Something You've Read Before
Chapter Twenty
Life Emergencies
"Dad? Can we not do something about the Photography Club?" Mikan's voice reverberated on the quiet living room.
Dinner ended thirty minutes ago and Serina was busy cleaning the dining and the kitchen while Mikan just finished throwing the trash. As soon school was over, Mikan waited to open the topic to her father but unsuccessful in finding the perfect time because Serina discussed more updates and decisions to make about the wedding during dinner. When Narumi rested on the couch to update his lesson plan, Mikan took that chance to show her support to the club. She did not know if this was Daichi's purpose in telling her about the problem of Kaname or it was just her nature to favor the underdogs. Narumi looked up to her and the question perked Serina's interest.
"We're already trying to fix that."
Mikan sat on the opposing seat, unconsciously glanced at Narumi's paper works. "I feel like there is a bigger reason why they are fighting hard for this."
Narumi set aside his work to put full focus on his daughter. "Why do you think so?"
"Because they could do photography even without the club and yet they insist on having one," Mikan answered, feeling that her reasoning was lame now that she verbalized it.
"Clubs generally make everything official, Mikan. They can enter competitions, join in school activities, teach non-members, and promulgate their cause without any issues. It is actually the freedom that I think they're after but it can also be taken away. It also surprised me that they wanted to dissolve the club but the orders were out and they want it done immediately. Someone must have been pushing this. They are reallocating the funds under a research project."
"So, do we stop there?" Mikan asked, already starting to feel disappointed. She was starting to get the whole grasp of the situation. The research project mentioned without a doubt was Luna's and the one who sent Luna in the academy was definitely Natsume's mother.
Narumi noticed his daughter's fighting spirit. "I don't understand why you are so concerned. You've never met them before."
Narumi was already aware of Mikan's habit if helping others. She had been like that ever since she turned high school, making it her personal mission to help those in need because when it was her time to ask for help, someone extended his hand and helped her to recover. There was nothing wrong with helping others but limits should be restated, limits that Mikan overlooked every time just to fulfill her goal.
"It's so rare for Captain Himura to ask for something because he is the most dependable person I've met and yet he came to me, maybe hoping I can help through you."
Narumi absorbed Mikan's opinion and found her point. "Maybe you can ask them the reason and let's see from there."
A go signal and a hope; those were all she needed to hear. Natsume told her not to interfere but she could not just ignore someone asking for help. Mikan was not close to Daichi and only met him during orientation and training sessions she could count with her fingers and yet he bottled up his pride to ask a favor from her. That alone made Mikan think what was the objective, the sole purpose of fighting this cause. No doubt there was but what? Mikan liked to know and share this with Natsume so they could understand the same time. This was a way to enlighten them of what they should really be doing.
"Thanks, Dad. You're the best."
"Hotaru! Please listen to me. I can explain."
It was Ruka's chant the moment he opened the door of the office. After confirming that Hotaru was there, finishing up their report, Ruka took the opportunity to explain everything to Hotaru but all he seemed to do was speak his worries out and not clear any misunderstanding. Hotaru sat on the corner of the long table, laptop in front of her and a lot of papers that were divided between finished and unfinished. Ruka jumped to the mobile chair and dragged it to her side, looking like a lost puppy who finally found his master. He only hoped that Hotaru was forgiving to people who used their charms and cutest faces to lessen the gravity of their sins.
Hotaru kept a smirk on her face. She knew exactly the thoughts running into his boyfriend's mind, thoughts that were far from the positive side of the spectrum. They had a lot to work on when it came to trusting each other because their newborn relationship benefitted more if they could talk without words, understand using actions, and just express love without a doubt. Ruka looked so cute with his face on a pout, asking for empathy and if Hotaru could only laugh, she did a long time ago already. She adored him deep inside.
"I've been waiting for you," Hotaru said.
Ruka felt desperation heated his body and kneeled on the ground. "Forgive me, please! I didn't know she was coming and there's a lot that I haven't told you but you probably know. It looks like we're close but that was already in the past, I swear. I have not talked to her for years and I have no feelings for her as in zero."
Everything he said was the truth and if truth serum was true, Ruka would have ingested it by now just to prove to her. Hotaru rolled her eyes, tired of hearing the same explanation, and hit Ruka with rolled papers in the head. Ruka wimped, taken aback by the action and the slight pain on his head but failed to determine what he should prioritize, his pain or asking Hotaru why she did that, until he settled with his mouth hanging open.
"You talk too much, Ruka. Why don't you do that the next time instead of reeling what to do next?"
Ruka snapped at his attempt to make peace then wailed, "Don't be angry!"
Hotaru's knees were moved repeatedly by Ruka which added to his adorableness. She held Ruka's hands to stop him from the action, eyed him with her unemotional stare. "I am not angry." Hotaru clarified.
Ruka wailed even more. "Oooh, she's not angry! Wait– you're not angry?"
Confusion hit Ruka as he stared at Hotaru's unreadable expression. He stepped back a little, turning his head a little from left to right, ending with a fake cough. It actually made sense because Ruka could not remember the instance where Hotaru yelled or looked upset at him, she was more adamant to Luna. He only assumed everything because he immediately thought that by not telling everything, he was also lying and lies started most of couple fights. Hotaru flicked him in the forehead as if to show fondness, an act she only did to people closed to her before crossing her arms.
"I am not that shallow. I see you are uncomfortable around her."
Ruka rubbed the part where she hit him tenderly. "Then, why do you spat your every word at her?"
Hotaru recited the reasons in her mind but boys had the bad habit of not comprehending the rationale of girls who think like her. Luna was trying hard to be friendly, she used her connections to get close to Natsume, and the main fact that she came out of nowhere spelled shady to Hotaru. Judging a person based on first impressions was inevitable, some of those judgments were proved to be wrong but a few of them were right. Hotaru had a strong feeling that Luna was someone to be watched out for.
"Because I like to," Hotaru replied, lost in thought until she asked, "Does she have a motive?"
Ruka placed a finger under his chin. "Who? Luna? Well, I think that she's here to set up phase one of her future with Natsume."
"Do you mean a merger?"
Even up to this modern day, big companies ate smaller one through partnership, buyout, or combining the profits by combining their families. Politicians also used this scheme to become a part of a more influential family who had the machineries for a future campaign. Some were meant to be a failure but most of the time they got it right, shooting them at the top of success. Ruka nodded at Hotaru's question. Luna was Kaoru's favorite, the chosen one ever since they were children and everyone from the Hyuuga clan knew about it so Natsume and Luna's breakup did not actually mean that everything between them ended, it was only approved because of their young age and unpreparedness.
"The Hyuugas practiced arranged marriages ever since and it is one of the reasons why they are so powerful now so Aunt Kaoru is already building that plot."
Somehow, Hotaru saw the broader picture of the situation, thinking how much Luna could do to them or if she really had the power to do so. It was not considered a problem so far but this had the potential of being unmanageable in the future, possibly affecting Mikan. Nothing had been revealed yet and Hotaru doubted if Mikan was sure of it either, but her best friend changed when she met Natsume. It was only months ago that they could not stand each other but their relationship progressed deeper, treating as if they knew each other from a long time ago. It was not hard not to notice because of the closeness, disinterest with Ruka, their way of talking and looking to each other, Hotaru knew that her best friend developed a certain liking to Natsume Hyuuga. It was bad news for Mikan who had none of Kaoru's criteria in becoming a possible Hyuuga family member. She laughed at herself for thinking so advanced but her predictions barely came wrong.
"Well, that's definitely bad news," Hotaru concluded, "Does Kaoru Hyuuga care about family background, wealth, history, and potential?"
Ruka nodded unconsciously. "Very much so."
Their discussion over the topic ended in that fashion with Ruka having no idea why Hotaru acted so concern of Luna's effect to Natsume. Resuming their work, they printed the final version of their budget report to the principal and all they had to do was get the report approved by Mr. Narumi. Yura came into the door with an envelope in her hand, looking flustered as she took the nearest seat and gave the message to Ruka. Only a few things distressed Yura, she was always the calm-headed in the group.
"We received a complaint letter from the Photography Club," Yura declared.
Ruka quickly opened the letter, sighing, "I expected this somehow."
Natsume entered the room with Sumire and Koko behind, their faces showing urgency. When news spread that the council made an unjust dismissal onto a club, their reputation and the future council's reputation were on the line. Like real life politics, the council faced problems and allegations like corruption, power tripping, being favored by the board, and anything that could tarnish their legacy but none was proven and remained black propaganda from students who were scared of their power. The Photography Club had a peaceful tenure for years and for them to be a subject of sudden dismissal just because the board deemed their purpose redundant and unproductive did not make up the fact that this form of art contributed many things for the school in the past.
"They're trying to gain signatures from students as a petition," Natsume made known to the group.
"This is what we get if we do the dirty work for the higher ups," Sumire complained.
Sumire remembered the day that she shared the bad news to Kaname Sono and the look he had on his face. He had a sad expression trying hard to form a smile in contrast to Sumire's worried look, already expecting the worst reaction from the club leader himself but Kaname only stated that nothing was final yet. If you really loved what you do, giving up was not the option which Sumire understood deeply. Staring at the letter in the table made Sumire realized that there was more to this story.
"They only have less than a week for they finally dissolved. What should we do within that time frame?" asked Yura.
Koko tapped his fingers on the table, his demeanor also turned somber. "I heard Daichi Himura from the Sports Club is backing up their complaint."
"Of course, he will," Hotaru said in annoyance.
Being good friends with both Kaname and Rui added fuel to the fire that Daichi open-secretly hated the authority the council had. With the Sports Club brewing issues with the council, this kind of scandal could be their most awaited opening to break the council.
"Do you think we're unfair and made a premature decision?" Ruka asked after hearing the thoughts of the group.
When they implemented the decision, they were more on the side of favoring the board after studying the advantages and disadvantages but resistance like this changed their mindsets and opinions. Did they fail to think of the consequences both on them and the club? Did they fail to become the protector of the students? Were they harsh? All those questions clouded their heads that made them look at each other, waiting for someone to answer but silence ensued.
After seconds of muteness, Hotaru gave her opinion. "I admit we were rushed onto that because we're busy with Shirahama."
Everybody seemed to realize their lapse but Natsume wanted to defend their decision, that Shirahama had nothing to do with it. He gathered the attention of his peers using his firm and confident way of talking. "But, if Alice Academy wants to dissolve a non-productive club, they have every right to do so. Their activities so far this year is almost zero, covering events which the school paper's photojournalists handle. They only have four members, all of them being seniors, the only activity included in their Annual Event Plan is this competition happening in November. I heard there's a big prize money and contract offered to the winners."
Natsume made a point with that statement that even if the club was not dismissed now, it would be nonexistent some other time. If new students became interested on the upcoming years, then that was only the time they could offer to re-establish the club. Clubs died and revived in that way.
"We are actually not wrong on giving them the verdict. They just find it unfair because they were the ones affected. Who would like their club to be dissolved, right?" Koko asked for confirmation but no one outright answered the question.
Ruka waited for someone to ratify their thoughts but none made a follow up statement. "I wanna know where they can hit us back," he said.
The pathway of battling technicalities was the most logical game plan of the Photography Club even if it was the strength of the council. Ruka did not want to continue his thinking because it always led with them, the council, fighting with another group of students. It was certainly not the best image to portray and antagonizing the council meant that they were prepared for the consequences. No one from the council wanted to prolong this conflict but they stood in the middle of the board and the students, a thing that used to put them in advantage always, now placed them in an awkward position.
"Maybe it's us knowing that the funds allocated for them will be transferred to an unknown project which turns out to be Luna Koizumi's research," Hotaru reminded everyone.
Yura snapped her fingers because Hotaru pointed that out so accurately. "We could have defended the club by saying that the project should be funded by the government and not by a private institution like ours," she added.
Ruka closed his eyes to rest his thoughts and looked at Natsume, waiting for his opinion. "What can you say, Natsume?"
All eyes laid on Natsume with him aware that whatever he said next, it would affect their move whether it was against or for the Photography Club. "We cannot undo what we've done. That would just ruin our reputation. Alice Academy sponsored the project together with the government because they want the school's name stamped on that paper. I know we regulate the clubs and they are under our jurisdiction but if an order comes from the board then we can only implement it."
"So, we stand by our decision?" Sumire concluded, still not fully convinced.
Yura's face was also not contented. "This letter should not be disregarded."
"They are still students of the school and they chose us to defend them on times like this," Sumire added.
The tension intensified. Everyone was aware that if someone decided to raise the tone of his voice or react violently, conflict would arise within the council itself. Hotaru got Natsume's point but she failed to see what his reasons were. Natsume acted like he was protecting something or knew a major detail that could make or break this situation. She waited for him to say more, sensible things that Natsume said whenever they were at endpoints like this, times that they found it hard to reach decisions.
Hotaru got tired of waiting and narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend. "Ruka?"
Ruka sighed, as if thinking the same thing with Hotaru regarding Natsume. The main cause of this problem was probably personal, Ruka's hunch told him so and he did not want to open that in front of everyone but it was also not the council's practice to approve a decision just to please one. Ruka was about to propose voting to reach a verdict when their adviser entered the scene, illuminating their faces with his smile. They almost forgot consulting with him because they were let to practice independency to its fullest extent but at times like this, the adviser helped a lot. Narumi took a seat beside Koko with everyone thinking that he came at the perfect time.
"By the looks on your faces, it seem like you're having a hard time deciding what to do with this," Narumi stated, taking a hold of the letter, not even bothered to read it because he already knew the content before it was delivered to his students.
"If we help them, we might lose the board's favor," Natsume emphasized.
The Board was a group of Alice Academy officials with shares on the school, making major decisions for the betterment of the school. They met once every six months for financial reports, strategy planning, discussing the future of the academy, taking back what they lost and proposing amendments to improve the facilities, faculty, students, and the reputation of the school. Student Council officers from the past to present had strong connections with The Board because freedom was gifted to them in exchange for excellent leadership. The Board was generous in giving rewards but also dangerous with their punishments. They decided for Jinno's future years ago. Narumi understood his students' sentiment if they did not want to get on the wrong side of these high-ranking people.
"That is one possibility," Narumi said with a sly smile.
Natsume felt the slowness of their decision making. "There are only four more days before they finally dissolve. Do we have to go all out on this?"
"For the students, yes, we should go all out on this," Narumi recapped, stretching his arms and neck muscles until he said, "Well, let's find out if they can join the competition without being an official club and what is their motive for joining. It couldn't just be the prize money. We will re-negotiate this matter to the board after concluding that Photography Club deserves the spot. Luna Koizumi is not a student of the academy so we will prioritize what is ours. I don't want us to jump to decisions saying we will help them or not and give them false hopes. Investigate first. I know you can do it."
Sumire smiled. "I also think that we should help them. It's not too late."
Narumi nodded. "Does everybody agree on that?" he asked, scanning his student officials.
"I agree." Ruka raised his hand.
Hotaru examined the idea in her mind. "Sure, we can start with that. You can count on me."
"The Board will not listen to us. When did they ever?" Natsume interjected.
"If The Board refuses to listen to the students, then it is our job to do that for them. Don't you want to know the reason behind everything?" Narumi opposed.
Their emergency meeting ended with a goal to know about the Photography Club even more and four days was more than enough to finish the job.
Luna stirred her tea with a blank stare. She received a call from Kaoru to join her for an afternoon tea to which she gladly agreed. Luna had something to inquire to Kaoru anyways because what happened at the cafeteria never left Luna's mind and wanted to narrate it to Kaoru. It was as if Luna's mind was programmed to repeat the way Natsume treated her, how Mikan Sakura went after him, with Sumire Shouda already hating her. Luna had not done anything to offend them and yet they acted as if she antagonized them. Well, new faces were prone to treatment like that. Resistance was always the initial reaction and even if Luna knew it, she still struggled to accept the fact. Kaoru discussed the merits of completing the project and how could the Hyuugas sponsor it on the future. The distance Kaoru's plans were set was where Luna did not reach yet and if she was not used to high end handlings like this, she certainly would feel overwhelmed. .
"I want to ask you something, Kaoru," Luna interrupted.
Kaoru raised her cup before replying, "On what matter, dear?"
Luna was ambiguous at first if asking would benefit her or just gave Kaoru another chance of pressuring her but she asked anyway. "Do you know a girl named Mikan Sakura?"
There was a squint in the eyes of Kaoru Hyuuga. She knew she heard the name somewhere. "Sounds familiar but I cannot quite pinpoint where I have met her. Why?"
"Nothing."
Kaoru started to feel dismayed and at the same time curious. "Make sure it's nothing, Luna. I don't like hearing new names."
Considering Mikan as a threat was an exaggeration, Luna knew that, but she came back for Natsume himself, to fulfill the plans of the Koizumis and the Hyuugas and also to fulfill her personal wish of expressing her feelings to him and he would accept. Anyone who got in the way was not given a chance. Luna had a strong feeling that Mikan played a big part to Natsume's life now. She saw them, Mikan and Natsume, after the walkout. Mikan managed to calm Natsume using a bread and a drink which was so simple but effective. Luna knew the looks on their faces but they also looked very good friends.
"I just think that Natsume treats her differently," Luna stated, shrugging her shoulder.
Kaoru was not happy at all on what she heard. It stirred her, worried her, and planned to look deeper into this concern of Luna. "What do you mean by that? Natsume keeps very few people around him."
Luna realized the adequacy of the statement, nodding. "Let me observe first. I have not seen enough to make assumptions. I just came back and have all the time in the world."
Kaoru entrusted the task to Luna and instructed her to report any important detail which she agreed sincerely. The tea was consumed, the cookies were delicious, and Luna thought that she always hated competitions.
Mikan craved for street food that night and volunteered to buy the ingredients for her bento tomorrow. The cheapest and most complete grocery store was blocks away from their home which happened to be near to the night market style of street food. She rubbed her tummy, her satiety told her to avoid breakfast tomorrow or else her would pop but she knew better. Being hungry all day was a trait of Mikan's belly so in case her bento was not prepared, she already bought takeout food from the night market. She window shopped on the stalls along the road, admiring a few fancy jewelry before heading off to the next store. Mikan did not buy any, satisfied to stare at the merchandise, arguing inside her head if she needed it or not. A few more steps until she stopped by a convenience store and bought ice cream which eased her fulness then finally went home.
Walking long distances had become a norm for Mikan, passing by familiar streets everywhere. She rode that bus to Shirahama but she still opted walking her way from home to school because it had always felt safer. The road, the buildings, a construction site, alley leading to suburban wonderland, Mikan memorized it all as the years went by even though it always changed and stayed the same as opposed to the quiet and serene life she had in Akita. But, Mikan loved Akita and Tokyo with the same level. She crossed the street and passed by one of Tokyo's biggest hospitals when she saw a familiar person with a camera strapped at his neck.
"Oh, night photography? Are you shooting for the stars?" Mikan asked Rui Amane.
Rui was shocked when he saw Mikan outside of school. He thought what she referred to until he realized he still had the camera on his neck. He removed it and placed it carefully on its bag. "There aren't that many stars in Tokyo, Mikan. What are you doing here, by the way?"
Mikan pointed south. "This is my way home. How about you?"
"Assisted a friend during a check-up," Rui answered.
"Oh, is your friend okay?"
"Yes, never been better," Rui replied casually and added, "We filed a complaint against the Student Council for unjust dismissal."
Mikan frowned at the information. "So, I've heard. Do you really have to go that far?"
"They're your friends, I know."
"Yes, they are and they're good people. If you would just ask them, they can help."
Mikan believed on the council's ability to make everything a success because she saw how good their team work and how serious they took their responsibility. Making that letter made the situation more complicated than it already was.
"We already did. Several times at that and it led us nowhere. It's hard when a student council has no mind itself," Rui snarled.
Mikan did not faze from her views, smiling in hope that Rui could understand. "I actually think the opposite because they all have brilliant minds."
Rui refused to listen to Mikan's reasoning. When the Photography Club members sent that letter, they promised to stick with the fight no matter what. It was expected to be scared with the move but Kaname said to give it their all which was enough motivation to push the complaint. They considered it a dirty tactic at first but when they checked the handbook, it was due process.
"We need to enter that competition no matter what that is why we need our club back. Can you tell Mr. Narumi that?" Rui asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"Did you ask your adviser for help?"
"He is actually the one who suggested to file a complaint."
Mikan's eyebrows met, in a state of disbelief. "But that's only instigating internal conflicts within the students."
Rui shook his head and explained, "We're kinda eager here, Mikan."
"What's it about that competition?" Mikan asked suspiciously.
Rui took a while before answering. It was time to part ways. "It's about the money," he answered.
Three more days left but Kaname chose to stay in the club room that afternoon. He felt under the weather since morning but insisted to attend school because how crucial the days were and yet he could not do anything. Feeling weak on his hands, Kaname still arranged the photographs that were just developed and placed it on an album categorically. The club room was always quiet but when they developed photos their voices became higher, energetic, buzzling which showed their excitement and love for what they did. Photos were distributed by year, carefully pasted on albums and some extraordinary enough that it made as a photobook. Wooden shelves surrounded the room with at least five layers each, a small table by the window usually seated by the club leader and three single cushioned seats surrounded a round table made of glass occupied mostly by members, clients, or their chosen models.
Was everything just for this to be gone? Kaname was distraught at the thought, only frowned upon remembering all the memories he gained in his three years here. Back then everything was so lively but now it was dying. He stared at the framed picture on the desk and found no bitterness in his heart, only happiness. Someone opened the door after three knocks, signaling Kaname to return to his calm demeanor. He greeted the visitor with a smile.
"Oh, hey Mikan-chan. What brings you here?"
"Are you okay?" Mikan asked when she noticed how weary Kaname looked.
"Yes, never been better," he answered which sounded familiar in Mikan's ears, "So, how can I help you?"
Mikan wanted to talk about the ordeal with the student council but when she saw Kaname's stated, she decided to ask for something else.
"Can you teach me how to properly use the camera?" Mikan asked with a cheerful smile.
"Sure!" Kaname replied instantly.
Kaname chose the parking lot as their first location, using the meter to find where was the best light. It was almost sunset so the light was softening. He put on a 35mm lens and took test shots, adjusting the aperture and shutter speed to achieve an underexposed look. He wanted to leave the technicalities and explained the basics first. Mikan stood behind him, watching his every move, amazed by his posture, arm movements. When Kaname already took shots to his liking, he started his lecture with Mikan.
"This is the usual DSLR cameras you can see in the market today. It is good to know the four important main points of photography and those are iSo, aperture, shutter speed, and light. These are all the elements that can bring out the story of your pictures but you can have all these, even the best cameras and equipment, but you must first train your eye so you can better compose your photos."
Mikan felt a little overwhelmed with the terms Kaname used but she still nodded. "So, one click actually takes a lot of strategy and thought."
"Definitely."
They walked around the parking lot, taking test shots. Sometimes, Kaname asked her to make a pose which she was embarrassed to do but the way he directed her movements like an expert made her feel comfortable in the long run. Mikan was asked to smile, gazed blankly, looked in the camera, did hand poses, gave fierce looks while explaining the purpose of each movement. Kaname explained the rule of thirds, stressing that composure and blending of light were key factors of a beautiful image. The terms Kaname used earlier were demonstrated to Mikan after every shot and how one value tweaked made a lot of difference. Mikan held the camera in her hands, thought that it was lighter than it looked. She first shot using the screen but Kaname said to train her eyes using the viewfinder. He took seriously this lessons with Mikan.
"What's your forte, Kaname?" Mikan asked.
"I like taking portraits especially during autumn," Kaname replied.
"Why that particular season?" Mikan asked.
Kaname put down his camera, gazing at the trees with green leaves, imagining autumn. "Don't you just love how the color looks so warm yet the weather becomes colder. One of the many paradoxes of life."
"How did you and Captain Himura become friends?"
"I met Daichi at the hospital. He was getting his sprain checked that time, maybe almost ten years ago, we were still in elementary but not the same school. I accidentally mistook his ordered medications from mine and the rest is history."
Kaname laughed at the memory. Daichi looked so serious back then, hating himself for acquiring an injury in the middle of the season so his mind was preoccupied of feeling worthless. Kaname was next in line on getting new medications and their names were called. He was almost at the lobby when he checked his bottle of pain reliever turning out to be of Daichi Himura's. Since Kaname was good in recognizing faces, he ran for Daichi who was lining up for x-ray that time and they finally switched medications.
"He cares for you a lot," Mikan said, smiling upon being aware of their history.
Kaname giggled a little. "Daichi won't be Daichi if he's not like that. So, want to take more shots in a different location?"
"Yes, please!" Mikan cheered.
They wrapped up their impromptu photoshoot at around six with Mikan feeling exhausted both physically and mentally. She sent a text to Narumi informing of that she would be late for dinner. Mikan was already on the stairs when she saw Natsume, hands on his pocket, his face poker. Mikan lightened up when she saw him, cannot wait to tell him the new things she learned today and with that she ran to him, excited. He always popped out of nowhere which Mikan thought of amazing, as if he knew exactly where to find her.
"Natsume," Mikan greeted.
"Is it you?" Natsume spat.
Mikan was taken aback by the attitude, noticing how foul was Natsume's mood. The way he talked implied that she did something not to his liking. She already took a defensive stance, reviewing what she did that made him like this.
"Me? What are you talking about?" Mikan asked.
"Is it you who told Mr. Narumi for us to take a deeper look in this Photography Club incident?" Natsume accused.
Mikan stuttered for a while, struggling what to reply. "I only asked him to help if he could," she replied warily, seeing how aggravated Natsume was.
"Thus, involving all of us."
"Why are you so angry?" Mikan was nervous to hear what he had to say next.
"Because you're crossing the line again!" Natsume yelled at her face.
Mikan choked from her tears. "Don't yell at me," she managed to say.
Natsume lingered in his anger, failing to see the reaction of Mikan. "Who are you to control our decisions and make us look like we did this wrong?" His voice rose on every word.
"No one is saying you're wrong," Mikan retorted, already calm on her nerves, fought back her tears.
"Yet you talked to your father, used your daughterly charms to reopen this case."
Mikan scoffed, her eyes widened in disbelief that this fight happened. "As if it was closed! They still have days to defend their right, Natsume."
"What are you? You're not even in the Student Council. You are just under the External Affairs and you have the nerve to interfere with everyone here. Don't act like a hero, Mikan."
Natsume said words alike to those before but it never hurt like this due to the fact that they did not know each other that well before but now it stung her heart like a blade dragging on every ventricle. She thought he understood her side but how wrong that turned out to be. Mikan wallowed in frustration, listening to Natsume's ranting, his words stabbed her repeatedly. It was late when she noticed her tears finally fell. She watched him yell at her, stressing that she was wrong but Mikan refused to accept it. Mikan signalled him to stop from talking and finally said her piece.
"Ah, I get it, why you are so angry. It's probably because of your mother, right? She is the one who put Luna in this so if everybody finds out that your mother used her influence to sponsor a project using funds specific for a certain club, I'm sure that would cause an issue," Mikan said out of anger, "Well, rich people like you are always prone to do that, thinking you have the power just because you have the money. That sure disgusts me! I'm so sorry for ruining your reputation because who am I? I am not Student Council! I'm sorry for being so concerned because you guys cannot see what people outside can! I am so sorry for being unsupportive of your decisions because I feel like this is not you, that you should be the one defending them and not prosecuting them!" She caught her breath after those statements.
Natsume could not find words to debate her testimonial with because they shouted the truth. That was the only moment when Natsume realized what he had done. He looked at the crying Mikan then looked at his sweating palms before making a fist. Good thing no one was around who witnessed that fight. Mikan moaned her cries, hating Natsume from her core at the moment. She did not deserve his words and if it were true, he could have said it in a manner that made her understand his side but he went ballistic to her all of a sudden. Natsume only listened to her cries, wanting to take back everything he said but his pride could not take it.
"Do you have more to say?" was Natsume's comeback.
Mikan wiped her tears, looked fiercely at him. "Don't you dare talk to me again if you haven't realized anything!"
Koko stood at the side holding his cue stick. Twenty minutes since the game started and he had yet to hit a ball. He watched Natsume aced the game but his worries reached beyond the game. Natsume demanded to meet him, together with Ruka, in the bistro and when Natsume did that, they already knew what it meant. Playing pool meant them watching Natsume hit all nine balls because his innate talent intensified during his bad days. Koko thought as he sipped his milkshake what happened this time around. It had been months since the last time they met like this.
"What is this devilish aura?" Koko asked, nudging Ruka who was busy with his root beer, "I almost forgot the last time I felt this fear."
"Something happened," Ruka concluded, his face stern.
"Isn't it always when he offers to play pool, something already happened?" Koko stated, rolling his eyes and when the last of the balls were pocketed, he stomped his cue stick and wailed, "No! He didn't even give me a chance!"
Natsume gazed intently at Ruka, "Ruka, you're up."
Ruka hated it when Natsume acted like a problematic being who refused to tell what bothered him. "I wanna know if any of this is about Luna or something your mother did," Ruka inquired. Those were the two reasons that immediately entered his mind.
"I could care less," Natsume said in venom.
"Great! We have a conversation," Ruka faked enthusiasm then turned firm again, "Seriously, Natsume, what's up?"
Natsume saw that the game he was about to play would be pointless. After giving the table a last look, he rested the cue stick on the stand and announced, "I'm bored. I want to go home."
No explanations. No reasons. Natsume just went home. Koko's jaw dropped, confused with Natsume's unsound actions. It was more than a misunderstanding, surely. Ruka worried about Natsume's welfare. The thing about the Photography Club was the root cause of all this, Ruka thought. Natsume became indifferent after that meeting with Mr. Narumi. He was irreconcilable and wanted to push the council's decision of proceeding with the dismissal but the majority wanted the opposite thing. Natsume was cooperative even when decisions was not to his taste so something more happened for him to act this way. Which reminded Ruka, where was Mikan?
"And he's gone. So, who's gonna pay for all of this?" Koko cried.
"Hey, Koko darling."
Koko looked up to confirm if it was really his savior who came. "Sumireeee! Natsume made me quiver in fear again. He hit all nine balls with ease, his face like a demon, and all I did was sit in this stupid stool!" he whine and hugged Sumire.
Sumire pushed Koko's head using her finger. "Ugh, you're such a whiner! Get off me."
"What's the matter, Hotaru?" Ruka asked, knowing that they did not come here to relax.
Hotaru raised her eyebrows on the set up she saw. Drinks half full on the table, cue sticks on the boys' hands, the pool table looked it was just played on. "This is no time to play pool, Ruka. Kaname Sono and the others want an answer."
Ruka sighed. "I know but Natsume—ugh."
Hotaru crossed her arms, leaning on the counter. "Mr. Narumi wants us to help them maintain their club status. The order is indeed shady only to find out it was from Kaoru Hyuuga. I've asked the principal directly who could be working in the shadows. His refusal to answer was stubborn at first but he knew better than to mess with me."
Ruka gulped with that statement.
"Practically owning the school does have its own merits," Sumire commented.
Koko felt pumped because they finally knew their loophole. "We can fight with this," he stated.
"Yes and also lose the council in the process," Sumire added.
It was the truth. They had such good working relationship with the higher ups and it would be stupid to break that. Kaoru Hyuuga was a far credible opponent than she looked. They were sure that Kaoru had no grudges on photography and the club itself but once she saw an unproductive sector of the school, prepare for the wraths she could inflict. On minor things, Kaoru did not want to stress herself but since she gained something by injecting Luna into the school, she would see this until the end. Also, with a few words from her, the fate of the student council could be in ruins.
"What do you suggest?" Koko asked, distressed.
Hotaru bit her lips, closing her eyes. "I think it's time to use that friendship Koizumi likes to brag about irritatingly."
"Talking to her is the more peaceful way. I'm sure Aunt Kaoru won't say no if it is Luna herself who will ask," Ruka positively added.
Koko agreed with the plan. "Okay, let's go with that. But, we need Natsume."
"Where is he, by the way?" Sumire asked out of the blue.
Natsume found himself driving to his father's place. He lost his mind already. One look from his father and Ioran would instantly detect that something was up but Natsume's feet led him to his house. Talking to his friends only made Natsume remember that he was wrong, seeing Kaoru was futile, talking to Luna was already out of the question. When Natsume reached the end, he came to his father. Ioran welcomed him without questions but that did not last for long. He offered Natsume a book to read, a movie to watch, and a game to play. They settled on the PSP. The rays from the giant television screen reflected on Natsume's face, his fingers pushed the buttons in swift motions. Natsume liked that his attention was focused on the game completely, forgetting the intention he had for coming in his father's house.
Ioran sat on the carpeted floor of the game room and nudged his son, "More nachos?" he offered then ate some for himself.
Natsume paused the game and took the chips. "You have so much junk for a food enthusiast."
Ioran smirked at his son's remark. Natsume was always his biggest critic. "Well, I have to reserve some for moments like this. Chips and junk food do make you forget your anxieties in life. They fire up your brain," Ioran explained, "Oh, you won!" he exclaimed.
"Ain't that fun?" Natsume said in sarcasm.
"As if you could lose when you're angry. You are one of those unusual people I know who only gets better when they're not in the mood. So, what's the matter this time?" Ioran finally asked.
"I had a fight," Natsume answered truthfully. He knew better than to fool his father anyways.
"With whom?"
The scene on the stairs yesterday replayed on Natsume's mind. "Mikan. Remember her?"
Ioran smiled. Mikan was the girl Natsume brought for dinner on his birthday. "I could never forget her. What did you fight about? What movie to see?" he joked, implying that they must be dating.
Natsume rolled his eyes, thinking if his decision to come here was correct. "Kaoru used her status to sponsor Luna's research study. Since it's the middle of the school year, Alice Academy cannot release funds that aren't within the passed budget proposal, so Kaoru dissolved a club to use their funds instead."
"That's terrible."
"Mikan was asked to help this club and talked to her father, who happened to be our adviser, to negotiate the case. It's a dying club anyways so what's the point? I told her that she doesn't have the right to meddle with us and she accused me of using money to step on people," Natsume continued.
Ioran examined every information Natsume gave him. The mention of Kaoru and Luna in one sentence indicated that his estranged wife was already on the move. Ioran prepared for this very day to come. He rearranged the details in his mind while Natsume waited for him to say something. Ioran raised a finger. "For the record, that's the longest you've talked to me, Natsume."
Natsume pushed his father in the arms. "Would you be serious?" he remarked angrily.
Ioran giggled for a while before saying, "Both of you have a point. You only said the truth but the way you both said it to each other is the reason why you are hurting now."
"Don't make me sound like a sissy." Natsume glared at his father, his expression indicated that he detested the implication.
"You could have just say sorry and be done with it," Ioran nonchalantly suggested.
Natsume feared that Ioran did not get his point. He stood up to lay on the couch, his head aching with how his father handling this in jest. "She said not to talk to her until I realize something. What is even there to realize? I got everything figured out already."
"Why is she fighting so hard for the club's side?" Ioran asked in curiosity.
"Because she's stupid and thinks she can solve everybody's problems."
Ioran shook his head, afraid that Natsume was clouded by his pride. He then stood up and kicked the couch he laid on which made annoyed Natsume. "No, Natsume, because she found something special about that club."
"All that club planned for this year was to join a competition this November. What's so special about that?"
"Which brings me to ask, why? Why that competition only when there's tons of it?" Ioran divulged in hope that Natsume realized what he missed to ask himself. He waited for his son's reply but Natsume only stared at him, obvious on his face that he started to view the situation in a different perspective and with that Ioran gave a satisfied smile, "Now, you're starting to think like Mikan."
Natsume looked away. "Sometimes, I hate you."
Ioran took the empty plate of nachos. Chips really did pump brains to do more thinking. "Thank you. More chips?" he asked with a smile
Mikan felt like her soul separated from his earthly body. She came to school without even paying attention to her surroundings and she even stared at her Math exam result with cold eyes which was not her common reaction. Mikan felt down after that fight with Natsume. She did not like it when someone was angry at her. Mikan liked English but her mind drifted somewhere else. Yuu read a short story in front of the class and all she could do was stare at the window, both of her hands under her chin. She sighed the third time that day and realized that she doodled on the page of her notebook where she was supposed to jot down unfamiliar words from Yuu's reading. Natsume would not react that way without reason but if he would like to play mad whenever his family was involved then that was the problem. Mikan defended her reasons to herself. It was not her intention to manipulate the council through her father. That was absurd thinking. She just wanted to help just like she did always. Three more days left before the club was officially dismissed and no hope was in sight. Time was of the essence.
The last class of the day ended and Mikan ran to the club room expecting to see Kaname. Yuu asked her where she was hurrying too but failed to answer. Less than two days, the day was almost over but nothing was settled yet. Mikan opened the door, smiled when she saw the person she was looking for.
"Kaname-senpai, can I talk to you?" Mikan asked in between pants.
Kaname had his one hand on the wall while the other on his head. He smiled upon seeing Mikan and struggled his way to a more stable handle. "Can you wait a second, Mikan-chan?"
Mikan quickly went to him. "Are you alright? You look pale. You're sweating hard, too."
"Yeah, just a minute," Kaname replied before finally passing out.
"Kaname-senpai!" Mikan yelled as she managed to caught him on time but his weight dumped on her as they both fell into the ground. Mikan felt alarmed. She examined Kaname's appearance and breathing and yelled, "Can you hear me? What happened? What should I do? Kaname-senpai? Help! Somebody please help!" she kept on repeating, dragging Kaname at least up to the door.
Mikan checked if Kaname was still conscious, asking him if he could stand and helped her to drag their weights but no response. She then put all her force on her arms and knees and managed to carry Kaname's limp body. Mikan chose to stay calm because panicking led them nowhere. She reached for the door and shouted for help, fortunately a group of students was there and helped her out. She asked them to call an ambulance. The next thing she knew they were on the emergency room. They were greeted by people wearing white upon getting off the ambulance. The ride to the hospital made her nauseous because of the speed and several sudden turns but she fought that. Mikan even disregarded her fear in that hour and gathered her courage to ride the ambulance. Kaname was transferred to a stretcher and immediately brought inside. A quick assessment was done to him first by the nurse and then the doctor. Mikan saw he was put on oxygen. She barely heard what they thought of Kaname's condition, feeling whirlwind of emotions being in that room.
The doctor explained what happened to her and asked to call his nearest relative but she admitted having no contact with them. Kaname had to be admitted. Mikan noticed that the doctor referred Kaname by his first name. Mikan sat silently at the waiting area, hoping to receive any update from the staff. The hospital managed to contact Kaname's relatives which was a big relief for Mikan and now they were just waiting for him to be transferred to a room.
"Mikan! Where's Kaname?" Rui asked, his voice trembling.
Mikan almost cried when she saw a familiar person. "They put him on fluids and gave medications for his fever. They said he had nonstop episodes of nausea and vomiting. He's resting now."
"Thank God you're there to be the first responder." Rui sincerely thanked her, almost choking out when he stated it.
"When I brought him here, the nurses and doctors recognized him immediately. Does this happen often?" Mikan asked.
Rui nodded unconsciously. "You could say that."
"Is he sick?"
Rui frowned even more when he heard the questions. He did not know Mikan that well but he owed it to her to explain. "He usually is the weakest a day after chemotherapy," Rui explained.
Mikan stepped back, feeing weak on her knees as she looked from Rui to Kaname. "Oh. It all made sense now."
End of Chapter
Thank you so much for your detailed insights from the last chapter. I really love it when readers write what they really thought about the chapter and with that it motivated me to write the next one so quickly and thank God the ideas are flowing in my head smoothly. The path this story is heading to is not my original plan but I guess one can change her mind while writing and after examining the consequences for each scenario. So, what can you say about this one? See you next time!