Disclaimer: No. I. Don't. Own. Alice. Gakuen.
My Happy Ending
by Little Miss Giggle
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Chapter Thirty Two: The Start of a New Era
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"Mikan's a great girl . . . she really is . . . but she's made everything so difficult . . ."
Mikan froze.
That was definitely Ruka's voice.
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"Oi mate, don't change the channel!" Kitsune-me immediately barked at Koko as soon as his eyes caught sight of his friend reaching rather inconspicuously to the remote control on the coffee table in front of them.
Koko childishly responded by blowing a raspberry before he slumped back down on the couch in an annoyed manner, "Why do we have to watch this?"
And by this, Koko meant One Tree Hill.
"Hey, don't judge." Kitsune-me remarked, as a lazy smile made its way to his face. "Mikan introduced me to this and it's amazing."
"Yeah, I know you're obsessed." Koko sighed. "You've been watching it all day . . . and c'mon! The football match is going to start soon!" he whined, but when Kitsune-me didn't reply to that, he took a deep breath.
This meant war.
"RUKA!" Koko suddenly yelled, causing Kitsune-me to jump in his seat with shock. "Ruka, come here! I need a man to back me up on my argument!" He continued, his voice still loud; and he couldn't help triumphantly grin when he saw Kitsune-me wince yet again.
". . . RUKA!" Koko called again. "RUUU—"
"For god's sake, I'm coming! Stop shouting!" a voice from the kitchen rather angrily interrupted, and Koko's smile widened to a great extent when he saw Ruka appear in the doorway, to join them into the living room, with a bowl of popcorn in his hands—"Ooooh, popcorn—"
"Hands off, Koko." Ruka uncharacteristically cut off, and Koko could only squeak in response (he didn't look too pleased). "So, what were you screaming your head for?" Ruka tersely asked as he fell back down on the couch.
Both Koko and Kitsune-me knew why Ruka was in a snappish mood—they didn't even have to discuss it; they just knew, just like they all knew Natsume was probably going to come home from 'dinner' with his parents in a foul mood. They knew that Ruka was acting like a PMSing bitch because he was worried about his best friend.
"I was calling you because I wanted you to help me! This sad, pathetic excuse of a man," he accusingly pointed his finger at Kitsune-me, whose eyes were still glued to the television screen, "would rather watch One Bloody Tree Hill than watch the football match! So, let us men unite to fight the forces of evi—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it." Ruka said. ". . . Wait, what is he watching?"
"Some lame girlish T.V. series—"
"It's not girlish!" Kitsune-me quickly defended before Koko could comment on it any more. "It's incredible!"
Ruka stared blankly at Kitsune-me for three seconds before he asked, "Okay, when the hell did you start watching this?"
"Mikan was watching it on Natsume's laptop one weekend!" Kitsune-me chirped back in reply. "And asked me if I wanted to join so I—shit! You guys made me miss what Lucas said to Brooke!" He boyishly threw a couch cushion at his friends in agitation and Ruka and Koko could only laugh out loud at that.
"Sakura, huh?" a smile now made its way to Ruka's originally cold face. "She's had such a big effect on Natsume, hasn't she?"
"I'd say!" Koko agreed, as he took a handful of popcorn from Ruka, "I mean . . ." he chewed and swallowed his mouthful before he continued: "have you read some of Natsume's lyrics recently? They are disgustinglycheesy; like, 'I'll be your crying shoulderrrr—'"
"I suppose that's what she does to him." Ruka commented, interrupting Koko's off-key singing voice. Ruka smirked, "Sakura makes Natsume disgustingly cheesy."
"Happy, too!" Kitsune-me added from the sidelines.
"Yeah, I know!" Koko chuckled. "Natsume's all rainbow and smiles now. Oh and, listen to this: last week, I accidently split his coffee and he didn't even growl at me. Or glare! And he let him strum his guitar, which like, he never does, unless your name is Mikan Sakura."
"He never lets you play because your fingers are always smudged and gritty."
"Yeah well," Koko shrugged at Kitsune-me reply in an off-handed manner, "I bet you even if Mikan's hand was smothered in bird shit he'd still let her play his guitar if she asked."
"Well obviously," Ruka snorted in a humorous manner, "it's Sakura. She got him to read Harry Potter aloud to her while scratching her back!" Both Koko and Kitsune-me barked out in laughter at the memory. "She's got him wrapped around her little finger."
There was a peaceful silence between them, and all they could hear was the voices of Peyton from the television, and then, Koko suddenly asked, "You think Natsume's alright?"
There was another round of silence, but this time it was tenser. Nevertheless, Ruka diffused the tension but calmly answering, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
" . . . I'll be your crying shoulderrr~"
All three boys laughed out loud when Koko officially disposed of the tension by his shrilly-singing voice. "That is why you're not the main vocalist, mate." Kitsune-me grinned, his attention no longer on the television.
Ruka contently sighed. "Mikan's a great girl . . . she really is . . ." he paused pensively as a smile started to slowly etch on his face, like butter melting on a warm slice of toast, "but she's made everything so difficult . . . because Natsume's so crazy about her."
Koko and Kitsune-me laughed again before they simultaneously agreed.
"It's really funny when you sit next to her when watching a movie, because Natsume either keeps a close eye on you or he squeezes himself between you and her!" Koko reminisced, causing Kitsune-me to cry, "Damn, that happened to me too!" he laughed before he added: "He's so effing possessive!"
"Yeah, but only with Mikan." Kitsune-me commented, as he lazily stretched his arms up. "He's like an animal."
Ruka laughed before he nodded in agreement to that statement, before he said, "Naah, he's been like that ever since he was a brat. Like, remember when he—" but before he could delve further into the memories of Natsume when he was a kid, the boys heard the door click open. There was breathless pause as they heard Natsume throwing the room keys on the ashtray by the door, but then Koko called, "Natsume! We're in here!"
The boys, though they never said it out loud, worried whether Natsume was going to be in an awful mood or not, and unfortunately when he turned the corner to the living room they all noted the hard look on his face; not to mention they were suddenly surrounded by a strong smell of cigarettes.
Natsume hadn't smoked in months.
"You okay?" Ruka carefully asked his best friend, as he slumped back down on the couch with them. But Ruka didn't even have to ask that question; his sky blue eyes could clearly see that everything was not okay. And the boys all assumed it had something to do with his family, well, father. So they were right to an extent, however, they couldn't have possibly guessed what had just happened outside their room a few seconds ago.
After all, they would have never guessed Natsume would have broken up with Mikan; not in a million years.
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Hotaru opened the door to her dormroom cautiously but was surprised to see the warm light when she did so. She was even more surprised when she smelt . . . she inhaled . . . Anna's food.
Anna hadn't cooked in their dorm for months now—after everything that happened with Mikan, the other girls had congregated either in their own separate rooms or simply at Aoi's dorm. Hotaru nevertheless walked into the kitchen dining area, only to see Permy and the twins eating dinner.
"Hotaru!" Anna sweetly trilled. "Welcome back. There's food in the pot, if you want some."
Hotaru, who had been walking around aimlessly down the streets of Tokyo after what had happened earlier only realized just then how hungry she was. But she didn't dig in, like she normally would've. Instead, her violet eyes scanned the room before she asked, "Where's Mikan?"
"She wasn't here when we got back." Permy answered after a pause. She then gently put her chopsticks down before her emerald green eyes met with Hotaru's amethyst ones. "We've decided to—I mean I've decided to . . . well, grow up. Even though it may never be the same with Mikan, we've decided all together that this stupid thing," and by that she meant all the ignoring each other etc., "has to end. So we've invited Aoi tonight too. She should be here soon."
Hotaru blinked, surprised.
They were . . . forgiving Mikan?
"That's—" But before Hotaru could finish her sentence, the girls heard it. They all heard the door whooshing open and a wailing enter the room. All their eyes widened; the wailing sounded completely heartbreaking, and it was mixed with sniffs and shallow breathing. Call it a reflex action, (if you please) but as soon as Hotaru heard that, she knew it belonged to Mikan, and immediately she shot out of the living room to the hall—
"Mikan!" Hotaru pulled the crying girl who was slumped on the floors up with her two hands. "What's wrong? What happened?" Hotaru's heart was beating uncontrollably hard as she saw her best friend's state. Mikan's hazel eyes were red and inflamed and she shaking so much she could hardly stand. "What happened?"
"Bring her to the couch!" Permy shrieked. Her eyes were widened with horror, and throughout her body, a cold, cold yet nostalgic feeling was coursing through her veins. It was as if . . . history was repeating itself. That was me a few months ago. "Anna, get her some water!"
"O-Okay!"
Immediately Anna scampered off to the kitchen and clumsily fumbled around to retrieve a cup.
"And damn it Nonoko, get some ice cream!" Permy added, as she now helped Hotaru pull Mikan gently towards the couch in the living room.
"Roger that!" Nonoko saluted before she ran in the kitchen herself; nearly knocking her twin over. Nevertheless she successfully managed to grab the icecream from the freezer, and a spoon from the cutlery drawer before she returned to the living room, where everybody congregated.
Mikan was still violently shaking, but even so she still managed to take the cup from Anna and thank her meekly. After a few sips, she handed it to Hotaru before she started to cry again.
"Mikan." Hotaru calmly, yet firmly said. "What happened?"
Mikan cupped her own face with her hands. Nothing but sobs could be heard from her, for at least three minutes, until she finally hiccupped: "What . . ." he sharply took in a breath, "do you think happened?" Her voice was watery and trembling continuously as she weakly looked up at her best friend.
Without blinking, "He broke up with you."
Mikan only cried harder at that statement, which implicitly told the girl's Hotaru's guess was true. The way Hotaru said it, it was like she always knew. However, that was not true at all; Hotaru, even as she hugged her best friend comfortingly, couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that Natsume I'm-So-Whipped Hyuuga broke up with Mikan.
Why? Why? Why? Why? But as she saw her best friend's state, that why mantra faded, instead, replaced with determination to make her best friend feel better.
The girls were all so engrossed in comforting Mikan however they failed to hear the front door opening again; they only realized Aoi was in their dorm when they heard a gasp from the doorway of the living room. Her raven black hair was neatly brushed and she was wearing a very conservative frock but uncharacteristically to her outfit her face was white, aghast. "What . . . happened?" she breathlessly asked, her crimson eyes widened. Nothing could describe the gravity of absolute shock she was encountering at that moment.
Silence ensued. Well, of course except for Mikan's crying. Hotaru kept her amethyst eyes firmly on her best friend whilst the other three girls exchanged looks. But then Nonoko coughed; "Hyu—I mean . . . your, um, brother broke up with her." Nonoko slowly informed, before she pressed her lips together.
Aoi blinked.
"She's the best thing that's ever happened to me." "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me." "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Aoi blinked.
The voice of her brother saying those words repeated in Aoi's head.
"She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Aoi's eyes fluttered.
"N-no . . . that can't be—" but then she shut her mouth. Not only because the girls attention was no longer on her but because she realized, even with her confused state that this was not time to defend her brother. Nevertheless, it wasn't like she didn't think about what Nonoko just said; her heart was ticking like a bomb ferociously in her chest. The events of the her long day were replaying in her head and now that she thought about it she realized that Natsume had changed after her dad had said Mikan didn't deserve somebody like Natsume . . . could it be—
Her thoughts which were running at 1000mph in her head came to a screeching halt when she heard Mikan's quivering voice: "I-I . . . I'm so sorry." Mikan loudly sniffed before she shakily continued, "And Permy," her swollen hazel eyes managed to lock with Permy's green eyes, "you were right. About everything." She inhaled deeply. "I was so stupid—"
"Shh, it's okay." Permy soothingly shushed as she stoked Mikan's hair.
Nevertheless Mikan carried on, "I was so stupid. So," she let out a shaky breath, "so stupid. You w-were right; I was blind a-and I'm sorry I didn't b-believe y-you—" Mikan burst out crying again when Permy lent down to gather her friend in her arms to calm her down. Mikan however weakly wiggled out of Permy and turned to look at the rest of her friends and Aoi was horrified to see her state. "I-I'm sorry all of you." Mikan apologized as she bowed her head down in absolute shame. "I'm so sorry."
"Mikan Sakura. Even though I don't know you well, I am giving you some advice. Don't ever enter a relationship with Natsume Hyuuga." Memories were rapidly through Mikan's brain; she reminisced in a matter of seconds all the warnings she got and how she ignored them. She remembered all the lies that were said to her friends and all the empty promises . . . "Mikan, promise me you won't make the same stupid mistakes as I did. No matter if he's popular, hot, or even if he has huge hands! . . . Just, please. Don't fall for him."
She did exactly that. She broke that promise. She fell for him and he wasn't there anymore to catch her.
"Mikan, please look up." Anna said, with a tone that conveyed she was genuinely frightened. "We forgive you."
"I'm so sorry," Mikan repeated, as she now hugged Permy back tightly. "You were right. You were so right . . ." she let out a sob, "a-all he wanted was to get into my pants—"
"Is that why he broke up with you?" Hotaru immediately questioned, her eyes narrowed in disgust. "Because you said no?"
All the girls' heart started to beat when they saw Mikan slowly, shake her head. Both her hands were shaking as she cried, "I said yes. I did it with him last night for the first time." Anna and Nonoko cupped their mouths at the same time and Aoi couldn't help but close her eyes, understanding what that meant. Mikan resumed her crying before she wailed, "A-And he told me we were over."
The girls couldn't believe it. They silently watched Mikan sob with tears.
Suddenly, "That bastard!" Hotaru seethed, as she felt an overwhelming feeling of hatred course through her veins. Her questions were forgotten; no longer did she care why Natsume Hyuuga broke up with her, all Hotaru could think about now was how she was going to get revenge. Mikan was her best friend and no guy gets away with doing that to her best friend. "How dare he."
"I'm so sorry, Mikan." Anna said, as tears started to fall down the planes of her own face.
"What a . . ." Instead of saying a profanity, Nonoko growled—no words to her could describe what she thought of Natsume Hyuuga. Womanizer, bastard, son-of-a-bitch, arsehole . . . they all sounded too nice.
Permy on the other hand was crying into Mikan's shoulder as Mikan cried on her's—she felt as if she had failed; she should have warned her friend more . . . but what overwhelmed her more was the fact that she knew what Mikan was going through. And it made her suffer. The wound from last year, which had finally closed, seemed to have been ripped open to Permy.
Aoi was disgusted by her brother's action, yes, but on the exterior she was completely emotionless: she felt numb. She was confused, shocked, horrified . . . after all, just a few hours ago Natsume was going on about how Mikan was the best thing that'd ever happened to her . . . and now?
What the hell had happened in the last few hours?
Some part of her wanted to go to his room and smash his head. But at the same time, some part of her also wanted to tell her friends what her brother had said a dinner . . . to save her brother's relationship with Mikan. To give him another chance of happiness.
But as she watched Mikan cry she knew his chance was over. And she knew which side she was on.
It was definitely not her brother's side.
A few hours later . . .
Her bed was only a single bed. Regardless, Hotaru was sleeping in her bed with her, and Mikan couldn't feel any safer; it didn't matter that she was cramped and it didn't matter that her left leg felt numb.
"You okay?" Hotaru gently whispered, as she saw her best friend shift in bed. Mikan's bed lamp was still on, so Hotaru could see Mikan nod back in reply, with a weak smile gracing her lips.
"Can you pass me my notebook please?" Mikan asked, as her hazel eyes indicated the bedside table. Hotaru nodded and fluidly passed her notebook to her. Mikan thanked her and before she could say anything, as if Hotaru read her mind, Hotaru also passed Mikan the biro on the bedside table.
"Thank you, Hotaru."
"You're welcome."
Mikan flicked open her notebook, but then she shut it close. She looked over to her best friend and softly said, "I'm sorry Hotaru. I'm sorry I shouted at you today."
Hotaru patted Mikan's arm gently before she replied, "It's okay."
They smiled each other before Mikan re-opened her notebook. Without even thinking, her pen touched the white paper and she started to write . . .
Let's talk this over, it's not like we're dead
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"Babe! Did you hear? Mikan Sakura and Natsume Hyuuga broke up!"
"I know! I can't, like, believe it! I mean, like, I'm glad he's like single now and all but, like, they were like so cute together!"
"I know. Their babies would've been so hot too."
"I suppose, like, all good things come to an end and all . . ."
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The Fifth Round Information (posted on May 6th)
Date: 2nd June 2008
Time: 8:00pm onwards
Venue: Tokyo Dome
ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A TICKET TO THE LAST ROUND. HOWEVER IF STUDENTS/TEACHERS WOULD LIKE TO BUY TICKETS FOR FRIENDS/FAMILY, PLEASE TELL THEM TO ORDER ONLINE.
Hurry! Tickets are going quick!
The five final contestants are obliged to write a song/piece and the song/piece which has the most impact on the crowd will be noted.
For further enquiries, please contact a member of staff, preferably one of the judges from the Music Competition.
The Fifth Round Information (posted on May 8th)
All tickets are sold.
For further enquiries, please contact a member of staff, preferably one of the judges from the Music Competition.
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1st June
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It was Summer in Tokyo. The summer heat was near to its peak; everyday had been beautiful—the skies were blue, the sun was twinkling like a giant spotlight and everybody on the streets buzzed about the Summer holidays and licked their ice creams contently as they dreamed of the seas of Okinawa.
In the Alice Academy, however, thoughts of the Summer holidays were scarce, after all everybody was buzzing about the next day; the day of the Fifth Round! Tension was high, people were making banners and some were even betting with each other, WHO IS GOING TO WIN. "It'll be tough, I reckon," a boy whistled as he strolled down the corridor with his mate, "I mean I know we all thought it either be Mochu or Hyuuga's group but now . . . hard to tell, I say."
Everybody was speculating, and when Mikan entered the canteen with Anna on her left she was surprised when everybody in the canteen started to cheer her name and clap at her presence. "Good luck tomorrow, Mikan!" someone called to her, as Mikan started to nervously smile at them all after she got over her initial surprise.
"That was nice of them all!" Anna brightly commented as they continued to make their way to the lunch ques.
"Yeah it was." Mikan agreed as she followed Anna to the pasta line.
It was also nice for Mikan because for once they weren't all looking at her because of what happened in May but instead for a different reason.
After that night, Mikan didn't attend classes for two days and although some people wondered why, it wasn't till after those two days that people knew the answer. Because after those two days they started to realize that Mikan Sakura and Natsume Hyuuga had broken up—no longer were they eating together or seen together, but the most obvious hint was Mikan's constant fatigued, heartbroken look. They also picked on Natsume's nostalgic aggressive attitude and his lack of smiles. People's opinions about the break-up were mixed; some, example Luna Koizumi, were ecstatic that their Natsume Hyuuga was on the market again. Others seemed a bit disappointed by the news. Others were somewhat curious. Others, example Andou Tsubasa, became worried. Others, however were completely and utterly flabbergasted . . . still to this day.
In the last category fell Ruka, Kitsune-me, Koko and Yuu.
After all, they were the main witnesses of the two's relationship; they saw the development of something beautiful . . . and the reason why it shocked them so much was also because it so bloody sudden and because it wasn't from Natsume Hyuuga they heard about the break-up.
Natsume Hyuuga hadn't said a word about it to them, and when they found out, and demanded him to explain he didn't say anything.
But they say actions speak louder than words.
Natsume was smoking more. He was constantly in his room. He was drinking more cans of beers. He was silent and moody 24/7.
Even though when people spoke of Mikan Sakura on June 1st it was about the Fifth Round, there were exceptions. And they, Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me were the exceptions. Ruka watched from the corner of his eyes Mikan (who looked considerably skinnier) and her pink-haired friend leave the canteen and he sighed. "I still don't get it."
"You know," Koko said, after he swallowed his bite, "maybe we should do something. I mean, Natsume hasn't been out of our room for . . . days now."
"Exactly. That's what I don't get." Ruka pointed out, "He's obviously upset and still thinking about her so my question is why the fuck did he break up with her?"
"I'm telling you, I still think it has something to do with Papa Hyuuga." Kitsune-me darkly answered. "That prick always ruined things for him."
Ruka groaned in his hands. "If only we could speak to Mikan . . ."
"You know that Imai won't let us near her." Kitsune-me commented. "She's made it quite clear they want nothing to do with us anymore." They all winced in memory; the day they had found out about the break-up and got nothing from Natsume, the boys all went to go find Mikan, only to bump into a very hostile Hotaru before they got to her. To say they got threatened was an understatement.
But that didn't mean they'd give up. "Yeah but I'm saying we talk to one of them for Natsume's sake!" Koko said. "I mean, c'mon! He's torturing himself. And fine, if we can't talk to Mikan then maybe we could speak to Aoi?"
Kitsune-me sighed, "I told you, mate, I tried to speak to her that day when I saw her in the corridor but she avoided me like the plague." He sighed again.
None of them said it, but they were all thinking that Natsume was more messed up than they originally thought.
And it was all because of his father.
But the bottom line was this. Everybody in the Academy all had different opinions about the breakup but the similarity was that none of them really knew why.
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June 2nd
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Ryo lazily watched from the taxi window flashes of Tokyo scenery whizz pass him as it was heading towards the famous Tokyo Dome. He could faintly hear his parents and Hotaru's parents talking beside him—they were talking, well more like bragging to the taxi driver about their daughters who were finalists to the Fifth Round of the renowned Alice Academy.
And to say the taxi driver was eating it all up was an understatement.
"Hey," came to the cool voice of Subaru Imai, Hotaru's older brother. Ryo turned around to look at his calm visage before he continued, "You alright? You seem distracted."
There was a three years difference between Subaru Imai and Ryo Sakura, however that didn't mean they didn't get along. Of course, they weren't like Mikan and Hotaru, nevertheless, they found each other's contrasting views and personalities engaging and always managed to have stimulating conversations. Today however, Subaru thought Ryo was acting rather bizarre. Rather unlike himself.3
Ryo coughed. "Yeah," he answered, "I guess I'm just tired from the journey . . . not to mention," he smirked, "they," clearly looking in the direction of their parents who were now taking photos with their cameras from inside the taxi, "are starting to irk me."
Subaru nodded sympathetically. "I couldn't agree more." He commented dryly. "They are really the epitome of a typical Japanese tourist."
Ryo laughed at that one.
But Subaru was right; Ryo was feeling rather unlike himself—thoughts of his little sister were swarming his mind. He couldn't wait to see her, but at the same time, he was quite nervous—he had heard what happened from Hotaru and to say he was furious was an understatement. But little did he know that Hotaru had purposefully left out the part where Mikan lost her virginity to him and Natsume Hyuuga broke up with her afterwards . . . to be honest, if Ryo knew that, he seriously probably would go to Tokyo with the single intention to kill Natsume Hyuuga. No, Ryo only knew that Natsume had broken up with Mikan and left her broken hearted.
He was glad however to hear that Mikan had patched things up with her friends.
"Oh my God! I think I see Tokyo Dome!" Yuka Sakura started to squeal. "Honey, photo!" Akita Sakura immediately fumbled with his camera.
Ryo sighed. But when his eyes turned to the legendary Tokyo Dome he couldn't help feeling impressed—he even craned his neck to get a better view! It was still quite light (it was 7:35pm) but Tokyo Dome was nonetheless blazing with lights and he could make out a crowd outside the Dome. A smile started to form on his lips and his heart swelled with pride as he thought of his sister.
"Do you think we are late?" Mariko Imai, Hotaru's very beautiful mother, questioned.
"Mum the tickets said doors open at 6:00pm but the concert doesn't start till 8:00pm." Subaru reassured her, "Only the people standing would've come at six, but we've got seats so we're okay."
"I heard Hotaru managed to get us good seats too!" Yuka happily trilled.
Tadao Imai's smile widened, "My daughter's always been so considerate."
Both Subaru and Ryo very nearly snorted at that statement.
All of their excitement heightened as the taxi driver slowly but surely came to a stop. Although each parent insisted that they'd pay for the taxi ride, they managed to get out of the taxi in less than a minute, and the six of them were walking towards Tokyo Dome, craning their necks to look up at it.
"Honey, photo please!"
"No mum," Ryo said, "save your memory space for Mikan and Hotatu's performance. Don't waste your it for this—you can find this on Google!"
Yuka paused before she proudly smiled. "Ryo, you're so smart!"
Ryo sighed.
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By 7:55pm, the Sakuras and the Imais were comfortably in their seat, each with a bottle of water and the boys with a box of popcorn. They were talking with one another but none of them failed to notice how crowded Tokyo Dome was—nearly ever row was full of people, there were hardly no gaps . . . only next to them were a few gaps left to be filled.
And right on cue, Ryo heard his name being called by some familiar girls. The families all looked around to see a striking girl with curly black hair; a beautiful girl with short pink hair; an elegant girl with navy blue hair and finally a bewitching girl with enchanting crimson eyes.
"Hey!" Ryo greeted them all, as they squeezed past the rows of people to finally get to their seats, which were beside the Sakuras and the Imais. He was surprised to see them all here next to them in the crowd, but before he asked why he realized Hotaru had probably booked their tickets all together.
Considerate, yes.
"It's so nice to see you again!" Sumire Shouda commented as she smiled brightly at him.
"Yeah you too—oh yeah," Ryo turned around to the Imais and his parents before he introduced them all to one another.
"Oh Mikan has told us so much about you all!" Yuka chirped as she waved at them all.
"Nice to meet you all!" the girls all chorused simultaneously before they took their seats, Permy next to Ryo. And almost immediately, Ryo inclined his head towards her and whispered, "How's Mikan?"
He didn't want his parents to hear; they didn't quite know about what happened to her.
Permy opened her mouth before she squirmed it shut. "Well," she said after a while, "you'll see—"
All of a sudden, the lights in the Dome dimmed and the crowd's reaction to that was immediate. Banners were lifted proudly in the air and the screaming and shouting began (the parents quickly joined in). To some extent, it was magical.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" the voice of the Principal of the Alice Academy, Mr. Prince boomed and echoed in the Dome. "WELCOME TO THE FIFTH ROUND OF THE ALICE ACADEMY'S FIRST EVER MUSIC COMPETITION!"
Ryo didn't think it was possible but the noise level doubled. Maybe even trebled. But the point was, it was starting.
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End of Chapter Thirty Two
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