Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice.
This is the tale of Kahoko Tora's life at alice academy, she's thirteen, processes the alices of memory and sunshine, and has been put into the special ability class. She is also a 'special' in the star ranking system.
Last Chapter Review:
"What's this thing do?" I asked taking my seat next to the flushing Ruka-pyon.
"It's a game I've been working on that's all," Hotaru-chan said flatly, and leaned over with a complicated looking tool that even I didn't recognize.
"Well, what type of game is it?" I asked looking at the volleyball sized hunk of metal of my pastel table
"Truth or Dare…" she said in the same monotone voice, ignoring Mikan's squeal of excitement, "Wanna play?"
Chapter Ten: A Game of Truth or Dare
"Of course I wanna play! How do you play truth or dare with your invention Hotaru-chan?" I asked in an extremely excited voice.
"It's easy, all you do is pick a person to press the button on the top that says either 'truth' or 'dare'; the device chooses a random question or dare that I have programmed into it. It should be fun for me." She said while pointing to the different buttons.
"That sounds great Hotaru-chan! I wanna go first!" Mikan said bubbling with excitement and reaching across the table to hit the dare button.
"Oh yes, I forgot to mention, whoever doesn't do a dare or answers a question dishonestly, will receive a painful shock. The machine will continue shocking you until you've answered the question or complete the dare. Mikan, the machine gave you your dare," she said plainly, nodding towards her dangerous contraption.
The screen read "Do a performance singing 'Mary had a Little Lamb', wearing the outfit provided." To my astonishment, out of the compact machine came a fluffy white sheep costume. Mikan grabbed the outfit rushed to the bathroom and within thirty seconds came out wearing a full body sheep costume.
I stifled a giggle; she looked utterly ridiculous as she wattles in the bulky, uncomfortable looking costume to stand before us.
She sucked in a huge breath of air before belting out the song with great gusto.
Mikan is such an idiot. She closed her eyes and began swaying to the sound of her own high pitched voice. I laughed and filled the room with a warm glow; everyone laughed with me, except Natsume-kun and Hotaru-chan. Hotaru-chan at least smiled at her idiotic best friend, Natsume just acted passé about it all and watched his girlfriend make a fool of herself.
When she was finished and changed we continued with the game. Tsubasa-senpai picked dare and had to lick Tono-senpai's foot. Tono-senpai choose truth and had to tell about when he wet himself during class when he was eight; a little too old to have to wear diapers. Iinchou picked truth and had to confess to sleeping with a nightlight, blankie, and a stuffed panda named Fluffy. Natsume picked dare and confessed to still keeping the panties he stole from Mikan the first day they met in his sock drawer. Kitsumeme picked dare and had to perform a strip tease with his shirt; needless to say he got really into it. Hotaru picked dare and had to blink twice (rigged much?).
Then it was my turn, I pushed the 'truth' button and read the question out loud. "What is the person's name that you like?"
"Oh this is a good one Hotaru!" Mikan squealed leaning in towards me.
"Um, well I don't really know how to answer that," I said blushing and tugging on my mess of loose curls.
"You can tell us Kahoko-chan, we won't tell," Tsubasa said shooting me a smile.
"Wait; is the person you like here?" Mikan asked looking at the now crimson red Ruka-pyon, blushing Koko, tomato like Iinchou, and the pink Kitsumeme. Why was Kitsumeme even blushing? I just met him like two seconds ago.
"Do I have to tell everyone?" I asked Hotaru-chan sheepishly.
"Fine, you can just tell the girls," she said walking over to Koko and putting a sticker of a smiley face on his forehead.
"Hey! I wasn't reading her mind anyway!" he said folding his arms across his chest and gutting his lip out like a small child, I would've laughed if I wasn't so flustered.
Who the hell did I like anyway? I thought of Ruka and Koko, they were just my friends, right? I don't think I like either of them that way. They're both handsome, smart, kind, and great to be around, but those are just good friend qualities.
Mikan was pulling me into a sitting room I didn't even know I had, then spun around and said, "So? Is it Ruka or Koko?"
"Yeah, it has to be one of the two, so which one?" Hotaru said with a surprising amount of interest. I sensed blackmail in the near future.
I took a deep breath and held it not knowing how to reply the question without disappointing them.
"I-I like neither," I said finally, puffing out the breath I had been holding and made myself at home in the soft lavender room.
"Well my machine clearly thinks she's telling the truth, she'd be in agony otherwise," Hotaru-chan said in a flat voice.
"What! How come you waited so long to tell me? I thought for sure you had a crush on one of them!" Mikan asked pouting a little.
I looked at the ground then the ceiling; neither had answers written on them. I plopped onto a plush sofa and sighed. Why did I have to tell Mikan when I didn't like someone? Honestly, she's a great friend but she sure is strangely stupid.
"I don't like either of them that way, right now I'm just perfectly content in being friends," I said, thinking out loud.
"Well if you did like one of them, you defiantly don't have to worry about rejection," Hotaru-chan said sitting gracefully beside me.
"What do you mean, by that?" I asked sitting up and biting my lip.
"I mean that all you need to do is start liking one of them and they'll be like putty in your hands," I cut her off and said, "Can you explain a little better? I don't understand your putty analogy,"
"So you really don't know then," her and Mikan exchanged looks. Had Mikan figured something out before I had?
Hotaru-chan smiled a rare smile then looked at me with a twinkle in her eye. Mikan just grinned like an idiot and giggled. What the hell is up with them? I voiced my thoughts and Hotaru just rolled her eyes at me.
"You really are denser than Mikan, that's impressive," Hotaru-chan smirked at me.
"Jeez, just freaking tell me already!" I shouted at them.
"Kahoko, they both are totally, like, into you already," Mikan said blushing and giggling.
They like me?
…I don't see it.
Hotaru-chan dragged me back into the room after betting her half of my first month's pay from the school, if she can prove it.
"If everyone could please leave except for Koko and Ruka- they owe me money." Hotaru-chan said holding up a huge gun like device that seemed to appear from thin air.
"Hotaru, the Baka Gun is a little harsh, don't you think," Mikan said as everyone scrambled to gather their stuff and leave shouting hurried goodbyes on their way out.
"You too Mikan, get out," Hotaru-chan said menacingly, pointing the gun at the now sprinting Mikan.
The door shut with a soft click, leaving me, Hotaru-chan, Ruka-pyon, and Koko alone.
"You three will continue playing Truth or Dare; if you don't the device will shock you. I'll be in the kitchen eating so pretend I'm not here," she said plainly before retreating to the kitchen.
The alice blocking sticker on Koko's forehead was still there, I sighed with relief.
"Uh, who's turn is it?" I asked sheepishly, taking my seat back and biting my lip.
"Yes finally it's my turn!" said Koko excitedly, rubbing his hands together before pressing the dare button.
The atmosphere relaxed and I let myself live in the moment not worrying about the bet that had just taken place. I got good at living in the moment when Daddy died; having the alice of memory, it's a good skill to have.
"Okay, it says, 'kiss a random person on the cheek'," he was beaming; I guess he liked his dare.
He turned to me and turned a light shade of pink, "Kahoko, could you uh… I mean, could I… kiss you?" he said it softer than I would have expected.
I felt my cheeks redden a little at the thought of him kissing me. I nodded once, a small quick movement. We were sitting next to each other and we were already almost touching in the backless chairs; all he'd have to do to kiss me was lean over a few inches.
I looked away from him and caught Ruka-pyons eye, he looked sort of pissed. I didn't want Koko to kiss me anymore, not if Ruka-pyon had to watch.
Then I felt it, warm and soft on the side of my face; the first time I'd ever been kissed by a boy.
It was strange; the sensation of being kissed, it wasn't bad but it wasn't as grand as I thought it would be. It was so warm and tender; his lips barley brushed my cheek. I bundled my thoughts up and stored them away to mull over later. This is the time to live in the moment.
I smiled a little at Koko, turning my alice on him. He seemed ecstatic, a flush of pink on his cheeks, he looked bashful almost the way he looked down so shyly.
I trained my eyes on the game before I said, "Ruka-pyon, it's your turn to play,"
From my peripherals I could see him give a slight nod. He pressed the truth button and blushed at what appeared.
"Well, what does it say?" chimed Koko happily.
"It says, 'describe your dream girl-in detail'" he whispered, looking at his hands as if willing them to do something; to do what I wouldn't know. His expression looked pained a little before it softened.
I concentrated on playing with one of my many gold curls; having your hair down had its perks: it hides your face from unwanted glances. Ruka-pyon cleared his throat and pressed his palms down on the table his fingers spread wide.
"My dream girl… would light up any room she stepped into, without even trying… she would have a great smile that would always be plastered to her face… she would be an easy person to like… and even easier to love," he gave me a sideways glance before continuing his melodic speech. He had my full attention; I got to admit I'm curious.
"She would not be afraid to eat her fill at a restaurant… and appreciate the gifts I give her… she would be kind to all and help where she could. She would be beautiful, inside and out," He caught my eyes when he finished speaking; though I could tell he wanted to say more.
I felt butterflies attack my stomach; it startled me. The last part sounded like our trip to central town.
I'm pretty sure that he was talking about me… he might have been talking about Mikan though. He does like her right? So I'm in the clear.
I can't compete with Mikan, she's pretty, cute, lovable, funny, caring, and I great person to be around. Honestly I wouldn't be that surprised if they began seeing each other. But wait, she's dating Natsume! Duh, Mikan won't stray away from him, she seems to really love that delinquent.
I let my alice fill the room with a soft glow; both boys smiled at me hugely, so cute! The atmosphere defiantly needed to lighten up.
Just then Hotaru-chan burst in the room holding a plate full of crab legs.
"I'm taking my game now, I'll see you three later… and Kahoko-chan? I assume I've won the bet," and with that she left. Too bad she didn't win.
"Finally, she's gone, now I can take off this stupid alice controlling sticker," Koko almost yelled as he ripped off the sticker.
I quickly got a handle on my thoughts; I began to let my mind wander in the world of small cute kittens. I didn't want him to know about the bet I'd made with Hotaru-chan after all.
"It's already pretty dark outside; you two should probably leave," I said plainly, yawning a little.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Could I walk you to class on Monday? My room is actually right next to Natsume's so I'm right down the hall," Ruka-pyon said shyly, what a gentleman, walking a girls to class.
"Yeah! I mean that sounds fun Ruka-pyon, I can't wait," I said happily.
They both gathered their stuff and left. I padded to the kitchen for some food and was greeted by my faithful robot.
"What are you hungry for today Tora-san? I hope it's not seafood because Imai-san already ate it all," The robot began readying the gigantic kitchen to prepare a meal.
"Hmm, how about Italian tonight? Like pasta and stuff?" my mouth watered at the thought of food.
"Excellent choice Tora-san, may I recommend another bath before dinner?" Said the robot bowing slightly.
"A bath sounds great right now actually, I think I'll prepare it myself though," I said running my fingers through my soft curls.
I padded out of the kitchen after receiving instructions on where my silk pajamas could be found and how to prepare the bath.
I grabbed a pink silk nightgown to change into when I was finished. I padded into the bathroom and prepared a steaming bath with a literal mountain of honey smelling bubble bath.
I peeled off my clothes and stuck a toe in the water before cannon balling in, sloshing water everywhere; it was totally worth it though. I tilted my head back and let the smell of honey engulf my senses.
After washing out honey scented shampoo and conditioner I emerged from my blissful bath begrudgingly and toweled myself off rubbing some honey lotion on before slipping into comfy cotton undergarments and the heavenly soft and embarrassingly short spaghetti strap nightgown.
I combed my golden hair but left it down to dry. I padded back into the lovely purple dining room to eat an extravagant meal.
When I was absolutely sure one more bite would make me pop I walked back into the light green study where we played truth or dare in to find a note book shoved under a chair.
I looked inside the cover to see whose it was and found that it was Ruka-pyon's. I remembered he said his room was right next to Natsume-kun's, I should just return it now, no reason to wait.
I went back to my closet to find some slippers and a robe. To my delight I found a pair of pink bunny slippers and a matching silk robe. I shoved my feet into the slippers and pulled on the robe, I felt a little embarrassed going to Ruka-pyon's room in a robe and nightgown that only barely reached my fingertips.
It's not like I'm going to go into his room or anything so the showy clothing should be fine, I'll just give Ruka-pyon his notebook back then leave.
I walk out the door with a confident stride only, to my dismay, to ram right into Natsume.
Just to make things semi-easier to understand:
Next Chapter is the super cute nosebleed all over the front of your shirt chapter so look forward to it! Can you guess who Kahoko's going to end up with? I bet you can guess!