My previous laptop went coo coo on me, completely. It blanked out. I cried and died. I lost all my files. ALL OF THEM! OVERNIGHT. So I got a new laptop that works about 10 times better than the previous one (to be fair it was 6 years old and time for retirement) so I'm in this mixed stage of happiness and frustration. Well, to reply some reviews now! :) I love long reviews.

Many of you have questions regarding my characterisation. I don't know if it's just me having different opinions but,

1. Rest assured. I have never ever thought of Luna as a plain evil whore and I have no intention to ever portray her like that in any of my stories. Currently she seems that way but of course she is just misunderstood. People need to give her more credit! Do you people realise she is one of the true heroes of GA? She needs more recognition!? *rages*

2. I have never thought of Natsume as a playboy either! He never wanted much attention, even though that's what he got the most. He never deliberately flirted, he liked to mind his own business and keep to himself. Okay, he is popular, maybe, but he has never toyed with any girls. He can't stand any other girl hanging around him if she is not Mikan Sakura. Or Aoi.

3. I think I made this confusing, but ok. Mikan knows sign language, so does Hotaru. Since Mikan can hear, so Hotaru speaks to her, and Mikan replies in sign language.

4. Mikan has amnesia, remember? (no. haha.) Temporary or whatever, you'll see.

5. Natsume can't remember Mikan's face, of course. Remember, he had seen her for about 3 times in his life. Ah, but the name Mikan Yukihara would have rung a bell, probably. ;)


Chapter 8: The Calm, then the Storm

She traced her fingers over the piano keys silently, brooding over her day.

Today, Mikan had to eat lunch alone, because Hotaru had a different lunch period. She was aware of Anna observing her as she hurriedly passed by their table. Natsume was actually present on his throne, and Mikan actually stared back at him, just for a second, before she turned away hastily and was on her way.

He seemed to be serious in saying that they were to behave as strangers. In class, she was ignored completely, like she really didn't even exist. Their eyes met fleetingly, just once, but then she broke off the eye contact as soon as it established.

Mikan didn't know how to feel, really. She was quite confused as of now. So, is Natsume Hyuuga a good or a bad guy? So far, she had thought he was actually pretty decent. Aloof, maybe, but he didn't have a bad heart. He kept her secret for her! It probably won't be forever, he does look shady, but he still did, for the time being. And he hadn't breathed a word about her lack of a proper family background either.

But then why does Hotaru always warn her to stay away from him? It was like she was afraid Natsume would eat her. The way Hotaru glared at him, you would think that Natsume had some secret blackmailing material over Hotaru, and that's saying something. Maybe they had a secret between themselves.

On the other hand, Luna Koizumi had been the usual pest. She had obviously tripped her over when she walked past her table, so her finally-healing knee just got another slight cut. She had opened her locker to find it containing various hate mails and graffiti, probably courtesy of Luna as well. Also, she deduced it must not have been her imagination that she could hear snickers flying from all corners of wherever she was. People stared at her, girls rolled their eyes, boys eyed her suspiciously, all of them guessing who she was. Oh well. She was a mute girl after all, and people from her previous school treated her the same way. Hate mails? If she could compile all the hate mails she had received into a book.

It was already after school, but she still had some time before she went to her part-time job, if they were even willing to take her back in. Tono had texted her once asking how she was, but he hadn't replied since. So while she was wandering around to waste her time, she came across the empty music room.

She sat down by the piano, touching its keys, closing her eyes. Grandpa had never been able to afford a piano, and she could only get her hands on one when she visited Hotaru's (but she knew the Imais had no musical talent, so the piano must have been more than a coincidence). Piano was something so natural to her. She might have forgotten 12 years worth of memories, but the piano had always lived on in her. Whenever she played, she felt closer to the 12 years of void. Grandpa once told her that music was in her veins; mother had played well too. It made her wonder if there were times in her forgotten past when she would sit with her mother by the piano.

As the piece came to its end, she lingered for a moment more before she opened her eyes. And then she jumped. There, lying on one of the tables across the room, was a guy. He had dark, messy hair, and unless she was seeing things, she was sure there was a tattoo underneath his right eye, in the shape of the star. He had turned to face her, grinning. She felt her face heat up. She must have missed him and walked straight past him just now.

Slowly, quietly, she paused and closed the lid. She stood up and stepped over her chair. But before she could make another move, he spoke.

"You have a flair for piano, eh?" He was sitting up now, and his eyes blinked mischievously at her. "I'm Tsubasa Andou, third year." He looked at her, still grinning, and Mikan knew he was expecting a reply.

Then the music room door slammed open with such a bang that it sent both Mikan and Tsubasa cowering in a corner. This time, a girl with pinkish shoulder-length hair stormed in. "Tsubasa Andou, get your ass over here!" She yelled while Tsubasa covered his ears. Mikan could see him mouthing a silent curse.

"Where the hell were you? I was looking all over for you, and then you are just here, sleeping? You have a lot nerve, don't you?"

"Take a chill pill, Misaki. Life's too short to be angry all the time."

"Yes, and you are shortening my lifespan even more with your nonsense!" She crossed her arms and huffed. "Now you are going to go back with me, and clean up that stupid mess you made in the gym. Your childish pranks will one day backfire on yourself, and then you will-oh!" She seemed to have finally realised Mikan, who was trying to sneak out of the room.

"I didn't see you there! I'm sorry if I was too loud. Some immature idiots just need some sense beaten into them, don't you think?" She smiled broadly, which made Mikan gulp.

"I'm Misaki Harada." They shook hands awkwardly.

"Oh, I know you! You must be the newbie! What did Nonoko say your name was…? Mikan, was it?" Misaki squealed, taking both her hands into hers. Mikan nodded, uncomfortable at the closeness.

"What? So you're the one whom Natsume has his eyes on!" Tsubasa hopped off the table. "It must be hard on you, coming to this school. There are idiots all over. Natsume tries to act cool, but really, he's a real wimp when it comes to certain things."

"Oh, says one of the biggest dimwits in Gakuen Alice." Misaki snorted. It took all of Mikan to not snicker.

"Ouch, Misaki. Anyway, chibi here can really play the piano! Do you perform?" Mikan shook her head.

"Shame, you know. If you ever need a performance scheduled or need a venue, my old man can arrange it all for you." Tsubasa winked.

"Welcome to Gakuen Alice! Now, I'm sorry but we would have to leave, because someone here poured some sticky thing all over the gym floor, thinking he was funny. I know, he is such a moron. Now I am stuck cleaning up his mess! Brilliant! See you around!" Misaki ruffled her hair, then whipped around and dragged Tsubasa violently out of the room. Mikan could still hear them bickering down the hallways.

So that was Tsubasa Andou and Misaki Harada. They seemed to be a lot friendlier than she had expected, and Mikan couldn't help just feeling a twinge of affection towards the pair.


For a moment, she stood rooted, considering whether or not she should get her eyes checked. But it couldn't be wrong, because she checked the name of the store and it hadn't changed. The store still stood at its quiet, deserted corner at the end of a one-way street.

The usual red and white colour scheme which she was accustomed to had been stripped anew completely, and instead replaced by a deep shade of royal blue and teal. The previous glistening, cold marble floor transformed into wooden planks, and everything on top of those floors gained a new look. The blinding white furniture, the sharp edged tables and spotlessly white counter, and that porcelain vase with fake sunflowers that stood by the door, always out of place and a pain to look at—gone. In its place were wooden tables complimented with navy tablecloth, soft cushioned chairs, and a huge sofa sat by the door, where the fake flowers once rotted. The walls were decorated minimalistically with a few vintage paintings.

There were also people rushing around the shop, trying to get things into order. But they were not customers. Workers carried ladders and shuffled their way out, pushing past Mikan as they unloaded and loaded more furniture.

She stood, dumbfounded and loss for words at the sudden change. As much as she hated her manager, she had to admit his tastes had improved significantly. The place was less glaring, less sharp and unapproachable, and instead became warmer, friendlier, cosier. She was still marvelling the interior, completely forgetting the fact that she still owed him an apology, when Tono shoved through the flow of workers. He was clearly equally, if not more excited.

He watched, amused, as Mikan expressed her shock.

"I know, right? I hated the previous design, remember all the white marble stuff we had to polish? Gone! No more polishing days! All good old, solid wood now! I never knew he had it in him."

Mikan hurriedly reached into her bag for a pen and scribble hastily on her hand.

"Is he here?"

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen his face. When I came here there were already about a dozen workers storming the place. Hold on, I'll ask."

"Excuse me. Do you know where the manager of the shop is?"

"How should I know?" The worker replied gruffly, unhappy at being stopped.

"So, the whole time, nobody has been overseeing all this?"

"Pretty much. We just received orders from the Hyuuga Corp retail branch to do a bunch of things. Such short notice too. Just because they are rich, they think we sit around waiting to jump into action when they snap their fingers…"

Hyuuga Corp?

The name had yet to sink into both their minds.

Hyuuga… That big shot company?

Hyuuga… As in Natsume Hyuuga?

"Uhh…" Tono turned to Mikan, hoping to get an answer. Mikan had turned ashen white. What had he done? What had she done?


Mikan yawned as she stumbled through the corridor. She had been unable to sleep well last night. How could she? Her classmate just bought over the shop she worked part-time at. And quite possibly got her manager fired, even though Mikan knew it was her fault that she was reprimanded. She didn't even know if she should be thankful or fearful. The confusion had crept up her and she squirmed all night. He said that they were supposed to be strangers. And then he went and do something like that. But Tono did say when Natsume helped her, he threatened to take over the shop. But why? She was nothing to him.

He couldn't have just expected them to remain as strangers when he did something so outrageous. And now it felt like she owed him something. She already owed people money, and now to owe someone a huge favour? No way.

She made up her mind she would confront him later. That's right! She would write him a long letter. And then she would shove it into his face, demanding answers.

When she reached her classroom, there seemed to a big commotion. Many girls were huddled together in a corner at the back, and the boys snickered. Upon seeing her arrival, they scattered at once and darted back to their seats like mice.

Maybe because she couldn't speak, her other senses were usually on high alert. She was sure, very sure, that the girls were giggling behind her back. She trudged over to the end of the room, and there. She found out why.

Her desk.

Graffiti stretched out across it, in bright red and black permanent marker. It screamed.

"SLUT"

"Arrogant!"

"Whore!"

"Get away from Natsume-sama!"

"He hates you, WE hate you!"

Her chair was missing.

The books in her desk littered the floor like fallen leaves.

Koizumi Luna sauntered over and put a hand on her shoulder, making her flinch.

"Oh my god. Sakura-san, this is just terrible! Well the girls and I tried to clean it up for you, you know. We didn't want you to see it. The truth always hurts." She battled her eyelids, and her lips pressed into a thin line, and what was a poor attempt at making an apologetic smile. Mikan felt her fists clench harder.

"Don't be too angry at whoever did it, Sakura-san. I told them off for you! They said Natsume ordered them to do it. Natsume can be so mean! Oh, I'm sooo sorry." Mikan didn't need to look at her to tell Luna was grinning. Widely.

The classroom door slid open. A fuming purple head stood at the entrance. The ground quaked when she entered, dragging a new desk and chair behind her so hard it left scratch marks on the tiled floor.

"Here." Hotaru pushed aside her ruined desk and dumped the new one in place. "I think I would just chuck this junk out of the window, though what I really feel like doing is hurl it at someone." She hissed, her eyes narrowing into slits.

"Oh, Imai. I'm sure whoever did it didn't mean to offend you." More giggles from the girls.

The door slid open once more. Anna and Yuu entered the room, slightly apprehensive at the rising tension.

"Did something happen?" Anna whispered to a girl standing near the door. Nastume, with his bag slung over his shoulders, entered, unfazed and ignorant.

He was about to ask Anna to stop blocking the door when suddenly a figure whisked past him and dragged him out of the room. The girls behind him gasped. People on the corridor jumped aside to make way. He could hear Hotaru Imai yelling at the back.

"O…Oi!" He tried to resist, but the figure pulling him was using so much force, and she had taken him by surprise so he was unable to react.

The figure that was Mikan Sakura.