03 Coincidence vs Timing

"So what happened between you and Hyuuga?" Hotaru asked directly without beating about the bush. She had her can of Cola near her lips but her amethyst eyes were looking directly at her brunette best friend who was sitting infront of her, poking her leftover baby tomatoes inside her bento box.

She had known Mikan half of her life. She's easy to read, that's for sure. Being able to read her so well, Hotaru enjoyed it so much because it made her think that she's the closest person to her and she's the only person who could understand her so well. But ever since she became involved with Natsume Hyuuga, it's difficult to think what's in her mind. The probability she could guess right what's in her mind was close to fifty these days; instead of ninety five percent like before.

Mikan was from a different middle school than the three of them—namely, Hotaru, Ruka and Natsume. Knowing that she would start high school together with her at Alice Academy, Hotaru was happy. She became friends with Mikan in elementary school but they were separated after they both went to different middle schools. But they managed to keep contact during that time.

A week before the school started, Sumire Shouda threw a party at her house. So Hotaru decided to bring Mikan along so she could meet a few friends of hers. Although she's not that close with Shouda, Hotaru considered her as an acquaintance because they're schoolmates during middle school. Besides, she got the invitation. Even though Shouda didn't serve crabs, there was caviar so Hotaru went.

So she brought Mikan along with her. But not long after, Mikan got drunk by the end of the night. And she didn't remember whom Hotaru had introduced to her at the party. Hotaru didn't even know where Mikan had disappeared off to even before the party ended. All she heard over the line when she called her was her half-asleep slurring. So there's really no point in asking further when the other person was not even half conscious. Plus, she could answer her phone, then that meant she's not in danger.

However, the next day, Hotaru made an effort to go and hunt down Kokoro Yome with her baka gun—and the lad was extremely apologetic about his wrongdoings when he knelt down in front of Hotaru to beg for forgiveness for his stupidity—before meeting Mikan for breakfast. The girl looked beaten up. The hangover had taken a toll on her, it seemed.

Hotaru didn't stay throughout the whole breakfast though. Her brother called her for a little help and she left Mikan alone with Hyuuga before she rushed to the hospital with Ruka sending her off in a taxi. When she returned back to the café, Mikan was gone, leaving Ruka and Natsume alone with he latter looked quite satisfied with himself at that time with a smirk plastered on his face.

She remembered the look of awe and shock her schoolmates were having on their first day of highschool.

They were outside the school gate and Hotaru was waiting for Mikan to come while the rest on the students walked inside the school compound, heading towards their respective classes. Ruka stood frozen next to her with his eyes widen in disbelief and his mouth gaped slightly open. Hotaru, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes at the sight before her. She glanced around and noticed the amount of attention their two friends were getting from the people around them. She didn't expect this turn of events and clearly, neither did Ruka. It was obvious based on his expression.

Mikan Sakura was walking towards them, fully clad in her freshly ironed Alice Academy high school uniform. Beside her was Natsume Hyuuga, walking in a slower stride than he usually did, to match her pace. That was enough shock for everyone else that Natsume Hyuuga actually came to school with somebody else other than Ruka Nogi. Not only that, he came with a girl; a girl that they had not seen before nor recognized. They could not believe what they're seeing. The Natsume Hyuuga was casually walking with a girl so close next to him like it was the most normal thing he had ever done!

Which was not.

It was an odd scene, and yet, spectacular. Natsume Hyuuga was sipping his drink while walking and he had his right ear plugged with his earphone. He was looking forward but his face remained impassive as always. On his left, striding next to him was the brunette. She was looking at a piece of paper she was holding in her hand. While her other hand… was holding Natsume's free hand. Once in awhile she would turn to him to speak with her brows furrowed and also, once in awhile, Natsume's lips were seen to curl up at the corner as he looked at her.

On the first day of starting the new term, the rest of school was granted the news of the two dating. And Hotaru knew about it at the same time as everybody else. That didn't sit well with her, especially since she's Mikan best friend so she thought she should have gotten the news earlier than everyone else. It kind of pissed her off, to be honest. Nobody knew how it had happened; Natsume Hyuuga dating Mikan Sakura. Even Hotaru Imai.

And now, she was gone for one week and upon returning, she had to hear the news on the grapevine that the two had broken up. After nearly three bloody years of being together, including a year where Hotaru initially didn't give her consent to Natsume as Mikan's boyfriend. Natsume Hyuuga was her cousin so clearly she knew how he was, that's why she didn't approve of their relationship. But the two didn't even bother about her opinion and went on ahead like nothing happened like she didn't just oppose the two being together.

"I was gone for a week," she continued, her gazes never left Mikan's face. "I came back and you two had broken up?" She put her can of cola down after taking a sip. She crossed her arms on her chest. "And I had to hear it from some stranger and not from your own mouth," she added with a mild glare.

She had thought about bombarding Mikan with questions as soon as she saw her upon stepping out of the arrival section when the two had gone to pick both her and Ruka up at the airport. Hotaru Imai doesn't like being ignored and she knew Mikan was completely aware of that fact and also another recent fact was that, even knowing that, Mikan Sakura still had the nerve to ignore her!

Hotaru narrowed her eyes in skepticism when Mikan greeted her normally like she had not just declined her one week worth of phone calls—missed calls actually. On their way back to the city, the atmosphere inside the car didn't really change much. They were all talking, updating each other just about anything. And nobody seemed to want to bring up the topic regarding the intentionally ignored calls. Or everybody just happened to forget about it except her.

Not lifting her face up, Mikan continued poking her tomatoes, pretending that she had not heard anything. Hotaru's vein twitched in irritation. Mikan was ignoring her on purpose.

"Mikan Sakura," she called out, her voice fluctuates a little, indicating that she's starting to feel irritate. She watched Mikan froze as her hands stopped moving. "Is that why you've been avoiding my calls?"

Mikan sighed. She closed her bento box and pushed it away from her on the table. Her gaze finally met with Hotaru's. "I changed my number."

That's pretty much obvious. "There are other ways to return my calls. You didn't even reply my texts nor my email."

As if on cue, Mikan slumped forward and placed her head on the desk, her gaze was nowhere in particular as her eyes stared at the sky outside the window near her. She was hesitant at first, but then she voiced out, "I don't know.." she answered honestly, her voice sounded muffled. "I don't know what I was thinking. I don't understand myself either," she trailed off. There was a long pause before Hotaru heard her mumbled, "I'm sorry, Hotaru."

She wanted to press more. She wanted to know why Mikan ignored her for the whole week. She couldn't stand it not knowing something that she really wanted to know. Even so, it didn't seem like Mikan wanted to talk about it; like really not. However, Mikan wouldn't just do that to her for no apparent reason and she apologized too, Hotaru tried to reason herself.

But lately, Mikan rarely told her anything. Had she always been like that, or did she became like that only recently? Hotaru pondered, suddenly wondering when she started to act like that. Rather, these days Mikan preferred to keep things to herself most of the time, unlike how Hotaru remembered her used to be.

Mikan sat up and she looked directly at Hotaru. She sighed and looked away. Hotaru narrowed her eyes at her. It seemed like Mikan wanted to tell her something but it looked like she's having doubts about it. "Tell me something else then."

Mikan raised her brows at her question. Hotaru tried not to roll her eyes—because it's so unlike her to do so—so instead she lightly pinched the bridge of her nose in an attempt not to sigh. "You couldn't make it any more obvious that you have something to tell me, baka. So just spill it out instead of torturing yourself with hesitation."

She could see the wheels in Mikan's head turning so she knew Mikan was still pondering but alas, she spoke, "My brothers came back home. The car we used yesterday.." she bit her lower lips. Instead of telling that it's her brother's, she told Hotaru that they borrowed the car—which was really the truth, only she omitted the name of the owner. "It's true it's borrowed.. but actually, it's Narumi-nii's."

Hotaru's eyes slightly widen. She noticed the plural noun Mikan was using when referring to her siblings. "Narumi-nii and Rei-nii? Both at the same time?" That's weird. Both of them rarely came back home, even for a short visit. In fact, they both have their own places now so they're living by their own and they both have very different working schedules. Both coming back at the same time, that's just too odd.

"Not at the same time, but on the same day." Mikan dumped her head on the desk, making a loud thump sound. Hotaru blinked her eyes. She knew Mikan had a hard head but that ought to hurt even a little.

"And Narumi-nii and Rio nii-chan happened to be at home when I brought Natsume back," she groaned out, not minding the pain she supposed to feel. Thank god Re-nii wasn't there with them as well at that time but still… "The time matched was too perfect for a coincidence that it's ridiculous!" She continued groaning. All the while, continuously hitting her head on the table like it wasn't supposed to make her head feels hurt.

"Baka, stop. You're gonna break down my desk." Hotaru hit Mikan's head with the back of her spoon. "If you're gonna break one, do it on yours."

"I would rather break yours instead," Mikan mumbled half-heartedly.

Hotaru gave Mikan an annoyed look before pushing her head away. "So is that why you broke up with Hyuuga? He found out that Narumi Anjou is your brother?" That couldn't be it. Rather, Natsume Hyuuga won't be that cheap, to break the relationship off just because her brother was someone famous.

"No!" Mikan puffed her cheeks. "I don't think he recognize Narumi-nii at that time. But Rio nii-chan on the other hand.." Mikan sighed. She remembered how it went. Oh the horror.

When Mikan brought Natsume inside the house, Narumi was sitting on the couch in the living room and he only poked his head out behind the couch. She almost had a heart attack upon hearing his voice. Her brother had suddenly come home?!

Thankfully, Mikan managed to quickly drag Natsume out of the house before he could see clearly of her brother's face smiling so brightly at her. She thought she had cleared up the predicament but then her stupid cousin Rio had to come strolling through the front door, looking all peachy.

"Ah Mikan-chan!" He beamed at her. "Okairi!" He pulled her into a tight hug that her head ended up crashing against his firm chest. "Hisashiburi ne, Mikan-chan." He hugged her tighter and Mikan had thought she heard her bones cracked.

If Mikan's jaw could fell off on the ground, that could be possible. Or her heart suddenly froze and fell on top of her stomach, which could be possible either. Though it didn't make any sense. But the hyperbole was what she's feeling right at that time. Her heart nearly stopped for the second time that day.

"Ri..Rio nii-chan,"she stammered, awkwardly pushing her cousin away from her. It's not that it's awkward because she's not close with him—which was not true because she's very close with Rio—but awkward because Natsume Hyuuga was there, witnessing everything that just happened. "You're here."

"Oh? Is this your boyfriend?" He turned to look at Natsume and his lips curled up into a huge grin. He extended his hand. "Nice to—"

"Ah he's not!" Mikan quickly dragged a very puzzled looking Natsume away who was about to accept Rio's handshake. "Sorry Rio nii-chan, I'll be back later." Then she ran off, pulling Natsume behind her back. Dropping him off at the train, she apologized for her brother's sudden return and before Natsume could ask anything, she scurried away, leaving him behind.

"Rio nii-chan even offered a hand shake to Natsume but I quickly dragged him away and left him at the station in a rush," Mikan groaned out. Remember that again now, her mind wanted to explode. No, more like, she wanted to take her brain out of her head so she won't suffer in remembering it again! Mikan puffed her cheeks and mumbled under her breath, "And besides, we already broke up at that time."

In actuality, Hotaru was more interested in knowing why Hyuuga went to Mikan's house when they already broke up. Then she remembered that they're still friends after all that and friends hang out with friends. She guessed it would be pretty normal if that Hyuuga went to Mikan's place. And there were Mikan's parents too. So it's not something important for her to fuss about.

"Do you think Natsume might not recognize Rio nii-chan?" Mikan suddenly asked, face looking hopeful. "He could think of him as someone with similar looking face as Rio Mori."

"Hyuuga is not stupid. The only one thing I can give him credit for, it's his brain." Hotaru's lips curled in disdain. 'Aside from his brain, everything else about him ticks me off,' she added irately in her mind. "Rather than worrying whether Hyuuga recognize him or not, I suspect he thinks Rio Mori is your brother instead." After all, that baka must had run off without explaining anything to him. Even till now. That's why she's making a big fuss over it right now.

Realization dawned on Mikan's face as her mouth formed a mute O. Her breath came raw in her throat. As if something just hit her on the face, she gasped as another thought registered inside her mind. Her facial muscle twitched nervously. "Forget the blunder, Natsume didn't even know I have older brothers before this!" She felt like pulling her hair out now.

She added with a strained voice, "And it's only recent that he knew I have an otouto when Youichi transferred in." To be precise, that recent was only last month.

"I can't imagine what you and Hyuuga talk about all this time," Hotaru commented nonchalantly.

Mikan gave her a blank look at the turn of topic. "What?"

"You guys were together for more than a year and not once a topic about your family came out? That's ridiculous," Hotaru said warily. "Unless you're both stupid." She paused. She just gave Hyuuga a credit for his brain just a minute ago. "I know my words are contradicting but nonetheless, that cousin of mine can be an idiot too at times."

Mikan found the need to defend herself—since Hotaru called her stupid tho that's not really a rare case since Hotaru always call her that—so she quickly justified, "It's because he never ask! And—"

"And you never told," Hotaru cut her off. Her lips pressed together in a fine line. She leaned forward and drummed her fingers on the desk. "You could initiate the topic first but you didn't. Nearly 3 years together and you never bother to correct his lack of information."

Mikan blinked, finally sensing that the ball had now fallen to her side of the court—damnit she had intended to accuse Natsume at first—meaning the blame was on her. She sniffed with a haughty denial. "I thought it wasn't much of a big deal at that time." The drumming of Hotaru's fingers had stopped. When she felt Hotaru's stare started to harden to a glare, she slowly fidgeted and started to picking at her nails.

"I forgot, okay," she finally admitted. "And he thought I'm an only child since there's only my parents at home so I just went with his pace. I did remind myself to tell him but I just keep on forgetting because I couldn't find the right timing."

Hotaru raised her brows. "Let's say you two had been dating for 3 years, even though it has not reach 3 years at all since you two already broke up so, 3 years mean 36 months. An average of 30 days per month so that makes it 1080 days. And you're saying during the 25,920 hours in those 1080 days, you could not find the right time at all?" Hotaru voiced out her sniping remarks.

Mikan cringed. Hotaru got her. She could no longer get out of this one. She's stuck either ways. The blame was definitely on her.

Hotaru threw her a look. "You're digging your own grave, Mikan."

TBC.

A/N: This chapter was previously titled 04 After The Airport, was previously taken down. It's been re-uploaded as 03 Coincidence vs. Timing