Disclaimer
Higuchi Tachibana has the rights to Gakuen Alice and its characters, but I have the rights to the story plot.
Author's Note
This chapter went through a lot of editing and re-reading and revisions. Gave me a hard time. But, it was worth it. Thanks to all that read, reviewed and subscribed. XD
1 Message Received: Imai Hotaru
Get your ass up here, baka.
-end-
Sheesh Hotaru. Do you really have to use such words? I really wondered how we put up with each other. I mean, technically, we knew each other since we're still in diapers and when making bubbles with our saliva was all our world was about. But as we grew up, it seemed that we each took a different path when we came across a fork in the personality road. Nevertheless, maybe our differences are what made our bond stronger than ever and our friendship to last longer than what people has anticipated all along. Odd as it may seem, I think that the day when I grow tired of Hotaru's stoic ways - sadistic at times even - of showing she cared would be the day that Hotaru will openly admit that she likes - no, maybe loves - my sickeningly bubbly attitude (I quote Hotaru) no matter how idiotic she thinks it is.
I segued to the cafeteria to buy some crab roes for Hotaru. I don't know what she's thinking or what she's up to right now. What I know is that crab roes will definitely get her less moody in no time. As I sauntered through the cafeteria, I noticed Natsume sitting at a lone table in the corner. Is he always by himself? Flashbacks of what happened that raining night came back to me, and I realized that I haven't properly thanked him for sharing his umbrella, although he has the guts to taunt me that time. Come to think of it, we never had a decent conversation at school after that incident, much less just a conversation. He completely ignores me when I try to make small talk or even when I greet him in the hallways. What a jerk. But maybe, he's just shy. Or an introvert or . . . or a snob. He may also be a nerd for all I know! Okay, stop it Mikan. Anyway, I scooped up two cups of strawberry yogurt from the fridge. What? I should have my daily dose of strawberries. I can't get enough of it. Giggling my way to the counter, I paid for the yogurts and ordered for Hotaru's daily dose of crabs. I laughed at that thought. Bustling through the crowded cafeteria, I made my way to where Natsume is.
"I hope you like strawberries", I said as I handed him one of the yogurts.
"I hate sweets." I can tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn't done talking yet. And by the look on his face, he was trying to hold back what he wanted to say. I raised an eyebrow at this, and after a short pause, he said ". . . Polka dots."
Completely stupefied by that remark, I suddenly started stuttering nonsense on the spot. "I-I uhm . . . Ah, a-actually, . . ." I discreetly tugged my jeans upwards, knowing exactly what he meant by polka dots after feeling a bit of my underwear peeking from my pants. I should have worn a belt, damn it. "Actually, this is yogurt and it isn't sweet." I looked away indignantly while sitting across the table and sputtered what sounds like a defense, like I never heard that polka dots remark and he never actually said it.
"Smooth. So, uhm, what is it for?", he asked cheekily, going back to what he was doing before I approached him.
"It's thanks for that time. I realized that I never really thanked you properly, so I was hoping this would do."
"You think this would do?" Ugh! This guy is starting to get on my nerves.
"I've told you already. Haven't you heard? God."
"Oh, I've heard it. I've heard it good." He looked up from his book and smirked at me. Again with the smirk. And what exactly is he doing here reading a book? He's not even eating! Sheesh. I sound like a mother of a five-year-old.
"Then just take it and suck it up", I snapped at him. "Seriously, Hyuuga. You've got to do something with that stick up your ass."
"Language, sweetheart." I swear I'm going to wipe that insufferable smirk off his face one of these days.
I rolled my eyes and got out of there, muttering an audible pervert on my way out. That guy was badly testing my patience.
o-o-o-o-o
On my way to the rooftop, I was already concocting up different excuses that would seem plausible to Hotaru. She does not take any explanations lightly and will absolutely find loopholes to anything and then she will start interrogating me and when she gets pissed, she will definitely, one hundred percent positive, find different excruciating ways to make m- Breath, Mikan. Breath. Hoo. I hope that this heavy feeling on my chest is just my exhaustion from climbing the stairs to the rooftop and not from the dread I might be feeling from facing Hotaru's wrath. I inhaled deeply, trying to catch my breath, before I opened the door at the top of the stairs and saw Hotaru looking out at the grounds below.
I quietly walked towards Hotaru and settled myself a few feet from her side. Shakily extending my hand to give her the crabs, I murmured "Sorry, I was late." I also looked at the grounds below, afraid to see what Hotaru's expression is. Really Mikan. You say you don't bother with Hotaru's attitude, but look at you. You're like a cowering dog that had been scratched by a feisty cat. Sheesh. My trembling hand was still outstretched, waiting for Hotaru to take the crabs.
I gave out a deep sigh as she took the crabs from me after what seemed like hours to me. She munched on a few before turning her complete attention to me. "Spill."
Ugh, not again. Why can't I do that telepathy thing with her when she does it all the time with me? Simple. Because Imai Hotaru is all that. "Okay, you know about the Hyuuga boy already. So, on my way up here, I saw him at the cafeteria, and I decided to talk to him and stuff, but that insufferable jerk just have to make fun of me, and I've never been ugh so humiliated in my life back there. Or maybe I have been humiliated before more than what happened earlier, but still! I just -"
"You're rambling again, baka."
"- can't believe - Oh. Sorry." Seriously Mikan. I hate this side of me. I mean, when I get nervous or frustrated, my mind tends to jumble more than necessary and I tend to go on and on with my speech, unless someone stops me. People who have experienced this other side of me call it some defensive stuff and they don't suit well with them. Well, except for some, like my brothers and Hotaru. I'm really grateful that they're keeping up with me the entire time. Or at least, trying to.
Silence ensued once again. And my thoughts tend to linger inexplicably to Natsume. Is he waiting for someone at the cafeteria? Because that would be a logical reason why he preferred to read at the rowdy cafeteria instead of doing that in the library, where there's much more peace and quiet. Oh snap! I suddenly got the brightest idea.
"Uhm, Hotaru, do you know anything about Hyuuga?" See, Hotaru is like a databank. No, more like she is a databank. She knows anything and everything under the sun. Just name it. Person, places, techie stuff, I know she knows it. Not that I know of anything that she doesn't know. Well, putting that aside, I can't possibly grasp the idea of her knowing, basically, everything. And she calls me an idiot for that. Meany. I looked up at her hopefully, waiting for any kind of information.
"Freshman, major in Civil Engineering, on scholarship. Student assistant at the library every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Otherwise, bartender, sometimes waiter, at a café." Oh, I know about that. The library part that is. That's how I met him after all. "Younger sister, last year in middle school." Wow. What would Hyuuga's sister be like? I hope not like his arrogant brother. "And, no parents. That's all I need to know." Wait, what?
"They're orphans? That must have been hard." I muttered solemnly after a while. Not being able to meet my mom is already hard for me when I think about it. But not having parents must have been much harder for them. "How could they have lived all this time without their parents? Since when are they orphans, Hotaru?"
"I told you, that's all I need to know. I don't need to meddle with others business. I only care about the information."
"Oh, well. Right, thanks Hotaru for that in-", but before I could finish my sentence, the bell signalling that lunch break is over rang. "Shoot! My class is on the next building! Gotta run, Hotaru."
"You owe me for that information, baka." Hotaru turned her body towards me while extending her hand out. I know what she wants. She always does this when I ask questions.
"Ne, you didn't tell me that it will cost me, that information." I grinned mischievously at her. That will get her. "That doesn't count, Ho-ta-ru." I said her name like a five-year-old kid, while running away to my class before she can even react. Gotcha Hotaru!
o-o-o-o-o
Shoot! I'm late again. This would be the third time I'm late for this class. I've got to be really careful not to make any noise. But again, maybe luck is really not on my side.
Someone so stupid slammed the door shut in his or her rush to get inside the classroom. Damn it! We're already almost twenty minutes late, could you be more subtle? As the door slammed, I was on my tippy-toes towards an empty seat not far from the door so as not to disturb the class. And I was like a deer caught in the headlights. All eyes turned on me. Sheesh. What luck.
"Could you be so kind not to interrupt the whole class, Sakura-san? And, please take a seat", Narumi-sensei told me. He is actually a kind teacher and the subject Communication Arts suits him. Albeit, I don't want to take advantage of that kindness and be late all the time. I have a hunch that I stood out the most amongst his students for my tardiness. Smooth.
I sat at the seat I was targeting a while ago, beside a dark green-haired girl. Whoa. She's kind of pretty, especially with those long curly strands at the front of her short hair. What are you saying, Mikan? Pay attention! I diverted my attention to Narumi-sensei and listened for today's lesson. Come to think of it, it's been almost three weeks since the start of this term and yet, I don't know anybody from this class. Boo Mikan. Why have I even signed up for this class? Oh right. Hotaru said that I need to work on my communication skills so I need to sign up to any communications-related class. When I asked her to join me, she said that she doesn't need to work on her communication skills. So much for friendship.
Narumi-sensei ended the class right on time. Everyone was already hustling and bustling to get out of the room and go to their next class. Well, except for one. Me.
I was still in a daze when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I looked up, still with hazy thoughts, and stared at dark green sparkly eyes. And long curls of hair. Oh, it's that permy girl I sat beside with. Mikan, Mikan. How rude of you to call such pretty girl permy. Well, sorry for being rude. I don't know the girl's name. Yeah, right. Still, that doesn't give you the right to call her names. Ugh. This is pathetic. I'm talking to myself again.
"Are you done staring?" Shit. That seemed to break my train of thoughts.
"Well, if you are, do you mind stepping out of the room? Narumi-sensei asked me to lock the room after class, since he needs to hurry back to the faculty room. Anyway, you're getting me late for my next class, you know", Permy (I will call her Permy until I know her name) huffed with her arms crossed. She gives off this snobbish aura, but I think she's nowhere near a snob. I would like to get to know her better and perhaps, we could become friends someday.
"Oh right, sorry." Smiling sheepishly, I hastily placed all my stuff inside my bag and turned to her. "I just got caught up with my thoughts. I'm really sorry." I bowed my head to show my sincerity before I slowly started for the door. "Sakura Mikan by the way. Sorry again for the trouble."
Then, I dashed off to my next class with Permy yelling behind me, "Narumi gave us homework."
o-o-o-o-o
Message Sent: Tsubasa-nii
Hey, Onii-chan. Don't bother picking me up today. Hotaru and I will head off there. We're gonna study and eat at the same time. Later!
-end-
"Uhm, Hotaru. I know this might be too much to ask, but since midterm exams are approaching, I was hoping that you could help me with physics, or math, or circuits?" Now, I remember why I took up engineering, specifically Electronics Engineering. I wanted to be with Hotaru, to be in the same university, to achieve the same degree. I may not be as genius as Hotaru is, but I do have some interest in technology, especially now that it is used almost everywhere. The downside is that I'm not really good in the sciences, like math and physics. Anything that involves calculations and equations is my weakness. I wonder how I managed to be admitted in this degree program. Maybe, my persistent studying and Hotaru's tutoring back then did the trick. And now, I was hoping that the studying and tutoring would serve its purpose again.
"Study on your own, baka. I have things to do", was her laconic reply.
"I will do anything. Anything you want me to do." This is a desperate time, and I am becoming desperate. "Or, I'll pay you. Just help me with studying please."
"I can't. Find someone else."
"Hotaru! Please, I'm begging you." This is not happening. I need to pass the midterm exams. I need to pass these subjects. I need to graduate! Ugh! I don't want to fail again. Yeah, I've failed my preliminary exams for those subjects and I don't need to fail again.
"Try Hyuuga", she curtly said.
"What?"
"I'll make you a deal. I'll help you with circuits only if you ask Hyuuga to help you with physics or math. The remaining subject, study it on your own", Hotaru said in her business-like tone. She's got to be kidding me.
"What? I mean, why Hyuuga?", disbelief clearly heard in my voice.
"Aside from his major is Civil Engineering, he has a scholarship, which means he has good grades. Basically, he should be good at those. Besides, you seem interested."
"What? No, no, no, no, no!" Hotaru is unbelievable. Why are you doing this to me? Kami-sama, help! "I am definitely, one hundred percent, not interested in him. Besides, he's a jerk. We wouldn't get along enough for him to tutor me. And what makes you think he will agree?"
"Your problem, not mine. Think about it."
I sighed deeply, signifying that I'm not winning in this argument. I mean, really, what goes in that head of hers? I may not have to pay her to help me study, but for me to go ask Hyuuga? That is nuts! I really have to think about this. My diploma is at stake here. God, I'm freaking out.
As I was thinking and idly browsing my books, I saw Onii-chan at the counter attending to a customer but somehow, looking at me worriedly. I shot him a small smile, indicating that he need not be worried. And I recognized the girl he was serving. It was Permy. Then I remembered that we were given homework in Communications Arts, which I know nothing about. I've got to talk to her.
"I'll be right back", I whispered to Hotaru while Permy was making her way to a table near the window. I slowly approached her table and made my presence known to her.
"Hi! You might remember me from Narumi-sensei's class", I smiled at her.
"Oh, yeah. You were the late girl. And the dazed off one", she smiled back at me. Wow, she seemed friendly enough.
"That, uhm, sorry about that. Mind if I sit?"
"Go ahead", she said as she sipped her frappe coffee.
"Sorry to bother you here. This will be quick. Uhm, about the homework."
"Right, it's due two weeks from now. We should work in pairs and do an interview with a fellow student in the university. That's basically it."
"Oh. That may not be hard at all." Partners eh? I wonder if she already has one. I was hesitating to ask her since we just met and we don't really know each other. "Ne, do you already have a partner?"
"None yet. We could be partners. You look easy to get along with", she said nonchalantly.
"Wow! That would be great, uhm, . . ." I trailed off at that point 'cause I still don't know her name. Why did I ask to be partners first before asking for her name? Stupid Mikan.
"Shouda Sumire. Sumire's just fine", she said with a slight wave of her hand.
"Great Sumire! Do you like to hang out next time? I mean, about the homework or study and stuff." I smiled sheepishly while I was scratching the back of my head. Way to go, Mikan.
"Sure. I would love to."