Day 10: The Grinch: Part 2

POV: Mikan

Shippings: NatsumexMikan

Inspiration: The holiday song that goes, "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" and small, smart children

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Here's the awkward thing about being me: I have no idea where to start consulting him about his grinchy-ness. I don't usually do this. The first thing I know not to do is to go back and ask him right away what's wrong with him. So I decide to walk back up to my room, flop on the bed, and pull out a notebook and a pen and start to write.

"Ways to find out why Natsume's so grinchy." I say out loud and write at the top of a new page, underlining it. Well, how should I start?

Number 1: Sneak into his room.

Twelve minutes later, I'm standing in front of Natsume's door, wondering how the heck I got in. There are no guards, and I didn't see security cameras. It's easy… almost too easy. Well, now that I'm at the door, I know it's probably unlocked. The people around here don't let you lock your doors unless they want you to stay in your room.

When I open the door, I don't see anyone there. The coast must be clear! But wait. What am I doing in here? Natsume wouldn't keep a diary or journal. So what was I here to look for? I guess I could just investigate quickly… so I run down the hallway and right into someone. I open my eyes to see that he had come back…

And he isn't wearing a shirt. Cheeks flushing red, I run back down the hall, out the door, and out of the building into the snow. My breath is shaky and I can hear my heart beating in my ears. It must be from all the running.

That didn't work. I put a big red X next to the idea. So what could I try now?

Number 2: Act like a fangirl who writes on his desk and tries to get him to tell you why he's so annoyed.

The next day, I go into class B early and write a message on his desk.

Hello there. You've looked sad lately.

I then rush out of the classroom and back to my dorm to pretend like I've been here the entire time. However, Permy catches me. "Have you found out what's wrong with him yet?" She asks, flipping her hair.

"It's not easy." I respond. "He's stubborn."

Permy doesn't look too happy with this, but I don't pay any attention. "Well, I don't like to see him like this." She responds, beginning to walk off. "See you later, Mikan."

What's wrong with her today? Maybe it's because she's up so early. Speaking of being up early, I sit down on my bed and instantly start to fall to sleep.

I wake up about an hour later to Hotaru standing over me. Once she threatens me a few times, I get up. The day goes on until we all go to lunch. I stop at the bathroom on my way out. Hungry, Hotaru continues on to the lunch room. After everyone passes by, I run back to the room and run into Narumi.

"Hello, Mikan!" He greets me. I just want to see what's on the desk! "Where are you going?"

I look into the room. "I have to get my headband!" I respond. Did I even have a headband in my desk?

He smiles. That guy's a little weird… "Okay, but don't dawdle when coming down to lunch!"

Rushing in, I look at the scribbled handwriting under mine. Why do you care? It reads.

Because, I don't want to see you sad! I write under it. I rush out, remembering my headband when halfway down to the lunch room. Oh well. I'll just say I must have dropped it.

After lunch, I come back slightly later than I normally would, having stopped to go to the bathroom. When I get back, I notice that Natsume has already written a response to me. However, I cannot look at it. If I do, I'll look suspicious. So the day ticks on. Once the school bell rings, Natsume gets up and leaves as he normally does. I take my time packing up my stuff, then take a peek at what he wrote.

Polka, I know it's you writing on my desk.

Seriously? I trudge back to my room with Hotaru, who is looking at me but not saying too much. "You're frustrated." She finally comments.

"Yeah." I say, kicking the snow with my boots.

She imitates me, kicking at the snow with her own shoe. "Why?"

"He's being annoying." I respond, looking up at her. Why won't he just cheer up?

"Natsume?"

I nod. "I just want to help!"

"Idiot." She says, but she's smiling some. "You can't help Natsume."

I don't respond to this. Instead, I saw goodbye to Hotaru, run up to my room, and pull out the notebook. Next to idea two, I put another red X.

Instead of doing my homework, I start to think of what else I could do.

Number 3: Convince Youichi to ask Natsume what's wrong and then report back to me.

Bad idea? Maybe. But I'm getting desperate.

Youichi being so small and not having any homework besides connect-the-dots and writing your name, I find him out playing on the playground with a few of his friends. I came prepared with candy canes (to bribe him with) and a smile.

"Hello Youichi!" I say to him, leaning over so we're on the same level.

He looks at me, curiously. "Ugly." He finally tells me, pointing at my face. He was getting a lot of his info about me from a certain boy, it seemed.

"Are you going to see Natsume today?" I ask.

He looks at me suspiciously, but nods when I pull out a candy cane. "Soon."

Maybe this wouldn't be so hard! "He looks sad today. Can you ask him what's wrong? And then tell me?"

The little one looks as if he's contemplating it, but nods once I pull out another two candy canes. "Okay."

"Good!" I jump up. "I'll be sitting over there by that tree, and you just go over there once you're done talking to him and tell me what he says, okay?" I point to a clump of trees, then run over to them. Once I sit down comfortably, I can see Natsume walk over to Youichi and begin talking to him. He's really good with children when he wants to be.

They talk for a moment, before Youichi shows Natsume the candy canes I gave him and points over to the clump of trees.

You know, I probably shouldn't have gone to a four year old for help, especially not a smart one who knows how to get what he wants.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Dedication: Pwenie, because you know who Lelouch is. And therefore, you deserve a dedication!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned a candy cane factory. But I don't. And I don't own Gakuen Alice or Lelouch either. (But if I did, I'd be so happy!)

Author's Note: I spent the entire day doing homework and getting my phone fixed. (I broke it AGAIN.) Now it's not letting me text message and I have to wait five days for a new one! It's really looking like Christmas around where I live. Expect there's no snow! Which means I cannot go skiing. Oh yeah, and I read chapters 144-145! THEY ARE SO CUTE! I read it three times. Because it was so cute.