Mikan Sakura rolled from her side and fell onto the tiled floor. She awoke with a jolt, remembering that she was sleeping on a couch in the teacher's dormitory, and that she was in Alice Academy now. She stretched out her limbs, which were numb from her sleeping on her side the previous night, and squealed, in her own world of ecstasy: a world of people who had superior abilities, and now she was one of them too. She then wondered what the school would be like, would it have captivating lessons catering to each individual's ability instead of the dreary arithmetic, science and language lessons that she disliked.
"Hey sleepyhead, school's starting soon, so it's best to change into your school uniform!" Narumi sensei's voice pierced through her personal little bubble of thoughts.
That's right, she had to get ready for her first day of school. Today was the day that she would also be reunited with her best friend Hotaru. She dressed quickly hoping that she would have enough time to search for Hotaru before the first period of school started, or else she would be alone again.
She shuddered. She never wanted to be alone again. If she were to be alone, then people might keep staring at her, a newcomer and wondering what Alice she would have, even though she wasn't very sure herself.
After tying her hair neatly into two plaits, Narumi sensei knocked, then entered her room. "Are you ready, Mikan-chan? Let's go to the elementary school classroom together since it's your first day. Besides, I'm going to be your homeroom teacher because the classes are split based on your age group and I am coincidentally in charged of class 2B," he offered.
"Okay, sensei," she looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes.
The school compound was so large. It encompassed three main buildings which were for the elementary, middle and high divisions, a branch office, separate dormitories for male and female students and the Forbidden Forest of Doom. At least, that's what Narumi sensei said.
Mikan frowned when Narumi sensei laughed heartily, yet sadistically after he remarked that no one ever emerged from the Forbidden Forest of Doom after they set foot into it.
She was walking with Narumi sensei to the elementary school now. On the way, she saw many students arriving from their dormitories who had alternate versions of transportations than walking or cycling. Some teleported immediately by vanishing and materialising at the school entrance, some ran at sonic speed bumping into others who fell, some were flying overhead.
Mikan envied them. She hoped that her Alice would be useful too. But Narumi didn't seem to know what her Alice was and she was afraid she wouldn't have one too. She bit her lip, worried.
"What's up, Mikan-chan? You look nervous." Narumi sensei asked concernedly.
"What Alice do I have? What if I hadn't had any at all and my classmates ask me?" Mikan asked desperately. "What should I do then?"
"It's alright, sweetheart. You can just tell them that you were accepted because you can see Bear and they'll believe that you have an Alice. It was also because of that that I knew you had an Alice in you. Ordinary people cannot see the puppets that Kaname makes. Anyway, you'll figure it out soon." he smiled reassuringly. "By the way, you look so adorable in that dress, Mikan. My skill for sizing people up and giving them the right-sized clothes is so handy," he added egotistically.
It was like a paradise. There were many benches at the side of the stonefloor leading to the school. In the chaos of the morning, some students were playing frisbee in a meadow. There were also several fish ponds, a stable and playgrounds.
A huge clock with glittery gold numbering and contrasting black hands not only showed the time, but notices and upcoming events for the various classes. The ceiling was high and arched, with tall, white columns. It reminded her of a holy place, like a church. It was so fascinating as she had never seen a school as massive and majestic before.
Almost like a sugar-coated mansion. Like the one Hansel and Gretel entered. She didn't know why, but the thoughts entered her head.
She recalled that Mdm Imai had said that she had been separated from her son till now ever since he entered Gakuen Alice since he was a kid. Still, it seemed a nice enough place that nurtured the special to be outstanding contributors in society.
"Mikan, can you walk to class first? I just remembered that I have to attend a teacher's meeting this morning," Narumi sensei spoke. "The class will be on the second level, the second last class on the extreme right." He smiled regretfully, then waved, turning to walk swiftly in the direction they had came from.
She stood rooted to her spot for a whole minute, eyes popping out. She knew that she most certainly did not have a sense of direction, a trait which she inherited from Grandpa. She gritted her teeth and stepped off in a direction, hoping that it would work out. May lady luck shine upon her. She fervently hoped she wouldn't get lost and end up late on her first day here. Her feet thudded against the sandy stone steps of the elementary school. The sound reverberated off the floor and created a second and third echo. Now that she was completely alone, the school just didn't seem so inviting anymore.
She had ascended the spiral stone stairs. At least she knew that she was on the second level. She sighed in deep relief but then tensed again when she took to her new surroundings. The stone building branched off into yet another three different directions and each seemed as sinister as the others. She couldn't make out any light at the end of any of the three buildings.
What was it Narumi sensei had said again? He said the second last classroom on the extreme right. That had to mean either the one facing her extreme left or extreme right. She didn' know which direction he had stood and pointed again. Oh well, she just had to try each path again then. She flicked a coin. Heads-left; tails-right. The coin somersaulted in the air and landed neatly in the middle of her palm. Heads.
She turned left, treading carefully in the dark, eerie passage. She passed by several unused classrooms before she heard a voice. She looked closely and noticed that one of the classrooms' doors was narrowly opened and that someone was talking. Someone was here. That classroom must have students in it.
Mikan skipped to the door and her fingers lingered over it, almost touching the door knob when she heard a husky voice hiss, "You know if you don't succeed, or you reject the mission, everyone here is going to be put in the Punishment Room." She clasped her own mouth, in case she screamed or made any distinct sound.
A faint gasp from another person could be heard and something hard fell to the ground. A throaty, cruel laughter erupted while she could make out the tiniest of sobs. There was the sound of footsteps now.
Mikan knew she was at the wrong place and the wrong time. She could hear her own accelerating heartbeat and the adrenaline pumping through her lean legs. If she didn't go now, she would be caught because she had heard part of it. A dark secret, something about a mission. A secret organisation, perhaps?
She ran soundlessly, yet so fast that her vision blurred significantly. Recognising the stone stairs, she continued sprinting forward, willing herself not to look back, lest she got caught. Finally, she reached a noisy, lit classroom, running thankfully into it. Class had started and Narumi sensei was collecting some worksheets. He shot her a meaningful look and nodded her to an empty double-sitter seat at the back of the class.
Meanwhile...
"Oh, so someone was listening from the outside," a masked man stated. He smiled, his too-perfect pointed silver teeth gleaming in the flickering light of the passage. Behind him, sapphire blue eyes stared melancholically at the sprinting figure.
