The Days I Remembered
Chapter ten: Spring time, Tokyo University; 2001
Mikan stared at the gigantic building in front of her. This will be her school in just a couple of minutes, well, technically, in a few days. She definitely could not believe it. She passed the school's entrance exam. She had her cheek pressed against the car window like a child as her mother drove.
"Yes, Mikan, dear. You did it." Yuka said, gripping the steering wheel. "And after a couple of minutes, we will get your schedule and you'll finally be independent. After I park the car, that is."
She laughed light-heartedly, "Mom, I've been independent since Alice Academy." Then her face turned sullen, as if remembering something.
Her mother looked at her as she turned the car to a corner. "You really don't want to talk about it, do you? Honey, it's alright. Don't blame yourself, and I'm sure your Aunt Kaoru understands."
Mikan forced to plaster a smile. "I hope so. After all, I'm going to college and I'm starting a new life. I'm doing the right thing, aren't I?"
"About going to college? You've got to be kidding me." Her mother replied jokingly.
This time, she really laughed. "Mom!"
"Yes, yes. Now… oopsy-daisy."
The car stopped, and Mikan took a shaky breath.
"It's going to be fine." Her mother reminded her.
Together, they entered the building and her mother did most of the talking. And half an hour later, Yuka showed her a piece of paper.
"Here's your schedule, honey. Next, we'll go to your dormitory building. It's just a fifteen minute train ride from here. Though you know how busy Tokyo is. It's different now that you're out of Alice Academy."
But Mikan wasn't listening. She was staring intently at the paper.
Her schedule.
"Let's go, dear." Her mother pulled her by the arm and went back to the car, she was silent the entire ride, but she knew she was smiling. From excitement. From possibilities. For new beginnings.
And before she knew it, they were in front of a building. A dormitory, to be exact.
"Your things must be in your room already, come."
She rolled her eyes fondly at her mother, who was actually more excited than she is.
Students greeted them as they walked in the building. A few smiled, and a few looked at her. Well, who wouldn't? If you are with a beautiful middle-aged woman—who also happens to be your mother—an author of best-seller novels, why wouldn't they look at you and wonder who you are?
They took the elevator and waited until they reached the fifth floor. "You will have to call me every once in a while, Mikan, okay? And your father will visit you every weekend. I'll stay home in Nagoya with your grandfather."
They stopped by a door with the numbers 546. Her room, she assumed. Once inside, Mikan found a brown teddy bear on the couch. It was a gift given by a senior in Alice Academy as a departing gift when he went abroad for medical treatment. Mr. Bear, she called it. Everything she packed was already on their rightful places, she even wondered if her mother hired an interior designer for this. She checked her bedroom; she did a double take to make sure she was not mistaken. It looked so much like her bedroom at home that she was so sure she might not even feel homesickness. The carpets, the curtains, even the polka-dot sheets. It was all an exact replica.
"I just knew you'll love it," her mother's voice was by the doorway. "You do, don't you?"
"I do! I really do!"
Yuka smiled and pulled her in for a hug. "Oh, my baby. It was just like yesterday when Izumi and I sent you to Alice Academy pre-school. And now, you are in college! Time was so fast, I didn't even get to see you grow up." Yuka wiped a tear from her eye.
"Mom, you know I'm always your baby girl, right? You and dad."
Yuka smiled, "Right. Now, Mikan, I have to leave. Book events can be such a headache sometimes."
"Oh please, mom. I want to experience it firsthand. So no need to share your thoughts about that. Who knows? Maybe your preference about book events is different from mine."
Mikan walked her mother to the door, Yuka kissed her daughter's forehead and yanked the door open. Mikan had to swallow back a scream that was stuck on her throat as she stared at the girl with the perm hair, standing right outside her room with her arms folded in front of her chest. She raised a brow at Mikan and looked past her shoulder.
"So it's true," the girl said. "The daughter of Yuka Azumi would be occupying the room beside mine."
"Uh… y-yes." Mikan stuttered.
"Sumire Shouda." The girl offered a hand.
Mikan took it, "M-Mikan Sakura-Yukihira."
Yuka clapped from behind Mikan, "Oh! A friend! You've already made a friend! From what university are you, dear?"
Sumire's face seemed to have been splashed by water; her expression became softer, more delicate. "I'm from University of Tokyo. Law department."
"I'm from University of Tokyo too!" Mikan pipped up, "Well, not yet anyway. But in a couple of days I will be."
Sumire raised a brow, "A freshman? Same here. You want to go together? To school, I mean."
Mikan beamed, "I'd love to!"
"Girls, if you excuse me. I really have to leave." Yuka kissed Mikan's forehead again and gave Sumire a hug before leaving.
Mikan opened her door widely and let Sumire in. She made hot cocoa for the two of them and shared profiles. It turns out that Sumire had a brother, she also had a cat and a dog. And she was also branded The Bitchy One by her schoolmates in her past school.
"But, hey, I'm trying to have a new life." Sumire countered. "I want to graduate college peacefully. Which makes me think, from which department are you again?"
"Business Management. But I'll also be taking evening classes for Creative Writing." She replied.
"Evening classes in another university? No way! You can do that?"
They talked and gossiped and shared pieces of their background. They laughed together as if they've already known each other for years. When Sumire asked her to come to her room since she's cooking dinner, Mikan decided she already found herself a new friend. A new person to rely on. A new confidante. Amongst all worries, she smiled to herself. Yes, she can feel the good vibes for her incoming college years.
A/N: I'm back! I'm healthy and very much alive! ^_^
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Reply to comments:
StarElise: Is It? Awe... you're so cute! if that was sad, then maybe the next next chapters would be confusing. ^_~
Anonymous: Infuriating, isn't she?