DISCLAIMER: I do not own GA.
CHAPTER 54: One of the best moments of my life
The after game party was filled with loads of people. Mico cannot even identify who the other people were but he didn't really care since the only thing that he was wishing for finally came true – beating the butts of the high schoolers in basketball.
He was busy with Koko, Ruka, Yuu and the other varsity players drinking to their hearts content with a few girls beside them. Hotaru was beside Ruka, of course.
"Mico?" A voice suddenly interrupted Mico's celebration and he turned around to her direction only to find out that it was Shizuka Mizumaki. "Why are you guys out here in the garden? The party is in your room, you know." She added while looking at the others.
"Imai told us that it'd be better here since the whole room of the twins were too noisy." Yuu explained.
"And what are you doing here?" Mico then asked her.
"I was kind of looking for Natsume so I hope to see you guys just in case that he was with you."
"Nope. He's definitely not in here." Mico answered while looking at every one who is present in the garden area.
"Have you checked the Sakura Tree?" Ruka suggested while Shizuka shook her head.
"I already went there and he's not there. He's also nowhere to be found inside the room."
"What time is it?" Mico asked suddenly.
"It's already a few minutes till one in the morning. Why?" Ruka stated while glancing at his clock.
"I'm tired."
"Already? I thought you're a party maniac." Hotaru commented with a smirk.
"Yeah. But I doubt it if you could be able to sleep right now in your room since it's way too messy and way too chaotic if you ask me." Shizuka added while Mico rolled his eyes. "Where is Mikan-chan anyway? Is she inside or staying somewhere else?" She asked again, changing the topic.
Upon hearing those words, Mico and Hotaru's eyes widened in shock. Hotaru then gave Mico a did-you-forget-about-her-again type of glare and Mico gulped. His head snapped up.
"Dammit!" He hissed. It was almost one in the morning and he had totally forgotten about his little and only sister in the bleachers. He abruptly stood up and headed towards the car.
"Sakura! If you can't bring my best friend back in this room within an hour safe and sound you will surely meet my baka cannon 3.5 and baka bazooka 4.0" Hotaru threatened him while Ruka gulped.
"Hey Mico! Make sure you make it within an hour because even if you find Mikan-chan while exceeding the time given by Hotaru, you'll still get hit by her guns!" Ruka yelled while Mico was walking briskly towards the car.
"Shit! How could I forget about my little sister?! ugh! She had better gotten a ride by this time of night. She wasn't that dumb enough to stay behind…. Or was she???" Mico thought while speeding off back to the bleachers while uttering a few incoherent words at the same time. "I am so dead when okaa-san finds out that I left her in there!! Mimi, you better be safe or else I am so done for it from Imai when I get back to the dorms…"
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The kiss would have lasted longer if only Mikan didn't pull away from shock. The kiss surprised Mikan for three reasons.
1) Natsume kissed her.
2) She kissed back. And
3) it was her first kiss.
Mikan plopped herself on the bleachers and stared at Natsume in shock. "Uhm…" She trailed off. Natsume was still standing there in front of her on the spot, waiting for her reaction. "You just kissed me…" Mikan blurted out like a total idiot.
"Mikan…" Natsume trailed off, his voice was filled with uncertainty. Mikan's eyes stared at his face filled with so much expression and that made her even more confused. But she was also too busy trying to figure out all of the thoughts that were in her head. Yes, she had thought that she was the mystery girl but after the short conversation that she had with Shizuka, she was so sure that the mystery girl was Shiuzka and not her.
"It's you…" Natsume finally finished. Mikan's eyes snapped back to him.
"Me?" Mikan squeaked while she was trying to see if her vocal cords were still functioning properly. There are things that can be called surprises in the world. But for Mikan, this thing is nothing near a surprise. It was very huge and gigantic surprise. "Me? like… me? as in… your… mystery… girl?" She stuttered once again while asking Natsume in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked softly.
MIKAN'S POV
"Natsume, it has already been a year since I met you and you just held it all in?" I asked softly and I suddenly felt guilty. Since the very first day that I met Natsume, I had been way too clueless for the past months to notice that it was me all the while. I was his MYSTERY GIRL.
All this time, I had thought that he was just playing the role of another big brother to me just like my twin. He was like Mico-nii's sidekick when it comes to beating every single guy who comes near me. I didn't even come to a time that I would think that Natsume would be doing those things for other intentions like for romantic stuff. Everything that he have told me that left me confused and hanging were now solved. Every little hint that Natsume showed, I had missed. Oh gosh, I am so dense.
I know that I am not the smartest girl in the world but how on earth could I miss all of the hints that he was giving me? All of those times that I was with TSubasa and he got mad was all because of that he was… jealous.
"Mikan, even if I had already told you that you're the mystery girl, would you take me seriously?" He asked me while staring at me real hard. Since not long ago that I have realized that I'm falling for him, of course I would be taking him seriously. But the question was: would he take me seriously if ever I was the first one to spill about the feelings that I have for him? I swallowed and then fiddled with the tip of my auburn hair. I was still in a state of shock to speak right now.
"I know very well that you're surprised and you're probably feeling really weird right now. But I really truly definitely love you, Mikan. I have fallen for you since day one that I met you and even if you don't remember, I have loved you even before I knew that you were Mico's sister. Mikan, you probably wouldn't understand…." He trailed off and then sighed. "Damn, I don't know what to say right now." I heard him whisper, his cheeks, were slightly flushed with a tint of pink.
He then lifted his head and started speaking. "I know that I'm just a friend to you or maybe your brother's best friend for that matter. But there are a whole lot of guys out there who really wants to be with you. And as of tonight, I would want you to know that I am one of those guys. And I also hope that when you choose the guy who is for you, I hope that you'll not leave me out of your choices." He spoke softly while trying his best to hold eye contact with me. He was just so adorable.
"Natsume…" I mumbled while looking at his handsome face. I guess that this is my chance to put the old Mikan Sakura who always keep all her feelings to herself behind. I have to be confident about my feelings at one point in my life, right? So I straightened up and said "I'm already in love with someone."
Upon saying those words, the small hint of hope in his eyes immediately faded. And right then and there, he bowed down his head again. I could see him suffering from what people call heartbreak right in front of me and my smile simply widened just by looking at him.
"Oh…" He mumbled softly and then rubbed the back of his neck. "Is it Tsubasa?" he asked while I chuckled lightly since I found it quite funny on how come Tsubasa is always the first person that comes to his mind whenever things are like this. I then smiled and then shook my head slowly.
"iie."
"Then who is it?" Natsume asked me in total confusion.
I then took my chance and stepped up to him and gave him a peck on the lips. Natsume stumbled backwards slightly but he was able to get his composure afterwards. My eyes were kept closed but I kinda know that his eyes were as big as saucers by now due to the shock that my action gave him. Hopefully, that little kiss will answer his question. I felt relaxed against his body when I felt his strong arms wrap around my petite waist and he pulled me closer to him.
I almost smiled when he kissed me back. It was slow and gentle just like the first kiss we had a while ago and five seconds later, we both pulled away, breathing really hard. Natsume just stood there still staring at me real hard.
"Are you really serious?" He asked me in disbelief. I simply smiled and then nodded my head. And then the smile on his face widened and his expression lit up as if he was a child given a new lollipop.
I just laughed out loud just by seeing his happy little face. This was the very first time that I saw him looking like that. This surely is a what people call "Kodak moment". I even enjoyed it more when he spun me around just to face me. I felt like I was a little princess in a fairy tale story or at least one of the protagonist girls who got the guy that she really liked at the very end of the story.
It really felt really good. At least, by now, all of my worries about the whole mystery girl ordeal came to an end. I heard Natsume chuckle and then he sat me down on the bleachers. And with another swift movement from the oh so famous flame caster, our lips met again.
And as of now, I have to admit that this is one of the best moments of my life.
