Chapter 6

Day Four: Central Town

Sorry for updating so slowly. I am quite busy with my thesis, exams and other school stuffs.

Thanks for those who reviewed the recent chapter!

And, to those who are wondering/ assuming that the voice at the end of the chapter is Natsume, well...let's see what will happen!

"Ne, Hotaru where will we go next?" Sumire asked

"Central Town" Hotaru bluntly replied.

"Really? I missed that place!" Mikan butts in. "Let's hurry up!"

The remaining ones namely Mikan, Ruka, Hotaru, Sumire and Koko starts their trip to Central Town. Too bad for them, instead of taking the bus, they need to get there by foot.

"Damn that Naru" Koko said "Going to Central Town by foot will take us a lot of time! I'll kick his ass if I see him there."

"We've got no choice." Sumire said back "He specifically told us to walk."

After a few hours of walking, they finally reached the Central Town. The group rested on a bench for a while, until they heard someone's growling stomach...

"Who's that?" Sumire asked.

"Uhmmm...It's me." Mikan replied sheepishly

"Seriously, you need to eat something. That loud stomach of yours is ruining the peaceful environment here" Hotaru hissed.

"Well, sorry for my rumbling stomach!" Mikan jeered and stood up "I'll go look for something to eat"

Mikan walks around Central Town to look for a store to buy something to eat until she found a pink store that she will never ever forget...

"Howalon Store!" Mikan screamed...

Mikan's POV

"Howalon Store!" I exclaimed to myself. Oh how I missed these delectable chewy cotton candies! Ever since I left this Academy, all I think about is work...work...work...I have no time for myself at all!

"One box of Howalons please! The extra large one!" I yelled out to the store keeper. Yelling out like this makes me feel young again, well maybe it's not that bad if I act like a child just for today?

"Hai. Hai!" The store keeper replied.

After a few minutes, finally the store keeper handed me the Howalon that I yearned for. I took a piece and shove it inside my almost drooling mouth. After munching that piece, a sea of memories came upon me...

*Flashback in a normal point of view*

(First year in middle school)

"Ne, Mikan" Ruka said

"What is it?" Mikan asked.

"Have you seen Natsume?"

"Huh? No, I haven't seen him. Why? And I thought he was with you"

"Uhhm, a while ago he is with me but then, he just disappeared and I wonder where he went" Ruka said

"Well, stop looking for him. You know, he is old enough and maybe he wants to spend some time alone" Mikan replied. "Oh well, I need to go Ruka-pyon! See you around!"

Mikan was about to leave, but being as clumsy as ever, she tripped over Ruka's foot and they both landed on the cold ground with Ruka on top of her.

"Ano..." Mikan hissed under her breath as a tint of pink shade appears on her cheeks. "Ruka-pyon? You can get off of me now."

Ruka was astounded and immediately got off of Mikan "Gomen Mikan! I-I didn't...mean...t-to h-hurt you!"

Mikan stood up and dusted off her skirt "No...it's my fault anyway. And I'm not hurt or something."

Ruka heaved a sigh "Are you sure? But if you are hurt somewhere please do tell me so I can bring you to the nurse"

Mikan shook her head and emitted a radiant smile "No worries Ruka-pyon! I am perfectly fine! Well, I'm going now!"

"Where are you going?" Ruka asked.

"I'm going to Central Town today! You wanna come with me?"

Ruka shook his head "No, thank you. I still need to look for Natsume"

Mikan frowned "Why do you need to look for him anyway? Is there something wrong?"

"Not really. He just promised me to visit the barn today because I'll go check the animals in there. I've been looking for him for hours already!" Ruka replied.

Mikan just shrugged her shoulders "Oh well, maybe he is just sleeping or reading his precious manga somewhere else. Anyways I need to go now! If ever I see Natsume, I'll just tell him that you are looking for him okay?"

Ruka smiled "Oh, thanks a lot Mikan. See you later~"

As soon as Mikan arrived in Central Town, she immediately ran towards her favorite shop.

"I must get in there fast or else my precious Howalons will be sold out!" she said to herself.

After minutes of sprinting, she finally reached the infamous Howalon shop but to her greatest dismay, a long line of customers was there and at the end of the line, there is a sign board that says "Lines are cut off. Howalons are now sold out! Come back again tomorrow"

"Noooooooooo!" Mikan screamed inwardly.

Mikan, with a melancholic expression etched on her facial features, walks away from the Howalon shop and went to who-knows-where.

"Geeezz... If only I arrived a little earlier maybe I still have the chance to grab a box!" Mikan muttered as she sat under a Sakura tree.

"Glutton as ever eh?" a voice remarked.

Mikan looked up to see a raven haired lad with alluring crimson orbs standing in front of her "Natsume?" she muttered "What are you doing here? Ruka-pyon is looking for you"

Natsume sat down besides Mikan and puts his hand on the back of his head "I know. I'm not in the mood to accompany him to the barn today. He'll understand that"

"You're cruel, you know that? I feel sorry for Ruka-pyon to have a best friend like you" Mikan retorted.

"And I feel sorry for Imai to have an idiotic best friend like you" Natsume shot back.

"Say what?!"

"I don't want to repeat myself"

"You jerk" Mikan mouthed.

Just then, Natsume took out a box that he has been hiding behind him. "Polka, look"

"What is it?" Mikan asked.

Natsume opened the box and much to Mikan's surprise it is no other than her all time favorite Howalons!

"How did you get one? It's sold out today! And I didn't even see you on the long line!"

"I have my ways Polka dots"

"Life is unfair!"

"Yeah it is." Natsume said and took a piece of Howalon and shove it in his mouth. He looked at the brunette sitting next to her and smirked "Don't drool in public you glutton. I know that I am hot but don't act like a stupid fan girl"

"You jerk! I'm not drooling and don't act so full of yourself."

Natsume again shoved a piece of Howalon in his mouth and began teasing the brunette "Howalons really taste so good you know."

"Quit teasing me" Mikan said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Want some?"

Mikan looked at Natsume with a sparkle in her eyes "Can I?"

"Nope" was Natsume's response

"Mou...you're so selfish" Mikan replied.

"I'll give this to you in one condition"

"Spill" Mikan said.

"Be my girlfriend" Natsume sternly said.

Mikan was flabbergasted "Be your what?!"

"My girlfriend" Natsume repeated.

"Are you out of your mind?! You're crazy" Mikan retorted

"I'm dead serious here Polka dots. Be my girlfriend if you want to have this Howalons"

"Nice deal we've got there. Thanks but no thanks. Just go and give it to someone else and ask them to be your girlfriend."

"No way in hell. I will never give this to someone else. I bought it for you anyway. I am not leaving you any other options but to take it."

"But being your girlfriend in exchange? That's ridiculous!"

"As I told you, I am not giving you any options aside from taking it. Remember, your Howalons are at stake"

"You sly fox!"

"I'll take that as a yes" Natsume smirked and without further a do, he shoved a piece of Howalon in Mikan's mouth and hugged her. "Now you're mine"

*End of flashback*

Back on Mikan's POV

Munching this sumptuous candy brings back those memories. Yeah, what a fool I was back there. Maybe I am the only one in this crazy world who agreed-no, rather forced to be someone's girlfriend in exchange for a cotton candy. How immature of me! But then, truth to be told, I never regretted being Natsume's first girlfriend.

"And I hope I would also be his last" I muttered to myself.

I looked around my surroundings, looking for a particular tree that has been the witness of the beginning of my love story. As soon as I spotted the said tree, I turned on my heels and began walking towards it. I sat down on the soft ground and continue munching on my Howalon.

"Hey" a stoic voice interrupted my train of thoughts.

I looked up to see who the intruder was and smiled "Hey, Hotaru!"

"What the heck are you doing here?" she shot back at me.

"Well, as you can see, I am eating" I replied

"As if I don't know you pig. Remember that you are still in the game. Don't slack off or else you will be left out" Hotaru replied.

NORMAL POV

The brunette stood up, dusted her clothes and smiled back at the raven haired lass "Thank you for your thoughtfulness Hotaru! You want some?" she offered.

"Thanks but no thanks." was Hotaru's stoic reply "Let's get going. We found a poster somewhere and I guess the instructions were there. Hurry up you slowpoke"

"Alright, alright...I'm coming!" Mikan replied.

The two proceeded to where the poster was located. Sumire, Koko and Ruka were already there.

"What took you so long, Mikan? To the point that Hotaru needs to look for you!" Sumire ranted.

"Sorry..." was only Mikan's reply.

"Quit those ranting ladies. Let's read what the poster says" Koko said.

The group then turned their attention on the poster...

"Hello my ever dearest hunters! I'm glad that you made it here! Very well, here is the task that you need to do:

You must all roam around Central Town and look for THE ELEMENT THAT ILLUMINATE ONE'S DARK LIFE. Once you found this, you will pass this stage and is able to proceed to your last destination. You must look for it individually. You cannot tag along with others or else you'll be eliminated. Remember, I am watching your every little actions so be cautious!

Good luck my little hunters!"

"What the hell was that? A stupid riddle or something?!" Sumire hollered.

Hotaru, being a genius as she is quickly snapped out of her thoughts and swiftly ran towards who-knows-where.

"Hey Hotaru! Have you figured this out?!" Koko screamed but to his luck, he received no response.

All of a sudden, Ruka followed suit.

"Hey! I'll come with you!" Koko screamed again.

"No you idiot. This should be done individually. Figure it on your own!" Ruka shot back and ran away.

Mikan's POV

"An element that illuminates one's dark life? What is that thing?" I thought to myself. I put my left hand under my chin, thinking of things that might be the answer to this ridiculous thing.

And then it hits me... FIRE! Fire is indeed an element isn't it? Oh thank goodness that my brain cells functioned normally this time!

I scanned my surroundings and another realization hits me. . . This place is really familiar. Yeah, Central Town is indeed familiar but this particular place has more significance to me compared to other places aside from the tree where Natsume and I became a couple of course. But what happened in this very place years back?

I start trailing down the memory lane, reminiscing every single thing that happened every time I am in Central Town. Again, I took another quick stare at my surroundings and then it hits me...

"Now I get it! This was the very place where I performed Little Match Girl Mikan way back my elementary days as a no-star" I thought to myself. And then, I remembered that I use some twigs that will serve as matches. Wait, twigs...matches...those twigs creates fire...I got it! The element was indeed fire and twigs were used to create fire as matches! And, wait...where did I get those twigs? "Think Mikan! Think! You need to hurry up!" I said to myself and then finally I found the answer to my question.

End of Mikan's POV

NORMAL POV

"Ne, Mikan-chan why are you smiling to yourself?" Koko asked.

This question of Koko brought Mikan back to reality "Oh nothing Koko! I just finally figured that riddle! I'm going now!"

Upon arriving at the destination, which was an old oak tree somewhere in the far edge of Central Town, Mikan gasped on the scenery that was laid before her eyes...

.

.

.

.

.

Ruka was laying his head on... HOTARU'S LAP!

Mikan pinched her cheeks for some reality check "Itai!" she hissed under her breath. "This is really not a dream"

Mikan then walked her way towards the two and cleared her throat, ruining the moment "Tell me Hotaru, is the world gonna meet its end?"

Ruka hurriedly turned into a sitting position and without warning, Hotaru smacked him in the head.

"That was uncalled for Hotaru!" Ruka yelled.

"Sorry to ruin your moment but would you care to explain what I saw?" Mikan stated.

"We're a couple" Hotaru blurted out.

"Since when?"

"Since today" Hotaru replied.

Mikan's jaw dropped. Literally.

On the other hand...

"This is your fault Koko! We wouldn't be eliminated if you didn't tag along with me!" Sumire hollered.

"But I don't have a choice! I really don't have any idea on what that riddle is about. I need to tag along with you!" Koko retorted.

Yes, the two of them kept on bickering on their way back to their dorm after being eliminated.

End of Chapter 6 !

This is much longer than the others so what can you say about it? Again, thanks for those who reviewed the previous chapters! I would really appreciate if you drop down some reviews in this chapter too!

And to tell you something, this story is coming to an END!

Thank you so much!