Act 3:

Mikan Sakura and Natsume Hyuuga

"Yesterday was interesting, don't you think Hotaru?" Mikan grinned and stopped walking. She and Hotaru decided to eat outside for a change. They were headed for the Southern Forest.

"You already liked the guy?" Hotaru raised a brow. "I never thought I'd see this day," she added in disbelief.

"Eh? What? How about you? Don't you like Natsume?" Mikan paused for a moment, "it's understandable, I get it why you don't like him."

"He's decent so he's okay I guess." Hotaru shrugged. "Not to mention rich," Hotaru's eyes might have literally showed money signs if it was possible.

"There you go again," Mikan laughed. "Typical Hotaru," she reached for the cafeteria door handle.

"Out of the way," Natsume spoke from behind.

"You again," Mikan glared at him.

"Out," Natsume said again firmly.

"Is that the right way to talk to your fiancée?" Mikan pointed at Hotaru.

"Fiancée? I didn't know you were that kind of girl," Natsume raised at brow at Hotaru.

"What girl?" Mikan's blood boiled. It was inexcusable for Natsume to think those kinds of things.

"The type of girl who'd advertise her life, especially being married to me," He smirked.

"Don't think of yourself as high and mighty. You are lucky to have the chance marry to her," Mikan balled her fists. She was ready to hit this guy. "And she didn't tell me that she wanted to get married. I am well-informed person you know."

"That's not yet decided," Hotaru rolled her eyes. "We haven't even dated yet."

Natsume grunted. "I wasn't even talking to her. I was commanding you to get out of the way. You are not worth my time."

'This guy…' Mikan blushed when she realized she was the only one in the way. They were standing in front of the door. "You could walk on the other side you know," She said implying that he was stupid.

"It's troublesome." Natsume shrugged.

"And arguing is not?" Mikan hissed.

"You could just have gotten out of the way," he pointed out.

Hotaru held Mikan by the shoulder and shook her head. "I don't want any bruise on his face if ever I decided to marry him," Mikan sighed and moved to her left and out of Natsume's way.

Natsume brushed past Mikan then stopped. "You know you're not the only one who said that she was well-informed." Then he proceeded. Ruka followed Natsume without looking back.

"You're so stupid." Hotaru commented.

"What did I do?" Mikan pouted. She believed she wasn't at fault.

"Let's just go," Hotaru heaved a sigh. "I'm not in the mood to eat anymore. Physical education is waiting for us."

…

"Mikan! Behind you!" Anna shouted. Mikan looked behind her and due to her fast reflexes she avoided the incoming ball, however, she fell on her elbows causing a minor scratch and bleeding.

"Oh my gosh," Nonoko's face went pale. "I—I'm so sorry Mikan, I didn't mean it." She braced herself for Mikan's rage, but she neither felt nor heard something. She slowly opened her eyes and her face flushed when she saw Mikan's gentle smile.

"It's just a scratch. There's no need to worry." Mikan patted Nonoko's head and headed out. "Tell Hotaru I'd be back if she looks for me,"

"I—I will," Nanoko nodded. She was astounded to see Mikan smile. It was because Mikan only smiled in front of Hotaru. Also, there were incidences that Mikan would explode when the guys were on her way or did something like earlier.

Nonoko saw Hotaru looking from side to side so she approached her shyly. "S—Sakura-chan headed outside to treat her wound. She told me to tell you not to worry…" She looked at her palms as if it was the most interesting thing on the whole face of the universe.

"Thank you," Hotaru smiled then left.

"They're both nice…" Nonoko nodded to herself and went to play together with the other girls.

Hotaru caught up with Mikan. "Hey, aren't you going to the infirmary?"

"Nope, just behind the gym. I'll just wash this off." She showed Hotaru the scrape on her elbows.

"Alright, I'll be playing next so I need to go, make sure you clean that with this." Hotaru handed her an anti-scarring ointment. "Apply it a few minutes after you wash the wound for effective use. I wouldn't want your wound and your recklessness ruining your skin."

"Thanks," Mikan grinned. "You really do have everything inside your pocket,"

…

"Darn, it stings," Mikan muttered as she washed her injury with running water behind the gym. It was a little bit windy. The leaves scattered everywhere whenever the breeze comes in. "I should have asked for some pain killers," She decided not to go to the infirmary because it was nothing serious but she was wrong. "Oh, I forgot my face towel…" She closed her eyes as she decided whether she should just wipe it off her shirt or not. Her head went side to side.

Her eyes flung open when she felt something hit her neck and it stayed there. It was a clean white face towel. She turned to her back and saw Natsume without Ruka. "Use it," he was surprised to see how one could be so troubled because she didn't know where to wipe her hands.

"Thanks," Mikan arched her brow. 'He's not such a bad guy after all.' She thought.

Natsume grunted and turned around.

"Wait, your face towel…" Mikan rushed after him.

"Keep it," He proceeded walking as he traced the wall beside him.

"But it's yours," Mikan insisted as she tried to keep up with his pace. She continued matching his footsteps.

"It got your germs." He waved his hand dismissively.

Mikan looked at the piece of cloth on her hands. It did have some blood on it. "Well, I could wash it and then return it," She said with a matter of fact voice.

"I said keep it," Natsume said with obvious annoyance. Mikan smiled to herself. Natsume stopped on his tracks after seeing her smile on the corner of his eyes. "Now what?"

"Nothing, it's just that you're not who I think you were," Mikan hummed. "Please take care of Hotaru for me?" She looked at him with full seriousness. "If ever you guys get married, you should handle her with care,"

Natsume looked at the girl in front of him. Her eyes were different. He could tell that her eyes were serious, but there's something that blocks its sincerity. Her brown pigtails flowed along with the wind that blew. "It's none of your business,"

Mikan's face flushed as she felt embarrassed, but she also felt another strong emotion. It was anger. "Wh—I—" Mikan punched the wall close Natsume's face. There was a slight height difference between them, but Mikan managed to do what she just did. "She's my best friend and if ever you hurt her or even the tip of her finger… you. Are. Going. Down." Her eyes looked at him with a promise to break his neck if he hurt Hotaru. The contact lenses did not conceal her agenda.

"You really are something," Natsume smirked as he removed Mikan's hand. It was bleeding. The force she exerted to the wall was hard enough to cause her injury. Natsume took the cloth and pressed it against her bleeding skin.

Mikan raised a brow. "I am, aren't I? And so is Hotaru," every emotion inside her heart was washed away by his act of kindness. Mikan was indeed a simple person.

"You resemble someone I might have met or probably had known," Natsume looked at her with playful eyes. Mikan could feel her heart on her throat. It was a bit cold outside, but Mikan felt hot. She could feel her surrounding swirl around her. The nervousness was killing her. How could he have seen through her disguise? Maybe Hotaru was right, two persons saying the same things with one day duration is suspicious. Even wonder man who just wore an eyeglass fooled everyone, but of course that was in the movies. Her heart was about to explode when suddenly Natsume spoke. "But of course you two are of different worlds…" He sighed.

Mikan was thankful she kept a straight face despite of all the things she had felt. "What are you talking about?"

"It's nothing," He looked away then looked at her again, "why should I tell you?" He stuck her tongue out.

"Because I asked, stupid," Mikan muttered.

"Muttering, that is so unlady like." Natsume smiled for a moment.

"It's none of your business," Mikan muttered again.

"If you don't stop muttering, I will kiss you without a second thought."

"Who's muttering?" Mikan growled. "How about Hotaru? You should be kissing her and not just some girl who is muttering."

"You're so noisy, that could just be the reason why no one wants to marry you," Natsume then left without another word, leaving Mikan's hand wrapped. "I'm probably going marry your best friend," Mikan retorted, but then she looked at her hands and whispered, "I still won't take back what I said, he still seemed like a nice guy…"

…

That night, the moon shone brightly. The stars were brighter than yesterday. Mikan held up Natsume's face towel as she tried to wrap herself with a thick blanket. She knew her heart didn't beat for him or for Ruka. She just couldn't help thinking about his kindness. She knew there was a deeper meaning behind his sigh. She had never seen a person as lonely as he did.

…