THE SELECTION

G.A. Version by Crimson Flares


|Chapter Three|


04/01/14: REVISED

01/25/18: revision (mostly includes deleting embarrassing author's notes bc i was one helluva child)


"Ne, what's your name?"

"H-Hoshino, Onee-sama. My name is Hoshino."

"Hoshino-chan!" I smiled and kissed her cheek. "I'll never forget! I've got to go, though."

She gave me a joyous hug. Then let go. "Hai! I'll always be cheering for you!"

After a few more tearful messages, I regretfully tore away from Hoshino.


Finally, after a long, long journey in the whole length of the carpet, we found ourselves in the comfort of a sleek, black limousine. I was last to enter, seeing that I shook almost every person's hand— those who wanted it anyway. An impatient Luna was glaring daggers across me as I took the only vacant seat next to her. Nonoko and Anna were animatedly chatting about our ecstatic audience outside.

Luna wasn't very happy. "What the hell took you so long?"

"People were—" I started explaining, but cut myself short. Explaining's not gonna be worth it— I learned that from all the higher-caste families I have worked with before. They could get very, very unreasonably temperamental. The pair across us noticed the tension and began to ease it up a bit.

"Hush hush now, girls." Anna murmured. "It's fine, Luna-san, we're just right on schedule."

"Don't fight. You wouldn't want to be disqualified so soon," Nonoko reminded us. Luna sneered at us, crossed her arms and spent the rest of the trip glaring impatiently at the window.

I started an animated conversation with Nonoko and Anna, who was glad I wasn't affected by Luna's negative vibes. I was feeling incredibly happy, like I was finally getting used to all the audience we were attracting — until I realized that every step I took out there was seen by every citizen in the country. Through television. My parents. The whole Sakuragi. The entirety of Alicea.

I hoped they were proud of that.


The palace was grand. No, that was an understatement. I doubt that words can describe its beauty. The walls were pale pink, as though it was red in its early days, and it soared way up high to the clouds. Guards were positioned on top on either side of the large gate that swung open to welcome us in its cemented path. Upon the sides were lush gardens of every flower imaginable. A number of elegant fountains were in view too, and I swear I saw one that looked like Cinderella's fairy godmother.

I was still admiring the place as we stepped out of the car. We were welcomed inside the castle, and as we entered, an energetic woman grabbed my arm and started to pull me to another room, barely even with a greeting. I looked back at the other girls in alarm, and I realized that they were being pulled by the exact same woman. Then I realized that it was Misaki.

"Hey! Misaki-sempai!"

"Yeah. Hi to you too." Eh? Grumpy much? Is she PMS-ing or something?

She started pulling me to somewhere I have no idea where. We passed through hallways, doors, windows, rooms. In a certain hallway, with two great doors on either side, she walked a little slowly, telling me that the Great Hall was on the left side, while the one on the right is the Dining Hall. As we rushed after, I caught a glimpse of the sprawling gardens of every remarkable plants I thought I can only imagine when I was a Five. I wanted to stop to admire everything, but Misaki-senpai was being so crabby that I didn't dare. She didn't look like one to cross when she's at this state.

"What's the hurry all about?"

"Your group came a little late than scheduled."

"Oh. That was my fault," I said apologetically. She looked at me pointedly opened her mouth to say something, but another voice spoke up. A familiarly calm one.

"Talking to the crowd, weren't you? I saw that. Great start." I looked up to the elegant, gray-haired woman. "I am Yamada Serina and we talked on the phone. Misaki, bring her to the Great Room while I call for the cameraman. I think he got lost on the way to the comfort room. And by the way, Lady Mikan, your brother has gone somewhere after your arrival. He said good luck and that he loves you a lot." She patted my shoulder and the other girls she passed by on, hurrying somewhere with a crystal ball swirling with some kinda gas inside. I half-cried because I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to him. Misaki-sempai and I resumed our journey — on the way to this Great Room, I suppose.

"Hey, sempai, what is your alice?"

"Doppelganger Alice." She said without looking, pulling me along. We were walking so fast but I can't help asking questions. I think I twisted my trachea.

"Is this you or your doppelganger?"

"I'm a doppelganger and my real body is over..." She looked around, then pointed somewhere. "...there." Oh. I didn't notice we have had arrived already. She was pointing to a make-up table that has another Misaki waiting next to it. "And coincidentally, she is assigned to table number twelve, which you will be pampered in." She started ushering me to table number 12, where the real Misaki was smiling at me.

The room — the Great Room — I noticed, was full of other Misaki clones. It was huge and bustling with tables and mirrors and Misakis everywhere, tending to the other Selected girls, painting their nails, fixing their hair, rubbing lotion on their skin, powdering their faces. Some Misakis of different personalities were yelling, "Hey, I finally found the dye!" or maybe, "Hell no! Not like that!" or in some cases, "Er, that looks pudgy on ya." Clothes hung from numerous racks and some others had all kinds of gowns on their shoulders.

"Hello, Mikan-chan!" The real Misaki-sempai said cheerily as we approached. Urgh. Déjà vu much? The clone stopped pulling me and—

Splat.

Oh, crap.

"Mikan-chan! Are you okay?" Misaki-sempai number 1 — the original — asked, worry painted on her face. The crabby clone who was pulling me earlier was nowhere in sight.

"Oh, don't worry about it." I groaned, taking her outstretched hand. "I'm so used to tripping all over my face, no biggie..." Not a biggie except for the fact that I actually expected so much more from the palace, aka I thought they had floors that turns into beds when you fall...

"Sorry about Misaki #12. You were quite unlucky."

"Eh? Why?"

"That doppelganger of mine earlier— she had my crabby genes more than she had the calmer ones. I often overlook those kinda mistakes." She admitted with a smile.

"Oh." I said, relieved. "I thought you really were PMSing."

She laughed. "Sounds pretty legit, I suppose." She smirked playfully as other Misakis came and dragged me to a rolly chair. Serina was back with a flustered-looking cameraman who was panting like he ran an entire marathon. Everyone in the room who weren't stuck in a Misaki-griplock turned to their direction, including me.

"Let me introduce to you all your photographer. He's going to take your before and after pictures." Serina explained. "Everyone who got here early has had their photos taken already, I believe? Okay, good. Just wait for your turn. Misaki, just give them the signal, alright?"

About fifty Misakis answered her yes and went right back to work. Serina-sensei gave the room a proud look and took her exit curtly. Meanwhile, the cameraman walked over to me first. Misaki #43, who was attending to me, dabbed some powder on my face to get rid of the sheen. She fluffled my hair in position and went to stand beside the cameraman.

"Now now, face the camera and say cheese." The older man said, positioning his camera.

I wasn't ready. "Uh, cheese?" Click. Flash.

"Alright! Very lovely! Now for Miss Koizumi... vanity number what is she again?" A vacant Misaki and the cameraman walked over to the next booth, took the occupant's before picture, to the next, and until the last.

Four Misaki clones and one real one was now pampering me. The real Misaki was twiddling with my curls, a clone was painting my toes, another was doing my manicure, one was rubbing my skin with lotion while the other one was rechecking my sizes as if I grew or shrunk the past two days. Then, she ran off to the gown racks and looked for the dresses that was probably tailored just to fit me comfortably.

Misaki number one was still fiddling with my hair, one hand on her chin in deep thought. "Hmm... it doesn't look too necessary to color your hair or trim it..." she murmured, twisting an auburn lock on her finger, "It's just... well, perfectly nice."

"That's a wonderful idea... I had no plans of letting you do more than comb it, anyway, sempai."

"So... are we gonna bun it or just let it flow?"

"Let it flow!"

Then everything was a swirl of happenings.


In fifteen minutes, the bottom part of my twirls were in curlers.

"It's gonna be cuter when it's a little curlier," Misaki-sempai decided after asking me about tying it or letting it down. I sigh. My poor hair.

My skin, meanwhile, was shinier, and softer from the various liquids her clone had put. Oh well.

And in the case of my face, it was covered in that green thing called face mask or something. I originally had cucumbers on my eyes, but I removed them. Really, now. I looked creepy enough with a green face and a skimpy bathrobe. And they were cold and popped my every deep pore.

"Mikan-chan!" The Misaki-sitter of mine is back. She got rid of the stuff on my face and pulled me to the dressing rooms. Misakis are very skilled in pulling people's arms off, aren't they? Inside, a gloriously magnificent strapless white dress was waiting for me to wear it, along with an assortment of beautiful jewels waiting for me to choose.

"Now, now," Misaki said. "I'll help you wear the dress after we remove that face mask. My clone totally forgot to. Then, you choose anything you'd fancy on that assortment."


In ten minutes, I was dressed to impress. The dress had fit me well, the upper part tracing my curves and the lower balloon-y, reaching only by the knees. Exactly the way I'd love it. Elegant and stunning, just like how I dressed in performances back at home. I didn't dress to impress— I perform to prove that I deserve the spotlight.

I chose the lightest of the heavy jewelry provided which consisted of a pair of pearl earrings that looked really great with my necklace. I stared into the mirror, completely speechless about my pretty new look.

One Misaki was walking back towards my vanity, pulling the poor cameraman who looked entirely wasted. He immediately took a photo of me and stalked off. Poor old guy.


Beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous. These girls. How could I possibly match them?

You don't need to fit it, just stand out as yourself. My mother's words echoed. I stood straighter because I knew they were proud of me no matter what, but deflated once more as Luna sashayed closer to me, the picture of physical perfection. I knew I might not be able to handle her alone, so I scampered to the lone girl nearest. She had silver-gray hair close to Youichi's shade and brown orbs that looked like they can see through me.

"Hello!" I said, beaming. "I'm Mikan Yukihira! I have the Nullification Alice! How about you?"

She blinked and gave a small smile. "Yura Otonashi. Divination Alice."

"Divination? How does that work?"

"I dance. And if I do, I am capable of foreseeing the nearest possible future."

"That is awesome!" She smiled again at my not-so-bashful response.

Next, I walked over to a catty girl with dark green hair, almost melting to black. She had brilliant emerald orbs for eyes, and I couldn't deny that she was beautiful. Her hair was permed out in front, and her friend beside her was calling her "Permy".

Being the nice fellow I was, I began tointroduce myself. "Hello there! I'm Mikan—"

"Yeah, I don't care about peasants. I'm Sumire Shouda, by the way." She flicked her permed hair back. "And I will be the one who would win the Prince's heart." She flicked her curls again and moved on to talk to Luna. Her companion rolled her eyes at her then turned to me.

"I'm Wakako Usami. You should remember that." She sashayed over to Sumire and Luna and— arrgh! Is hair-flicking a trend here?


THE CRAPPY END

Of The Third Chapter.


LOL. I hope I'm not making your heads hurt! XD

AND BTW! The Elite was released last April 23. AND EVERY SINGLE BOOKSTORE I WENT IN HAD NO STOCK LEFT OF THE BOOK AW DARN IT.

QUESTIONS (from you to me)

1. Does Natsume love someone or perhaps someone in the past? (By NatSu-nIyaN)
-Yes. Maybe. Nope. Well, I don't know.

Well, okay, yes.

2. May I ask are u a filipino? Cause u wrote the word "tambay" (By Yuki Tomoyo)
-Oh yes! A very proud one! :D You too?

3. When will you update another chapter? (By Eka19 and michan-natsu)
-NOWWW! XD

4. What's with the provincial flowers? It's adorable. (By Zen Ayuri)
-Oooh! Some weird stuff I made! XD You're adorable tooo~!

5. Are you really twelve-years-old?

-Hai! ^_^


Until again, much love from Crimson Flares.