"Summer Vacation"

Chapter 10

Bear spread the plates and bowls across the table. He set aside chopsticks and glasses of orange juice and water all too dutifully. A traditional Japanese breakfast was prepared alongside a dish of eggs and bacon for Yoichi once he woke up.

Last night's temper tantrum from Natsume may have humbled her plush friend, but he didn't spook easily. The only thing that stopped the two from going to blows was the looming fear of Jii-chan bursting in, which meant death for Natsume, a boy in HER ROOM, and a spanking for Bear.

This morning, however, Mikan hummed happily. Everything seemed to be going well. Summer vacation wasn't nearly over, yet she got to see her friends and her boo again. Although Natsume had slept on the floor at the foot of her bed, he might as well have been next to her. He had been in her dreams all night, kissing, fondling, singing, and eating howalon puffs with her.

She didn't know if he had been trying to be respectful, or if there was still the slightest distance between them. A younger Natsume would have completely encroached on her space. Thankfully, as he matured, he learned boundaries outside of when he wanted to tease her. After mentioning the trip, he wanted her to go on, he had clammed up a bit.

Mikan skipped from the kitchen back to the guest room. She hadn't heard her grandfather wake up yet, so she didn't check his bedroom. The first rays of sunlight were filtering through the kitchen, and the smell of bacon made its presence known throughout the house. While Yuu and Bear were busy cooking more fish, she would check on the others.

She slid the door open. Since Natsume hadn't been around, when she woke up, she changed out of her pajamas. Her hair was gathered into a top bun, and her lips were glossy. Mikan wore a pale pink blouse with a round collar and a gorgeous, black skirt with suspenders. She thought she looked cute, and the short skirt made her legs look longer and shapely.

"HEY GUYS ARE YO—I mean are you guys up yet?" she asked, failing to whisper. If she didn't keep her volume down, her grandfather would surely find them!

A sleepy-eyed Natsume with bedhead sat on the floor. He was adorable trying to not to nod off. Sumire stretched and whisper-complained about needing a shower after being in such close proximity with losers. Some of the boys were still asleep in various pretzel-like positions. Ruka was lightly snoring and a line of drool extended from his mouth.

"Are you serious, Polka? Your voice only has two modes: bullhorn and car alarm system," Natsume quipped, rubbing sleep out the corner of his eye. Had he forgotten the sweet nothings he whispered in her ear last night?

She could be grumpy too.

Mikan put her hands on her hips. "Well, I was surprised to see you awake. Thought you'd be raiding my underwear drawer or doing something else deplorable."

He pulled a face, somewhere between disgust and amusement.

"Who do you take me for?"

Koko entered the room with a toothbrush and a cup in his hand. "A burglar? A painter? A cashier—come to think of it, have you ever had a job Natty-kun?"

Was that her Grandfather's toothbrush? Mikan eyes widened.

"Yes, it is, Mikan. Sorry, when I woke up, I thought I was still at the orphanage with my own stuff. Be glad I wasn't sleepwalking." He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a black cartoon cat on the front that oddly reminded her of Sumire.

Koko suddenly swatted at the back of his head, frightened.

"GOSH! It's like you're literally burning daggers into the back of my head. I think I see smoke, right Permy?"

Sumire rolled her eyes. She went to pull out things from her overnight bag while the others, who were awake, did the same with their own bags.

Natsume hadn't missed Koko's usage of her beloved pet name. How did he know anyway? Had he been listening last night? Did she forget and use it in front of him? Sometimes, Mikan forgot her nosy friend was a mind reader. He was just so annoying! She tried not to be mean, but he really was.

"Wow! Mikan nice to see how you really feel."

Mikan sighed, ignoring Koko. She gently shook the shoulder of a still-sleeping Tsubasa who was sprawled across one of the two futons. Tono was an early riser since he was used to the demands of the Japanese workforce. Her other lovable senpai apparently was not.

A snot bubble popped from Tsubasa's nose.

"Anyway, I came to tell you guys, Bear, Yuu, and I made breakfast," Mikan started, "Well, it was mainly Bear. I just broke the eggs for him and started the rice cooker. I also made eggs and bacon for Yoichi since he only likes American breakfast."

Mikan opened the curtains to the guest room. Starting to smooth out the wrinkles from the bed sheet draped over the futon, she gave Tsubasa another nudge. Tono helped her by giving a rather forceful slap to Tsubasa's head that had him springing up in fury. The two bickered for a short while before stopping. They needed breakfast to have the energy for such childishness.

"How did you manage to make breakfast without waking your grandad unless he's deaf and old?" Mochi inquired while picking his ear. In his boxers, he was trying to put himself into each pants leg as quietly as he could.

"I don't know. I guess we just didn't." Mikan plopped down on the other futon. The guest room would be cleaned soon enough before they left for their trip.

There were so many people in the room. Would there be enough space at the table? If she sat in Natsume's lap, that would leave a seat for someone else. Jii-chan might not like that though.

At some point, Natsume had gone to the bathroom and came back. He seemed more alert and fresher. His hair was combed, and his breath smelled minty.

"He must already know. There's no way he didn't hear all that pot banging and faucets turning on," Natsume told her. His surliness colored his voice like paint. His hands were in his pockets, and only someone that was Mikan or Ruka would be able to notice his nervousness from the tell-tale way his hands slightly shook. She knew Natsume's normal laidback stance. This wasn't it. Between the academy trip and meeting her grandfather, what had him so insecure and grumpy?

Mikan stretched her hand toward him. Giving his wrist a squeeze, she got off the futon. "I wanted to tell Jii-chan what's going on first. After breakfast, I need to start packing, and he's going to want to know where I'm going. I'm happy to go with you guys, but I've only been with him for a few weeks."

Her voice trailed off.

Natsume turned his head toward the sliding door.

She felt a palpable tension for a moment. The others looked at him pointedly. Again, her boyfriend was avoiding whatever he wanted to tell her.

Ruka, rousing awake, broke the tension when his stomach growled. He blushed a light pink. Oh how, Hotaru would have loved to seen that.

Mikan pinched her cheeks to focus. "Okay, guys, let's all tiptoe in the kitchen quietly and eat breakfast. While you guys do that, I'll go tell my grandfather what's happening, so he's not blindsided."

"Gosh, Mikan we're not kids. We're not going to tiptoe." Sumire pointed out.

Mikan couldn't be persuaded. She made an elaborate show of tip-toeing in her pink socks to the door. She slowly slid it and—

She screamed.

Jii-chan stood directly in front of her, unamused. His brown eyes were piercing as they scanned the room.

"And here I thought you were housing cats, rodents, or pigs in the guest room again." He clapped the bottom of his cane hard against the floor. The loud thud rang in Mikan's ear, and she felt a drop of sweat roll down her forehead. "You had done it once as a child and your little, dark-haired friend had been scheming with you. I forget the child's name." He rubbed his beard.

Mikan winced more from the mention of Hotaru than being caught. She knew her Jii-chan disapproved, but he hadn't kicked them out yet.

The crazier thing that happened was Natsume awkwardly drifting next to her.

He extended his hand to her grandfather. "Hello, sir, I'm Natsume Hyuuga, and I'm your granddaughter's boyfriend with marriage as our goal."

WHATTTTTTTTT?

Her friends heartily ate breakfast. They stuffed bits of rice and fish in their mouth. All of them had piled around the dinner table, and the rest to the kotasu, a low, heated table.

Yuu had been a huge help in the kitchen. Most of the time Mikan was pretty useless in the kitchen unless she was monitored closely. Unlike Bear's tough-love teachings, Yuu coached her with kindness. He had practice teaching his younger siblings to cook he had told her. Either way, he was an excellent teacher and friend! Class president for another term!

Natsume stabbed at a piece of his egg omelet. He had mustered up his courage to greet her Jii-chan, but he got a frosty reception.

It was so embarrassing, but her Jii-chan accused Natsume of getting her pregnant. Needless to say, that had made Koko and the rest burst out laughing. Even Sumire giggled. Yet again Ruka had broken the tension because his stomach wouldn't stop growling.

Mikan crunched on toast, chewing thoughtfully. It was hard to convince her grandfather she was leaving for a school trip and not to elope. He had taken a liking to Ruka, for some reason. Maybe it was her blond friend's gentle spirit, or his love of animals. Jii-chan loved birds and with Ruka here they were doubly attracted to the bird houses he had built.

All these things had Natsume fuming. A small part of Mikan thought, serves him right for ignoring me all summer!

After introductions, Jii-chan had wheeled some of Mikan's suitcases to the front door. He was so sweet. Despite his initial apprehension, he wasn't fighting for her to stay. He just wanted his granddaughter to enjoy himself.

As soon as breakfast was finished, they were hitting the road. Tono had suggested they split into groups, so everyone would be easier to keep track of.

"Pol—Mikan," Natsume called to her. He was sitting next to her. In the chatter of everyone eating and talking, he had been mostly quiet.

She answered him, still with toast in her mouth, "Yeah?"

He told her confidently, "With or without your grandfather's blessing, we're still getting married. I mean you've already accepted my proposal."

For once, Mikan was embarrassed by her lover.

"Aww, look at the lovebirds," Tsubasa commented, laughing. He had a piece of sausage between his chopsticks.

Jii-chan responded for her.

"Hmph!"