Chapter 10: Delightful Date

"Is my hair okay?" I asked. As Anna, Nonoko, Hotaru and I were fussing over my looks at the girl's bathroom.

"Yes! Oh, I can't believe you're going out with Ruka!" Anna and Nonoko said excitedly.

"I can't believe it either!"

Guess what day is it today! Oh never mind, I'll just blurt it out anyway! TODAY IS THE DAY I'M GOING OUT WITH RUKA! Finally, I get to experience my wishes coming true!

"You better go or Ruka might get irritated with the fact that you've been here for ten whole minutes." Hotaru warned.

"That's right! Oh man, I really have to go!" I began to panic as I stuffed my brush in my bag.

"Good luck to you, Mikan." said Nonoko.

"Yeah, don't forget to smile a lot!" said Anna.

Hotaru shrugged. "She really doesn't need to remember that, she smiles all the time even when there's no reason to smile."

"Thanks guys!" I said and exited the bathroom.

"Ready?" Ruka asked as I came out of the bathroom. He was waiting for me outside! HE'S SO KIND!

I could feel my cheeks getting flushed, "Y-yeah." I stammered.

"Alright, let's go then." he said and the two of us walked along the crowded hallway.

There we were, walking along the hallways as every girl spun their heads around to see who Ruka was with. It was a surprise for them because it wasn't Natsume, Mochu or a fan girl, IT WAS ME! Yeah, I'm proud.

"So where would you like to go?" he asked.

"Uhm… anywhere is fine." I replied with a smile.

"How about the Town Plaza? I know a great café there."

"That's fine with me."

"Great, oh and I hope you don't mind if we take my car going there, even thought it's near I'm pretty lazy to walk right now." He said.

"It's fine."

We reached the gates of the school and there was a black car, not a limo in front of it. A man in an all black attire stood in front of the car, he looked like he was waiting for someone.

"Good afternoon, Nogi-sama." The man greeted as he opened the door. He must be Ruka's driver.

"Mikan, hop in." Ruka said.

"Oh…okay." I said sheepishly and hopped in the car.

He hopped in as well and the driver closed the door. Once the driver got in the driver's seat Ruka said "To Town Plaza." And then we drove off.

"I'm sorry if my vehicle isn't as grand as Natsume's." he said. Like I said before, Ruka's rich but take note, not as rich as Natsume.

"It doesn't matter at all." I replied. Wait a minute, did Natsume tell him about us riding together the past Monday?

He sat back on the seat and threw his arms back to his head and relaxed. I just observed him and smiled. "What? Anything wrong?" he asked as he caught me looking at him.

I turned away, flushed with embarrassment and replied. "No, it's nothing. Uhm… did Natsume tell you about us riding together the past Monday?"

"Yeah, he did. You two work together, right?"

"Yes, we do." I answered.

"I heard you two first got together in the masquerade party."

"Yeah, unfortunately he was my partner in the dance. I just found out the day after that it was him I danced with." I replied. "By the way, why weren't you at the masquerade? Or maybe you were there but since we had masks, I didn't see you."

"Oh, I wasn't able to make it. Natsume invited me to accompany him but I had a family event that I had to attend that night."

"Oh, I see."

"I heard about the runway show, good luck to you on that project." He said with a smile.

I can really die happy right now.

I could just smile all day; I love the feeling of being with Ruka. We've only been together for about 5 minutes or so but I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to let go of him EVER. Can't we stay together like this?

"I'll need all the luck in the world…" I whispered to myself.

In a few minutes, we finally reached the Town Plaza. Town Plaza is the nearest shopping center in our school. People go there for the boutiques, but the place is mostly filled up by high school students hanging out in the restaurants and cafes.

"Let's go." he said as he stepped out of the car and I followed him.

We walked in a café called "Sugar" and took a seat at the table with two chairs.

"What would you like?" he asked.

"Me?" I asked pointing to myself.

He chuckled. "Well, yes."

Mikan, you're such an idiot! Of course he was referring to you! I could just slap myself right now. "A strawberry cheesecake." I replied.

"Okay, I'll have a blueberry one then." he said. "Waiter!" he called as he raised his hand.

The waiter came in and took our orders. I began taking out my wallet to count how much money I brought with me.

"Hey, it's my treat." He said with a smile.

"That's not necessary, I can pay for it."

"No, really, I want to pay for it!" he said, motioning his hand in stopping me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it."

"…thanks." I replied putting on a sweet smile.

The waiter exited and left the two of us.

"So do you have any ideas for the project?" he asked.

I haven't really been thinking about the project lately because the project I've really been thinking about is the runway show. "Uhm… not really." I replied uneasily.

"How about you?" I asked him.

"Uhm…not really. I haven't got any ideas."

"Well, how about we start now? We have to think of a plot."

"Okay then," he said. "Uhm…I'm not good with romance so I'm sorry if my ideas are going to sound cheesy."

"Neither am I." I shrugged.

A few minutes passed by and our cakes were served.

"When is the deadline of this project again?" he asked as he took a bite from his cake.

"It's says on the board that it's due in two weeks."

"I see…" he said.

Seconds of silence passed by, my mind was totally out of ideas. How am I supposed to write a love story anyway? I've never really been in a two-way love. It has always been one way.

"Hey Ruka?"

"Yeah?"

"How many girlfriends have you had?" I casually asked. In all my life in studying at Alice High, I've recalled hearing tons of girls being linked with Ruka but I don't know if any of those really became his girlfriend.

"None." He simply replied.

My eyebrows furrowed. "You're kidding, right?"

"What? Why is it so hard to believe?" he asked as if he didn't know his social status in school.

"Of course it is!" I exclaimed. "You're Ruka Nogi! You're wealthy, smart, handsome and a major girl magnet in school! How can't it be so hard to believe when you're all that?"
He just remained silent.

"I…I'm sorry. It's just that ordinary kids like us are ten feet lower your level and it's just so surprising to know that you never had a girlfriend."

"It's okay." He said, taking a bite from his cake.

"So what's your story?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"Why don't you have a girlfriend?"

He smiled. "Because I haven't found the girl I really want."

I bit my lip, "Then… who is the girl you want?"

He smiled at me. I felt my cheeks being flushed and my hands started to get sweaty. Why is he smiling at me? Is it...me?

"I don't know." He replied.

"Oh…" I reacted. I ought to slap myself right now for being too wishful.

"How about you?" he asked.

"Huh? Me?" I pointed to myself.

"Yeah, how many boyfriends have you had?"

If he said that he had about a handful of girlfriends just then, I would lie about the number of boyfriends I've had. Well actually I never had a boyfriend so that's two things to lie about. It would be completely embarrassing if I told him I've never been in a relationship and he had been through a lot. He might think I'm a total loser. Thank goodness he hasn't been in one; we're on the same boat!

"None."

"Oh, so we're the same." He said with a smile.

"I guess so." I replied. "Hey Ruka?"

"Mm?"

"Does…" I started. By the talk about relationships we just had, I don't know why I suddenly remembered Natsume. I just got curious all of a sudden if Natsume ever had a girlfriend seeing as Ruka hasn't.

"Yeah?" he said.

"I mean…has Natsume ever had a girlfriend?"

He smiled and then chuckled. "You like him, don't you?"

"Wh-what?! No way! I don't! I would never like that perverted freak!" I said hysterically.

"Alright, alright, come down!" he said.

I did calm down then sighed.

"I'm sorry about asking that."

"It's alright," I replied. "Sorry for being hysterical."

"It's okay. Why do you ask me about that anyway?"

"Oh nothing, I'm just curious since you've never had a girlfriend and you two are best friends and all."

"Well, he never had a girlfriend as well but he did have some flings."

"How many?" I asked curiously.

"Only a few, Natsume isn't really a playboy if you're thinking that right now."

To be honest, I was thinking about that.

A few minutes passed by, and we were now discussing about our project.

"How about two opposite couples? One is rich and one is poor." He suggested.

I shook my head. "It sounds like a soap opera line."

"Hm, you're right. It's pretty lame as well."

"I've got an idea!" I beamed.

"What is it then?"

"Let's take a walk so we can get inspired!"

"A walk?" he questioned.

"Yeah."
I hate to admit it, but that idea for the walk came from Natsume. It actually works and I think that it would help us right now.

"Alright then, let me just get the bill." He replied and called for the waiter.

We exited the café and started to walk.

"So where did you get the idea for a walk?" he asked.

"Uhm… don't ask." I replied with a smile. He might think I like Natsume if I say that the idea came from him.

We walked along the open area of the plaza passing by people and bright lighted signs of cafes and restaurants. Ruka and I talked about a lot of things including ideas for the story like the setting, conflict and the characters. We came up with a comedic kind of love, a love-hate relationship between a tomboy and a boy.

"Well, it's quarter to 6 pm. I think I should take you home." He said.

"No, I can walk from here."

"I can't let you do that, it's getting dark already." He said. "I'm taking you home whether you like it or not."

"Oh, well are you sure it's okay?"

"It's really okay." He said.

We were now walking towards the car which was parked at the end of the open area.

"Hey, Natsume?" Ruka suddenly said as the two of us stopped walking.

I looked towards the comic booth about a meter away from us and it really was Natsume. He was browsing through the manga rack, probably looking for a new one to read.

He turned his head towards us. "Oh, hey Ruka."

"Buying manga?"

"Yeah." Natsume replied as he took an item from the rack. He completely ignored my presence, didn't even bother to say hello to me. Oh well, what do I care? It's not like it would kill me if he didn't say "hi" I'm not a fan girl or Sumire Shoda!

"See you on Monday. We have to go, I have to bring Mikan home." said Ruka.

"Alright." Natsume replied. "Try not to get them lost if they ask for directions to your house, polka-dots." He teased.

"What the-?!" I exclaimed but then calmed down because I remembered that Ruka was with me. "I won't, I know perfectly well where my house is you know!" I just said.

"Let's go Mikan." said Ruka and the two of us walked away.

Author's note: How is it? Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I'm in a hurry as usual, hope i didn't make any mistakes! Ohmy, im so worried i might not finish this when school starts already:( darn it! and i dont want to leave it in hiatus either. anyway, please leave a review and i will try to update as fast as i can. thank you guys!