Bittersweet Love

Well.. this chapter is quite long. Longer than any other chapters. I feel like if its being cut in the middle it will do no good to the story line, so .. yeah. Hope you will enjoy this chapter! Thank you :D

-Sorry for bad grammar and tenses-

Disclaimer : I do not own Gakuen Alice

Chapter 22 : Friends

3 months went past without Mikan noticing. Its all because the time spent with her so called little family is actually fun, though there are ups and downs, like when Hiro and Natsume finally have their first fight as a father and son because of differences in opinions, or when Natsume's grandmother passed away so Mikan and Hiro came and console him everyday, or when they went to the theme park for the second time as a family which make Hiro overjoyed beyond words.

All of those moments are precious memories. She won't trade it for anything.

"You are smiling to yourself, baka."

Mikan blink, startled. Looking up towards the purple eyed beauty who is sitting in front of her right now. "Come again, Hotaru?"

Hotaru rolled her eyes as she sip her coffee calmly. "Never mind, baka. You are thinking about Natsume aren't you?"

Mikan blushed. "No I don't." She answered. Too fast.

Giggles erupted from Mikan's left and right.

"Oh my gosh Mikan." Anna chuckled. "You are so cute!"

"Yeah! I actually can't wait to meet your family as whole!" Nonoko said, giggling. "I want to know how's Natsume interaction with you both!"

Mikan want to sink in her seat so bad. The embarrassment is too much.

"Whoa, seems hot here girls!"

All of the four women look up to the sassy voice that just appeared.

Mikan smiled. There is only one girl that she knew who could rock the attitude. No other than Sumire Shouda. "Sumire!" Mikan greeted happily, standing up to give the make up artist a brief hug. "Long time no see! How are you?"

"Hello darling." Sumire hug her back before putting her on arms length, scrutinizing her. "You look good, sweetie. Glowing like never before. Natsume did good to you."

Mikan groaned. "Not again. I thought it is finished as soon as you came in."

Anna chuckled. "Not going to happen. This is the hottest gossip that I ever heard after Ruka and Hotaru dating!"

Hotaru rolled her eyes. "That is not a gossip."

Sumire snickered while putting off her coat and take a seat beside Hotaru. "That is surely a gossip, ice queen. I would not think that you are capable of dating."

Hotaru squinted her eyes, glaring hard at the green eyed girl. "Watch what are you saying Permy."

"Okay, that's enough." Nonoko quickly cut in. She knows with two stubborn girls like Sumire and Hotaru, a fight bound to happen. Well, Hotaru would definitely use her gadget so its more likely a losing fight on Sumire's side. "You should order something, Sumire. We already ordered."

Sumire smiled and casually flick her hair. "Huh. Why did you guys choose this cafe? I never heard of this place before."

Nonoko shrugged and nodded towards Mikan. "She is the one who choose the place for our meet up."

Sumire look at Mikan with a lifted eyebrow.

Mikan smiled. "This cafe has the best strawberry shortcake and bento. You should try that."

Sumire chuckled. "Of course it would be because of the dessert. Dessert is girl best friend after all."

"The bento too. Its superb!"

"I hear you darling. I'll order that. Thanks."

"When would Koko come?" Anna ask, looking through the floor to ceiling glass right beside her seat.

Sumire call for a waiter and order up before she is back to flipping the menu out of curiosity. "I don't know. He said he would be here any minute."

"How about Ruka?" Anna ask again, moving her gaze to the famous ice queen, grinning.

Hotaru slowly take a spoon of her hot cream soup. "Who knows."

Anna pouted. "Both of you are no fun."

Sumire chuckled. "Darling, don't blame me because that sweetheart of mine always have no sense of time."

"How about you, Mikan? Its Natsume who pick Hiro up today, isn't it?" Anna turn her inquiring gaze to Mikan, whom shuffled uncomfortably. "Hiro already out from one o'clock. Now is two past fifteen, so..."

Mikan smiled awkwardly. "Yeah." She paused for a moment, glancing at two approaching figures. "Actually here they come."

All heads turned, except for Hotaru, of course. The ice queen still enjoying her bowl of soup without care to her surrounding.

"Aunt Anna, aunt Nonoko! Oh, there is aunt Hotaru too! Hi!" Hiro greeted gleefully towards the twins, waving his hand excitedly.

"Aw. Lucky that he has Mikan's personality." Nonoko cooed. "I don't want to imagine if he is being mini Natsume."

Anna nodded in agreement. "I don't want to meet a mini Natsume. Natsume in grade school is not a good memory."

Mikan arch her eyebrow. Now that's new. "You should tell me about your grade school days."

Nonoko grin mischievously. "Why? You are curious about Natsume?"

"That is so cute, Mikan." Anna squealed happily.

Mikan blushed again. "Stop it you two."

Sumire just chuckles along seeing the twins teasing Mikan non stop before she avert her gaze towards the handsome little boy. "You don't remember me?"

Hiro smiled and bow politely. "I do, aunt Sumire. I just got confused for a moment back then."

"He is a genius, Mikan darling. Look at how nice the way he spoke." Sumire commented in amazement.

"He is my boy. He inherited my gene." Natsume join in the conversation, ruffling Hiro's head.

Sumire rolled her eyes. "I really can't understand why I had a crush on such a cocky man. I must be out of my mind."

Anna and Nonoko chuckles in harmony.

"We don't expect you to fall out from your crush." Anna replied, still chuckling.

Nonoko nodded. "Yeah. Back then I can't imagine that you would be saying this kind of words."

Natsume shrugged. "I don't care. Now would someone move so I can seat beside her?" He ask, looking straight to Mikan.

Anna and Nonoko look at each other before grinning widely.

"Sure Natsume. We'll move aside." Anna said, standing up and move to Nonoko's side.

"Ignore your childish dad, Hiro. Just take a seat here." Hotaru finally spoke, patting the seat on her right.

Hiro just smiled and nodded as he sit beside Hotaru. He is happy whenever he get to sit beside Hotaru. Did he ever said that Hotaru is his favorite aunt? Though now he look up to his dad so much, he still adore Hotaru. She is strong, dependable, and cool. He wants to be like that when he grow up. Moreover, Hotaru always treat him like an adult, that is definitely a plus point.

Mikan glared at Natsume who is slightly smirking and busies himself flipping through the menu. "Why do you sit here?" She hissed in low voice.

"Because I want to sit beside you." He answered simply, which earn him shocked looks from the twins and Sumire.

Mikan sigh. This is going to be a long dinner. She should just ignore him for now.

"Excuse me. This is your order miss." A waitress came and put a bento box in front of Sumire and a glass of avocado juice.

"That was fast. Thank you." Sumire replied, looking at her food.

The waitress smiled and tuck her hair behind her ear before looking at Natsume from behind her eyelashes. "Do you want to order sir? We have a lot of recommended food here."

Natsume slightly arch his eyebrow at the waitress. She is clearly flirting with him. Not that he wasn't used to it. This is actually his everyday scene, no matter where he goes.

He lean towards Mikan a bit. "Do you want to order for me, Mikan?" He ask in husky voice.

Mikan nearly jump in surprise but she manage to hold it in. "What are you doing?"

"Will you order for me?" Natsume repeated, this time with his handsome half smile.

Mikan bit her lower lip and move her focus towards the menu. She can't refuse such a sweet request like that. "How about salmon bento? I love that, and I think you'll like it." She said quietly.

Natsume nodded before looking at the waitress. "I'll have that, and a cola please."

The waitress' cheeks tinted with red out of embarrassment because of being rejected as she jot down the order and bow, walking away.

"That bitch has no manner." Sumire commented, crunching her nose in disgust. "Good thing that Natsume can put her back to her place."

"There is a child here, Permy. You have no manner." Hotaru said icily.

Sumire smiled sheepishly. "Oops. Sorry Mikan."

Nonoko laughed. "Way to go, Natsume. That is some performance."

Natsume shrugged. "There is nothing entertaining about that."

"Natsume entertain whom?" A new voice said, coming from behind.

"Ruka!" The twin chorus as a greeting.

"Honey. You are super late." Sumire commented dryly, looking at her fiance who is standing right behind Ruka.

Koko grin. "Sorry." He said, dropping a kiss on Sumire's lips before taking a seat beside her.

"Get a room you two. There is Hiro here." Natsume literally growled. He was a playboy yes. Public display affection doesn't deter him at all. But being a father definitely change the way he see things, especially somethings that is connected with his son's growth and innocence.

Koko laughed. He rub the back of his head guiltily. "Can't hold it, brother. I'm sorry."

"Can I slip beside you Sumire?" Ruka ask, smiling. He quickly cut the conversation before Natsume blow up on the couple. He know what is his best friend's temper like.

"Oh sure." She answered, scooting over so the chair on Hotaru's left is empty.

Ruka slip in gracefully. "Thanks."

"Hello uncle Ruka, uncle Koko." Hiro greeted politely.

Koko grin. "Hi, kiddo. Nice to meet you again."

"Hello there, Hiro. Did you just come back from school?" Ruka replied, smiling charmingly.

Hiro nodded. "Yes. Daddy pick me up."

"Aw. I can't stand it. Natsume being called daddy is too much." Anna literally squealed with starry eyes.

Natsume rolled his eyes. The twins are starting to get on his nerves.

Ruka chuckled seeing Natsume's gloomy expression. "We are here to have fun, brother. Don't ruin the mood. Besides, I agree with Anna."

Natsume glared at Ruka. "Don't, Ruka."

Ruka grin. "Oh, your vocabulary. It suddenly become more polite."

"Fatherhood does magnificent thing to our friend huh." Koko commented, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

Mikan can't help but chuckle seeing Natsume being roasted by Ruka and Koko. Never thought that she would see a day where Natsume is not being the upper hand.

Natsume arch his eyebrow towards Mikan, his anger dispersed instantly. "Why are you laughing?"

Mikan smiled a little. "Nothing."

Natsume frowned a bit at Mikan's answer, but he let it slide. He can ask again later.

"So.. are we going to Road 97 for real?" Sumire ask with excitement clear in her eyes.

"I think I can't." Mikan said, smiling apologetically. "I won't bring Hiro to a night club."

"Oh, darling. Of course we won't bring Hiro." Sumire replied, flicking her hand. "We can ask Natsume's head maid to take care of him. She has taken care of Natsume since he was still a little baby. She is capable."

"Oh yeah definitely." Nonoko chimed in. "Mrs. Florentine is really good with children. Moreover, Hiro is an easy child. He is independent."

Mikan shook her head. "No. I can't be irresponsible."

"Aw Mikan. Come on, we can finally have fun." Anna tried to persuade her.

"I'll take care of him." Natsume suddenly said. "He can sleep at my house."

Mikan look at Natsume incredulously. "What are you saying?"

Natsume shrugged, giving her another half smile. "He sleep over quite a lot these past month. Adding one night won't make any difference. You go have fun. You need it."

Mikan frowned before looking around the table. "What's up with everyone telling me to go have fun?"

Sumire smiled. "Have you ever been to a night club before, Mikan?"

Mikan averted her gaze, a slight blush can be seen on both of her cheeks. "I think no."

Koko laughed. "That's why Mikan! We'll give you new experience tonight, it'll be so much fun! Come on!"

"I'm not sure.." Mikan trailed off.

"I'm sure you'll have fun Mikan." Ruka finally joining the group to convince Mikan. He then look towards Hotaru, silently asking to do the same.

Hotaru arch her eyebrow as an answer to Ruka's code, her eyes telling that he gonna pay for ordering her to do something, but she look back to Mikan and spoke, "Just tag along, baka."

Mikan look at Hotaru with surprise clear on her face. "Why suddenly, Hotaru? Are you going too?"

"Of course." Hotaru answered briefly, sipping her coffee.

"Hotaru rarely come with us, but it doesn't mean that she never went." Nonoko kindly explain the situation.

Mikan sigh in resignation. What can she do if everybody want to drag her to a night club? Well, though actually she is curious. She spent where-her-age-are-suppose-to-go-have-fun in things like that (read : nightclub, drink till you drunk, etc) at home taking care of Hiro and working her ass off to earn money.

It is okay for her not to go to that kind of places or experience that kind of thing. She loves Hiro. Even if she born again, she will choose to have him again, even at 19. But, if there is a chance, maybe she wants to try.

"Fine."

Everybody, but Natsume and Hotaru cheered hearing Mikan answer. Hotaru just casually stirred her freshly ordered latte while Natsume just smiled at her with this soft look on his crimson eyes.

"Now let's finish up our dinner so we can go!" Koko said excitedly.

What do you think?

Love,

Aquabluemarine