Disclaimer: I don't own an elephant, I don't own the world, I don't own an iPhone, and nor do I own Alice Gakuen : (

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My Happy Ending
By Little Miss Giggle

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Chapter Seven: The First Round

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I don't need no superman, with special powers and a fake tan,
to try and save the day for me.
Why can't he just let me be?

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(This Chapter is in the point of view of Mikan. I would change it to a narrator's point of view, but that would mean stripping the whole chapter down.)

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"Welcome students, to the first round of The First Music Competition in the Academy!" Mr Prince loudly bellowed into the microphone, which was promptly followed by loud cheers and students waving their supporting banners high into the air. Many whooped and some even looked like they were going to pee from laughing and screaming too much.

I was currently supposed to be backstage, getting my make-up and all that jazz ready, but right now I was feeling nauseated. I looked at the crowd from behind a crack of the curtains and thought to myself: why the hell where there so many students out there not performing tonight? Why were only sixty of the four hundred students in the goddamn Academy performing tonight? But what puzzled me the most was why the hell was I here, about to perform, and not down there, supporting?

I groaned, and pushed down a large clump in my throat and continued to gaze at the crowd.

This had to be a nightmare.

I love singing and performing, but when I say the word performing, I mean in front of around forty people. Not three hundred and forty screaming teenagers. And not to mention, only one person in the crowd was supporting my friends and I tonight and that person is Aoi Hyuuga. The rest of the crowd was pretty much all supporting her brother's band, the Crimson Abyss.

And in another case, if there were males out there supporting tonight, no doubt it'll be for the hottest—try sluttiest—girl group on campus, Bunny Love. Did I mention Luna Koizumi was in that group with her robotic goons? Oh and she's currently dressed like a playboy bunny, in a skin tight white leotard and big clompy leather boots? I gagged when I saw their fluffy little tails wiggle and jiggle around.

I fiddled with my brown hair as I sighed. Somewhere in my heart, a haunting feeling of I'm-not-going-to-get-through-the-first-round was growing. But the optimistic side of my heart was screaming, You-going-to-be-great!

Pfft. Yeah right.

"Mikan."

I heard Hotaru's ice cool voice call my name, and just hearing it made me smile.

"Yeah?" I called back, as I walked towards the sound of her voice. I walked past many girls, rest assured that the boys had a different changing place, who were all anxiously getting changed, putting their make-up on and practicing their songs all at the same time. And whenever I heard somebody play or sing some decent music, I couldn't help feel even more anxious.

I bit my lip as I kept on walking.

There, I saw Hotaru, her arms across her chest. She looked beautiful. She looked like a professional pianist. She wore a sleek black dress, which hugged her body, and her hair was pinned back with a sparkling diamond clip. "Wow Hotaru! You look stunning!" I commented as I hugged my best friend.

Hotaru simply just patted my head and said, "You better get dressed. Come on, I'll go get Anna and Nonoko to help you out. Aoi's in your dressing room, she brought your dress."

I nodded in reply, and just about I was about to leave, she gave me a squeeze on the arm and added, "You'll do fine."

I smiled back, and replied, "Thank you Hotaru. You really are my one and only best friend." before I walked towards my dressing room. I knocked on my door, and when I heard Aoi's sweet voice say, "Come in!" I clicked it open and entering as I smiled at Aoi.

"God, this place is like a closet!" I commented as I giggled.

Aoi laughed and said, "I totally agree!" She then pulled out a dress from a bag, and I gasped as she pushed it to my hands. "No way!" I gasped, as I hung it down holding the hanger up, "This is my dress? You made this?"

"What did you expect? Some rags?"

I laughed but then seriously replied, "Honestly, I didn't expect it to be this amazing! Look at it—it's a babe!—you could so sell your work!"

Aoi raised her eyebrows at me and said, "Unlikely, but that is my dreams." She sighed as she looked at the dress. Before anything else could happen, she looked back at me, and said, "Well, time to get dressed!"

I replied by saying a bubbly, "Yay!" Even though I was so excited to try on the dress and for Anna and Nonoko to do my make-up, the fear of going up on stage was gradually sinking into me as if a snake had bitten me, and the poison was seeping in.

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"Students, calm down!" Mr Reo now said into the microphone.

The cheering and shouting gradually died down, and then Mr Reo's face broke into a boyish grin. "Well, I'm going to repeat Mr Prince's word: Welcome. Tonight is the very first round of the first competition we have ever held in the Academy. I hope you will all enjoy tonight. May I say it is against the rules to throw items like tomatoes on the stage while somebody is performing. Items like flowers are allowed to be thrown at the contestants, but please refrain from doing so."

The students all looked bored and looked ready for the performances, and just on cue the stage lights flashed on. The stage was pitch black, and Mr Reo smirked and said, "Enjoy."

"Our first contestant is our very own bone-chilling goth, Rose Denmai!" Mr Prince announced.

And on cue, the contestant Rose was on stahe, in here Goth Lolita outfit earning herself a round of cheers and applause. And just as easy as that, the competition had started. And I felt more than nervous. Fifty seven more performances and that'll be me on stage. Singing my song. Dedicated to the person I honestly wanted nothing to do with.

Oh hell, I felt sick to the bone.

"Mikan. Calm down." Hotaru coolly said, as she looked at me with her amethyst eyes.

"I can't do this!" I choked out.

"Mikan, listen to me." Anna soothingly held my hand. "Nonoko and I should be the ones to be nervous. Not many people appreciate our music. We all have Aoi out there rooting for us! And frankly, you look amazing. Any guy would be either gay or crazy not to like you. And who cares about the girls? You're no lesbian!"

That made me giggle a bit and made me feel a bit better so I said, "Can you please say something like that again?"

"You'll do fine sweetie." Nonoko assured me as she patted my hair.

I nodded as I took a deep breath. Suddenly the image of my brother Ryo flooded my mind. I remembered how he'd always be there whenever I had a school play or I had to perform something. How his face stood out in the crowd to me. God I miss that toerag of a brother.

"Now Mikan, come with me. I'll do your finishing touches of your make-up." Anna said, as she took my hand with her baby soft fingers. I curled my fingers around hers and nodded, and followed her to her changing room. My mouth opened pretty much as soon as the door opened, and I saw just how much make-up the twins owned! MAC, Benefit, Chanel, Max Factor, Dior, you name it; it'll be there in that big stack of make-up!

"Woah." I whistled as I inspected all the things.

"Let me look at you." Anna said. I turned around to her, and did a little twirl as I giggled.

After that she gazed at me as if I was like a talking penguin, but then after a few tense seconds, she collected all the make-up she needed as quick as lightning. And hell it was a lot. "Okay, let's get you done!" she squealed as she patted to the free chair, hinting for me to take it.

. . .

"Some body glitter . . . " Anna muttered to herself as she puffed a fluffy puffball around my face, then my clevage area. Then she smiled at me and announced, "Finito!"

I squealed like a piglet happily, and excitedly turned to a mirror. "You look darling honey!" Anna said as she squeezed my arm. I looked at myself in the reflection.

I looked a bit like a dolly; this was not me, the person in the reflection wasn't me. I was looking at somebody else it felt like. The mascara and glittery black eyeliner covered my hazel eyes, and my skin looked paler than usual, and lips covered in bold thick red lipstick. My body was sprinkled with silver glitter so whenever I moved, I sparkled.

"Wow! I'm like Tinkerbell!" I said to myself.

Anna laughed again but then she said, "Oh! Forgot one thing!" She dug her hand deep into a bag, which lazily sat on the floor, and pulled out a bottle of perfume. "This perfume is absolutely delicious! It's by Kylie Minogue, and I'm certain it'll go perfectly with your performance!" She spritzed my neck, and my wrists with it, then for some odd reason, she also spritzed it on my ankles.

"Care to explain?" I laughed. "Nobody will be able to smell it down there!"

"Oh that's what you think! Believe me, the crowd might get a whiff of it. You see, my mama told me this: the closest thing to the crowd of you is your feet. So make sure your feet looks as pretty as your face. So Mikan, take those silver flats off, and wear these silver heels!" And from God knows where, Anna pulled some gorgeous heels from behind her. I was startled by it.

"Woah, niiiice!" I commented, my eyes wide. I was surprised when she pushed it into my hands. I gasped, "You serious? You're letting me borrow these?"

Anna nodded and said, "You can have them! My mama always sends me loadsa shoes! Wanna hear her phrase? Always wear the nicest shoes possible, because beautiful shoes take your beautiful places. Ain't that a pretty phrase?"

"Your mum sounds beautiful—inside and out." I answered with a smile. I looked at the shoes and added, "I can't have them. Just let me borrow them, okay?"

"Well when's your birthday?"

"It was in January."

"Well happy belated birthday Mikan!" Anna said as she smiled.

I laughed and looked at them again. "That was months ago though! . . . But thank you Anna." and with, I took my flats off, and slipped into the heels. It was a perfect fit, and I did a little shimmy in them, and Anna giggled.

"Glad you like 'em!"

"Like them? I adore them. Thank you so much, Anna."

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". . . And that was the hottie Hanazawa Rui with his violin!" Mr Narumi said into the microphone. The crowd screamed in return, and many students waved their heart-shaped banners frantically as he waved and left the stage. "Wasn't he a cutie? I could just eat him up with some whipped cream!"

I couldn't help snort, that Narumi really was one wack job. I felt sorry for the students he taught—God! I shouldn't be thinking about that, who cares about him! I should be caring about myself! Anna and Nonoko are on now, and after that, it's me! I should be supporting them, and practicing my singing instead of caring whose taught by Narumi or not!

"Next, we have a very cute set of twins! Please give a warm welcome to Anna and Nonoko!" There was a round of applause, and I yelled, "Anna, Nonoko! We love you!" even though I knew they probably couldn't hear me.

I then suddenly felt a cold hand on my shoulder, and I turned around and smiled. "Hey, Hotaru!"

She smiled in return and she asked, "Feeling better now?" I nodded in reply but then I sighed. "Can't believe I'm next. You don't know how nervous I am . . . speaking of that, when are you on?"

"Me? I'm before Hyuuga's band." Hotaru easily said.

I crinkled my nose, "Great. Now I feel ever more nauseous now you mentioned He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

"He isn't Voldemort, nor is this Hogwarts." Hotaru answered, as she rolled her eyes rather amusedly.

I giggled, nudged her in the ribs to proceed in yelling again, "We love you Anna and Nonoko!" I smiled when I saw a sparkling pink banner in the crowd, which read, I HEART Anna and Nonoko!

I smiled, now knowing where to look in the crowd when it was my time to sing. That Aoi is such a sweetie. Then I turned my eyes back to the twins and I watched the crowd's cheers die down, and honestly, I think I was feeling more nervous than them.

"Hey y'all! I'm Nonoko, and this is my twin Anna!" Nonoko talked into the microphone. They each had those cool microphones, which look like headsets and both were carrying their guitars. "Enjoy it, and may we add, save the planet!" Anna added, and the crowd clapped harder.

The stage lights died down, and there, Anna and Nonoko stood, both looking calm and collected, strumming their guitars in a peaceful manner. The crowd was quiet, and everybody eagerly looked at the twins. The judges had their pens ready in their hands and kept glancing at their sheet of paper and at the two. All I could do was watch, and support silently from my heart.

What A Wonderful World

(Listen to the version by Eva Cassidy (Anna) and Katie Melua (Nonoko) )

I see trees of green, red roses too
I'll watch them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue, clouds that are white
Bright blessed days, dark secret nights
And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

The colours of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying,

"How do you do?"
But they're really saying, "I love you."

The colours of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also in the faces of the people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying,

"How do you do?"
But they're really saying, "I love you."

I see trees of green, red roses too
I'll watch them bloom, for me and you
And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

I think to myself
Ooooh . . . What a wonderful world

. . .

There was an echoing note, but once that note had officially died, the crowd clapped for them.

I loudly whistled and cheered, "I love you both!" when they both gave a little curtsy to the crowd and the judges.

When they came towards Hotaru and I, after the lights had dimmed, I squeezed them both into a hug. "You guys! I'm so proud."

"Well done both of you." Hotaru said.

Anna and Nonoko also hugged Hotaru, and replied, "Thank you both! Oh my gosh, you don't know how nervous I was! I was shaking so much!"

I laughed and hugged all three of them. "I must have been one hell of a good person in my past life to deserve friends like you!" Nonoko laughed, which not only made my heart want to melt into gush, but it also made me laugh too and agree.

"Well I must have been an ugly evil beggar to deserve you lot . . ." Hotaru murmured.

I scrunched my eyes and demanded, "What did you say?"

"I'm joking; as if I would be ugly and evil. Or a beggar for that matter."

Anna and Nonoko saw the funny side of this so-called joke, but I just pouted and retorted back by calling Hotaru a: "Bully."

"And the next contestant is from my class. Please welcome Mikan Sakura!" I heard Mr Reo's voice in the distant. But to me, what he said sounded like jibberish, and I continued to talk to my friends. That was until Anna and Nonoko exchanged glances, and I heard the crowd shout, "Where is she?" and Hotaru rubbed her temples.

"What's up guys? Why is everything so awkward, and why do I have a feeling I'm supposed to somewhere?"

"You idiot. You're on."

"I'm on?"

"Yes."

" . . . Oh shit!" and with that, I mentally swore more, and I jingled over towards the stage. I entered the stage, and felt blinded by the brightness of the spotlight. I suddenly heard the crowd, which was once silent, cheer, and couldn't help feeling a bit more confident. And then it hit me. I was on stage, about to perform.

In front of three hundred and fourty people. My eyes widened and I felt a bit sick.

Okay, maybe really sick.

But I covered my nauseated looking façade with a big smile. I even waved to them, and blew them kisses, and then somebody passed me a microphone. I briefly thanked him before I blew into the microphone to test it was on, and when I was ready, I greeted into the microphone, "Hey everybody! I hope you're all having a good night so far!"

My smile widened when they all cheered in reply. Maybe performing in front of these people wasn't such a sick idea. "Okay, I hope you all enjoy my song! Peace!"

The crowd howled once more, and before anything else could happen, my music started to flow out the CD player.

(Just so you know, people who aren't in a band or who are not performing with a musical instrument, but are singing, either in a group or solo, have their music played by the Academy's musical players, and put on a CD so it can be played on a CD player. The CD is checked beforehand incase of fraud, or lip-synching.)

Wow

Kylie Minogue

Read my lips, I'm into you, I'm into you
I can't resist
You're so hot (get me into the shade)

The spotlight's on
You take me to it
You like it and
Just the way that you dance
Just the way that you dance

(Yeah, yeah)
Is enough to love you baby
(Yeah, yeah) Is enough to send me crazy
(Yeah, yeah) Such angelic motion
(Yeah, yeah)
You know you're made in heaven

The way you walk
The rhythm when you're dancing
Every inch of you spells out desire
You're such a rush
The rush is never ending
Now, you got it, you're wow, wow, wow, wow
You got it; you're wow, wow, wow, wow

The more I try, I try to stop
The more I can feel my antenna just sensing you up
What can I do?
I'm into you
I'm into you
Love the way that you move
Just love the way that you move

(Yeah, yeah)
Such angelic motion
(Yeah, yeah)
You know you're made in heaven

The way you walk
The rhythm when you're dancing
Every inch of you spells out desire
You're such a rush
The rush is never ending
Now, you got it, you're wow, wow, wow, wow
You got it; you're wow, wow, wow, wow

W-woah ooh, ooh
W-woah ooh
W-woah ooh, ooh
W-woah ooh

The way you walk
The rhythm when you're dancing
Every inch of you spells out desire
You're such a rush
The rush is never ending
Now, you got it, you're wow, wow, wow, wow

The way you walk
The rhythm when you're dancing
Every inch of you spells out desire
You're such a rush
The rush is never ending
Now, you got it, you're wow, wow, wow, wow
You got it; you're wow, wow, wow, wow

Wow!

My face broke out into a smile as soon as I saw the crowd cheer when I had done. And what scared me the most was the fact was that they were cheering for me. Don't get me wrong, it was also exhilarating; I felt adrenaline pump through my veins, and I felt as if I could fly. Being a singer was my dream, and this was a small taste of what it would be like if it came true. I laughed into the microphone, and gave a little girlish curtsey before I blew kisses at the crowd again. "Thank you and g'night!"

I quickly walked off the stage, and my face cracked into a bigger smile as I saw the squealing Anna and Nonoko and my smiling best friend.

"Mikan! That was great! You sounded like a real pop star!" Anna commented.

I laughed but I shook my head. "Definitely not my favourite song—"

"That was dedicated to Natsume Hyuuga." Hotaru slyly interrupted, with her smile still dancing on her lips. "I can't believe you did it. And what shocked me the most, was you did it really well."

I laughed in disbelief and then I said, "Well I'll take that as a compliment!"

Anna and Nonoko laughed, and showered me with more compliments. I thanked them, but then my ears heard something beautiful, yet so sad, which immediately caused me to shut my mouth, and whirl my head back round. I looked at the stage, and my eyes widened. "Permy?" I gasped.

Permy looked magical out there, not to mention she was playing the violin incredibly.

"She's amazing!" I commented under my breath, as I felt sparkles of awe light up in my eyes.

"You shouldn't be admiring other contestant, because if you don't get through the first round, you'll regret admiring them. You'll be depressed out of your mind." Hotaru remarked.

"That's so mean Hotaru!" I laughed. "As if I will be depressed if I don't get—. . . in." And then my eyes widened. Oh my god, if I didn't get in, I think I'll be as fat as a sumo wrestler from eating too much chocolate from depression.

Who was I kidding?

Of course I'll be broken if I didn't get in; this is my dream!

Unconsciously both my hands slapped my cheeks and I gasped, "What if I don't get in?"

Anna and Nonoko laughed and patted my back. "Course you'll get in! The judges adored you! 'Specially Narumi!"

But a dark cloud hung over me. My optimistic side of my heart was washed away with those simple words Hotaru had said.

"Hotaru, sweetie, I think you should take that back, Mikan seems a bit depressed . . ." I heard Nonoko whisper to Hotaru.

I felt my lip twitch and then I sighed, ". . . I guess this is where me life ends . . . I'm going to go get a drink of water . . ." And with that, I slumped off towards the nearest water fountain. I vaguely heard Nonoko and Anna scolding Hotaru, but I kept on walking sluggishly towards the water fountain. I sighed once more, as I picked up a plastic cup, and pushed water into it. I watched the water go to the brim, then brought the cup to my lips and took a long gulp.

"Hey Polka-dots."

I twirled around, and I swear to God I nearly sprayed the water in my mouth all over what I saw. There, Natsume Hyuuga stood, looking bored, yet amused at the same time right in front of me. When I had completely gulped my water down I said, "Go away. I don't need you to make my night worse."

"Maybe a kiss to lighten it up?" He suggested, with an innocent grin plastered on his face.

I scoffed, "I'll pass thanks. I'll rather take the slug again. And quit the nickname."

He leaned on the wall, and pushed his hair back. I stole a glance at him, and couldn't help think how good-looking he was. His hair was screaming for me to caress it; it looked soft and was raven black. He was currently looking down, and I admired how long his eyelashes were, and before I could inspect anything else he turned his gaze at me. His eyes were alluring and tantalizing, with little sparks in the deep shade of crimson, and those beautiful eyes were looking straight at my eyes. Thing is, he may be gorgeous, but then he opens his goddamn mouth, "You looked hot out there."

"You know, my mother always told me to go for the guys who call you beautiful, not hot." I replied as I took another sip.

"Well then I take that back. You looked beautiful." He corrected himself, in a rather sneering manner.

I snorted, "Hearing that from you doesn't make me feel any better."

"Okay what if I say this? You're red dress suits you, your make-up is a bit too heavy for my liking, but you look beautiful. Feel better?"

"No." I stubbornly replied.

"What if I was your boyfriend from Nagoya who said that?"

"What the—" I turned to look at him, to continue my sentence, but as soon as I did, I noticed how bloody close his face was to mine. I couldn't help but my brain to have a freeze and my mouth to go dry. He just kept staring at me, and I couldn't help but do the same. It felt as if we were gazing at each other for years, centuries! But it all stopped when I blinked and realized what I was doing. I turned away to the side, feeling my cheeks prickle rather hotly, and gave a throaty cough. Feeling a bit nervous and awkward, I just blankly stared down at my plastic cup, but I looked up when I heard him snicker.

"Were you dazzled by my eyes?" He asked as he looked at me, with a boyish grin on his face.

My brain had to process what he said, and when it did , I couldn't help but scoff. "You are such a narcissist. I was merely disgusted by your eyes." I snapped, but I knew inside, who was I kidding? Disgusted? No way, his eyes did dazzle me, but why the hell would I admit that to this moron? If I did, his ego would probably grow to the size of China. I sighed rather helplessly.

"Not sighing about me, are you?"

"Arrogant bastard." I muttered under my breath, but when I looked up at him, he had an urging look on his face . . . I could tell he was waiting for a proper answer. "

I don't think I'm going to get in the first round." I simply admitted as I pressed my lips together.

He sneered, and in return, and I roughly nudged him in the shoulder glaring him.

"Even though my performance is going to be the best tonight, I can guarntee you're going to get in."

"I'll bet you anything I won't." I sulked.

"Fine. You're betting anything, so, if you do get in, you're going to have to go on a date with me."

I snorted at what Hyuuga had just said. But then I thought about it, and a smile crossed my face. "Okay, deal. But in that case, if I don't get in, you will never speak or look at me again. Deal?"

"Done."

I smiled as I shook his hand. Now, even when I don't get in, I'll have something to look forward to, right? As I uncurled my fingers from his hand, I realized how cold his hand was. It was as if he was an ice sculpture. I winced, and pulled my hand away, and in return, he raised his eyebrows, neared his face towards mine again and huskily whispered in my ear, "Cold?"

"Well obviously, I'm in a sleeveless dress while—" my eyes narrowed before I gasped, "Hyuuga, what are you doing in your uniform?"

Natsume blinked, before he glanced down at his body. He looked back at me, "It's what we do. We all wear our uniform to every concert." Natsume shrugged before he smirked, "Guess you don't know everything about me, eh?"

"And I'm happy that way. But can I ask something? What happens when you're forty years old and you have a concert? You still going to wear the school uniform?"

"Good idea." Natsume replied, answering my question. And then, he looked down at me in a cocky manner and said, "So that song you just sang, was about me?"

My mouth gaped open, and my eyes shot to him. Who told him that? All my friends promised that they would keep their lips sealed, and never say a word about the fact that I had to write that dumb song about him!

"What? Who told you that?" I demanded, "They promised they would all shut up about the stupid dare—I bet it was Hotaru—"

And then I realized something, when Natsume cocked his eyebrows, in a mixture of surprise and an expression that read I-just-hit-the-jackpot. Nobody had told him that my song Wow was dedicated to him. He had just said that to tease me. He said as a mocking cocky joke. But now he knew the truth that it was indeed written about him.

I had to fix this.

". . .Haha! Joking!" I faked a laugh trying to break the tension. But it didn't work.

"Well, well, what do you know. Polka-dots might just have a crush on me—"

"No!" I firmly replied. "It was a stupid dare! I was planning to write about something else, not you!"

"Something else being your first shag with your boyfriend from Nagoya?" He asked me, with a tinge of playfulness in his voice. Honestly, it just made me want to poke his eyes out.

But I decided to play along with his stupid statement, so I gasped and said, "How did you know? Is it that obvious that I miss him?"

I saw face contort into a scowl, and then he rolled his crimson eyes, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Well I better be going back to my friends now." I happily chirped, I gave him a hard pat on back, and laughed manically in head. I walked past him, and just as I was about to celebrate for getting away from him, he grabbed my arms. I turned back to him, and he was looking at me with intense eyes, which kind of freaked me out . . . What now?

"You're going to forget about him."

"Eh?"

"Listen to out for my song. It's written about you," he smirked, before he leaned his head towards mine and murmured, "Polka-dots."

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stick up, and my head going light. It was a crazy reaction, because that's the type of reaction you get when your boyfriend or the boy you fancy does that to you.

He pulled his face away, and then he smirked. "We're going to be on soon. Watch out for me, eh?" And just like that, just after those words, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked away.

"I won't be looking out for you, I'll be on the phone with my boyfriend!" I called back at him, and his reaction was just to lazily flick his hand up in the air, and then put his hand back in his pocket. I huffed a breath, but then my mouth opened by the slightest.

Natsume Hyuuga had written a song about me. Oh brilliant. That was just the cherry on my chocolate milkshake. I took another annoyed huff of breath, and with my arms crossed, I quickly went to find my friends.

It wasn't long till I found them, and when I found them, I noticed Hotaru wasn't there, but Permy was back. "Hey Permy! Well done for before!"

Permy just smiled back and said, "Thanks."

"Where's darling, (yet evil) Hotaru Imai, my best friend?" I asked.

Anna and Nonoko both giggled, but Permy just sighed. "You are not a very good best friend. Hotaru left for the stage about two minutes ago. Where the hell where you? And don't just say you were getting a drink like Nonoko told me, there's no way you'd take that long—"

"What? She's gone? Already? And nobody called me?" I asked before I gasped, "Oh god, she's going to kill me." Ended it all with a groan.

"Well she certainly looked angry when she went up on stage!" Nonoko commented, as she laughed.

I banged my head on the palms of my hand. "God I'm such a bad friend!" And with that, I quickly walked over to a spot where it was the stage, but I was concealed from the crowd by the curtain. I watched in awe as Hotaru played the piano with perfection. She was beautiful. I smiled, a big crocodile smile, as I clutched onto Anna's arm. "That's my best friend!" I kept on chanting, as I swung her arm to the rhythm of my chanting.

"You're having some serious mood swings today, honey!"

I smiled at her, and said, "Hotaru's right. I would be completely and utterly depressed if I didn't get in. So it was fine she said that, because it's true. But now, when I don't get in, I have a pretty darn good reason to be happy about it!"

"What?" Permy questioned, her eyebrows furrowed.

I smiled and said, "Basically—"

"And that was Hotaru Imai, the beautiful teenager, playing a wonderful piano piece!" Narumi's loud voice interrupted me.

At first I pouted because I got interrupted, but when I realized what Narumi had just said, I started to clap like a lunatic. And when I saw Hotaru come over to us, I even waved like a lunatic. "Hotaru—dear best friend! Darling, dearest, sweetie, honey!—you were amazing—"

"Shut up you disloyal best friend." Hotaru coolly snapped as she walked past me. Walked past me and my arms, which were wide open to hug her!

"Hotaru!" I whined as I chased after her. I forcefully linked my arms with her and I rested my head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't come wish you luck. But I have a reason for that!" Hotaru completely ignored me, and I pouted and added, "I love you and you're my best friend forever . . . forgive me now?"

"If we ever perform again, you're definitely going to wish me luck." Hotaru bluntly said. I smiled. Even though that was a blunt and weird response, I knew exactly what it meant. I gave Hotaru a hug and laughed childishly before she asked, "So what's your reason?"

"Yeah, and what's your pretty darn good reason if you don't get in you would be happy?" Permy also asked.

I smiled and said, "Well basically—"

"And ladies, it's what you've all be waiting for! It's the hottest band on campus, what you've all been dying to see: CRIMSON ABYSS! SCREAM YOUR HEART OUT!" I heard Narumi yell into the microphone.

My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped on what I heard next.

There was screaming like I've never heard before.

All the girls, and I'm sure the gays too, were screaming like they were screaming their hearts out. With Hotaru still linked to me, I pulled her over to the same spot on where I saw Hotaru perform. All my friends followed behind, and then my ears felt deafened by the loud phwoar the electric guitar was making, but I couldn't help admit that it was a catchy beat. I felt my jaw drop to the ground when I saw what was on stage and what the crowd was doing.

The crowd was going mental, more like the girls and gays, some were even taking their tops off, revealing their I LOVE CRIMSON ABYSS's bras.

Lovely, very stylish, I'll make a mental note to take a picture of one of them, and send it to Vogue. Pfft.

On the stage were Kokoro Yome, Kitsune-me, Ruka Nogi and him. And they honestly looked like a real band. Not like the bands I saw before, which were good, but nothing compared to this. And then his voice and his lyrics came.

Lyrics which were written about me. The first ever to be written about me, Mikan Sakura.

Somebody Told Me

The Killers

Breaking my back just to know your name
Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game
I'm breaking my back just to know your name
But heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes but don't blink you might miss
Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonight
Never thought I'd let a rumour ruin my moonlight

Well somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential

Ready? Let's roll onto something new
Taking its toll and I'm leaving without you
Ready? Let's roll onto something new
But heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes but don't blink you might miss
Cause heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down, bring it back down tonigh
Never thought I'd let a rumour ruin my moonlight

Well somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential
A rushin', a rushin' around

Pace yourself from me
I said maybe baby please
But I just don't know now
When all I wanna do is try

Somebody told me
You had a boyfriend
Who looks like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
It's not confidential
I've got potential

(x3)

A rushin', a rushin' around!

". . .Oh my god." Nonoko and Anna said at the same time. Hotaru, who was filming the whole thing, (Hotaru likes to take videos of 'popular' people and sell their pictures to their lame fanclubs. All for money.) slowly pushed the off button, and looked at me, with her amethyst eyes.

Permy was just rubbing her temples while murmuring, "Did I just . . . imagine . . . or?"

Just about I was about to say something, my phone, which was in one of Anna's pockets beeped. She fished it out for me, and passed me my phone. I had just gotten a text message from Aoi.

Mikan, I'm more than sure that was for you!

I clutched my phone tightly in my hands as I looked at my friends.

Permy then sighed, before she looked at me with a fed up looking smile plastered to her face. "That was unexpected. Normally his lyrics are about fucking a girl. Not about trying to get her goddamn name. Or her gay-looking boyfriend." Permy stated.

Anna and Nonoko snorted, but Hotaru, still looking rather serious, said, "I guess he really took Aoi's lie seriously."

I nodded in agreement but I wanted to change the subject; honestly, I wasn't expecting a song to ever be written for me, let alone my fake boyfriend. So I quickly smiled and reminded my friends, "That was the last performance! They're going to tell us who's being eliminated now!"

"The Academy really does know show biz, putting the Crimson Abyss last." Hotaru commented, ignoring my last statement completely. "Save the best till last . . ."

I nervously laughed at that, but then Nonoko gasped, as well all heard the microphones crackle, and said, "Shhh guys! Listen out for the announcements! I can see Mr Jinno picking up some papers and the microphone!" We all responded to that by clutching each other's hand and lightly squealing. And right on cue, Jinno picked up the microphone and tapped on it to check it was working.

Then he started to announce, "Students, hope you all had a good night tonight. We've had sixty, very amazing performances tonight. But it is our duty to tell whose performances haven't been up to standards. We will be eliminating twenty performances today—" Many students gasped at that, and I couldn't help to pull a really ugly face at that scary teacher, before he continued, "yes, twenty. That is our final decision. So if you're name is called out, please come to stage, take a bow and exit the stage. If you're name is called out tonight by me, you'll be eliminated. But on the other hand, if you're name is called out by Ms. Serina, you may come on stage, and stay on stage, because you'll be going to the second round. So let's start shall we? . . . Aiko Hinamatsuri. Maho Mizuno. Kousuke Tarou. Mizuki Arashima. Please come and take a bow . . ."

There was lots of crying, of course I felt sorry for them, but my heart was pumping so fast, for myself. My palms were sweating, and I clutched onto Hotaru's arm tighter every time Jinno opened his mouth. Jinno had just said the nineteenth name. Oh god. If the twentieth name was my name I think I'll faint on stage. Please don't be me, please, please, please, please, please, please—

"Mikan Sakura."

I think I nearly barfed. Not to mention I felt stars in my head. All my friends gasped, except for Hotaru, who glared at Jinno, probably trying to kill him with her eyes.

I gulped, "Well guys. This is the end of my life. Good bye." I sighed, as I let go of my friend's arm, and I was going to slump of to the stage when—

"Sorry, that was a mistake. My apologizes, Mikan Sakura. Instead can the band Juicy Butts come on a take a bow."

I blinked. I paused. I gasped.

. . . I'm in?

I turned back to my friends, we had a breathless pause, before we all started to scream and jump around. I ran towards my friends, and hugged them all. I couldn't help squeal, and believe it or not, Anna was crying in happiness. We hugged each other so hard, it felt my life was being squeezed out of me, but to be honest, it was worth it. I gave an apologetic smile to the girl group Juicy Butts who were slumping off to stage, with scowls on their faces, as they glared at me.

"They were crap anyway. I mean their lyrics were so damn corny. Not to mention the lead singer looks like a hawk. Don't bother, don't bother Mikan." Permy said, as she patted my shoulder.

Even that was a bit mean to say, I just laughed, and playfully nudged her shoulder. We all saw Mr. Jinno pass the microphone to Ms. Serina, and we all squealed once more.

My god, the amount of squealing today is unbelievable!

"So," Ms. Serina's calming voice announced, "as you may have guessed, the rest of you are in. So now, I shall be calling each and every one of you contestants! Please come up to stage when you, or your group or band is called. Rose Denmai … etc … Hotaru Imai … etc … Sumire Shouda … etc … Anna and Nonoko … etc … Mikan Sakura … etc … and last but definitely not least, Crimson Abyss!" My friends and I were already on stage, laughing all together, and chanting, when Ms. Serina said the last contestant's name.

And as expected, as soon as the Crimson Abyss came on, all looking insanely sexy, the crowd went wild. The males of the crowd also went wild when group Bunny Love came on wearing their vile bunny clothing.

This day was definitely a day to remember. And frankly, even if the song Wow was dedicated to that ninny, I was never going to forget it. So after more curtseys and laughing, the stage lights turned off, and that was the cue for us to leave and celebrate in our own ways.

We all left the stage, and we kept on chanting the same words, which were, "Yay! We're in! Yay!" I know, it was repetitive, but it made me laugh harder. And just when I thought nothing in my life could go wrong, I saw him.

Natsume Hyuuga was right in front of me smirking.

And then the deal came back to me.

Oh shi—

"Tomorrow. Eight o'clock. I'll come to your place to pick you up. Be ready." And with those short sentences, he left me, just to gape at him in horror.

. . .

. . . . !

Oh my god, how could I have forgotten about the deal? How could I have ever let this happen to me, how stupid was I? This day was not supposed to have a crap ending, it was supposed to have a happy ending—

"What the hell was that about?" I could tell by the tone of Permy's voice that she was angry.

But before I could reply, a chirpy voice called to us, "Well done all of you!"

We looked back and we saw Aoi run over to us. She hugged each and every one of us, and we all thanked her for the banners she had made for us. But then she frowned and asked me, "What did my brother want?"

"He said, Tomorrow. Eight o'clock. I'll come to your place to pick you up. Be ready." Permy angrily repeated, through gritted teeth. Aoi gasped and she looked at me with shock written all over her face. "So what was that all about, Mikan?" Permy added, with suspicion in her emerald eyes. I sighed, and reluctantly I told them about the whole deal. And when I had finished my story, they all looked horrified.

"Mikan you idiot! Of course you would have gotten in! Did you see how crap some people were?" Permy demanded, as she shook my shoulders.

"I'm sorry." I meekly replied a bit scared by Permy's reaction.

Permy took a deep breath, and let me go and rasped, "I'm sorry for that. Its just Mikan, that was a really stupid thing to do. You honestly don't understand what this Natsume Hyuuga can do to you. It only took me one conversation to be put under his spell."

"His spell?" I repeated with my eyes scrunched up in confusion.

"Natsume Hyuuga . . . he has this charm about him that makes him irresistible. He can honestly get you to fall hard in love with him so easily." Permy slowly replied, as she swallowed rather thickly.

And that's when I felt really stupid. Why did I make that dumb deal? That was really insensitive of me. I regretted it completely, for Permy's sake and my sake. I hugged the sniffling Permy.

"I'm sorry." I apologized.

She patted my head and replied, "It's fine. I mean, it's one date, right? And you're a clever girl. You won't fall for him."

Before any of us could do anything, the speakers crackled once more, and we heard Mr Reo's stoic voice say, "Students who have passed the first round, please assemble to the school hall for a very brief meeting." Without any complaints, we just all linked arms, and went over to the school hall. Aoi on the other hand, said she'd be waiting for us in our room, so Hotaru gave Aoi her keys. I glanced at Permy, and I was glad she was back to her normal Permy self.

When we got to the school hall, we all sat down, and sighed. "What do you think it's about?" I asked Hotaru.

Hotaru shrugged but replied, "Well, we're here to find out." I nodded, and with a bored look on my face, I gazed at the front of the hall. And just as Anna and Nonoko had pulled a joke about Mr Narumi's outfit today, Mr Reo picked up the microphone and said into it, "Well done students for tonight. Well done you lot for getting in; you all pulled an amazing show. So now, we are here to explain about the second round."

There was a murmur of excitement, but Mr Reo continued, "The second round will take place on Christmas Eve. So as you can tell, you have over a month to get your second piece ready. The rules are the same: you must create new music and lyrics." We all nodded, but to be honest, it seemed like most of the students just wanted to get back to their rooms. But then Mr Reo said added, "And as some of you must have remembered, the rounds from now have a set genre or a theme, I may call it."

I gasped. Because I completely forgot about that. And by the looks of things, it looked like everybody else did too, as they all were now groaning in their hands.

"In the Second Round, we would like you all to produce a song with the theme of seduction."

My mouth gaped open, and so did all my friends. We had to write a seducing song? All the students had now broken out shouting, and laughing, and some even were whooping. I saw from the corner of my eye Natsume giving a throaty laugh, and giving a lazy high five to his best friend. Well no shit, I guess he was an expert on seducing. Even the Luna Koizumi was jumping up and down from excitement. Was I the only one who was shocked out of my mind? Not to mention, disgusted?

Apparently not.

"How the hell is my fucking violin supposed to make a seducing sound?" Permy demanded, with a look of horror on her face.

"What about the fucking piano?" Hotaru spat.

"What about Anna and I? We're experts on the slow country sort of music! What the—"

"So," Mr Reo continued before Nonoko could finish her sentence, "you must all produce a song that is seducing, and will tempt the crowd. Lacking of clothes is advised." The students tittered at that, but I did not feel amused at all. "Dirty dancing, flashy clothes are well advised for this round."

What the hell? This Academy is mental! They're telling us it's fine—more like advising us—to dress as a sluts.

Do my parents know what they are paying for?

"People who do not quite understand the concept of what seducing means, in our world, it means a song that will want to tempt the opposite gender, or the same for some people, into wanting to have sex with them." I nearly gagged. This was going to be like a porn show. "So with those lingering words, I am saying goodnight, and see you next time on Christmas Eve." The teachers all left, and some students looked like they were going to go get some beers in celebration, the band Crimson Abyss and Bunny Love being some.

"This school is mental." I slowly commented, trying to break the tension that my friends and I were producing.

"Seducing?" Permy frantically repeated. "I own a fucking violin! And violins don't make a fucking seducing sound! I'm not going to get through the second round!"

"Nonoko, this is way out of our set genre, which is simple slow country music." Anna sadly sighed.

Hotaru looked deep in thought, but then she sighed and said, "I'm in some deep shit."

"Same." I said.

But then all my friends looked at me, with their eyebrows raised.

Permy sighed before she said, "You are not in shit at all Mikan! You're a pop singer! You can make a seducing song easily!" She clicked his fingers as she said easily, trying to convey the easy image, but I shook my head and sadly said, "I've never written a love song, or anything like a seducing song."

We all sighed, and then Permy said, "I guess we'll have to do some homework on how we can work this out."

"I hate homework!" I whined.

"Pfft. Doesn't everybody?" Permy scoffed.

Why do people hate homework? Because it's work you have to do at home, and not to mention, it hurts your head! So now, my head is going to pound so badly, because my homework is about 'How to write a seducing song?'

Any ideas?

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End of Chapter Seven

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