Summary: Mikan Sakura is the spoiled sister of Tsubasa. They are the Sakura siblings that inherited a great fortune from their parents. Their lives are in danger, and now, the Black Steel agency sent her classmate, Natsume Hyuuga, to investigate and as well as guard her. How can a spoiled Hime-sama cope up with a very strict rich and famous investigator-slash-bodyguard? Or, how can a Natsume Hyuuga who lived his life orderly, live with a Mikan Sakura who always gets what she wanted?
Disclaimer: I don't, and never will I, own Gakuen Alice.
Author's Note: Thanks for these reviewers: MyResOLuTion and Saec09. Reviewers really uplift my spirit haha.
What the Hime Wants, the Hime Gets
(Natsume x Mikan)
By: LaDy CoUnteRpart of NaTsume
Chapter 4 (It's the Big Word-- PRIDE)
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From where we took off from Chapter 3:
"Well, can I see your progress?" Natsume and Mikan started bickering again and Natsume tried to get the laptop from Mikan. Natsume won and was able to see Mikan's 'progress.' "You're not supposed to pass a research paper that consists of your name only, are you?"
"Okay, I admit defeat, I really need your help," Mikan finally gave up. Mikan started interviewing Natsume who kept on teasing her.
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Next day, at school…
"Wow, Mikan-chan, you got the research work perfect again this time, except for the side comments you have written," Narumi commented while reading Mikan's research work that morning. Mikan had put a side comment like Liar, absolutely not true, fake, in Natsume's answer to every question. "Okay, okay, enough for that. So for your next assignment, you'll be in pairs. We'll be choosing the pairings by rock, paper, and scissors. Winners will be paired with winners, losers to losers. Mix up first, minna-san!"
Each student went from place to place then played rock, paper and scissors to whoever they bumped with. Then they also paired with whoever they bumped with as long as they had the same results. Of course, most students wanted to pair up with Hotaru or Yuu. Hotaru was about to pair up with Yuu when Sumire ran past her and tried to grab hold of Yuu while she bumped into Ruka. Ruka got terrified when they bumped to each other. When Hotaru saw Yuu trying to get away from Sumire, she took out a remote control and clicked it wherein a hand pulled Ruka by the collar.
"Hey, what are you doing, Imai?!" Ruka tried to get out of it. Hotaru walked to Yuu and Sumire with the hand dragging Ruka behind her.
"Oi, Perm, here's Ruka, he wants to be partners with you," she said blankly. Sumire quickly released Yuu.
"Really?" her eyes glistened. Then she quickly dragged Ruka. Yuu sweatdroppped. Ruka was like, wahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Hotaru then dragged Yuu along.
Meanwhile on the 'losers' side…
Mikan was about to go to Nonoko when she saw Anna pair up with her so she walked around until she bumped into Natsume who didn't have a partner yet.
"Okay, class, I think everyone has a partner now!" Narumi announced. "Go sit in any chair with your partner."
With no choice left, Mikan and Natsume became partners. "Wahh! Why did I end up with Natsume as my partner?"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking that?" Natsume said.
"Okay, I will walk to your place and one between you and your partner may pick out from this box the topic for your combined research," Narumi said and started walking around. Natsume pushed Mikan to her desk when Narumi stopped in front of them which caused Mikan to pick from the box.
"What does it say?" Natsume asked. Mikan carefully opened the paper. Natsume snatched it from her. "It's just a topic, no need for suspense." Natsume read the paper and froze a little.
"Well, what does it say?" Mikan asked.
"Relationships: Couples from High School," Natsume said. Mikan froze too.
"Everyone has picked out their topic. Now remember, that will be submitted on Friday!" and the bell ringed.
"Aw, on Friday already?" a student complained as they gathered their stuff and went out of the room to take their lunch.
"Yeah, meetings are gonna be held that day for next week's the annual School Festival already," another student complained.
Mikan let Hotaru, Anna, and Nonoko go before her. Then she tried to catch up with Natsume and his friends.
"Oi, Natsume-kun! What are we gonna do for this assignment? When are we gonna start?" she called him.
"Tsk, whatever, Polka!" he said and walked faster. Ruka and the others ran to catch up with him.
"Ow! Argh, Natsume-kun, you baka!" Mikan whined and went to the cafeteria with dragging footsteps.
"What's the matter, Mikan-chan?" Nonoko asked her.
"I'm not sure if there's anything good that will happen to this assignment. I don't think so Natsume and I can work together," Mikan complained while eating. "He thinks I'm just someone who can't do a research properly!"
"Well, it was him who helped you do your last research work," Anna said.
"If he didn't help, you would not have passed a nice paper," Hotaru agreed.
"So I think you should be the one to try to work with him," Nonoko suggested.
"No! I am Mikan Sakura and I am not the one who will try to work with him! He should be the one to work with me!" Mikan banged the table. Sweatdrop.
Meanwhile, Natsume and company are on a table across from them…
"I wonder what the problem of Sakura-san is." Yuu said while looking at the table of Mikan.
"I think I heard something about Natsume and research work," Ruka answered.
"Probably problems with her, I'm the princess and I need to be followed, attitude," Natsume shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, I think you should be the one to go to her and tell her about your plans for the research work, Natsume," Yuu said. "Sakura-san is not used to being bossed around and you're the guy, Natsume."
"Among the two of us, I'm the one better in academics so she should be the one following me," Natsume answered.
"But you should not boss around her, Natsume," Ruka said. "It may be true that you're the one who helped her with her research work but you're the guy and if you want Sakura-san to cooperate with you, you should be the one making moves to make her listen to your ideas."
"I don't care if she's Mikan Sakura and whatever princess she is! I'm Natsume Hyuuga and I'm not gonna tolerate spoiled brats in my life or my work!" Natsume stood up and banged his table.
Everyone in the canteen looked at the table of Mikan then at Natsume's table. Both were standing from their seats. They glanced at each other and there came a spark which meant, I'm not gonna follow you, and then they looked away.
Some more subjects then vacant time…
"Wow, it sure is weird for Serena-sensei to be absent, isn't it?" Sumire said. They were all wondering how come Serena was absent that made their last period vacant time.
"I wonder what the faculty told Iinchou, he's been out for a while now," Koko said.
"Speaking of Iinchou, here he is," and the students started to ask Yuu if the class would be dismissed. Sweatdrop.
"Ehehe, I'm gonna answer all questions so please sit down first," Yuu said. "There's a faculty meeting going on and it's gonna take up to the end of the classes but classes won't be dismissed early. Serena-sensei said that she approved of Narumi-sensei's suggestion to use this period as start for the partnered research work he assigned as to."
"That is a good idea. If we start now, we don't have to rush on Friday," a student commented. The whole class agreed and started moving together with their partners. Some sat next to each other and started planning while some who already have plans went out of the classroom to start on their work. Mikan looked at Natsume. Natsume looked back.
"I say we start writing down are research work and do it using are opinion," Natsume said. "I'm sure I know all the stuff we need."
"Hmph, you sure are full of yourself, aren't you, Natsume-kun?" Mikan sneered.
"Whoa, look who's talking!" Natsume chuckled. Mikan rolled her eyes in disbelief.
"No, I don't think so are opinions are the only things that are needed here, we'll need to interview people," Mikan said, trying to control her temper. "I think we should start with couples here in school."
"If it's about the interview, we can start with people who have been couples when they were in high school," Natsume disagreed.
"Nope, we should start with couples that are in high school right now," Mikan insisted.
"Well, if you insist with your idea, why don't you start with your interview stuff, but if your interviews don't match with my start, I won't let it be with my research work," Natsume said.
"I don't care about YOUR start! This assignment shouldn't be done with YOUR idea alone!" Mikan pointed her finger at him.
"Then do YOUR thing! Fine, if this assignment shouldn't be done with MY idea, then neither should be YOURS followed!" Natsume stood up too and had a face-off with Mikan.
"Whoa, it sure is getting hot in here," Ruka said while Sumire just kept on listing her own ideas in 'their' scratch paper.
Mikan turned her head snobbishly and grabbed her notepad and pen then went out. "Fine!"
"Tsk," Natsume made a clacking noise. He stood up too and took his laptop with him.
"I wonder how he made that past Jinno-sensei," Koko whispered to Mochu.
"I wonder how they'll finish this assignment," Mochu answered. "Knowing Natsume, he won't allow any flaws with his work."
"Well, knowing Mikan-chan, she would make her interview questions like those in magazines," Anna said.
"Natsume won't allow that; he's too professional even in simple assignments," Kitsuneme said. They all looked at each other, thinking the same thing. Uh-oh.
Let's follow Mikan with her interview…
Mikan stomped her way out of the classroom and continued stomping until she realized that she was in the 'plaza' of the school. Mikan looked around realizing this, then thought, hmn, not a bad idea after all.
This part of the school grounds is where most students hang out. There are trees that reach its shade on the benches while you can also choose to stay on the grass. Like in normal campuses, people stay in groups, some with their friends only, and some has their partners.
"Okay, let's see, our topic is relationships in High School, the darn Kuro Neko said that his ideas fit couples that started from High School," she thought aloud. She sat on a bench first. "But I think it's better if I start with High School couples NOW because we can relate to them better. Yosh, it's decided!"
Mikan prepared her questions first then walked up to a couple seated on a mat under a tree. She knew the two because they were in the same grade as her, only, in a different section.
"Hi," she greeted the two.
"Oh, it's you, Sakura-san," the girl recognized her.
"Do you need anything?" the boy asked.
"I wanted to interview you two for an assignment, it's about relationships, couples in High School, if you'd allow me," Mikan smiled a friendly smile.
"Sure, you may sit with us," the two agreed. Mikan sat down and started asking the two with the questions she prepared.
"Thank you so much for your cooperation," Mikan smiled then stood up after the interview. "Whew! That went rather smoothly! Well, off to the next couple."
Mikan walked further to the school grounds. She met a couple who seems to have a little fight but still standing together by the school gymnasium. The boy was a second year and the girl was a freshman. She hesitated approaching the two but then she realized this is the second type of couple 'their' assignment needed. She gathered herself then used her friendly smile. She approached the two.
"Hi, you guys, in a fight?" she greeted the two.
"Oh, senpai, it's you," the two greeted her back. "Not really, senpai, it's just a little misunderstanding."
She's pretty sure that the girl is on the volleyball team and the boy came to pick up the girl to drive her home. She smiled. "Mind if you give me an interview for my research work?"
The two, though still not in good condition, agreed. They couldn't say no to a senpai like Mikan.
Like what Mikan had expected, the girl's practice went longer than expected that's why the boy went a little impatient. But Mikan thought it was sweet of the boy to care for the girl just like that. Suddenly, she thought of what Natsume had to say. The idiot should just have left the girl; he's a girl-catcher himself for him to stay with a girl like that. Mikan let out a small laugh at the thought. "Well, you two should keep this up. Though there are misunderstandings, you should always listen to what each other has to say. Kitaro here is a boy and a little hot-tempered and you should understand that. As for you, Kitaro, you should understand that we girls really take long to pamper ourselves. Well, I'm going, it's almost time. Thanks for the time, ja ne!"
Mikan went back to their classroom to take her stuff. Natsume seemed to have gone out too but his bag was still on his seat.
Okay, rewind, let's now follow Natsume as he goes out and start with his work…
Natsume, though his temper really went up, went out of the classroom calm and cool. He went to the library first, the one place quiet but he only went to when class is held there. He even sneaks out and goes to a Sakura tree instead when class really made him bored.
Natsume sat on a chair and opened his laptop. He started typing out his ideas in the work. Polka's idea is not that bad but I think that it's better if we use adults instead of High School Students because they have more experience than them. That way, we won't need to predict what might be the outcome when those couples have graduated. He looked around the library. His eyes went to the weirdest librarian ever, Miss Julye. Unlike the librarian that would come to your mind first, an old woman in a bun and with thick glasses, Miss Julye is a librarian whom you would see doing her nails while her paperworks are stuck on her desk. She would wait for those to pile up and then that's the only time she'll do them. Miss Julye is a graduate in Gakuen Alice too.
Natsume stood up from his seat and took his laptop. "Uhm, Miss Julye, can I interview you for a bit?"
The librarian looked up from her nails with an eyebrow up. Then she smiled. "Sure, sure, go ahead, sit."
Natsume started asking questions from the librarian. Julye's boyfriend is a doctor. They were schoolmates in High School and were worst enemies. Her boyfriend told her he loved her during their graduation. And so that was the start.
"Thank you for your time, Miss Julye," Natsume said politely.
"Sure, anytime," when he stood up, the librarian continued her nails. Sweatdrop.
Natsume went back to his seat in the library which was beside the window. He put down his laptop and looked at the window. The greenhouse can be seen from there. His gaze stopped on two middle school students who were running towards the greenhouse. It was Youichi and Erlyn. Erlyn seemed to be excited about something and was tugging Youichi again. We were the worst enemies before and were the last couple you would think of. Natsume got an idea. He took his laptop and held it tightly with one arm.
"Oi, you going now, Hyuuga?" it was Miss Julye.
"Hn," Natsume nodded a little then jumped from the window to a tree. He slid downwards from the tree and then walked calm and collected again. "You, Erlyn, what's up?"
"I don't know, this baka went to me and started rattling something about the greenhouse then tugged me as she ran along," You replied. "Oi!"
Natsume shook his head then followed the two as Erlyn pulled Youichi. They went inside the greenhouse. Erlyn led them to a corner of the greenhouse where there are many flowering plants and vines hanging from up above.
"Be quiet, okay? And don't make any sudden movements," Erlyn warned them before carefully opening the vines and plants like she's opening a window curtain. There they saw a small paradise of butterflies. It seemed like they stayed there after getting inside the greenhouse and was not able to find any exit. Natsume started asking Erlyn and Youichi questions in a natural way.
"Hey, You, what if you had a girlfriend, how would you explain to her when Erlyn suddenly tugs you like this?" Natsume asked Youichi. Youichi and Erlyn suddenly stopped. Erlyn looked at Youichi's reaction.
"Maybe by then this baka would have found a new person she'll pull from nowhere," Youichi answered.
"IIE!!! You-chan would always be by my side and will always come with me wherever I go! No other girl can do the same!" Erlyn suddenly yelled. The two looked at her with large eyes.
"Hey, Erlyn, what would you do if You suddenly stopped teasing you and won't even look at you when you start rattling at him?" Natsume then looked at Erlyn. "What if it's because he's looking at a girl he likes?"
"I'll kick the girl aside," Erlyn said with determination. Sweatdrop.
"It's still some more years but where do you two plan to attend High School?" Natsume continued asking.
"I'll most probably stay here," You answered with a blank expression. He's really like me. Natsume thought.
"Then I'll stay here too!" Erlyn cheerfully answered.
Natsume looked at his wristwatch. "Oh, it's time; I'll go ahead, ja!"
Natsume went back to their classroom. Seems like Polka went ahead before me. He took his stuff and went out of the classroom.
Okay, let's now follow Mikan…
Mikan went outside the room after waving to her classmates. As she walked, she was cramming in her stuff that she did not realize there was someone walking in front of her. She bumped into a second year student who was taller than her.
"Oh, sorry, senpai," the boy, despite his big body built, was a shy boy. She immediately recognized the boy as the ex-boyfriend of a senior like her.
"Hey, you're the ex of Shamira, right?" she asked.
"Ah, hai," the boy shyly answered. She looked at the boy carefully. Shamira might have been older than this boy but if they walk together, no one would think that way. Hmn, another kind of the second type of couples, huh.
"Mind if I ask you a few questions? It's for a research work," Mikan smiled.
"Sure, senpai," the boy nodded. Mikan interviewed the boy as they walked their way out of the building.
"Maybe it's because she's older than me that I always followed her and let her lead me on instead of me leading her on," the boy said.
Mikan continued asking the boy questions until they arrived at the front gate. Taka was already there with the car waiting for her. "You live in the same village as I am, right? Would you like to ride with me?"
The boy was about to answer when Natsume arrived. They looked at each other with sharp eyes then looked away. From behind the car came Koko's jeep with Ruka and the others on the back. Loud music can be heard from it. It beeped twice. "Oi, Natsume! We're hanging out in Koko's, wanna come?"
Natsume looked at Mikan and Taka. "I'll join them, I'll probably be home late so don't wait for me for dinner. Ja."
Natsume ran towards Koko's jeep. He was still climbing on the side but the jeep had already run. He climbed in as the jeep ran and the others are singing loudly.
"Whoa, isn't that dangerous, senpai?" the boy asked her.
"If it was that Hyuuga, it isn't," Mikan answered and went inside her car. "Well, hop in."
The boy went inside her car. They continued talking about the boy and Shamira's past relationship on the way.
"Thanks for the ride, senpai!" they dropped the boy in front of the big gate of his mansion. The boy is also rich like them but didn't like a car taking him to school.
"Hmn, better give Shamira a visit tomorrow," Mikan thought as she waved at the boy.
Meanwhile, on the road…
"Oi, Natsume, how's yours and Sakura-san's work?" Mochu asked as they rocked the road.
"Tsk, she won't follow my lead so I let her do what she wants," Natsume answered. He looked away. Then he saw someone familiar on the road. "Hey, you guys, drop me by that stall first, this is just for a few minutes."
Koko stopped the jeep and then Natsume jumped from the jeep. "Otonashi!"
"Natsume-kun! Still not used to calling me senpai, huh?" Otonashi said. "'You alone?"
"Iie," Natsume pointed to his back using his thumb. Otonashi followed where his hand is pointing to.
"Oh, the whole gang is here. Hi guys!" Otonashi waved at them. "So, what is it that you need from me?"
"You had a long time relationship with that weird looking guy in glasses during High School, right?" he asked directly. Sweatdrop. "What was his name? Was it Sushi?"
"It's Satori, Natsume-kun," Otonashi shook her head. "My bet, if I ask those guys if they still remember his name, they would answer the same. So what is it about him?"
"A few months after you two graduated from High School you broke up, right?" Natsume asked.
"Yup, I found this cool guy during my first day in college and the guy showed interest and then when he started courting me I dumped Satori," Otonashi went rather dreamily. Sweatdrop. "Well, Satori and I didn't attend the same university so I thought that if I were to stay in the same university as someone that hot, while my boyfriend was in another university, I was sure that I'll completely forget him."
"So, are you still with this 'cool guy'?" Natsume asked, mentally memorizing everything Otonashi said.
"Yup, I think we'll go on much longer than me and Satoshi," Otonashi answered.
"What about the 3 years you had with that weird looking guy in glasses? Didn't you feel any regrets? Everyone thought that you two would end up 'together-forever'" Natsume said doing the quotation marks with his fingers.
"Hehehe, everyone except you," Otonashi whispered.
"You said something?" Natsume looked at her with cold eyes.
"Nothing," Otonashi laughed. "Well, I thought of it too, but each time I'm with Satoshi, all I can think of is have the time go faster so that I can text or chat with that 'cool guy'."
"Oh, okay," Natsume said.
"Woohoo! Go for it, Koko!" Natsume and Otonashi looked at the jeep. The boys are making a commotion in the road. Kitsuneme has taken the driver's seat, Koko was at the back of the jeep, Yuu started to beating around the side of the jeep using his drumsticks, Ruka started playing his acoustic guitar, while the others are cheering Koko on.
"Well, looks like there's something up for the band, gotta go, thanks, Otonashi," Natsume said and climbed the jeep. Otonashi waved at them.
Let's skip a few days and a few scenes…
Friday, 7:00 in the morning, Class 3-A…
"Wow, you're pretty early today, Mikan-chan," Nonoko said to her. She was already on her seat. "Hyuuga-kun is early too."
"He's staying in Mikan-chan's home, that's why," Anna said. Sweatdrop. "Hey, what's with the face, Mikan-chan?"
"Is that your report?" Nonoko said when they noticed the papers on her desk. "Hyuuga-kun is your partner, isn't he?"
"Hmph! What kind of partner is he? He won't cooperate with me!" Mikan pouted even more.
"As if you're cooperating with me, Polka," Natsume said. They looked at each other with sharp eyes.
All their gazes went to the door. Hotaru was getting inside and Ruka trying to still look cool while carrying a big box is behind her. He was even whistling while following Hotaru to her seat when he saw Mikan and immediately blushed. He almost dropped the box.
"Careful with that, Nogi," Hotaru gave him a glare. Ruka immediately tried to compose himself and not to look at Mikan but instead focus on Hotaru.
"It's a bit heavy but no gentleman should let a girl carry—" Hotaru gave him a glare again.
"If it's Imai-san, every gentleman on Earth would probably give up their manners than help Imai-san," Yuu whispered.
"Since when was Ruka-pyon Hotaru-chan's secretary?" Mikan asked. Sweatdrop.
They continued watching Hotaru and Ruka.
"Drop it there," Hotaru pointed to the side of her desk. Ruka carefully put it down then from who knows where he got it he took out a simple tall and slender vase and put it on Hotaru's desk. And again from who knows where he got it, he put a violet in it. "What's that for?"
"Violet, just like your eyes," Ruka tried to smile genuinely but everyone can see that he's really terrified. Sweatdrop.
"Narumi-sensei is coming!" someone announced, everyone got to their seats immediately. Mikan and Natsume looked at each other. What were they going to pass?
"Ohayou, minna-chan!" came Narumi's ever feminine voice.
"Ohayou, Narumi-sensei," everyone greeted in chorus.
"Okay, let's start this early so that I can finish reading your reports today too," Narumi said. "Go sit together with your partner and I'll go to you one by one and get your assignment."
Narumi started going around the class. Mikan froze and looked at Natsume. Their seats are at the back so they're most likely to be called last. Natsume just had his usual blank face.
"Nice violet, Hotaru-chan," Narumi smiled when he got to Hotaru and Yuu.
"Ruka gave it to her," Yuu said but then covered his mouth when he looked at Hotaru who gave him a glare.
Next Narumi went to Luna and one of her friends. "I wonder when I'd see a flower on your desk too, Luna-chan. You receive lots every day, right?" Narumi looked at Natsume meaningfully.
"Maybe it's because Koizumi-san don't want Hyuuga-kun to get jealous, maybe Hyuuga-kun wants Koizumi-san to put a flower on her desk that is from him only," a student said. Everyone went in chorus in teasing the two.
"Okay, that's enough," Narumi laughed. He continued getting the assignments until he came to Mikan and Natsume. "Where's your report, you two?"
Mikan looked down, Natsume looked away.
"Ah, I get it, you two were not able to cooperate again," Narumi shook his head.
"He doesn't want my ideas!" Mikan pointed to Natsume. "He only wants his own ideas!"
"You don't have any ideas other than the interviews! And you only want to do the interviews that are fit in your idea!" Natsume pointed back at her.
"That is because you only want to use your own!" Mikan argued back. The two started arguing.
"Enough, you two, since I am a very understanding and loving teacher, I'd give you two an extension, but, you two would be staying in detention room for the rest of the day," Narumi said. "You won't be attending any other class and you may only go out if you're going to the restroom and for break. Is that understood?" The two nodded. "Good, now go to the detention room."
The two took their stuff and went out of the classroom while the others followed them with their eyes.
"Eh, those two can sure be a pain sometimes," Narumi said while tapping his forehead. "Anyway, try to help those two to get to lower their pride. Well, I'm leaving you to Fukutan-sensei!"
"EH?! Narumi-sensei still hasn't changed a bit," Yuu said. "Well, since its Fukutan-sensei, I'm sure nothing's going to happen."
Narumi has just closed the door when the class started to get noisy. Until the bell rang, the situation in class didn't change at all. Everyone is from seat to seat, just chatting around, and some like Koko and Kitsu are playing pranks.
"Oh, it's break time, good da—" the class just went out of the room as if Fukutan wasn't there.
"I wonder how Hyuuga-kun and Mikan-chan are doing," Nonoko said.
"I hope they have finished their work so that they can attend class," Anna said.
"Let's go visit them!" Nonoko said. They went to the detention room first. "In this situation, I'm sure they haven't done any improvement." Sweatdrop. Mikan and Natsume are on different sides of the room. They are both facing their work but they sure aren't doing any improvement in the research.
"Mikan-chan, it's snacks break, let's go," Anna said.
"Mou, finally!" Mikan said with that childish face of hers.
"Once food is mentioned, Mikan-chan is always energetic," Anna and Nonoko giggled. "So, how's your research work doing?"
"That Natsume-kun still won't cooperate, our views in the topic are different," Mikan whined while eating.
"Maybe you should be the one to try to approach him, Mikan-chan, after all, Hyuuga-kun isn't the type who will give up his stand on a matter," Nonoko said.
"No, a big no," Mikan said firmly but her mind started to think of the idea.
Meanwhile, at Natsume's table…
"How's your work coming along, Nat?" Koko asked.
"Not doing great, as I expected, that baka did opposite with my report," Natsume said.
"Well, you're the guy Natsume, and we all know that Sakura-san can really be stubborn once her mind gets decided," Mochu said.
"Why don't you be the one to try to approach her, Natsume?" Kitsuneme said.
"At least give up your pride once, Natsume, isn't it unmanly for a guy to let a girl be the one to give up her stand on a matter?" Yuu said.
"It's always a guy who lets down his pride, right?" Ruka agreed.
"Okay, okay, stop it already," Natsume grunted. He stood up from his seat. "I'm going ahead."
"Oi, Natsume, try to lower your pride at least for this work only, so that you can attend class, it's boring to play pranks without you," Koko said.
"And you weren't able to see how Ruka tried to talk to Hotaru when Narumi left the room," Mochu said, and they all laughed except for Ruka.
"Give me a break already!"
After snacks break…
"Eh? Natsume-kun is not here?" Mikan said aloud when she entered the detention room. "Mou, that guy, not cooperating with me and now skipping detention!"
Mikan sat down on her seat and reviewed her papers again. "Well, it is true that I'm not good at doing the actual paper."
Mikan put down the papers and rested her chin on her hands while looking at the opened window. Gentle fresh air went inside and blew in her face. She closed her eyes and tried to feel the gentleness of the wind. She imagined being in a meadow, dancing with the wind and the flowers. Just then, music went in. The sound was familiar. She suddenly opened her eyes when she realized what that was. It was from Flames of Fire's album!
From the opened window came Natsume who was playing his guitar. When he approached her, the song was finished. "Where did you get your guitar? I didn't see you bring that earlier."
"It was in my locker," Natsume said. From somewhere behind him, he took out a rose. "So, can we try to work together now?"
"Why a rose?" she asked but nonetheless took it.
"There's no such flower as a brown flower except for a wilting one, and as far I know, no one would appreciate a wilting flower," Natsume said and looked away. Mikan giggled.
"Natsume-kun's style is copied!" she leaned her face on him.
"No, I didn't!" Natsume tried to hide away the reddening of his face. "Oh, c'mon, just say if you still want to try to work together!"
Mikan laughed more. "Okay, but don't boss me around too much, it's kinda annoying for me."
Mikan took her papers and went to Natsume's seat. They started sorting out the report.
Meanwhile at the back of the still opened door of the detention room…
"I told you Natsume was up to something, he won't allow himself to stay at such boring room," Ruka said.
"You guys, I only said this to Imai-san, why is everyone suddenly here?" Yuu said.
"Well, Ruka was with Imai, so when he went back to our place, he told us what happened, and we decided to tag along," Mochu said.
"Okay, time to action, you guys," Koko said, with a fox smile on his face. Everyone nodded. Koko and Kitsuneme went away.
"Okay, so we'll show in our report the different kinds and possible outcomes of a relationship in High School," Natsume said while reviewing the interviews Mikan did.
"And—" the lights turned off suddenly. "Is it a brown out? That never happens in this school!"
Next the doors slid close, and then the windows were blocked by who knows what. "EH?! Natsume-kun, it's really dark in here!" Mikan screeched.
"Tsk, Koko," Natsume whispered. Mikan held Natsume's arm tight. "Oi, let go of me, there's only two of us here, no one's gonna try kidnap you!"
Natsume stood up but Mikan still held his arm that caused them to lose their balance. The chair slid backwards while Mikan fell on top of Natsume. "Ah!!!"
Natsume, through the help of his instinct, immediately wrapped his other arm on Mikan as they fall. They lay there for a few moments. Natsume noticed Mikan was not moving so he let them be first. After a few more moments and Mikan was still not moving, Natsume gently shook her in one shoulder. "Oi, Mikan, are you okay?"
Mikan started to shake. "It's fine now. Let's stand up and I'll turn the lights on, I heard the switch flick earlier so that means all they did was to switch it off."
Mikan was still shaking. Then they heard footsteps. The doors opened. "Eh? Why is it dark in here?" It was the voice of Narumi. Narumi flicked on the switches. "Where's Mikan-chan and Natsume-kun?"
"Look, there they are!" Nonoko pointed to them. Everyone's eyes grew large.
"What are you two doing?" Narumi's voice was exaggerated. "You two are still young for that!"
That's when Mikan seemed to awaken. She then realized what they're position is. She is on top of Natsume with her arms wrapped around him. "Don't get the wrong idea! The lights suddenly turned off and I was afraid so we both fell—"
"Oi, doesn't mean that anyone's not looking that nothing happened," Natsume said which made Mikan turn red.
"Natsume-kun!" they started chasing each other around the room.
"It's a good thing Luna-chan is busy, if she finds out about this, Natsume sure is dead," Narumi said. Everyone looked at him. "What? Isn't Luna-chan Natsume's girlfriend?"
"Of course not, Narumi-sensei, no one in Flames of Fire has a girlfriend as of the moment," Koko said.
"Anyway, we all came to check on how're you two doing and to say that it's already lunch break," Narumi said to them.
"Eh? Nah, I'll pass, still got some work to do," Natsume said.
"Yeah, we won't be able to pass this on time if we'll take lunch," Mikan said and followed Natsume back to where his laptop was. Then her stomach grumbled. Sweatdrop. "Hehehe, guess I'll just get a sandwich and juice for us Natsume-kun."
Everyone laughed.
Before the bell rang, Mikan and Natsume were able to finish and submit the work to Narumi. Narumi was satisfied with their work and gave them an A-, well, it should have been an A+ if they just submitted it on time.
"Ah, in the end, it all worked out well, didn't it?" Koko said. They were all lying on the grass, Mikan's and Natsume's group.
"Yeah, it did, thankfully, we were able to put some sense in Natsume," Ruka said. They all laughed.
"Speaking of which, Ruka-pyon, since when were you Hotaru-chan's assistant?" Mikan said. Sweatdrop.
"Mikan-chan, Nogi-kun isn't Hotaru-chan's assistant, he's courting Hotaru-chan," Anna explained to her with glittering eyes. Ruka got chills again after remembering that he was courting Hotaru.
"Eh? Really?" Mikan's eyes lit too. "So, what does that mean?" Sweatdrop.
"Ruka has confessed his love to Hotaru-chan!" Anna and Nonoko said in chorus. The band coughed. Natsume chuckled.
"Really? Hotaru-chan, finally, there's someone not too old and not too young who courted you," Mikan said. Everyone laughed again.
From inside the school building, Narumi watched as his students laugh on the grass. "Naru, here." Misaki-sensei gave him a camera. "Thanks." Narumi smiled and flicked the camera. The picture went out. "Ah, this will be a nice souvenir of my favorite class."
Okay, I kinda rushed the last part, because this took longer than my estimated work time. Okay, about the Ruka courting Hotaru part, I'll explain that on the next chapter. The next chapter's not really supposed to be there since I got my line up in mind already but I kinda got the idea as I was writing this chapter. Hope you guys liked this, read and review! Happy reading! And so sorry for the very long wait, as usual, hectic schedule, training for science contest, a dance audition, English club that is focusing on debate for now, COQC, and for my top priority, studies itself. I know you all understand but I would understand it if you like hated me for updating really late.
