Well, right now, I don't really have anything to say, so I guess I'll let you read the story then.
"Hotaru! How could you not tell me? N-now we'll never see each other again!"
"Stop that, idiot. I'll visit."
"O-okay… but you have to promise!"
"Whatever, stupid."
It has now been 6 years since the then 10-year-olds have parted.
"Good morning, class!" the blonde teacher cried cheerfully as he span into the room. Morning sunlight glittered in the air, but the class only seemed tired. The teenagers (who had been talking) groaned and turned in their desks to face him with a lifeless greeting.
"Good morning, Narumi-sensei…"
Narumi grinned. "Well, I have a surprise for you, class! The principal is allowing everyone to visit one of our students' hometowns this summer! Of course, he's coming along to help supervise. Something about me not being a good role model…"
The seemingly innocent information sparked every member of the classroom's interest. The squeaking of the chairs certainly proved that.
"We'll be choosing through a drawing. And here we go!" The teacher dug around a hat that appeared from thin air. The students leaned forward in their desks to get a closer view. They murmured among themselves.
A green-haired girl leaned over to her seatmate and whispered, "I hope its Natsume-sama and Ruka-sama's." The raven-haired girl nodded in agreement.
Narumi removed a slip of paper and read it aloud. "Imai-san, it seems we'll be going to your home."
A violet-eyed beauty released her hold on her book. Although she did not smile, her aura seemed slightly happier. The rest of the class deflated.
"Why do we have to go to her town?"
"Yeah, I bet no one wants her back anyway!"
The teacher frowned. "Now, now, play nice. I'll see all soon!" he cooed.
The teenagers shuffled around the train car in boredom. The seats were hard, it was getting late, and most of them didn't understand why they were going. Hours passed, but none of them seemed to recognize the area.
Finally, someone stepped up
"Where are we going, Imai?" a claret-eyed boy demanded gruffly.
"My hometown, Hyuuga. What did you expect?" Hotaru replied gently.
"Imai…"
"It's remote, Hyuuga. You wouldn't know, so it doesn't matter."
More time passed until Narumi slid the door open.
"We're here, everyone!"
The students piled onto the sidewalk (actually, it was dirt) of a sunny village. The peaceful serenity of Hotaru's roots seemed to disturb them. Dust covered their private school shoes as the briefly examined their surroundings.
"Imai-chan! You're home!" a gaggle of girls giggled.
"Aiko-san. Suki-san. Rima-san," she called quietly.
"Mikan-chan's still at the tennis courts—she wanted extra practice—but she should finish up in about 15 minutes and then she'll come to get a snow cone, you'll see her soon!" Aiko explained. Hotaru nodded and turned to her class.
"You may explore the area, but I will not show you around yet. I'm waiting for Mikan."
Nobody else seemed to know what was going on so they dispersed. The time passed quickly.
"Hotaru! Why didn't you tell me you were visiting? You meanie! You hardly ever wrote! Liar!"
Everyone turned the brunette who was apparently Mikan. Her hair was pulled back rather messily, although that was to be expected after practice. Her big brown eyes were bright with annoyance and her face was streaked with sweat.
Baka. Baka. Baka.
"Ow! That hurts even more than the first one," Mikan whined.
"It's your fault. You were getting me covered in sweat."
Luckily, Narumi chose that moment to interfere. "You must be Hotaru's friend!"
Mikan smiled. "Yep! I'm Sakura Mikan, but please don't call me Sakura-san. Mikan-chan's just fine! It's nice to meet you, Oji-san."
Narumi smiled sadly in response.
"…Hey, Oji-san? Is something wrong?"
"No, Mikan-chan. You just remind me of someone I knew a long time ago… Ah! I haven't introduced myself. I'm Narumi Anju, but you may call me Narumi-sensei since Imai-san does!"
"Okay," Mikan giggled.
"Would you mind helping Hotaru with the tour around town tomorrow? She hasn't been in here in a long time, so some things may have changed… Plus, we're all tired. We'd like to get some rest before we have fun."
"Things rarely change around here," Mikan corrected. "But I'd be happy to!"
Narumi called attention from the class. "This is Sakura Mikan. She'll be showing you around town tomorrow."
"Good morning, Gakuen Alice students!" Mikan yelled through the door.
"Quiet! You're going to get us kicked out," one of them replied.
"Besides, it's too early to get up!"
Mikan sighed and removed the room card from her jacket pocket.
"H-how'd you get in here?" one of the girls shrieked.
"Narumi-sensei gave me a key. Everyone else is awake. Get up so we can have breakfast."
Mikan the left the other students and headed to the breakfast area.
"Mikan," Hotaru greeted before taking another bite of crab.
"Ooh, they have a waffle maker!" Mikan cheered as she fixed her breakfast. "We're going to have fun today at the fair!"
"Alright, I want to the ride the rollercoasters and stuff. If you want to go to the food court, go with Hotaru. You can also off on your own, but…" Mikan exclaimed. Most of the students branched off on their own, leaving only a couple to relax together.
It was then the "gang", consisting of Umenomiya Anna, Ogasawara Nonoko, Shouda Sumira, Usami Wakako, Yome Kokoro, Kitsuneme, Tobita Yuu, Mochiage, Hyuuga Natsume, Nogi Ruka, Imai Hotaru, and of course, Sakura Mikan, was formed.
Mikan was a sweet child. Everyone seemed to love her, many wondering why she was friends with the Ice Queen. Even Hyuuga and Nogi grew a friendship with the girl.
But Hotaru knew better.
Mikan's eyes had dimmed, holding a bittersweet sadness as she gazed upon each student, as if she knew better.
But what could innocent Mikan know of that? The blood, the battles, the mentally scarring moments that every student experienced, all the things that shouldn't exist near Mikan, in her world of unicorns and rainbows, of princesses and fairy tales.
Her smile was more controlled, less cheerful and more comforting, much too gentle for loud-mouthed Mikan.
Her hair, which Hotaru still expected to be in pigtails, was chopped off short. Mikan claimed it was for track, that is was more aerodynamic. But Hotaru knew Mikan was too clumsy for that sport.
But why would Mikan lie about that?
Why would Mikan lie at all?
Sweet, innocent, gentle, kind, caring, perfect Mikan.
"She's not the same," Hotaru murmured one night as she stood near one of her closer acquaintances, Nogi. "Mikan… She's different."
The boy was caught off guard and almost seemed to see her hidden tears. He smiled gently. "People change."
Hotaru shook her head. "Not that much. Not Mikan."
But Hotaru knew he wouldn't believe her. Everyone had their own idea of Mikan of course, and theirs is Mother Mikan, kind and gentle, but firm and scolding. Hotaru's is Needy Mikan, like a little sister who tags along.
Besides, who knew? Maybe Hotaru was the one who had the wrong idea of Mikan.
"Mikan-chan!" Anna and Nonoko called. "Would you like to come to the movies with us? Since Yukihara-kocho is coming, everyone will be there!"
Slight pain etched itself on the brunette's face.
"I'm sorry. I'm busy. Maybe some other time."
The two girls nodded sadly and headed back to their class.
Koko and Kitsuneme approached them. "Doesn't it seem like Mikan-chan wants to leave whenever the principal is coming?"
"Ah… Yes," Anna nodded.
"It does," Nonoko added.
The teenagers pondered the subject for a few moments before abandoning the time for the movie.
The end of summer came too quickly. The class drowned in remorse as they awaited a meeting with the girl they had become accustomed to being around.
"Hi, everyone! I have necklaces I made! Please accept them as goodbye gifts," Mikan called cheerfully. The group turned to her. Mikan slid the first pendant on Hotaru's neck. She took the time to stop and examine it. A tangerine colored stone hung off the chain, gleaming in the light.
Everyone examined them carefully. Mikan gave them one pained smile.
"Promise me you'll always wear them."
Sumire looked up at her. "What are they for?"
"You'll know when you need them…" she replied.
They were all silent for a moment, wondering what had happened to Mikan to make her act like this.
"Are you coming to say goodbye?" Anna asked.
Mikan shook her head. "I'm sorry. I have something to do."
And so ends the tale of Sakura Mikan.
Not three months later did they discover something disturbing, when the class searched Mikan's phone number to call her in hopes of keeping in touch.
"We're sorry, but there is no one by the name of Sakura Mikan in our database."
Okay, this is not the end! I'm going to be irritated if someone asks why it just ended, because it didn't. But my words were chosen for a reason.
I didn't plan to write another Gakuen Alice story. I just thought that someone would have already written this basic idea, and when I didn't find anything, I had to write it myself. But I did, and I guess I'm pleased with it.