Disclaimer: I don't own ANY of the songs, I don't own Alice Gakuen!
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My Happy Ending
by Little Miss Giggle
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Chapter Thirty Three: The Final Round
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Dedicated to all my readers who have so patiently waited.
SeraphMia: thanks for giving me that awesome idea.
Winterberrytrillium: thanks for giving me (without fail) the longest, most enjoyable review!
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"I think I should get a haricut," Mikan idly remarked as she inspected herself in the mirror, "it's getting too long."
Hotaru who was currently brushing Mikan's espresso brown tresses paused, and inspected it before she shrugged, "I think it's nice. I mean it's in a good condition. You suit long hair."
The girls were currently backstage; the Final Round was to start in a matter of minutes and Mikan only had her hair to finish—on her, hugged a little black lace dress (designed and made by Aoi Hyuuga, thank you very much), her face was painted rather boldly compared to the usual delicate colours she had put on her face in previous rounds; on her lips, a deep crimson lipstick; on her eyes, a dark eyeshadow and on her eyelashes clung midnight black spidery mascara which emphasized and extenuated her eyelashes. Hotaru also wore black—her dress was made up of soft, willowy material and it was purchased at a boutique in Ginza, with the help of Permy who insisted it made her look like Goddess Divine.
"I dunno." Mikan sighed. "I think I just need a change."
Hotaru's amethyst eyes gazed at Mikan's reflection; Mikan's eyes were downcast, she was unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her dress and Hotaru look the chance to look at her best friend properly. You've already changed so much over this past month. Mikan's cheekbones were more prominent, her legs looked much thinner, her elbows seemed pointier . . . Hotaru was still skinner than Mikan (due to her Superwoman metabolism) as before, so it wasn't like Mikan was all of a sudden skeletal or anything, but anybody could see the drastic physical changes of her. Her cheeks, which were once full and toned (toned due to her constant smiling) were gone and below her eyes, dark circles were carved. From smiles to a fatigued expression. The change was there, right in front of her.
"I think you're beautiful as you are now, Mikan." Hotaru abruptly said when Mikan's hazel eyes snapped up to meet her's. "You don't need to change."
Mikan didn't reply.
If she were indeed, 'beautiful', Hyuuga might have not broken up with her—she mused silently to herself. She was no longer sure about anything to do with Hyuuga; whether there was actually a time he genuinely liked her or whether their relationship was all just a game to him, she wasn't sure. It pained her to think that the reason was the latter one, however it pained her even more to think that there may have been a time he liked her . . . and that had now come to an end for a reason.
Was it something that she said?
Was it something that she did?
Was it because . . . she was no longer beautiful in his eyes after he had had her?
She desperately wanted to know what made her unbeautiful in his eyes. She desperately wanted to talk to him. But at the same time, with the same extent of desire, she desperately wanted to forgetabout him. Forget about the first time they met; forget about the elevator incident; forget about all their secret get-together's; forget about all their phone calls; forget about their first kiss—
A knock at her changing room interrupted her train of thoughts.
"I'll get it." Hotaru said before Mikan stood up.
Mikan's heart started to hammer just as it does now whenever she gets a text or hears her phone ring . . . she knew herself why her heart did that; she was hoping it was Hyuuga. She always encountered with disappointment however because it was never him.
And it wasn't him this time either.
Hotaru let Andou Tsubasa, whose face was graced with a boyish grin, into Mikan's changing room.
Of course it's not him, you pathetic idiot, Mikan cruelly thought to herself whilst feeling angry at herself for feeling that disappointment when she saw it wasn't him. You're so disgusting and masochistic to even think about him.
After that quick thought however, Mikan actually processed who it was—Andou Tsubasa!—and felt a surge of surprise; she hadn't spoken to Tsubasa Andou in months. "Hey!" was his cheerful exclamation, as he waved at her.
She smiled. "Tsubasa! Long time no see!" Mikan stood up to give him a hug, "how are you? How is everyone?"
"If by everyone you mean the whole population of the world, I'm not sure, but if by everyone you mean the crowd, they are impatiently waiting but if you mean Misaki and the rest of the gang by everyone, they're cool." Mikan tinkled with laughter, "I'm cool too—just thought I'd pop in to wish you both luck!" Tsubasa genuinely replied, but his happy façade was just concealing concern—Misaki was right.
Misaki had told him a few days ago about the significant changes of Mikan in the past few weeks she picked up on when she had a random conversation with her in the hallway, but Tsubasa had merely dismissed this, thinking it was just girls being overly perceptive again. But now, he comprehended Misaki's observations, and couldn't help his silent urge to go kick Natsume Hyuuga's arse right then. When Tsubasa Andou and his friends had heard about their breakup, the boys all sympathized with Mikan, commenting on how she was such a sweet girl and how much of a dickhead Natsume Hyuuga was, while the girls took a deeper approach and tried to figure out what had happened, because in Misaki's words, "Natsume and Mikan really seemed to love each other." and she explained that the night prior to their break-up, her friend, Hiro, had seen them laughing together down the corridor. "It just doesn't add up." She had said.
"Good luck to you too!" Mikan replied whist Hotaru gave a small nod in agreement. "I'm sure you'll do great."
"Thanks," he checked his watch, "and Christ, I better get going—I'm hardly ready!" Mikan waved at Tsubasa's retreating figure, and blinked when he suddenly whirled back and exclaimed, "God, I nearly forgot!"
"Everything alright?"
"Kaname told me you two met?"
Mikan blinked was initially confused—Kaname? Who's Kaname?—but then the face of a sunny boy with blonde hair sprung into mind and recognition switched up on her face. "Oh yes! Your best friend; yes I met Kaname!" on the day he broke up with me . . .
"Well he's already in the crowd with Misaki but he texted me a while back to wish you luck." Tsubasa grinned.
Mikan smiled, "That's sweet of him. I'm surprised he even remembered my name!"
With a nod, Tsubasa reached out to the door handle, wished the two luck one more time before he disappeared.
"That was a nice surprise!" Mikan commented, before she sat back down to look at her reflection. "And Hotaru, I think I should just let my hair down—"
"Who's Kaname?" Hotaru interrupted, as she resumed to brush Mikan's hair, taking in that Mikan wanted to keep her hair down for her performance. She agreed with her, it would look better down tonight.
"Oh this really nice guy I met a while back on the streets," Mikan answered, "I bumped into him. Literally, bumped into him."
But before Hotaru could ask any more questions, they heard: "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO THE FIFTH ROUND OF THE ALICE ACADEMY'S FIRST EVER MUSIC COMPETITION!" to be followed by an immense sound of cheering people.
Hotaru and Mikan's eyes met.
It was starting.
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"Thank you for coming here tonight, to Tokyo Dome!" Mr. Prince continued, his voice echoing backwards and forwards. "In thanks we promise to make this a night to remember!" The excited screaming response seemed to fuel Mr. Prince's enthusiasm more, the girls all commented with amusement as they watched him pace up and down the stage, waving like there was no tomorrow.
Several cameras were following Mr. Prince and between the stage there were two huge screens hung, where his face was projected on so people even in the back corners of Tokyo Dome could see what was going on stage clearly.
"Before the five last contestants perform for you, I have things to say. Firstly, I am Mr. Teddy Prince, the principle of the Alice Academy," (at this point the majority of the students of the Academy, even the girls, whooped loudly), "and one of the judges. The other judges are, Mr. Narumi," Mr. Narumi's happy face was projected on the screen, "Mr. Jinno," Mr. Jinno's stern face was projected on the screen, "Mr. Mouri," Mr. Mouri's disinterested face was projected on the screen, "and finally Mrs. Serina!" Mrs. Serina's beautiful face was the last to appear on screen, and Ryo couldn't help but think, MILF.
"This is all so professional!" squealed Mrs. Sakura, as she excitedly nudged both her son and husband.
"Secondly, after all five contestants have performed, there will be a thirty minute break for us to discuss and talk, and decide who will win, not only the 660,000 Yen (ten thousand dollars; well it was back in 2008) but also a chance to send their music outside the Academy; into the harsh real world." The excitement was so palpable; Aoi felt as if she was watching a 3D movie—it was coming at you, but when you reached out, your fingertips touched nothing. It was so frustrating. "During that thirty minutes, many students of the Academy will be selling food at the exit doors, so please feel free to freshen up then. Furthermore, on stage we will have our very own orchestra performing for you, conducted by Mr. Jinno!
"Thirdly, before I bore you all I would like to introduce you to our first contestant," the crowd all gasped and started to clap and scream, "Mochu!"
Even Mikan and Hotaru who were backstage winced at the noise levels.
When the he appeared on stage, (the camera closely following) many banners flew up in the air and Mochu seemed to be somewhat magically diffusing all of this high tension into his bloodstream; he seemed as if he was gaining energy just by standing up on stage. Mochu smiled directly into the camera and Ryo secretly got quite excited by the mere fact that he owned the same Nike hightops Mochu were currently wearing (Shit, I'm lame) and he couldn't help but offhandedly calm down his mother in a semi-annoyed, semi-amused manner.
"I've seen that boy on television!" Mrs. Sakura kept on declaring, causing the Imai parents to gasp. "Television? Surely not!"
"Hey," Subaru nudged Ryo, "is that Mochu as in Mochu? The famous one?"
Ryo didn't know how but even with the screaming, Sumire, who was beside him seemed to have heard Subaru's question and answered instead of Ryo: "Oh yes. That's Mochu as in Mochu."
"I knew I should've brought my camera."
"Tokyo Dome! I haven't seen anything more beautiful in my life than you!" This was such a trite, clichéd statement that most musicians exclaimed but nobody seemed to care, let alone notice this. And just like that, the music started.
On To The Next One – Jay Z
I got a million ways to get it
Choose one (choose one)
Hey, bring it back (bring it back)
Now double your money and make a stack
I'm on to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
Ryo very much wished he was in the crowd instead of in the seats—looking down at the people in the mushpit, they were thrashing about, jumping up and down all at the same time to the beat but the point was, despite the fact they were probably all hot and sweaty from the heat of being packed and the heat of summer, they all looked like they were having a fucking amazing time.
Hold up, freeze
Everybody froze. Mochu grinned.
Somebody bring me back some money please,
Hov on that new shit n-ggas like how come
N-ggas want my old sh-t, buy my old album
N-ggas stuck on stupid, I gotta keep it moving
N-ggas make the same sh-t, me I make the blueprint
Came in Range, hopped out the Lexus every year since I've bin on that next sh-t traded in the gold for the platinum rolex's
Now a n-gga wrist match the status of my records
Used to rock a throwback, ballin on the corner
Now I rock a teller suit looking like a owner
No I'm not a Jonas brother I'm a grown up
No I'm not a virgin I use my cahonas
I move forward the only direction
cant be scared to fail Search and perfection
Gotta keep it fresh even when we sexing
but don't be mad at him when he's on to the next one
Freeze
F-ck a throwback jersey cos we on to the next one, and f-ck that autotune cos we oohhhhn, and n-ggas
I got a million ways to get it
Choose one (choose one)
Hey, bring it back (bring it back)
Now double your money and make a stack
I'm on to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
Mochu was a true born rapper—the way the slammed his fists down at the strong beat; the way he managed to excite the crowd with only these few beats; the way he managed to rap all these lyrics without falling dead due to lack of breath; the way he moved; the way he danced . . .
F-ck a throwback jersey cos we on to the next one, and f-ck that autotune cos we oohhhhn, and n-ggas don't be mad cos it's all about progression, loiterers should be arrested, I used to drink Kristal, muthaf-ckers racist, so I switched Gold Bottles on to that spade sh-t, you gon have another drink or you just gon babysit, on to the next one, somebody call da waitress, Baby i'm a boss, i dunno what they do, I don't get dropped, I dropped the label, World can't hold me, too much ambition, always knew it'd be like this when I was in the kitchen, n-ggas in the same spots, me I'm dodging rain drops, meaning i'm on vacay, chillin on a big yacht, yeah i go ton flip flops, white louie boat shoes, you should grow the f-ck up, come here let me coach you, Hold up,
I got a million ways to get it
Choose one (choose one)
Hey, bring it back (bring it back)
Now double your money and make a stack
I'm on to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
By this time, the girls didn't seem to give a crap about the fact that they were in seats; they stood up and started to jump up and down in their small space, and the people behind didn't complain, after all they had done the exact same thing a while back ago. They sung along to the chorus with Mochu, despite the fact they had only just heard the song.
Uh, Big pimpin in the house now, bought the land, tore the muthaf-cking house down, bought the car, tore the muthaf-cking roof off, ride clean, i don't ever take the shoes off, bought the jeep, tore the muthaf-cking doors off, foot out dat b-tch about to sh-t like a skateboard, navigation on tryin to find my next thrill, feelin myself i don't even need an x pill, can't chill but my neck will, haters really gon be mad off my next deal, uh, i dont know hwy they really worry bout my pockets, meanwhile i had Oprah chillin in the projects, had her out in Bed Stuy chillin on the steps, drinking quarter waters gotta be the best, MJ at summerjam, Obama on the text, y'all should be afraid of what I'm gonna do next. Hold up,
I got a million ways to get it
Choose one (choose one)
Hey, bring it back (bring it back)
Now double your money and make a stack
I'm on to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
On to the next one
The crowd all held their breath with awe at the last second of Mochu's song as behind him there was a huge bang!whizz! before the stage was covered in darkness and pearly smoke. It was a brilliant finish to the song, and a brilliant start to the concert, evidently so when the crowd applauded Mochu loudly and clearly. "Thank you, Tokyo Dome!" rung Mochu's voice and Ryo was pretty certain he wasn't going to be able to forget about that for quite a long time.
Unlike the rounds in the Alice Academy, where after a contestant another one would quickly follow, it took a bit longer for the transition of contestant in Tokyo Dome, especially as there was a band (courtesy of the Alice Academy) playing the music live instead of having the music pre-recorded on a CD player, as it was in the old days of the Academy. (Unless of course your performance was to play an instrument).
"Who's next?" Mr. Sakura questioned. "Mikan or Hotaru perhaps?"
"If a piano is rolled on stage, then it may as well be Hotaru." Anna helpfully commented.
"I still can't get over the fact that my baby goes to such an incredible school! With such incredible people!"
Aoi smiled, "Believe it or not Mrs. Sakura, you're daughter is one of those incredible people."
Mrs. Sakura squealed again. "Just wait till I tell those neighbours!"
The girls tinkled with laughter; Subaru snorted; Mr. and Mrs. Imai and her husband agreed; Ryo rolled his eyes.
"Look at the crowd! They're still going." Nonoko pointed out, and indeed the crowd were still at it, jumpin' around, screamin' around . . . "Must be incredible to be down there right now, eh?"
This conversation continued for about another three minutes before from the still misty stage, the sound of a piano was heard—"Hotaru?—"
"Good evening Tokyo," the Imai's all sat back down as the voice they heard definitely belonged to a boy, not a girl, "I'm Andou Tsubasa." immediately the crowd's anticipated silence broke and a loud cheering commenced whilst the melodious chords of the piano continued. A silhouette of Tsubasa came clear and people started to excitedly buzz, "He's playing the piano!" and even Sumire said, "I didn't know he could play the piano!"
"You know him?"
"Yeah," Sumire replied, looking a Ryo, "we had dinner with him and his friends before; nice guy, good looking too!"
Ryo thought about asking another question, but then saw how all the girls' gaze were locked on this Andou Tsubasa and left it.
"This song," came Andou Tsubasa's cool voice, "is called Come On, I hope you enjoy it." The crowd cheered but quietly silenced as the lyrics poured out.
Come On – Ben Jelen
And finally the silence
Looking out, looking back across the sky
Trying to find a meaning
It was so different. So different to atmosphere Mochu presented to the crowd, however the crowd didn't take it badly. Banners were painted across the sky reading "ANDOU TO WIN"; Mochu was the King of Rap at school whilst Andou Tsubasa had a completely different but just as respectable reputation for his music. His inky blue eyes popped out on screen, and the parents (no denying they didn't enjoy Mochu's performance) seemed to appreciate this softer music to a greater extent.
Knowing that I just left it all behind
Still I smell a lingering softness
Where did she go
How did she go
I wanna wanna know
I wanna know that she'll be coming here to me
On the edges of the stage, concealed by the beams stood Hotaru and Mikan beside each other; they had keenly been watching the competition from just about the beginning of Mochu's performance (they both agreed it was going to be hard to get the crowd to become that enthusiastic) and now they silently listened to Tsubasa Andou. Mikan's eyes weren't directed at her good-looking senior however, but instead at the enormous crowd and the glittering lights which looked like shooting stars from the cameras of the people.
Come on
Without you I'll never feel the love inside of me
Come on, you know that we belong
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Anna sighed, "Misaki is so lucky to have a guy like Tsubasa."
Thinking back before her
I never knew the meaning of alone
Still the flag is feeling foreign
I live the day to escape into a phone
Speaking of a world not real then
Where did she go
How did she go
I wanna wanna know
I wanna know that she'll be coming here to me
Come on
Without you I'll never feel the love inside of me
Come on, you know that we belong
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Cause each of her kisses
How my heart misses
She's coming
She's coming here to me
I'm needing
Desiring to kiss her now
I'm living for her
Breathing for her
Singing for her fairytale
Come on
Without you I'll never feel the love inside of me
Come on, you know that we belong
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on
Without you I'll never feel the love inside of me
Come on, come on, come on, come on
Come on . . .
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Mikan was scared. She was scared she wouldn't get a reaction from the crowd by her song, let alone a positive reaction just as Mochu and Tsubasa had received. She felt especially vulnerable now that she was standing alone, after having just kissed her best friend on the cheek good luck . . . Hotaru was gracefully making her way to the piano (she was purposefully placed after Tsubasa due to the convenience) and she hadn't even sat down yet but the crowd were going wild at her presence. Mikan smiled; she could have sworn she had heard the familiar voices of Mr. and Mrs. Imai but she wasn't certain.
She was going to be the last contestant of the night.
She was told this information at the beginning of the day and was initially surprised as she had expected it would be Crimson Abyss to finish it all off . . . she then felt scared because she had gone and assumed that she would perform sometime before them which would mean she could go run and take refuge in her changing room as soon as her performance was done.
But she was going to be the last to perform.
Meaning she'd be forced by the backstage crew to stay beside the stage during their performance so she could readily get on stage without any delay or fuss when it was her turn.
She was scared that people would boo.
But her friends went her issues with her a thousand times. "They won't boo at you," Sumire had firmly reassured her, "why would they, anyway?"
She was scared that people would laugh at her song.
"It's an honest powerful song, Mikan," Anna had firmly reassured her, "no-one can laugh at that."
She was scared she'd get stage-fright and leave flee the stage even before she could even utter a word.
"You won't," Nonoko had firmly reassured her, "once you're there, with thousands screaming your name, that thought will disappear like a faraway dream."
She was scared nobody would like her song.
"People will like your song," Aoi had firmly reassured her, "and if they don't, they're just deaf."
She was scared of facing Hyuuga after her performance.
"Don't worry," Hotaru had firmly reassured her, "I'll make sure that won't happen. I promise." And Hotaru never breaks her promise. "I'll be waiting right beside the stage so you can run to me when it's all done."
Mikan fulfilled her promise to Hotaru by watching her performance; her introduction was brief ("This piece is called Moonlight. (Yiruma)", nevertheless the crowd warmly welcomed her) and so Hotaru-like, Mikan couldn't help feel close to tears as she saw her best friend play.
The two had met when they were so small, and Hotaru was the new girl in town. She captured all attention with her beauty and unusual persona and Mikan recalled she couldn't help feel jealous but then infatuated by the new girl. And now, here they were, performing in front of thousands of people they didn't know . . . she didn't know why but these thoughts just made her so damn sad. Maybe it was because she only just realized how much she had changed since she was a little girl—of course, this was inevitable, but Mikan missed her so much. Her being the little girl she was a few years back. The little small-town girl with a big dream . . .
She wished she could go back in time.
"Hey!"
Mikan abruptly jumped in fright before she turned around to see an ever-happy looking Tsubasa Andou. Mikan let out a sigh of relief, "You scared me!" she laughed before she congratulated him on his performance. He thanked her and then the two continued to watch Hotaru's flawless performance silently.
"I just realized how much I can't wait till all this is over." Mikan suddenly said, catching Tsubasa off-guard.
"Why so?"
"I can't wait till Summer." was Mikan's simple reply after a second of two of nothing. "Once this is over, after a few weeks of school it'll all be over. I'll go back home." She sighed dreamily. "Until September."
Tsubasa laughed. "Sick of school?" Tsubasa questioned after his laughter ceased, in all seriousness.
Mikan shrugged, "You could say that." Her eyes were fixated on Hotaru during their brief conversation, and Tsubasa saw how Mikan's eyes sparkled when she started to clap for Hotaru, once her performance had ended. Without waving or saying good night, Hotaru left the stage, making the crowd feel as if they wanted more from the enchanting Hotaru Imai.
Hotaru was embraced by Mikan, and received a friendly pat on the shoulder from Tsubasa as soon as she was concealed away from the audience. "That was brilliant, Hotaru." Mikan truthfully remarked. "I dunno why but it nearly made me cry."
Hotaru snorted, but in a kind manner (if that was at all possible), "You're such a cry baby. But I messed up at one point, and knowing Jinno who has ears like a hawk he'd knock off some points off my performance because of that."
"No way," Tsubasa said, "Jinno wants you to win; there's no way he'd knock points off you!"
Next performing were Crimson Abyss, all three of them knew. The transition between Hotaru and Crimson Abyss was far greater than the change between Tsubasa and Hotaru and Mikan couldn't help the feeling of absolute nausea bubble as backstage crew quickly set up the stage for Crimson Abyss. She was talking to her friends with a smile but underneath, her heart was pounding, she felt sick—she hadn't seen Hyuuga in such a long time and she knew in a matter of minutes or seconds, she'd see him and his friends perform. Hopefully though, it'd be the last time she would have to see him. Sumire had pointed out a few weeks ago that Natsume and his crew were eighteen, meaning that they'd be graduating in July. "He'll be gone from the Academy! Meaning you'll never have to see him again! I mean, face to face," she had said, "'cos you know, they'll probably be on magazine covers but we can just vandalise 'em with Sharpies!"
That's right. Tonight will be the last night she'd ever see him.
Hotaru could easily see Mikan's growing anxiety but she didn't say or hint anything. Nevertheless she gripped tightly onto her hand when Mr. Prince announced, "And now on stage, please welcome Crimson Abyss!" Both Tsubasa and Hotaru heard Mikan take in a sharp breath at that, and they both noted how she screwed her eyes shut for a second or two.
The crowd was wilder than wilder however. They were bloody animalistic—chanting the band's name, howling, whooping, yapping . . . and that all intensified when the four members of Crimson Abyss appeared on stage.
The people of the Academy hadn't actually seen Natsume in what felt like ages (as he was locking himself in his room) however this made them scream even more—they welcomed him back, told him they misses his presence.
Natsume had a look which told the world he'd rather be anywhere else but here; his hair seemed longer and messier; his eyes looked as if they hadn't had any sleep in a long, long time . . . Koko and Kitsune-me, similar to Mochu, seemed to be lapping up all of the love from the crowd whilst Ruka smiled humbly as he made his way to the prepared drum-set.
"There's the bastard." Ryo growled, as his eyes considerably attenuated. "He's as disgusting as I remember."
"Look at them, acting as if they own the place." Sumire cruelly sneered.
"Actually Hyuuga looks like he wants to disappear." Anna pointed out while Nonoko agreed with her.
Aoi said nothing and just watched her brother with her identical crimson eyes. Just like Mikan, she thought, her brother had changed so much—he was still ruggedly handsome but there was something broken about him. He looked exhausted and his skin had an unhealthy tinge to it. Should I say something about what my dad said to Natsume to Mikan? But whenever she'd ask herself this question, the sobbing memory of Mikan resurfaced and she thought strongly against it. He has no excuses, she'd remind herself.
Meanwhile Mikan was breathing deeply as she looked at the boy she loved so much. "I-I . . ." she turned her teary hazel eyes away from him, to Hotaru. "I can't watch." Whilst everybody was joyfully, excitedly screaming Mikan was trying hard to keep her tears in.
Tsubasa worriedly looked at Hotaru, as he was unsure what to do but Hotaru simply just nodded, put an arm around her and steered her back away, away from the sides of the stage. "Can you tell the crew she's gone to the toilet?" Hotaru asked Tsubasa.
"Of course."
"Much appreciated, Tsubasa."
"Good evening, we're Crimson Abyss," came the baritone voice of Natsume Hyuuga from the stage. Mikan put her hands to her ears—go away, go away, go away, go away, go away . . . she didn't notice but Hotaru and the girls who were in the crowd immediately noticed the change of voice in Natsume as soon as he spoke—his voice was much huskier—it was cracked and croaky; it sounded as if he had been inhaling a large amount of smoke. "This song is called All the Right Moves."
An eerie chord played by Koko echoed in Tokyo Dome. The drums came. A beautiful voice came, a voice from Natsume Hyuuga.
Go away, go away, go away, GO AWAY, GO AWAY.
All the Right Moves – One Republic
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They've got
All the right moves in all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Fans of Crimson Abyss, people who weren't fans of Crimson Abyss, the judges—all of them noted the different tone and style of performance.
Let's paint the picture
Of the perfect place
They've got it better then when anyone's told ya
They'll be the King of Hearts, and you're the Queen of Spades
Then we'll fight for you like we were your soldiers
Natsume eyes were shut most of the time as he sung, as if he were imaging he was somewhere else while he sung this song. However he included hand movements—he painted a picture with his hands; his fisted a fist when he said 'soldiers'
I know we got it good, but they got it made,
And their grass is getting greener each day,
I know things are looking up, but soon they'll take us down,
Natsume opened his eyes, and seemed to wince at the bright light the audience emitted. He pointed up at the eternal sky before he pointed down at hell at the right time.
Before anybody's knowing our name
They've got...
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They've got
All the right moves in all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
They say
Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
They say
Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Ruka was pelting on the drums. Koko played the techno piano. Kitsune-me strummed his guitar. Natsume held tightly onto the mic, as if he was afraid to ever let go and he walked the length of the stage whilst he sang the chorus, looking for once at the audience. And well, the audience loved it. They loved the unusual special attention they were receiving from Natsume Hyuuga.
Do you think I'm special?
Do you think I'm nice?
He thrusted his fist to his heart at those two questions.
Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces?
Between the noise you hear, and the sounds you like
Are we just sinking the ocean of faces?
He motioned down at the faces of standing audience.
It can't be possible... the rain can fall
Only when it's over our heads.
The sun is shining everyday, but it's far away.
Over the world that's dead.
Sumire didn't know why, but hearing this song made her want to cry. Anna and Nonoko had their eyes firmly rested on Natsume Hyuuga. Aoi didn't know why either but she wanted to cry too. Vaguely in their minds, they all wondered how Mikan was taking all of this . . . little did they know she was currently in her changing room, clutching her head (trying to drown the noise out) whilst Hotaru softly stroked her back.
They've got, they've got...
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They've got
All the right moves in all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They've got
All the right moves in all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
They say
Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
They say
Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
What was this song trying to say?
It don't matter what you see
I know I could never be
Someone that'll look like you.
It don't matter what you say
I know I could never fake
Someone that could sound like you.
That was such an honest sounding verse; throughout it, the audience were still and quiet, watching as Natsume gazed off in the far distance, at the spotlight which shone so brightly down at him. The white light illuminated his already-white skin; it emphasized his ebony black hair as well as his blood-red irises.
"He's beautiful." Mrs. Sakura softly commented. "I've never seen such a beautiful boy."
Ryo who had vaguely heard that snorted, "Thanks, mum."
The camera zoomed in on Natsume's face, and in HD his face was hung on the two large screens, and the audience all noted the broken look that was painted on Natsume Hyuuga's face.
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down (Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me echo)
They've got
All the right moves in all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down (Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me echo)
Woo! (Koko)
They say
Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
They say
Everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
They're 'going down'? Who were 'going down'? Who was 'we'?
Yeah we're going down (all)
Yeah we're going down (all)
All the right moves, hey.
Yeah we're going down (Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me echo)
All the right moves, hey.
Yeah we're going down (Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me echo)
He sang the last two repeats of the chorus with such intensity, such passion—he clutched his shirt; he put the microphone close to his lips; his screwed his eyes shut here and there . . . and for the first time in years, Aoi felt as if she had seen the Natsume Hyuuga she had remembered; the vulnerable fifteen year old, who confused about his dreams and unsure about his evident talent.
All the right moves, hey.
Yeah we're going down (Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me echo)
All the right moves, hey.
Yeah we're going down (Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me echo)
The crowd ever-so loudly applauded at Crimson Abyss—Koko punched his fist up energetically in the air and was shouting something that sounded quite like, "LONG LIVE!"; Kitsune-me bowed rather mockingly, with a grin on his face; Ruka all but smiled humbly again; Natsume curtly nodded in thanks. "Goodnight." was his last words in the microphone, and the applaud and shouting followed the band like a shadow, even when they were gone from the stage.
"A spectacular performance from Crimson Abyss, nothing new!" the people besides Aoi commented to one another. It wasn't just them though; the whole audience were buzzing and murmuring about their performance, including the Imais and the Sakuras. "I'm telling you I have seen them on television before!" Mr. Sakura was now adamantly declaring. "I would've have remembered a face like that any day!"
"You probably have, Mr. Sakura." came the voice of Aoi Hyuuga. "They're quite famous, like Mochu, outside the Academy." The parents and Subaru, who didn't know quite yet that this mesmerizing girl was related to the handsome boy they had just seen, all furrowed their eyebrows in curiosity.
"I'm sorry to ask, but are you related to that young chap?" Mr. Imai questioned, unable to hold in his curiosity. "You have the same eyes."
"I'm a Hyuuga too." Aoi weakly smiled.
"We'll have to get an autograph! And a picture!" Mrs. Sakura exclaimed, brandishing her camera like a baboon with a stick.
The girls and Ryo all exchanged looks; the parents and Subaru weren't told about Mikan and Natsume's relationship. Mikan had insisted to Ryo that she'd be the one to tell her parents what had happened to her in the Academy over the summer when she returned home. "Please don't tell them," Mikan had begged on the phone to Ryo, "I'll tell them." Ryo was sure now his mother and father would both be downright flabbergasted in the summer when they discovered the 'beautiful' boy was actually Mikan's ex-boyfriend. No doubt about that.
"Guys!" Anna suddenly gasped. "Mikan's next!"
Mrs. Sakura nearly dropped her camera in excitement.
However, Mikan was still in her changing room with Hotaru. "Mikan," Hotaru gently urged her best friend. The two had both noticed how the faint voices of Crimson Abyss had ended a few seconds ago. "C'mon. Let's go. It's your turn to perform."
"Hotaru," Mikan quietly said, as she stood up, "do you remember the First Round?"
"Yes."
"Seems so insignificant now, doesn't it?" With that, Mikan let out a deep breath, looked at her best friend and announced. "I'm okay now. I'm ready. Let's go."
0
"Where is she?" Mr. Sakura asked for the sixth time.
"Oh no. What if she's fallen asleep!" Mrs. Sakura gasped, aghast.
Sumire laughed, "Don't worry, Hotaru won't let that happen. We're sure she'll be on soon!" Nevertheless, she exchanged looks with the others a bit worried for their friend. Crimson Abyss had left the stage three and a half minutes ago, and from the looks of things Mikan's 'stage' was set-up. All of a sudden the lights on stage flashed, grabbing everyone's attention and immediately causing a chain reaction for the audience to appreciatively applaud and cheer. It was Mr. and Mrs. Sakura cue to get their bright yellow banner for Mikan out (to Ryo's absolute horror and embarrassment). The girls screamed along with the crowd, and Ryo then suddenly felt his heart swell—these people were cheering for his little sister. He was so proud of Mikan. And when he saw her make her way to the stage, several feelings coursed through his veins.
Firstly, he was shocked at her appearance.
Secondly, he felt really over-protective over her.
Thirdly, he was riveted and astonished by the fact that Mikan had managed to induce such a reaction from the crowd just by her appearance on stage.
"THAT'S MY BABY!"
"Tokyo Dome," Mikan sweet, sweet voice came, "it's lovely to see each and everyone of you tonight. Before I start, I'd just like to thank my friends and say hello to the family. I know you're there somewhere." The cameras captured her smiles, and in the midst of the screaming crowds she could have sworn she had heard the voice of her mother.
"She's grown so much." Mr. Sakura tearfully remarked as he watched his beloved daughter's face carefully.
"The song I'm going to sing tonight is called My Happy Ending." She smiled a hollow smile."It's completely ironic, I warn you." And with that, the band started to play, and Mikan started to sing, without missing a second of a beat.
My Happy Ending – Avril Lavigne
So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
Mikan had her eyelids gently fluttered closed, and then, they opened.
Let's talk this over
It's not like we're dead
Was it something I did?
She almost painfully pointed at herself.
Was it something you said?
She pointed randomly with her left curled up index finger.
Don't leave me hanging
In a city so dead
"I think Tokyo is a dead city."
Natsume's eyebrows raised higher and Mikan sighed and explained, "Tokyo. It's hardly got any green trees, it's always busy with cars, and there's hardly any nature! Hyuuga, if you ever go to Nagoya, or the county side, then you will understand what I'm saying. You haven't really lived until you've actually seen the real life. Computers and technology isn't the real life. Simply, in my opinion, Tokyo is a dead city."
Natsume didn't answer for a while, and lazily played with his chopsticks, as he kept his gaze on Mikan. Then he bluntly said, "You sound so old."
Held up so high
Memories were flooding her mind; it was as if she was suddenly a riverside and all these memories were overflowing from her bank . . . she gently, like a ballerina, lifted her arm and pressing her thumb and middle finger together she drew out a thread.
On such a breakable thread
You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be
Mikan lightly laughed, before she let out a small sigh. She lay her head down, and it was only when she heard a low yet steady beat did she realize she was laying on Natsume's chest—the beat being his heart beat. When she thought about it, she did wonder why the elevator walls had suddenly gotten so warm, for a fraction of a second.
"Oh, sorry Natsume!" Mikan exclaimed as she pulled her head up, "I didn't—"
"It's fine."
You were everything, everything that I wanted
Natsume gave a throaty laugh before he flicked Mikan on her forehead again, which she responded to with a similar reaction but adding a warning, "Flick me one more time buddy, and I swear I'll bite you!"
Natsume raised his eyebrows once more and replied, "Kinky."
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
Natsume stood up, causing her to stand up as well, as their hands were still entwined.
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
"Come on—this way," Natsume declared, as he turned back his head slightly, grabbed a hold of Mikan's hand, and lead the direction to the famous Ueno Kouen. Mikan couldn't help smile, and laugh as together they ran hand in hand towards the entrance of the park.
"Natsume—" before she could finish her sentence, Natsume kissed her.
Mikan suddenly heard quick steps shuffle towards her and gingerly raised her head, which only resulted in her eyes glazing with tears again. Natsume had come for her, and by the way he was panting she was almost certain he had run his way here.
Natsume raised an eyebrow at her and then he proceeded by sitting down on his chair but then clutching onto Mikan's waist only to pull her down on his lap, which caused her to squeak—but then she blinked and looked at him and laughed.
Mikan felt a soft kiss on her forehead as she yawned, and before she knew it she was tumbling down a dreamless swirl of sleep, with Natsume Hyuuga still caressing her hair.
Mikan looked almost violent when she clutched her dark brown hair with her left hand before slammed it down beside her, really emphasizing she wanted them (her memories) to go away.
All this time you were pretending
"Why? You want to know why?" Natsume suddenly snarled, his voice harsh and uncaring.
So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
For the kids who went to the Alice Academy they realized then and there that this song was about Natsume Hyuuga, and they all listened carefully to her lyrics, as they all knew this was the only story they were going to get out of their sudden break-up. The crowd cheered however at the end of the chorus, but Mikan was oblivious to it all. Because to Mikan, it felt as if it was just her and her haunting memories in the world—nobody else. Just them.
You've got your dumb friends
I know what they say
They tell you I'm difficult
But so are they
Muffled voices of Ruka, Kitsune-me and Koko started to fill her ears, and with a smile, she was just about to knock on the door—
"Mikan's a great girl . . . she really is . . . but she's made everything so difficult . . ."
Mikan froze.
That was definitely Ruka's voice.
The three boys, Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me were indeed watching Mikan's performance from the stage sidelines with heavy hearts (the initial high from their performance a few minutes ago had died already) but when Mikan said that, they all looked incredulously at one another. "What—"
Natsume immediately shushed Koko before he could utter another syllable. Natsume Hyuuga was watching Mikan Sakura perform, too. His crimson eyes were fixated on her. They did not leave her. He had an expressionless face plastered on and only he knew how he was feeling at that very moment, watching his ex-girlfriend perform a song that was so blatantly about him.
His knuckles were white.
But they don't know me
She violently pointed at herself with three fingers before she thrusted those fingers out at the crowd—
Do they even know you?
All the things you hide from me
"Natsume. What's wrong?" Mikan cut him off, genuinely frightened now. "Please tell me, you're scaring me—"
"It's nothing."
All the shit that you do
"Did Mikan just swear?" Mrs. Sakura blurted out.
You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be
Natsume smirked before he replied, "I'll get her the biggest diamond in the world."
You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
"Mikan, I'm here for you—if you want to cry, then go ahead and cry. You can drown me in your tears for all I care." He exclaimed, and he couldn't help smile slightly when he heard Mikan let out a watery chuckle.
Mikan pulled her out of Natsume's torso and looked up into his crimson orbs, "You'll be here for me?"
Natsume nodded.
"Forever and always?"
Natsume rolled his eyes in amusement before he promised, "Forever and always."
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
It's nice to know that you were there
Thanks for acting like you cared
"Shhh . . ." Natsume soothed her as he tightened his hold onto Mikan's petite body.
And making me feel like I was the only one
She was walking down the corridor, making her way to the elevators when a saccharine voice wafted its way into her ears . . .
". . . right? So I go in, just to, like, double check it wasn't him but it was Natsume!"
Mikan stopped in her tracks. Natsume? . . . Luna Koiuzmi?
"And, like, guess what? Natsume invited me to have lunch with him! How saa-weet?"
Even Natsume couldn't help but betray his blank façade, nor could he stop Koko demanding, "You cheated on her?"
Immediately he denied it. "Of course not!" his spat his answer brutally out, casting an ominous glare in Koko's direction. Koko, who felt an urge to hit Natsume for the first time in his life, let his sudden anger pass and continued to watch Mikan's performance.
It's nice to know we had it all
"You're a star, Mikan."
She responded by kissing him in a way she had never kissed him before.
That night, Mikan shone brightly than she ever did in her life. She gave all that she could offer to Natsume; her passion, her desire, her love and her innocence. On the starry night of May, Mikan gave herself away to the boy she believed she loved.
Thanks for watching as I fall
And letting me know we were done
"Because we're done, Sakura. Finished. Gone. Terminated. Dead. Got it? We're done, Sakura."
Mikan didn't realize it herself, but tears were dancing in her eyes at that point—in front of her, she could not see the crowd, instead all she could see was Natsume (on repeat) telling her they were over. Telling her that they were done. Finished. Gone. Terminated. Dead.
You were everything, everything that I wanted
The world seemed to stop spinning for Mikan. She could hear her heart beat. She could now feel the tears spilling from her eyes.
They were over.
Her sadness though, turned to silent frustration and anger, that was all directed at that crimson eyed boy, who was her first love.
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
Her bottled up emotions towards him all burst out; the tears freely fell, she clutched her microphone tighter than ever; she shook her head making her hair fly in all directions . . .
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
She seemed to be praying to God, praying desperately for all of the memories that circulated her everyday would just go away.
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away
Mikan laughed only to happily say, "Well, as long as I have GPS, music, the bear you got me and you . . . I'm cool."
"I'm cool too."
Natsume didn't have to tell her what he meant by that—she already knew; as long as they had each other they were okay; they were invincible.
"What should we call him?"
Mikan's question startled Natsume, and for a brief moment images of Mikan carrying a baby boy in her arms flashed in his mind before he blinked thrice and asked, "What should we call who?"
"Him," Mikan pointed at her bear with laughter etched to her sweet voice, "of course!"
Mikan watched Natsume ponder for a second or two, before his lips curved up and he announced, "Natsume Junior."
"Natsume Junior?" Mikan incredulously repeated before she started to laugh. "Oh God Natsume you are so arrogant." But Mikan said it in such an endearing tone, it was almost as if she was saying those three words.
She was so stupid!
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
So much for my happy ending
She briefly bitterly laughed into the microphone—the irony of it all! So much for her happy fucking ending indeed.
So much for my happy ending.
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
Without saying another word, Mikan breathed deeply into the microphone before she walked off stage. She failed to hear all of the screams and cheers the crowd made for her—just for her—all she could think about was getting back to Hotaru as soon as possible. Mikan wasn't the only one to disappear however, when Ruka looked back to see his best friend all he saw was an empty spot. Natsume had fled too.
It was over. It was all over.
0
The thirty minute break commenced and the Imais and the Sakura parents all went to get some refreshments and went to go to the toilet while they waited for the results to be announced. People in Tokyo Dome were all buzzing about who they thought would win tonight and while Ryo was being dragged by Sumire through the crowd, he caught a lot of different opinions about the Final Round. The girls were taking Ryo backstage—"Is that allowed?" Ryo has asked when Sumire had announced where they were going before she had grabbed his hand. "No, but thanks to Hotaru's conniving ways, yes. We promised them we'd come with you to them during the interval. Only us though."
"Hotaru said if we brought her and your parents it'd get too crowded and it would become too much of a fuss." Nonoko had also informed Ryo. "And Subaru-kun looked like he was desperate to eat."
"Fair enough." Ryo shrugged, not really caring—he was desperate to see his little sister but his eyes widened when he saw the size of the body-guard standing in front of the backstage doors. He was at least two metres tall, and had a face that gave them all the impression that he frowned every second of every minute of every day.
"No entrance." came his gruff, monkey-like voice.
"I've got the password." Sumire confidently replied. "From Hotaru Imai." She added, murmuring.
Monkey-man actually seemed to take interest in this, raised his eyebrows, looked to his left and right before he bent down so Sumire could whisper: "Password is: password1." in his ear.
"Correct." And with that, King Kong quickly let the girls and Ryo shuffle into the backstage rather inconspicuously.
"I feel like I'm in a speakeasy!" Ryo laughed. "How did Hotaru manage—"
"She blackmailed him." Nonoko answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ah." Ryo smiled. "I shouldn't have even asked."
The girls looked at the charts and saw were all the final contestants changing rooms were—007 for Hotaru and 008 for Mikan. "Let's go!"
"Wait, guys." Aoi stopped them, and when they all looked back at her, she sheepishly smiled. "I really need to do a number one." They all giggled and smiled at her declaration. "Do you mind if I just meet you there? I won't be two seconds!"
"Of course!" Sumire answered. "We'll be in Mikan's room."
Aoi winked. "See you in a few!" With that, Aoi made her way to the toilets. However, she never actually went in, instead she waited for the footsteps of her friends to silence outside the entrance of the toilets. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins and once she heard nothing she started to walk in the direction of room 013—Crimson Abyss' changing room, according to the charts. As briskly walked, she felt like volcano—all of the anger, tears, frustration she felt for her brother for past years finally seemed to have endured enough pressure; she was gonna blow. She knew it. She angry. A year ago, this time, Aoi would have never dreamt to do what she about to do, but after seeing Mikan's performance she knew it was the last straw.
Aoi didn't have any second thoughts as she roughly knocked on the door of room 013. She didn't get cold feet when she heard the voices insides. She didn't for one second worry about what her brother might say or do to her in response. She didn't care.
Ruka opened the door.
He seemed surprised to see her. "Aoi—"
Ignoring him, Aoi pushed past the boy she once used to fondly call 'Ru-chan' and walked deeper into the depth of their changing room. Koko and Kitsune-me's jaw also dropped in surprise and before they could blink twice, she stood behind Natsume who was sat with his back to her in an armchair. He didn't even seem to notice somebody had knocked on the door—his eyes were blankly focused in front of him, so he was thoroughly shocked when he felt a hard poke in his shoulder and even more shocked when he saw who had poked him. It shocked him so much to see his sister (with such a fierce expression) he stood up from his seat like reflex action. "H-How did you get in—"
He didn't manage to finish that sentence as Aoi had slapped him hard across the cheek. Ruka, Koko and Kitsune-me froze. Natsume's cheek tingled ever so familiarly. Aoi's eyes blared with hatred. "You're fucked up in the head, Natsume." Aoi spat with absolute venom. "I heard you that day. I wasn't deaf temporarily, I heard just as I clearly hear Mikan cry every single night—I heard you say that Mikan was the best thing that ever happened to you. You said it! Didn't you? Didn't you? And look what you done!" she threw her hands up as she scoffed in disgust. "You've gone and ruined it all! You're fucked up! You—you! Ugh!" Aoi cried in absolute frustration, whirled 180degrees for a second before she looked back at her brother. Her expression was no longer murderous; instead she looked as if she were in pain. "You . . . Natsume, all these years . . . dad called you a disgrace. Even when that happened," everybody in the room knew she meant the incident on his fifteenth birthday, "I didn't find you a disgrace. Even after you left without saying a goodbye to me, I didn't find you a disgrace. Even when you completely ignored me and pretended as if we were strangers in the Academy I didn't find you a disgrace. But, wow," her expression suddenly turned hard, "by God that's all changed. You're a complete disgrace! You're fucked up. You need to see someone, I swear!" Aoi let out a ratty bottled up breath before she gazed into his eyes; his eyes, which were so similar to her's . . . "I never thought I'd think, let alone say this but Natsume I am ashamed to be your sister. You're just as bad as dad!" Natsume looked up at the statement, his face blank but a wound evident in his eyes. "You hurt everybody who cares about you by pushing them away—your friends, me, and now Mikan . . ." Aoi let another cry. "Y-You're fucked up!" With that lingering statement, Aoi turned around, ignoring the other three boys, leaving them all in a state of shock without so much of a goodbye.
Letting out a prickly breath once she slammed the door behind her, Aoi felt a huge burden that she carried on her shoulders for the past years finally lift.
Goodbye, Natsume.
She walked away with no regrets.
0
"Come in!" came Mikan's voice, and Aoi popped her head in before she dazzled them all with her smile. "Aoi!" Mikan happily called.
Aoi noted that Mikan looked like a different person to the person who had just performed. She didn't look as if she had just been crying; she had a jolly face plastered on. Whether it was real or just a brave face Aoi hugged her friend tightly, whispering in her ear, "You were so brilliant." Aoi looked up and pulled Hotaru clumsily into the hug too. "You were both so brilliant." She sighed when she let the two girls go. "I wish you could both win."
Both shrugged, not really caring. "We've agreed that if, and only if one of us wins that person has to take all of us for dinner tomorrow night." Mikan winked. "But no biggie if we don't."
Mikan sat back down and took a hold of her older brother's warm hand again. She gingerly smiled over at him, and he returned it. She knew however that whilst she could fool her friends (sans Hotaru) with a smile, it was much harder with Ryo as he knew her like the back of his hand. But when he squeezed her hand tightly, she tightly squeezed back in a sisterly manner. She had missed him so much.
The chirpy talking continued for a few minutes before they heard another knock at the door. "Hey!" came the muffled voice of Andou Tsubasa from the other side of the changing room door. "It's me and a friend! Can we come in?"
"By all means please do!" was Mikan's reply and in a matter of seconds, she saw Tsubasa and—"Oh, Kaname!"
Sono Kaname, the handsome blonde boy she had bumped into was there by the doorway too, with a beautiful bouquet in his hands. He waved over at Mikan and she heartily returned it, completely oblivious to the other girls whose jaws were practically touching the floor in absolute shock. Even Hotaru seemed surprised and Mikan vaguely noticed Ryo's hand twitch in her's at the sight of Kaname, but she ignored it before gasping, "Wow! What lovely flowers!"
Kaname threw her a sheepish smile. "They're for you. I'm glad you don't think them as, y'know, corny."
"No of course not!" Mikan laughed. She detangled her fingers from her brother's entwine and stood up to take the flowers Kaname had presented with her. "My first ever bouquet!" she took a second or two or maybe five to admire all the beautiful summer flowers before she looked up Kaname. "They're wonderful!" She inhaled the flowers before she gasped, "Oh how silly of me! Guys this is—"
"Sono Kaname." Hotaru automatically interrupted.
Mikan furrowed her eyebrows, briefly confused why Hotaru knew Kaname's name but nevertheless she shrugged it off and continued, "She's my best friend, Hotaru; my brother Ryo," Ryo nodded, "my friend Sumire," Sumire's jaw was still gaped open, "my twin friends Anna and Nonoko," both the twins' eyes were glassy. "and finally my friend Aoi." A blush that rivaled her red eyes crept on Aoi's cheek.
"Nice to meet you all." Kaname politely answered, smiling at each and every one of them. He then turned his olive-green eyes to Mikan to say, "I just wanted to congratulate you. I thought you were great."
Mikan smiled. "Thank you."
He winked at her (not in a lecherous manner but in a friendly, cool manner that only a good-looking boy such as himself could pull off), before he looked over his shoulder at Andou Tsubasa, "My VIP ticket entitles me to a free glass of champagne—what do you say?"
"I say let's go get it!"
The two handsome boys proceeded to say goodbye to them all (Kaname's eyes however lingered on Mikan's far longer than it did to anybody else) before the door shut close. Mikan fondly inspected her flowers again before she gently placed them on her make up table while humming an unfamiliar tune. How sweet Kaname was! She looked up, and by the reflection of the mirror looked at all her friends. That's when she noticed that her friends and brother still all strangely looked shocked to the bone. "Um . . ." she flickered her eyes between them all, "am I missing something?"
Dot.
Dot.
Dot.
Suddenly Sumire sprung up from her seat and her hands—claws—abruptly clutched Mikan's shoulders. Mikan's eyes widened, caught by surprise at Sumire's brash action and at Sumire's bulging, questioning eyes. "How," she shook Mikan once, "do you," she shook Mikan again like a limp dolly, "know Sono Kaname?"
Mikan blinked. "I met him." She truthfully replied, worried albeit a bit scared of her friend. Sumire demanding eyes urged her on. "I mean, I bumped into him a few weeks ago." She laughed. "It's a funny story, really." Mikan couldn't help but feel nervous when everybody continued to look at her with that same incredulous expression, none of them amused in the slightest way. "Why? More like how to you know him?"
"Mikan!" Sumire shrieked. "It's Sono bloody Kaname! Everybody knows him!"
Mikan blinked again. Then she furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?"
"BECAUSE," Sumire resumed with the shaking-Mikan-like-a-limp-dolly action, "HE'S," another shake, "A," yet another shake, "FAMOUS," oh guess what, another shake, "ACTOR!" annnnd a final shake for good measures.
It took a while for Mikan to process what Sumire had just informed her. And once she did, she blinked again, before she threw her head back and barked with laughter. "Yeah right!"
Sumire twitched and her grip tightened rather dangerously.
Mikan stopped laughing.
. . .
"Holy shit!" Mikan gasped. "Are you serious?"
"He had a VIP ticket," Hotaru pointed out. "I tried to get them for you all but I couldn't as they were reserved for famous people; very important people, as they like to call it."
"Me, the boy from rural Nagoya knows who Sono Kaname is!" Ryo added, rather hysterically. "He's in all the good dramas nowadays—how do you not know him?"
"I do know him."
"No!" Ryo cried. "I mean, how did you not know who he was? He's famous! He was in the movie last year, you know, the one where the boy gets drafted into the army in World War Two and has to leave his fiancée behind—"
"Oh my God, I love that film!" Anna gushed. "I'll Love You Forever."
"That's the one!" Ryo said. "It was huge! With Yuri Miyazono too!"
"Hey!" Mikan gasped. "Now I think about it, when I met him he did mention something about giving Tsubasa free premiere tickets!"
Aoi was flicking wildly through the magazine, which was laid forgotten on the floor, and soon enough she shoved a spread into Mikan's face to prove to her finally that they weren't all just pulling her leg. And Mikan could all but gape when she saw there were two double pages on Sono Kaname.
"You were given a bouquet by Sono Kaname!" Nonoko squealed. "Do you know how many girls would kill to be you right now?"
"He is so much more better looking in person." Aoi murmured beside Mikan as she flicked through the magazine.
"You were given flowers!" Sumire repeated, as if she only just discovered this information "By Kaname Sono! Holy Jesus Christ!" Sumire screamed in excitement. Sumire then threw Mikan a cheeky smile, "I bet he likes you—"
"We're just friends." Mikan firmly interrupted, before she shut close the magazine with a smile. "It's nothing like that, Permy."
I'm not ready for anything else.
A smile. A laugh. A grin. A giggle. After her performance Mikan was certain that all her smiles, laughs, grins and giggles were forced and not 100percent genuine. After her performance, she had ran to Hotaru's arm and Hotaru fulfilled her promise—with Tsubasa they quickly took the shaking Mikan to her changing room. She stopped crying in Hotaru's arm quickly enough however and once she sat down in her changing room, she insisted that she was relieved more than anything else that the competition was all over. But this was not true. Memories were shifting in and out of reality for Mikan. There was a thin, thin line between the, she had discovered.
"It doesn't stop me from imaging your babies!"
Everyone, including Mikan, laughed at that statement.
Mikan wondered once her laughter ceased whether if Natsume hadn't done what he did to both Aoi and Sumire they could have had a conversation like this about him instead. Whether they would have helped her before every date to get her outfit perfect . . .
It was never meant to be. There were so many signs and signals but you ignored them all.
Suddenly a series of notes played to signal an announcement was about to be made. "Ladies and gentlemen," came a clear low voice of a girl, "the judges will be announcing the winner of the Alice Academy Music Competition in five minutes." The girls all gasped. "Please all return to your seats." The announcement repeated, but before the second one had finished, Ryo and the girls had wished luck to both Hotaru and Mikan again and were cleared out of Mikan's changing room.
It was just the two of them now.
"You okay, Mikan?"
Mikan nodded.
Then a smile crept on Hotaru's face. "I can't believe you're friends with Sono Kaname. It's so you not to know who he was either."
Mikan smiled.
There was sharp knock on the door and before Mikan gave her consent the door opened to reveal a backstage crew—he had quickly announced that all final contestants were to go on stage for the announcements. He was in such a rush he didn't even hear Mikan thank him for the notice.
"Hey Hotaru?"
"Mm?"
"Can you hold my hand during the announcements?"
Hotaru knew what Mikan had meant. She knew Mikan was probably silently freaking out because she had figured out that she'd have to see Natsume on the stage during the announcements. "Of course, Mikan. C'mon; let's quickly retouch your make-up."
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Natsume Hyuuga came on stage late. But the point was he came; the rest of the band members (including Yuu Tobita who watched from the sidelines) were worried that he wasn't going to show up at all. After being shouted at by his sister, silence had filled their changing room . . . until he quietly left. The three didn't know where he had disappeared off too but they let out a sigh of relief when he appeared. Natsume didn't say anything, but the three knew Natsume had taken what Aoi said to the heart.
He stood beside Ruka, and didn't answer when Ruka asked him if he was alright and questioned where the hell he had just been.
Crimson Abyss were clustered on the far right of the stage while Mikan stood on the far left of the stage—as far as possible away from Natsume Hyuuga—whilst holding Hotaru's hand who stood to he right.
Drums were banging, inducing a greater sense of suspense. The crowd were all shouting different names and things. Lights were flashing everywhere in Tokyo Dome.
Mr. Prince who was given the signal, opened the piece of paper that laid in his hand. " . . . aaanndd the winner for the 2008 Alice Academy Music Competition is—"
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End of Chapter Thirty Three
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A/N: YOU ARE THE JUDGES. YOU GET TO DECIDE WHO WINS THE COMPETITION. Go to my profile and vote on the poll! Voting ends on the 30th of June 2011. Polls now closed.
Information about why I chose the songs above for the Final Round (does not need to be read - just for those who want to know.)
Mochu's song was chosen because I saw Jay-Z last year and that song was the one that stuck to me the most. Tsubasa's song was chosen because I love it (the song) so much and I think it needs more views on Youtube, haha. Hotaru's piano piece; I think we all love Yiruma (hopefully not because of Twilight, yuck.)
Now Crimson Abyss.
I saw One Republic last year too (I am a bit of a concert junkie) with my friends, and (I say it with shame) I went without really knowing their songs (only two, to be honest from their older album) but when they played All The Right Moves I was just was one of those songs in a concert where you could hear lyrics—it didn't sound like music mesh, which sadly most opening acts usually provide. But despite the fact I could hear the lyrics, I couldn't comprehend the message of the song. So being a, I dunno, freak I suppose, I came home and typed in: 'Songmeanings All the Right Moves'
And this is what I got:
To me, the lyrics are not quite clear since I can't tell who "they" seems to refer to. My take on it though, I could be wrong, is that this song is about a relationship as have been said between a guy and a girl. The guy feels that she is too good for him ("It don't matter what you see/I know I could never be/Someone that'll look like you.") and that the relationship won't last.
Possibly he feels this way because he thinks society or other people are trying to break them up ("but soon they'll take us down/
Before anybody's knowing our name") and also in this section of the song :
"All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
And that's why I chose that song.
And Mikan's song; well, considering I actually wrote the plan of this story with that song in my mind at the age of twelve, it was inevitable really.