DISCLAIMER: I do not own GA.

CHAPTER 37: An unexpected phone call

The field day ended with the same old usual results. The team of the Sakura twins plus the Hyuuga won most of the points leaving all of the other teams disappointed as ever. Mico and Natsume has always been eager to win no matter what the competition may be. They were SO competitive that Mikan has almost wanted to bury herself from all of the shame that her brother and his best friend were doing. Winning the match added to Mico's pride and ego. His ego that was almost as big as Asia, or bigger.

When their team won, they received a whole bunch of blue and white ribbons plus trophies, medals and certificates. Mikan could have sworn that there's already no more space in their room left all because of the trophies and such that her twin has stacked all those years. Mikan even found the field day pointless. She doesn't even know why her brother enjoyed it so much, she thought that it may be because of the competition that's why Mico found it way too interesting and thrilling.

That day didn't turn out as bad as Mikan has expected. It was actually the WORST. Shizuka Mizumaki, the beautiful girl next door, athletic. Smart middle school teen admitted to her that she liked Natsume. The thought made Mikan depressed as she shuffled uneasily next to Natsume's black car. It was field day and since they were on the fields, the walk back to the dormitories will be a bit longer so Mico told Natsume to give Mikan a ride home since he still has trainings with Persona. It also meant that Mikan can't just simply ignore Shizuka's request. She'll have to ask Natsume in one way or another.

"Oi, Polka Dots, are you hungry?" Natsume asked Mikan while Mikan cocked her head.

"And what are you trying to imply?" She asked while Natsume just shrugged carelessly.

"I was just wondering if you wanna get something to eat." Natsume stated. "Dinner time in the canteen is already over and I bet you guys will be too damn lazy to cook at your room."

"Who's paying?" Mikan asked.

"I am." Natsume replied.

"Before, when he asked me the same question, I just went along with it because I didn't care at all and all I ever thought of was the food that I would get for free. But now, everything has changed. Nothing will ever be the same again. My feelings for Natsume, my views for Natsume… everything… they are all different. And now that I have the chance, I should also fulfill Shizuka's request even though it hurts."

"Polka?" Natsume called out again as he waved a hand in front of Mikan's face. Mikan then stared into his piercing crimson orbs for a while. "Alright…" She mumbled as Natsume slid into his car and Mikan followed obediently as if Natsume was his dad and she's the obedient little daughter that he has.

Natsume started his car and then glanced at the brunette. "What the heck is wrong with you? You've been kind of quiet today. And I thought that people like you never learn to shut up."

"Just thinking…" Mikan muttered.

"About what?" He asked.

"You." Mikan answered simply while Natsume's eyes widened slightly and then he grinned.

"What about me?"

"How did we meet?" Mikan asked. "I really wanna remember how we met. All that I remember was that I suddenly knew Natsume and that he has always been Mico and Ruka's friend from the beginning. And then the next thing that I know was that I see him every day. Everything from way back then seems to be in a blur." She thought. "I mean, in exact details, Natsume."

Natsume then glanced at her awkwardly and then when back to see the road. "How we met? Why do you even wanna know? Don't tell me, you forgot already. It has been only a year you baka."

"Curiosity I guess." Mikan replied. "And I thought you know very well that I have short term memory loss when it comes to certain things." She continued while Natsume sneered.

"That's too bad. Meeting someone like me has probably been the best thing that has happened to you." Natsume replied with a wide grin all over his face while Mikan just shook her head.

"OR NOT." Mikan retorted. "Meeting you practically brought hell and other confusing stuff into my life." She added. "Like falling in love with you. It's confusing me a lot."

"Ouch… is that supposed to hurt, Polka Dots?" He stated as he gripped the steering as he glanced at Mikan. His crimson eyes met with hazel ones.

"Eventually…" Mikan muttered. "This is it. It's now or never. When could I possible bring Shizuka up in our little conversation? I have to ask him when he's in a good mood. It's Natsume after all. He's always smarter than he looks. How would I actually start it? Should I start with a straight to the point 'what do you think of Shizuka?' or do the long run instead?" Mikan thought as she weighed her options while he glanced at Natsume again, who eventually caught her eyes.

"What are you looking at?" He asked Mikan curiously. "Seriously Polka, you have been giving me weird looks lately. Is something the matter?"

"Weird???" Mikan repeated confusedly as Natsume nodded and then went his eyes back into the streets. "And to be honest, it's kind of making me nervous…"

"Natsume…" Mikan muttered. "I have to ask him now. It's now or never."

"Hn?"

Mikan was supposed to speak when a ring tone suddenly penetrated their ears. Natsume gave her an apologetic look as he fumbled into his pockets. And after a few seconds, his phone was already next to his ear. Mikan sighed in disappointment as she glanced out the window. "Great timing…"

"Hn?" Natsume spoke softly into the earpiece that he somehow managed to put after fumbling in his pockets in search of the phone.

"Should I be nervous that he's actually driving and he's also talking to someone on the phone? Isn't that a bit dangerous?" Mikan asked herself but smiled instead and then shook her head. "Naah. Nothing bad will happen. I trust him. He won't do something stupid."

"What???" Natsume stuttered. Mikan glanced at him as he pressed the earpiece closer to his ear. "Otou-san, I can't right now…" He trailed off.

"Oh… so it's his father that he was talking to. I barely know that man. All I know is that he became one of the teachers in the elementary branch. He entered the academy because he wanted to be close to his son. Natsume sure is lucky to have a dad like him." Mikan thought as she was still staring at Natsume talking to his dad.

"But… based from the pissed look on his face, I could tell that something has definitely came up. *sigh* so I guess that I can't possibly ask him now about Shizuka." She thought once again as she heard Natsume sigh and protest but it seemed that he can't do anything anymore. It was his father after all so how could he refuse, right?

"Why can't you do it? I'm with someone right now." Natsume stated as he cast Mikan as short glance as a sign of acknowledgement that she was the one that he was referring to and then went his concentration back to his driving.

"If his principal told him that they wanted to talk to someone, that would be you since you're the father. I'm just his brother." Natsume stated in an as a matter of fact tone. Mikan frowned once more knowing the fact that he was actually arguing with his dad on the phone.

"Can't you even handle it yourself? I have my own things to do." Natsume stated again.

After a few more minutes of arguments on the phone, Mikan could tell that the older Hyuuga won. Natsume sighed in defeat as he hung up the line. He looked at Mikan with a deadbeat type of expression written all over his face.

"Can stop somewhere else before we eat?" He asked sincerely while Mikan just smiled and nodded.

"Where?" She asked.

"To the elementary branch." Natsume stated as he sighed angrily and made a right turn.