Chapter 3 – Partners

"Today is the day!" Inchou-kun shouted joyfully. Everyone's in high spirits today. They're all excited and at the same time nervous. I'm feeling the same way too you know. Starting today I'm going to be close to a person till the end of the school year. I'm excited on being close friends with that person, whoever it may be. Ooohh so excited!

We're going to have our year long partners in school today! As what sensei had said yesterday, our partners will be the person who will accompany us when we go out of school, when we make projects, when we make assignments and especially our partners will be the ones who will help us in times of need. Speaking of which I wonder who will be my partner will he/she be good? Bad? I wonder.

"You're on the way." An unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke. I was so engrossed in thinking who will be my partner be that I didn't realize that I am blocking the way to the room. What an idiot I am.

I quickly turned to face and say sorry to the person with an unfamiliar voice. Oh, it's a boy. And not just any boy, he has such a nice black silky hair, his eyes shining like a star, such fair skin, such height and don't mention, such face so handsome! Oh my, oh my, he's one of my classmates! But I think I haven't met him yet. Could it be that … he's Natsume? Or maybe not.

"S-sorry!" I said while giving him a 90 degree bow.

"TCH! So annoying. Idiot." He said. Then he quickly entered the room.

Annoying? He's so rude! He didn't even say that it's okay or even fine by me! Urgh what a bother and I thought he would be so kind. Guess I was wrong.

"Good morning class! Are you all excited? You know what I'm talking about right?" Narumi-sensei started to announce. "I worked this out overnight so please bear with me. I hope you will be close to your partners!"

"I hope that I'll be with Hotaru-chan or with Iinchou-kun." I whispered.

"So, may I start announcing now?" Sensei asked the class. "Yes sensei!" we all said.

"Yuu Tobita you're with Imai Hotaru, Shouda Sumire you're with Yome Kokoro, Ogasawara Nonoko you're with Umenomiya Anna, Usami Wakako you're with Hoshino Hoshio, Kitsuneme you're with Nogi,Ruka, … Yukihara Mikan you're going to be with Hyuuga Natsume …" sensei's still talking while others are also searching for their partners.

"WHAT? Mikan! You're so lucky! You're partners with Natsume-kun! I envy you!" Sumire-chan shouted. Many of my classmates started to murmur and some shouted.

"Hyuuga Natsume?" I asked quietly, too quiet that I'm the only one who can hear. I'm still not sure of his face, I wonder if he's the rude boy from a while ago. I really hope not.

"You haven't seen Natsume yet right? He's present today you know." Hotaru-chan said. "He's over there." She pointed directly to a black-haired boy sitting quietly at the back beside Ruka-pyon. WAIT. It's him! The rude boy! It's really him! Gaaah! He's going to be my partner? What an unexpected thing to happen!

"waaaa! Him?" I shouted while tearing up. "But he's so rude."

"Don't worry Mikan-chan, you'll be friends with Natsume-kun." Sensei cheered me up but I'm not really cheered up. "I really do hope that you'll be good friends." Sensei went out after.

I can't believe it! I'm already crying. *shedding more tears* and come to think of it, since he's my partner, and he should know that by now, he should be stopping me from crying right now! But look at what is he doing. He's just sitting so quietly with an unexplainable expression.

I can't be partners with that guy! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

Note: Sorry if Mikan overly reacted on this chapter. I really can't help but type what came in my mind. Even so, please still read the next more chapters to come.