A.N: Behold, the longest chapter up to date. Also very dialogue heavy. But this chapter is mostly made up of Mikan and Natsume's interaction, so that should be enough for you after all those cliffies in the previous chapters.

Warning: Slight cursing.

EDITED 14/8/2018

CHAPTER 7: HEALING AND BABY STEPS

Mikan tried keeping a calm, open expression on her face, but her heartbeat feels like it's out of control. Mikan wanted to get better but in front of Natsume like this, in person instead of through the phone, no long distance keeping them apart, was nerve wracking. Her hands were wet not just because of the condensation from the cold frappe, but also due to nervous sweat.

Natsume sat there, looking as infallible as ever, his face the same cold expression Mikan had always seen on him ever since she had known him as a child. But his eyes burned with intense curiosity. Mikan could tell Natsume wanted to ask her so many question, questions he no doubt had thought of ever since she disappeared, and yet it seemed as though he's keeping his tongue in check.

She didn't know whether to feel grateful that Natsume was willing to exercise patience for her, or even more nervous that she's going to mess this up.

"Thanks for coming here. I know it's a long way, coming from Tokyo. The ticket probably wasn't cheap either," she started. She thought it best to show that she's sorry for this.

Natsume waved his hands as though trying to dismiss her words. "It's fine. I wouldn't come here if I didn't want to. Besides," he leaned slight forward and placed his chin on clasped hands, elbows on the table and Mikan felt the need to run escalating, "I want to know why you called me here now."

Mikan bit her bottom lip, no longer able to hide her anxiety. Natsume, probably noticing just how much this bothered her, leaned back on his seat again, no longer encroaching her personal space. "You left. And you've stayed here, ever since you ran. Is that right?"

Mikan nodded. "I…it's maybe best if you… ask me first; whatever questions you have. I don't think I can say anything right now. I can't think," she honestly replied. No use trying to lie to Natsume. Natsume always knew when she lies. "I'll tell you later, why I asked you to come here, after I've answered everything."

"Are you going to hide?"

"No."

Natsume seemed satisfied with her answer. "I don't know what happened to you these past years," he began, "So I'll start with the biggest question I have. Why did you leave?"

Mikan took a deep breath, trying to articulate her thoughts. It… was a slightly difficult question to answer because Mikan couldn't pinpoint the real reason why. The factors that pushed her to take such a drastic action that night were so many. "It's… probably not what people think. At least, that's what I think. Before I answer that, I want to know, what did the others say when I ran?"

"They thought you were sulking," Natsume bluntly answered. "That nobody came. So you ran, because nobody answered."

Mikan let out a laugh. "That's…not completely wrong. I did sulk a bit. But it wasn't the only reason. Definitely not the main one. Far from it."

"Then why?"

Mikan, with shaky hands, took out a file from her bag, containing her medical records from the hospital, from 5 years ago until she was discharged. She asked her doctor for a copy. She thought it would be the best way to make him believe her, that she wasn't just sulking. The innocuous looking document would say more than any words she could ever say.

She handed the documents to Natsume and Natsume, after briefly staring at it, accepted it in his hands. "What's this?" he asked as he took out the papers.

"My medical records."

"Why would you-" He started before he frowned at it, the words catching his attention. Then he turned pale, his eyes widening as he read through the documents. He flipped through the pages, skin becoming an almost chalky hue with each turn of the pages.

Mikan wondered what he thinks of her now.

He placed the documents on the table after he finished, wide red irises staring at her. There was just shock there. There was no judgement.

Taking courage in that, Mikan then said, "When Jii-chan died, I couldn't think of anything else. I was just really sad. It was a bad time for me. And then when I called everyone, I was really just looking for something to latch on to. I don't really care if you guys come, or if you just talked with me on the phone." Mikan let out another laugh, morbidly amused at how pathetic she was back then. "I just want someone to listen." she said.

"I know, that you don't think of me as much," Mikan continued. "I hear what people say about me. I now how they act towards me. I'm not blind. I'm not deaf either. I know. But I don't care at the time. Even an illusion that people cared would be enough. I just need something, someone to help me pull myself together."

"Polka, I-"

"No, Natsume," she cut him off, determined to say her part. The dam holding all her emotions finally broke, and she had no intention of stopping him. Mikan wanted him to know. "Please listen to me. You want to know right?" Natsume nodded, his skin still bloodless looking, but no longer quite so shocked.

"When I ran, I was thinking so many things. That I don't have anyone who cared about me. That Kaa-chan and Shiki-san no longer cared about me; why would they? They have the twins now. They have somebody else to love. Kaa-chan probably doesn't see me as her daughter anymore. That even if I stayed at Tokyo, I would never be happy. I would be surrounded by people who don't really care about me, in that horrible concrete jungle, and I can't stand that. Why do you think I tried so hard to be friendly and open and good all the time?

"I care about what people think of me, because if I'm nothing to them, then what exactly am I? So I did everything I could, but they still don't accept me.

"That night, I finally realized just how much you guys think of me. I was already depressed, anyway. Did you know that, Natsume? That I'm depressed? I'm suicidal too. The only thing that stopped me when I wanted to just kill myself was Jii-chan, but he wasn't there anymore. I called, and nobody came.

"So, I ran. And when I found that river, I thought, that maybe, if no one care, why should I live? If I jumped, not like anybody would notice. I wanted to end everything. So I jumped."

Mikan let out a breath. "Everything else that happened to me, it's all in there. After I was discharged, the people who found me gave me a job and a place to stay. And here I am now."

Natsume looked stricken, as though he was the one telling the story and not Mikan. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but he closed it again. It was a wonderful impression of a fish out of water. Mikan waited for him to say anything else, because she needed to hear his opinion of her now.

"You're wrong," Natsume finally talked. His voice was slightly hoarse, and it was rare for Mikan to hear such raw emotions from him, who was always so aloof. "You don't know what others think about you. I don't know whatever it is that you thought of then and now, but it's not true. They still think about you. They haven't forgotten you. They like you."

Mikan tilted her head to the side slightly at that. She remembered how Sumire snapped at her, how Ruka brushed her off, how Hotaru had told her she would talk later, how the others didn't answer. And how her own mother had told her to leave for a while, the final blow that broke her.

Natsume was either being unusually kind, or he's lying. Or he's being unusually kind by lying to her.

"If that's so," she slowly said, "they sure have a funny way of showing they like me."

Natsume moved slightly in his seat, looking at Mikan's frappe. It was the closest thing to a flinch Mikan had seen from him.

"The others, after you left, nobody was happy. They looked for you. You don't see their face when they they found out you're gone. Yuka-san was almost hysterical."

"I know, they must be worried about me when I was gone," Mikan nodded. "They're good people. They would care if somebody disappeared, it doesn't matter if it was me or a stranger."

"No," Natsume growled out. "You've got it all wrong Polka. It wasn't just because somebody disappeared, it's because you disappeared. Don't you get it? You're important."

"Natsume, I think you're overestimating my worth," Mikan finally laughed. It was so funny to see him trying so hard to make her believe she was actually ever important to them, or anybody else. Mikan didn't know anything then, but she knew her real worth now.

She's no one important. Just another one out of six billion people living on this planet. It's why she stopped trying to please others, why she stopped befriending as many people as she could possibly meet. Why would she do that now? No matter how hard she tried, it won't change the fact that she's not worth anything important. The others were able to see it then, see her worth.

It's time Mikan acknowledged that too.

Natsume looked like he wanted to throttle her. "Why won't you believe that?" he asked, eyes so intense it was almost glowing. They looked like rubies on fire. It was pretty. Natsume always looked lovely when he was lively, whether out of anger or joy or excitement. It hadn't changed when he was young and it still didn't now. Mikan could stare at him for days in this state.

"We really do care," he continued. "Ruka looked so fucking sorry when he told us he hung up on you. Imai resembles her robot more than a human now. Kaa-san cried for you, Aoi cried for you, your mother cried for you. There's not a person who didn't care when you were gone. Everyone looked for you. Everyone."

Mikan smiled. "I'm thankful that they at least cared. But it's just guilt Natsume. And they probably pity me too." Then, a thought struck her and she reached out to touch Natsume's hands with her fingertips. His hands were warm.

"You're a good person too, Natsume. You're feeling guilty, right? And after reading my medical record, you feel bad, don't you?" she whispered. "I'm sorry I made you feel that way. But it's really not your fault. It's not their fault either. I shouldn't have bothered them. Calling them was a mistake, I see that now."

"It wasn't. We should have come. I should have come." Natsume bowed his head. "…I'm sorry," he apologized. He must be feeling so bad about all this, Mikan thought. To apologize to her when he didn't do anything wrong, to lower his pride to say those two words at her…

Mikan shook her head. "It's fine Natsume. You don't have to apologize. It was nobody's fault. Besides, you don't have to say that to me. I realized now you won't come."

Outraged at her words, Natsume opened his mouth to rebuke her, no doubt he's going to say heartwarming words like he cared, they cared, they would have come, Mikan's important. But this was enough. Mikan didn't want to see him like this. The usual, prideful Natsume was better than this appeasing man before her.

"At the time," Mikan cut him off, effectively stopping him from saying anything. "Aoi-chan was in surgery. She was scared. Kaoru-san was worried sick about her, and you were too. Both of them needed you then. Which would you pick," Mikan asked, "your scared family or a grieving friend?"

Natsume froze at her words. Then he slumped at his seat, carding his fingers through his hair in frustration. He turned to look at her, eyes blazing with a different emotion. "I would have come," Natsume declared firmly. "After Aoi's surgery, I would."

Mikan could feel her eyes softening at him. Natsume may looked brusque and unfeeling, but Mikan sometimes thought that he had a slight hero complex. He would care. "Thank you, I know that now," she told him, grateful that he was concerned enough to tell her that. It was five years late, but it didn't make it any less sweet.

Natsume sighed. Mikan wasn't sure if it was from relief or something else. It didn't sound like it was from the former. Mikan wrapped her lips around the straw in her frappe and sipped, and could feel the nice sweet taste of it rushing down her suddenly parched throat. She didn't realize how mentally exhausting it was to talk about this with Natsume. It was kind of like her therapy sessions with Dr. Ueda.

"Where are you living now?" Natsume eventually asked. He was staring at her mouth as she was enjoying her drink. Mikan self consciously wiped her mouth and that broke his stare. He looked straight at her. It looked like he had calmed down and was back to being his old self again.

"Here. I rented an apartment near the shopping district," Mikan answered, she finished the last of her drink and straightened herself. "It's near my workplace too. You know how I told you before, that there were people who saved me?"

"Mmhmm. What about them?"

"They run the place. It's a restaurant, just near the bathhouse. They visited me when I was in the hospital, and after I was healthy enough, they helped me find my apartment and offered me work. I work there now. Sometimes I'm the cook, but I'm usually waiting the tables."

"Tch," he tutted. "They helped you that much? Even for strangers, that's suspicious."

"Ahahaha," Mikan giggled. "People who are just genuinely nice still do exist Natsume. There are people out there who would help somebody in need, even if it was a stranger." She leaned forward towards him and Natsume looked slightly distracted at her movement. He blinked once and Mikan wondered what it was that caught his attention then.

"If it makes you feel better, her husband doesn't like me much," Mikan sheepishly admitted. "He thinks I'm suspicious, like I'm going to rob them any moment. Absolutely hates me the first time he saw me. Now, he just doesn't care about me."

He huffed, then looked to the side. He then eyed the staff and Mikan looked at one of the waitress glancing at them, fidgeting like she was uncomfortable with them. Mikan, who worked as a waitress herself, finally noticed just how long they had been here. She winced. She ordered nothing but her frappe but that was long finished. This cafe was popular, and the staff must be trying to figure out how to politely tell them to leave to make way for other customers. How inconsiderate.

Mikan stood up and disregarding the relieved look on the staff's faces, she said to Natsume, "We should leave. Do you have anywhere else you'd like to go?"

Natsume looked thoughtful, trying to pick the next place they could go. He then shrugged and said, walking towards her side, "Show me your workplace."

"Oh Mikan-senpai it's you!" One of the part timers, Nagi Kazuto greeted her. She was just a teenager working here during school breaks. Mikan noticed the way she looked at her tall, dark companion with awed and admiring eyes. Natsume surveyed the place, carefully cataloging everything he sees. As usual when faced with most women, he ignored Nagi-chan.

Mikan brought Natsume to Yuugao (Moonflower). It was break time, and Mikan thought it was a good moment for a brief visit. It's no good coming when it's busy and there are customers.

On the way to Yuugao, Mikan and Natsume chatted. There was none of the tension from earlier, and it was amicable, to Mikan's relief. Natsume reverted back to his rude self, interjecting and adding his own comments and sass in between Mikan's as they walked along the street.

Mikan noticed some of her acquaintances who were around the area looking at both of them with inquisitive eyes as they walked, and Mikan thought of the number of people who was going to be curious about Natsume. Mikan rarely ever had visitors and she was alone most of the time. She wasn't particularly close with anyone either. Aside from Nobara, Rei and Youchi, nobody here knew her past. To them, she suddenly appeared as Yuugao's worker and had been there ever since. Mikan never answered them when they asked, she merely gave them a Mona Lisa smile. Mikan just resigned herself to the amount of gossiping that will happen next; she'll prepare herself when they ask.

However, it was interesting to note that there were none of the casual insults from Natsume during the whole time they talked. Mikan had grown so used to them, it was weird not hearing it. Natsume's still rude and still cold, but he wasn't… mean.

Mikan didn't know what that meant. Maybe he's beyond insulting people then? Growing up into an adult had to change something.

"Hi, Nagi-chan," she said, her signature smile on her face. "Am I bothering everybody? I'm sorry. I just came to see everyone. And I want to introduce all of you to my friend here," she gestured towards Natsume. Natsume finally turned towards them and leveled Nagi-chan with his usual cold eyes. Nagi-chan blushed, and Mikan inwardly sighed. It was kind of predictable, how every person Mikan met was uncomfortably taken in with Natsume, either because of his intense persona or his good looks.

"Hi," Nagi-chan softly spoke, shifting her feet from side to side. "Welcome to Yuugao. I'm sorry, we can't serve you now," she apologized. Her eyes fluttered bashfully at Natsume, obviously enamoured. "It's break time for the staff. If you want to eat here, you'll have to come back later," she nevertheless, dutifully informed him. That's the nice thing about Nagi-chan and why Rei eventually gave her his sign of approval. She didn't let her emotions get in the way of her work.

That and because Nobara thinks she looked cute in Yuugao's blue yukata.

"It's fine," Natsume replied, and Nagi-chan blushed even harder hearing his voice. It really was unfair, Mikan thought. Natsume had everything didn't he? He didn't even had to try hard to get attention, people just gravitated towards him. Mikan admired that about him.

"Hello, Mikan-chan," Nobara greeted at the back, as she walked out of the staff room. She looked at Natsume for a second, then turned her attention towards Mikan. Of course Nobara wouldn't be affected by Natsume. She's gracious enough to not stare at him.

"Nobara-chan, I'm sorry for coming here during your break. I just wanted to introduce you to my friend here. He came to visit me for a while," she said.

"Natsume Hyuuga. Hi," Natsume introduced to Nobara-chan, short and concise.

"I'm Nobara Serio, Yuugao's chef and owner," she replied, a polite smile on her face. "It's nice to finally meet one of Mikan's friends. Are you here in Hakone for a visit or sightseeing?"

"Both."

"Then I suggest you go to the bathhouse near us," Nobara said. "Mikan-chan can show you the place. You can ask her for some other good sightseeing spots; nothing like the tourist attractions. She knows them." Nobara-chan then bowed slightly at Natsume. "I hope you enjoyed your stay here."

Natsume gave a nod. "Will do," came his answer. Nobara glanced at Mikan as though to say, 'Not much of a talker is he?' All Mikan could do was shook her head and shrugged.

"I'm sorry I had to say this, but it's going to open soon. Unless you plan to eat here, I have to ask you to leave," Nobara apologetically replied, the regret in her voice enough to be both placating and persuading enough to have any customer leave without hard feelings.

She turned to Mikan. "Can you stay for a bit, Mikan-chan? I want to talk you for a while. Don't worry, it won't be long."

"Well…" Mikan turned to Natsume and true enough, Natsume understood.

"It's fine, I'll wait outside." With a nod at Mikan and Nobara-chan, he strode towards the front door, and the door opened and closed with a click. Nagi-chan looked disappointed that he didn't even look at her and hadn't bothered to greet her. Nobara lightly tapped Nagi-chan's shoulder, and she snapped out of her reverie. She gave Nagi a knowing look. Nagi appropriately stammered.

"I'll go back to the staff room to prepare everything!" she then dashed to said room, the sleeves of the yukata fluttering behind her like water. Both of them chuckled at Nagi-chan's cute antics.

Nobara after recovering herself, asked Mikan. "That man was from Tokyo, right? One of the people from back then?"

Mikan hummed in reply. "Yes. He wasn't lying when he said he came to visit me. I asked him to come."

Nobara's eyebrows flew upwards in surprise, hidden behind her bangs. "Really?" she asked. "You asked him to come here? Did you tell anyone else?"

"No," Mikan spoke then. "This is just a trial run. I want to see if I can talk with them again. He managed to contact me first and well," her gaze became hazy, looking at a distance Nobara couldn't see but could probably figure out. "Maybe it's time. It's been 5 years."

"Are you okay with this, Mikan-chan?" Nobara voiced out her worries. Mikan nodded. Nobara then smiled at Mikan and gave her a hug. Mikan snuggled into the embrace, appreciating the comfort and softness and warmth from the calming figure in front of her.

"That's good. You're healing then. I'm glad the therapy sessions are working."

"Me too, Nobara-chan. Me too."

When Mikan stepped out of the restaurant, Natsume rushed towards her side. "Done already?" he asked.

"Yup, let's go." She walked away from the store and Natsume followed, making sure to stay close at her side. Mikan asked, "Is there any other place you want to go?"

"Not really," he eventually answered after a pause. "Just pick wherever."

"Okay then," Mikan acquiesced. "How about a park near us? It's not anything like the Onshi Hakone Park, but it's peaceful."

"Sure." Natsume looked like he wanted to ask her something after that, and curious Mikan urged him. "What is it?"

"That woman just now, Nobara Serio," he started, repeating the name of the silver haired owner he had just met. "She was one of the people who helped you?"

"Yes," Mikan beamed. "She's something isn't she? She's great."

"She looks like a Yuki-Onna." Then, he shrugged, the movement almost as though it was exaggerated. "Well, at least she doesn't look like Yurei-Onna."

Hearing those unexpected words, from Natsume of all people, Mikan couldn't help it. She burst out laughing.

Mikan sat at the bench, shaded underneath the trees. The wind blew and Mikan savoured the feel and scent of fresh air. It was one of the nicest things in Hakone, this calm and peace and cold mountain breeze. It was what she yearned for back in Tokyo, what she had during her childhood, this serenity.

Natsume returned from the vending machine, in his hands there were two cans. He gave her one of them and, after thanking him, Mikan was humoured when she noticed it was the same brand of cocoa she shared with Natsume years ago. A slight feeling of deja vu hit her.

Natsume opened his can of coffee and drank it. Mikan carefully opened hers and sipped. They enjoyed their drink in companionable silence. Mikan missed this. If there was one thing she missed from back when she lived in Tokyo, it was someone to talk to. Aside from Nobara-chan and Dr. Ueda, Mikan didn't have anyone else. She wasn't close with anyone here. She never bothered to, still afraid to open her heart to anyone.

"So, what do you think, Natsume?"

"...It's nice here," Natsume sighed. He slouched slightly, and gazed at the people in front of them. There were others walking around the park, and children were abound, shrieking joyously.

"Say Polka, why did you answer me when I called you the other day?"

Mikan let out an exhale through her nose. "I never turned on my old phone when I ran. I kept it off. But that night, I got curious. I just got back from one of my therapy sessions. So I turned it on. I want to see if I was ready. But I wasn't."

She swayed her legs back and forth as she saw one of the girls playing on the swing. She was pushed by a man, probably her father. "I forgot to turn it off, and then you called. I thought it was from the phone I use now, so I answered."

"What was the therapy session about?"

"My doctor suggested I call one of you, and tell you guys I'm alright. She said it could help me get better. I told her I won't run if one of you managed to call me. I'm not going to break my promise."

"And that's why you called back?"

She nodded. Natsume frowned at Mikan. His hand gestured towards her. "So you're still…"

"Depressed?" Mikan finished his sentence with a weak smile. "Yes. I'm still insomniac too. So not only am I on antidepressants, I'm also on sleeping pills. 5 years of therapy, and I'm still not getting better. But you know what, Natsume?" She turned to look at him, determination in her eyes. "I want to get better."

Natsume stared back, and Mikan couldn't name or place that emotion in his eyes. It made her feel warm and tingly all over though.

"Alright, I'll help."

"Help?" Mikan echoed. "You don't have to, Natsume. You just had to talk to me, that's all. I can't ask for more than that."

"Who said you can't?" Natsume's words rumbled through her. "And what's with you? Accept my damn help and be grateful. It's not hard."

"But wouldn't it bother you?"

"Polka, how many times do I have to say this to get it through that head of yours?" he sighed, exasperated. He shook his head as though he couldn't believe her being like this. "I care about you, I'll help you like the Good Samaritan I am, and goddamnit, tell me if you need help. I'll come to you."

Slightly warmed and abashed at the blunt words, she hesitantly asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes Polka, I'm as sure as you were when you picked white lace panties to wear today." Natsume leered at her. "Maybe I should stop calling you Polka now?"

Mikan squawked, embarrassed beyond belief that he knew, because how and when, and just how? "You can't know that," Mikan stuttered. "This skirt is long! You pervert, there's no way you'd be able to know that!"

Natsume smirked, satisfied at her reaction. His hand shot out and he grabbed her handbag away from her ("Hey!") and fished out her current phone. He opened her phone with minimal difficulty and snort. "Didn't even bother putting a screen lock, do you?"

Mikan, indignant and still so, so embarrassed, crossed her arms in protest and looked away. "Who else is going to go through my phone? It's not like there's anybody here brazen enough to try. You're the only person who's insensitive enough to open it."

"You're too trusting, Polka. Oh wait, it's Lacy now."

Cheeks flushed and head dizzy from the shame, Mikan warned him in a threatening manner. Or at least, she thought it was threatening. "Don't you dare call me that. I'll hit you Natsume, I swear I will. Just watch me."

Natsume ignored that perfectly threatening sentence and continued tapping away at her phone. Seconds later, Mikan heard another phone ringing and Natsume took out his own smartphone, sleek in a plain black casing. He ended the call, tossed her handbag and her phone back at her, and Mikan scrambled to catch them.

She glared at Natsume, phone and handbag safely in her arms, and Natsume just blinked at her innocently. It was infuriating. "There," he declared. "I've saved my number in your phone, and now I have your current number. Your welcome."

"Thank you," she replied, words dripping with sarcasm. "You're veeeery helpful."

Natsume chuckled and Mikan swiftly forgot why she was angry. Damn him. It's all just so unfair.

His expression turned serious after he finished. "I'm not joking. Call me if you need anything. I mean it."

Mikan felt her shoulders relaxing and found herself nodding. "Okay."

She didn't know if she could trust him, but she wanted to get better. And if letting Natsume into her life once again will help, Mikan supposed she can count on him. Then maybe, she'll have the strength to face everyone again.

It was time for Natsume to go back. Mikan was able to buy the train ticket for him before he could do anything, and Natsume reluctantly accepted. While they both waited outside the ticket scanner, Natsume suggested he visit her once a month.

Mikan was astounded that he was willing to go this far. "Once a month? That's too much!" Mikan protested. "If you really want to visit, just do it during the holidays. I won't run, Natsume. I'll still be here."

"Really? You won't move or anything?" he asked.

"I won't," she pouted. "I like it here. I won't leave. Just… if you're that worried, you can call me whenever you feel like it."

"The only time I'm free is in the morning or in the middle of the night," Natsume told her. "Unless you want to continue our late night chats after all?"

"That's fine," Mikan agreed. "It's not like I sleep much anyway."

Natsume frowned, reminded of her insomnia. She looked at the clock, and informed him, "The train's going to come soon. You should go now."

He secured his bag to his side and turned to her, the same unreadable expression from the park, the one that made her all warm and fuzzy was back. Out of the blue, he reached out towards her and pulled her in his arms, and Mikan froze at the sheer warmth and solid feel of the body pressed towards her.

Mikan had the idle thought that they probably looked like lovers to others around them and her mind blanked.

Natsume hugged her tightly. "Call me, anytime," he whispered, hands lightly caressing her hair before he slowly let her go. "Bye," he said and off he went.

She waved mechanically back at Natsume, wondering what just happened. It was only when Natsume was out of her sight that she finally realized her heart beating in her ears.

It was loud.

Mikan slowly recollected herself as she went back home. She remembered changing and bathing and slipping into bed but not much else. She wondered why Natsume hugged her.

It was probably just a friendly goodbye hug. Friends had that, right? Friends hug each other sometimes when they say goodbye. Yeah, it's probably that. Mikan's surprised Natsume was so touchy-feely, but it's just him being friendly and reassuring towards a friend in need.

Probably.

The next morning when Mikan woke up to the first rays of the sun on her face, there was a new message on her current phone. It was from Natsume.

From: Natsume

yo.

Mikan smiled and typed back.

To: Natsume

Hey ヾ(＾∇＾)

Good morning.

GLOSSARY

Onshi Hakone Park: Popular tourist attraction.

Yuki-Onna: Snow woman

Yurei-Onna: Ghost woman/Spirit woman

Izakaya: A type of Japanese bar. A favourite for people after they finished working or just needed a place to hang out.

A.N: So, no cliffy or anything. Are you satisfied people? This chapter is 5.5 k words long. Are you happy?

You know, while I was typing the park scene, instead of writing, "In his hands there were two cans," I wrote, "In his hands there were toucans." What a nice mental image. The problems of a non-native English speaker. As always errors will be fixed later. Thanks for reading.