Chapter 6: The Impossible Truth

Their loved ones are out there, waiting for them.
Featuring an unprecedented case and safety concerns.

Gakuen Alice and its characters are the wonderful creations of Tachibana Higuchi.

Two months passed without anything out of the ordinary happening. The final year of high school came with much fanfare. Despite the three years they still needed to go through Specialist Training, many third year students already looked forward to their future outside the school grounds.

There was a lot of talk about what it was going to be like to reunite with their families. Some were wary, because their relatives were now virtually like strangers but some were excited too. The other hot topic was college.

Others students were just busy discussing the prospect to freely live beyond the academy's boundaries. Some planned to take a gap year to travel or just be idle after they finally graduate. A few were considering to be future teachers in the academy or future merchants in Central Town.

Some didn't have any concrete plans, like Mochu. "You're all overreacting. Let's just enjoy this final year and go with the flow! Forget all your Specialist Training concerns, let's break all the rules we can while we're still students! Who's with me? Maybe Ruka can get his first detention."

"I like the sound of that!" Koko cheered.

"I don't!" Ruka protested.

Natsume and Hotaru smirked. The thought of Ruka ending up in detention was very amusing and camera-worthy.

Yuu cleared his throat. "I hope you're not forgetting that I'm here. You know, I'm just the Student Council Chairman."

"And I'm the Vice-Chairman of the Student Council! Don't ruin my reputation, Koko!" Sumire glared at her boyfriend.

"I know it's not really a surprise, but I'm going to be a chef! Don't worry, Hotaru. I'll keep my end of the deal and have lots of crab dishes. I've already invented new recipes, just for you." Anna said.

Mikan looked utterly confused. "What deal?"

"Hotaru helped Anna by creating cutting edge kitchen equipment," Nonoko said.

"That's one way to ensure that we all don't lose contact. We'll all visit your restaurant," said Kitsu.

Mikan was just excited to see her grandfather after graduation She couldn't wait to hug her beloved Jii-chan again. She didn't have definitive plans for college yet. Hotaru told her sternly that this time, Mikan can't just follow her to whatever campus she goes to.

Mikan tried asking Subaru where Hotaru was going to go, but he told her that his sister hadn't let him know either. He did tell her that Hotaru was going to stay in Japan for university but would most likely pursue graduate education abroad after.

"Ah! Maybe I really am an idiot. When we graduate, you will all live as a complete family again. I know you're only working here to watch over Hotaru, right?"

Subaru adjusted his glasses. "That's correct."

"I'm so happy for you, Subaru-nii-san!"

"You and your grandfather are welcome to visit us." Subaru gave her one of his rare smiles and ruffled her hair.

Mikan and Kazumi Yukihira walked in one of the private gardens in the High School Division grounds. It was a lazy afternoon, the second Saturday after classes started.

He told Mikan something and she received the shock of her life. She stopped walking immediately, looking at her uncle with wide eyes. His face betrayed no emotion. It took a long time for her to speak. Her uncle waited until she found her voice again.

"It doesn't make sense. Surely you're joking, Uncle!"

He sighed heavily. "I do not joke, Mikan."

"But how can that be? I've got all my Alices back?" Her heart was racing and her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm apologize from keeping it from you these past two months. I was in denial myself, so I observed you carefully. I first I thought it was just a phase, or that the increase in your Alice levels would only be minimal. But it wasn't. It continued steadily. I've only disclosed this to Shiki."

"Isn't that impossible, Uncle?"

"It's the impossible truth, Mikan. There's just no other way to put it. Your Nullification Alice is fully back, while the Stealing Alice and Insertion Alice are both at half of their original levels." Yukihira sighed. "Your situation is an unprecedented case."

Mikan smiled. "Well, I think this is really good news! It's like an early graduation present for me!"

"Mikan, listen to me carefully. It's dangerous. There are groups outside who desire to take advantage of gifts such as yours. We've been trying very hard to dismantle those organizations with the help of the Ministry of Defense."

"Oh, I didn't think about that. I'm sorry," Mikan said.

"It's not your fault," her uncle said. "During the time you were away, we have been fairly successful in dealing with the different Anti-Alice Organizations. The Ministry of Defense helped us a lot. One of its higher-ups was an alumni of ours. Yet there are still people who continue to defy us."

Mikan tried to process all of this information. "You mean Tono-senpai is already in a high position there? That's really cool!"

"He's not the one I was referring to. Tonouchi is just a liaison officer, a small fry."

"Hmm. Uncle?"

"What is it, Mikan? I didn't tell you this to scare you but it's only right that you know."

"It's not that. I was just wondering. Natsume, Hotaru and Ruka did low-risk missions before. Were they were involved in dealing with the enemies of the academy?"

She looked very worried and Principal Yukihira fought a smile. His niece cared more about others than herself. Mikan was truly selfless, like Izumi.

"They were involved, but indirectly. They were all integral to our operations. Imai made cutting edge gadgets. Nogi helped with planning. Hyuuga devised tactics. I forbade them from direct confrontations with the enemies outside."

"What can I do to help? I should train while I'm still here. I'm pretty athletic and that's a good start! I won't be an easy target outside!"

Her uncle hesitated. "Mikan, the best course of action to ensure your safety would be to stay here."

For the second time that afternoon, Mikan was stunned into silence.

"I know it's a lot to take in. I won't force you to do anything," her uncle said gently.

Mikan nodded. "I can't tell my friends about this, right?"

"I think it's best that they don't know, for now. Keep your guard up from your friend, the mind-reader. I'm confident that you can easily block him completely from your mind. You should take all necessary precautions."

Principal Yukihira didn't tell Mikan that this morning, he had already put Koko under tight surveillance. If Koko discovered information regarding Mikan's Alices, his memory of it would be wiped out as soon as possible. After that, Koko would wear a controlling device whether he agreed or not.

"Please don't do anything to him," Mikan pleaded.

Principal Yukihira hoped he masked the surprise he felt. "What makes you think that?"

"Please, Uncle! I'll block him out from all my thoughts. Even if he somehow comes to know the truth, Koko would never compromise my safety!"

"I trust you, but that doesn't mean I'll hold back if it concerns your safety. I'd like to tell you one more thing."

Mikan bit her lip. "What is it, uncle?"

"As I said, your Alice recovery is an unprecedented case. Now, get some rest, Mikan. We'll talk again soon. Think about what I said about staying here."

Mikan walked away from him in a daze. Kazumi Yukihira hoped that she would choose to remain in the academy after graduation. Masachika Shiki also that it was in Mikan's best interest to stay.

Shiki also told him something else that tugged at his heart.

"We can't keep her here forever, Principal Yukihira. If Mikan is deprived of her freedom, that child will not thrive in the long run. She will lose her smile. She will cease to be all she is. Her grandfather is out there. Her friends will soon be, too. And of course, she'll lose Hyuuga again if she remains with us in this academy."

"Don't you think Hyuuga will stay behind to be with her?" Yukihira countered.

Shiki shook his head. "Your niece would not deprive Hyuuga of his family and I doubt he would be able pass up another chance of reuniting with his father and sister.

"I see. So once they finish Specialist Training, they will be separated again."

"Principal Yukihira, it's not that simple. If Mikan fails to convince Hyuuga to leave, he will take her with him by force. The alternative scenario would be that he agrees to let her remain here but whisk her away after some time. You know this is true."

"Yes. He didn't endure all those years they were apart just to be bereft of her again. But if she leaves the safety of the academy, it would not be easy to protect her. The two of them will always have to watch out for danger. Hyuuga himself has enemies. Even their loved ones would be used against them. Can they really be happy with that kind of life? Tell me, Shiki, is it worth to pay that high of a price just to be together?"

Shiki remembered his own treacherous adventures with Yuka."Sir, speaking from my own experience, it is."

Mikan returned to the dormitory and went straight to her room. She hugged the pillow her grandfather gave her before she returned to the academy. Her tears began falling.

"Jii-chan, what would you do if you were me? I want to see you after I graduate but I don't want to put you in danger. There must be another way. If I master my Alices then I can take care of myself out there…and be with Natsume. Mom and Dad, please help me make the right decision."

End of Sixth Chapter