A Strawberry Christmas
(nikz135) 13th Doll Knight

NOTES: contents not edited YET; story is under revision. only a/ns are edited.
© Gakuen Alice is rightfully owned by Higuchi Tachibana.

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Chapter 1: Strawberry Pattern

It was December 23, two days before they celebrate their Christmas Party. The whole academy had been preparing for this most awaited event and successfully finished their decorating and stuff. Everyone did their job well and so did our beloved protagonist of Gakuen Alice, Mikan Sakura.

It was still early in the morning about 7 o'clock. The brunette was still sleeping in her 3-star bedroom.

Yes, she's a 3-star now. She had really tried and did her best during the past years and until now that she reached and achieved her goal in becoming a 3-star student.

She was currently one of the best alice users of the academy and was known for that. In addition, she too was famous for her cheery and up-and-at-it attitude and that sweet and cute smile of hers.

Besides that, she's now 14. She had grown these "curves" and had matured. She had finally let her hair down and used clips to put her bangs in place. Because of the physically-new Mikan, many boys had fallen for her looks and pretty face. But still, her dullness never left its place in herself.

She didn't even notice these boys who had admired her. And more importantly, she hasn't recognized the feelings she had towards a certain someone.

She often has this "weird" sensation whenever she is with him and at the same time, she feels safe and comfortable. So that's an "at least". Yet still, she doesn't know what it is. How dense can she be? Anyway, back to the story.

Drip Drop… Drip Drop… Drip Drop…

It was drizzling. A raindrop fell on her cheek and so she woke up from her slumber. She was surprised to see herself beneath the Sakura Tree. 'How did I get here?' she thought as she tried blinking her eyes if she was imagining things. But she wasn't. So nonetheless, she stood up and started walking towards her room. But a stoic voice stopped her.

"Mikan…"

"Huh? Wh-What? Who's there?" the startled Mikan shook her head to both directions as she tried to search the origin of the voice.

"Mikan…" the voice spoke yet again, not caring to reply.

"Answer me! Who's there?!" she started to cry due to being really frightened. 'Please don't be a ghost!' she thought.

"MIKAN!"

"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!" Mikan screamed as she sat up from her bed. She saw Hotaru's emotionless figure beside her. "Are you okay?" her best friend bluntly asked.

"I had a nightmare!" she answered.

"Whatever. Anyway, aren't you supposed to be ready by now?"

"Why? It's not a school day it's Saturday"

"You're not going to Central Town with us then?"

"Central Town?"

"How old are you?"

"14" Mikan answered with a huge and proud smile plastered on her face.

"More like a hundred year old" Hotaru teased.

"I told you I'm 14!"

"I mean, we will shop at Central Town today for presents to give to our classmates. This was even your idea"

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that…"

"Hn. An idiot as always"

"Hmmph!" she playfully stuck out her tongue.

"So, when are you planning to get ready? The bus arrives in half and hour"

"Now, I guess…" Mikan tilted her head and faced the window. She gave a loud sigh.

"What's in your dense mind right now? Mikan"

"Hmm… I'm planning on what to give Tsubasa-sempai and Misaki-sempai. I don't really know the stuff they like but I guess I know what to give Anna and Nonoko. Maybe they'd like to receive a love book. That's what they've been talking about for days. And hmm… what does Natsume want? Would he like a silver keychain with a fire ball logo printed on it? Yeah that's it! That's what I'll buy! And what's for Ruka-pyon? His has the animal pheromone right? I guess I'll give him a stuffed toy-" Mikan continued her nonstop babbling as she jotted notes on her notebook. Hotaru was getting really annoyed at her and so she did what she had to do just to shut her up.

BAKA BAKA BAKA

That sent Mikan flying towards the nearest wall. She fell down the on floor after she made a loud "BaAaM" at the wall -anime style-­.

"Ouch! That hurts! Hotaru!"

"If you will still continue your very long sermon, the bus might have arrived and left us by now" she paused and glanced at Mikan's wall clock. "By the way, you have only 15 minutes left to prepare…"

"What!? 15 minutes!? I have to hurry!" Mikan stood up and ran towards the bathroom to take a bath and proceeded doing her everyday routines. But this time, she was in a total hurry. Hotaru almost laughed at her panicking face. When the brunette was done, she looked up at her wall clock and sighed in relief for it was still 8 AM. "Phew! I can't believe I just did all those in 15 minutes!" she proudly spoke.

"Are you ready now?"

"Yeah I am!"

"Good"

Both of them walked from Mikan's room to the bus station. There was silence between the two. Mikan decided to break the peace.

"So, what are you planning to give our classmates?"

"You'll see..."

Wow! Hotaru unbelievingly ended the conversation even when it had just started.

"Well, what are you going to do after we shop?" Mikan asked, thinking this was the most appropriate start for a topic. But she was so wrong.

"Go home…" was the ever so expressionless reply.

Didn't you remember? This is the Ice Queen were talking about here. She haven't changed a lot these past years especially her stoic attitude towards everyone. But she did mature and had grown to be a very focused individual. And just like Mikan, she had these "curves" and the "looks" that made her stand out. She was also famous for her super creative mind. She had her first million when she was just 13 for the reason of her constant blackmailing and her inventions.

"Hotaru! Why do you always end conversations when it has just started?" Mikan told her in the most serious tone she could muster.

"Is that a problem?" Hotaru replied not even looking at her.

"Hmmph!" she stuck out her tongue.

"Ms. Imai!" a deep masculine voice called out as the two girls turned their heads to the right. The guy was one of the Technology Type Class and was obviously calling Hotaru's attention.

"What?" Hotaru answered.

"We will be having a meeting right now!"

"I'll be there…" She said and faced the brunette. "We will be having a meeting so, can you just go with Inchou and the others? Tell them I'm busy…" and with that, she left not bothering to hear her reply. Mikan just nodded and smiled and continued walking while humming the "Jingle Bells" tune.

When all of a sudden, she tripped and fell flat on the floor. She sat up and held her sore back. "Ouch!" she groaned.

"Oi Polkadots, or should I say, Strawberry Pattern?" a voice from behind said. She quickly stood up and turned around upon recognizing the owner of the voice.

"Natsume!" she yelled. "You saw my!- How could you?"

"Hn. You showed it to me…" Natsume smirked.

"Whatever!"

"So, you planning to go to Central Town today?" Natsume plainly questioned.

Mikan suddenly lost all the anger inside her as she answered his question. "Yup! Me and the others will be going there. What about you? Do you want to come with us?"

"I'll think about it… Strawberry Pattern…"

"Aaargghh! Natsume!" And again, her anger rose up until...

"Natsume?" someone said from behind the two. They turned and it was...