As some of you may already know, school is now getting busier and busier with homework and the upcoming final exams … Sorry that I can't update on a regular basis. I promise to try my best and write whenever I can! Writing is a lot of fun and a hobby of mine too, so I definitely want to share the happiness with you guys! Thank you for reading! I hope you'll like the story's progressions : )

Mikan double checked again, just to make sure that she had all the materials she needed for her to survive her first day at the Alice Academy.

"Math textbook. Why are you so thick and heavy." She sighed as she finally zipped up her bag and popped a cherry tomato in her mouth.

"I'm getting heavy too. Oh well."

"Hurry up Mikan, we're going to be late on the first day."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!"

Grabbing her bag off the table and rushing downstairs to put on her black boots, she sighed once more and opened the car door. Hotaru sped down the roads and fortunately made it on time.

Almost immediately when both of them stepped into the classroom, the boys went gaga. I mean, why wouldn't they? One girl had the cool, composed, yet very elegant features, and the other had the most amazing smile they have ever seen. Mikan absent-mindedly waved at all her admirers, but in her mind, only one boy in this room mattered. Her eyes wandered around the room, until she saw, at the very back of the classroom, with his face covered by a manga and feet up on the desk, sleeping soundly away. Ruka was feeding a carrot to the rabbit he's holding.

"..akura-san"

"akura-san!"

"SAKURA-SAN."

Mikan snapped back, and flinched at the loud voice calling her name. She looked up to seeing a strict looking teacher with glasses glaring down at her.

"It's not very polite to ignore your math teacher on the first day of class. Now, both of you, one by one, introduce yourselves."

Hotaru gave a slight bow, her gaze steady, "Hi, my name is Hotaru Imai. I like to eat crabs and black mailing is my specialty. I like money." The class burst into laughter, but was only silenced when Hotaru turned her stoic gaze onto them. Mikan cleared her throat.

"Umm… My name is Mikan Sakura, I don't really have a specialty I guess… but I work at the Café around the corner! So everyone make sure to visit! Please take care of me!" Flashing her signature smile, she bowed her head.

"Okay. Get to your seats. Sakura-san, sit in the row beside Natsume-kun and Ruka-kun. Imai-san, take your seat next to Sakura-san please. Hurry along, we are 7 minutes and a half behind on today's lesson."

Mikan felt her heart sink, if he was going to put her in the row next to his, why can't he just put her in his row?

Trigonometry has never seemed this dry, boring and hard to understand. The seconds ticked by in such a slow state Mikan felt like it has been years before the bell rang.

"SAVED BY THE BELL." Everyone chorused as they quickly gathered up their books to go to their next classes, conveniently, Mikan and Hotaru, also Natsume and Ruka both had a spare second period in the morning. With only him in her mind, Mikan tried her best to pack up as fast as possible. She looked up, ready to call out his name.

"Natsu.."

"NATSUME-KUN~!"

Cockblocked.

A girl with shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair bounced into the room and threw her arms around him. Mikan felt something snap inside her. She watched Natsume slip the manga off his face and look at that girl with his signature smirk, she watched him slip his arm around that girl's waist and plant a butterfly kiss on her cheek. She wat…

A hand came over her eyes just when the angry tears threatened to roll down her cheeks.

"Who! Let me go. Let me go now!"

"Shh.. I'll take you to a good place! Trust me."

For some reason, Mikan decided to trust this mysterious stranger behind her. He told her to close her eyes, and she did, allowing him to take her by the hand and lead her to a "good place."

She didn't know how long they were walking for, but she did know that students all around the school were looking at her and whispering.

"Who is she?"

"Why is Sho-kun holding her hand?"

"Who is she to him?"

"Doesn't he have a girlfriend?"

Mikan felt more confused than ever, but she didn't utter a sound. Finally, after not knowing how far he took her, they finally stopped. She was aware that they were outside somewhere not near the campus. A cool refreshing breeze swept across, ruffling her auburn hair. The stranger let go of her hand and placed her in front of him with his hands on her shoulders.

"Open your eyes."

Mikan opened her eyes, and she saw a beautiful pond with lots of cat tails and trees. Birds sang around her and the quiet whispering of the leaves were more calming than ever.

"This…I didn't know this place existed! Wow.."

In awe, she turned around to get a look at this stranger who's taken her to what seems like a mini paradise hidden away in the academy. When her eyes met his, she couldn't help but marvel and gasp just a tiny bit.

He was a head taller than her, messy dark brown hair framed around a handsome face. His eyes were the deepest color of forest green, and a light smile played on his lips. Mikan blinked a couple of times and took a small step back, realizing how close they were standing. She looked at the ground.

"I'm sorry, I haven't gotten a chance to introduce myself. My name is Sho, Takeru Sho. You must be Sakura Mikan, right?"

Mikan shyly nodded.

"How did you know my name?"

"Let's just say news spreads fast."

Mikan raised her head to see his smiling eyes, and then turned back around to face the pond. The breeze have died down now, and so has the feeling of awe and uneasiness in Mikan. For some reason, she felt even calmer next to this boy she just met 5 minutes ago, than she did around even Hotaru.

"This is weird, Takeru-kun. I just met you but it really feels like I've known you since I was really small. Like, childhood memories almost. But I'm sure this is the first time we've met.."

She heard Sho laugh, but didn't turn around.

"Please just call me Sho, no need to be so formal with me."

Mikan turned around again and gave him a slight smile.

"But we just met!"

Sho shrugged.

"Are you dating Hyuuga?"

Mikan shrunk a little bit. Even his last name made her scowl, since she couldn't push down that feeling of anxiousness and jealousy.

"No. Nothing like that. I.. don't know him."

Sho looked at her for a while. Mikan swore she saw something cross his green eyes, but she let it go.

"That's a relief then."

"What? Why?"

In the distance, the bell rang.

"Ah, sorry Mikan! I have to run! Jinno will kill me if I'm late again! See you later!"

"WAIT! SHO!"

It surprised Mikan herself how easily that name just slipped out of her. She quickly covered her mouth, but Sho stopped in his tracks, almost immediately he heard his name.

Turning around, he gave her the brightest smile Mikan has ever seen.

THIS TOOK LONGER TO UPLOAD AND WRITE THAN I THOUGHT. SORRY. SORRY A MILLION TIMES GUYS.

How was it? Tell me : )