There, out in the corridor, I saw Nastume Hyuuga caging a clearly angry Hotaru Imai.
"Why are you here? I don't want your slimy trail around my house." Natusme snarled at the raven haired girl who was a head shorter than him, any normal person would have fainted on the spot but Hotaru wasn't anyone normal, instead she faked a smile and spoke back through gritted teeth.
"I think you're grading your house too high, I was outside a few minutes ago until you pulled me into this dump." She fuelled Natsume's anger by covering her nose with her free hand.
God, Hotrau sure knows how to hit a spot.
It was a tedious experience hiding behind the bend at the back of the corridor, my heart was racing and sweat was dripping down my forehead. My hands clammed up and it felt painful whenever I tried to move my fingers.
She's probably here to talk about that text.
"Your face looks ugly when you frown, Mikan hates guys like you," she said to the boy whose fingers were inching up her neck, "if you hurt me not only will you be on the news, but you'll also lose Mikan's trust, not that you ever had it anyway." Natsume's eyes flared and he violently slammed Hotrau's shoulder into the wall causing a loud bang to echo throughout the desolate apartment, I winced at the intensity of the sound and peeked from behind the wall to spy on Hotaru who painfully held her shoulder.
NO! HOTRAU!
Okay Natsume Hyuuga, I've had enough of you and your ways.
"Is that all you've got Hyuuga?" Hotaru appeared to have recovered quickly although she was still clenching her shoulder.
"You really are full of yourself," Natsume smirked as he raked his hair back, "this is why Ruka doesn't like you."
Hotrau appeared to have flinched slightly which was uncharacteristic of her, I've never seen Hotaru look this weak before. Hotrau was always strong, a true sadistic warrior at heart but at that moment she looked weak in comparison to the man standing before her. Unable to watch my best friend in pain both mentally and physically I stepped in.
"Natsume, stop hurting her!" My legs were quivering, my chest felt like there was acid in it making it hard to breath, I was panting hard and fear quickly took over me as I tucked my hand that accusingly pointed at Natsume behind my back, "i-it's not acceptable."
Both Natsume and Hotaru snapped their heads around, "Mikan?" Natsume immediately let go of Hotaru and walked towards me, his eyes had softened but I could see anxiety in them, Hotaru on the other hand remained neutral and stared at us to see what would happen.
"Mikan" said Natsume as he wrapped his arms around my waist to pull me in, "Mikan..."
"N-Nastume, I need to go home," I pushed him away with my hands but he didn't budge, after what I saw I need to go with Hotaru, "Natsume," I pleaded, "please?"
He arched his back a little to look at me and bit his lips as if he wanted to say no. "Let her go", Hotaru raised her voice at Natsume, her bangs covered her eyes and no emotion was on her face but it was clear that she was mad.
Natsume raised a brow before looking at the clock on the wall and sighed, "I'll take you home, get your things."
"She's not a baby Hyuuga, she can go by herself," Hotaru walked over and held my arm, "and before you say no it's not like it's midnight, it's only 7 and there's still some daylight."
Natsume remained quiet and shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants, he looked conflicted as he glanced out the window. He looked at Hotaru and nodded, "okay". I smiled in relief but glanced briefly at Hotaru, my body felt sluggish and the happiness that was once in my heart vanished.
Will she be alright? I guess she's just going to talk about the text message.
(Hotaru and Natsume after Mikan left)
Silence fell over the room and Mikan's steps that were scattering away could be heard, the ticking clock that was once silenced by the shouting of the 2 was now ticking irritably much to Hotaru's disdain.
"I'm surprised that the people living below you didn't come up to complain" her eyes glared at the boy whose back was facing her, his head was down and he remained silent. "We created quite a mess, like always. You scared her," her icy tone was directed at Natsume who remained unaffected.
"You wanted to talk," he turned his head slightly to view her from the corner of his eyes, the soft light from the setting sun (because it's summer so the sun sets later) made her seem ethereal but it couldn't melt the ice in her eyes, "so talk".
Hotaru tapped her foot, matching the rhythm of the ticking clock, "one, my shoulder still hurts like hell thanks to you and two, what's with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hyuuga, I don't think you should get into any serious relationships" she said, "or else I'll have to call them."
Natsume shrugged and sighed loudly, as if he got a heavy feeling off his shoulders, "you do that and you'll face hell" he eyed her, "and I don't really want them coming here." He walked over to the kitchen and left the sly girl alone.
Hotaru clicked her tongue, "Hyuuga, you're not stable enough and you know that."
The door slammed shut and thus she was once again left with nothing but her thoughts in the empty hallway.
He's going to regret it soon.
(Mikan's POV)
I'm going to regret this soon, maybe I should've stayed.
The sound of the elevator as it reached the ground floor brought me back to reality, my legs felt sluggish and I dragged myself out into the lobby. How rich is Natsume anyway? A 16 year old living alone in a penthouse on the 30th floor of an apartment complex in the centre of Tokyo makes him sound like a young master or something.
The lobby was quite empty apart from a few families admiring the huge white rose statue in the middle of the room, it's stem dug into the marble floor and it spread every where around the place. There was a blonde haired man wearing a blue polo shirt with khaki shorts admiring the magnificent structure, he was drinking some Starbucks and was chatting amiably with a mother and her daughter.
Is that who I think it is?
I leaned forwards and slightly squinted to get a good look at the man, he turned around and I fumbled back into place keeping my back straight.
He really does look like Ruka, he's even got those nice blue eyes.
He seemed to have noticed me as well and ran up to where I was. "Mikan! Haven't seen you for 2 hours, how are you?" His smile was kind and refreshing and his voice had that airiness to it that it sounded like it could make you drunk if you listened to it for too long.
"R-Ruka?" It's really Ruka, isn't he meant to be in hospital? "Ye-yeah, I'm cool but aren't you meant to be in the hospital?"
His eyes shone brightly like the summer's sky on a cloudless day, "well I was but I asked the nurses if I could get released early and they agreed" he grasped my hands, "and I was on my way to see Natsume but I guess Hotaru beat me to it, so I was on my way home and judging by the fact that you exited the elevator I guess you are too." He threw his drink in the bin next to the elevator door and pulled me along with him outside, "so, want to walk together?"
(Hotaru and Natsume)
Natsume sat down on the lone seat in the dining room, in his hands he held a glass of water which he drank slowly from. It was quiet out in the hallway which raised Nastume's suspicion that Hotaru might be up to something but knowing her he just let it drop until she came to him first because that's how it always was - people came to him and it had never changed until now. To him it was just curiosity at first, it had been 2 years since all women apart from his sister and Hotaru were stripped from his life and he was bored of the same people, so he decided to play and so far it's been pretty...
Boring.
The only exciting thing I remember her doing is when she nearly broke my phone and when she shouted at me for something that I've forgotten. He stared outside at the glass buildings which reflected the last remaining light of the day. But I wonder if she's alright. Natsume sighed and leaned against his arm while sipping his water, the apartment was eerily silent but that didn't affect him, he's been used to it for the lastdecade.
That dumb uncle of mine never comes home anyway, he's probably out with some new woman or something, or he's bought a new place and is staying there with some prostitute.
He chuckled darkly at his own joke, just kidding, but it's probably true.
Feeling bored he placed his cup on the table, not bothering to clean up and stepped out into the hallway that connected all 8 rooms together. Is Mikan alright? I blame that snail for not letting me go with her. The walls were all empty apart from the clock, the only pictures in the house were stored in that precious little album in the living room.
"It's rude to not ask your guests for snacks, Hyuuga." Natsume didn't bother to face the source, instead he ignored her and walked into the living room in search for something, where is it? "Looking for this?" Natsume turned around and saw a little red book dangling from the clutches of Hotaru.
"Give it back" he demanded while holding his hand out, "don't be more annoying then you already are". Hotaru noted his tone and tossed the book onto the white 5 seater L-shaped sofa.
"Here's some advice," she said as Natsume grabbed the book from where she threw it, "don't force someone to do anything, and if you loved them you wouldn't dare hurt them either" with that she left the building like Mikan had done earlier.
What if you're unsure yourself, what do you do then?
(Mikan's POV)
The streets were noisy with people running around either going home or going to work, Tokyo never looked so beautiful as it did with all the lights on, cars sped past and the streaks of light from them made my eyes light up in awe.
"Hey Sakura, want to eat some Takoyaki?" asked Ruka, his azure eyes looked hopeful at the girl as he pointed at the small shop 5 minutes from Natsume's place.
"Ruka, call me Mikan and..." I let out, I didn't want to disappoint him but I really had to get home, "I need to get home."
His lips slightly parted and his eyes lost some shine but he managed to smile and instead tugged my arm, "I'll treat you, I'm sure your parents won't mind." With that he dragged me to the shop and bought some takoyaki, he handed me one that was covered in some syrup and blew it for me, "careful, it's freshly made so it's hot".
I reluctantly nodded but ate it anyway. "So" said Ruka as he looked up at the pink sky, "what have you found out?"
"What?"
He smiled at me, "I know you went there for a reason, Mikan, I'm not stupid."
I looked down at the pavement and slowly chewed my takoyaki, "well, I found out that the three of you are childhood friends... and... he lives alone in his uncle's house ever since he was 5 but I don't know why..."
Ruka patted me on the back, "I might get hated for this but Natsume is really making no progress" he sighed, "come on Mikan, let me tell you something interesting as we go home."
Is this really the right thing to do?
