"Mikan, eat".
.
My lunch was just sitting in front of me, growing colder every second, but I just didn't feel hungry. My mind (and stomach) were somewhere else. I looked around and searched for them.
.
.
Crimson.
.
.
"Earth to Mikan Sakuraaaaa"
I snapped back to reality and saw everyone look at me, concern etched on their faces.
"Hey Mikan, what did you and Natsume do yesterday?" asked Anna, doing her best to bring up a conversation.
"Yeah" said Koko, joining in "what did you and Natsume do after the two of you ran away?"
At this point, even Hotaru showed her interest in this topic.
"They ran away?" asked Hotaru
"Yeah! Hand in hand as well" replied Koko, looking more enthusiastic than he was a few minutes ago.
Hotaru smirked and looked at me. Gulp, she better not be planning anything strange.
"Yeah Mikan!" chimed Anna, "what happened yesterday?"
.
I breathed in and told them what happened:
"We only discussed a bit about the belt colour for the uniforms"
"What? Is that it?" groaned Koko, "I expected something more interesting to happen since, you know, he dragged you away like that".
"So, you guys weren't practicing?" Asked Anna.
I shook my head while drinking my milk, cold.
.
.
.
"That guy isn't likable at all" said Hotaru while biting into her melon bread, "isn't he just having his fun? It's obvious that he's better at archery than us and yet he keeps on worming his way into your life".
Hotaru stopped eating and looked into my eyes. "Do you know what he wants?"
.
"Do you know what he wants?"
Do I?
"If you have that much free-time" continued Hotaru, "then get your things back from the club and fix your mind". With that, the conversation ended with everyone approving of Hotaru's words.
I don't understand at all.
.
.
What's Natsume thinking about?
I walked up to the clubroom to be introduced with a locked door.
Oh right, today is Saturday. Where are the keys?
I walked to the Archery Club's conference room, walking along quickly to avoid meeting anyone.
I've always kept a distance from this place.
I turned the knob of the door open.
.
Thump.
.
I froze and turned the lights on, what was that sound?
.
"Mikan?"
.
I looked on the floor and saw a raven-haired boy with the most beautiful eyes that I've ever seen.
.
Beautiful.
.
"What are you doing here?"
"I should be asking you the same thing, Natsume", I stared at him, noticing that he had a pile of documents with him. "What are those?" I asked, gesturing towards the documents.
"I was making the final adjustments for the competition tomorrow" as he said this I couldn't help but notice how his eyes turned brighter in the sunlight, making them shine like rubies.
.
Beautiful.
.
I unconsciously reached out to touch his soft raven hair, feeling the hair underneath my fingertips sent waves of tranquility throughout my body.
.
Beautiful.
.
"Mikan, what are you doing?"
I immediately stopped what I was doing and moved my arm away, what was I doing?
Natsume just stared at me, his eyes glistening in the sunlight. "Mikan, although I don't mind you touching me, I'm afraid that you've touched a sensitive place of mine" he said while tackling me to the floor.
It wasn't uncomfortable, it was strange. But it wasn't a bad strange, it was a good strange. Seeing Natsume Hyuuga right in front of me, within arm's reach raised a new feeling within me.
.
I never noticed
.
"Mikan?"
.
How close he was to me
.
"Mikan, are you alright?" asked Natsume, by this point he had gotten off me and was helping me up.
"Yeah, just a bit... dazed" I replied with a smile
Stop it.
.
He stayed silent, unnerved crimson eyes looking into my hazel ones.
.
"What's the charm in archery?"
"Huh?", It was a random, out of the blue question that he asked.
"What's the charm in archery?" he asked once again, holding my hands in his, entwining our fingers.
Stop it.
It was embarrassing, to say the least, the way he looked at me, the gentle voice that he uses when he's with me. It's all...
Wonderful.
.
"Let me think" I said while using my free hand to hold my temple, "I... I really like holding the bow and pulling the string" I smiled at a sudden memory flashing through my brain, "aiming and actually firing makes me feel satisfied and pleased with myself and-"
I stopped midway, noticing how intently Natsume was looking at me.
.
"I also like that feeling"
.
"Oh," I stopped talking and looked at him, "you too?"
"The feeling of slowly pulling the string... and the feeling of stretching your body as the tension increases... Makes you feel a slight...
.
Tingle".
.
We stared into each other's eyes, hands entwined and an air of silence surrounding us.
I want this to last forever.
Then I remembered something:
"If you have that much free-time, then get your things back from the club and fix your mind"
That's why I'm here.
"Natsume Hyuuga, you must still be dazed from your sleep" I started stammering, "I, um, I'm here to borrow the keys to the girl's changing rooms, so, um..."
.
He looked at me, annoyed? "Keys?" he asked, his eyebrows were furrowed together signalling his confusion.
I couldn't stand his eyes that were observing my every move, so I covered my face, "I won't need my bow or my protective gear anymore. It's time to take my belongings home".
I noticed how he stiffened as soon as I said the word "home", his bangs were covering his eyes as he stiffly left the room.
"I'll go get the keys, can you wait outside?"
I nodded in response and left the room, fanning my face to calm myself down.
.
.
.
Is he okay?