Student Visit Program Chapter 10: The Third Party!, a Prince of Tennis + Gakuen Alice Crossover fanfic

Summary:

The Alice Academy sends six students (Mikan, Ruka, Natsume, Yuu, Koko and Hotaru) to Seigaku High for six months to pursue a Student Visit Program, where the appointed students can improve their social skills in the outside world, but must limit the use of their Alices and make it a secret. There, they meet Ryoma Echizen and the gang… will hell break lose? Prince of Tennis and Gakuen Alice Crossover! Ryoma x Ruka x Mikan x Natsume slight Sakuno x Ryoma

Chapter 10: The Third Party!

The morning started cool and sunny. Everybody was greeting each other a "good morning" with a smile on their faces, students were happily walking to school with their friends, and birds were eagerly waiting for the worms to come out from the soil. It was just an ordinary Wednesday morning, the sun giving out rays of light that were rich in Vitamin D. It started out usually… well… let's make "this" Wednesday an exception…

It was already the last period in the morning in Seigaku High, and, ever since the incident earlier that morning, Mikan was ignoring Natsume entirely out of anger and disappointment. On their way to school previously, her raven-haired friend punched her host brother, the Tennis Prodigy Echizen Ryoma, on his cheek. Until now, she still doesn't know why.

Mikan stares at the blackboard filled with notes of the teacher in discussion with a pouted face. She looks down at her blank notebook and thinks secretly, that Natsume… what is he up to, anyway?! Punching Ryoma-kun like that… She sighs as she quietly glances to Ryoma, who is taking down notes in silence with a bandage on his cheek, covering the scar Natsume gave him.

Ryoma-kun… I wonder if he's alright… Mikan thinks to herself again, obviously concerned for the dark-green-haired boy beside her. Also, ever since that incident that occurred earlier that morning, Ryoma didn't speak to her at least once. The auburn-haired girl glances back at the blackboard and thinks further, I'll ask Ryoma-kun if he's angry at me later at lunchtime…

Soon enough, the boring History lesson about the Tokugawa Period ended five minutes later, as if answering Mikan's call. Students from Class 1-B starts to get their lunches and walk out the door, going either to the cafeteria or to some other places that are suitable for eating lunch. But let's focus on to the main characters.

Mikan, with a big sigh, turns her head sharply to Ryoma and asks, "Ryoma-kun, are you—"But, alas, before she could speak any further, she noticed that Ryoma is already gone and the seat beside her is vacant. The Alice user bites her lower lip in disappointment as she look down to the floor sadly. I guess… he's mad at me…I can't blame him… I should've never left him and Natsume alone in the first place…

Growl…

Mikan blushes as she feels her stomach growling. I forgot… I didn't take breakfast earlier because I fainted… Well, I'm sure okaa-san made lunch for me! I'll just think about Ryoma and Natsume later!

With a small smile, the 13 years old chocolate-eyed Alice user picks up her cute flower-designed backpack the Echizen family provided for her and opens it. She puts out a few of her notebooks and then, stares at the empty backpack. That's strange… where's my lunch? Mikan thinks to herself. It's not here… haha! Mikan, what are you thinking? That's impossible! Okaa-san surely put it in here! Something must be wrong with my eyes!

Then, with another smile, she puts in her notebooks into her backpack and puts it down. She sits up straight on her seat for one minute and picks up her backpack again. She opens it and puts out her notebooks and stares at the empty backpack, no sign of her bento anywhere. She puts her notebook back and in 30 seconds pulls it all out for the third time, and when she notices that her bento is still and really not there…

"WHAT?! You mean, MY LUNCH ISN'T REALLY HERE?!" Mikan exclaims to herself with a panicked look, ignoring the growling of her empty stomach. She opens her backpack wide to make sure that her bento isn't really there. As she studies it further, all she discovers is an ant relaxing. Disappointed, Mikan sits down with her shoulders down. How come it's not in here? Mou, I'm sure Ryoma is eating the lunches all to himself right now…

"Sakura-san, are you okay?" a familiar voice asks behind the auburn-haired girl. Turning around, Mikan comes face-to-face with her good friend Nogi Ruka, a fellow student of Alice Academy. In his arms is his usual bunny, and his eyes contains the usual concern for her.

"Ruka-pyon!" says Mikan with a small smile. But, before she could greet further, her unfilled belly growls out loud, making both the 13 year old Alice users blush. Well, Mikan blushed out of embarrassment, and Ruka turned red because he thought it was cute. Mikan giggles awkwardly to herself and scratches the back of her head. "Hehehe… I… didn't eat breakfast, and I kinda… forgot my lunch…"

Surprised, Ruka answers, "You didn't eat anything? That's bad, you should eat…" Then, the blonde-haired Alice user (who is also wearing the Seigaku uniform) puts out two bentos and hands one to Mikan with a small smile and a light scarlet blush. "Here, Sakura-san… I have two, so let's share. Do you want to eat with me at the rooftop?"

Mikan stares at her good friend with surprised eyes. R-Ruka-pyon… she thinks to herself as she continue to gaze at her blue-eyed friend. Somehow, her opinion about Ruka increased… He's a really, really, REALLY nice guy! Then, she gives a very bright smile and nods back, taking the bento with her own small hands. You're an angel in disguise, Ruka-pyon!

Before Long, Ruka and Mikan enter the rooftop, and for some reason, nobody was eating there, so, it was a good opportunity for them to be alone and talk about a few matters here and there. Picking a good spot that somehow lets them see a great view of the city, they sit down and start opening their Japanese lunchboxes.

"Wow, it looks so delicious!" Mikan smiles to herself happily as she stares at the beautifully arranged food that Ruka gave her with stars in her eyes. She takes her chopsticks and pulls them apart and then exclaims with a wide smile, "Itadakimasu!" Soon, she gladly takes one and chews it in her mouth with a light blush. She glances beside her and sees Ruka looking at her with a different look. "R-Ruka-pyon? Is there something on my face?"

Ruka shakes his head furiously with a blush and looks away, replying, "N-no, I'm sorry if I stared at you like that!" He quickly takes a shrimp from his bento and puts it in his mouth, still flushing. What was I thinking, staring at Sakura-san like that! I hope she doesn't hate me now! Ruka thinks as he swallows his food.

Mikan looks at him and secretly gives a smile. Ruka-pyon is so innocent… she thinks to herself as both of them eat their lunch quietly under the blue sky and the flying birds. But, even though she currently tastes sweet and delicious food, the incident earlier that morning still can't get out of her mind. The scenes are replaying over and over again like a broken tape.

"Hey, Ruka-pyon…" Mikan starts as she puts down her chopsticks. Ruka turns to her with a questionable look. The chocolate-eyed looks down and asks, "You and Natsume are best friends, right? You've known each other for a long time, right?"

Startled by her question, Ruka gawks at Mikan with his wide blue eyes. He doesn't really mind the question literally, but it really seemed too sudden, especially at a time like this. "Y-yeah, I guess you can say that we are the closest of friends…" Ruka replies as he finishes his bento, thinking, Gochisosama (A/n: Kind of a "thank you" for the meal… correct me if I'm wrong!)…

With a hopeful look, Mikan puts down her unfinished bento and crawls beside Ruka, making the poor boy flush deep crimson with the sudden action. "Then that means you know Natsume the best, right?" Mikan continues to ask with a relieved smile. Ruka swallows hard and nods back. The auburn-haired 13 years old girl then looks up the sky and continues, "So, tell me, Ruka-pyon… what do you think is Natsume's opinion of Ryoma?"

"E-eh?" Ruka mumbles with another surprised look, wondering why Mikan is asking such unexpected and sudden questions that he is the most hesitant to answer. But because this is Mikan he's talking to, he doesn't have the heart to ignore her inquiry just like that. "Why do you ask, Sakura-san?"

Mikan rubs her cheeks with one finger and softly responds, "I'm just wondering… it seems that Natsume hates Ryoma, even though Ryoma never did anything wrong to him. It pains me because Ryoma is my friend, and Natsume is also my friend, and they're fighting with each other. I don't understand it, Ruka-pyon!" With a desperate look, she turns to Ruka and takes his hand with her hand, Ruka taken aback. "Do you know why, Ruka-pyon?"

Startled, Ruka feels his heart beating fast against his chest. Right now, at this very moment, the girl he loves is holding his hand, gripping it tightly with her own. He could feel Mikan's soft and flawless skin against his, and it's driving him crazy. Calm down, Ruka, suppress your emotions… at least for now… Ruka scolds himself. Satisfy Mikan's doubts first…

Not pulling his hand away, Ruka swallows hard and answers, "This is my opinion, S-Sakura-san, but I think that Natsume just wants to protect something or someone important to him…" he looks up and sees Mikan widen her eyes. He looks away and continues, "Natsume… Natsume lived quite a harsh life before you arrived, Sakura-san… he was the type of person to never trust anybody wholeheartedly… before you arrive, Natsume's life was centered on both of us and his missions…"

"He was a quiet and moody person, never really talked much…" Ruka continues as Mikan's grip on his hand loosens. "In Alice Academy, he would frequently skip classes and just want to be alone… a type of guy like that… doesn't really know how to openly express his feelings." Ruka remembers Natsume's harsh childhood and sadly smiles. "At least half of his life right now was spent struggling and fighting… I guess he uses acts of violence to express how he feels because that's the only method he knows how… He may also be doing it unconsciously, thinking that what he is doing is the right way."

Ruka looks up and smiles as he continues, "Natsume is a really nice person once you get to know him, Sakura-san… but as of the moment, he is just a confused and lost soul, yearning and longing for the light to comfort and encourage him and to help him fight the darkness overwhelming him. Judging from his actions these past few years, Natsume may have found the light that will stay beside him as he continue fighting the obstacles he's encountering and most of all, himself…" He turns to Mikan and adds, "So, you can't really blame Natsume for acting that way, Sakura-san. For Natsume… no, for both of us, we feel that the light we want to stay beside us may fade away soon, and we are trying our best to protect it from going astray…"

"But… what does it have to do with Ryoma-kun?" Mikan asks, hurt. "I'm happy that both of you want to protect that 'light'… I think that whoever this 'light' is to both of you, when he or she learns that both of you are protecting him or her, she or he will be very pleased… But… why go far hurting Ryoma-kun?"

"Maybe…" Ruka starts, looking down to the cement floor, a gust of wind passing by. "… Ryoma-san is after that light, too?"

Mikan widens her eyes as she finally lets go of Ruka's hand. "Eh…?" she mutters to herself. "Ryoma-kun… is after that light?" She shakes her head and exclaims, "Tell me, Ruka-pyon, who is this light?"

Ruka blushes to himself as he finds himself in a very difficult situation. He can't just blurt out that Sakura Mikan herself was the sole reason a very chaotic and messy love triangle is going on, now that he partially confessed he wants to be with the 'light', too. That would be too embarrassing, and surely, it would just confuse the cheerful auburn-haired girl in front of him.

"Err… for some reason, we don't know who ourselves," Ruka answers awkwardly, making Mikan confused. "Let's just call it… err… men's intuition?"

"What…?" Mikan mutters, dumbfounded. "Men's intuition? There's something like that, after all?"

She truly is dense… but… Ruka thinks to himself as his heart thumps faster as he gazes at Mikan's confused look. Sakura Mikan… a girl that appeared in his and Natsume's lives three years ago, who seemingly looks stupid and dense, but strong-willed and kind, is their light. A light that would surely bring happiness and peace into their lives with her bright and cheerful smile and that would help them ease their troubles. Sakura Mikan is surely a one of a kind.

"Please… don't trouble yourself trying to find out who we are trying to secure," Ruka smiles gently as he says this. "There is one thing I will assure you, though… Natsume and I won't give up, never in any circumstances. We will continue to protect and watch out the most important person in our lives… but never blame Natsume for his actions towards Ryoma, Sakura-san. That is just his way of protecting someone…"

Mikan looks down with a sad look. Judging from the way Ruka describes things, it seems that Natsume and her blonde-haired friend is really determined to put down everything that comes in their way. She can never compete to that, but she doesn't want Ryoma-kun to be hurt just because they think he may be after their 'light'. She is really grateful for Ryoma considering all he has done for her… for making her ride on his back, for letting her stay in a wonderful and comfortable household, for giving her a father, mother and sister… to just let things slide as if it's nothing would be too thoughtless of her…

"If that's the case…" she starts as she stands up. "… I just have to protect Ryoma-kun, right?"

Ruka stares at her, shocked. "Protect Ryoma-san? But why?"

Mikan gives a small smile and answers, "Don't get me wrong Ruka-pyon… it's not the same like yours and Natsume… I don't see Ryoma-kun as my 'light' or anything, although his Tennis Moves are awesome, it's just that, I'm really grateful to him…" She gives a peace sign and grins. "I'm not stopping you from letting go of that important person, instead, I'm rooting for you! I only want to make sure that you two would settle this problem of yours in a calm manner and that you won't lay a harmful finger on Ryoma! You'll never know… you might be wrong about him!"

No… we're not wrong, Sakura-san… Ruka thinks to himself. We're positive… that Ryoma is falling for you… it may not start now, nor it may not show that soon, but it will be before long… I'm sure of it…

"I guess what they say is really right… if you open up your problems to other people, you'll feel recovered!" Mikan exclaims with a happy smile. She lightly blushes as she continues, "Talking to you made me feel a whole lot better, Ruka-pyon! For some reason, a huge weight has been pulled off my shoulders, and plus, I was able to know and understand more about you and Natsume! Thank you!"

Ruka blushes crimson as he hears this statement. This wasn't really unusual… Mikan frequently thanked him for every positive thing he has done for her, but, for some reason, this 'thank you' is much more sincere and heartfelt. He could feel that Mikan is really grateful for him.

"And by the way, thanks for the lunch!" Mikan laughs as she waves an empty bento in front of the blue-eyed boy. Somehow, she finished the bento without him noticing it. "You really saved me! I forgot to eat my breakfast earlier and for some reason, my packed lunch is nowhere to be found! I thought I was going to die from starvation!"

You really won't die that easily, Sakura-san… Ruka thinks again to himself as he sweats drops, really amused at Sakura Mikan's innocence and naivety. This is what he really likes about her… her cheerfulness and natural innocence that seems to shine wherever she goes and whoever she talks to. He really likes her…

"Sakura-san… may I call you 'Mikan'?" Ruka suddenly asks. Mikan turns to him with a surprised look. Finally taking notice of what he said, the Animal Pheromone Alice user covers his mouth with his free hand as he blushes deep red. He awkwardly laughs and quickly takes back what he said, "N-no, what was I thinking? Y-you don't have to agree if you don't want to, Sakura-san! Just forget what I said!"

After a short silence, Mikan takes his hand and gives a really bright and cheerful smile. "What are you talking about, Ruka-pyon? Of course you can call me Mikan! Any good friend of mine can call me that!"

Ruka blushes once again at this but feels a slight disappointment with the term, 'friend', Friend, huh… he thinks. Then, he brushes that thought away and turns to the positive side. That's fine for now.

With a sincere smile, Ruka, although hesitantly at first, takes Mikan's hand and kisses the spaces between her fingers with his soft lips. He looks up and gives another gentleman-like smile and continues, "Mikan… thank you." For being you… for being yourself… for being not only Natsume's light, but also mine… he finishes in his thoughts.

Doki. Doki.

Mikan remembers the familiar feeling in her chest as she stares dumbfounded by Ruka's sudden actions. W-what is this feeling? It's the same when Ryoma mentioned my name earlier… she thinks to herself as she feels her cheeks getting hot. She shakes her head and gives a bright smile. "Let's go back, Ruka-pyon!"

Ruka smiles back and nods. "Yes, let us."

Dear Grandpa,

Have you ever experienced the feeling of your heart getting really crazy all of a sudden with three boys? Okay, girls in your part, but have you? Mou, I'm feeling it now, Grandpa… not only to Natsume, but to Ryoma-kun and Ruka-pyon, too! Is this a part of puberty, Grandpa? If that's the case, I don't want to enter puberty! It's making me confused!

Mikan

Meanwhile…

While Ruka and Mikan eat on the roof, Hotaru, Yuu, Sakuno, Tomoka, and Horio stayed in the classroom to eat their lunches. They didn't bother going to the cafeteria as they're positive it'll only get crowded with flocks of people, so, they just decided to eat in their four-walled learning room with less people.

As Hotaru eats some crab meat, which is really unbelievable since she brought at least a dozen of them that made the others wonder how she was able to bring it in the first place, the purple-eyed Alice user turns to Horio and orders with a blank tone of voice, "Bring me some water."

Horio looks up from his seat and glares at his money-greedy nightmare, retorting, "Why should I? Bring your own!"

With that reply, Hotaru's eyes suddenly gleams like a diamond. She then pulls out a picture book from her bag and says, "If you don't bring me water, I'll spread all of your baby pictures all over the school." Horio flinches at this as his shoulders suddenly drops. With a small smile, Hotaru adds, "You don't want that to happen, right?"

"DAMMIT! Alright already!" Horio exclaims angrily as he stands up and runs to the door towards the direction of the cafeteria. "Dammit, dammit! Damn Imai! Where did she get those pictures, anyway?!"

Tobita Yuu sweat drops at the particular scene that happened in front of him as he swallows his food. "You're still as evil as ever, Imai…"

Hotaru turns to him with another small and 'evil-like' smile and replies, "Thank you, Tobita."

Yuu sweat drops again as he thinks, That wasn't a compliment…

To be continued…

Hey there, everyone! Sorry for the late update! As you can see, we have a lot of projects coming up… like to make a comic strip of Sir Percival's life, one of the Knights of the Round Table in King Arthur's Legend. We also need to do lots of things, like Miniature and among many others… so, I may update only once a week. I terribly apologize.

I appreciate all those who are supporting me, but please do not ask me to update faster because I'm updating the fast as I can. I should only update once every two weeks, but I'm actually sacrificing my time to reach your expectations. I hope you understand.

Please review! It's an APPRECIATION for my hard work… come on, just a few words here and there won't hurt, right? Even a few inspiration keeps me going… if I know that there are people reading this story, more reason to continue it.

Criticisms are considered, but flames are a no-no.

REVIEW!

Phoenix Swordsman