Disclaimer: I don't know Gakuen Alice.

Probably not. Maybe. I don't know.

A/N: honestly, I just could NOT get this chapter right. The 'introduction'. Yet it's far too long to be an introduction. Gah. Well, I hope this sets the scene? Mind you, I didn't paint out a picture; just drabbled. This fanfiction will consist of drabbles; drabbles of the gang in university so no consistent plotline. For now the rating is T, but we will see where my mind leads me in the future…

Natsume Hyuuga does everything at his own pace. He could either be miles ahead of you, or if he chooses, miles behind you. Natsume Hyuuga was also a crammer – a very successful crammer at that.

Unsurprisingly therefore Natsume Hyuuga was the last in his flat-corridor to arrive at the Alice Academy University Halls. Despite the fact that students had poured in from all over since the dawn of September, Natsume completely skipped the first two weeks. The first two weeks, after all, consisted of organised 'ice-breakers' (i.e. parties you get shit-faced drunk or, if you are un/lucky, laid) so the students could get to know one another (in one way or another). No lectures or practicals. Natsume insisted there was no point.

Yet classes were starting tomorrow, so, on the eve of 'tomorrow', Natsume finally made his way to the halls, much to the relief of his mother (who thought it was about time Natsume found himself a girlfriend, so, wanted nothing more than for Natsume to get 'his ass' out of the house to find one).

Natsume didn't really need student accommodation, as the Alice Academy University was only a 15-min train journey away. Easily he could have commuted from home. Yet his best friend from junior school, Luca Nogi, voiced out last year, before their high school graduation, how he would have enjoyed living together with Natsume during university. Having a soft spot for his best friend, Natsume had signed himself up for student accommodation at the prestigious Alice University straight after Luca said so. He even requested that he and Luca be put in the same flat, and, haven been an honour student, the Academy quite happily complied with the wishes of their precious Natsume Hyuuga.

Luca had already settled into the university flat, having arrived there earlier that week. Luca told Natsume their flatmates were nice, which meant little to nothing to Natsume because Luca thought everybody was nice. Except Hitler. Hitler was not nice.

With his suitcase full of books, clothes and other necessities, Natsume made his way to the 2nd floor, of the university halls, to Flat B.

Once outside, Natsume rung the doorbell, as he couldn't be bothered to rummage through his bag to find the keycard he was given. Not with all this heavy baggage, at any rate. Hoping to see Luca, Natsume was surprised when Mikan Sakura opened the door.

"You must be Luca's friend!" she graciously welcomed Natsume, and even offered to help him with some of his baggage. He merely grunted in reply, so she hastily continued: "I'm Mikan Sakura. I'm your neighbour. That's to say you're in Room 7, and I'm in Room 6. I'm studying English literature. I heard from Luca you're studying physics! Are you excited?"

Natsume quite blankly stared at her. Well, to Mikan his stare was blank and bland, yet even so Mikan felt she was being analysed like a butterfly clipped on a wall. But Natsume was merely looking at her – really looking. Some (awkward, for Mikan) seconds passed, and suddenly came Luca's happy and excited voice: "Natsume! You're finally here!"

As Luca clapped Natsume on the back, he steered him in the direction of his room, Room 6, and Mikan rather unsurely called out: "I-It was nice to meet you!"

Natsume didn't mean to be so rude to her. He couldn't help his aloof personality. He thought Mikan Sakura had a very pretty face (and for that matter, a nice ass), and he pondered on this thought rather than return her a goodnight.

A few weeks had come and past; gone was the first excitement of starting something new, and meeting people. Assignments were piling up viciously, and students were reminded of the real reason to why they were there at university: to study. This included Shin Shino. Shin, more commonly known as Koko, was one of Luca and Natsume's flatmate, and on this Wednesday afternoon, he was with Natsume in the library, doodling on textbooks instead of reading them.

"I hate studying!" he moaned.

Natsume sighed. "Then quit."

"But if I do that, I'll fail and get kicked out! What will I do without a degree?"

Natsume shrugged. "Something that doesn't require a degree."

"But I want to be a psychologist!"

Natsume sighed. "Then study."

"But I hate studying."

Natsume narrowed his eyes, irritated. "Well done. You've ended up where you started. Instead of continuing a pointless infinity, I suggest you finish the essay." He turned to his own essay, as if trying to make a point to his new friend.

He liked Koko, he really did. In fact, Natsume was surprised to find he liked all of his flatmates. But this was the way Natsume Hyuuga showed affection, and Koko, being an excellent judge of character picked up on this in a matter of few days.

Not all his flatmates were as observant however; Anna Umenomiya, a pretty half-Italian girl stuttered very slightly last night when Natsume asked her what she was cooking whilst Yuu Tobita developed an unconscious nervous twitch when addressed by Natsume. Hotaru Imai didn't say much to him, but Luca insisted she was a girl of a few words anyway, and that he shouldn't take it personally.

Sumire Shouda on the other hand fawned over Natsume Hyuuga, which made her boyfriend sulk. Her boyfriend? Koko. "Why don't you go shopping with Natsume? And ask him to take you to his hairdresser?"

Koko grumbled. "Is that your way of indirectly telling me that I should aspire to look like Natsume?"

"No, hon, that's my way of instructing you to look more like Natsume." was Sumire's catty reply, topped off with a deliciously feline smirk.

And pretty Mikan Sakura? He was as nice to her as he was to everybody else, which, when concerning Natsume Hyuuga, isn't saying much. Mikan found his concise way of speaking to be intimidating and albeit rather rude. Whenever she asked whether he would like to join in, he always declined and Mikan took this personally – yet, as for now, she hadn't given up completely. Being chatty by nature, she didn't, wouldn't and refused to let one stoic boy stop her from being completely and sincerely herself.

Koko stopped doodling, and grumbling, tried to read the dense paragraphs lying ahead of him. Not even a minute passed when he let out a pointedly bored sigh.

"Why don't you take a break?" Natsume said, yet in such a way that it was obvious he suggested this not for Koko's benefit but for his very own.

Then, all of a sudden came Kitsune-me's loud and cheerful voice from behind: "Top of the mornin' to ye!"

Kitsune-me was Koko's friend from junior school, and though he wasn't placed in their flat, Natsume saw Kitsune-me on a daily basis in their flat. An adopted flatmate, if you will. Kitsune-me was studying aerodynamics in hope in becoming a pilot some day.

"It's four in afternoon." Natsume pointed out, with a raised eyebrow.

From the way Kitsune-me sleepily smiled however, it was obvious he had just woken up. "Well, it's morning somewhere in the world."

"You missed your lectures again?" Koko questioned – yet there was no hint of worry in his voice, just envy.

"Shhhh!" the librarian hissed.

Lowering both their heads and voices, Koko fervently whispered: "Not fair! Why do I have to work my butt off while you breeze through?"

"I'm passing with flying colours," Kitsune-me grinned, and Koko couldn't help snigger along with Natsume at his pun. Kitsune-me nodded to Natsume in greeting, which Natsume returned.

"I bumped into Sumire on the way here," Kitsune-me said looking at Koko, "and she said to tell you to check your phone. Something about a party—"

"Party?!" Koko excitedly interrupted, his eyes glistening.

"Shhhhhhhh!"

The three inclined their heads in apology at the librarian before Koko rummaged for his phone whilst Kitsune-me continued, "Yeah; Sumire said something about her art club are having a last minute exhibition slash party tonight in the West Wing. She was kind of hysterical so I didn't catch what she was saying; she was all over the place."

Koko read out the text: "Koko I need your help ASAP. Remember I was telling you the student music club booked the West Wing venue before us? They've cancelled last minute and Naru just told Wakako that the place is open, and if we still want, we can hold our exhibition and have our party. Come to the West Wing AS SOON AS YOU CAN, AND I MEAN IT, to help us set up! We've got more than 30 helping us now, but if you can, find some more hands."

"Another text…" Koko scrolled down; "SHIN SHINO, GET YOUR ASS HERE NOW WITH SOME PEOPLE OR I WILL BREAK UP WITH YOU." Koko paled, and frantically looked at his two friends. "Screw studying – my love life is on the line!" Koko abruptly stood up, and grabbing both Kitsune-me and Natsume, he commanded, "To the West Wing, brethren!"

Natsume incredulously and rather aggressively protested but with no avail, as now Kitsune-me held his other arm. His carefully written physics report meanwhile was peacefully left lain on the library table, unfinished yet brilliant whilst he was being dragged against his will to the West Wing.

"Natsume!"

Natsume murderously wrenched his arm away from the gruesome twosome, to turn to a waving Luca, who was making his way over.

"I see you were roped in this as well." Natsume dryly mumbled.

"Roped in? No, I volunteered to help!"

Of course you did. But Luca was too much of a good person to be sneered at, so Natsume merely incoherently grumbled, and looked around.

The West Wing was a large hall found in the West of the Academy (funnily enough), that students usually booked for events, parties and such. Sumire studied History of Art, and along with Wakako was in charge of the University's art club. The West Wing was draped in beautiful paintings, quirky photos and melancholy sculptures watched wistfully ahead. Tables had been set up, and Natsume could see Sumire demanding there be more canapés and less napkins. People were all over the place – helping to put more artwork up, or, trying desperately to set up tables or the big sound system.

"Natsume!" a warm voice welcomed him, and Natsume turned around to see Mikan Sakura make her way over to the two (Koko had long gone been dragged away by Sumire, and Kitsune-me was now quite happily helping pretty Anna with the food preparation).Mikan was wearing an orange-polkadotted dress, and Natsume quietly pondered yet again about how lovely she looked. But his face remained hard and angry, and Mikan couldn't help nervously swallow and regret coming over to her flatmate as she neared him and Luca.

"W-Well, I'm sure Permy – Sumire, that is – would thank you herself if she weren't so busy, but here I am! Thanks for offering to help us out—" Natsume grumbled in protest, but Luca elbowed him rather painfully in the shoulder, effectively shutting him up. Mikan didn't fail to notice this, and she looked even more put out by Natsume's irritation. "Um. Well. Okay. Um—oh yeah! If you won't mind, would you mind advertising the event? You have Facebook, right? Would you mind sharing the event's information? Any social media will do. Not many people know about this event because it's so last minute and of course Sumire wants as many people as possible to join." Mikan peered nervously at Natsume, who did not look willing at all to lend a hand. "Is that fine with you?"

"Yes, that's alright."

Mikan flushed; his tone said anything but everything was alright. Nonetheless, though it was very forced, she smiled at Natsume. "Thank you!" she turned to Luca was a very different bright smile: "Thanks so much for your help, Luca-pyon!"

Luca-pyon…? Natsume felt the nickname emasculated Luca profoundly, but didn't comment.

A bit pink in the cheeks (honestly, he didn't mind the nickname but in front of Natsume…just, no), Luca replied, "No problem Sakura. Anything else I can do?"

"Make sure Hotaru doesn't kill anybody should do." Mikan joked making Luca and Natsume snort. "Actually, all joking aside, would you mind going to her and checking everything is okay? Be her assistant for an hour or so?"

"Sure thing," and with that, the friendly and amiable Luca left the two alone.

Mikan turned again to Natsume and repeated: "Facebook. Advertising. Got it?"

Natsume nodded.

"Great; thanks again Natsume!" she turned on her heels, and Natsume couldn't help his eyes flicker to her ass, as her dress swished and fluttered so enticingly. But then Mikan exclaimed a soft, "Oh!" and turned back around to Natsume, and she didn't fail to notice where his eyes had just been lingering.

She raised her eyebrow. "Were you just admiring my ass?"

Natsume shrugged, before he smirked (just a little), "I may have been."

"Well, whilst I appreciate your honesty I don't appreciate being stared at like a piece of meat."

Natsume cleared his throat, and without exactly apologizing, he asked, "You were about to say?"

Mikan looked confused, before a comprehension dawned on her face. "Oh yes!" Natsume's wandering eyes had completely distracted Mikan, but no longer. "I was going to say – after you post on Facebook and other social media, would you mind accompanying me to Tono's?"

Tono's was a bar, located five minutes away from the Academy's main gate. Unsurprisingly, it was where most students go to let down their hair – which is, the polite way of saying it is the place where students go and get shit-faced.

"Wakako ordered and bought the alcohol for tonight already, but some of it hasn't been delivered yet. She asked me to go to there to pick up the last few bottles. Would you mind giving me a lift?"

After posting a very unenthusiastic status about the Art Club Party in the West Wing, Natsume and Mikan left the West Wing to the car park. It seemed very silly to drive to Tono's when it was so close, but Mikan couldn't possible carry all the bottles with her arms.

Natsume was smart enough to know that Mikan had only asked him to give her a lift because he was probably the only one in the vicinity she knew whose car was so conveniently parked in the Alice Academy car park.

Most of the students were not from city, and this included Mikan, which meant that not many of them had their cars with them, having left them back at home. Luca didn't have a car out of principle – Luca was not only a vegetarian (bordering vegan, in Natsume's opinion), but also eco-conscious. Natsume knew that if Luca did have a car, Mikan would have asked him instead.

When the car's life sprung from the ignition, the music started.

"Oh! Rachmaninoff!" Mikan commented, and she did not hide her surprise.

"What? Were you expecting some dark sacrificial music?" Natsume teased, with a hint of a smirk.

Mikan innocently smiled, "Maybe?"

The piano concerto kept the two entertained before they reached Tono's.

Unbuckling her seatbelt, Mikan exclaimed, "I'll be right back!"

Yet when Mikan returned less a minute later with no alcohol Natsume raised his eyebrow in question. An angry scowl marred Mikan's pretty face, and he rolled down his window to hear her say, "They don't think I'm of age!"

"What?"

"They don't think I'm a university student!"

"Don't you have your ID on you?"

Mikan didn't seem to hear this question though, she continued, horrified, "They think I'm a fourteen! Fourteen!"

Natsume wanted to laugh at this (this being her expression, and the sheer hilarity of a university student being mistaken as a young'un), but the look on Mikan's face told him it would be a bad idea to do so.

Natsume unbuckled his seatbelt, and told her they'll go in there together to get the alcohol as Natsume did have his ID. The bar-manager, Tono, was a tall and handsome man and after he inspected Natsume's ID, he threw both Mikan and Natsume a charming smile. "I'm sorry pretty lady, it's just you don't look like you're in university. I don't want to be such an arse about it, God knows I drunk like a fish at fourteen, but you know how it is. I can't be caught serving drinks to underage kids…again."

He continued rambling as he helped Mikan and Natsume load the car with the booze, and Natsume chose to ignore this obnoxious prat. Mikan on the other hand somewhat warmed up to Tono and politely laughed at all of his jokes.

"It's a shame you have a boyfriend already." He inclined his head to Natsume, who, tuned in to the conversation all of a sudden. "I would have loved to take you out." Tono winked.

"Natsume's not my boyfriend," Mikan corrected him, glancing at Natsume. Natsume was quite clearly staring at the two, with an unpleased expression.

"Oh, in the case…" Tono pulled out his phone, "Can I have your number?"

Natsume, who had loaded the last bottle, slammed the trunk. "Right." Natsume interrupted, and putting himself between Tono and Mikan, he took a hold of Mikan's right hand. "We're off."

"Wait—" Tono called after Mikan, who was being pulled away by Natsume into the car. "Your number—"

Natsume turned on Tono. "I said we're off."

The glare directed at Tono was a primal one—one of animal instincts; anger, jealously, a clear warning stating 'hands off'. Tono had seen that look far too many times in his life, and he so he backed off, not wanting another broken nose.

Nonetheless, Tono impishly grinned and to Mikan exclaimed, "Come back again soon!" Before he sent a smug smile towards the glowering Natsume.

"He was disgusting," Natsume argued back as they unloaded the alcohol.

"He was a bit too friendly, I'll give you that."

"Friendly?" Natsume incredulously snorted. "If you think being a pervert makes you friendly, then sure, I guess he was friendly."

"Excuse me, but you were the one staring at my arse not an hour ago!"

Many of the volunteers were helping them unload too, and many of them listened to Natsume and Mikan's argument as a form of entertainment.

"Admiring and doing are completely different things. I admired your arse whilst he wanted to do your arse—"

"Natsume!"

Natsume put his hands up defensively. "Don't get angry at me. He's the pervert."

"Your argument is flawed." Mikan pushed three vodka bottles in his arms with more force than needed. "He didn't do my arse; he may or may not have wanted to, but the thing is, he didn't."

Natsume snorted again. "I bet he has done a lot of girls in this university."

"That doesn't make him a pervert! The number of sexual partner a person has is directly proportional to the number of sexual partners a person has. It has nothing to do with perversion!"

The alcohol was all successfully delivered to the West Wing and Mikan was about to walk back in the hall when she noticed Natsume was no longer by her side. Instead, he was walking away, in the direction of the Main Building.

"You're leaving?" she called after him.

"Not in the mood to small talk about art and shit."

Mikan laughed, before she made her way over to him with quick and dainty steps and a smile. "Nor am I."

Together, they made their way back to their flat, taking a detour to the library first so Natsume could collect his physics report he had been working so diligently on.

Once back in their flat Natsume tried to bid a goodnight to Mikan and return to his room so he could finish his goddamn report, but it seemed as Mikan had other plans. She brought him a can of cold beer from the fridge, and one for herself.

That night, Natsume learned what a light-weight Mikan Sakura was. One 500ml can got her drunk—her words were slurring as they (tried to) talk about their favourite movie. He had a small, teasing smile on his face as he listened to her praise Wes Anderson as he finished his can of beer.

"—it feels (hic) like a film a c-c-(hic)-child would make, and that'z why… hey, whereyu goin'?"

Natsume had got up to throw both their cans away in the bin.

"Oh. I thought you were juss going to leave…it wouldunt (hic) be the first time."

"Wouldn't it?" Natsume asked her as he returned to take the seat opposite her, half-curious half-amused.

She looked at him with hazy eyes that Natsume found to be deeply attractive. Usually 'drunk girls' were his least favourite type of girls, yet Mikan wasn't throwing herself on him, instead, her lips has just loosened up. She seemed comfortable around him for once. Perhaps that was why Natsume chose to be with her rather than his report. Or perhaps it was just because he genuinely thought she was pretty and enjoyed being able to stare at her.

"You… whenever I ask if you want to watch a movie with us," us meant the seven other flatmates, "you always say no. Even to pub nights. Anything. It's always no. No, no, no. You don't give me a chance."

Natsume sighed. "I'll make you herb tea or something." He didn't really want to have this conversation, even if she was drunk.

"Do you hate us?" Mikan asked, as she turned around on her chair, to watch him put the kettle on. "Except Luca of course. I mean the rest of us—"

"I don't hate any of you. In fact, I'm surprised how much I like you all. I just have a hard time expressing it. I'm not exactly conventional when it comes to that."

These sentences seemed to sober up Mikan considerably. She didn't say anything until he returned to the table with a cup of tea for her.

"So… when you say you don't want to watch a film, does it actually mean you actually do?"

"Probably not. Maybe. I don't know." Natsume shrugged enigmatically.

She hummed, pondering. Then, after taking a few sips, she looked up to him with a bright smile: "Natsume, do you want to watch a film with me?"

Natsume smiled ever so slightly back. "Probably not. Maybe. I don't know."

That night they watched two and a half films before falling asleep on the couch together.

There was nothing sexual about the night—they had slept at least a foot apart on the couch as platonically as possible. Yet that was not how the rest saw the situation. All of the six others had been at Sumire's party, and on their way back at an ungodly hour, Sumire had been ranting, annoyed that Mikan, her close friend, hadn't been at her successful party.

But that all changed when they spied the two sleeping on the couch. All six (except Hotaru) giggled and faffed about like pre-teens, and Koko went as far to take photos of the sleeping twosome—with his phone, digital camera and polaroid. Hotaru too of course took photos but for herself and for a more serious reason, entailing future blackmail if required.

So when Natsume and Mikan woke up the next morning, they were shocked to find polaroid after polaroid stuck (with magnets) on the fridge, of themselves sleeping on the couch, along with a long note. The note read:

Hey guys! We got back in at around 3:30am, I hope we didn't wake you up with all the noise and all the flash… We're all in our rooms sleeping. If I am not awake by 10am, please wake me up! Thanks – Yuu

Good morning to you both! Feel free to take muffins in the tin; I made them yesterday. P.S. you're both SO cute! – Anna :)

Mikan, don't forget you have Feminist Society at 14:00, Room 364. Hyuuga, I hope you didn't do anything funny. – Hotaru Imai.

The party last night was a lot of fun guys! Wish you were both there. Hope you two enjoyed watching Troy and Leon last night. Nice choices! I see you didn't quite finish watching your last film though. Movie night tonight? - Luca

Mikan, I forgive you for missing out on my party for this (arrow pointing in the direction of the polaroids). Natsume; delectable as ever! – Sumire xo

DUDE! We have some serious things to talk about tomorrow! Hi Mikan. Did you sleep well? ;) By the way, Natsume, stay away from my girlfriend. – Koko—OH OH OH, check Facebook! You guys are my cover photo!

A/N: Koko's real name is Shin Shino … ! Can you all believe it? It's written in the memorial book – I mean, it makes sense as 'Kokoroyomi' literally translates to 'heart/mind reader', and no parent in their right mind would call their child that! And Anna is half-Italian, which is incredibly exciting, for reasons disclosed… :)

Most chapters will not be this long! Some will be incredibly short. Not all chapter will focus on Natsume and Mikan. Updates will be sporadic.

I purposefully made everything vague – from where the story is set, to their age etc. Because this story will consist of drabbles, I won't go into great detail – no Brontesque or Wordsworth-worthy descriptions of nature sadly.

Hope you enjoyed, and please leave a review!