Chapter 17: Drills and Developments

mikan26, it's good to hear from you again!

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Training is ongoing.
Featuring exercises and vigilance.

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

"You look more fit."

"Um. Thank you, uncle!" Mikan finished drinking her tea as casually as she could.

"Is there something you want to tell me? Some developments in your life, perhaps?"

"I don't think I can top what you said to me today about regaining my two other Alices at their original levels, Uncle Kazumi."

"That's true but maybe there is something else you'd like to tell me?"

"Hotaru and Ruka!"

It was a while before anything else was spoken.

"Excuse me?" Principal Yukihira looked taken aback. Mikan mirrored his expression.

"Oh. I. Well, Uncle Kazumi. We're family and I thought it would be nice if I can share some things about my friends with you."

As she said that, Mikan realized she wasn't trying to distract her uncle anymore. She meant what she said. She smiled shyly. Principal Yukihira cleared his throat.

"I'd like that, Mikan. But I must confess I don't have something similar to share with you for the time being."

"That's fine with me. Well, about Hotaru and Ruka. They're finally on first name basis now. I've… well, all of my friends have been waiting for that. I think Natsume in particular has been anticipating it. Should I continue?"

"Yes."

"He recently confessed that everyone except me has been part of betting on when it would finally happen. I can't believe they excluded me! Well, no one got it right. Anna was very close. Natsume and Hotaru are on first name basis too. I think he was just waiting for Ruka anyway. It's a weird scenario."

"I see."

"What Hotaru and Ruka have is sort of slow-moving, but I think they definitely have something good going on and I'm really happy for them. Somehow, all of us in our circle of friends have restrained ourselves from teasing them. Koko and Kitsu stopped after one joint try. Hotaru must have done something to discourage them. I'm not sure I want to know what they had to endure. Am I boring you, uncle?"

"No. It's an interesting topic and you tell the story so well."

"I'm flattered!" Mikan laughed.

High School Principal Kazumi Yukihira eyed his niece carefully.

"I think things shifted some time after you came back to the academy."

"What do you mean?"

"Nogi-kun started to really moved on. From you."

"Yes, he did. I think Hotaru really appreciates that Ruka called her by her first name before he did the same thing with me. I think Ruka has moved on for quite some time now, but I didn't know you were watching them, uncle. I'm really surprised!"

"I was…concerned for them and of course, Natsume too. I didn't mean to pry into anything. There were just some subtle changes that I observed."

"Thank you for caring for all of them."

"They're your beloved friends. They're like my niece and nephews already. I owed it to you and to them. You don't have to thank me, Mikan."

"You're really kind, Uncle Kazumi. Don't worry, I won't tell Hotaru and Ruka about this conversation."

Mikan got up from her seat and embraced her uncle. He awkwardly embraced her back.

There was a knock on the office door and Mikan reluctantly let go of her uncle. Principal Yukihira's secretary peeked in and said High School Student Records Director Kyousuke Minami was there to see him. Principal Yukihira asked the secretary to tell Minami to wait for a few minutes. The door closed again.

"Mikan, whatever you're doing, don't strain your body too much."

"Yes, uncle."

"And remember, don't fall into the temptation of experimenting with your Stealing and Insertion Alices just because you got them back at their original levels."

"I won't be reckless, Uncle Kazumi. I'll continue to let Noda-sensei guide me."

Mikan had been working with Noda to refine her Nullification Alice since she recovered it fully. That happened at the start of her final year in high school. It was now midway through her first year in Specialization. She could now use nullification well enough to keep Noda from traveling through time even without the need to touch him.

"Take care of yourself. Let's talk again soon."

"Take care of yourself too, uncle!"

Mikan said hi to Minami on her way out of the High School Principal's office. He smiled at her, said hello and wished her a good day. Minami said sorry in his head because he had been sparring with Natsume in secret.

In Hotaru's laboratory, Mikan was stretching carefully under Natsume's watchful eye. He had arrived first and completed his warm-up routine. They were talking in whispers.

"I can't believe you really told the High School Principal about Ruka and Hotaru," Natsume said.

"I can't believe it either. I didn't mean to, but it slipped out. Hmm…regaining ever single one of my Alices is one thing, but I think Uncle Kazumi knows I'm up to something, Natsume."

"I'm not surprised if he does, Polka dots. What's he going to do? Barge into Hotaru's laboratory and demand you to stop improving your physical fitness? That's all you're doing at the moment."

"Yes, at the moment. It will be harder to look into Uncle Kazumi's eyes when we move on to more complicated stuff. Calm down, Natsume."

"I am calm."

"I think I got it."

"What?"

"You're surprised about him watching over Hotaru and Ruka-pyon closely," said Mikan as she took a quick glance at the two across the room. Ruka was jotting down something Hotaru was dictating.

"Maybe. I guess just not in the way I was thinking of."

"Exactly. It feels surreal."

Mikan finished warming-up. She had learned how important it was not to just jump into exercise drills without warming-up because she'll end up hurting herself.

"If you're ready, let's begin."

"Alright. I'm ready, Natsume."

Natsume handed Mikan an exercise ball and she took it with a face full of determination. She wanted to do well today.

They proceeded to perform two-handed chest throws of the exercise ball back and forth. They passed the exercise ball to each other ten times before taking a one-minute break.

"Hey, Polka dots."

"Yes, Natsume? It's only been 18 seconds."

"I know."

"What is it?"

"You have to tell me what happens when you meet with Noda and you discuss your Stealing and Insertion Alices."

"Don't worry. I'll keep doing what I'm doing. I won't keep anything from you, Natsume."

"One more thing, I completely agree with the High School Principal. Don't ever try to experiment with your Alices. Promise me that."

"I promise."

"Good."

Hotaru and Ruka walked over to them.

"You're form's gotten much better," said Hotaru.

"Really, Hotaru? I guess I'm not overthinking anymore."

"Yes. Now, do it all over again two more times before you move on to the next exercise ball drill."

"Yes, Hotaru. What was the next one again?"

"The next one is passing the exercise ball back and forth to each other using overhead throws," said Ruka.

"Got it, Ruka. I'm ready to go, Natsume."

Mikan and Natsume finished the first exercise and moved on to the next one. They also did the overhead throw drill ten times before taking a one-minute break. After receiving feedback from Hotaru and Ruka, they did it more two times.

After the final one-minute break, Mikan thought about her Alices. She wasn't keen on testing out her Stealing and Insertion Alices. Not yet. Suddenly, Mikan felt a flick on her forehead. Her best friend's annoyed face came to view.

"Hotaru! I know, I know. We're not finished. Are footwork drills next?"

"I'm very pleased you remembered the latter half of today's exercise schedule. I think it's the first time this has happened."

"I've improved, then. The next exercise drills are running sideways, running backwards then sidestepping a ladder. Am I right?"

"Get on with it, then."

Mikan finished the footwork drills without any untoward incidents. Ruka and Hotaru conferred over his notes regarding her performance.

"Your work is done here, Polka dots. Next week we'll be having modified exercise ball drills. We're going to do one-handed throws and two-handed throws with sit-ups. You'll be going on an obstacle course soon," said Natsume.

"Do I get any clues on what to expect for the course or courses?"

Natsume shrugged. Mikan turned to Ruka. He shook his head and smiled apologetically.

"I guess it will be a surprise for me. I don't mind," said Mikan.

"Very good," said Hotaru. "Don't forget your last schedule for today, Mikan. It's light jogging later this evening."

"I'll make sure she doesn't," said Natsume.

"Thank you so much for today, Hotaru! But when will I get to see the other rooms in your laboratory? This work-out room is all I ever get to see. You'll let me see other rooms, right?"

"I'll be the judge of that. Now, exit my laboratory please. All of you. You know how this goes. Just follow the robotic grizzly bear."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Hotaru" said Ruka with a bright smile.

"Don't be late, Ruka." Hotaru didn't smile back.

"You can count on that."

It took all of Mikan's self-control not to react as they left Hotaru's laboratory. Natsume teased Ruka about this upcoming date with Hotaru when the two of them were alone an hour later.

While Mikan was going through her first drill with the exercise ball, Minami was telling the Principal Yukihira that there was nothing amiss during his uncle's funeral. His sister had no additional information regarding the murder.

"It's nothing we didn't expect but it's still frustrating as hell. I keep asking myself how long Genesis is going to lie low after eliminating my uncle," said Minami as he made small water spheres dance in front of him.

"It may depend on the health condition of their leader," said Principal Yukihira.

"That's true, Sir. Are there any new developments from Persona's end?"

"Nothing yet."

"Tohru Noyamano. Nothing in her records state any form of deviant behavior during her stay in the academy. Was she already spying when she was still a student? If so, why didn't Genesis do something when she was here? I'm also wondering if she went on a special mission solely for the pleasure of Genesis' leader and not really for the organization as a whole. Was it a test as a rookie? Why is she the leader's favorite anyway?"

"What about your uncle's ties to Genesis, Kyousuke?"

"All I've managed to find out is that is some members of Genesis were students of the academy during his term as a director."

The Elementary School Principal arrived.

"I'm terribly sorry for being late. There were some administrative things I need to take care of," said Jinno.

"That's fine," said Principal Yukihira. "Updating the elementary school curriculum is not an easy task, even with Serina and Sakurano helping you out. Do you have any news for us, Jinno?"

"I've reached most of the academy's former directors. There's only three left to contact. It won't take long. Everyone's upset. Most of them took the warning seriously," said Jinno.

"As they should," Minami said bitterly. "Oh, I'm sorry for interrupting Principal Jinno. I didn't mean to," he added quickly. He made his water spheres vanish.

"You didn't interrupt me. You're upset about your uncle. I understand that, Minami. Besides, you're right," said Jinno. He turned to Principal Yukihira. "A number of the former directors were angry and said that the academy was at fault."

Principal Yukihira's mouth tightened into a thin line. He clenched his fists.

"By the way, is Shiki just very late or not coming at all?" said Jinno.

"I told Shiki he didn't have to come. Himemiya's not feeling well so Shiki's attending to her today. Shiki did drop by my office earlier. He hasn't found anything to indicate that the academy's security has been breached but he's still on full alert."

"I think he feels personally responsible since Genesis is made up of the remnants of the Z Organization that he used to be a part of," said Jinno. He wiped his eye glasses.

"I think you're probably right. I also asked Yuu Tobita and Sumire Shouda to keep an eye on the student population. They haven't found anything suspicious so far," said Principal Yukihira.

Principal Yukihira didn't tell Jinno and Minami the other thing that Shiki told him. Shiki said that Himemiya wanted Mikan to visit her very soon.

The High School Principal got the hint in a heartbeat.

Himemiya was interested in Mikan's Insertion Alice. If Mikan knew, she'd likely consent to using it to help out Hii-sama. It wasn't necessarily unfavorable but he wasn't comfortable about it.

He told Shiki that he's going to personally visit Himemiya very soon.

Shiki was very apologetic that Himemiya had somehow known that Mikan got her Stealing and Insertion Alices back. But then again, it would be stranger if Himemiya remained in the dark about something as significant as that.

End of Seventeenth Chapter

It's September already. I'm so sorry this chapter took TOO long to post!