Chapter 6 -
The sun was setting, and Monica and Natsume were in front of the school. It was becoming dark. Natsume looked at Monica seriously, while her face was covered with her bangs.
"What were you going to say?" Natsume asked Monica. Then, tears flowed down on Monica's cheeks. Natsume saw this, and he went near her. He put his hands on her shoulder, and he asked what was wrong. She continued to cry, until she had the chance to say it.
"Natsume," Monica said as Natsume listened carefully, "There's no point in hiding my identity anymore. I am Yu-Yu-Yukiko Sasaki!"
Natsume was shocked to hear this. Mikan gasped, and she widened her eyes. Natsume took his hands off Monica, shocked to hear this.
"You're just kidding, aren't you? How did you know a-about Yukiko Sasaki if, if…" Natsume said, as this made Monica frown more. He then realized that she might be Yukiko.
"No, it can't be! Yukiko was sick ever since. It was years, I never saw her again until," Natsume said.
"Are you done talking?" Monica asked Natsume, "Well, it's like this. I left Japan 7 years ago because of my sickness, and I need a better cure so my parents and I went to America. I knew you were supporting me, so I never lost hope. In my condition, my cancer had not yet reached above stage 1 and 2. And some of my hairs are falling, but sometimes they don't. Weird huh?" Monica laughed for a while, and then she gave a deep sigh, "Well, it's not yet clarified that I would die. But I said to my parents that I want to spend my childhood years that I haven't experienced to go back to Japan and see my best friend, Natsume. And if I would die, I said that my body would be buried here."
"But your name, why did you changed it?" Natsume asked.
"I use Monica Yamashita because my parents told me that people would pity Yukiko, and treat her differently. Since I don't like that to happen, I changed my name to Monica Yamashita, everything into my name right now. But my baptismal name remains as Yukiko Sasaki. Even though people could see me as Monica Yamashita, people shouldn't see me as Yukiko Sasaki. No one wants to be pitied, they want to be loved." Monica replied. Natsume took a moment to see if Monica and Yukiko were one, yet he doubted about it. Monica was worried that Natsume won't remember her, so she explained a story.
"Remember the little boy who was afraid of ghosts?" Monica called Natsume, "Once, she and that boy went to school with no one there, since an hour or two had passed. They went inside to get his books, and she went with him for comfort. As they were walking, they've noticed some mysterious things going on in school. They were too frightened, scared. They don't know if they should continue to get the books, or escape the school while it was not too late. But they've decided that even if they would die because of ghosts, they would die together. Never stop from what you've started. Then, they've realized that there were no ghosts in school at all. It was just their imaginations. But still, that little boy is afraid of ghosts up to now."
"Monica-,"
"Please, call me Yukiko. You're my best friend, and we keep secrets with each other." Monica gave a cheerful smile at Natsume.
"Yukiko," Natsume called.
"Hmm," Monica responded.
"Uh, nothing." Natsume said.
On the other hand, Mikan's eyes have become teary after hearing that Monica and Yukiko are one. "But that sounds impossible. Nothing's impossible actually, but if you let people crush you down, then you are just a loser. Never lose hope Mikan—wait. We are talking about Yukiko and Monica. So, if Yukiko is Natsume's best friend, then they'll hang out with each other and can become boyfriend and girlfriend." Mikan thought as she squealed, "But, that's impossible. In Johnny's, you are not allowed to have a girlfriend because of a photo scandal in Hey Say JUMP that was totally believable. But they're not allowed. So you still have hope, Mikan. Yeah,"
"Let's go home together Natsume." Monica called.
"I'm sorry. I need some space." Natsume replied as he turned around and walked back to his house. Monica, on the other hand, was worried about Natsume. Natsume must have been freaked out after finding out that she's Yukiko. Natsume walked home. Mikan remained in silence, and never talked to Natsume. Unbelievable, since Mikan talks to Natsume everyday. She must've been surprised too. Everybody would be surprised after finding out that Monica is Yukiko of course, because it's impossible! But she's the girl who doesn't lay by the rules. All that matters is that she's able to follow her wish.
Isn't that wonderful? She would be ready to give up everything just to go back to Japan again. This reminds us of Mikan so much, since she has the same goal-to prove that even ghosts can fall in love. But Mikan was facing a very deep problem. Natsume arrived at home already. He laid his bag at a corner, and went upstairs to his room. He lied down at one side of the bed, and Mikan lied down on the other side of the bed, facing the wall. She was concerned. Was her last chance a waste of time, life?
"She was my first love." Mikan remembered Natsume saying this. She gave a deep sigh after.
"What if I haven't made that last chance? What if I continue living in heaven? Will that affect Natsume and Monica's relationship? Was my last chance only a waste?" These questions confused Mikan very much. She had difficulty, but Natsume was experiencing depression than what Mikan's feeling. Natsume was thinking twice as deep as Mikan's. Natsume was looking at the dark sky; his hand was supporting his chin.
FLASHBACK:
"Then we will have a bond that we will be friends forever. We'll never leave each other's side, and we will go till the ends of the earth together." Yukiko said to Natsume. They were sitting around the campfire. Natsume gave a slight smile as Yukiko pulled out some marshmallows from the plastic, and inserted it on her stick.
"Yukiko," Natsume called.
"Hmm," Yukiko responded.
"Moments like these can be a little bit of intimidating. I mean," Natsume said.
"I know you're scared of ghosts. But we are camping out together. We trust each other, and if that mean ghost gets to you, I'll be beating him with my karate moves." Yukiko replied.
"Yeah, but-HEY! I am a man, and men should do this karate stuff not girls." Natsume said.
"So you think boys are superior over girls?" Yukiko asked strangely.
"Of course." Natsume replied.
"Well then, may I suggest making my first move?" Yukiko said.
"What move," Natsume said puzzlingly. Then, Yukiko ran to Natsume, and attacked him. She strangled him (playfully) and beat him up. They were kids back then, and kids don't know what they're doing.
Natsume laughed after remembering those memories. Then, he began recalling more.
"Yukiko, I forgot my Science and English books in school. I need to do my assignments or else Mr. Ota will fail me!" Natsume said to Yukiko.
"Then why don't you go fetch it by yourself?" Yukiko asked Natsume while reading a book.
"But you know I'm afraid of ghosts." Natsume replied nervously
"What do you want me to do? Go with you and make sure you will come back here safe and sound?" Yukiko asked, and then Natsume displayed a weird expression, "You're thinking something unwanted. What are you going to do?" Yukiko asked as she raised one of her eyebrows.
Natsume and Yukiko arrived at the school in an instance. It was night time already, and they were the only two people who were still in the school. They were both afraid, since the school was very scary when night. There were stories that a girl was studying there, and she committed suicide after knowing that she's pregnant. She decided to die so that the baby would die too. And every night, the school is being hunted by the cries of her baby and the misery felt by the woman. There was also a story that there was a boy who was boiled alive inside the boiling room, and his cries were still heard in the school every night. Also, a teacher once went home late, and she saw a woman in the music room, playing the piano. Thinking that it was a hallucination, she ignored it. But after seeing the 1975th yearbook, it was a music teacher!
"Natsume, stop scaring me!" Yukiko said to Natsume.
"But it might be true. Everybody says that." Natsume replied to Natsume.
"But stop scaring me. The more you scare me, the more I want to leave you here." Yukiko said to Natsume. They were scared, frightened, and horrified, but still they continue to walk to get the things they need. Then, they heard music playing inside the music room. They walked towards the door, and took a peak. It was the music teacher from the 1975th yearbook!
"Ah!!!" Both screamed, and ran away. They went to their classroom. Good thing it was still opened. Then, they got the books and ran away. The school was dark already, and they saw the dead music teacher in front of them. As it was getting closer, Natsume and Yukiko said some words to each other.
"Natsume, if I ever die, please remember me!" Yukiko said.
"Yukiko, I wanted to tell you something, but I'm too scared to remember it." Natsume replied.
"Natsume, if we die together, we'll die as friends!" Yukiko answered to Natsume. And thinking that it was their time, the lights opened and there appeared Mr. Ota, very mad at them.
"What are you doing at the school this late?!" Mr. Ota shouted at the two.
"We're sorry. Natsume forgot his books, and I went with him for comfort." Yukiko replied. Mr. Ota gave a deep sigh after.
"I won't report you to the principal. Next time, don't forget your things and don't come back here at night." Mr. Ota said.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Ota." Natsume said as they both bowed their head.
"Go home already. Your parents might be looking for you now." Mr. Ota replied. The two gasped. They haven't told their parents that they were going outside. They're so dead!
END OF FLASHBACK……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Mikan noticed Natsume, and she decided not to talk to him for a while because he needed time to think.
"Yukiko was his first love. Maybe Natsume's still in love with Yukiko. If that's the case, they'll be ending up together. What should I do?" Mikan thought.
"Natsume, there's no point in hiding my identity anymore. I am Yu-Yu-Yukiko Sasaki!" Natsume thought, "How can she be Yukiko? Their actions and words are the same. But why Yukiko looks different now? Maybe the years have gone so fast, I haven't noticed that it was her. She hasn't lost her hair yet. But one day, she will. Yukiko, after the passed few years, I've fallen out of love for you. But now, I don't know what am I feeling—the love for you or nothing at all."
"You're thinking of Yukiko, aren't you?" Mikan asked Natsume.
"I thought I told you to stop bothering me." Natsume said to Mikan.
"Well, I just wanted to help. It's just that a best friend is someone who you should treasure the most. If you would ignore her, then that won't be okay. You should be more like me and"
"You and who?" Natsume asked.
"Me and my best friend Hotaru." Mikan replied.
"You have a best friend too?" Natsume asked.
"Of course I do! Nobody's a loner you know." Mikan said, "I wonder what she's doing now? Since I died, I haven't seen her. Also grandpa, how are they?" Silence covered the room, until Natsume thought of an idea.
"Mikan," Natsume called.
"Yeah," Mikan responded.
"Where do you live?" Natsume asked.
"You know what; you should pay attention to me more. I told you that I'm from the Niigata Prefecture." Mikan said as her hands were on her waists.
"Niigata, eh? Oh yeah, I remembered that we were supposed to hold a tour there until an unexpected earthquake came right?" Natsume asked. Mikan's expression was like 'duh, I already told you that.'
"Yes," Mikan replied.
"Don't worry, I'll ask if they could still continue the tour in Niigata, so you can see your grandpa and best friend again." Natsume said. Mikan widened her eyes, and her smile almost reached her ears.
"Really Natsume? Oh thank you very much!" Mikan said, jumping inside Natsume's room. Natsume gave a slight smile.
"You're welcome." Natsume replied.
Natsume went to school the next day. As he was walking, Monica happens to be walking behind him. She saw him and ran towards him.
"Natsume," Monica called. Natsume stopped and turned around.
"Oh Monica, it's only you." Natsume said.
"Hey, I already told you to call me Yukiko." Monica said, then she began talking to herself, "Or maybe not because people will know me and I would be pitied. Oh, I don't want to lose hope!"
"Ah Yukiko, what are you doing? You're talking to yourself behind me." Natsume said. Monica heard him, and made a 'chick' expression. Then, she turned around, giving a sweat dropped.
"Ah nothing." Yukiko replied, "Um Natsume, if you don't believe that I was Yukiko, that's okay. Whether you think if I am Monica or Yukiko, I'm still Yukiko. Anyways, I would like to forget about yesterday. So, what do you say?" Yukiko offered her hand as she gave a sunny smile. Natsume was surprised inside.
"No," Natsume replied. Yukiko's smile fainted slowly.
"Why?" Yukiko asked.
"Because I don't like to forget our friendship. Yukiko, you're my best friend. And a true friend will always be with you by your side. So, whether you are Monica or Yukiko, you will still be my best friend who is scared of rats.
"Hey, I was once scared of rats. But I've already grown up." Monica said as the two were walking towards school.
"So if we ever dissect a rat, would you faint or stay alive?" Natsume asked.
"Neither," Monica replied.
Sure, they have realized that they are best friends until the end, but what if...
PREVIEW FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER:
"Natsume, I never knew you mean so much to me." Monica said as she continued to cry. Natsume paid attention to her, "It's just that, just that, I never realized in those years that I was in love with you. I think I love you Natsume!"
Mikan and Natsume was shocked to hear this. Yukiko continued to cry, Natsume's eyes widened, and Mikan's jaw dropped. Who do you think will be the one for Natsume??? Yukiko, who is human and is able to be with him, or our protagonist, who is a ghost yet she can make our dear Natsume fall in love with her?
Will Natsume say yes, or will he say no? I suggest you read the past chapters and guess what Natsume will be going to say. Is it:
"I'm sorry, it's because of (state reason) that's why. But I kind of like you." or;
"I'm sorry, I just don't feel the same way I felt from you before. I am still looking for someone whom I can share my feelings with."
Think... Hmm...
END OF CHAPTER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Oh yes, I almost forgot! To those who reviewed, favored and read my story:
Arigatou Gozaimashita!
Xie Xie Nin
Spasibah
Merci
Muchas Gracias
Maraming Salamat
gam-sah-ham-ni-da (I think)
and Thank you very much!!!
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