New style, new story, new beginning!

Greetings to you, dear reader. Thank you for clicking on my story after reading an otherwise vague summary/description.

I have to admit, this is not my first attempt at making a Gakuen Alice fanfic.

I've only done one other one before and I must say, looking back at it now, it doesn't only seem like it, but it really is, very mediocre and crappy. And I must delete it. I feel like it's a terrible past that will keep haunting me unless I get rid of it.

Sorry for those who came to like it, but I'm not sure why you would. It completely lacked plot and purpose and I feel ashamed to let it keep existing. So, as a peace offering, I offer this new story using a writing style that I have honed in the last six years. I really do hope you accept it.

And for those who don't know nor care about what I'm talking about above, you can skip the entire thing and continue from here.

Disclaimer:

The idea of a reality variety show called We Got Married is not mine. In fact, it actually exists and is a very popular show in South Korea. You can find more information about it yourself via Google. I just thought it would be interesting if the characters in Gakuen Alice were put in a similar situation. Of course, the events that take place as described in this story are all made up by me.

Also, I only own Gakuen Alice in my dreams.

Well then, please go ahead and take your time to enjoy this story!

Sincerely, dazzlingxdangerous

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ONE

Ball and Chain

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"You got married!"

I was welcomed with this 'greeting' as soon as I set foot into my manager's office.

I was expecting the usual, "Ah, there's Jpop's beloved superstar!" but something else ought to happen sooner or later.

I guess it had to be sooner.

To be honest, I was quite dumbfounded with my sudden change of relationship status firstly because I had no idea when or how it happened, or whether I was conscious or in my right mind during the wedding; secondly, I haven't even dated yet; and thirdly, I do not possess the slightest bit of interest in marriage at the age of nineteen.

But the surprise and disgust failed to reflect on my face.

Instead, I merely stared in disbelief at my happy-go-lucky, charisma-filled freak of a manager, waiting for an explanation.

Or rather, a "Just kidding!" would most certainly be preferred.

But unfortunately, he was serious.

And the worst part is: he was serious while putting on a smiling face.

Does he like to see me suffer?

"I entered you on that popular reality variety show called We Got Married and you got picked as one of the six participants on their next season," he explained, rather enthusiastically, as if he did a job well done.

But the only thing he 'did well' on was giving me another miserable headache. This guy is driving me crazy and he's enjoying every moment of it.

To be brief, this reality variety We Got Married show takes six celebrity participants and pairs them up to form three couples. Each couple has to then 'journey into the path of adulthood', experiencing everything from engagement to house hunting to wedding photos and honeymoons; all the necessary steps to achieving a successful married life.

Of course, the couples have to pretend they are married to their respective spouses and love them as much as one could love another in a pretend-reality show (which means no sex nor any child-bearing for all you perverts thinking about it).

And that is basically why I hate this show, and he knows this very well.

"I don't remember giving you permission to involve me in stupid variety shows that require me to waste time with idiotic girls, Narumi," I glared at him.

Although he's my manager, he certainly does not hold my best interests at heart.

Moreover, he completely ignores the fact that I treat those trivial shows as troublesome and signs me up anyway.

Last week, he made me participate in this other variety show where I had to complete a series of obstacles and challenges only to win nothing in the end.

It wasn't like I lost. Rather, the whole point of him getting me on the show was so that I could show off my athleticism and my 'game face' to gain more popularity.

That sadistic dimwit. I could fire him…

"Aww, but it'll be a shame if you reject it, Natsume-kun, considering the profits and the popularity boost that you'll be gaining, which results in more profits for both you and the record label," he points out. "Don't you need the money for Aoi-chan's medical bills?"

He had to bring that up.

I don't need to be constantly reminded about the state of my sister, but I can't deny the fact that I do need to earn money to keep her alive.

Aoi is currently in a comatose state due to a car accident a year ago that costed our parents' lives. Only I came out with a sprained arm and ankle, so while she is in the hospital, I have to work hard and make sure that the doctors will not give up on her and keep treating her until she wakes up.

She is the only family I have left. Only Narumi knows this situation of ours.

That's why I can't fire him.

Or at least, not yet.

"…What do I have to do?" I finally spat out, feeling like I lost. I hate losing, especially against him.

"That's the spirit!" he bellowed, dropping his hand on my shoulder. "Just act like you always do in public: nice, sincere, considerate, patient, gentlemanly; the total opposite of your true personality! You should know how to do that by now. You've had plenty of practice."

That's another reason why I can't fire him. A year ago, before I got into the music industry and after I found out that Aoi might be abandoned because the money we received from our late parents' life insurance can't cover for her medical bills after the next 3 months, I became desperate to get a job and earn money.

That's when Narumi found me and told me I looked like a great candidate who can make it big in the music business. It had never occurred to me that I would ever end up to be who I am right now, but I couldn't reject him when he offered to give me my very own place to stay, free singing and dance lessons, even promised to make sure Aoi will be taken care of in the hospital until she wakes up.

All he needed from me was to act accordingly and appropriately in public, and give my best effort in my performances.

So basically, who I appear to be in public is not who I really am on the inside. Only Narumi knows this side of me, so I can't get rid of him.

I don't want to have to explain my situation or my real character to some new manager if ever I decide to fire Narumi, so I'm basically being driven to a corner here.

"Okay then, this has been a lovely talk. A lovely talk indeed! Glad we have come to an agreement, Natsume-kun. I will strive to keep you on top!" he went on, turning me around and pushing me out the door. "And make sure to take care of that girl and your reputation," he reminded before he finally closed the door behind me and bid me, "Adieu~"

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~o0o~

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Eleven days passed before I received a letter from the We Got Married producers about where I'm supposed to meet my 'wife' and find out who she is. From that moment on, I was followed by cameras everywhere.

Well, not exactly everywhere.

"I have to go to the washroom real quick," I fussed, "I'm feeling kind of nervous and I want to check myself one more time. Gotta look my best to meet my wife, you know!"

And naturally, they let me be. Why would they follow a man inside just to see him pee his nerves away?

They waited outside as I hurriedly went into the washroom , but I wasn't going to check on how I look or do any business like I said I would.

To be honest, ever since Aoi was in a coma and before I got into this mess of a show, I always find time to visit her at the hospital twice a week. I don't go on specific days or on particular times, and I always wear different disguises because people might suspect and notice.

Or even worse: reporters and paparazzi might suspect and notice.

So since I can't visit her as often anymore because I became even busier, today, I'll call to check up on her instead. That's why I used the excuse to go into the washroom, where I won't be followed by cameras.

And I forgot to mention, Narumi isn't the only one who knows about Aoi and how she's related to me.

There's this nurse named Misaki-san in the Critical Care Unit of the hospital that was hired by Narumi to personally take care of Aoi for as long as she is in the hospital. And she is who I needed to contact, and I had to do it fast.

The cameramen are still waiting for me outside, and it'll look suspicious if I take too long to 'freshen up'.

I checked if anyone else was in the washroom other than myself. When I made sure the coast was clear, I took out my phone and dialed her number. She's number two on my speed dial.

After what seemed like minutes of constant ringing, she finally answered in a huffed whisper.

"What took you so long to pick up?" I demanded.

"I had to run to a place far away from the critical care area!" she answered in a quiet tone, still trying to catch her breath. "The satellite waves from cellphone calls could mess with the life support machines! I don't think this is a good idea."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures," I assured. "Besides, you could probably use the exercise."

"Why you little-"

"How's Aoi?" I interrupted, realizing I shouldn't be wasting any more time than I already have.

She let my last comment go, since I shifted in tone and became more serious.

"She's fine. Still in a coma, but fine. She has stopped profusely sweating for no reason since your last actual visit, so that's a good sign. She looks healthy, and her face is calm, as if she's having a peaceful dream."

"And how's the research going?"

"It's still going. No finds yet, or at least none concrete enough to justify performing a test-treatment," she reported regretfully.

"...I see," was my blank reply. It wasn't like I was expecting a working treatment to be found yet, but it would've been great if it happened.

"Don't worry!" she soothed almost frantically. "I'm sure it will be found soon! Then your sister will wake up and you can finally talk to her."

I know it seems like there's a slim chance that that's ever going to happen any time soon, but there is still that small glimmer of hope. And like hell I'm going to give up on Aoi.

As long as I keep earning money, the doctors keep trying to find a way to relieve patients in comas, and Misaki-san keeps doing her job, I'm sure a miracle is bound to happen.

Meanwhile, during this moment thinking of the need for a miracle, I totally forgot I was still on the line with Misaki-san on the other end. I didn't realize this until she spoke again.

"…So I hear you got married," she started, trying to change the subject,

but I hung up on her as soon as she did.

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~o0o~

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"Fashionably late", my foot!

Late is late, whatever the reason! Where is this "wife" of mine? And why did I "marry" such an idiot?

I have been waiting for over an hour now and it seems like the cameras all around me are boring holes through my head!

What's more, I'm starving but I can't order food because it's bad manners for a married couple to not eat together!

Forget this! I'm going to break the big glass windows of this café with this hard-as-a-rock complementary breadstick, crush all the films, file a divorce, and kill that bastard, Narumi!

I stood up suddenly, determined with this resolve, only to snap right back to my senses the moment I remembered camera lenses were focused on me, filming my every move, especially the consequential ones.

And I wasn't about to give them any.

Not ever.

Only the cameramen were startled by my sudden action, since we were the only ones present in the café other than the employees.

To mask my frustration, I regained my composure and headed for the door.

"I think I'll go stretch outside and get some fresh air," I say with a hint of exhaustion, which may seem strange since all I did was sit down, my hand already on the door handle.

As soon as I opened the door, warm air rushed in- like, really rushed in. It felt like something slammed into me at 6 kilometers per hour. It was something soft, though.

Or someone.

It wasn't warm air that collided with me, it was a warm body.

And it wasn't a soft thing that I felt, it was the soft skin of a girl.

And there she was, on the ground, holding her forehead and uttering painful remarks.

As I hurriedly knelt down in front of her to apologize and see if she's alright, there, away from the view of the video cameras and the men operating them,

I saw it.

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Please submit a review if you have the time, and it will definitely give me the time of day :)

Thanks for giving this story a chance! I know it's far away from the original plot of the anime and manga.

Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.