I don't think I've ever written a Gakuen Alice fanfiction before. If I have, thank God I can't remember anything because my old fanfictions were nothing but pure atrocity.
I'm not really sure where I'm going with the storyline here. I've a few major twists and plots that are definitely going in, but it's mostly writing and finding ideas along the way. I decided to write this story (as well as create a few plot ideas) whilst listening to Summertime Sadness by my bae, Lana, so you can imagine the vibe of this fanfic, lmao.
In the past, many of my fanfictions didn't make sense due to my carelessness, therefore there were a lot of plotholes. I'm so sorry if that is the case in this as well, lol.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.
Vermilion Border
- Chapter 1 -
Crimson Red
x
"I'm incredibly sorry, Miss Mikan, but we require a minimum deposit of at least four-hundred-thousand yen each month."
Sakura Mikan sighed for the umpteenth time that day and bit down on her tongue to keep herself from crying out in frustration.
She was short of the monthly minimum, again.
"But, but I really can't pay that much each month - I'm already working two jobs and I still have my student loan to pay!"
The middle-aged woman sitting opposite Mikan (sporting a formal updo and clutching an envelope filled with just short of two-hundred-thousand yen in her hand) grimaced sympathetically at the young girl's panicking state and waited for her to calm down.
"Sorry, Miss Mikan, but since the debt your grandfather left behind is considerably large, four-hundred-thousand yen a month is already considered fair in terms of monthly payments."
Mikan stared at the floor and gripped the edges of her seat in effort to not let tears start rolling down her eyes. She was already struggling to juggle her waitressing and barista jobs that she had been working full-time as, as well as finding the time to eat and sleep. Initially, her plan after graduating university (with a degree in English and translation) was to begin working as an intern at a company, hopefully working her way up the ranks. However, her grandfather's sudden death meant there was a change in plans.
Grandfather...
Mikan sighed and placed a hand over her chest in effort to control her pounding heart. She clenched her eyes shut and tried to block out images of her grandfather lying in the hospital bed, skin pale white and his breathing uneven after doctors told her the brain tumour was discovered too late.
"Mikan, listen to grandfather. You can overcome anything."
"I understand," she finally said when she managed to compose herself. "Thank you for your time."
"Not at all, Miss Mikan, please be careful on your way out."
After all, if she could make it through university living in a one-room apartment with her grandfather, then she could manage spending every waking hour for the next few months paying off the debt her grandfather left behind.
"Oh, what to do...what to do..." she murmured to herself when the cold February wind hit her in the face. It was a cold Sunday (the only day she got off from work during the week), and she was spending it miserably.
Children and parents were milling about in the park, bundled up in winter clothing and woolly scarves. Mikan clutched her own cherry pink scarf closer to her mouth and hurried along the dirt path.
"Excuse me, miss, may I interest you in a flyer?"
Mikan turned around and found a pretty young female grinning at her with a hot pink leaflet in her hand.
"Oh, um, sure."
"Great," the woman said and pressed the piece of paper into Mikan's hand. "It's a leaflet advertising hostess jobs. Our company needs some new girls for this summer and we prefer when they apply a few months in advance."
Hostess...job? She'd vaguely heard of the profession before, but didn't really know what it consisted of. From what she heard at university, it wasn't a respectable profession.
"I heard they sleep with ALL their clients, every single night!"
"No way! Really?"
"Yeah, it's basically prostitution."
Mikan eyed the girl and her outfit wearily.
Over the knee boots...hot pants...crop top and showing bra straps in the middle of February? Mikan then looked down at her own outfit: skinny jeans, converse shoes, a woolly jumper and a fluffy scarf and hat. She didn't want to judge the girl so quickly, and thus decided that the girl must've just been trying to make a bold fashion statement.
"Well then, see you!" the girl called cheerfully as she skipped off, the hems of her knickers showing as her little heels carried her away. Mikan quickly looked away and prepared herself to throw the leaflet away at the nearest bin - until some numbers caught her eye.
30,000 yen per night, guaranteed!
Staring straight back at her was a beautifully printed 5-digit number that screamed 'I CAN PAY OFF YOUR DEBT, MIKAN!'
Oh my god, Mikan thought, what what what?
Come for an interview whenever at Love Divine, 43rd Tokyo Street!
30,000 yen per night?
Mikan made sure no-one was watching and stuffed the leaflet in her pocket. She pulled out her phone and dialled a number in the contact list.
"Hello, Hotaru? I'm going to be a bit late to our coffee date, I need to go home and get changed."
"I'm telling you, Natsume, you've got to stop treating women like this!"
The dark-haired man simply rolled his eyes at the blubbering blonde and resumed reading through his papers - it was ten in the morning and he was already annoyed from waking up next to some random woman who cried when he told her simply to leave.
"Whatever, Ruka."
"No, Natsume!" He repeated once again, pushing the piece of paper out of his friend's grip. "I'm being serious!"
Natsume slapped his hand down on the table with a look of annoyance on his face. As CEO ofHyuuga & Co., the biggest shipping company in Japan, he needed to get these papers read and filled in within the next hour.
Piles of unopened envelopes stared back at him, and he stared at the man in front of his desk with as much enthusiasm as he had to open them.
"You know Nobara just ran down the stairs crying?"
Natsume blinked and continued looking at his documents.
"Who?"
Ruka gasped. "Nobara!"
Natsume shrugged and ignored his friend's complaints, clearly not giving a damn who this 'Nobara' girl was.
"This is your problem, Natsume Hyuuga! You treat women like crap and I think it's totally unfair."
"How I treat women," he replied evenly, "is none of your business, Ruka."
"So I'm supposed to ignore them when they come running into the company building crying for you?"
Natsume sighed, "Leave it, Ruka. I don't even know why you're so bothered."
Ruka shifted uncomfortably and scratched the back of his head. "Well...it just so happens that Nobara is an acquaintance of mine."
Red eyes glanced over at blue ones and then averted back to business documents.
"I see."
"Yeah," Ruka carried on, "I know I never mentioned how you treated women before, but Nobara is the daughter of one of my mother's friends and we've hung out together a few times. Seeing Nobara hurt like that was hard.''
''You know,'' Natsume said whilst pulling another sheet of paper from an envelope, ''you're too soft, Ruka. One day those feelings of yours will get you into some serious shit. I'm not prepared to get myself into a situation like that.''
Ruka huffed and clutched his files closer to his chest, glancing around Natsume's office.
"Why are you here, anyway?" Natsume asked with a raised brow. Ruka was head surgeon at one of the biggest animal centres in Tokyo but here he was, standing in front of Natsume's office almost a twenty minute drive away.
"I came here to inform you that I've arranged a meeting for us with someone tomorrow."
"You know, you've could have just called me to tell me."
"Yes, but I wanted to tell you in person because I think it's going to be a really good business move for both of us.''
''Alright, shoot.''
"So," Ruka said confidently, "the meeting is with new a representative of theAzama Invention Company who has recently come up with a device that will be of use not only to the animal centre, but also your shipping company if it were to be a success overseas."
Natsume pondered for a moment over the thought of signing another contract for shipping overseas. "Alright, fine."
"Good," Ruka beamed, "tomorrow it is."
Natsume waited for his best friend to shut his office door before sighing and grabbing his phone which had been annoyingly vibrating non-stop since the last ten minutes. He unlocked his phone and rolled his eyes at the hoards of messages.
From unknown sender, 11:12am.
Natsume～! I was thinking, how 'bout we go on a date again? Mari.
From unknown sender, 11:14am.
Natsu! How could you stop returning my calls? Call me back! Love, Momoko.
From Miyako T.
Am I just a booty call to you?
He was about to delete all his text messages when an incoming call from his father stopped him short of his actions. He cursed silently and debated on whether to ignore the call, but then remembered he needed to be on his dad's good side if he wanted to inheritHyuuga & co in the future.
''Hello?'' he said as he mustered as much patience as he could.
''Natsume, what did I tell you about Shouda's daughter?'' the voice on the other end of the line demanded.
''I'll get to it,'' Natsume replied casually and reached for his cup of coffee.
''Natsume, don't play around like this. You know that a contract with Shouda Artworks would be beneficial to both our company's shares and our company reputation. They are reknowned in Europe for their products and that's a big opporunity for us.''
Natsume grunted in acknowledgement and stayed silent.
''I am serious, Natsume Hyuuga. When I said I wanted you to court Shouda's daughter, I wasn't joking around. You know that Sumire wouldn't object at all - she specifically requested for you at our company's last winter ball. With you two together, the contract would be a done deal. Do you know how many companies want to sign a deal with Shouda Artworks? I'm warning you, Natsume. No progress from you two and I'm giving the company to your cousin, Tsubasa.'' And with that, he hung up.
Natsume Hyuuga swore to himself when the line went dead and the monotnous beep of his phone filled the room. He despised that Sumire Shouda more than any other woman, which was an accomplishment considering most women annoyed him and he only kept them round to sleep with. But he couldn't let the company go into Tsubasa's hands.Hyuuga & co. was rightfully his - he was the CEO, not Tsubasa. His father only threw Tsubasa into the whole Hyuuga-company-inheritance triangle because he knew that the rivalry between the two young men would only fuel Natsume's passion to work harder.
''Fuck this,'' he spat when he unlocked his phone again and clicked on Sumire's contact number which he acquired a month prior (or rather, she forcefully took his phone and put it in herself whilst he tried not to grab it back under the watchful gaze of both their fathers), and pressed the 'message' button.
"One taro bubble tea, please."
Mikan, clad in a crop top and skirt, watched anxiously as the thin girl behind the bar poured purple liquid into a plastic cup and placed a plastic lid on top.
"You're not ordering?" Hotaru inquired when she took a long sip of the lilac confectionery, leading Mikan over to sit at a small table in the shop.
"Uh.." Mikan thought quickly, "no, I, uh, I'm not hungry - I just ate!"
False - total lie.
Mikan eyed Hotaru's drink with jealousy and suddenly wished she had her own strawberry version in her hand.
Huge debt means small sacrifices, she noted.
"Have you paid off your debt yet?" Hotaru asked nonchalantly through a mouthful of tapioca pearls. Mikan smiled at her uneasily and slowly nodded, hoping she wouldn't notice the hesitation in her actions.
"Almost...I'm getting there."
When Hotaru simply nodded back, Mikan felt a pang of guilt hit her. She told Hotaru that the debt was only small (she told her it was 'a couple of thousands', which was technically true) and didn't fully reveal the contents of the entire debt to her. Mikan prided herself in being cheerful, happy and lively - she didn't want to weigh down Hotaru with her troubles and cause her to worry, especially when Hotaru was doing so well after graduating from university with a degree in mechanical engineering.
"How's your job going so far?" Mikan asked with a sheepish grin on her face.
Hotaru, being a complete genius and all, got an internship at an engineering company straight after she graduated - not even two months later, she was promoted to chief designer.
Hotaru played with her straw and smiled ever so slightly. "It's going good. I've recently come up with some new inventions that the company's looking into patenting and then hopefully selling abroad to companies in Russia and China. After that, they're looking into the States and Europe."
Mikan squealed and leaned forward in her chair, amazed that her best friend was doing so well. "Kyaa! I'm so happy for you, Hotaru! You're doing so well. Don't forget me when you're ultra rich and famous!"
"Stay away from my bubble tea," was all she said when Mikan's waving arms came too close to the half-finished drink. Mikan giggled and quickly retracted her flailing arms.
"By the way, what hour shifts are you working at the cafe tomorrow?"
Mikan pursed her lips and thought over her Monday work schedule. ''Eight to four, I believe, then waitressing from five to eight.''
"Ah, right," Hotaru replied, "I might see you there. I have a business meeting tomorrow and I chose to hold it at Petite Biscuit."
"Wow, Hotaru, I can't believe your internship is going so well...although I probably shouldn't call it that since you've already been promoted to chief designer!"
Hotaru nursed her bubble tea and thought for a moment. "When are you going for an internship? You've already delayed it almost half a year just to work part time at that cafe and restaurant."
The brunette blinked momentarily and slumped a little in her chair. "I...I know, but it's just for the time being until I can...find a good internship?" she lied through her teeth.
Truth was, she'd already received offers from various companies, including working as a trainee translator for one of Japan's leading electronics companies, Tachibana Electronics Ltd., but the pay would be insufficient and she couldn't afford to waste even one second of precious money-earning time...
Which reminded her...
"Crap!" Mikan squeaked hastily, glancing at her phone, "I'm supposed to be going to an interview in ten minutes!"
Hotaru watched as she fumbled around, grabbing her bag and earphones and running for the door.
"Good luck," she called out, finishing her drink with one single sip. "Baka."
Mikan couldn't believe she was actually doing this.
Oh, calm down, Mikan! This is just a hostessing job, it's not shady at all, right? Besides, those debts aren't going to pay themselves!
That's right, Sakura Mikan was at a hostess job interview. I mean, who could refuse an advertisement promising tens-of-thousands of yen per night? Definitely not Mikan and her negative bank account.
'Yeah, I've just arrived. I'll call you back later, okay?''
Mikan eyed the girl sitting opposite her on a seat in the waiting room and immediately wished she'd made a bigger effort with herself. The pretty woman, who looked at least five years older than Mikan herself, exerted a mature sort of beauty as she flipped her phone shut and swished her pink hair over her shoulders.
God damnit, she's totally going to get the job. Why did I come in no makeup and a SpongeBob crop top? Ugh, stupid Mikan! I could've made a bigger effort...
The woman must've noticed Mikan staring wide-eyed at her for she sat forward and giggled.
''This is your first time trying out for this kind of job, I assume? You look so nervous.''
Mikan blinked in shock at the confidence in the woman's voice and coughed uneasily. ''Oh, yes. It is.''
''Don't worry,'' she replied as she leaned back into the chair, eyelashes fluttering, ''you'll definitely get the job. How old are you, 16?''
Did she really look that young? Her childish pigtails probably played into it, she noted.
Now I'm definitely not going to get this job.
''I've just turned 22.''
''Ah, I see. Don't stress, you'll get work - men like the young types, obviously, and you've got that cute look about you. You'll be a hit.''
''Thanks...'' Mikan mumbled as she glanced at her converse trainers and Spongebob's huge eyes staring back at her awkwardly. Hardly glamourous at all.
"Men like the young types, you'll be a hit."
Her words echoed in Mikan's head and she couldn't help but shudder. Her only experience with the opposite sex was the occasional weirdo trying to feel her up on her nights out at university and one short-term relationship that ended badly (she caught him sleeping with another girl), and that was enough to put her off them for her duration there. Sure, guys tried to ask her out (according to some girls from her university days, she was 'pretty cute'), but she declined them all and opted to stay in and watch TV.
That is, until now.
''Are you..." Mikan began, "...experienced in this line of work?''
All Mikan kept picturing in her head were images of half-naked hostess girls making out with wrinkly old businessmen. She shuddered at the thought.
The woman laughed at Mikan's anxious expression and waved a mannicured hand in dismissal. ''Oh, of course I am, sweetie. You can call me Misaki.''
''Misaki...'' Mikan repeated, ''nice to meet you. I'm Mikan. Sakura Mikan.''
''Likewise,'' Misaki nodded. "Ah...well, first of all, don't believe the whole stereotype that this industry is all about sex. It's not. It's about giving men a sense of friendship and being good company. There's almost no sex involved, and I say 'almost' because you can arrange to meet up with them in your own time, but that's pretty rare here.''
''Oh, thank goodness...'' Mikan sighed in relief. So apparently hostessing was just drinking and looking pretty. The job seemed easy enough - now all she had to do was find a way to hide it from Hotaru. She didn't want Hotaru worrying about her, and if Hotaru was to lend her money, she wouldn't be able to pay it back fast enough.
''Mikan Sakura?''
The sound of the door opening broke her out of her wearisome thoughts.
''Oh, that's you,'' Misaki said as an older lady poked her head around the door. ''You'll be fine, Sakura-chan.''
Mikan quickly nodded and grabbed her bag. ''I'm here!''
''Ah yes, Sakura-chan,'' the old woman, wearing an exquisitely beautiful kimono, said and ushered her through the door of the waiting room. ''The interview room is this way.''
Mikan followed the old woman (who Mikan noted to be of high importance, considering the amount of greetings she was receiving) down a series of corridors until they reached a spacious room that appeared to be the woman's office. It was furnished with velvet carpeting, royal blue wallpaper and expensive-looking ornaments such as massive jewels and paintings lining the walls and furniture.
''Please, do sit down,'' the lady gestured to Mikan as she took her own seat behind the office desk.
Mikan hastily sat down on the velvet chair and placed her bag by her feet.
''I'm Himemiya, the owner of this hostess bar. You can call me Hī-sama. I conduct the interviews myself here and if you are successful, I will be contacting you within the next 24-hours.''
Mikan nodded and remained silent. That explained all the bowing people before.
''Now, dear, you said your name was Sakura?'' she asked as she opened the lid of a pen, preparing to take notes of the interview process.
''Yes, ma'am,'' Mikan replied, ''my name is Sakura Mikan.''
''And Sakura, how old are you?''
''I turned 22 recently.''
''And do you have an qualifications? Any other jobs?''
Mikan glanced down momentarily upon the thought of her degree being wasted working in a hostess bar of all places, but hey - at least the pay was good. ''I graduated from university with a degree in English and translation, and I'm currently working as a waitress and barista full-time during the day.''
Hī-sama raised her brows in surprise and stopped writing briefly, before slowly nodding and continuing to make notes. ''What a rather strange predicament you've got yourself into, child. You say you've graduated from university and now you're working full-time as a waitress and a barista during the day, and you're looking into working as a hostess during the night?''
''I...'' Mikan began, unable to find the words to explain her situation without bawling. It'd been a hellish few months for her bank account, social life and physical and mental wellbeing, and she didn't want to start crying now in a job interview that promised at leastthirty-thousand yen a night. ''I, um...it's...''
''Debt?'' Hī-sama asked, still writing notes on her sheet of paper.
Mikan's eyes widened upon her brashness and quickly mustered the strength to make an audible response. ''Yes.''
''Child, believe me, most of the girls working here wouldn't be here if they weren't neck-deep in debt,'' she replied as she nonchalantly turned over the paper and began writing a new line. "Owing money to drug dealers, funding money for cocaine, I've seen it all."
Mikan didn't know how to respond to Hī-sama's comments - she wasn't too familiar with 'bad girls' who did drugs and whatnot, and began to seriously reconsider working here.
"I read your leaflet, is this job going to start in the summer?"
''Actually,'' Hī-sama suddenly began, ''I have good news.'' Mikan's ears pricked up in curiosity as she placed the pen down onto the table and clasped her hands together. ''One of our girls left a vacancy available just a few hours ago after she injured her leg in a car accident, so there's a temporary space available for a month or two.''
Mikan gasped and put her hand to her chest. "Oh my gosh, is she alright? What happened?"
"She should be, she's a strong girl. Got into a small car accident today outside that Hyuuga company building and fractured her kneecap."
"How bad is her injury?" Mikan probed with worry in her voice.
"Not serious enough to be massively concerned, but she does have a nasty fracture. It may only be for a month or two until Nobara comes back, but you're welcome to fill in for her."
"I...thankyou," Mikan started rather slowly, "but if it's ok, I'd like to meet Nobara-san and give her my thanks, as well as best wishes for her health, personally. After all, because of her I am able to work here, even though it isn't through the best of situations."
Hī-sama studied the girl's determined yet grateful expression for a moment and shook her head. "My, my, child. I have to admit, you're quite the determined soul."
"If you could let me visit Nobara-san, I would be forever grateful," Mikan replied with a bow.
Hī-sama shuffled her papers and reached for her drawer. "Very well, Sakura. I'm sure you've met Misaki, the other girl who was in the room with you. She knows about Nobara's situation since she used to work here and still keeps in contact with Nobara, and she is only here today to catch up with the other girls. If you ask her to take you, I'm sure she would agree."
"Thankyou, thankyou!" Mikan said as bowed and slung her bag over her shoulder.
Hī-sama smiled and handed Mikan a sheet of paper. "Here is the timetable. You will be working Nobara's shifts. She works every night of the week apart from Thursdays. Are you able to start tonight?"
"Yes, I am!" Mikan bowed as she took the sheet for, her hands.
Hī-sama put the pen back into the drawer and stood up. "See you tonight, Mikan-san."
"So this is the hospital where Nobara-san's staying at?"
"Yeah, it is. The nurses here are really nice."
Sakura Mikan followed Misaki closely through the maze of hallways and blue wallpaper.
"What room did the receptionist say it was, sweetie?" Misaki asked as she glanced at each number painted on the doors.
"46, I think it was," Mikan replied as she walked past a door with '40' written on it. "It should be that door right there."
"Ah, here we go," Misaki said and opened the door carefully. The immediate sound of someone bustling about in the hospital bed drew Mikan's attention to a frail looking girl with silver hair lying down with her leg in a white cast.
"Misaki!" she smiled and reached her arms out for the older girl.
"Nobara!"
Mikan watched as the two girls hugged and awkwardly stood by the door.
"Ah, is that the girl you texted me about?" Nobara inquired as she peered over Misaki's shoulder to better look at Mikan's features. "She's pretty."
"Hello, I'm Sakura Mikan." She walked over to Nobara's bed. ''I came to make sure you were okay, and I'm sorry that I only got this job because you were injured-''
"Nonsense," Nobara laughed and looked Mikan sincerely in the eyes, "I'm more than happy that a girl like you is working in my place. You seem sweet, Mikan."
"Uh, hello?" Misaki coughed and clicked her fingers in front of Nobara's face, "you haven't replied to my text as to how you FRACTURED YOUR KNEE CAP, NOBARA IBARAGI!" Misaki scolded her loudly and inspected the impossibly large cast encasing her small leg. ''How the hell did you manage that, woman?''
"Ugh, don't remind me," Nobara rolled her eyes and groaned. She touched the plaster with the tip of her finger and hit her head on the pillow in frustration. "It was all because of that Natsume guy again, Misaki."
Misaki turned to Nobara and frowned. "Oh my god, again? What did I tell you last time, Nobara!"
"I know, I know, but I just had to see him again, Misaki, you've got to understand. I couldn't stop thinking about him from our last one night stand."
Mikan blushed at their conversation and considered whether or not they'd notice if she slowly backed out of the room.
''What did he do?'' Misaki asked, livid, ''If he stooped so low as to hit you with his car, I swear to God, I'll-''
''No, no, he isn't that cold-hearted,'' Nobara said quietly.
Misaki snorted. ''I wouldn't be surprised if he was.''
"Listen. What actually happened was I woke up next to him this morning, he told me to leave and never speak to him again so, naturally, I was upset and went to find him in his office."
"What!" Misaki cried, "No way! Why would you do that?"
"I just really wanted to see him and know why he hated me so much," Nobara said quietly, "so I tried to find him but ended up bumping into an old friend of mine who happened to be Natsume's best friend. I broke down and told him everything. I told him about how I really wanted to see Natsume and how he'd ignore me after he'd finished with me."
Mikan shuddered at the way Nobara said this Natsume guy 'finished' using her. He sounded like a right pig.
"And then what?" Misaki probed.
"Then I got too embarrassed to go all the way to Natsume's office so I just got into my car and, I guess I wasn't paying attention because before I knew it, I drove right into another car passing outside the building."
Misaki shook her head and signed in anger. "Screw that Natsume Hyuuga."
Mikan suddenly raised a brow and stared at Misaki comforting Nobara with a confused expression on her face.
Natsume Hyuuga?
Natsume Hyuuga, Natsume Hyuuga, Natsume Hyuuga...she definitely knew that name.
''Who's Na-'' Mikan began.
"I swear," Misaki said, cracking her knuckles, "if I ever see that Natsume Hyuuga-"
"Stop, Misaki," Nobara gently said, "leave it. I don't want to talk about it."
Misaki sighed and pecked the silver-haired girl's forehead. "Fine. You need to take better care of yourself from now on."
Nobara giggled and nodded. "I will, don't worry. Anyways, I think you both better get back to Love Divine now. My shift - or rather, Mikan's shift is due to start in two hours."
Mikan gulped and glanced at the clock in the room.
7:04pm. Just under an two hours until her shift started at 9.
"Oh good," Misaki smiled and took Mikan by the arm in excitement, "Let me take you back to mine to do your makeup. You can borrow my clothes, too, if you'd like."
Mikan glanced down at her Spongebob crop top and nodded egearly.
''Natsume-kun~, I'm SO happy I got your message, I'm really looking forward to our date on Tuesday!''
He had to tighten his grip on the phone to stop himself from hanging up that very second. Her squeaky voice and over-enthusiastic tone was pushing him over his limit.
''Okay,'' was all he simply said before hanging up, ''See you.''
He sighed and pushed all the opened envelopes to one side and rubbed his eyes with his hands - finally, he'd finished reading through every pain-stakingly long letter and signed contacts to those that would benefit the company and reject those that were not.
Ring Ring.
He swore to God, if it was Sumire again, he would flip.
''What do you want?'' he asked in irritation upon sliding open his phone.
''Good to hear from you too, best friend.''
Natsume glanced at the clock which read 8:34pm. ''Ruka?''
''Yeah, listen, I just got back from work and got a call off my mother saying that Nobara from this morning was involved in a minor car accident - her mum told my mum, you see.''
Natsume remained unfazed. ''And?''
''So, considering that YOU probably indirectly caused the car crash-''
''What?''
''-because she was probably so upset that you were such an IDIOT to her, I've decided we should go pay her a visit in hospital to see if she is okay.''
''No.''
Ruka sighed. ''Natsume, we need to go. It's the right thing to do.''
''No.''
''Well, she's my friend, Natsume. And she's hurt, because of you. We are going to visit her, like it or not, or I'll cancel that meeting tomorrow.''
Natsume swore he felt a nerve snap in his head. ''Fine,'' he ground out. ''This meeting tomorrow better be worth it or I'm walking out.''
''Okay, well...I don't actually known where the hospital is, so-''
''You don't know where the hospital is? Then why are we even-''
''But I know she works at this hostess bar because the lady who owns it once sent her cat to my centre, so if we go we can ask them if they know where she is.''
''What? Are you out of your mind?''
''My mum's phone is switched off at the moment because she's on a plane to film a movie in Germany, so I can't contact her to have her ask for me.''
''Ruka, I am not setting foot in a cheap hostess bar.''
''Tough, I'm picking you up in twenty. Be ready.'' And with that, Ruka hung up, leaving Natsume silently seething and wondering if now was a good time to have a mental breakdown. He shrugged off his blazer jacket and loosened his tie. He was supposed to be meeting up with a girl he had met at the said winter ball his father mentioned previously, but realised that he now had to text her to cancel it.
He tapped the letters into his phone effortlessly and placed it onto the table.
Can't make it tonight.
She was going to be disappointed for sure, but he'd find someone else easily if he needed to.
Natsume Hyuuga had high standards when it came to women. He was of a wealthy upper-class background, and so it was only natural that his counterparts were equally as well-bred. Sure, the woman he was supposed to be seeing tonight was tremendously beautiful (Koko, was it? Or was it Kiyo?), but he had no interest in anything long-term. He'd only ever had one girlfriend during his first few years of university and he wasn't going to repeat it any time soon. He found it too much of a hassle, and becoming the next director of Hyuuga & co. was his main concern. Therefore, he only interacted with women when he pleased.
That is, until his father decided that dating Sumire Shouda would be an excellent idea.
He sighed when he realised that he promised (was forced, even) to take that annoying woman on a dinner date during the week.
Ping!
He picked up his phone and saw that he had a new message.
From Ruka Nogi, 8:52pm.
Get in loser, we're going to Love Divine.
She awkwardly ambled into the noisy bar and found her way over to Hī-sama writing notes down at the corner of the room. Misaki had dropped her off and drove back home to her small apartment in downtown Tokyo.
''Hello, Hī-sama,'' she greeted, rubbing her bare arms self-consciously.
''Mikan!'' she gasped, ''You look wonderful.''
She had to admit, Misaki did a really good job in giving her a makeover. Misaki had given her a strapless white bardot dress, pearl earrings, and red heels to match. Her hair was still in her trademark pigtails (Misaki called them 'cute') and she sported lilac eyeshadow, fake eyelashes, and crimson lips.
Whilst she looked calm and steady on the outside, her insides were churning and knotting themselves in a painfully intolerable fashion.
''You will be on table six tonight,'' Hī-sama said as she handed Mikan a bottle opener and a wristband. ''This wristband is just to show that you work here,'' she said and pointed to the far corner of the bustling room. ''There's table six. Anna and Yura are already there with a few clients, just go up and introduce yourself.''
Mikan nodded and slipped the red band on her skinny wrist with ease. Gathering all the courage she could, she trembled slightly as she walked over to the far-back table with as much confidence as she could. From the outer corners of her eyes, she could feel the gaze of numerous men eyeing her up as she walked past, even hearing the occasional ''Is she new?'' and ''They keep the cute ones coming.''
Finally, after what seemed like a five-mile walk, she approached the medium-sized table and smiled.
''Hello, I'm Sakura. The new hostess.''
''Ah, you're here!'' an excited (and slightly tipsy) pink-haired girl exclaimed and scooted over to one side to make room for the new addition to the table. ''Hi-sama was talking about you. I'm Anna.''
Mikan smiled and sat down. The three clients that were sitting opposite her appeared to be around 40-years-old and wore business suits. They smiled at her with goofy drunken faces and grabbed another bottle of champagne.
''A toast, to the new girl!'' one of them called excitedly as he grabbed a bottle opener from the middle of the table.
''Hi, I'm Yura,'' the girl with grey-brown hair called from the other side of Anna, who was currently laughing as she allowed them to fill her cup to the brim with the golden liquid.
''Hi, I'm-'' Mikan started but was startled by someone shoving a glass filled with champagne into her hand.
''Haha, don't worry,'' Yura giggled, ''you get used to it.''
Mikan nodded and obediently copied everyone else in downing the fizzy concoction. It burned her throat - proabably a result of never drinking much - and settled uneasily in her stomach.
''So, Sakura-chan, what are your hobbies?'' the man directly opposite her asked.
Mikan blinked and stuttered for an answer. ''Uh...uh...''
''Lie,'' Anna whispered in her ear, ''they don't actually care if you're being honest. They just want you to talk to them.''
Oh, okay.
She paused for a moment and said the first thing that came directly into her head.
''I love watching anime.''
God dammit, Mikan! Way to go. Now you sound about twelve.
Mikan instantly regretted her answer and she heard everyone around her laugh in surprise.
''Oh, no,'' Mikan hastily added, ''what I meant was, uh...I-''
''That's so cute,'' a second man interjected.
''Yeah, I love anime, too,'' a third chimed. ''I love my Sailor Moon!''
Mikan turned to Anna and Yura and found that they were looking straight back at her with amusement.
''Don't fret, Sakura, You're doing fine.''
She nodded and turned back to the table, raising her glass for another round of drinks.
Natsume clicked his tongue in distaste when Ruka drove up outside a small dingy-looking building with a hideous neon sign saying 'Love Divine' stuck to the front of it. By the looks of the groups of old men walking in, they'd be the youngest in that place by about twenty years.
''I can't believe you're making me go in,'' he hissed when Ruka unbuckled his seatbelt.
''We're only going in to ask for Nobara's details then we're leaving.''
Natsume had no choice but to follow Ruka out of the car and into the dodgy building.
''Hello, gentlemen,'' the girl at the door said when they approached the entrance. From the looks of it, she was surprised that two attractive young men were spending their Sunday night at a place like this. She eyed Natsume up and down with a suggestive grin and he smirked back, chuckling because she thought she had a chance.
''I'm Miruku,'' she purred. Ruka coughed uneasily and pulled out his wallet.
''Just the two of us, thankyou.''
''Alright, that'd be ten-thousand yen, please.''
Ruka quickly handed over the money and retreated into the darkness behind the double doors, thankful that he was now out of Miruku's lustful gaze. Natsume took his time walking into the venue and even smirked at Miruku, earning him a flutter of her eyelashes and a bite of her lip.
Disgusting.
He tore his gaze from her and pushed open the double doors. An immediate scent of alcohol mixed with flowery perfume hit his nose.
The room was noisy and filled with masses of women and men sitting together at tables with at least ten bottles of alcohol littered on and around them.
''How many hostesses would you like, gentlemen?'' a petite girl asked as she held a notebook with photos of various girls in her hand.
''Oh,'' Ruka said politely, ''I'm actually friends with a girl who works here and I heard she was involved in an accident today. I don't have her contact details and I was wondering if I could speak to whoever's in charge here?''
''Um...'' the girl began in uncertainty, ''...okay, I'll see what I can do. Please wait here.'' She bowed and turned on her heels.
''Ruka, you do realise we probably look like two stalkers stalking a girl who works here right now,'' Natsume muttered as she turned himself away from the masses of the people and instead, opted to gaze at the front entrance.
''Behave, Natsume. My mum is terribly worried about her, so I think this would put her mind at ease.''
Natsume rolled his eyes and continued staring at the two metal doors, trying to block out the sounds around him.
''Oh my gosh, he is cute!''
''Isn't he just?''
''Blondie is quite handsome, too, don't you think?''
''I wonder why they've not requested any hostesses and are just standing there?''
''I hope he chooses me!"'
He sighed massage the bridge of his nose.
''Here is our boss, gentlemen.''
Natsume and Ruka turned to an old but very elegant woman in a wine red kimono looking expectantly at them, a pen behind her ear.
''Good evening,'' she greeted with a suspicious grin.
''Good evening, it's Ruka from the animal centre,'' Ruka said excitedly as he shook her hand. Realisation dawned upon her face and she broke into a big smile and covered her other hand over his.
''Oh, of course, it's Ruka! Thankyou for saving my dear Mr. Fluffpuff, I am so grateful to you!''
''No problem at all,'' he laughed sheepishly, ''it was my pleasure. The poor little fella was in so much pain.''
''Yes, but he is completely fine now thanks to you. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask me.''
''Ah, that's why I am here,'' Ruka explained politely.
''Oh? And how can I help, child?''
''It's about Nobara,'' Ruka said andher eyes widened momentarily. ''I heard from my mother that she was involved in an accident today, and I was wondering if you could tell mer her whereabouts so I can go visit her. She's a family friend of mine and I think I can put my mother at ease if I visit her myself.''
''I see,'' Hī-sama muttered. ''Very well, let's go to the back where it's more quiet and secluded.''
Ruka and Natsume followed the old woman to a small table that was hidden behind some curtains in the corner of the venue. She sat down and plucked the pen from behind her ear and opened her notepad, turning to a clean page.
''I can write down the details of where she is staying on this piece of paper for you,'' she elucidated, ''is that alright?''
''Yes, yes, that's fine,'' Ruka responded eagerly.
''And,'' she began when she started writing elegantly on the paper, ''are you close to Nobara? She's a terribly shy one, she is.''
''We were family friends from a young age, and-''
Ring Ring.
All three heads turned towards Natsume's phone, which was placed on top of the table and currently vibrating with an incoming call.
''Excuse me,'' he briskly uttered and grabbed the shaking device. Part of him was relieved that he would be excused from the deathly awkward conversation, but part of him was also dreading whoever was on the other end of the phone: either an angry father Hyuuga, or a clingy, whining Sumire Shouda.
''Toilets are just to your left, dear,'' Hī-sama called out when Natsume stood up to leave. He nodded and walked according to her directions. Trying but failing to avoid catching the attention of anyone, a few girls waved at him and beckoned him over. He sped up his walking and soon came to an empty carpeted hallway that was surprisingly quiet compared to the noise just a wall away.
He leaned against the wall and looked at the incoming caller ID.
After eight rounds of drinking expensive champagne, Mikan was ready to fall asleep.
''Are you alright, Sakura?'' Yura whispered behind the back of a very loud and tipsy Anna. Mikan figured that Yura was a heavyweight and was amazed that she was so sober after so much drinking. ''Your cheeks are a bit red, Sakura-chan.''
Whilst Mikan wasn't off-her-head intoxicated like Anna was bordering on, she could feel the heat in her cheeks and excessively warm blood running through her veins.
''I think I want to go to the bathroom,'' she declared and detangled herself from Anna's arm that was latched onto her leg.
''Where are you going, Sakura-chan?'' Anna pouted and gripped Mikan's arm.
''Yeah, where are you going, Sakura-san?'' a red-faced man laughed with glee.
''Just going to the restroom, won't be a minute,'' she awkwardly replied as she peeled Anna's arm off by her mannicured nails. Watching where she walked carefully, she crossed the short distance from her table to the corridor with 'TOILETS' blaring above it. She fumbled her way through the bad lighting and pushed open the door with the female sign on it.
Stumbling into the bright room, she found herself looking at her reflection in the huge mirror on the wall.
''You look nice tonight,'' a high-pitched voice commented from behind her. Mikan swiveled round and found another girl, also sporting a red wrist band, leaning on the wall filing her nails.
''Oh, thankyou,'' Mikan chirped cheerfully, somewhat embarrassed but also flattered at such an attractive girl complimenting her, Sakura 'I still wear my hair in pigtails' Mikan.
''You finished your shift?'' she continued on whilst filing her perfectly square nails. Mikan looked at her own short, chipped and badly painted nails and made a note to herself to treat her nails when this whole debt was paid off.
Ugh, she suddenly remembered her debt again.
''No, not yet. I have another hour.''
The other girl nodded and resumed to filing her nails. Mikan looked in the mirror and saw that her makeup, false eyelashes and lipstik had stayed put all night.
Note to self: ask Misaki where she got all this awesome makeup from.
Happy with her appearance and hair from the reflection of the bathroom mirror, Mikan nodded at nail-file-girl and opened the bathroom door once again.
Incoming call: Aoi.
He smiled and relaxed tremendously upon seeing his little sister's name appear on his screen.
''Hello, Aoi?''
''Hello, onii-chan?'' the female voice sniffled.
Worry immediately ran through his veins as Aoi started hiccuping and shivering. ''Aoi, what's wrong? Where are you?''
''My boyfriend and I had a fight and...and now, I'm lost...and it's raining...'' she started crying into the phone.
Natsume swore and started panicking. It wasn't raining in this part of Tokyo - where the hell was she?
''I'll be on my way to pick you up, where are you?''
''Natsume? Oi, Hyuuga,'' Ruka's voice called from somewhere the distance. ''We need to go.''
''Um...'' Aoi stuttered.
''Aoi?''
''I...I think I'm in that place we went to for my fifteenth last year.''
''What? That's almost twenty miles away, Aoi!''
''I'm sorry, I'm sorry!'' she cried even harder and Natsume composed himself and tried not to go ape down the phone about that stupid boyfriend of hers.
''Stay where you are and don't move.''
He suspired loudly and put his phone back in his pockets. He turned around and tried not to think about murdering Aoi's idiotic boyfriend. How the hell dare he-
He stopped as he came face to face with a caramel brunette sporting pigtails in a devastatingly appealing dress.
God, I'm so tired...Mikan thought as she placed her hand over her mouth to stifle a yawn. It'd been a long day, and she needed to be at work tomorrow at 8 in the morning.
''Aoi, what's wrong? Where are you?''
Oh? She definitely recognised that voice for sure.
''I'll be on my way to pick you up, where are you?''
It was awfully familiar...
''Natsume? Oi, Hyuuga,'' someone called out. ''We need to go.''
Hand still over her mouth, she raised her eyes at the back of a figure in front of her and let out an inaudible gasp. Her hand fell from her mouth and smudged the crimson red right across her mouth.
No wonder 'Natsume Hyuuga' sounded so familiar.
Natsume. Natsume Hyuuga.
Stood right in front of her was Natsume Hyuuga, her former classmate from high school. Sure, he'd only been at her school for one month because he transferred with his blonde friend (Ruka, she believed his name was), then transferred again but, holy cow, how could she forget? He was violently popular and was infamous for being cold and rude. She specifically recalled a time when he called her an idiot in front of the whole class and she cried all the way home from embarrassment.
''Mikan, dear, why are your eyes red? Have you been crying?''
''N-no, grandfather! I just...uh...ran into a lamppost on the way home.''
''Aoi?'' he called down the phone.
Mikan blinked and widened her eyes. Was he was on the phone to his girlfriend, Aoi? If he was, then what Misaki said was true. How could he sleep with Nobara whilst he had a girlfriend? Suddenly, her memories of Natsume being cold-hearted and rude to everyone corresponded very well to his cheating persona.
''What? That's like twenty miles away, Aoi!''
He's abusive too? Mikan thought. Suddenly an image of a crying girl on the phone wanting to go on a date out of town appeared in her head.
''Stay where you are and don't move,'' he snapped and shoved his phone back in his pockets.
What a rude, horrible, selfish-
He turned round and their eyes immediately met.
Oh God.
She stared at his glare and wished that she went back into the bathroom whilst his back was still turned.
Oh God, oh god, oh god. Why is he just staring at me? Does he remember me? I hardly spoke to him.
He, clad in a black shirt and fitting trousers, was as perniciously gorgeous as she remembered (althought she would never admit it out loud). His red eyes pierced into her own and suddenly, she understood what all the fuss during high school was about. Recollections of girls in her class swooning over his good looks and death glares all made sense now.
Her breathing became uneven when she realised he was staring at her mouth.
Was he...trying to hit on her?
Her knees almost buckled when he tore his gaze from her and walked back to the bar, but his next words made her wish the ground had swallowed her up.
''Sakura Mikan.''
She was gawking at him with an unreadable expression. He raised a brow ever so slightly at the smudge of lipstick tainting her skin at her vermilion border - it was sort of fitting with her clueless expression, and he thought that she looked like the girls he used to have in his dorm at university - lipstick smudged across their faces from making out and bearing shocked expressions when he told them to leave. She was looking at him like he not only told her to leave, but also told her he murdered her entire family, too. Whilst he was used to women staring and gasping at him wherever he went, she was staring at him in a completely indecipherable manner.
He quickly looked over her small figure and noted she was quite an attractive young thing, standing just under five-foot-four against his six-foot stature. Her gaze was rather perplexing - not only because her expression was cataclymsically impalpable, but because he felt an irksome familiarity in those childishly round honey orbs.
Was she one of the women he'd slept with? She sported a red wrist band, clarifying that she worked here. He wouldn't sleep with someone who worked at a hostess bar, nor a woman who still wore pigtails in her hair.
Oh? he suddenly thought.
Brown pigtails...round honey-coloured eyes...
Could this be...
...the same brainless girl who was in his class during high school?
It would make sense that she'd work here... he thought as he eyed her red wristband. He vividly remembered her friend Hotaru or something scream at her, demanding how someone could get a 12% on their exam.
The girl was beginning to back away into the bathroom door and Natsume smirked at her when the hinges started to open. He started walking back to Ruka, but made sure to look ahead as he passed her.
''Sakura Mikan.''
She froze upon the sound of the heavenly baritone hitting her ears.
Holy shit, he recognised her.
She considered her options of either staying silent or running back into the restrooms, but she let out a huff instead. She was Sakura Mikan and she never backed down. Especially against rude and devastatingly handsome men (minus the latter part).
She puffed her chest out and glared at his retreating back. Two could play at that game.
''Natsume Hyuuga.''
When he stopped and slightly turned his head, still not quite looking at her, it appeared that he fought back a look of surprise and opted for a sinister smirk instead.
''I'm surprised that your small brain remembers me,'' he commented.
She didn't know whether it was the alcohol, the way he betrayed Nobara, or simply because he was just downright egotistical, but Sakura Mikan felt something inside her snap. A snap so violent it left a loud, monotnous ringing noise and, as she glared at him, the ringing in her ears grew louder. She wasn't going to let a graceless man like this bully her or her friends.
''You know,'' she stated matter-of-factly, ''your head is so far up your own arse, I'm surprised you're not a world-class contortionist, Natsume-kun.''
She swore she heard him let out a stifled choke.
That's what you get for hurting Nobara, stupid.
Whilst his glare deepened dangerously, her grin just grew bigger. ''Also, try going for girls that aren't out of your league.''
And that's what you get for saying I had a small brain!
Perhaps it was the alcohol getting to her, for she felt light-headed and woozy. She giggled and waved at him. ''See ya!'' And with that, she flung herself into the bathroom and exhaled a breath of air. Her apparent burst into the room gave nail-file girl the shock of her life.
''A-are you alright?'' nail-file girl asked, picking up the item she dropped only moments ago.
''Uh...'' Mikan gasped and clutched the sink for support. ''Yeah, just, um, just...ran into someone I know,'' she replied. Hey, it wasn't a lie.
''Ah, I wouldn't worry. You're probably never going to see them again.''
Mikan nodded. She looked into the mirror and wiped the smudged red with her thumb.
''Yeah, you're probably right.''
Natsume just stared at the swinging door, unsure of what just happened.
''Are you ready to go?'' Ruka appeared from the hallway. ''I've got the hospital address,'' he waved a piece of paper in the air.
''I-I can't.'' Natsume managed half-heartedly, still distracted by the girl from only moments before.
''What?''
''I...can't,'' he repeated, still somewhat dazed.
''Are you okay, Natsume?''
''Yeah, uh, I'm getting a taxi to pick up Aoi. Her stupid rat of a boyfriend left her in the middle of nowhere.''
''Oh, I see...that's fine, you go do that. I'll visit Nobara myself.''
Natsume nodded walked off, much to the dismay of the girls in the room.
''Try going for girls that aren't out of your league.''
Who exactly was Sakura Mikan, and what was her problem?
x
A/N: If there *are* any plotholes (praying that there's none), feel free to point it out and I will cover it up with something, hehe. If there are any questions need answering, also do not hesitate to ask and I will reply at the end of this document.