Summary: They've been best friends since they were kids. They vowed at each other that they will always be best friends forever. Yes, forever.
Chapter One
A certain crimson-eyed, jet-black haired, seven-year-old boy sat under the Sakura Tree located at the playground. He was reading a manga and he looked bored. His hair swayed when the air blew gently and then he noticed that it darkened a little. He looked up and saw a pig-tailed brunette standing in front of him. She was wearing a light-blue sleeveless shirt and a white skirt. The girl kneeled down in front of him.
"Natsume-kun?" She asked in her cutest voice.
"Hn. That's me, alright. What do you want?" He flipped a page of his manga and returned reading.
The girl, whose name is Mikan, turned her head back to look at the blond-haired boy. The boy saw her and waved. Mikan smiled and waved back then she returned to Natsume. "I'm Mikan."
"I know. My best friend has told me about you." Natsume flipped a page again.
"Well, there's something I want to tell you, Natsume-kun..." Mikan pouted. "I have to let you know..."
Natsume just read his manga.
"Ano... I have a crush on..." Mikan paused.
Natsume looked at the brunette in front of him with those bored eyes. "On?"
"Ruka-pyon..." Mikan felt herself blush.
Natsume returned on reading his manga. "So?"
"Well... Can I be your best friend too?"
Natsume shut close his manga and glared at Mikan. "So you're telling me that you want to use me so that you can get close to Ruka?"
"Hey, I didn't say anything like that!" Mikan puffed her cheeks.
"Then on what reason?"
"Mou, do I have to have a reason?"
Natsume rolled his eyes.
Mikan smiled and grabbed Natsume's hands. "Because I want to be your best friend!"
Natsume pushed Mikan away then Ruka saw it. He ran towards them and asked. "What's going on, Natsume? Why did you push Sakura?"
"No particular reason." Natsume stood up and looked down. He smirked to see that the brunette is wearing... "Polkadots."
Mikan blushed like a tomato as she covered her underwear. "Natsume no hentai!" Then she started crying. "Ruka-pyon, all I wanted was to be Natsume-kun's best friend but then he got mad!"
"Natsume?" Ruka looked at Natsume.
"Ja, Ruka." Natsume looked at his best friend with those cold eyes and walked away.
Ruka looked at Mikan and helped her up. "Daijobou (are you okay), Sakura?"
Mikan smiled as she wipe her tears. "Hai, daijobou desu ne (yes, I'm fine), Ruka-pyon!"
Ruka smiled back and said. "Don't give up, Sakura. I know, there will be a day, that Natsume will be your best friend."
"Hai, Ruka-pyon!"
***
On the next day in school's lunch time, Natsume just sat on his seat, looking outside the window. He was thinking of what happened yesterday. Polkadots... He thought then he smirked. Is an idiot.
"Natsume?"
Natsume turned his head and looked up. "Ruka."
"Hey."
"Hey." Natsume greeted then the person Natsume wanted to see the least showed herself. She was hiding behind Ruka. "Polkadots." He added.
"Hello, Natsume-kun..." With her cutest voice, she greeted him. "How are you?"
Natsume returned to looking out the window and ignored the brunette.
"Sakura really wants to be your best friend too, Natsume." said Ruka.
"Tch. Why would I want an idiotic best friend?" Natsume rolled his eyes but they didn't see for he was looking outside the window.
Mikan was about to cry when Ruka said to her. "I can be your best friend instead then, Sakura..."
Mikan looked at Ruka while Natsume just eavesdropped. "I... Can be?"
"Yeah. I can be your best friend and you can be my best friend." Ruka smiled.
Mikan looked at the open door when she heard some giggling, and saw a dark-haired, eleven-year-old boy and a pink-haired, same aged girl, Tsubasa and Misaki, walking on the hallway. They were laughing and they were happy. "Like them?" Mikan returned to Ruka.
"Yes, like them."
Mikan smiled. "Really?!"
Ruka nodded but Natsume interrupted when he stood up. "No, you can't be Ruka's best friend." He looked at both of them then he lowered his head, causing his bangs to cover his eyes.
"But why?" Mikan's sight started to blur.
"Because you like him, don't you?" said Natsume.
Mikan blushed while Ruka just stared at her.
"Sakura, you do?"
Mikan lowered her head too, trying to fight her tears. "H-ha-hai, Ru-Ruka-pyon..."
Ruka pinched Mikan's both cheeks and stretched them. "Smile. Frowning doesn't suit you, Sakura."
"R-Ruka-pyon...?"
Ruka patted both her cheeks and smiled. "I'm happy to know you like me, Sakura, but..." He frowned.
Mikan just stared at Ruka, with tears ready to fall.
Ruka looked at the girl from the far end, near the back door, fixing her things. She had a jet-black hair and cold violet eyes. "I like Imai."
The girl, named Hotaru, looked at Ruka and said, "Nogi, I'm hungry. Let's go and buy me a piece of cake." monotonously. "Or else..." She showed him a picture when he was in the playground, carrying his big, white bunny. "Your fangirls will surely love this."
"Imai!" Ruka groaned as he ran towards her.
Hotaru let out a small smile then Ruka smiled back. "What do you want then? Chocolate or Vanilla?"
"Vanilla."
"Okay." Ruka nodded then the both of them went out of the classroom.
Mikan and Natsume were the ones left inside. Mikan was just looking down the floor with her eyes wide, then tears started to drop on the floor. "D-did you know that Ruka-pyon likes Hotaru, Natsume-kun?" but she heard no answer. Mikan looked up. "Natsume?"
"Yeah. I know."
Mikan started crying. "Mou, that's not fair!"
"That's right. Life isn't fair." said Natsume.
Mikan burried her face on her hands and continued crying.
Natsume stepped forward and placed a hand above Mikan's shoulder.
Mikan stopped crying and looked at Natsume.
"Fine, I will be your best friend." He said.
"Really?!" Mikan exclaimed.
"If that would make you stop crying."
Mikan wiped her tears and smiled. "Hai, Natsu-chan!"
Natsume narrowed his eyes. "Natsu-chan?"
"Eh? You don't like it?"
Natsume rolled his eyes then he started walking out of the classroom. "Pathetic."
Mikan puffed her cheeks as she followed Natsume. "Meany..."
~~~~~0o0o0o0o0~~~~~