She showed up unannounced.
Mikan, who had been missing for years for reasons yet unknown.
Mikan, whose smile never fails to light up those around her.
She finally showed up.
"Good morning class. Today we have a new student, who is an old friend of ours. Come on in, Mikan!" said Narumi sensei while pointing to her. Everyone was shocked and greeted her, but to no avail. She would not respond.
"And we also have another student. Class, let us welcome Fuko Kirisawa. She possesses the Wing Controlling Alice."
Anna and Nonoko wanted to talk to Mikan, but whenever they approached her, she would give them a sharp look. On the other hand, whenever Fuko spoke to her, she would reply with a smile in a heartbeat.
Not too soon squeals could be heard from the hallway.
"Oh! Wow! He is so cute and so cool!" Mikan turned to look and guess who she saw? Natsume. She was not able to look away. Mikan continued to stare at him.
"Are you ok, Mikan-san?" asked Fuko, waving her hand furiously in front of Mikan's face.
"I'm fine." Mikan's voice was a monotone, without emotion.
When he noticed her, Natsume thought to himself that she looked familiar. Hence he asked Ruka if he knew her.
"Yeah! That's Mikan. I hope you remember," came his best friend's reply.
Natsume's sharp eyes widened at the reply.
"Don't you think she looks kind of different for some reason?" he asked again, staring at her all the while. Why was she alone? Shouldn't she be surrounded by their classmates by now?
Ruka was too busy chatting with the girls to notice what his buddy had said and had to ask Natsume whether he had said something.
Sweatdropping, Natsume shook his head. "Nothing at all," he mumbled, his gaze still fixed on her.
All the students rushed out of the class when the bell rang, except for Natsume who was searching for Mikan. Failing in his search, he left the classroom and headed out to the garden where he stumbled upon her. She was alone under the sakura tree, staring up to the shining sun which was proof that her mind had wandered far from where her body lied.
But Mikan looked sad, and her expression was one of seriousness.
Natsume moved to hide behind the building, wanting to spy at her when suddenly, he felt the presence of someone behind him. Shocked, he turned back slowly only find that it was Hotaru and Yuu.
"What are you two doing here?"
"You're not the only one who wants to know what's up with her." Hotaru was the one who replied, shocking Natsume.
Right then, a shadow appeared in front of Mikan. It was a lady with long blonde hair. She had the number 'I' on her forehead. They were shocked and Yuu was about to yell out when Hotaru stopped him.
So who IS this mysterious lady and what does she want with Mikan? Do they know each other? What has been bothering Mikan? Find out in the next chapter of the Dark Knight.