Chapter II- Sol

There are some things I can't have… All I can do is to gaze at your light…

-Luna

"Gah! I cannot sleep!" said Sumire tiredly. "And it's 11:00 PM! Oh Natsume!" She was having troubles of sleeping because of excitement. She can't believe that Natsume actually said yes.

All right, I'll come with you.

The sentence kept repeating in her head. He finally noticed me. She thought. Sumire got up from her bed out of irritation and went to the window near her bed. The sky was still showered with stars. The moon was shining magnificently.

"He asked me in the Luna, too!" She closed her eyes to savor the excitement.

"I will tell him what I really feel,"

Then a shooting star passed by.


Mikan was still awake. The lights in her room were open. She was rehearsing her part in the play.

"You'll always be in my heart. You're my only bliss," she uttered as she acted that she was hugging someone. She stopped and took a bow. Mikan checked again script. Good, I didn't miss anything. She smiled.

"I've done well," she complimented herself and felt proud. She was now use to acting since she played a lead role in the play last School Festival. Mikan placed her script on the table beside her bed. Nearby was a picture of her and Hotaru on the table. It was when they were 9. She gaped at it and smiled again.

She turned off the lights and when to bed. Ten minutes passed, still she can't sleep.

"I need to sleep! Or I cannot enjoy the festival tomorrow!" she sighed. She got up and went to her study table. She decided to write to her grandpa.

September 20, 2006

(A/N: Let's say it's this year)

Dear Grandpa,

How are you? I really miss you a lot! Oh Grandpa how I wish you to be with me here.

Grandpa tomorrow will be having the Sol-Luna Festival. It's the celebration for having a day with an equal length and time. And I can't wait! The special ability class is having an interactive twist. I wish you're here to watch me act.

I miss you so much Grandpa!

Love,

Mikan :)

Mikan folded the letter and inserted it in the envelope. She enclosed it with a sticker of tangerine. Mikan looked at the window beside her. The stars were very pretty and the moon was shining admirably. She spotted two stars that glistened the brightest.

"Mama, Papa…" she whispered softly. There was sadness in her eyes but she shrugged it off. She returned to her study table. She opened it and unfolded the letter. She took her pen and wrote,

P.S.

Grandpa, Mama and Papa are watching over me now. I saw them and made me comfortable.

She enclosed the letter with sticker of a crescent moon, smiling.


"Welcome to the Sol-Luna Festival everyone! For those who don't know what the festival is, it's the time when day and night is equal in length. (We know! said some students irritated.) We celebrate it because we love it! (Yeah! Hotaru said sarcastically. Mikan nudged her.) Today in Sol the Latent and Somatic (whatever the spelling is) Types will be presenting their attraction. Everyone have great fun! Oh the Sol will end at 5:00 PM! Again have fun everyone!"

"I am really excited Hotaru!" exclaimed Mikan gleefully as she hugged Hotaru in the arm. Hotaru didn't mind.

"Good thing Mikan that Jinno-sensei has finally let you go. What I mean is that you are not supposed to spend the day with Natsume," said Hotaru as they were walking together. Hotaru seemed happy when she said that.

"Yeah! Being a single star sure is great fun!" she said. Mikan looked at Hotaru. "What I am really excited about is to spend the festival with you Hotaru!"

She released Hotaru's arm and jumped to hug Hotaru. Hotaru reached in her pockets to get her Baka Gun. It wasn't there.

"Shoot," was all Hotaru can say. She has no choice to allow Mikan to hug her. The hug was quick because Mikan was quite expecting Hotaru firing the Baka bullets at her. Fortunately for Mikan, it didn't.

"Hotaru, I know you'll come around! I know you will! I've never lost hope!" Mikan said breathlessly because of happiness, joy, bliss, delight any synonyms you can think of happiness. Mikan jumped again to hug Hotaru. She reached again in her pockets thinking that some inventions will be there to stop Mikan from hugging her; she felt something and realizing what it is, she shrugged off the idea shoving Mikan off.

"I am very unlucky today," she muttered in mono tone. Mikan heard what Hotaru said. Her temper immediately rose.

"Nani!" she yelled.

"Hey Mikan, Hotaru!"

They turned around to see who called out their names. It was Nonoko and Anna with her.

"Hey guys! Kochi, kochi!" Mikan shouted at them as she frantically waved her hands up in the air.

"Idiot, they know we're here," Hotaru said to Mikan. Mikan didn't retorted back, instead she smiled.

"I am just happy Hotaru because of you!"

"Whatever," Hotaru said bluntly.

"I see you two are having fun," Nonoko noticed.

"Yeah, we are!" answered Mikan and hugged Hotaru.

"No you only,"

"Whatever, Hotaru" and was still hugging Hotaru's arm. She was smiling.

"You two are so sweet!" Anna complimented. "So Mikan what gift you plan to give to Hotaru? Come on, you can tell me!"

"Gift?" asked Mikan and she let go of Hotaru's arm. She glanced at Hotaru.

"Why did you have to tell her that?" Hotaru said emotionlessly but her tone was a bit scary. It made Anna twitched.

"Anna-chan, what are gifts for?" asked again Mikan and was moving closer to Anna. She backed away a little.

"I think Hotaru should tell that to you," Anna replied with a slight fear in her tone.

"No you tell her Anna," Hotaru said.

She sighed, "All right. Mikan, Sol and Luna isn't just about equal day and night, or the ability classes showing off their attractions but there's something more,"

Mikan nodded.

"In the Sol, Mikan, friends spend their day together to tighten their friendship. It's like the time when friends celebrate with each other. And at the end of Sol, the friends give each other gifts. The gifts represent thanks and the remembrance of what they have spent together. You may include a carnation for it represents "friends forever". (A/N: I've made it up) Demo, it's not always like that,"

"Eh?" Mikan said. Oh boy, the next one will be bad.

"Hai, some friendships end at the end of Sol or even at the start of Sol. Still they give presents to each other for thanks and remembrance. A white rose is given to represent departure or good bye,"

Mikan started to shake like a leaf. Hotaru, Nonoko and Anna stared at her in bewilderment. What if my friendship to Hotaru will end? How can I cope with that? Will I still smile like I use to? Will my optimism diminish? Where will I get my strength? Will I ever I be the same? She thought. She was horrified. Mikan could not bear Hotaru not being there with her. I won't let that to happen in our friendship! She gaped at Hotaru with tearful eyes. Hotaru seemed to understand what Mikan was thinking.

"Stop thinking stupid things," she ordered Mikan. "I won't leave you, all right? So stop crying, you look like an idiot,"

This made Mikan cry. She buried her face on Hotaru's chest. Hotaru looked at her best friend. Mikan…You with your stupid thoughts.

People started to stare at them because of Mikan's howling. Yes, she's now howling. Hotaru pushed her away and Mikan stopped crying. She took out her handkerchief and wiped her face.

"Hotaru, thank you very much! I am very lucky to have you! I'll never leave you! Never!" Mikan exclaimed happily. Hotaru gave her a small smile. Anna and Nonoko were getting teary.

"You two really are sweet!" Anna said and hiccupped. Nonoko patted her friend's shoulder.

"Don't worry Mikan, it will never happen to you and Hotaru!" encouraged Nonoko. Mikan nodded with a smile.

"I think Mikan this might interest you even more. When Luna arrives, expect people will be all around the place with their partners. Why? It's the time for couples to spend time with each other," explained Nonoko, her cheeks were turning pink.

"Like in Sol, the couples give each other presents in Luna. The gifts are not like in Sol which can be anything. Most of the time, it's about saying-" she paused. "'I love you', showing each other's affections. But some prefer to dump their partner at this day, well I dunno, for dramatic effect? Or sometimes they will confess their love. They usually use tulip for their loved ones and red roses for those who will ditch their partner. It's a pity when someone gets a red rose."

I thought red roses symbolizes love! Oh this is getting me confused. Mikan thought.

"Another thing!" Anna added. Her cheeks were pink too. "If you're with the one you love when the fireworks start, you two would be together forever!"

"I see," Mikan said. Her expression seemed to have changed.

"Ai!" they replied in unison. They were giggling and not noticed Mikan's change of atmosphere.

"There are so many beliefs in this academy! Moreover they all are confusing," she sighed. Looking at the sky, she saw an eagle passed by. It made her smile. Not knowing that Hotaru's watching her weird behavior.

Will I confess to him?