he's unhappy.

But, at that moment, there was a happy feel when he comforted her—because he loved her.

And if she could be happy, even just for fleeting moments, he could be happy. And that was enough for him to get through the cold night.

—End

So it's weird. Koko x Mikan x Natsume-love triangle. One-sided love for Koko and mutual yet unspoken love between Natsume and Mikan. It's my first attempt for this one and I hope you like it.

By the way, I'm back! And I've erased everything! –Runs away- Review? I just got back to Gakuen Alice, mind you.