Chapter 4 Helping Hotaru Understand
Mikan's POV
Just so you know, when I italicize a word, it means thinking.
Disclaimer: GKA is not mine but I wish it was.
Me and Hotaru hid in an army of big bushes right next to the sakura tree. No one noticed us as we spied on the scene where Sana confronted Natsume and Ruka. Then finally as we watched Sana, Natsume, and Ruka all leave the scene one by one, Hotaru popped out of the bush and peeled leaves off her uniform. I protruded, my head stuffed with leaves.
"So Hotaru, how are we going to stop her from helping Natsume?" I asked spitting out leaves that were jammed into my mouth. Yuck! Who knew hiding in the bushes could lead to this?
Hotaru's face was dead serious, even a little paler.
"It might be impossible," she quietly said at last.
My heart sank. No. It can't be. Hotaru must be lying.
"Quit joking!" I laughed uneasily then followed Hotaru along the paved path back to our dorms.
"I'm not."
"Then…" here I paused thinking carefully about my next question, "Why is it impossible?"
Hotaru stopped dead in her tracks so I almost bumped into her. She turned to face me.
"She…" Hotaru started, "That girl," she tried again, "That girl… has already begun to change him from the first moment he saw her."
My jaw dropped, "It. It can't be!"
"Trust me Mikan; I see things that you don't notice at all." Hotaru's voice seemed softer and by using my first name, I knew she was seriously telling me the truth.
"She even made him laugh on her first day here. Even you couldn't do that."
I thought about it hard. Her looks: A very pretty girl stepped into the room and smiled shyly. She had glossy layered black hair all the way to her shoulders, and her brown chocolate eyes shone with excitement. Her kindness: "Hey, are you okay?" the girl's cheery kind voice broke into my head like a robber. Her determination: "I won't give up on you yet Natsume! I'll make you smile one day!" Her smart witty comebacks: "You are lucky I only use my alice when emergencies happen or else you'd be in the hospital by now." Her answer and smile seemed to hit Natsume with full force. He looked down letting his bangs cover his eyes. Her braveness of willing to stand up to Natsume when one else could: "Natsume-kun, I may not know how bad your internal problems are but at least you don't have to take it out on your friends, making them worry about you. Now shut the freaking hell up and stop criticizing me for doing the right thing you dumbass!" Everyone in the cafeteria turned to look at us. I felt my mouth drop. Natsume's face held the exact same expression that he had when I'd lectured him about returning to the academy when he was being kidnapped.
Suddenly, I knew. I knew it was hopeless, just as Hotaru had told me. I was never going to beat that girl. No matter how hard I tried. My heart hurt so bad, it was as if someone was squeezing it with so much force, that it would just burst and break. My fist tightened, my knuckles growing white. A few droplets of my tears sprinkled to the floor like rain. I hated her. I hated how I couldn't be able to fight for Natsume. But most of all I hated myself for being jealous. I knew she wasn't doing this on purpose to make me feel bad. I knew she had no idea of what I was thinking or how I think about her. I knew that all she wanted to do was to… help him. Although my heart wouldn't believe it, my mind did. But I knew. I tried to hold my tears so Hotaru wouldn't think I was weak or 30 less graceful then when I smiled.
When I reached my room, I couldn't take the pressure anymore. I slammed the door shut, then fell on top of my bed, heaving with loud sobs.
Sana's POV
I lay on my canopy silk bed and stared blankly into the ceiling, my right hand playing with an earring in my ear that glowed rainbow colors whenever it was directly in the light. That sucks. I have to wear two of these (one on each ear) to limit my powers. Only, the teachers and headmasters could take it off. "It is to control or limit your powers so that you don't wish for foolish things," was what the principal-kid had said. Stupid guy! If he hadn't made me put on those earrings, I would have wished I was home. Sure my room was big because I was a special star, but my heart ached. Despite the fact that this academy was already hard enough with Natsume and his violence, I still terribly miss my friends and family back home in Taiwan.
I recalled how hard it was to say goodbye to the people I loved that night, knowing that you won't see them until you graduate from college. It is so difficult for me here at the academy, even though I tried not to show it. I knew it was hard transferring, but without anybody to support me here, I'd surely never recover from homesickness. The people here weren't as friendly as my old friends, and even the teachers were weird. Kids are mean to me (Natsume), food tastes different, and the way people do things here. Everything. Everything was wrong. I hate this place. I want to go home.
In my angerness, I punched the squishy pillow. Everything blurred as my eyes stung with tears. But I remember what mom had said to me before I let go.
Flashback
"Be brave Sana, I know it's hard, but just be brave for us. For your father, me, and your friends. Sana, be brave for all of us. Sometimes it's okay to cry, but you have to show us and everyone around you that you are brave enough to endure even the hardest things."
End of Flashback
I remembered those strong words then rubbed my red eyes. I hiccupped and picked up a picture of my family and friends at last summer's beach party. I breathed deeply and smiled. I'll be brave everyone. Even if it kills me.
The next day…
As I approached the enormous oaken doors that I had just seen yesterday, I noticed Mikan tripping over Natsume at the far end of the hall. I approached them catching bits of conversation:
"You clumsy polka dotted freak!" I heard Natsume roar.
"It's not really my fault you pervert," retorted Mikan angrily gathering up her books that she'd spilled upon the floor.
"Whatever just leave me alone."
Upon seeing Mikan have to crawl around made me feel bad. It was probably my fault Natsume was in a bad mood. I sprinted across the empty hallway and set my books down.
"Hey Mikan-chan, let me help you," I offered as I scooped up some of the books near me and placed them into a pile.
She scowled at me although I didn't know why but then resumed her cheerful look, "Arigato Sana-chan!"
"Your welcome!" I beamed at her but felt someone watching me or rather glaring at me. I whipped around to see Natsume staring at me as he was just about to enter the room. I just grinned and continued to help Mikan with her books. After that Mikan started looking at me weirdly. I didn't know why but I'm going to find out.
Lunch/Recess
I again sat with Mikan and her friends. She had also introduced me to Nonoko, Anna, Yuu, Hotaru, Koko, and some other people that I didn't know in the first place. Luckily Natsume didn't show up.
"Now that you've met everyone officially," she added in, "You'll be "In" as in hanging out with us whenever."
I laughed the smiled, "Oh arigato everyone! I'm so glad that you'll be my new friends."
"No problem Sana-chan," Anna's soft sweet voice floated through my head like sugar.
"Thanks!" I continued to thank everyone until Hotaru spoke up, "Stop thanking us, you look gay like that."
Everyone's mouth dropped.
"Hotaruuuuuuuuu!" whined Mikan, "That's sooooo mean. Apologize to Sana-chan!"
She took out a huge silver- like cannon and pointed it at me, who was still frozen with that goofy smile.
"No way am I apologizing to a baka like her." She then proceeded to shoot me.
"It's her new baka cannon," I heard Koko say.
I smirked. So that goth thought I was gay? Well I'll teach her.
"Before you let someone get hurt," I began smiling slyly, "which is obviously you, let me tell you one thing Hotaru." I pointed at her. "I don't care if you don't respect me or not. But at least do it behind my back so at least people will think of you as a less rude person. And if it's anyone you need to apologize to, it's Mikan."
Everyone began looking at Mikan. Mikan stared intensely at me as if waiting for me to continue.
"Judging by your personality, I think you've already hurt her in more ways than I can imagine."
Mikan's eyes began to flicker and water slightly as she stared at Hotaru.
Hotaru stared back.
Finally she put away her baka-cannon and turned to Mikan.
"Come here dummy," she said in a flat tone.
"Hotaruuuuuuuu!" she cried while tears continued to gush out of her chocolate orbs and she flung her arms around Hotaru.
I smiled triumphantly glad that I had make Hotaru see things more differently.
Hotaru patted Mikan's back and without withdrawing from the hug she looked directly at me.
"You make more sense than I thought you did." She answered my glance and let the corners of her mouth curve up a little. It was the makings of a smile!
I grinned widely and gave her a tiny nod. Everyone at the café gaped at us. Even Natsume and Ruka from the far end seemed a bit interested.
Regular POV
"That girl…" Natsume suddenly said to Ruka, eyes still glued to the scene as if he was in a trance, "she really is different huh?"
Ruka peered seriously into Natsume's eyes and found that some hatred had disappeared as if someone had erased it. He understood then.
"Yes, very different." He responded his lips hinting a tiny smile.She… he thought, could be the key to opening up Natsume.