Strawberry Love

by MyResOLuTion

Mikan accepted a job offer from an exclusive swimming club. She found a lost watch, which actually belong to Natsume, a rich member of the club, and decided to give it to her boss the next day. Accused of stealing, she hold a grudge against Hyuuga.

1. The Glitch of Summer Break

Strawberry Love

By: MyResOLuTion

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"A hard beginning makes

a good ending"

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Disclaimer: Are you kidding? I'll never own Gakuen Alice. I do own this plot however.

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Chapter One: The Glitch of Summer Break.

The time was only five-thirty in the morning and a certain brunette was out in the park, waiting for the sun to rise. It being early, there weren't many people, but she was beginning to see signs of life as the country started to stir. The faint streaks of the sun could be seen through the tree branches; soon the golden rays will smite her in the face. The brunette kept still on the park bench; she blended with the stillness of the surroundings.

The brunette heaved a sigh. Strangely, her beautiful hazel orbs didn't have the touch of liveliness they usually contained. Instead, they were filled with dread and sorrow for what awaits her later in the day. She couldn't help but let her thoughts wandered back to yesterday.

Flashbacks

"What did you just say?" Mikan had said as she walked across her medium-sized bedroom and plopped on the couch. She then faced her two close friends. "A summer job?" Her eyes widened at the idea. "Do I need to?" She flailed both her arms in the air childishly. "You're kidding, right?"

Ah! It was the start of the oh-so-wanted summer break but Mikan Sakura was not happy at all, not by a long shot. This summer was turning out to be everything she hated. First off, her mother wasn't even there to celebrate it with her. Secondly, she was, since 5 minutes ago, in need of a summer job, real bad and real soon too. And that will only make it certain for all her hopes and dream of a sweet summer romance be shattered to pieces. There goes your third reason. And fourth, emphasis on the second reason.

Anna shrugged casually. "Well, I could always lend you some money." She then chuckled and continued, "But knowing that you're the goody-two-shoes type, maybe that's a bad idea." She seated herself next to the brunette, and smiled. "Just get a summer job already, Mikan."

"I don't want a summer job," she protested and scrunched up her nose. "It would ruin my perfect summer plan. Isn't summer all about fun?" The brunette reasoned out. "And a job during the school break isn't worth it. Back me up on this one, will you Nonoko?"

Their blue-haired friend rolled her eyes at the statement. "Yeah, sure. It's not worth it. Just be sure not to blame us when you're starving to death." She sprawled herself on the bed and flipped a page of her glossy teen magazine. "For crying out loud, you spent your entire allowance on Howalon. What part of entire are you not getting here?"

The brunette hung her head low. She knew Nonoko had a point there. Her mother, Yuka Azumi, was a journalist/reporter. And what's with her work and lack of staff members in her department, she was mostly overseas and rarely home as far as Mikan could remember. And expectedly this summer, her mother had no choice but to stay in America for two months. This left Mikan with the house all to herself yet again, and a large amount of cash for everyday purposes, just enough to last for the school break. But as stated earlier, as absurd as it sound, she had already spent all of her pocket money on Howalon, and by all, she meant it literally. The brunette simply couldn't resist the heavenly taste of the sweet candy. And the aftermath, you ask?

"If you're just going to rely on instant coffee for the rest of summer, then good luck."

Anna clicked her tongue. "She won this round, Mikan. What are you going to do now?" She then focused her gaze on the brunette. "Come on, do you expect us to feed you every single day?" She chuckled softly and joked, "For someone your size, you eat like a person who hadn't seen food for 300 years. Even if you sum up Nonoko and me, I'm not sure we're be able to finish even half of the food."

Mikan was the one rolling her eyes this time. "You're exaggerating. I eat in a lady-like manner, you know?" Both the young Umenomiya and Ogasawara stared at her with an incredulous look. "Kay, kay, I eat like a pig or a horse or whatever. But still, isn't there any other way?" She quickly added before anything else, "That will not wreck my summer, obviously."

"Nope. Nothing that I could think of." The pink-haired teen voiced out her thought. "What about you, Nonoko?"

The said girl was furiously scribbling something on a notepad. Every now and then, glancing at a newspaper in her other hand. Where did the colourful magazine go? "Same here. Nothing at all." She then stretched her legs and yawned. "Here you go," she said as she tossed the earlier notepad to Mikan, who caught it with much difficulty. She's a klutz, have I mention that?

Mikan scanned what was written on the front page. It was just a bunch of unfamiliar addresses, with names of certain people under different companies, clinics et cetera. What was all this? Confused, she elbowed Anna slightly as if demanding her for an answer. "Do you have any idea to this?" She then jabbed her index finger on the notepad.

Anna tapped her chin. "I think Nonoko took this from the Want ad." Her eyes suddenly held a glint of mischief. "Guess you have no choice, Mikan. Starting tomorrow, you'll have to find a summer job." Anna then took the notepad from the brunette. "These might not be so bad. Are there any other jobs in the ad, Nonoko? Let me see."

Both Anna and Nonoko busied themselves with the Want ad and both failed to notice the look of utter dismay on Mikan's face.

End of Flashbacks

Mikan glanced at her watch. The time was now 7 a.m. Still a good 2 hours left before the interview with what-she-assumed to be a bald, chubby-looking old man. Oh the joy! She stood up and started her way down to the nearest coffee shop. She needed to fill up her empty stomach first or she wouldn't survive the day. She checked her wallet, and thank goodness there's still some cash that Anna had given her. Just enough to buy some delicious croissants and one cup of mocha latte, topped with her favourite strawberry whipped cream.

As she entered the shop, the aroma of coffee instantly filled her nose. She scanned the dainty old café and nodded her approval. After ordering her breakfast, she started up one of the computers in the café. She then logged into her email account, hoping that some of her friends would be online right now. And much to her chagrin, only one was available. But soon lightened up as she read the name of the said person. She started to type down an IM and sent it. Seconds later, she got a respond.

FireCaster:Whassup? Why up so early today?

Mikan groaned and began to type a reply. PlainStrawberry:Gotta find a summer job. Currently in an awful state. What 'bout you? No disaster yet?She chuckled at the last remark. What could possibly be a disaster for him? He's rich; she knew that much about him.

FireCaster:We've known each other for what…5 whole months already. Of course, the usual happened.

Mikan smiled. How had she met him exactly?

It was in one of those boring online study forums. She only visited that site in the first place for the sake of her grades. She need to find a tutor and he knew someone who would do free tutoring. And that's how they became acquainted. Soon, they began to share their problems more often and became the listener and supporter for the other. Mikan didn't know his last name though, yet alone his first. He only asked for the brunette to tell him her age, gender and so on, but never her name. That way, it would be more comfortable for the both of them, he had said.

PlainStrawberry:The usual?As in more problem with your grandpa. What did he ask for this time? Let me take a wild guess: For you to attend a fancy business party?

She fetched her order from the café counter before reading his reply. FireCaster: No. Pretty much stuck to working this summer. What the hell is up with that?

Mikan was now grinning from ear to ear. Guess she's not the only one with a summer job this, uh summer, duh. She typed another IM.PlainStrawberry:Lucky us, huh? I have to go over, I lost count already, well…that much interviews today. Since you're rich and all, probably you don't have to do that.

FireCaster:Stop grinning like a monkey. Don't enjoy other people's misery, idiot, esp. mine "/

In shock, Mikan dropped the croissant she had been munching on. Okay, how could he possibly know that? She looked around the little shop, but there's no other customer except herself. Before she could ask him for an answer, he already sent another IM. FireCaster: Don't be surprised. You're just easy to read, that's all. Dimwit.

She sweat dropped. Am I an open book or something?

FireCaster: Good luck. I've got to jet.

FireCaster has signed off 7:42 am.

Mikan sighed and turned off the computer. She continued eating her breakfast in silence and every now and then, would glance at her pink watch. This will be a long day indeed. No problem, I can do this. A smile started to form on her pretty face. Yeah! A summer job might not be so bad after all. It can be fun as well, right? She stood up and paid for the food. Then she walked out of the shop, her eyes filled with determination. Now, I just have to get one first, she thought. That can't be hard, right?

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For the umpteenth time, Mikan entered yet another building. This time, it had a billboard sign that said, Hitomi Newspaper Morning Delivery. Not a very creative name, but who was she to judge. In any case, maybe she should just quit this thing already. She had gone over twenty interviews by now and all ended up in failure.

I'm not good in academic,, I'm allergic to this and that. The brunette scowled at the thought. "What kind of reason was that?" She stopped in front of a door which led to the manager's office and knocked. "What will it be next?" she muttered under her breath.

"Come in."

Mikan slowly opened the door and bowed her head as a sign of respect. "I'm Mikan Sakura. The one applying for the newspaper delivery job." She scrutinized the woman in-charge, maybe in her late 40s, standing before her. Higarashi-san, that's her name, was very lanky. She had wrinkles around her blue eyes and her slightly grayed brown hair was tied up into a messy bun. The woman wore a very friendly smile on her face.

"Sakura-san, sit down." She ushered for Mikan to sit across from her. "So as to not waste our time, we'll start the interview immediately."

Mikan sat down and fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. "Alright. I'm ready."

A low chuckle escaped the woman's lips. "Don't worry. I won't bite you. Let's see here." She read the application form Mikan had given her. "Mikan Sakura, 17, enrolled Alice Academy, hmm…What else?" She looked at the said teen; her lips pursed together into thin line. "Are you a good thrower?"

"Huh?"

"If you want to be the delivery girl, you must be a good thrower." Higarashi-san then continued, "You don't want to hear the customers complaining, do you?" After a brief 'no' from Mikan, she said again, "Why don't you try throwing this paper weight to that trash can over there?"

Mikan gulped the huge lump in her throat. She calculated the distance between her and the trash can. Just three meters away. It's not that far, but then again, she was a klutz. At gym class, if you put her together with a ball, it would always end up with someone being injured. Mikan took the paper weight from Higarashi-san and tried to relax her tense muscle. Calm down…Okay now, One…two…three…She threw the paper weight and waited for the item to land into what-she-had-hoped-to-be the trash can.

THUMP

She raised an eyebrow. Where the hell did that paper weight go? She stood up and checked the can. No paper weight there. "Higarashi-san. Did you see where-" She had cut off her sentence as her eyes darted to the unconscious woman before her. The paper weight was now rolling off onto the floor, but not before it hit the woman's head. "Higarashi-san-" Mikan fanned her with her hands, trying to bring the unconscious woman back to normal state. "Gomen. Gomen."

"Sak…Yo…not….hi…r…" Higarashi-san had mumbled as she started to regain consciousness.

"What's that?"

"Yo…u… fail…led."

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Mikan smiled politely and bowed down her head. "I want to apply the position as one of the waitresses," Mikan said to Fujiwara-san, manager of the Heaven's Dream restaurant. "Is the offer still on?"

Fujiwara-san in return smiled apologetically. "You should have come a bit sooner. Most girls apparently find waitressing as the easiest job."

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"I love animals. I'll be thrilled to work in this clinic." Mikan said, this time to the head veterinarian of Hagiwara Animal Clinic. "I don't have allergies to whatever animals too."

Hagiwara-san nodded his head. "That's good. I just have to ask you several more questions before I make my decision." He walked towards a cabinet and pulled out two small bottles of what-she-assumed to be some kind of medicine. "You see, some animals can't stand a certain type of painkiller," He started to say. "The bottle is thus labeled with the names of animals which it can be used on." He then sat back on his chair and handed Mikan the two bottles. "Look at the label and please tell me which animals can stand this type of sedative."

Mikan beamed. "That's easy." She began to read the label on one of the bottles. "This one is for Euarctos americanus."

Hagiwara-san gave a small smile. "Translate that please."

"Euarctos americanus which is-" Then the whole thing dawned on her. "What the hell is that?"

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Beep. Beep.

Mikan whipped her phone out from her purse and flipped it open. She had received a new message from Nonoko. What now? She punched the Show button and waited as the text message came into view.

Mikan,

If you hadn't been hired by anyone, then follow this address:

West Tokyo Street, Block 7-Hyuuga,

Tsukimori Exclusive (The name of the place).

You can't miss it. Once there, ask for Kaito Ogasawara. He's my uncle, btw.

P/S: Listen first to what he has to offer. Love you.

She sighed. It was 3.30 pm already and she still wasn't able to get a job. She decided that she'll try to go to the address that Nonoko had given her. But this will be the last she could handle. If it was a failure as well, then she wouldn't even think about this option anymore.

"Alright. West Tokyo Street."

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"Thank you. Thank you." Mikan squealed in delight as she received the best news she had for that day. "I'll work hard."

Kaito Ogasawara nodded. "You better be. This is a five star, you could say that, swimming club. Kind of like a resort or hotel." He then smiled. "I know you're just a cleaner and sometimes attendant to the customers of this club. But please, try not to mess things up."

The brunette clasped her hands together. "I'll try not to, Ogasawara-san. So, when can I start?"

He then gave Mikan a paper containing her work schedule and all the details. "You can start tomorrow. There'll be a locker reserved for you in the employees' changing room. Koko will give you the keys and your uniforms tomorrow."

"Who's Koko?"

Ogasawara-san then smiled again. "He's a summer worker like you. About the same age I supposed." He chuckled and continued, "Don't worry, once you do know that guy, it'd be hard not to like him." He patted Mikan's back. "He'll know what to do with you."

Mikan laughed nervously. "Is there any downside to this job? I'd like to know every fact."

Ogasawara-san turned to her with a humorous expression. "Just be careful around the customers."

"Okay. I'll try my very best."

"If you want to keep your job, treat them like royalty, alright?" He laughed. "You don't know how many of the employees here have been fired because of them." He patted Mikan's back once again. "Understand this. Give them what they want. Especially him."

"Who?"

He flinched before saying, "The Natsume Hyuuga."

"The Natsume Hyuuga?"

Kaito Ogasawara nodded his head. "Scary isn't it? He's a Hyuuga." He said teasingly.

"Natsume Hyuuga?" Her brown eyes widened, but then she scratched her head. "Eh. Never heard of him? Is he famous?"

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Author's Note:

Sorry. This chapter is actually kinda like a prologue, but I didn't want to do one. Nonetheless, please submit a review and tell me whether or not you want me to continue this story. I respect whatever it is you wish. Anyway, just for the record, I actually like this plot very much. I'm not sure of the actual genre though, so I hope that you could tell me as the story progresses, that is I hope it will.

And to those who is the first time reader of my work, you can check out my other story too: 'Hate Hate Love'. It's actually 'Hate + Hate = Love', but the plus and equal sign just didn't want to please me, so they didn't appear in the title. And to those who already read the story up till Chapter 3, keep your eyes open, I'm going to update the next chapter soon. So please continue in supporting me.

And for those who are confused by the clinic interview scene, the label on the bottle is actually the scientific name for bear, I think. While the newspaper delivery interview, well, you know the job where you ride on your bike and pass other people's house, then you throw their morning paper. So you must be a good thrower. That's it, easy peasy.

P/S: Review…Review…Review. It's the greatest gift an author could ever ask. Actually, it's money…haha…but a review is okay too. Forget I said that…LOL…But I'll be really glad if you could drop at least one of your wise feedbacks.

Yours till the mail box,

MyResOLuTioN

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