You Are The Only Exception
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Chapter 4-An Old Friend
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"Idiot,you should have told me you were coming here." Hotaru said to a stunned Mikan who shortly recovered and hugged her.
"You're soffocating me."Said Hotaru but returned the hug with a smile.
"You never told me that you studied here silly." Replied Mikan.
Anna and Nonoko who were a witness to the reunion looked a little puzzled.
"Hotaru,you're familiar with the Princess?" Nonoko asked.
"Actually Nonoko," Mikan said facing her "We're best friends!"
It was true.
Mikan and Hotaru were good friends. Hotaru was the daughter of the owner of Imai Cooperate Ltd,a huge entrpreneurship technology company which provided modern machines and gadgets to Mikan's both families had naturally grown close and Mikan met Hotaru almost every year.
Hotaru's father had the Alice of Invention and she had inhertited the same Alice. She was an ardent inventor and an important contributor to her family's company.
Hotaru hit Mikan with one of her inventions;Her 'Baka Gun'. "Don't be delusional."
"Hotaru,you're always so mean! Anyway,I'm glad I have a friend here already!" A happy Mikan exclaimed.
"Don't forget about the two of us Mikan-chan!" Nonko said with an arm around Anna's shoulder. Mikan smiled.
"Of course Nonoko! I can tell that you and Anna will be great friends!" Mikan gave them a gorgeous smile making both girls blush a little. I'm so so glad I came to Alice Academy,Mikan said to herself.
"Hey do the both of you want to join us for lunch?"Anna asked excitedly.
"Of course Anna! C'mon Hotaru! I'm starved!"
The four girls followed by Mikan's bodyguards made their to the huge dining hall where there were several students occupying the many tables there. Towards the end of the hall,was a huge buffet table with food of all kinds. Juice and an array of deserts were on the neighbooring table.
Mikan,Hotaru and her newly found friends,helped themselves to the delicious looking food and occupied a vacant table close by. Hotaru,being a glut that she was lost in consuming what was in front of her,ignoring any event that was or will about to happen. Rimoma and Ben stood a little behind their table.
"Uh Mikan,if you don't mind me asking,why do you have two guards following you everywhere?" Anna asked. Nonoko looked at Mikan too,waiting for her response.
A little embarrassed,Mikan replied "Its my parents who made them accompany me guys and they're really overprotective. It was either this or home schooling."
"Ohhh. Wow,being a Princess sounds so cool!"
"So,what are your Alices Anna,Nonoko?" Asked Mikan,changing the subject. She wanted to leave her 'Princess life' talk behind.
"I have the Chemistry Alice." Replied Nonoko. "And Anna here has the Cooking Alice."
"Whoa! That's super cool! I must taste one of your meals some day Anna!"
"Oh most definitely!"
Just then,Natsume,Ruka and three other guys walked in the dining area causing quite a lot of girls to crank their necks toward their direction and swoon. Mikan on the other hand,gave an annoyed pout.
"Ugh,I can't believe I have to spend the whole year with that guy." She said while looking at Natsume."Ruka is fine though."
"Oh but Mikan-chan you're really-" Anna began, but she was interuppted by a shrill voice from behind their table
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK THAT WAY OF THE NATSUME HYUUGA!?"
Mikan and her friends turned back to see who the owner of the voice was;It was a girl their age with green permed hair. Her hands were on her hips and she gave a look of disgust to Mikan.
"Oh,should've known it was you Sumire." Nonoko laughed. The girl called Sumire joined the four at their table
"Sumire?" Mikan questioned.
"Yes Mikan-chan,this is Sumire Shouda."
"Sorry for the rude introduction but I just can't stand it when people insult Natsume!" Sumire said rather exsasperately.
"Oh that's fine! Nice to meet you,I'm Mika..."
"Oh I know who you are PRINCESS..!" Sumire interupted. Although she seemed rude and cocky,Mikan took a liking to her instantly because she was the only person(besides Natsume) who had not treated her for what she was. She remained indifferent to her social status.
"Hehe." Giggled Mikan and offered a handshake to Sumire who accepted it.
"So why were you so defensive of Hyuuga?" Mikan asked her while sipping her cold coffee.
"Because,he's Natsume Hyuuga! Duh!"
"That's not a very specific explanation."
"Let me elaborate on what Sumire said." Nonoko said. "Natsume Hyuuga is one the most popular and hottest guys in the school,in spite of just joining three months ago."
Mikan rasied her eyebrows while Sumire looked dazingly at the table occupied by Natsume's group.
"He comes from a rich family but that's pretty much all we know. Other than that,he's a pretty enigmatic character. Oh! and he's got the Fire Alice,very suited to his nature." Added Anna.
"And don't forget Ruka! The Count of Guyenne and Gascony in France who is Natsume's best friend!" Said an excited Sumire.
"What!? Ruka is a Count? And a kind guy like him is that jerk's bestie!?"
"Yeah. His mom is a French Countess but his dad is Japanese and owns alot of veternaries in Japan which makes sense,because Ruka-kun has the Animal Pheremone Alice. So he's in Japan most of the time."
"Natsume's and Ruka's families met long ago in France when Natsume's family had some business with that of Ruka's. The two instantly bonded,both being Alices and all,and have been best friends ever since!"
"W.O.W. You three surely know alot about those two guys. What about you Hotaru? What do you know?" Mikan asked the inventor.
"I so don't care." Came the blunt reply.
"Who doesn't know about them? They're two of the hottest males around! They even have their own fan club. And I'm an active member." Sumire proudly said.
"Well to me,Hyuuga was a complete jerk! I definitely have no fad for him whatsoever!" Retorted Mikan.
"Oh whatever Mikan! Just consider yourself lucky to even be his seat-mate! I would die for an opportunity like that!"
"I'd trade with you if Sensei allowed it Sumire. Trust me."
The sound of the bell was heard signialling the end of their lunch break.
"Uh,what class do we have next?" Mikan asked,dumping her empty tray into a bin while her new friends followed suit.
"Alice-Based classes. Yep!" Nonoko replied while looking at her watch. "And we're late! Let's go Anna and Hotaru! See ya later girls!"
"Wait,what!? What are Alice-Based classes? Hotaruu!" Mikan cried.
"Ask class rep. We've gotta go,we're late. Will see you later." Hotaru said before leaving with Anna and Nonoko.
"Noooo! Now I'm lost!" Mikan buried her face in her hands.
"Chill out Sakura. I'll help you find your class." Sumire said with a haughty smile.
"Okay! Thanks Permy!" Mikan giggled taking Sumire's hand.
"No prob... WHAT! DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
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