Disclaimer: Characters rightfully belong to Higuchi Tachibana, creator of Gakuen Alice.
Author's Note: I feel like this fic is more character-driven rather than plot-driven. As I said, I'm writing this as I go. Enjoy!
As soon as Mikan woke up for class, she thought of the boy she dubbed as attractive runner guy and his question. Just as she answered, Mikan does not run. At least, not anymore. She used to be in the track and field club in middle school and joined a few marathons but that was as far as she went. It wasn't like she was particularly passionate about it, which seemed unlike the attractive runner guy. Anyone who bothered to wake up that early just to go for a run had a passion Mikan could not deem she will ever have. Anyway, she was smoking now. It doesn't seem like she's in such good form to be running now.
Thinking she really had hit rock bottom by choosing cancer sticks instead of prioritising her health, Mikan started what seemed a long walk to the campus building, bracing for her first day. The thought of having to assimilate and making new friends made her tired already.
Mikan wondered again of the attractive runner guy. Although they barely exchanged words, she hoped at least there was a familiar face and started to regret her previous unfriendliness towards him. "You really need to work on your social skills," she mumbled to herself.
The campus building structure was simple enough, so Mikan found her class with 10 minutes to spare. Suddenly, Mikan felt very underdressed- she was wearing a striped long sleeve shirt, jeans and her favourite pink Converse. Her hesitance caused a block to the class entrance.
"Are you just going to stand there and have the class outside instead?" a stony voice said.
Mikan practically jumped out of the way. "Sorry," she addressed the source: a girl with sleek crop shiny black hair and violet eyes- Mikan knew she can never lie to this person without getting caught- was scrutinizing her. This lady (calling this person a girl seemed too immature) was wearing a chic blue peplum blouse, black fitted slacks and high heels. Mikan mentally swore, "Shit, I really am underdressed."
"She didn't mean that," a boy came running towards them. "Right, Hotaru?"
This Hotaru looked once at the boy and went into class.
The boy merely laughed, as if being ignored was the funniest thing that ever happened to him. He had such a huge grin that Mikan was surprised it could fit his face. Topped with his messy dirty blond hair and casual attire (this made Mikan feel better), this boy looked like the epitome of carefree. "Anyways, I'm Kokoro Yome and that sweetheart just now is Hotaru Imai. You must be the new girl Naru told us!" he offered his hand.
Mikan nodded and reached out to shake his hand. "Mikan Sakura. So, uh, Yome-"
"Psh, only scammers call me Yome! My mom calls me Kokoro but only when she's angry. Everyone else calls me Koko," and what Mikan thought was a handshake actually turned out for Koko to hold her hand and dragged her into class. "I can call you Mikan, right? I mean, its only fair since I let you call me Koko,"
Koko was talking way too fast for a nervous Mikan to comprehend and as soon as she got dragged to the front of the class, Koko draped his arm around her and announced, "Everyone, this is Mikan! Mikan, this is everyone."
'Everyone' in the class wasn't the whole class, but a few people who Mikan could just tell are a close-knit group. Did Koko really think all these people could accept her in what seemed already a full squad? All Mikan could do was lamely wave at them.
A girl with pink hair giggled. "You're clearly making her nervous, Koko," She then turned to Mikan with a welcoming smile, "Hey, I'm Anna." Koko then continued to introduce everyone to Mikan. Mikan didn't remember all of them yet, but their smiles toward her, well, except Hotaru who ignored them but she suspected this was simply Hotaru's default, made her feel warm and slightly confident.
Koko took the liberty of saving Mikan a seat beside him and as she silently listened to his ongoing chatter of how the gang knew each other since middle school, waves of people came in and lastly, two boys entered. The first one was a blond, clearly mixed heritage- French?, looked exactly how Mikan imagined Prince Charming would be. "Hotaru, you left me again," he frowned as he made a beeline to Hotaru.
And the last one was the attractive runner guy. Mikan was right before, he really had striking eyes and as soon as he looked at her, Mikan involuntarily blushed.
"See, that lapdog of Hotaru is Ruka Nogi," Koko continued his duty as the self-elected spokesperson.
Ruka knocked Koko's head before smiling at Mikan, "Ruka's fine."
Koko, undeterred, pointed at the attractive runner guy, who was making his way towards them. And when Koko announced his name, Mikan thought finally. "Natsume Hyuuga. Not much of a talker, but he'll open up soon enough!"
Ruka snickered, "Yeah, by soon you mean in his death bed."
Natsume rolled his eyes at the jibe and looked at Mikan. He seemed to recognise her from the early morning encounter and offered her a curt nod. He then took the seat right behind her.
As a smiling Mikan made a mental list of all the names she just learned, a teacher came in and announced everyone to settle down.
The lecture was simple enough. The rest of the class quickly got over the new girl and Mikan can't helped feeling relieved that Koko was an adamant force beside her. He kept the conversation going on well between them with Ruka and Anna interjecting sometimes.
Just as Mikan suspected, this group of people was really a whole gang. They were clearly very close to each other and did almost everything together. Thankfully, they accepted Mikan well and included her during lunch. Now, those who had finished class earlier made their way back to the dormitory.
"So, what do you think of your first day, Mikan?" Ruka asked. He was holding Hotaru's right hand while Hotaru was occupied with her cellphone. Koko was skipping on Mikan's other side and Natsume walked along albeit a little behind.
"Good," Mikan said. Then thinking she should at least be more open to them for their great accommodation to her, Mikan added, "I mean, better than I expected. I didn't really expect to be making friends this fast."
Ruka smiled. Meanwhile, Koko positively beamed, "You know what, Mikan? I've decided to keep you forever! From now on, I'm bringing you everywhere I go, including the theatre club. That'll at least tamper those snobbish sods."
"Hey," Ruka reprimanded, "You calling me a sod too?"
"A snobbish one, to be exact," Hotaru interjected with a slight smile.
"Well yeah! Those guys think they're so good or something. Mikan can help me bring my spirits up!" said Koko.
"I'm not really into theatre, but I would love to see you both act one day," Mikan offered as an alternative. She would honestly rather die than act on stage. Mikan's reply made Koko happy enough but she suspected this will not be the end of it.
"What about running?"
Mikan was surprised to hear Natsume's question. He usually kept quiet and only spoke when he was addressed to.
She turned and replied, "I don't run."
"You look like you do."
"I don't."
Natsume looked clearly unconvinced. What's with this guy? It's like he's trying to recruit her for some kind of event.
"Ignore him, Mikan. Natsume's whole life revolves around running and he gets a little cultish about it," Ruka jokingly cautioned.
Koko sniggered, while Natsume merely shrugged.
"I'm still new here so I don't think I'll be joining any clubs anytime soon. I just want to be for a while, you know?"
Ruka and Koko hummed their understanding. Hotaru actually looked up from her cellphone to Mikan. Natsume said nothing. And just like that, Mikan felt drained and longed for her 'nothing personal' stuffy bedroom.
A/N: Mikan makes an unlikely first friend! I really like Koko's character and I think he's the funniest among them all. I didn't introduce the whole gang because honestly I'm still learning to sort of 'move' these characters and afraid that too many of them would make it too awkward. But they're all still together, just for now not making an obvious appearance yet.