'Cause You are Precious
akinohime
Summary:Mikan was always treated as a useless person. But she keeps smiling and working hard. Now, Natsume, the coolest boy in school, happened to be partnered with her.
Disclaimer: I'm not the owner of Gakuen Alice. I'm just a girl who wants to share my love for it.
Author's Note:First of all, I would like to apologize for the very late update. My old desktop where I used to type the chapters suddenly crashed. I was not able to recover any of my files. I got lazy typing all over again. When I finally had a laptop, I got all busy with school and club and forgot about writing. Honto ni gomen nasai! ( ") I hope you enjoy reading this and I pray the plot bunnies won't leave me again.
IV
My Favorite Senpai's Star
MIKAN's POV
"Tsu-tsubasa-senpai?" I asked, surprised to see him.
I would recognize that face whenever, wherever. Have I mentioned already he's my savior? He's one of the few (but true) friends that I have. He's kind and intelligent and looks cool! He's my favorite senpai along with Misaki-senpai, who also happens to be his girlfriend.
"Ola Mikan-chan! Hyuuga-kun, too! I've been waiting for you to pass my post." he greeted with that ever cheerful face.
My eyes literally sparkled. I'm not sure why senpai is here but naah, who cares? I'm so pleased to see him!
I jumped on to senpai with my arms wide open in attempt to hug him. "Tsubasa-senpa—"
CLINK.
I can't? Why won't my arm reach senpai? I looked back at Natsume and saw his right hand beside my left one. Oh right. I'm handcuffed with him.
"Baka." Natsume muttered loud enough for me to hear. Clearly, he's trying to annoy me. And unfortunately, he is successful.
"Hey! Stop calling people names, you jerk!" I exclaimed. Honestly, this person is such a prick! Just once, can't he be nice?
He wore that mocking grin again, making me feel like I've said something wrong. I opened my mouth to give some sort of comeback when Tsubasa-senpai placed his hand on top of my head.
"Hep hep. No fighting! You are partners. Partners, deshou?" he said with his charming smile.
Good thing senpai is here. He nullifies all the bad vibes Natsume is giving off. Hehe. Point for me! I encountered the word "nullify" in our last English assignment so now I know what it means and I got a chance to use it. Hehe.
I looked up at my tall senpai showing him my toothy grin.
NATSUME's POV
Tch. How many more stupid people do I have to meet today?
"Oi, hurry up and give us your challenge." I voiced out.
"You're really smart ne Hyuuga-kun? You figured out I'm a challenger," he said with that annoying face.
Yeah, right. Only stupid people won't figure that out.
"EEEHH? You're a challenger, senpai?" exclaimed the idiot beside me. See, she's really stupid.
"Yes, Narumi-sensei asked help from the Student Council. I'm free anyway so I agreed. Besides, I get to see you today!" the indigo-haired freak explained while ruffling the top of the smiling idiot's empty head. Honestly, what's there to be so happy about? Those smiles are seriously freaking me out. Tch. Crap.
"So what's your challenge, senpai?"
So polka can actually ask a single sensible question.
"Hmm…Let's see…" Andou said with his index finger in his pouting lips, making him look dumber. "Now that I think about it, I don't think the challenge I prepared will be fun since this is Hyuuga-kun we're talking about here… Hmm..."
I rolled my eyes.
MIKAN's POV
Senpai is right. Things will be easy because Natsume's my partner…
Eh? Ah, no! No no no no no. I don't mean it that way. Umm, I mean… Umm, I don't mean that I actually rely on that ice prince…
IIIE! I mean, he is NOT a prince. Uh what I want to say is ummm… He's smart and ummm… we make a pretty good team because we already got two stars.
Aaaagh! Why do I even bother explaining to myself?
"I realized I brought my MP3 player. Why don't the two of you dance together to entertain me while I play my favorite songs?" said senpai gleefully with a mild clapping from his hands.
For a good five seconds, there was silence…
5
4
3
2
Then it hit me.
EEEHHH? !
I had a private panic. Is senpai joking? I'm fine with dancing, but how about my partner? Natsume and dance are never to be put in the same sentence… Or maybe I just did. But seriously! Once, our Arts teacher told us to dance waltz in class and Natsume fearlessly walked out of the room. When the teacher tried to stop him, Natsume looked back—with a gaze that will freeze you on spot. Everyone was silent at that moment. When the 'spell' was broken, Natsume was already gone and the girls started squealing at how hot and cool he looked. Ok, I don't get that. But certainly, the mind-numbing stare left a deep impression on me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and avoided looking at my partner.
"A-ano, senpai, if you want, I can dance alone so Natsu—"
Natsume cut my talk as he started to walk away with me being tugged to follow with the handcuffs.
I let out a gasp. This can't be! We can't just leave! This is my favorite senpai's post! He waited for us! We just can't skip and ignore him like this! We just can't!
I looked at Tsubasa-senpai, hoping he can read my thoughts through my eyes.
"Maa, I guess you'd do the original challenge I prepared then?"senpai voiced out.
"Yes! Yes! We'll do it Tsubasa-senpai! Just please don't make him dance!" I eagerly replied, making Natsume stop on his tracks and look at me with those… those eyes. I cowered. I didn't mean to offend him. Really, I don't. I just want to work things out.
"Then you'll just have to retrieve the star I placed in the trunk of that tree over there!" said senpai, pointing to the nearest tree to my right. "It's pretty high for a fifteen-year-old kid but well, there are two of you. So will you do it?"
I heard Natsume say something like "bull of crap" and snort. But I was totally relieved when he started walking towards the tree. Yokatta. I inwardly sighed.
When we are already in front of the tree, I immediately saw the bright yellow star pasted in the trunk. Like senpai said, it was pretty high. I won't reach it even if I jump. I wonder how Natsume plans to get it.
"I'm going to teach you not to mess with me again, Andou," Natsume darkly mumbled, still facing the trunk of the tree.
Natsume walked back a few steps. I didn't need to leave my position in front of the tree when he did.
Everything happened so fast after that—he ran, stomped on the tree trunk for a couple of steps and GLIDE!
My eyes almost popped out—he looks like, no, he IS flying! Or else, how can someone jump so high? I just can't believe it!
I felt my cuffed hand being pulled up because of the height he reached. I didn't bother for I am totally awestruck by my partner. With a swift brush of his free hand, he was able to take the star.
He landed gracefully beside me in a kneeling position, and heck, I can't deny he looked really *cough cough* cool. My mouth was agape as I continued to stare at him. I still can't believe what I just witnessed!
He stood up already but I can't seem to keep my eyes off him. Then suddenly, he turned his head to me and his crimson orbs met my brown ones.
Tha-dump
Eh? Why does my ears suddenly feel hot? I broke the eye contact and tried to look anywhere but to my left.
Tha-dump
A-am I sick? Why does my chest feel stuffy?
Tha-dump
Mou, I feel so weird!
"Tsk. Tsk. I knew it. This will be too easy for Hyuuga-kun," Tsubasa-senpai said with a hearty chuckle.
I breathe in deeply and shook my head. I lost count already how many times I did that today because of weird thoughts popping up.
What did always okasan say? Always smile to make things better. And so I did.
Yoshi!
"Tsubasa-senpai! We got the star!" I exclaimed with a wide grin on my face.
NATSUME's POV
Walking in a forest, it's totally fine with me. But walking in a forest stuck with a stupid girl who just can't stop talking? Tch.
"Ne ne Natsume, can we take a break?"
Ignore her, ignore her, I told myself. Two more friggin' stars and I'll get the keys to this stupid handcuff. Just walk.
"Ne ne Natsume, aren't you hungry?"
Polka should be grateful. I'm trying my hardest here to maintain peace.
"Ne ne Natsume, would you like to eat the snacks given to us by Narumi-sensei?"
I continued walking. Tch. Just where is the next challenger? My usual thin patience is getting thinner. Rapidly.
"Ne ne Natsume, I think a short break would—
I stopped in my tracks. I think I heard a vein in my forehead pop.
"For once, can't you just keep quiet?" I asked her.
She gave me a pout. "But all I ask is a short break. I'm really tired." she answered with her eyes looking down.
Well I have to admit she does seem tired but "Didn't you just drink a while ago?"
"But it was just one drink! This morning, I walked all the way to—," she cut herself midway and heaved a sigh before continuing, "Don't you want a break too? We've been in the game for about three hours already. And we already have three stars. It won't hurt to rest for a bit, right?"
I'm not one to be convinced easily by what some idiot said but I've weighed out the odds. If I refuse, chances are, she'd be frying my ears with her nonstop pestering. Tch.
"Just a short break."
"Yatta! Haha. Arigatou, Natsume! I know you'd give in. Besides, I think the biscuit is really yummy and blah blah blah—"
Tch. This is really pissing me off. Better pacify her mouth with the snacks soon.
I made my way under a tree and sat. The idiot fumbled with her bag and took out the snacks she got from Naru.
"Natsume, common, let's eat," she invited with her goofy smile.
I didn't bother to reply. I took the bottle of whatever kind of drink it was and closed my eyes after chugging the content.
Come to think of it, I didn't get much sleep last night. Hn. Maybe I'll take a nap while Polka indulges in the snacks.
"Wake me up after you gobble up everything. Don't you dare fall asleep, Baka."
"Che. Yes, oh mighty prick." I heard her reply sarcastically.
Whatever.
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