CHAPTER 9: I NEED A DATE

"Seriously," Sumire began, raising a brow, "do you think it's healthy to be eating like that, Mikan?"

I inched my hamburger down and looked at it. A huge, delicious, greasy chunk of beef, cheese, tomato and lettuce squished between two oversized buns. Sure, it might contain a lot of carbs, but who cares? As long as it satisfies my large appetite, it will do perfectly.

"Of course," I replied and took a huge bite.

Heaven.

"But you've been eating the same thing for three days!"

"So?"

I took a slurp from my oversized can of Coke. I surveyed around the table. As usual, Nonoko and Anna had their foreheads creased in worry whereas Nobara and Hotaru were apathetic to the situation, although a vein threatened to reveal itself on each of their temples, as they ate their food in silence.

"Are you nuts? You might get heart burn or something worst!" Sumire practically screamed.

I rubbed my right ear, thinking how my eardrums could have survived all the years I've been friends with her, due to the intensity of her volume. I mockingly snorted. She was over-reacting… again.

"Quit shouting, Sumire," Nobara, finally snapping, hissed as she took a large bite out of her Mexican burrito. "Leave Mikan in peace. At least she's not whining about you-know-who."

Now, it was my turn to have a vein pop out of my head. They had dropped the 'bastard' just two days ago. Instead, they call him like he's Lord Voldemort popped out alive from the book series.

I scowled, consumed a large portion of my burger and mumbled indistinctly, munching on the delightful food, "Yeah, thanks for reminding me."

Ignoring my wonderful comment, Sumire, crossing her arms above her chest and penetrating her gaze on me, retorted, "But whoever said I'll let her turn obese? I mean, look at her! She's grown about five pounds! Effin' five pounds! You have to eat grass for a week just to remove that!"

Nonoko pointed out. "Unless you exercise."

Did I really gain that much weight in three days?

To be honest, I felt conscious for once. What will happen if I really do turn into an overweight, slouchy, stupid junior student who spends her days sulking in the darkest corner of her room?

"Don't say it like that, Sumire-chan," Anna said, shifting her gaze from me to my sweetest, calling-me-fat friend. "Mikan-chan is just…" She bit her bottom lip and nudged Nonoko for some appropriate term.

"Depressed?" Nonoko, perhaps in haste, replied – or questioned.

"…"

Uhm. I'm right here, guys. Thanks for totally disregarding my presence. I wanted to say that to them, but I figured that they will just continue their conversation without even sparing a chance for me to explain. So what's the use of speaking up for myself?

Thinking about it, this scene's quite familiar. Wasn't I also eating hamburger before I snapped and became all emo, punching the ground? Whatever, I guess. I don't want to be reminded of that.

"Exactly."

Sumire clicked her tongue, observing me under her gaze. I, successfully ignoring them, continued devouring my beloved burger. I could feel their profound stares on me and a bead of sweat forms on my face, trickling ever so slowly as if it's planned to.

"Don't just look at her like an extraterrestrial object. Speak." Hotaru's voice: stoic but there was a hint of impatience present. Turning my head to look at her, she has already finished eating her crab brain sandwich – I don't even know why they suddenly serve that kind of food this week.

"That's it!" Sumire lifted her finger up in the air. I imagined that if I was in a cartoon or something then there'll be a light bulb, twinkling, placed above her head.

When Sumire did not continue what she was supposed to say, Nobara, due to irritation, raised her eyebrow and asked, "What's 'it'? And cut it out with the brilliant idea image. That's so overused."

Before I could even finish the last bite from my food, Sumire, put her hands on my shoulders which had me facing her as held the burger close to my face. She had that weird, suspicious grin playing on her lips.

Trying to acquire clues on what's going on with her, I looked at each of my other friends. They all had the same befuddled look except for Hotaru who was leisurely drumming her fingers on the table, untroubled.

"You just need a date! Yes! A date with a guy! A normal guy!"

To say that I was surprised was an understatement; Sumire had dropped a bomb that killed all the remaining, well-functioning brain cells inside my head.

"What?" I said, letting go of my food to gawk at her. "You're definitely mad."

"…"

"…"

"No. She's right."

My jaw probably fell to the floor. I fixed my gaze on my violet-head best friend who just agreed to Sumire's absurd proposal. "She's nowhere near right, Hotaru! Nowhere." I argued back, letting my eyes travel to my other friends who where keeping their mouths shut.

Nobara crumpled her burrito's wrapper as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. She flickered her eyes towards me and said, "Mikan, as much as I hate to say that Sumire – for once – gave an awesome suggestion, she did."

Kill me now – now!

"You know, I don't really care. As long as Mikan-chan's happy, I'm –"

"Anna, don't talk reasons," Nonoko cut through. "To forget a guy is not easily done by the help of food." She puffed her cheeks and poked it as if hinting that I'll just get fat when I do rely on it.

"A new, fantastic guy is all she needs and you-know-who will be like dust – simply swept away by the wind," Nobara mused as she shared an all-knowing look with Nonoko.

Since when did they start to get along so well? Isn't Nonoko supposed to side with me? Why is she siding with the evil trio?

"I don't need a new, fantastic guy," I reasoned, sarcasm placed on certain words, with my eyebrows knitting together. "I just need food."

"Yeah, and gain weight, be more depressed, and have a heart attack later on."

Sumire had that smug look on her face. She actually got the support of Hotaru, Nobara and Nonoko. I could imagine that green swirl growing at the back of her mind. They changed that much in three effin' days. I mean, they used to talk seriously when it comes to you-know-who, but, now, it seems like it was the joke of yesterday.

"It's much better to go through torment with the whips, slashing and lashing."

"C'mon. Think of it as a gift from me." She winked and I had the urge to strangle her.

"I decline."

"I have lots of contacts! Just gimme a list of things you look for in a guy."

I heard a mocking laugh escape from Nobara's lips. "I can give you that. Find someone who emits a morose aura and walks the hall like he came straight from hell."

"A mix of a bastard and a jerk too. Make sure to take note of that, Sumire," Hotaru said with a sinister glint in her eyes.

One more and I'll march down that exit like I never knew them.

"Sumire," Anna began, finishing up her Chinese noodles, "don't take them seriously. Find a guy who's the complete opposite of Natsume-kun, eh?" she glanced at me and smiled apologetically.

A cunning smirk played on her lips. "Of course! Why would I want to set him up with another bastard?" Talk about dropping the bastard name-call.

She turned sideways. Her eyes had that wicked, devious glimmer and I knew she was up to no good. "Right, Mikan?"

Whoever she had in mind would surely be my worst nightmare.

I had to get out of that suffocating, what-Mikan-needs-is-a-date conversation.

I walked down the hallways, adjusting my skirt as my shoes clattered against the pavement. The strokes of sunlight descended from the windows; it fell on the stone-bricked floor as if it had intended to. The hall was decorated with old, stuffy lockers; a few students scattered in the vicinity, wanting to be alone, reflecting on things. Everything looked like a beautiful painting with elaborate details, carefully smeared, mixed and brushed.

I stopped to sit in one of the ledges as I trained my eyes outside. It was my time to think, to process things. Since I received that one, cruel e-mail from Natsume, I have constantly told myself that that was the final blow, no more. But what irks me most is Ruka's enigmatic reason – which he won't tell me even if I had threatened to serve Usagi-chan for today's dinner menu.

"Well, well, if it isn't, Sakura the hypocrite." Seriously, lame much?

"What do you want, Koizumi?" I hissed as she flaunted her blonde locks, flipping it towards her back as she crossed her arms over her chests.

Her minions – stupid people like her – were situated at each of her side. They looked like a group who formed the Bermuda Triangle.

"Nothing," she replied, twirling a strand of my hair. I slapped her hand away, glaring at her intensely. She had the nerve to lay a hand on my hair – my freakin' hair.

"Hmp. I have better hair than you. Precious gold defeats murky brown after all."

A complete question mark appeared on my face. Since when did she start to care about how her crimped hair compared to mine? Where is she going with this?

"Yours is blonde, Koizumi. Not gold," I snapped back.

"Whatever. Yours is still stinkin' brown."

I raised a brow, swinging my legs down the floor and standing up to face her. She stood an inch shorter than me – and I felt so tall for once. "So what about it?" I asked.

"Gold –"

"Blonde."

"– braids perfectly with Raven."

Uh. What? How did it come to this conclusion?

"And, your point?" I knew what she meant, but it's fun irritating her. Her riddles are amusing to mess with, although she's really good at making them – her words were always wonderfully chosen.

She scowled, and her lip twitched. My attention fell on the two people beside her. They looked like the guards at Buckingham Palace – stoic and reserved. Although I doubt their girly, exasperating giggles fit within that metaphor, and the mere fact that they're following a snobbish, stubborn, pathetic blonde such as Koizumi.

"Natsume-sama hates – wait, let me rephrase – despises you," she said in a victorious tone. "I don't know what you did for him to do so. But, yes, he dislikes you with much rancor."

I wanted to punch her and beat her to a pulp. She's annoying – absurdly annoying. She's like a fire that I can't seem to extinguish with just a bucket of water; her verbose tongue flicking along her teeth with hidden, stupendous commentaries. And, still, I hate her. She's a damn bitch.

"I know."

I brushed pass her, clenching my fist in the size of a mango. I could imagine that winning, sinister grin plastered across her lips like it was stamped there with a horse shoe.

"Sakura, he just toyed with you as a best friend."

What am I – a piece of stress ball?

I wanted to turn back and lift my middle finger up her face and tell her to fuck off, but I might do something more than that if ever I do (for example, I might punch her in the stomach or scratch her in the face).

So, I went around the corner, and lost them in terms of hearing range (I never looked back – that could tell how much I hate her, how much her face alone ruins my day). The once-beautiful painting shattered and was replaced by a badly sculpted, baked, Luna Koizumi.

I could put all my rage on her. Yes, that way I'll forget about the bastard.

I continued to walk, trying to admire the beauty of the tranquility – meaning no monstrous faces – present in the area. On the far end of the hallway, Misaki stood beside the archway to the gardens, her back facing me. I wondered why she was there. Maybe, she's waiting for someone, and who could that someone be?

Her boyfriend? Wait. Rewind.

Misaki and boyfriend are two words that are far apart. I mean, she's like one of the boys, and she's real sweet too. But, she isn't the type who looked like she'd be cuddling on a sofa, watching chick flicks, kissing under the moon and holding hands in the hall with a guy – a guy.

A guy came running towards her. I couldn't see clearly but I could tell he was much older than me. Then, I halted in my steps as the image laid in front of me had me in a state of coma. I felt my brain stop functioning; my vision playing tricks on me.

Misaki… kissed a guy… on the cheek. She… hugged him… too.

And, then, they went out towards the gardens – hand-in-hand.

Imagine my horrified reaction.

Classes had ended.

So, we hung out inside Hotaru's big, big dorm room.

I envied her lilac canopy bed with deep color of amethyst gems as its spreadsheet. On the other side of the room, her ample, elongated worktable, with lots of blueprints dispersed, was placed. Usually, Hotaru would be sitting there, tinkering with her inventions and talking about scientific calculations, ignoring our precious company. Today, she sat on her bed, typing on her laptop as she joined in our conversation every now and then – which strangely is out of her character, however.

"Does Misaki have a boyfriend?" I asked, all of a sudden.

Their chattered died down. Nonoko dropped her pen on the floor; Anna gaped, peering from her book, at me; Nobara knitted her eyebrows together; Sumire stopped circling her phone in her hand. The only one who remained indifferent was Hotaru – as always.

"Misaki? Boyfriend? WOAH. What?" Nonoko began, practically thinking I was insane.

I simply nodded.

"Kaname Sono. 17 years old. Year 3, Class A," Hotaru said as if reading from a paper.

"Sono-senpai?" Nobara's eyes grew large. "You mean, he's dating Misaki?"

"What? Another hottie lost," Sumire said, crossing out a name from her list. She actually made a list of people she could set me up with. I know – the horror of it.

"I could not imagine, Harada-san – kissing around campus, being all lovey-dovey," Anna commented; her book now turned upside down on the floor. I could totally relate to her.

On the other hand, Nonoko had a frown on her face, and she sighed. "Mou. I have a crush on Kaname-senpai and, now, he's taken. Great." WHAT? My lovely friend likes whoever this guy was?

"You what?" Anna narrowed her eyes on the blue-haired girl.

Nonoko rested her chin on her right palm, elbows propped on the side table; her legs dangled on the edge of the bed. "You can't blame me. He is sort of cute."

"Agreed," Sumire said, raising her right hand – with her bedazzled phone gripped.

"He's good-looking. Period."

Shock was probably present in my whole visage. Nobara, although her face contained no hidden infatuation, just said Kaname Sono – someone whom I don't even know – is freaking handsome. And, do you know how many times Nobara labeled someone as that?

One.

"Anna and Mikan, if you're that curious about Kaname Sono, why don't you just snap out of your trances and move closer here so I could shove all the information about him in your faces?" Hotaru said in her monotonous tone.

In haste, I scrambled to my feet (completely ignoring her comment), climbed on her bed, and pushed my way to peek from her laptop. A charming blonde, dressed in uniform with two buttons on top undone, came upon view. His eyes sparkled, mesmerizing; his lips tugged at one corner, showing a half yet to-die-for smile. His jaw was more prominent than the guys in our year, but he still managed to pull off that soft yet striking appearance. He was a masterpiece like a sculpture made to be the best of the best. Like a Greek statue. Like… Natsume Hyuuga.

I shook that thought away; remembering him will just bring back all the unnecessary drama in my life.

Below the picture were several details about him.

Name: Kaname Sono

Age: 17

Year/Class: Year 3, Class A

Status: In a relationship with Misaki Harada (established last night after dinner)

Popularity Scale: 9.6 (10 being the highest; 1 being the lowest)

Hobbies: reading books, horseback riding, writing poetry, organizing campaigns

Organizations/Clubs: Student Council, Equestrian Club

Circle of Friends: Shuichi Sakurano, Akira Tonouchi

"Ohmygod! My dream guy!" She, Anna, screamed as her voice softened into an almost-curse 'Fuuu-dge'. "Lucky, Harada-san. He looks just like my version of Peeta Mellark!"

Yeah. Misaki's really lucky.

Sumire continued to text on her phone as she scowled at Anna's comment. "And who the hell is that?" she asked. I made myself comfortable beside Hotaru who must be having the urge to push me and Anna out of her bed.

"The male protagonist from Hunger Games."

"The one that will be played by Liam Hemsworth?" She asked, removing her gaze from her phone, and looked at Anna with a dreamy look.

"No, by Josh Kutcherson."

She, uninterested, waved her hand and resumed fumbling her keys. "Hemsworth is much, much yummier."

"Shut up, Sumire," Hotaru told her, silencing her in an instant. "You don't talk about people like how Crab Brains are described."

Not one of us said a word. We could never disagree with that statement – verbally. If ever we did address our opposition to the statement of Crab Brains being yummy, then our throats will be stuffed with the said food for a year.

"Yeah, crab brains," Anna replied nervously, scratching her head and returning to read her book.

"…"

"…"

Nonoko broke the silence when she asked if anyone of us had tried eating a cockroach. Of course, Nobara erupted into fits, and she lectured how cockroaches are the forces of nature that must be annihilated – completely. On the other hand, I argued that they're still needed in order for our world to function as it is. Sumire retorted, saying that icky, disgusting creatures are at the bottom of the most-liked creatures list, and that life is the survival of the most attractive. Then, Hotaru corrected her. She told her that there was no rule as such. There was only the survival of the fittest based on some scientist named Charles – or was it Charlie?

The conversation spanned to a length of thirty minutes before it was broken by Sumire's ear-piercing shriek. The last thing being mentioned was how termites brought down houses. Don't ask me how the discussion journeyed off to termites and the horrible things they do.

"Mikan!"

All eyes turned to the girl with the green perm; questions appearing on our once-blank faces.

She held her phone, staring at the screen in extreme excitement. Slowly, her eyes met mine, and, like electricity traveling copper wires, her dreadful message, intention, was sent.

I gulped, hoping what I thought was wrong.

"I successfully set you up on a date… with Akira Tonouchi!"

And the bomb had been dropped once more.

"Don't tell me… you're on patrol duty again?"

Tsubasa flashed me a smirk as he patted the space next to him. I sat down and wrapped my arms around my knees casually. I still don't believe him getting an A + in Narumi's class. Yes, I highly doubt that he's smarter than me - which would have the probability of 75% (as Hotaru had put it).

"Yes. What about you? Aren't you supposed to be in your room?" he asked, raising a brow.

I snorted because he just acted like a parent who had caught his daughter sneaking in the kitchen for some unhealthy midnight snack. "A patrol guard slacking. Are you sure you're not doing this for community service? Ha-ha. I was about to but a little stargazing would be lovely, especially if you've come straight from a repulsive banter."

"Yes, I am quite sure. So, what's this 'repulsive banter' about?" he questioned, looking up at the sky. The moon's soft light made his skin look like porcelain and his eyes glittered like that of a star. For once, I found Tsubasa Andou – sort of – handsome. Yes, handsome is a strong word, and I refrain myself from using it on a regular basis.

"W-Well." I cleared my throat, clearing my mind of that image. "Sumire had set me up on a date with someone named Akira Tonouchi."

Akira Tonouchi must be familiar because he tensed, and his previous smirk vanished. "The one long-haired dude?" he asked, now looking at me with his shiny blue eyes which I stared at, and – really – I thought I would drown in them if I hadn't looked away.

"Wait. He has long hair?" I probably gawked at him. "You mean he's a possibly gay?" And you could tell the joy I was hiding. If he was gay, then I would totally be stomping on Sumire's pride for months – and, hopefully, forever!

"Yes, he has long hair, and, no, he's not gay. And I am very sure of that." He narrowed his eyes on me. "Hasn't Imai shown you a picture of him yet?"

I remember Hotaru telling me that I should learn some skills like searching the Gakuen Alice student profiles which was managed and updated mostly by her. I shook my head, disappointed that this Akira Tonouchi wasn't gay, but I wanted to have hope that he is. "Doesn't he have a tendency to become gay? With that long hair and stuff? Isn't tha –"

"No, Mikan," he began, sighing as he hit his forehead. "To tell you the truth, Tonouchi-senpai changes girls like how he changes his gym bag."

At the mention of gym bag, I could only think of one question. "He's a varsity?"

"Yes, chess varsity," he said, more like deadpanned.

"We have a varsity in chess?" Oh God. I sound so stupid.

His eyebrows knitted together. "Yessss," he replied then continued, "shouldn't you be asking how many times he changes his gym bag first?"

"What does he put in his bag if he plays –"

"Every three days. Some for a week, but that's the longest they lasted," he cut in, ignoring my very sensible question.

I processed what he had said, and I came to this conclusion. "So you're saying that I'd be his entertainment for three days?" I asked carefully. It was a win-win situation actually. I don't mind if he doesn't take me seriously or anything because I, for one, would surely not be bothered about him.

"You like that idea?" He asked; disbelief present in his tone. "He WOULD harass you. He's quite a pervert if you ask me."

And that just triggered my disgust. The clear-cut overtone that he implied certainly served its purpose. "I will murder Sumire," I murmured. Stretching my legs and holding my weight with my two arms, my gaze fixed on a pattern of stars that was shaped into a person that looked bulky and muscular at the same time.

"What is that?" I asked, pointing at the unusual pattern.

"Hercules. I'm surprised we can see it clearly," he said. "It's best seen around the month of July."

Even in stars, I had to be reminded of Greeks. And that word is commonly associated with my ex-best friend whom I wanted – needed – to forget about. Reasons are as follows: he's a cold bastard; he's an insensitive prick; he's a no-good best friend.

The next day.

I sneaked quietly into the library to access the computer. Mine broke down due to an unknown virus, leaving with no choice. I logged into my account, and typed in my student ID number. Then, after a few seconds, the Gakuen Alice's exclusive browser popped out.

Since it was school property, it would contain information on students.

You see, in this school, everything's by the school. There's even an electronic mail just for its students, and we avoid using that since the administration filters the mails sent – meaning they read it or something. The same goes for the Gakuen Alice Chat Service. The last thing we students want is to have a teacher blackmail you for a love-confession mail you sent.

Well, it had happened before; why on earth won't history repeat itself?

"Shit," I cursed quite louder than I had intended to.

A boy with shoulder-length hair stared back at me; a sly smile tugged at his lips. I felt a chill run down my spine as if a ghost had clawed into my body. His image spelled: trouble, and the mere thought of the words 'WOULD HARASS' made me want to pull out a knife and behead Sumire.

"Mikan?"

I, instantly, stood up and turned around, trying my best to cover the computer screen. Ruka was in front of me, his brow raised. I forced him a squeaky smile and prayed that he didn't see what I just had searched.

"Oh! Ruka! Yes? What are you doing here?" I asked nervously.

He removed his hand from his chin and gave me a small smile. "Researching for the chemistry homework." Which wasn't due yet. "May I ask? Why is Akira's face plastered all over your screen?"

"Uhhhhhhhhhhm." I bit my bottom lip. Should I or not tell him? "You know Tonouchi-san?" I know, why am I so stupid sometimes?

"Pretty much. Quite well actually," he said, pulling out a chair. He sat down and I did the same, seeing that hiding the screen was futile since he had seen it already.

I logged out, and turned back to him. "How?"

"Long story," he said; his attention on his computer. "I don't really know if you would like it."

He tapped on the keys like how Hotaru did whenever she doesn't want to be disturbed. I might have been used to it already because I stood up, pushed back my chair and bid him goodbye.

And he said, "See you later, Mikan." He paused. "And stay away from Akira. He is not the best guy – definitely nowhere near moderate – to hang around with."

Really? The second warning one of Natsume's friends had given me.

After getting my books from my old, murky locker, I strode into the hall, clambering my way to the classroom before the bell sounds. There were lots of students down the hall. Some were slacking while the others were much like me.

"Mikaaaan!" An annoying, ear-piercing voice rang through my ears.

I walked more briskly, but a hand landed on my shoulder, pulling me back with force. She twirled me around and her green eyes twinkled. "Tonouchi-senpai's come to see you," she whispered excitedly.

That ever-familiar chill surged through me like ice freezing all over me. I knew this was a bad idea – from the very start. Sumire dragged me further down the hall. We passed by my classroom where I saw Anna about to walk out and, upon seeing us, her forehead creased. Muttering a few apologies as we hit some persons, making them lunged straight the floor – their books hitting the floor like rain on a Sunday, she stopped walking as a guy leaning on the ledge of the window in front of Year 3 Class A's classroom – according to the signboard above the door.

He was stunning, just like the guy I had seen in the picture. He was trouble – big trouble. Sumire gave him a smile. I was about to turn back and walk away, but she kept her hold on my arm.

"Tonouchi-senpai, this is Mikan Sakura," she said, nudging me on the ribs with her elbow. I muttered a soft 'ouch'. My whole body tensed, and the bewares from Ruka and Tsubasa reverberated in my mind.

Slowly, he smiled and darted his gaze on me. "Lovely as they had described," he said, and then reached for my hand. I was surprised – yes, but I was utterly shocked when he kissed it just like how they did in those Victorian era movies.

His eyes met mine.

My cheeks were probably flushing madly. No one had ever done such an act. Surely, this was not the harassing Tsubasa had indicated. There must be more to that. This must be the first impression act.

"I've heard a lot about you, Mikan-chan."

Wow. We're that close now? And what could have he heard? It's not like I'm famous or anything.

As if answering my question, he added, "You're quite popular, aren't you?"

It was my time to show my evident confusion. Me and popular aren't exactly good to go together. Stupid and Mikan Sakura would be perfect – Hotaru would say. At times like this, I just had to agree.

"Mikan," Sumire said through her teeth, faking a smile at me. "Talk to him."

"Uhm." I gulped, and then I felt a flow of courage shot through me.

"Tonouchi-senpai, I believe you're being too friendly calling me Mikan-chan, and I am not popular. You may call it humble – whatever, but I am truly not. And whatever bogus thing you may have heard from others, I don't care." I took in a breath. "I'm warning you. I'm doing this date thing because Sumire forced me to, and, if you dare lay a hand on me without me approving of it, you're going to hell."

I couldn't believe that I just said that.

Me, the crying, pathetic best friend who's been forsaken by Natsume Hyuuga, just said that to someone as high social status as Akira Tonouchi.

Please, hate me. Hate me. Hate me, I thought.

"Spunky. Not like what I've heard. But I like it," he said, going down from his perch on the ledge. His eyes glanced over me and that sly smile appeared on his face. "Can't wait for this Saturday's date."

He's not human because he walked into his classroom like he's floating; his gay-like hair softly swayed in the wind.

Sumire practically had hearts in her eyes. "Omgee. One of the hottest things alive," she said.

"Hot? More like gay. Did you see the wind effect on his hair? It's like a live shampoo commercial," I replied, walking away from her.

She ran after me and told me that I should be thankful that she got me a date with someone like Tonouchi-senpai. I would not even have the chance to date someone like Mochu on my own – she says.

Then, the bell rang, and I was late.

I want to strangle someone now.

Wow. After 24 days, I updated. I finally finished this chappie! I'm so happy *dances*.

I'm now writing the 10th one and I will update by Saturday? I think.

It will contain the much awaited Akira and Mikan date, and also why Ruka knows him.

Can you guys guess? ;)

Please do review! I love reviews! I update faster if I have lots of them.

Yes, I live by them. =))

NOT YET PROOFREAD. :) I'll be reading this within this week and hopefully correct the errors.

Cometflare : Aww. Thanks so much! *hugs you and hands you tissue*

Summer Euphoria: Yes, he has his reasons which would be slowly told within the next chapters. :D It's okay. I understand the laziness when it comes to reviewing. I also owe the stories I read some reviews. ;) Hope you like this one!

Pwenie: Sureee, dear. ;)

Misa-chan46: I'm very flattered. Thanks! :D

Kylee-Cat: Me too! 3 Wow. I never had the guts to tell the ones I've had a crush on that I like them. For me, it's quite scary, not knowing whether they feel the same or the opposite. He left you just like that? It's like I'm doing this story out of your experience. :-bd Yeah, I've heard those dying and cutting of hair after things like that. :) Yes! A new guy in her life! =)) And thanks so much for always reviewing! *hugs*

Polkadots24: Dear Miki/Mara, you commented! I so love you now! :D :* YES! I'M TOTALLY DIGGING THAT OVERUSED SENTENCE. =))

25 MAY 2011

2:10 AM

(: nineprincess :)