Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome to my newest story. -waves casually- It's been a while (a very long while, I'll admit) since I posted something on fanfiction(dot)net, but I suddenly got the urge to write and Voila!
On another note, since I'm not personally familiar with the geography of Tokyo, there will inevitably be some inaccuracies throughout the story. I'll try to prevent them by researching as well as I can, but you'll have to bear with me (especially if you know Tokyo extremely well). For those who don't know Tokyo at all (and don't particularly care to research), I'll be including a "Cultural Terms" section below my A/N when necessary. Please feel free to refer back to it while reading.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice. All credit goes to the wonderful and amazing Higuchi Tachibana-sensei. Additionally, I do not own Almond, which is a real café/bakery in Tokyo.
~Cultural Terms~
Roppongi - a district of Tokyo famous for an active night club scene and the Roppongi Hills area (a large mixed-use property development consisting of corporate office space, apartments, shops, parks, restaurants, cafés, movie theaters, etc.)
Almond - a café/bakery featuring many types of cake; located near Roppongi Station in Tokyo
And now, without further ado . . .
Sunday, November 26th – Evening – Aoi's Apartment
A chilly breeze swept through the bay window as a woman approached it. Her long, brown hair was blown back, exposing her bare shoulders and arms to the cold as she strained to close the window and block out the offending wind. She paused and sat down at the window seat, admiring the view below.
The lights of Roppongi Hills (see Cultural Terms) illuminated a street still full of cars and taxis. People dressed for clubbing meandered down the sidewalk. Several workers were busy stringing lights on the trees beside the apartment building. Christmas lights . . . Hmmm . . . I should start holiday shopping soon, the woman mused.
"Mikan? Do you need help closing the window?" a voice called from the kitchen.
Sakura Mikan smiled, appreciating how caring her friend was. She carefully completed her task.
"No, I got it!" she responded. "Why did you leave it open, anyway, Aoi? It's freezing outside."
The brunette walked over to the cream-colored sofa and sat down. As she waited for her friend to join her, she reflected upon the evening's events.
Aoi and Mikan, along with a few other friends (Hotaru, Anna, and Nonoko), had gone out for a late-night dinner in a fancy Italian restaurant. The occasion? One of Hotaru's inventions had made the news that week as the projected "Best-Seller of the Year." No one was surprised of course, but it was a good excuse to celebrate by eating out.
"Fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit is hardly 'freezing'." Aoi laughed as she walked into the living room. She was balancing two cups of hot chocolate and a plate of cake on a tray.
"Besides," Aoi continued, "I have a little surprise for you!" She gently set the tray on the coffee table, and sat down on the love seat opposite her friend.
"Really? And what might that be?" Mikan replied, playing along. Certainly not that piece of cake, is it? she thought, smiling at her friend's occasional childishness.
"Well, I may possibly have found you . . . a new job." The brunette's companion grinned excitedly, awaiting her friend's reaction.
To her disappointment, Mikan's face fell slightly.
"Aoi," she began, "I don't know if this is the best time for a new job. You know I quit my old one just a week ago. I wanted a bit of time off, you know?"
Aoi sighed. "The thing is . . . The company that I'm working for really needs someone to fill the position. It's an important job, and it really affects everyone in the company. Please take this job as a favor to me, alright?"
When she didn't see her friend's expression change, Aoi began to feel desperate.
"If you don't at least go to the interview, I'll . . . I'll withhold this piece of cake from you!" Aoi grinned triumphantly, snatching the plate away from the tray.
"That isn't what I think it is, right?" Mikan narrowed her eyes slightly.
"It is precisely! A slice of Death by Chocolate from Almond (see Cultural Terms). Looks delicious, doesn't it?" she taunted playfully. "I think I'll just take," Aoi picked up a fork, "a bite of it now." She slowly raised a morsel of cake to her mouth and ate it, pretending to savor the rich flavor.
"How could you do this to me?" Mikan protested. "You know I skipped dessert tonight!"
"Mmmm . . . It's so good. I could eat all of it in a single bite."
Mikan gasped. "You wouldn't!"
Aoi smirked slightly, knowing her plan was going to work. "Promise me that you'll go to the interview."
"Alright, alright." the brunette agreed resignedly. "I'll go. Please just let me have some cake." she pleaded, pouting and attempting to look cute and innocent.
Her friend threw her head back and laughed. "Deal. In fact, just take it all. I don't need the extra sugar."
Mikan shrugged. "Suit yourself." She picked up the remaining fork and took a bite.
"So what's the position?" Mikan inquired, closing her eyes as the taste of coffee, chocolate, and toffee blended together in her mouth.
Aoi winced at the question. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask. It's ummm . . . personal assistant."
The brunette groaned. "And I suppose you're going to tell me now that the interview just happens to be tomorrow morning at nine o'clock sharp?"
"Actually, it's at eight o'clock, but you got the day right? Ha-ha . . ." Aoi's laughter trailed off as she shut her eyes and mentally braced herself for the verbal lashing of a lifetime. After a few seconds of quiet, she slowly opened one eye, only to see her companion calmly finishing her dessert.
"Well?" she inquired nervously.
Mikan frowned, putting down her plate and assuming a pensive look. "I'll go," she stated reluctantly after a few seconds of thinking, "but only because I already promised you."
"That and the fact that I'm also one of your best friends?" Still? she added silently.
"Hmmm . . . That may also figure into it." Mikan allowed, smiling briefly.
Aoi breathed a sigh of relief. The two then picked up their cups and sat back, peacefully drinking and observing the night sky outside the bay window.
After a few minutes spent in companionable silence, Mikan glanced up at the clock on the wall and slowly got up.
"It's getting late—almost midnight. If I'm going to make it to the interview tomorrow morning," she teasingly glared at Aoi, "I'd better get back to my apartment."
"Okay," Aoi answered lightly, purposefully ignoring the glare. "I'll be at your door tomorrow at half past seven to walk you to work."
"That sounds fine if you don't mind. You know I could walk alone if you'd give me—"
"No, no. I want to do it to make up for springing this on you so suddenly." Aoi grinned sheepishly. And for other personal reasons.
"Oh. Thanks. I'll go get my coat then." Mikan headed toward the coat closet by the front door.
"Do you want me to walk you back to your place?"
Mikan laughed at the question. "It's hardly necessary," she responded. "I'm sure my safety won't be compromised in the elevator going up a few floors. Of course, you never know. What if there's a murderer lurking in the hallway, and I'm killed as I try to unlock my—"
"I get it, I get it." Aoi interrupted. "Sorry for being a caring friend," she muttered.
"I heard that!" the brunette exclaimed from within the closet. She walked out and slipped her black cashmere coat on over her dress.
"It would have been wasted if you hadn't," her friend responded jokingly.
"Well," Mikan declared, acting indignant. "I'll be going before you hurt any more of my feelings!"
The two laughed amiably, while Mikan put on her strappy black heels and grabbed her black leather purse.
"See you tomorrow morning," Aoi murmured, walking to the door and opening it.
"Okay. Goodnight, then," Mikan whispered as she stepped out into the hallway.
Aoi kept the door ajar, observing her friend walk purposefully down the corridor until she disappeared into the elevator. She calmly closed the door before smiling.
"Perfect!" she said to herself.
Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day indeed . . .
Author's Note: Well? How was it? If you have time, please write me a review. -prods reader- Go on, then.
To motivate some feedback (here comes the evil statement . . .), I'm asking for four reviews before I put up the next chapter. (Why yes, I do have low standards.) This shouldn't be horribly difficult, right?
I'm also adding an easy trivia question about Gakuen Alice, which readers can respond to in the reviews. First person to get it right gets a special prize! Here is the question . . .
Why is the date November 27th of special significance?
Again, thanks for reading, and I hope to see you again quite soon!
