Two updates in a day - I decided that the prologue wasn't enough so I wrote a bit more. ;) Short but the later chapters will be much longer.
Chapter 1 – The Wish
"Morning, Natsume. What are you reading there?" The pigtailed girl asked, as she peered over at the dark-haired boy who was engrossed in his manga.
Natsume seemed to pay no attention to the pigtailed girl but from Nakiri's view, she could see that he was looking at the girl from the corner of his eye. And it was very obvious.
"Nothing." Natsume replied, with a hint of irritation in his voice.
"What do you mean nothing? Isn't that a book, right there, in your hands?" The girl persisted, with a puzzled look on her innocent face.
"Just run along, polka dots," snapped Natsume, trying to focus on his manga again.
"You're such a pervert! Stop calling me polka dots!" The girl walked over to the other side of the tree and stood in front of Natsume. She was fuming with rage but after a while, she seemed to have forgotten her anger and a wide smile was plastered on her face.
"Stop smiling like a fool."
"I almost forgot what I was here to say, Natsume. I was going to invite you to come along with me to Central Town. It'll be so much fun! Think of all the Fluff Puffs we could eat!" The girl had ignored Natsume's comment and trailed on and on about Fluff Puffs.
"Why would I want to do that? Do I look like someone who wants to spend his day with a polka-dot panty wearing idiot like you?" Natsume snapped, glaring at the girl.
"Why not? It'll be really fun." The girl said softly, the smile on her face disappearing.
"Just go away before I burn you, idiot! I don't want you here disturbing me." Natsume shot back, his glare becoming even more intense. His voice was filled with impatience.
The girl stood there, sadness evident in her expression. "Why do you keep pushing me away? All I want is for you to enjoy yourself and you just keep throwing all these rude remarks at me. I could just go with Hotaru and Ruka but I still came over here to invite you!" The girl's voice was filled with frustration and tears began to well up in her eyes.
Natsume felt a pang of pain in his heart. It was that same feeling again, the one he always had whenever he pushed those who were close to him away for the same reason over and over again – he wanted to protect them from the darkness that was he. He was used to pushing people away but it was always harder for him to push that pig-tailed idiot away and keep her far from him. He wanted to make it up to her, there were a million things he wanted to say to her but he could never bring himself to do it. And so, he said what he always did. And it pained him to say so.
"Shut up, you idiot. Just go to Central town with your friends. Don't bother me."
The tears betrayed her, streaming down her rosy cheeks. She couldn't hold it back anymore as words she did not mean began to escape her lips.
"Fine! If that's how you feel, I won't bother you anymore! You know, sometimes, sometimes, I wish…" She felt a huge lump in her throat but she didn't stop. "I wish I never came to this academy in the first place! Then I wouldn't have to meet you!" She said it and there was no taking it back. She turned on her heels and wiped away the tears that were cascading down her cheeks as she walked away.
Natsume didn't go after her. All he did was stare at her back, slowly leaving him. Mikan, I'm sorry. Another silent apology. He clenched his fists. One day he would say it to her and not just keep it in his thoughts like he always did.
'I wish I never came to this academy in the first place! Then I wouldn't have to meet you!' Nakiri had heard it all and those last words rang in her ears. A smile slowly crept up Nakiri's porcelain-like features. It was a smile that was neither evil nor kind, but instead a smile that had a certain aura of enigma and satisfaction.
"Be careful what you wish for, little girl…"
Reviews much appreciated.