"Hey! The company owner and heir dinner is today! Get ready!" Koko yelled, probably over hearing my conversation. Anna, Nonoko, Koko, and Mochu ran up the stairs to their room. Imai and I walked up. My mom and dad went to set up the table, seeing that there were no servants. We came down quickly in tuxes and evening gowns. We heard the doorbell.
"Perfect timing." Mochu muttered. I walked to the door and opened it. I saw everybody's parents and more people come in. We all sat ourselves at the table. Anna brought in the food.
"Made especially by me. I hope you enjoy." She said, putting all the plates on the table. Everybody thanked her as she sat down and everyone began eating. Everyone finished eating soon after and the adults were talking while we stayed in silence. Mikan walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. The minute they caught a glimpse of her tomboy clothes, they grew looks of disgust on their faces. She opened the fridge, and looked through it. It looked like she didn't notice everyone. I couldn't blame her. She just woke up. Who really notices anything?
"Hey Natsume, where in god's name did you put my beer?!" she yelled, looking into the lounge.
"Where is he?" she asked herself.
"Top shelf in the back." I answered.
"Where ever you are, thanks!" she called.
"Anna, where is the pudding I saved from yesterday?" I asked.
"Bottom shelf way in back." Anna answered. We both had a worried look on our faces, which is very rare from me. She walked out of the kitchen slowly. Passing through the living room just as slowly as when getting into of the kitchen.
"Natsume/Hotaru/Mochiage/Anna/Nonoko/Ruka, what is that thing?" all of our parents asked, emphasizing thing with disgust. Mikan turned with a cold face.
"Thank you, but I'm not a thing." Mikan said with a glare.
"This is our friend. She is living with us for a month." Anna explained.
"This is a house for heirs and heiresses to live in peace." My dad said.
"And?" Mikan asked.
"You are disrupting a very important event." Ruka's mom said.
"What event?" Mikan asked.
"This is for heirs and heiresses along with company owners to have discussions over a dinner." Imai's father answered.
"Heirs, heiresses, I'm sick of it! I'm an heiress but you don't see me bragging my ass off about it! You don't see me attending these stupid events." Mikan said. There was a second of silence.
"Shit." Mikan said, covering her mouth.
"Forget all about what I just said. Excuse me." Mikan said. She turned and was about to walk away when Ruka's father grabbed onto her wrist.
"It seems by your reaction that you really are an heiress. Would you tell us what exactly you are the heiress of?" my mom asked. Ruka's dad let go of Mikan as Mikan turned to them.
"Please excuse my inappropriate language. I would be glad to answer any questions you have." Mikan said in an innocent and warm tone. Anna's, Nonoko's, Mochu's, Ruka's, and Koko's jaws dropped. Imai had a look and smirk of amusement on her face. I just stared straight at her, very confused about what she was talking about.
"Great. Let's start with what is your name?" Nonoko's mom asked.
"I would like to warn you if you are sure that you want to know my name, cuz it might be a shock to you all." Mikan said. They all nodded. Mikan bowed and then stood straight up.
"My name is Mikan. Mikan Sakura." She said, emphasizing her last name. Every parent gasped and everyone's moms passed out for a split second. Everybody's dads dropped their jaws to the table.
"What's wrong with her name?" Anna asked.
"Anna, honey. You have never heard of the Sakura family?!" Anna's mom asked.
"None of us have." Nonoko said.
"So would you mind explaining what exactly is so special about our friend here?" Imai asked.
"Mikan Sakura. Her father is Izumi Sakura. And her mother Yuka Sakura. Her aunt Kiyoko Sakura. And her grandfather Takuya Sakura, which he adopted the last name of his wife when she died, as well as everybody else in his family. To start off, Takuya Sakura is the richest man in Japan and the world. He owns various malls, car dealerships, restaurants, and everything. Kiyoko Sakura; owner of Sexy Sweety, a chain of clothing for females all over the world. Yuka Sakura; a world wide musician using the piano, violin, and all sorts of instruments. Izumi is the owner of Sakura corp., a worldwide business corporation working various stock markets and tied with many other countries. With all of the power she has, she can get her family to shut down our companies in seconds, flat." My mom said in one breath. Every parent got on their knees on the floor.
"We are so sorry Sakura-san. We didn't mean to insult you at all. Please forgive us." Our parents said on the floor bowing down to her.
"Please stand. You are my elders and I should be the one bowing to you." Mikan said. Our parents stood up.
"Forgive me for my disrespect. I try to keep my identity quiet to keep paparazzi away. I have been living alone and away from my parents for that sole reason. I hope you don't tell the paparazzi about my location." Mikan said with a heavenly smile. The next time she smiles like that, it's only gonna be for me!
"Of course, Sakura-san!" they all responded.
"I am going to head up to my room." Mikan said.
"Would you like to stay?" my mom asked.
"If you would like me to. I will be right back. I think I need to change for this event." She said and then head up the stairs.
"Don't you guys dare to say anything out of line." All of our parents said at the same time looking directly at their children.
"We won't. She is our friend." Mochu spelled out for our parents. They nodded with a sigh. We all looked at the stairs waiting for Mikan to come down. I turned around after a while, cuz I got bored of looking at nothing. After a few minutes, maybe five minutes, every jaw dropped. I turned around and my eyes widened. I couldn't believe how beautiful she was. Mikan had her hair down. A light pink evening gown hugging every curve of her body. Silver hoop earrings and a silver bracelet. To put the finishing touch on it, her hair was down and light pink lip gloss dawned her lips. I thought she was beautiful in just the robe, but now…I'm speechless. She came and sat herself at one of the empty seats.
"Thank you for having me." She said with the smile on her face again.
"Oh, excuse my manners. Would you like me to call my parents over? I'm sure that at this time, they will be able to make it and have a few discussions with all of you." She said when she saw everybody still staring at her. They nodded.
"That would be nice." Ruka's mom said.
"It will be my honor to do so." Mikan said. She took out a cell phone and dialed a number.
"Hi Dad, mom. I am at a dinner and I am hoping you can come." Mikan said.
"Can you please have auntie come too? Even if it's for a little while. I would like you to talk to some people. You haven't been out in public and have been doing everything at home lately. Plus, the people I am currently living with are here." Mikan said, making herself sound persuasive at the end.
"Yes some of them are boys. No, dad, none of them have laid a finger on me. Just come please. Any questions you might have for me or my housemates, I'll answer you when you get here." Mikan said with a giggle at the beginning. She waited a few seconds.
"Yes, I wrote down all the plans. I marked all the net profits as well. Don't worry. You know, I am responsible. Just get over here. Don't forget that there are guys here, my age." Mikan said. She hung up her phone.
"They'll be here in a few moments." Mikan said, giving us a smile. We heard the doorbell after a few seconds.
"That must be them. If you'll excuse me, I need to get the door." Mikan said, getting up from her seat.
Mikan's POV
I opened the door. I was tackled by my mom and aunt. I didn't fall to the floor. I was just pushed back a few inches.
"Mikan, we have missed you so much." They said, into the hug they tackled me with.
"I missed you too. You think it is easy living alone for like 10 years." I said, backing out of the hug and looking at them.
"We thought we were gonna die in that car. The minute your father heard boys, he hit the pedal." My mom said. I giggled.
"You have grown since you were 6." Auntie said.
"Obviously. It has been 10 years. People grow. People hit puberty, auntie." I said.
"You have grown to be so beautiful." My mom said, caressing my cheek with a smile of admiration. She let go of my cheek and stepped aside and my aunt did the same.
"Mikan…" my dad said, opening his arms and welcoming me into them. I walked over and gave him a hug.
"Hi Dad." I said.
"Mikan. You've grown so much. You're so beautiful." My dad said.
"Thank you." I said.
"So did you forget all about your grandpa?" I heard from behind my dad. I looked over my father's shoulder. He moved out of the way and I threw myself at my grandpa.
"Grandpa! I haven't seen you since I was like 2! I missed you so much!" I yelled.
"Well you must be glad to hear that I feel the same." He said, hugging me back. I turned around and saw everybody at the table.
"I'm very sorry for taking so long. It was like a little family reunion over there. Even though you already know, this is my family Takuya, Kiyoko, Izumi, and Yuka Sakura." I introduced.
"It is nice to meet you all. I presume you are the owners of various successful companies by your attire." My dad said.
"Yes, thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. Please have a seat, all of you." Ruka's mom said.
"So where are those boys?" my dad asked, cracking his knuckles. Since I was right next to him, I lowered his fist.
"What boys?" my grandpa asked, cracking his knuckles. Both my mom and aunt lowered his fist.
"The guys here are mature and tame. Don't worry." I said.
"So where are they?" my dad asked. I got up.
"Calm down. I'll tell you all of my housemates right now." I walked over to Hotaru.
"This is Hotaru Imai. The heiress of Imai Electronics." I said, putting my hands on Hotaru's shoulders. She nodded at my family. I walked to Anna.
"This is Anna Unemoniya. The heiress of Unemoniya Pastries." I said, now putting my hands on Anna's shoulders. She smiled at my family as they smiled back.
"This is Nonoko Ogasawara. The heiress of the Ogasawara Salon chain." I said, walking to Nonoko.
"Now, dad, grandpa. There are four guys who live here. All heirs, so don't even think you can beat them up." I said, before walking to Koko.
"Four guys! You are living with four guys! Your soul is too pure for that, Mikan!" my dad yelled.
"Calm down. They are all very good people and would not dare to lay a finger on me because they know exactly what I can do to them. Right guys?" I asked with an evil glint in my eyes when I asked if I was right. All of the guys nodded in fear of what happened to them if they actually did touch me.
"Kokoro Yome. Heir of Yome Psychic Readings." I said.
"Mochiage Okayama. Heir of Okayama Airlines." I said when I stood behind Mochu.
"Ruka Nogi. Heir of Nogi Resorts." I said when I stood behind Ruka.
"And this is Natsume Hyuuga. He is the heir of Hyuuga Corporations." I said, walking to Natsume and then putting my hand on his head when I explained what he was the heir of.
"I don't know why, but Hyuuga looks like your favorite." My dad said.
"I think you have lost your sanity." I said with a giggle.
"These boys seem like men." My grandpa said.
"I know, so don't worry." I said.
"But no matter how much they look like men, they are still sixteen and hormonal. Keep your hands off my daughter. All four of you." My dad glared. All of the guys nodded.
"Well, we are going to have an adult discussion. You guys can go to the lounge or some place that you kids hang out." My mom said. We nodded and left to the lounge. I tossed myself on the couch and picked up a sports magazine I had on the glass coffee table. I didn't hear the tv on, nor Natsume flipping pages, boiling chemicals, nor wrenches and screws, nor Anna saying "oh, yes, no no no, she can not wear that". I pulled my magazine down and saw everybody staring at me from the entrance of the lounge. I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?" I asked.
"How come you didn't tell us you were an heiress?" Anna asked.
"You didn't ask." I answered, pulling the magazine back up.
"Well of course we wouldn't ask, because we wouldn't expect that from somebody. So when were you planning on telling us?" Nonoko asked.
"When I trusted you guys completely with everything in my soul." I answered still looking at the magazine.
"Do you know how much power you have?" Koko asked.
"It is my family, of course I would. I have to inherit 2 different companies, become a musician, and become the richest woman in Japan to live up to my parents, but I'll just take it slow." I said. Everybody took their places in the lounge.
"So when do you plan on trusting us?" Hotaru asked, working on an invention.
"When I feel it is the right time to trust you." I said.
"Is it soon?" Koko asked.
"I don't know. And aren't you supposed to be the one with the psychic powers anyway?" I asked.
"Yeah, but I'm too lazy." He answered.
"Anything we are obliged to do to get your trust?" Anna asked.
"Nope. You just have to grow on me." I said, flipping the page of my magazine.
"Oh and the lock on my closet and desk are coming off because you already know I'm an heiress." I said.
"So you were hiding paperwork for the companies and your big formal attire, right?" Natsume asked.
"Yep. I barely wear my formal attire, but my aunt sends me and sends me a lot of clothes. They're cute, believe me, but I can't wear them if I am a tomboy at the moment. I'll wear them on the weekends and stuff but not during the school week." I said.
"Mikan!" I heard. I looked at the doorway to the lounge and saw my mom and aunt.
"This is the only chance we have to ask you." My aunt said. Natsume, Ruka, Hotaru, Mochu, Anna, and Nonoko were watching my family ask me questions.
"Ask me what?" I asked.
"Have you had or do you have a boyfriend?" they both asked in unison.
"Yes, and no." I said. They shoved my legs and sat down next to me.
"So what was his name?" they asked. I growled just remembering him.
"So did you dump him, or did he dump you?" they asked.
"I dumped him." I answered.
"Why?" they asked.
"I hate him." I said.
"Okay then, when did you get your first boyfriend?" they asked.
"12." I answered. My aunt and mom gasped.
"Damn, she beat us." They said under the breaths in unison.
"When did you get your first boyfriends?" I asked amused.
"14." They said.
"Ha and ha. When did you guys get married again?" I asked.
"Right after we inherited our companies!" they said.
"Engaged?" I asked.
"Right before we inherited our companies." They answered.
"Well don't worry about when I'll get married. I am obsessed with sports right now, and I don't think I'm gonna see a lot of guys. I like to keep people away, so I just give them a glare and they run away." I said.
"Why?" they asked.
"Ever since I dumped my first boyfriend I have focused on sports and financials a lot more. It's easier for me to work alone. I mean, I'm just getting used to having people to trust." I explained. They nodded expecting me to go on.
"The people I live with, I call almost-friends. They want to get to know me, so I am giving them a chance. If I grow to trust them, they will be full time friends, if I don't, we will go back to me giving the deadly glares and giving them cold shoulder." I said.
"But don't worry. There are still a few friends I keep in touch with. Like Tsubasa and Misaki sempai. They go to school with me. And somebody who has helped me since I was twelve. Don't worry about it. I think dad and grandpa are looking for you anyway." I said. They ran out.
"So…" everybody said. I stretched my legs out again and picked up my sports magazine.
"So what?" I asked.
"So, who is that person you have been relying on since you were twelve?" Nonoko asked.
"Not telling you." I said.
"Is it someone that important that you can't tell us?" Mochu asked.
"Important to me, yes. You, no." I said.
"But…" Nonoko began before I interrupted her.
"Drop the subject. When and if I trust you, I will tell you everything." I said.
"Okay." They said and dropped the subject.
Sunday Natsume's POV
We all sat in the living room with our usual positions. We heard footsteps coming down the stairs so we turned around to see. Mikan was going down the stairs. We were all surprised to see her in actual girl clothes. She was wearing a denim faded blue mini skirt. A white t-shirt was hidden beneath a grey hoodie she wore. She had her hair in a ponytail and an anklet as white flip flops. Anna and Nonoko tackled her to the floor once she got down the stairs.
"What the hell?" she yelled, getting up.
"Mikan, you're in girl clothing. Not tomboy clothing!" Anna said.
"Yeah, I got myself into this by accident." She said, walking with her eyes closed towards the door with her hands clasped behind her head.
"What did you do?" Nonoko asked.
"Tsubasa tricked me, the asshole." She said.
"Now, I have to go karaoke in these clothes." She explained.
"Well, have fun." Nonoko said.
"See ya." Mikan said walking out of the door.
"Did you see how cute she looked? She was so InStyle. Amazing." Anna said when she walked back to the living room with Nonoko.
"How do you guys think she looked?" Nonoko asked us.
"For a simple attire, she looked pretty hot." Mochu said. Koko and Ruka nodded.
"Just from a guy's opinion, cuz we don't like her like that. She's just a friend." Ruka said.
"Natsume, what do you think?" Nonoko asked.
"Think of what?" I asked, flipping the page of my manga.
"What do you think of Mikan in her girl clothes?" she repeated the question.
"I don't know. The attire was pretty simple." I said, flipping another page.
"Well, you have to comment. Ugly, nice, pretty, beautiful, hot, sexy." Anna said.
"Fine, it was nice." I said. I would have said beautiful and sexy, but it would seem weird and they would accuse me of liking her, which I think is true. I think it's more than that though. I don't know. Oh, that must hurt. A bitch slap. This manga is amazing.
Monday Mikan's POV Pm Homeroom
"Attention everyone in the student body. I am sure you will be happy to hear that we will have a masquerade dance this Friday. I apologize for the late notice. Everyone must wear a mask. And don't wear dresses to long and puffy or tuxes too tight, because students will be selected to do dances tomorrow by drawing papers from a box. No student is allowed to tell who they are, what they will look like, and what dance they are selected to do. Not every student is going to dance for us. Again, I apologize for the late notice." My uncle said over the loudspeaker. The bell rang to go home and everyone left immediately.
"Yes?" I asked in my cold but slightly lighter tone.
"Are you going to the dance?" Anna asked.
"There is no way in hell. You already know I'm a tomboy. Tomboys that devote themselves to sports do not go to dances. My teammates might, but, I'd rather die than go to a dance." I said.
"It would make us really happy!" Nonoko said, trying to persuade me.
"Sorry, but no." I said.
"You still have to do the drawing though." Hotaru said.
"I know, but what are the chances that I'll have to do a dance. Practically none. I'll just convince my uncle to not make me draw." I said. Anna and Nonoko looked depressed, which made me feel kinda guilty.
Next Day Am Homeroom Mikan's POV
It was my turn to draw a paper. I went up and drew a paper. I'm not a dancer. Good. I sat down.
After School Mikan's POV Still
After my practices, I went home. Damn, this guilt is getting to me. Fine, you stupid conscious! You win! I'll go. But, I'm doing it for my almost-friends, not because you told me to! I went to my closet. I picked out a red dress (the one that Selena Gomez for the black and white dance in Another Cinderella Story minus the black). I put it back in.