A/n: Hi! I'm back! …

Let's get back to our two heroines this time. What could have happened to them… after their first rocket ride?

At central town, a circle of people is now on somewhat an assembly near the clock tower. An assembly? For what?

Well, they're just surrounding 2 brats lying on the ground with traumatized looks.

"Those girls, where did they come from? Are they still alive?"

"Poor girls! Someone, help 'em out!" (Why don't you just help them yourself?)

"blahblahblah – same idealized statements-"

Then, after awhile, the 2 gained consciousness, or maybe just one..

'Why are people so cruel? They didn't even bother to help. That Hotaru! Ggrr!... I swear she's paying me for this even though she's my best friend, or is she? Huhu… Here I am, just seconds from my almost instant death blast off, thinking that she was up to something good and then… And these people, can't they see I'm terribly hurt? Why can't they just bring me to a doctor.' Mikan angrily thought as she swiftly and slowly opened her eyes, still dizzy.

"Someone, help me!" She lazily said.

'That authoress, I shouldn't have been shot if I was not myself, worrying about her. She should be the one dying here', she thought forgetting that the authoress was shot too.

Then, she sweat dropped seeing the authoress which was the original cause why Hotaru shot her with that BAKA CANNON. Aiko-chan's eyes are twitching. And for some reason, even though birds that fly around your head when your dizzy are supposedly only imaginary, she can see them… she's dizzy alright! But she's now conscious and the authoress isn't. Maybe the cannon was really for Aiko-chan… this time that's why she probably got greater impact from the fall. She should be awake by now since she got the shot before her (Mikan).

'Oh kami-sama, if you ever have plans on granting my wish of having the authoress die (remember Mikan being jealous about Natsume?) , for a second here, please not!'

'I mean,' "Help us!" Then she blackened again.

Then in Mikan's thoughs, 'Maybe the reason why Aiko-chan got an accident like this was trying to say yesterday that she owns Gakuen Alice. Well she doesn't own Gakuen Alice, not me or any of the characters. But I own Natsume.'

A/n: Now, let's get back to the story. Now probably I'm not going to say I own things that I really don't so the God of all authors will not punish me. Huhu… Hotaru! Watch out for my revenge! Haha… laughs like crazy

…

Chapter 3: Simple Pleasures with You

'Mikan. Mikan. Mikan.' These are the only words (A/n: yeah I know, it's only one word) popping on Natsume's head as if it's the only word he knew, as if he was only a baby and it was her mother's name for it to be the first word he'd say, or as if he got amnesia and it's the only word he can remember. Well, she's obviously… important… for him… Although most people don't realize this of the fact that he treats Mikan as if he was her bully or God, he loved her, no, he loves her (up to present, future maybe).

"Natsume, aren't you gonna take a seat?" Ruka worriedly questions his best friend. Who wouldn't? Natsume was simply standing in front of Mikan's bed staring blankly at her.

"Natsume!" Ruka called louder this time. Before Ruka could again call his name for the third again for the 3rd time, Natsume proceeded besides Ruka and had a seat.

Ruka's worried of course. Probably Natsume's thinking about Mikan that's why he didn't notice that they've already reached Mikan's room. That explains why Natsume was standing in front of Mikan. In Ruka's understanding (which is really true to Natsume), Natsume was burniong his thoughts while walking to the hospital and probably, until they reached their destination.

Just before the clock ticks to a minute, both the boys have already noticed that someone was snoring, it was not really that loud but was enough for both of them to hear. But they were sure Mikan wasn't. When they checked again on Mikan's bed standing up, both sweat dropped at the sight. Ruka was now chuckling and even though Natsume isn't, it's pretty evident he finds the situation something to laugh about.

You ask what they're both laughing about? When the boys entered Mikan's room, they thought they were the only one's present. But then now they're laughing of the fact, Yuu is sleeping on the floor by the left side of Mikan's bed letting soft snores (they didn't saw it upon arrival since the door and chairs are located at the right side of the bed).He looks really so innocent and ingenuous. From this picture, Natsume again remembers Mikan and again feels lonesome and lacking without Mikan… to tease… to kill time with under the sakura tree having meaningless conversations… to have fun with… just to be with. Oh how he misses her!

After a while, Ruka spoke between his giggles, "That's the proper way of taking care of a patient. Way to go Yuu!" Deep inside, Ruka was hoping to cheer up Natsume with this petty pastime.

Then to his relief, Natsume was now chortling… like a child. Sure thing, even simple things like this bring so much pleasure. As for Natsume, the presence of Mikan alone would be such joy. Both of them are snickering while dragging Yuu to the chairs for him to continue his peaceful sleep.

Natsume just focuses his attention to Mikan who is still sleeping. The surroundings are quiet without a certain irritating but appealing beatific voice which only means Mikan Sakura is still unconscious. But only by staring at Mikan's poor form alone, this hurts Natsume a lot. Maybe not physically but mentally and most of all, emotionally. He is angry… angry for Mikan is hurt, for Mikan has been harmed. He wants to be alone but he can't do that, he can't leave Mikan alone even though their friends are there for her. He can't let his anger overtake him. And Mikan would surely be glad if she sees him around when she wakes up.

Seeing his friend's uneasiness, Ruka tries to calm him down. "Don't worry Natsume. Sakura will wake up soon. If you want, we can have a deal"

"No need for a deal Ruka. I know. The atmosphere would be once again loud soon."

Ruka just smiles at Natsume's answer with contentment.

Natsume: 'After all this, Mikan, I have finally realized that I truly… love you. I promise never to let go and you should do the same too. I will always be watching you. And please wake up soon. I want to see your beautiful face smile again. I just want to see you smile, as if everything would be fine. Being with you is all I wish. And I promise to protect you from them."

(Wow! A different Natsume, inside!)

After that, Natsume dwells into sleep thinking about Mikan. With this, Ruka follows suit. Only the sound of 'peace' and snoring can be seen and heard with 4 people sleeping, one girl on the bed, and 3 boys curled up on the chairs on the side. They just hope everything can remain like this forever with true friends on their side, they could care less and wish for nothing more.

Only of course, the whole gang is not complete. You know what I mean, Hotaru and the others are outside trying to do something useful for a friend.

…

A/n: I'm sorry this chapter is short. Thanx 4 all the readers especially to the reviewers!!! Arigatou!