Chapter 21: Go for the Honor Rolls!
--
"It has been a lot of years since I have felt the warmth of a family's love. I have forgotten how it felt to have a family. My family was taken away from me," he said as he closed his crimson eyes. The brunette sadly looked at him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said.
--
It was already December, and the winter aura of the academy has become whiter and colder. It was a Friday. The students, one by one, went towards their learning institution. One of them, was the brunette. She was carrying the ebony feline in her arms. Along with her, was the inventor and the Animal-boy. They conversed as they approached the High School building.
Mikan: I can't wait for Christmas. I'm excited to have a lot of presents this year. I wonder what I'm going to get this year.
Hotaru: You call the inexpensive junk you receive every Christmas gifts? I'd rather travel around the world in my new improved ducky scooter.
Ruka: (sweatdropping.) I sometimes think you're overeacting, Imai.
Hotaru: I'm not overeacting. I'm just telling the truth. I always receive stuffed toys every year. What am I going to do with stuffed toys? Stare at them the whole day like a total moron?
Ruka: If you don't like your gifts, then just give them to someone who wants them.
Hotaru: I do. However, I do not give them my stuffed toys. I sell them, so I can earn money.
Mikan: (sweatdropping.) Hotaru, you're such a meanie.
They continued walking until they reached the school building. Together, they passed through the school corridors. Finally, they arrived at their classroom. They opened the door and found their classmates decorating the classroom with Christmas decorations. The brunette opened her mouth in awe. She hasn't seen so many decorations since her first Christmas in the academy. She approached Nonoko and Anna.
Mikan: Wow! Nonoko-chan. Anna-chan. They're so beautiful!
Nonoko: Arigato, Mikan-chan. We just bought them yesterday afternoon.
Anna: Hai. When we brought these decorations this morning, almost all of our classmates volunteered to help us decorate the classroom.
Mikan: Can I help?
Nonoko and Anna: Sure!
The brunette placed little Sakura on a chair and climbed on one of the tables and placed a wreath on the wall. She tried to position the wreath until it was on its most attractive position. She tried to place the wreath higher, but she lost her balance and fell from the table. She closed her eyes and screamed in fright. She expected to fall on her back and lose consciousness. However, she felt that she landed in someone's arms. She opened her eyes and saw those familiar aquamarine eyes looking gently at her. Of course, it was Ruka. He showed his most gentle smile which revealed the small dimple on his cheek (A/N: Oh, I'm melting!). He put the brunette down on her feet and patted her on the head.
Ruka: Be careful, next time, okay?
Mikan: (blushing.) H-hai!
The blond-haired teen looked at the chair beside him. And on that chair sat the nullifier's pet, Sakura. The feline glared at him, and he felt a chill flow through his spine. He then looked at the back of the room where he saw the notorious Hyuuga Natsume sitting looking boringly at them. He smiled at the firecaster and the latter just revealed a small smirk. After a few minutes of decorating, the school bell has rung. The students ceased their activity and settled on their seats and waited for their teacher. After a few seconds, the silhouette of a certain person appeared through the glass on the door. The doorknob turned and entered the auburn-haired biology teacher, Misaki-sensei.
Misaki: Ohayo, minna.
Class except Natsume: (standing.) Ohayo, sensei.
Misaki: You may take your seats.
Class: Arigato, sensei.
Misaki: Okay, get your biology books and turn them to page 104. We have to speed up because your exams will commence next week.
The class murmured objections about the schedule of the exams. They didn't know that the exams will start next week.
Yuu: Sensei. Jinno-sensei didn't tell us about the exams.
Misaki: Really? But, why?
Yuu: I don't know, Sensei.
Misaki: He's supposed to tell it to you last week. Jinno, what's wrong with you?
He took a piece of chalk from his chalk box and began to write words on the blackboard. He wrote the words for a few seconds and then faced the class.
Misaki: Well, if Jinno didn't tell you, I will be the one to tell you then. As you know, the exams held every December are scheduled every second week of the month. On the first day of exams, your exams will be English and Math. On the second day, History and Biology. On the third day, will be your Japanese grammar exams.
The class took out their notebooks and began to copy the schedule of exams. Then, the teacher began to write on the blackboard again. After he wrote the words, he faced the class again.
Misaki: Here are the pointers of your exams in Biology. First...
As he was speaking, a certain brunette began to talk to the ebony cat on her desk.
Mikan: (whispering.) It's exams again? I hate exams - especially Math. I always have low grades in Math. What am I going to do? I really want to see Grandpa, again. What am I going to do Sakura? I know I don't have any chances to belong in the honor list.
Sakura: Meow.
Mikan: (whispering.) You're right! I need a tutor. Good job, Sakura.
Sakura: (sweatdropping.) Meow?
Mikan: (looking at the window.) Don't worry, Grandpa. I'm going back.
Misaki: Sakura Mikan. Are you listening to me?
Mikan: (surprised.) Hai, Sensei.
Misaki: Good. Now, where were we? Oh, yes. You have to...
--
Ruka: Y-you want me to tutor you?
Mikan: Yes, Ruka-pyon. I really need to study hard. I want to belong to the honor rolls. I need you to help me.
Ruka: (bowing his head.) I c-can't.
Mikan: Why not?
Ruka: First of all, I'm not that smart. Second, I'm not good at tutoring. Third, I have some appointments in the barn.
Mikan: (disappointed.) I see. I understand. Well, thanks.
Ruka: (holding her hand.) Gomene, Sakura-san.
Mikan: It's okay. I understand.
The brunette, along with Sakura, walked away from the animal-boy and started to search for Mikan's tutor. The brunette pondered long and hard on to whom she will go. She wanted Yuu (A/N: Here's Yuu's name again. Isn't his name so funny?) to tutor her. However, he was already tutoring Nonoko-chan. She then remembered Hotaru. She went in front of the inventor's room and knocked on her door. The door opened and the raven-haired seventeen-year old appeared.
Hotaru: I know what you're going to ask me. My answer is no.
Mikan: (creating a puppy dog pout.) But, Hotaru. I really need your help.
Hotaru: I am in the middle of a very difficult upgrading of my BakaGun. I need to concentrate on making this.
Mikan: But, Hotaru.
Hotaru: No buts, Mikan. Besides, you have Nogi to help you.
Mikan: He's in the middle of his appointment in the barn.
Hotaru: Iinchou.
Mikan: He's tutoring Nonoko-chan.
Hotaru: Well, it leads you to no choice, but to the person you despise.
The nullifier thought long and hard on to whom the inventor was referring. Then, the image of a certain ebony-haired firecaster appeared in her thoughts. Her eyes widened and began to scream in protest.
Mikan: (waterfalls of tears coming out of her eyes.) NO, HOTARU! ANYONE BUT HIM!
Hotaru: I'm sorry. But, there is no other person left for you. And besides, he's smarter than me. You have to go to him. You don't know what will happen unless you try to go to him. Now scram before I test this new improved BakaGun Extreme on you.
Mikan: Okay, fine.
The inventor closed her door leaving the brunette and the feline standing in front of it. Mikan sighed in disappointment and went towards the firecaster's room. She gulped and knocked on his door. However, there was no answer. She knocked again, as expected, no answer. She knocked for the third time. Again, no answer. Her hopes of belonging in the honor rolls shattered. Tears flowed from her eyes and she commenced walking. She hugged the cat in her arms tight and began to sob.
Mikan: (wiping her tears off her eyes.) Sakura. What am I going to do? I can't see Natsume anywhere! How can I belong in the honor rolls if I can't make my grades high?
She continued walking until they reached outside the dormitory. They continued walking until they arrived at the school building. They passed through the corridors of the building. However, there was still no sign of the raven-haired, crimson-eyed pervert named Hyuuga Natsume. She ascended the stairs and hoped that she will see him. However, she only found doors, plants, and students in detention. She went up the stairs again. She was already on the third floor. A huge room was found there. It was no other than the library. She sighed in hopelessness because that room was the last room the firecaster would go to.
Mikan: It's hopeless. I'll never get that Honor Student Award.
The ebony feline in her arms then jumped off her. The cat approached the library door and looked at the nullifier. Sakura was making gestures that they should go inside the library. Mikan went to her and placed her in her arms. The brunette opened the door and placed her eyes on the figure she found as she entered the room. It was no other than the notorious Natsume. The firecaster, on the other hand, ignored the brunette and continued on studying his lessons. (A/N: He's studying his lessons. That's interesting. Why is he studying anyway?) Mikan approached him and sat on the chair situated on his right. She placed the cat on the table. Then, she looked happily at him.
Mikan: Finally. I found you.
Natsume: (reading his English book.) What are you doing here?
Mikan: I was hoping that you would tutor me.
Natsume: Can't you see I'm busy?
Mikan: Come on, Natsume. Please. I really need to get the Honor Student Award.
Natsume: Why are you aiming for that?
Mikan: I really need to see Grandpa. It's almost six years since I have seen him. He needs me.
Natsume: Why should I care?
Mikan: Please, Natsume.
Natsume: No.
Mikan: (tears forming in her eyes.) You just don't understand because you don't have a family. No one is there to love you. That's why you're so cold and unreasonable. I hate you.
She turned her back at him and began to sob bitterly. Natsume just stared at her. He hated to see her cry. Moreover, the words that she said to him really stabbed him in the heart. He sighed guiltily and began to speak.
Natsume: Who is that person you call "Grandpa"? Why do you always talk about him?
Mikan: He's my grandfather. He was my only family when my parents went away. He was the one who took care of me since I was an infant until I became ten. It has been years since I have seen him and I really miss him. I never had a father, nor a mother beside me. But, he was always there for me. That's why I can't live another year not seeing him.
Natsume: So, you'll do anything just to see him?
Mikan: Yes.
Natsume: (looking down.) How does it feel to have someone who takes care of you?
Mikan: Why are you asking that? Don't you have a family or something?
The firecaster stayed silent and Mikan then realized that she might have said something that hurt him.
Mikan: I'm sorry. Was there something I said?
Natsume: No.
Mikan: Then, why did you become silent all of a sudden? What's wrong? Come on. You can tell me.
Natsume sighed and closed his book. He looked at the brunette with sad eyes. The latter noticed it and realized that he was already becoming serious.
Natsume: (closing his eyes.) It has been a lot of years since I have felt the warmth of a family's love. I have forgotten how it felt to have a family. My family was taken away from me.
The brunette sadly looked at him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
Mikan: I'm sorry.
The couple just looked at each other's eyes. They both knew that they found someone that could understand them more than anybody. They both knew how it felt to be abandoned. They both knew how it felt to need someone who isn't there for them. They stared at each other for a few minutes and ceased when they heard Sakura meow.
Natsume: (opening his math book.) Okay. We're going to start on Lesson 1: Solving for the Total Number of Diagonals of a Polygon.
Mikan: You're going to tutor me?
Natsume: What do you think am I doing?
The auburn-haired sixteen-year-old embraced him tight and tears began to roll down her face. A smile of intense happiness was engraved on her face. Natsume, on the other hand, just sat motionless. He was shocked. He then looked at the feline in front of him. Sakura was smiling at him.
Mikan: (hugging Natsume tight - and I mean very tight.) Thank you, Natsume! I knew you could understand! Thank you, very much.
Natsume: (coughing.) Fine... Fine... Now get off of me or I'll suffocate to death and not tutor you.
Mikan: (releasing herself from him.) Gomene.
The firecaster then started to scan the pages of the book. When he found the appropriate page for their lesson, he then started to explain the lesson to her. The brunette was listening attentively at him. She admired the effective way of his teaching. She was so happy that he gave her a chance to fulfill her dream in meeting with her grandfather. She smiled as he explained to her the lesson.
Natsume: Am I clear?
Mikan: Yes.
Natsume: All right. I'm going to give you a little seatwork. Then, let's proceed to Lesson 2: Finding the Number of Sides Given the Total Number of Angles.
Mikan: Natsume, if I'll get the award and go home, will you agree that I'll bring you with me? Grandpa is a nice person, don't worry. I'll let you know how it feels to have a family. You can act as my brother for one week. That is, if you agree.
Natsume: I'll think about it.
--
It was another day in the academy. Well, in fact, it was already the first day of the examinations. A certain raven-haired lavender-eyed teenager went out of her room. She carefully memorized tons of vocabularies as she held a little book in her right hand. She started her journey. She passed along the corridors of the dormitory. She passed in front of Nonoko's room. Then, Anna's. Then, Koko's. Then, Yuu's. Then, Ruka's. When she arrived at that certain point, which was Ruka's room, she stopped for a moment and then looked at his special star door. Then, she continued her journey. She passed by Sumire's room. Then, Kitsunume's (A/N: Mochu is not his real name. I found it in Wikipedia. He has the Flying Alice.). Then, Shoudu's (A/N: I don't know if it really is his name. My sisters said that they found it in the anime. He has the - what do you call that? - levitation... thingy... alice. Well, on with the story.). Then, the firecaster's special star room. Finally, she arrived in front of the nullifier's room. She then saw a certain blond-haired teen knocking on her bestfriend's door. It was no other that the Animal-boy himself - Nogi Ruka. She then approached him and touched his shoulder. Ruka jerked in shock.
Hotaru: Hold your horses. I'm not gonna eat you.
Ruka: (shocked.) Imai.. You surprised me.
Hotaru: I just wanted to ask why you're in front of Mikan's door.
Ruka: Oh. I just wanted to fetch her in order for her not to be late. I've been knocking on her door for many times already and she hasn't opened her door yet. Maybe she's sick.
Hotaru: (opening the door.) Let me see.
She turned the knob and opened the door. There they saw an empty room. The nullifier wasn't present - not even the cat was there.
Hotaru: Yup. Just I had expected.
Ruka: What? Why isn't she here?
Hotaru: What do you expect? It's the exams. She always wakes up early so she would ask the help of our classmates in teaching her the lessons - especially Math.
Ruka: Well, then. Let's go.
The couple started their journey and finally arrived at the school building. The building was silent than usual. The students were busy looking at their books and biting their pens just to get satisfactory scores in the exams. They passed by each classroom where they saw the students inside asking help from the smartest students or memorizing the vocabularies they learned from their ever dearest Narumi-sensei. Finally, they arrived at their classroom. The same sight was seen with their classmates. However, all of them were seen pushing and shoving towards an unseen person. The mysterious person was covered by the class's bodies. They were all shouting questions at the person. The inventor and her companion went nearer to the sight and they saw a certain auburn-haired girl, with the cat beside her, teaching her fellow classmates in their lessons - mainly in mathematics. The inventor was shocked of what she saw, and so was the animal-boy. The brunette's chocolate eyes went towards Hotaru and she showed her bestfriend the widest grin of her life.
Mikan: Ohayo, Hotaru! Oh, I see you're with Ruka-pyon. Ohayo, Ruka-pyon!
Hotaru: (going nearer to Mikan.) Mikan, I can see that you've studied hard.
Mikan: Yup. I did so. Man. Being smart is fun, but a little tiresome. I can't be able mingle with you guys. Koko's asking for the solution for the problem I gave him.
Hotaru: Who tutored you?
Mikan: Your suggestion. Who else? Nobody was available that time I needed some tutoring.
Hotaru: He agreed? But, how?
Mikan: Well, I kind of insulted him. Maybe there was something I said that made him tutor me. I also said that I really needed to see Grandpa.
Ruka: (going nearer to the two girls.) Who are you talking about?
Then, everybody's attention came to the newcomer of the classroom. A warm aura entered the classroom as he set foot in it. Silence filled the air. It was no other than the firecaster himself, Hyuuga Natsume. Hotaru approached the ebony-haired teen and the Animal-boy just looked at them in curiosity. The inventor stopped in front of Natsume and revealed a small smile.
Hotaru: Arigato, Hyuuga-kun.
Natsume: For what?
Hotaru: For helping Mikan reach her dream of seeing her grandfather.
Natsume: Oh, that. I didn't want to do it. She was annoying. I wanted her to stop annoying me. But, she won't stop unless I tutored her. So, I agreed.
Hotaru: Whatever you say, Hyuuga-kun. You know, Mikan has been asking for my tutoring for many years now. But, I never tutored her even for a single hour. I wanted to help her go home to her grandfather. But, I was busy that I was unable to help her. Now, because of your help. I think she's going to reach her dream. And I would like to thank you for that. Again, arigato gozaimasu.
Natsume: Whatever.
Ruka just looked at the raven-haired couple talking. He felt his heart beating in an intense speed. He felt his temperature go high. He was becoming dizzy and everything around him became confusing. He then didn't know that his feet were bringing him to the couple. As the inventor and the firecaster where conversing, he suddenly went beside Hotaru and revealed a smile towards Natsume.
Ruka: Hey, guys! What are you doing here?
Hotaru: As you can see, Nogi. It is obvious that we were having a conversation.
Ruka: Oh, really? I'm sorry I interrupted you both.
Natsume then turned his back towards him and Hotaru. Shoudu called the firecaster and told him to help them answer the problems the nullifier prepared for them. Then, the day continued.
--
Three days has passed and they finally finished their exams. It was a rest day for the students and they stayed in their dormitories. In one part of the dormitory, Mikan was sobbing her eyes out. If you are asking for what reason Mikan is crying for, she thought that she had A mistake in mathematics. (A/N: I capitalized "a" in the last sentence because what I meant was Mikan had one mistake.) Her closest friends came to her room and comforted her. However, the nullifier still continued crying.
Nonoko: Come on, Mikan-chan. Don't cry. How bad can it be?
Yuu: Yeah. It's only one mistake.
Mikan: (somewhat frustrated and patting Sakura.) ONE MISTAKE? ONE MISTAKE? OF COURSE, I WILL WORRY ABOUT THAT ONE MISTAKE. UNLIKE YOU, JIN-JIN HATES ME! MAYBE HE WILL DEDUCT TONS OF POINTS FROM MY TOTAL SCORE USING THAT ONE MISTAKE.
Anna: (brushing Mikan's hair.) Mikan-chan, that's impossible for him to do that. He isn't that a bad guy.
Mikan: WELL, HE IS TO ME.
Then, someone flew inside Mikan's room. It was no other than Kitsunume. The people inside the nullifier's room just looked at him with shock for they didn't know the reason why he was there.
Hotaru: Oi, Kitsunume. What are you doing here?
Kitsunume: I have some bad news and two good news.
Hotaru: Well, let's start with the bad news. What is it?
Kitsunume: The bad news is, I just got hit with a dodgeball, and it hurts! (A/N: Uhh.. That's it?)
Yuu: And the good news?
Kitsunume: All of us passed the exams!
Nonoko: What's the second good news?
Kitsunume: I passed the exams. (A/N: Take note. "I" there was emphasized when he said that. He's such a selfish guy.)
Anna: Okay. How did you know all this?
Kitsunume: Well, Koko and I were strolling around the school. Koko was trying his new improved mind-reading technique which enables him to read other people's minds for yards away. It was so cool. He even read...
Yuu: Just, go straight to the point, Kitsunume.
Kitsunume: Oh, yeah. Sorry. Well, anyway. While we were strolling around the school, Koko tried reading Jinno's mind. He was saying that he finished posting the list of the passers of the exams. So, because I was curious, I flew towards the building and sought for the list. The list is found in front of our classroom. There I saw our names. We all passed. Because of too much excitement, I zoomed towards here.
Anna: And Koko?
Kitsunume: Uh oh.
Then, a certain teen went inside Mikan's room with angry eyes. It was odd because this teen's face usually has a smile plastered on his face. It was no other than Koko.
Koko: Hey, Kitsunume! Why did you leave me? I have been waiting for you for fifteen minutes. If I hadn't used my mind-reading technique, I would never have found out you were here.
Kitsunume: Gomene, Koko. I was too excited to tell the news to everybody. We passed!
Koko: (smiling.) Really? Wow! I didn't even cheat!
Then, the friends went out of the room and told the others about the results. Everybody went out of their rooms and ran towards the school building and towards their classroom. There, they found the list of the passers of the exams. Their grades were high. Most of them shouted in happiness. The teachers went out of the faculty room and found the students looking at the results. The mentors revealed smiles of congratulations to the students of a job well done. Then, a certain auburn-haired teen, holding her cat, went towards the list of the passers of the mathematics exams first. She sought for her name. The list was in a descending order - which meant that the highest scorers were found on top and the lowest scorers were found at the bottom. She sought for her name at the bottom. However, it wasn't there. She sought for her name at the middle. However, it wasn't there, too. She looked at the top and found her name along with Natsume's and Hotaru's. She got a perfect score. She looked at Jinno-sensei and the teacher gave her a wink and a smile. Tears of joy fell from her eyes. Then, she looked at her other subjects. The scores were very high which gave her a greater chance to go home. She shouted for joy.
Mikan: (carrying Sakura high above her head.) YES! YES! I GOT HIGH SCORES! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! CAN YOU SEE IT SAKURA? cAN YOU SEE IT?
Sakura: (happily.) Meow.
Yuu: Yes, Mikan-chan. Your scores are so high that they are higher than mine. Maybe you'll get the Honor Student Award.
Mikan: Do you think so?
Yuu: Yes.
The nullifier sought for the inventor. She found her looking at the English exam results. She went towards her and revealed a look which revealed intense happiness. Tears fell from her eyes.
Mikan: Hotaru! I'm so happy.
Hotaru: (hugging Mikan.) I'm so proud of you.
Mikan: You are?
Hotaru: Very much.
Mikan: (removing herself from Hotaru.) Wait. I must go and tell Ruka-pyon about this.
Hotaru: Sure.
She sought for the Animal-boy. She then saw him looking at his results in the Biology exams. She ran towards him and hugged him. The latter blushed a thousand shades of red. However, he felt a slight scratch on his chest and he realized that Sakura was scratching him. So, he released himself from the nullifier and revealed a smile.
Ruka: I saw your results. I'm so happy for you.
Mikan: Me, too. Now, I can really see Grandpa.
Ruka: Great!
Mikan: (scanning the corridor.) Umm.. Ruka-pyon. Have you seen Natsume?
Ruka: (sadly.) Umm.. I think I saw him under the Sakura tree.
Mikan: Thanks!
She tiptoed and reached for his cheek. She then placed a kiss on it. The Animal-boy stood stiff and didn't know what to do. Then, the nullifier zoomed out of the school building and went towards the Sakura tree. There, she saw the firecaster sleeping under it with a manga book covering his head. She approached him and sat beside him. She then placed Sakura between them. Natsume, with his keen senses, felt their presence. He removed the manga book from his head.
Natsume: Oi, Polkadots. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in school looking for your results?
Mikan: I already saw them. They were high. Did you see your results, Natsume?
Natsume: I have no interest in them.
Mikan: Why not?
Natsume: I just don't have any interest at these kind of things.
Mikan: Is it because you can't go home?
Natsume: ...
Mikan: Don't worry. If I'll get the Honor Student Award, I'll ask permission from Sensei to make you come with me to my house. Isn't it great?
Natsume: (smirking.) Whatever.
Mikan: Arigato, Natsume.
Natsume: For what?
Mikan: For helping me in my studies. I wouldn't have done it without you.
The firecaster just looked at the brunette. He wanted to tell his feelings for her any second now. However, it wasn't meant to be. He thought he might make a total fool of himself if he does it. So, he just kept silent and looked at Sakura. He patted the cat and remembered that it was the one who told him to tutor her. So, he looked at the brunette again.
Natsume: You should thank Sakura. She was the one who told me to tutor you.
Mikan: (patting Sakura.) Thank you, Sakura.
Sakura: Meow.
Mikan: Natsume, I know Grandpa will welcome you with open arms when you go home with me. I will tell him all the good things you have done for me. When he knows about them, I'm sure he will treat you as the grandson he never had.
Natsume: (smirking.) Whatever.
Mikan: (in her mind.) Dear Grandpa, I know that I will surely receive the Honor Student Award. Because of Natsume, I have a greater chance to go home to you. He's the one who tutored me in my lessons. He is such a good friend, Grandpa. I will bring him home so you will know him better. He's one of the best friends I ever had. To top all of that, I'm going home, Grandpa. We will see each other again.
--
Hello, everybody! I'm sorry for the very late update! As what I have said, it's so difficult to upload now. Our internet connection has been disconnected. Gomene. But, I'll try my best to upload very soon.
Yehey! I'm finished with Chapter 21. Phew. You just don't know how much I suffered just to make this chapter. There are only six chapters left, so read on guys!
I would like to thank the following for reviewing my fanfic: akerue, dominiqueanne, -KuroTenshi11-, and MikanXNatsumefan101.
I would also like to thank Heirii-chan, MikanXNatsume4EVER, MikanXNatsumefan101, Natsumelover, and aznprincessx65 for making this story their favorite.
Well, things are heating up among the teens and you should better read the next succeeding chapters. Please review! I love you, guys!