Everyday,
It's eating me up
He was standing there, in front of everyone, like a tasty snack that just needed to be eaten.
So close yet so far away
"Regarding the arrangements for today's competition", he started off, raking his hand through his messy raven hair, "we have two groups."
Everyone clapped as he looked at us, I couldn't help but notice how tired he looked as he read out the teams, I couldn't help but pity him for I was in the same position as him, if only I did my job as well as he did.
"Group A consists of Sakura, me and Kushiro. The lineup will be announced at around 10AM, after that you should get changed and prepare your bows." Kushiro smiled brightly as Natsume read his name out, everyone knew that he was a big fan of his; he always scowled when I was Captain.
"Group B consists of Aoi, Yakama and Minu, they will attend the opening ceremony before getting changed. The rest of you will act as support. In the afternoon the people with the highest points will take part in a solo match".
Why?
"People who wish to go home early can slack off" he added with a playful smile.
"Leader! You suck!" shouted Aoi, smiling goofily as she did so. Everyone laughed along and started cheering for Natsume, I just stood there, paralysed.
He's totally composed.
"Mikan?"
After what happened yesterday
"MIKAN!"
"Huh?" I looked ahead and saw Aoi waving her hand in front of my face.
"Mikaaaannn? You totally zoned out, are you okay?" she examined my face as she said so, looking more worried by the second.
"I'm fine, Aoi" I stressed out, "I'm just nervous, that's all".
She tilted her head as she stared at my neck, "why is your neck red?"
"What?" I hurriedly asked for a mirror, as she gave me one I immediately opened it and gawked at my reflection.
When did he give me that?
I grew more anxious than I was before, thoughts running through my head wondering when Natsume Hyuuga bit my neck.
That jerk.
"M-must've been the mosquitoes" I replied, nervously, trying to convince Aoi that her devil of a brother and the mark on my neck weren't connected, "there are a lot of bugs flying around, right?"
"Yeah", replied Aoi, scratching her head, "they're irritating, aren't they?"
I just nodded along, she believes me.
"Sakura"
No.
I looked to my left and there he was, Natsume Hyuuga, walking towards me.
What does he want now?
"Yo bro!" Shouted Aoi, waving her arms around, beckoning him to come near us, "what's it like being a failure of a leader?" she asked while punching him in the chest.
He ruffled her hair while looking at me, but I didn't let him speak.
"Aoi" I grabbed onto her, "let's go to the changing rooms".
She looked at me but was rendered speechless as I dragged her away from Natsume, who stood there dejectedly.
I was running along the corridor, dragging Aoi with me as I did so.
"Mikan", groaned a tired Aoi, "I'm tired, can we st- OW!"
I couldn't pay any attention to Aoi, or what misfortune had befallen on her, my mind was occupied with the bite on my neck.
Now that I think about,
Yesterday…
FLASHBACK
I was still lying on the floor, trying to grasp what had just happened.
Natsume, what is he saying?
Me? I inspire him?
I laughed
Someone as great as him, couldn't possibly look up to me.
No way
"Please come to the competition tomorrow" pleaded Natsume, caressing my face as he did so. "If you don't", he nipped my neck, "I don't know…"
He kissed me, once again taking over my senses, filling them with him.
"What I'm capable of doing".
I stopped and crouched down, covering my face with my hand.
So that's how I got it.
"Mikan?"
How could he forget?
"Mikan! Are you zoning out again?"
And act like nothing had happened
"Mikan!?" Shouted Aoi, shaking my shoulders as she did so, "are you okay? You're trembling". She grabbed me by the arm and tried to pull me up, "we should go to Natsume and-"
I grabbed her as soon as she said "Natsume", I don't want to see him, I don't want to hear his name.
"I'm fine, Aoi" I smiled as I pinched her cheeks.
How dare he say that I'm the one playing with him.
"You said that last time, are you su-"
"Aoi," I said, looking into her eyes that reminded me so much of him, "I'm fine".
When he's the one playing with me.
He said that I inspire him.
I looked over to where he was, laughing with the rest of our team, looking like he had no care in the world.
Doesn't look like it.
"Sakura".
I whipped my head around and saw Mr. Jinno moving towards me.
"You really did decide to come."
I bowed, "good morning sir", I really didn't want to tell him the real reason why I came back.
I gave in.
I gave into him.
It's too deep.
"I thought that it was impossible", he smiled at me as he put his hand on my shoulder, "who would have thought that after you left Natsume managed to convince you to come back".
I looked over to Natsume.
So free.
"I..." I trembled as I let the words come out of my mouth, "I certainly didn't expect it either".
Especially not in that way.
"You know", continued Mr. Jinno, "that was the first time I saw Natsume try so hard, and everyone knows that he normally doesn't bother to put some effort in whatever he does".
I looked at him, then Natsume.
You're lying.
"What's the meaning of this?" asked Koko as he bit into an apple, "I'm starting to feel like you don't even know what resigning means", he spat the seeds into the bin as he turned to face Anna.
"You look so cute!" squealed Anna as she squeezed me, "this is the first time that I've seen you in uniform".
"Yeah" replied Hotaru, taking pictures of me and Anna together, "I'm surprised that Hyuuga managed to convince you like this."
I looked at Hotaru,
I gave in.
She looked back at me and nodded.
"I-"
Koko intervened, "how did it turn into this?" He asked, exasperated, "didn't you say that you retired? RETIRED?" He pointed at my bow, "I can't believe you Mikan, honestly, I can't".
I sighed as I faced the 3 of them, "it's a long story".
"I can guess" answered Koko, pointing at my face, "you look as if you haven't slept in days".
Anna chuckled as Hotaru snatched a piece of paper from my grip, "what's this?"
"My timetable" I answered, "now give it back".
Hotaru slurped her carton of milk, "you're the Vanguard this time?"
Anna grabbed the paper from Hotaru as she and Koko read through it, "eh?"
I took it back and scanned through it.
What?
"Wasn't Natsume meant to be in the front line?" asked Anna, "so why have the two of you swapped places?"
I gripped my timetable, tearing it a little as I did, "it's true"
Koko peered at my face, "whoa Mikan, you look like a ghost!"
"Mikan?" asked Anna, "are you feeling o-".
"T-this is a mistake, I'm going to check with Natsume", I hurried off leaving them alone
"HEY!" shouted Koko, "WHAT'S A VANGUARD?"
Hotaru threw her finished milk carton in the bin.
"A vanguard", replied Hotaru, "is the first to start in the competition. Since the main mission of the vanguard is to get a bull's eye on the first shot, I can see why Mikan paled".
Anna stared at her, pity visible in her eyes, " I wonder who did this to Mikan".
Hotaru looked back at the Archery club's building, a small smile evident on her face.
"Who knows".
