Title
:
The Matchmaker
Author
:
Mistress Symphony
Chapter
Title :
Bankrupt
Main Pairing : NatsumexMikan
Category : Romance / Humour
Rating : Rated T For Teen(s) – This fanfiction may contain language and / or scenes that are sensitive and not suitable for ages below thirteen (13).
Summary : AU. She is his official matchmaker. But when he decided to be her UNOFFICIAL matchmaker to piss her, an unspoken war boomed that whoever would find his/her match shall capture the other's heart. Reluctantly. Deniably.
Standard Disclaimer : Gakuen Alice Does Not Belong To Me.
- - -
—Hotaru—
"Waah! Hotaru!"
There goes again the idiotic start of her childish whining and bawling. It happens everyday and I'm "a tad" used to it.
I loosened a button of my blouse and fan myself with my hand. Damn, it's hot. It's just spring but it seemed that the season "forgot" that spring comes after winter and produced summer instead.
I shoot a deadly look at her, temporarily ceasing on repairing of the poor old air-conditioner. However she missed it for face is buried under her folded left arm while her right arm is banging the table.
Her un-zestful mood is way different three to four months ago.
We were fresh college graduates then. Being able to top the licensure examination for engineering graduates, I immediately and easily found a company to work on while Mikan, the bawling little dummy a while ago founded this dating agency.
The money she used to buy this un-cozy shack was from her grandfather who is now resting in peace. Really, seeing this "office" which is also her "home", I feel sorry for the grandfather of Mikan: his money has gone to waste.
Nevertheless I can't blame her. This is her dream ever since we were in high school. She has always wanted to unite people.
If my memory serves correct, I think her idiotic dream started when became she some sort of a reason why her (our) sempai Tsubasa met his wife Misaki and my toyfriend (a.k.a. boyfriend) Ruka met me. Then, as if struck by "divine intervention", she started to do people's F.L.A.M.E.S., check lovecalculator dot com, read love-scopes, study zodiac signs and other stupid matchmaking mushy stuffages.
Honestly, I don't know what made her ambition to become a matchmaker. She can do prolly lot of things than this. Although I don't tell this to her, she's talented in a lot of things. Too bad that with her loads of talents, she hasn't got her most desired talent and that is Matchmaking. She sucks. The only people whom she managed to get together are the mentioned sempais and mine.
I sighed. She really is helpless.
I turned my head slowly to her table. Atop of it are ruffled and higgledy-piggledy "arranged" stacks of papers, a wood-carved tabletop that says : President and C.E.O. Sakura Mikan, and of course the owner of the tabletop.
"Shut up, you might scare our clients." I said casually and I went back in repairing the air-conditioner while still staring at her to see her reaction.
She lifted her russet orbs to meet mine and bawled louder. I think she was trying to get my sympathy. I rolled my eyes.
Sometimes I wonder why I made friends with her.
"This is terrible Hotaru-chan! We've been here for months but still we don't have a single visitor!"
I frowned her. It's amazing she just noticed it now. I mean it's so damn obvious. "That's because this stinky business isn't catchy and across the street is our ex-classmate's dating agency : Emerald Fantasy."
"Nye... nye... Emerald Fantasy..." Mikan drawled with mockery and childishly. "What kind of name is that? It sucks." she continued like a pissed child who's consistently and the "IT" on a game.
"Matchmaker sucks more." I said matter-of-factly to point out her being hypocrite, "Seriously Mikan, have you thought hard about the business' name?"
She silenced and fiddled her fingers as if finding a way to say something she can't manage to get out, "Mou... Hotaru!"
There's the answer. She didn't.
I deadpanned her. "Shut up and for once be professional."
She puffed her cheeks at my order. I can see her trying but as usual it is swing and miss. "What should I do...?"
Quit this shit. I wanted to say but staring to those russet puppy eyes, I gave up. No matter how much I brainwash myself the fact never changes that she's still my best-friend and I don't like her seeing miserable like this.
I promptly finished mending the old machine which now looked good-as-new and sat at the seat across her desk.
"Listen well. I am not to repeat. Let me eliminate the faults: the name 'Matchmaker' lacks creativity, the sign you made from old scraps of wood doesn't stand out, the ambiance here doesn't look friendly and accommodating, we're near on another dating agency, we lack advertisements, and our so-called 'searchers' looked old enough to be sent to hell."
Someone has to give me standing ovation for saying such long group of sentence yet she just gave me this black stare. Looks like she didn't catch what I've said.
The only thing she just understood I think is that we need funds to improve her business. Or is it now my business since I'm the one who does all the work?
"...But we're out of funds..."
I almost rolled my eyes and began to reckon how many more millions are still alive in my bank account. "You're out of funds, I am not/"
Her eyes glittered for the first time that day for hearing my offer. Being the old simpleton she is she quickly jumped out of her table and hugged me.
"You're the best Hotaru!"
"The interest is 15 percent," I added, to make me in-character but then a small smile tugged in my lips that betrayed my façade. Usually I don't "show" any facial emotions but today's okay since she is still hugging me and she doesn't see it.
- - -
—Ruka—
I gulped the persistent lump on my throat as I stared at my crimson-eyed best-friend.
"This is bullshit Ruka, bullshit!"
I almost flinched at the tone of his voice. I just came inside his room and his cursing greeted me. My usually cool and in-control best-friend is now in unknown rage.
Great, now how can I tell him what Hotaru blackmailed me to tell?!
"What's up?" I managed to choke out without making my voice sound so shaky. I do not fear the dark aura emitted by him, I am at fear of what Hotaru would do to me if I failed to accomplish the mission given to me.
There isn't much light on his room but I saw him threw himself at the cushioned armchair and held his head.
Moments of silence came before he lifted his now calmed expression and stared at me.
"They'll engage me to someone I haven't met." he said in his usual cool tone.
It took me seconds before the words register to my mind. Probably because it took him long to answer my seemed-to-be-forgotten question. As it registered, my brain ordered my jaw muscles to loosen up for I felt my jaw dropped a hundred miles away. Commander Hotaru's imperialistic order temporarily slipped off my mind.
"Oh no." was my helpless reply.
"I know. So I said I couldn't for I already have a fiancée."
I read his mind. "I suppose you lied?"
He nodded.
I nodded too in comprehension, then forming pieces together I said: "I think I know now. You need someone to play a role of a fiancée?"
He nodded again.
I raised a brow and folded my arms genie-style, "I don't see why you take this so hard. Any girl would die to be your fiancée—even if it's for a show."
"That's my point Ruka. I can't just show any freak in-front of my parents."
I blinked.
My eyes then filled with joyful tears upon hearing this from him. Oh god, is this a help from you? Thank you so much! Because of this I'll be able to carry out Hotaru's absolute order!
- - -
—Mikan—
I'm so happy!
Why you ask?
Weeelll. Today is a special day! Ooohhh... after painstakingly watching the days of the calendar go by, Matchmaker will already have its first real client!
Yay!
And you know what, I'll personally (well... not that we have employees...) assist him until he finds the girl suitable for him—this will be a very good start for us!
Hooray for Matchmaker!!
Ahem. Anyways, because today is a special day, I'm clad with my most expensive attire. I bought the whole set for about 200 yen on a sale. It's an adorable carnation pink chemise with ruffles on its middle and a black pencil-cut skirt that reaches to my knees. I'm also on pink three-inch heel elegant lace-shoes. It was Hotaru's gift on my last birthday. It's cute and pink but I never wore it before for it gave me difficulty in walking when I tried it on.
However today, as what I've said a lot of times, is a special day!
"Here they are." Hotaru's cool voice ringed inside my ears and I immediately straightened up from my dreamish reverie.
The door opened and revealed someone walking towards us.
For me, he is the perfect and most ideal boyfriend of all, Nogi Ruka (Don't get me wrong, I'm very much happy for him and Hotaru-chan) and he's not alone as anticipated, beside him stood another guy with crimson eyes and raven hair.
He is Hyuuga Natsume I suppose.
I looked at him and squealed inwardly. With him, girls would be dying to date him and would make my dating agency a booming success. Uh... but wait, aren't guys under his type are very choosy?
I scrutinized him more to confirm my theory but my purpose side-tracked when I saw what he's wearing. He's clad in a forma—wait. He's in all black and rugged. From his shirt, pants, Chuck Taylors—
My eyes narrowed in confusion as it went to Ruka then Hotaru.
Am I overdressed?!
My reflection was interrupted at Ruka's voice as he introduced us to him, him to us. I waited for Hotaru to say something but she didn't so I'm the one to chirp.
"Hi! I hope to work well with—"
I cut myself off when he inched closer. As a result, I got intimidated and recoiled.
If my squinting eyes serve me right I saw his right hand being pulled out off his pocket. I thought he's gonna shake hands with me so my awkward positioning of my defending arms was transformed into an awkward handshake—trying to cover up my embarrassment.
What he did next totally whipped me out of my consciousness.
He stood there and stared at me calculatingly then abruptly grabbed me by my chemise and imperturbably and unemotionally peeked inside my—you know where!
My mind is screaming: "Pervert!" But I'm too stunned to produce any sound from my voice-box.
I think the last thing I've heard from him before I completely lost my self to oblivion was: "She'll do. She's no harm. She's flat."
- - -
Sym-chan