SECRETS REVEALED
by: knightfeith
Chapter I
The cloud was dark and the wind was cold, her arms were swelling and blood was flowing profusely.. she couldn't bear it any longer, she wanted to give up but her heart doesn't, she continued running and running….
BOGGG!!!
Mikan rubbed her aching back, she fell from the bed again – as usual.
"Huh? I wonder what time it is…" reaching for the clock on the drawer beside her bed…
"Ueeeeeeee!!! I'm late! I'm late! I'm L --… Huh? I'm NOT late!" shaking the clock to check if it was broken.
After thoroughly inspecting the clock, Mikan was so sure she was definitely early – which was odd. She was so used to being late that it became her daily routine to shout and be reckless early in the morning, but on this particular day, she was unbelievably early.
Upon putting on her uniform, she observed the changes in her appearance, she was already in her second year as a high school student in the academy. She gained a few inches in height and lost some baby fats. She looked so much like a lady now than a girl, her hair was not anymore in the usual pigtails but has evolved into ponytails. Despite her appearance, Mikan still acts and thinks like a kid.
Mikan felt so proud of herself for being so early today, she was smiling all the way to her classroom.
"Good Mo-- ..", Mikan was surprised to see her classroom with no one there yet, the chairs were neatly arranged and it was her first time to witness it looking so peaceful. She sat on the second seat from the left, the first was Hotaru Imai's seat.
Mikan was daydreaming about the dream she had this morning, this dream has been haunting her for months now, she already shared this with Hotaru, but Hotaru would just stare at her with cold emotionless eyes.
"What are you still doing here?", a gentle and cheerful voice said.
"Huh?", Mikan was startled but still managed to give her sweetest smile to Narumi-sensei who was standing at the door.
"The opening ceremony will be starting any minute now, and Jinno-sensei won't be very happy if you'll be late".
Mikan was alarmed and quickly remembered that it was the first day of school cultural festival!. She hurriedly stood up, got her back pack and waved goodbye to Narumi-sensei and rushed out of the classroom. She knocked herself on the head for being so forgetful. Ever since she had that dream she's been forgetting a LOT lately. Now, she even forgot about the school festival! Mikan knocked her head again.
"Let me guess, you've finally realized you're an idiot and you're knocking yourself out".
Mikan slowed down and looked behind her. It was the cold blooded Natusme, ever since she saw Natsume with Ruka's burned bunny in his hands, she decided to call him cold blooded. Although she didn't actually see what happened, it was obvious that Natsume burned the poor thing. That was also the last time Mikan ever saw Ruka and Natsume talk to each other. Mikan has no time exchanging insults with this cold blooded breed, so she just ignored him and walked even faster. Being the careless girl that she was, she slipped right in front of her cold blooded friend.
But instead of getting the usual insult, Natsume walked right in front of her without looking back. Mikan watched as Natsume walked away..
When Mikan finally got to the ceremony...
"Sorry Mikan, but no late comers are allowed to join the ceremony". Tsubasa said while messing with her hair.
"What??, it's starting already?" Mikan said with a loud sigh..
Tsubasa was already in his senior year in the academy and he is in-charge of handling all the tardy students. Mikan felt depressed for being so early and still end up late.
"Now Mikan, don't feel sad.. You'll have to clean the gymnasium afterwards anyway.." Tsubasa laughingly added.
Non-surprisingly, Mikan was the ONLY late comer. That would mean a whole lot of job when cleaning that big gym. Tsubasa was busy talking to Kaname who was looking healthier than usual and is holding Mr. Bear in his arms.She then remembered about Natsume. He was suppose to be late like her..
Soon, Mikan found herself looking around for Natsume but unfortunately, he was no where to be found. So, Mikan sat on one corner and thought about the past festivals, oh how she missed those times when the special ability types were busy preparing for their show, now, they were not allowed to participate since they were not able to make Jinnno-sensei dance like a ballerina -- as if anyone in this world could.
"Don't think too much, otherwise your brain will run away".
"HOTARUUUUU..", Mikan ran in a slow motion to hug her dear friend..
BAGGG!!!!
Mikan's face was all swollen thanks to the baka gun.
"I have to go collect more rabbits and finish my invention". that was all and Hotaru left with her flying duck.
Hotaru acts so cold sometimes, but Mikan knows that Hotaru cares about her and is very busy now that it's the start of the school festival and many people are expecting so much from her genius friend.
Just when Hotaru was out of sight, the school emergency siren rings!
"What's going on?", Mikan ran in the direction of Tsubasa but the students were getting reckless and Tsubasa got tangled within the stampeding students.
Mikan was about to be stomped by reckless students but a soft yet strong hand grabbed her arm forcing her to get dragged into one corner.
Mikan lost her balance and landed on the arms of her savior..
Strange -- but Mikan loved the feeling of being wrapped around the arms of her anonymous savior, it felt warm and she felt so secure and safe in his arms, she could hear the heartbeat of her savior, and for some reason, it was beating fast.. Mikan wanted to stay in that position longer but..
"Hey Polka Dots, my chest is not a bed you know, you can sleep all you want but do it on the floor."
Mikan felt as if a cold bucket of water was fell on her head. Before Mikan could say anything, Natsume grabbed her arm and ran towards the school lobby. Mikan could sense that something is wrong with Natsume, he seemed like he was in a hurry for something...
Before they could get to wherever Natsume was taking her, Persona appeared before them...