Chapter 4: Nobara and Yuki
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Gakuen Alice and its characters are the wonderful creations of Tachibana Higuchi.
Harmony is fragile.
Featuring confrontations and consequences.
To say that Natsume and Mikan had a fallout because of spilled orange juice would be quite inaccurate, but Koko believed that it definitely led to this predicament. He told his friends about the conclusion that he reached after five hours of careful consideration.
"Well, what do you guys think?"
Kitsu agreed with him. Mochu thought that the spilled orange juice did not spark the silent war, but Mikan could have prevented it from happening in the first place.
Yuu disagreed with both of them. They didn't get to hear Ruka's opinion on the matter because they were not sure where he was. They all agreed that he was probably with Natsume and that Ruka was the only person welcome to be by his side. They were right.
Koko finished the remnants of his clubhouse sandwich and thought over what happened between Natsume and Mikan all over again.
A third year middle school student had spilled orange juice on Natsume's shirt when the boys were at Central Town. After apologizing profusely, Sora Ninomiya pledged to be Natsume's humble servant for the rest of his life. Despite Ruka and Yuu's disapproval, Natsume agreed easily. Ninomiya willingly did little errands here and there.
Mikan was not pleased by the arrangement. She reasoned with Natsume. He did not budge. She talked to Ninomiya too. He did not budge as well.
One day, Mikan marched towards Natsume, Koko, Kitsu and Mochu. The boys were lazing around in a gazebo. Ignoring Koko's cheerful greeting, she made her way to Natsume. He did not acknowledge her presence.
Mikan slammed her hand on the table at the center of the gazebo, wincing a bit at the force of the impact.
"You should stop taking advantage of Ninomiya-kun!" Mikan said while glaring at Natsume. He was concenterating on the fourth panel of a colored page in his manga. It was the one that he bought the day Ninomiya declared his lifelong loyal service to him, or in Ninomiya's words, 'Hyuuga-sama'.
Natsume scowled and took a quick glance at her hand. "Ninomiya volunteered for the job. He has repeatedly told you that himself. Let it go. You're being foolish."
"Don't you have a conscience, Natsume? This is wrong. And look at me when I'm talking to you!" He kept reading. Mikan attempted to pry the new volume from his hands but he deftly avoided her attacks.
"Aha! There's our guy with our precious packages! Too bad Ruka's still with the Somatic Ability dudes. He won't admit it but he'll love this," Koko said.
Kitsu chuckled. "I bet it's the same for Yuu. Let's surprise him at his room later! This ought to chase his migraine away. He's been working way too hard these days."
Mikan looked behind to see Ninomiya happily approaching them. He placed six packages carefully on the table. Next, he bowed deeply to Natsume then stood up straight and cleared his throat.
"Hyuuga-sama, I have brought your new shaving kits today, as I promised. I marked the wrapping paper with everyone's initials."
"Good work." Natsume turned a page without looking at Ninomiya.
Mochu clapped Ninomiya on the back.
"This is awesome, Ninomiya! Can I get mine first, Natsume?" Mochu was already holding his package.
Natsume nodded and turned another page of his manga. He was nearing the end. His brand new shaving kit could wait for a few more minutes.
Mikan huffed. "Mochu, why do you even have to ask him permission to do that?"
"Ninomiya's serving Natsume. I'm just a lucky beneficiary of their arrangement," Mochu said as he examined the new razors in his kit while the other two started opening their own packages.
Koko opened a bottle containing aftershave lotion and sniffed appreciatively. Kitsu was examining a brush. The three of them talked animatedly.
Ninomiya beamed, pleased to see such an ecstatic reaction. Mikan frowned at her three very excited friends and turned to the younger student.
"Ninomiya-kun, please stop. You don't have to do this. You shouldn't be doing this."
"Sakura-sama. This lowly one is happy to serve Hyuuga-sama and his friends. I would have been happy to serve you, too, Sakura-sama but Hyuuga-sama forbade it. I realized my mistake belatedly. I deeply apologize to have ever thought I would be worthy to serve you." He bowed deeply.
Mikan sighed and shook her head in frustration. She was about to pull him upright when she heard Natsume abruptly snap his manga shut. Somehow the sound pierced the air and Mikan jumped a little. Koko, Kitsu and Mochu quieted down immediately. Ninomiya did not dare move from his current position.
Natsume stood up and gripped Mikan's shoulder.
"That would be all for today, Ninomiya." His voice was colder than usual and Ninomiya spluttered some unintelligible reply before using his Speed Alice to its maximum.
"Take your hand off me, Natsume." Mikan was seething. In that moment, Koko, Kitsu and Mochu thought that Mikan's voice scared them even more than Natsume's did.
Natsume didn't let her go. "What are you so upset about?"
Mikan slowly turned to face her fiancé. Natsume saw her expression and his grip slackened. Her eyes were both angry and sad at the same time.
"You really don't know?"
"You foolish girl. How can I know what's upsetting you if you're not telling me?"
"You're supposed to be a genius! Go figure it out on your own, you jerk!"
"Why are so angry at me? Ninomiya isn't!"
"Well, maybe you forbade him from being rational!"
"I never did that! What is wrong with you?"
Their voices were getting louder and their three friends desperately wished they could be at any other place than that gazebo.
"I'm not the one in the wrong here, Natsume! And unless you accept and admit that, don't bother talking to me again!" Mikan marched off without another word.
"Maybe you should just tell Mikan why it's better to have Ninomiya under your wing," Kitsu dared to whisper.
Natsume stared at her retreating back for a few seconds before marching away in the opposite direction.
Thus, contrary to Hotaru's expectations, Natsume's extended nightly visits to Mikan halted not because they were finally caught. They ended because of enmity, which Koko blamed on spilled orange juice.
Since that day Mikan walked out on Natsume in the gazebo, the boys and girls ate and studied at separate tables. Today was no different.
Koko stared at the table at the other side of the cafeteria. The girls looked happy as they chatted over lunch. He was miserable. Sumire was ignoring him. Their only interaction happened during World Literature class because of a group project.
Mochu rolled his eyes. "Cheer up, Koko. Your girlfriend will get over it. They'll all get over it. They have to, sooner or later. By the way, if you're not eating that butterscotch brownie, hand it over." Koko handed it over without a word.
"I miss the good old days when Natsume and Mikan would just bicker over small things like we were still 10 or 11 and not teenagers already. It was so entertaining, especially when Natsume would initiate some sort of physical contact." Kitsu said.
"Yeah! Mikan would recoil and maintain and immediately call him a pervert. Natsume would smirk and ask her why she was so shy in public. She'd blush so hard and Natsume would walk away triumphantly!" Mochu said, grinning.
Yuu looked like he was about to get another migraine. He sighed and took another bite of his grilled cheese sandwich before he spoke.
"Our friends' lives are not for our entertainment! It's just a pity they won't sit down and talk about their disagreement. We all know they miss each other."
Sumire approached their table and ignored Koko again. "Yuu! Come on, let's go. The meeting for the volunteers of the Alice Academy Alumni Association Homecoming is in in 15 minutes."
Yuu smiled apologetically to his friends before following Sumire. Koko looked like he was about to cry.
"Hey, isn't that homecoming happening this weekend?" Kitsu asked Mochu.
"Yes. Why?"
"I'm just wondering if recent graduates could attend."
Mochu smirked. "You want to see Noyamano-senpai don't you?"
"Idiot, I got over her already. I was thinking if old man Tsubasa would be attending."
"Oh no, that can't be good. Mikan's a volunteer too!" Koko said.
Anna and Nonoko were worried too. They voiced their concerns to Sumire and Hotaru.
Sumire brushed it off. "Come on, girls. You don't have to fret. If you want, I can check if Andou-senpai has confirmed his attendance. If he's coming, won't Harada-senpai be there too?"
"Sumire, we all know Natsume and Tsubasa-senpai are still at odds after all these years," said Anna.
Nonoko sighed. "The timing is so bad. Why did this have to happen when Natsume and Mikan aren't on speaking terms? What do you think, Hotaru?"
"Andou's attendance isn't the worse case scenario," Hotaru said as she pored over charts in her laptop.
Sumire raised her eyebrows. "What is the worst case scenario?"
"Check if that older pervert is attending," said Hotaru.
Just then, Mikan entered the classroom. She came after meeting with Noda-sensei.
"Hey! I was looking for all of you. Why are you here? Did I forget an after school all-girls huddle?" Her smile faltered. "I thought we were going to do that tomorrow. "
Anna was the first to speak. "Yes, it's tomorrow, Mikan."
"We were just asking Hotaru about possible questions for the exam next week," Nonoko said, looking meaningfully at the Ice Queen.
"I can't believed you left me out! Teach me too, Hotaru!"
"We're finished, idiot."
Tsubasa Andou, Misaki Harada and Akira Tonouchi attended the Alice Academy Alumni Association Homecoming that weekend. Natsume observed them from afar. He smirked. Tsubasa's right arm was in a sling and Misaki appeared to be lecturing him.
Natsume watched Tono. For once, he didn't seem to be intent on harassing Mikan. He knew Tono now worked for Japan's Ministry of Defense.
Natsume saw him discreetly slip away from the Alice Academy Alumni Center. Shortly, a man followed him. Natsume recognized the man as an official of the High School Division.
Kyousuke Minami was in charge of student records. Natsume frowned. He knew that Minami was trusted by Kazumi Yukihira. He followed them.
Tono and Minami went to a secluded glade near the alumni center. Minami reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope which Tono quickly placed in his own jacket. Minami left. Tono lit a cigarette. He hid his surprise well when Natsume showed himself.
"Well, well, well if it isn't my favorite kohai! Did you miss me?"
"Cut the crap. What's a Defense Ministry lackey doing in the academy?"
"Look at those accusing eyes! I'm here because of the Alice Academy Alumni Association Homecoming, of course. Mikan looks gorgeous in red, by the way." Tono winked. "Your signature color," he added quickly.
"What a feeble attempt of saving face. Do you want your jacket to be charred beyond recognition? I hope you have a duplicate of the envelope hidden in there. That document must be important."
Tono took one last puff of his cigarette and stubbed it under his shoe.
"Natsume. You're not cleared for anything anymore, high-risk or low-risk information alike. Your last mission was escorting Mikan back to Alice Academy. Just enjoy being a regular student! You'll be in your final year in less than two months, right?"
"You're not denying that you're here to do some sort of errand from the Ministry." He stepped closer to Tono who just shrugged.
"You need to relax, kid. There's no more Persona manipulating you-"
Natsume didn't let him finish that sentence. The next thing Tono knew, he was down on the ground with a bleeding lip. He felt a dull ache on the right side of his abdomen.
Tono tried to sit properly. "I…probably…deserved..that."
"The next time you mention that name in my presence, I'll kill you. How can talk you talk lightly about that demon who now fancies himself a husband and a father after destroying a multitude of lives?! He even had the nerve to name his child after the person he killed!
Tono's eyes widened. "Natsume-"
"What? Do you want your left side to suffer too? Balance is nice." Natsume glared
"Natsume, she's-"
He was about to hit Tono again when he felt the presence of people behind him. He turned around.
"That's quite enough." It was Mikan's voice. She spoke in the same cold tone she used before she left him at the gazebo. Sumire, Tsubasa and Misaki were there too, looking very uncomfortable.
Tsubasa approached Tono and Misaki helped Tono stand up.
"We'll take you to the hospital," Tsubasa said. They silently went on their way.
Sumire wasn't quite sure what to do.
Mikan looked at her kindly. "I'll come inside soon, Permy."
"There's really not much to do, Mikan. I can manage with Yuu and the rest of the volunteers. See you at the dorm!" She left hurriedly.
"You didn't have to drag Nobara and Yuki into this," Mikan whispered when Sumire was far away.
Natsume sensed that Mikan was more hurt than angry. Tears ran down her face. He took one step toward her but she flinched.
"Please, please leave me. Please leave me, Natsume. Please. I can't."
"Mikan, I-"
She ran away.
In the darkness of his room many hours later, Natsume held his head in his hands. He was trying and failing to suppress the words reverberating in his mind.
…that demon who now fancies himself a husband and a father
You didn't have to drag Nobara and Yuki into this.
…a husband and a father
…Nobara and Yuki
…the nerve to name his child after the person he killed
…Yuki
Yuki. Yukihira. Izumi Yukihira. Her father.
Natsume had accompanied Mikan to visit her parents five times. Once with Ruka and Hotaru, once with Principal Yukihira and thrice with just the two of them. Every single time, Natsume had silently promised that he would never hurt Mikan.
Please, please leave me. Please leave me, Natsume. Please. I can't.
I can't. I can't. I can't.
Natsume filled in the rest.
"I can't stand you, Natsume. I can't be with you anymore, Natsume. I can't love you anymore, Natsume."
He heard a tentative knock and ignored it.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Ruka." He sighed. He had repeated this reply for hours.
Natsume saw a small envelope slide under his door. He picked it up. It smelled of strawberries. It was addressed to him in a handwriting he'd recognize anywhere. He hurriedly opened the door and ran the length of the corridor. She wasn't there. He went back to room, opened his desk lamp, tore the envelope open and read.
Dear Natsume,
I'll wait for you at our Sakura tree tomorrow after class. I'm not looking for another argument. I want to talk about what's been going on between us. I'm sorry for running away earlier. I don't hate you.
Mikan
P.S. Maybe you'd like to come to class for a change. You've been coming to first period and cutting the rest of the classes for three weeks now! But let's talk after class!
He clutched Mikan's letter to his chest as he fell into an uneasy sleep.
End of Chapter