Chapter Two

Vicissitude

"…K-koko?"

.

Kokoro Yome-the football jock, the avid photographer, and the fluent debater. He ruffled his brown hair and smirked with his teasing eyes, making all of the girls in the cafeteria scream. His white long-sleeved polo was slightly unbuttoned and a milk mustache just made his lips look more adorable.

"Sakura Mikan," Koko said, tucking a stray strand of Mikan's hair behind her ear. "We meet again."

Mikan blushed though she knew she wasn't supposed to. God, this was her best friend she was talking about. Or so she thought. "Are you really Koko? I mean, you weren't like this—"

"Before," Koko finished while playing with his fingers. He caressed Mikan's lips, and he knew that they were already claimed by somebody else. Koko clearly remembered the name of the boy he resented, of the one who stole his world. Flinching, he continued taunting Mikan. "I'm different now, Mikan-chan. You're still as naïve as ever."

The touch of his hands made Mikan shiver and feel butterflies in her stomach—this was blasphemy, she knew. The warmth of his sole finger against her lips was paradise—

No, Mikan argued, the red tint on her cheeks never fading away. Was it because he had changed? His uniform was not that of a prim and proper student, and he was no longer as innocent as he was. Somehow it reminded her of the crimson-eyed boy sitting on the branch of the cherry blossom tree—

Natsume Hyuuga. The mere painting of his entirety in Mikan's head made her eyes well up with tears. Koko seemed to notice, and being the past best-friend that he was, he knew that the glassy eyes of the girl who sat in front of him weren't because of Koko himself. He concluded that Mikan was thinking about someone, and he loathed the idea of it, making his fist smash to the table near them.

"Fuck that," he whispered to her, surprising her with the profanity. "You're thinking about him again, aren't you?"

Mikan blinked and gritted her teeth. She cared for Koko, really. But if he was to taint her memories of Natsume left in Alice Academy, then she might as well forget about that care and concern. "You don't know what you're talking about, and I don't know who you are anymore." She shoved him away and stood up, her pigtails swaying by the sides of her fragile head. "Why did you change, Koko?"

"Why didn't you change? You're still in love with that prick of a Hyuuga," Koko's eyes narrowed. He grabbed her wrists and tried to make her feel how painful it was watching from afar, with the dead flowers in his hands. "You don't know what you're talking about, Sakura."

Mikan swallowed in fear of what Koko might do, but she held her ground. "You're still my best friend, even though it doesn't seem like it nowadays." She stared at his sullen eyes that seemed too tired from reasoning out. If only he didn't leave before…

"That's all I'll ever be, right?" Koko said, and Kitsuneme chuckled in amusement. What Mikan couldn't see was Sumire watching from behind with a flash of anger in her features. "But I've changed. So will that truth."

He leaned down and closed his eyes, but all he heard was the sound of a slap.

Koko jerked back into reality, bewildered in every sense. The retreating figure of Mikan disappeared from his sight, and he could see the cat-like girl he used to prank trail behind Mikan. The sound of doors crashing close bombarded the air like thunder, and Koko couldn't help but laugh.

He faced the whole student body and slicked his hair back. He didn't even give a damn about the fact that there was an irritating pain on his cheek. Kitsuneme tapped him on the back, because damn, Koko was surely good in maintaining his composure.

"That's what she wants, folks. Let's give her a living hell."

.

"Mikan, wait a minute," Sumire yanked Mikan back by pulling her auburn hair. Mikan yelped and turned around, attempting to cover her puffy eyes with the sorry excuse that was her hand. Sumire snorted and poked the girl's head. "You didn't tell me that you knew Koko."

"That's because you never asked," Mikan sniffed, gazing at the bruises on her arms. "Besides, it doesn't matter anymore. He's completely turned into a devil."

But as she remembered his eyes, she felt a sense of nostalgia. Those eyes, which glittered under the rays of sunshine like diamonds lost in the depths of the sea, like the mirage on a hot summer day. Where were those eyes now? Replaced by steel ones which were a shade of the shadows in Mikan's bedroom window. She drifted away, wishing the old Koko would come back. The Koko who called her at night even when they were windows apart, who captured her candid moments, who hugged her whenever Natsume would lose his mind.

"You're always like that," Sumire mumbled, crossing her arms in sheer frustration. "What exactly happened between the two of you?"

"We were best friends, okay. And we kind of drifted apart," Mikan said shyly.

"Because?"

"Well, we drifted apart after this certain school festival and the next day, he transferred to this school without saying goodbye."

"I'm not asking for the time, idiot. I'm asking for the reason you became strangers. Or should I say enemies?" Sumire smirked a little to lighten the atmosphere and get her to spill the cat out of the bag, but Mikan fidgeted and tried to stop the memories.

Crimson eyes, Black cat—

Unconsciously, a tear painted her cheek milky white. "I don't know," Mikan whispered, barely audibly. But she knew. "But I want to get him back."

.

"I want to get her back," Koko joked, elbowing Kitsuneme and Mochu while changing out of his sweaty jersey. His cheeks were a bit pink due to exhaustion, yet he smiled as if he hadn't begun yet. Kitsuneme tackled him with his muscular arms and flicked his head. Minutes passed and their teammates stared at them with weird looks, watching the mini-wrestling competition taking place in the lockers.

Koko panted and grabbed the nearest towel on the bench. "Kitsu, what I said earlier—honestly, I don't know if I meant it or not."

"Fuck, Yome," Mochu breathed. His eyes became darker than they were. "Don't you remember what she did to you? Running away with that bastard—"

"Of course I do," Koko sighed, punching himself in the nose and later regretting it. He was holding a piece of tissue. "But now's the chance to get her when Hyuuga's not around."

""But problem is," said Kitsu, "Sakura's still head over heels for that guy." Kitsuneme stood up, turning his back on Koko, and he exhaled in frustration. "You're still as stupid as ever, Koko. You embarrassed her then you're going to tell her that you still feel the same way—"

"Shut up," Koko groaned, resting his head on the locker. He covered his eyes with his free hand and mumbled, "Leave me alone for a while, will you?"

Kitsu and Mochu left without a word and shook his head at his friend's naivety.

Never did they know that a certain brunette would come later, looking for a restroom with her ignorant gaze. But of course, said brunette wouldn't find the restroom.

A loud crash echoed throughout the locker room, signaling the collision of a fist with the door. Grabbing his head and crouching, Koko growled, as if scolding himself.

.

"Damn," his voice was muffled in his hands.

Erika here_. Just one statement. I suck at making this story work. I don't know what transition to use, and I tend to be excited for the climax that I forget that there has to be a rising action somewhere. I am in great need of a beta-reader. Concrits are deeply appreciated, and 'til next chapter.