Chapter 22: Trading Places

Happy New Year, everyone! So much for my promise. I miscalculated badly. :( I thought I could complete Flame in 2021. Thank you for still reading. I'll work harder. Thank you for following this story, Isaa. chng and faericire :) Take care!

Infiltration of the mind is dangerous.
Featuring reasons and correct answers.

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

Heightened security was in place in Alice Academy ever since Genesis murdered its former director. However, nothing is perfect — and even the best precautions are not infallible.

It's difficult when your enemy possesses the Invisibility Alice and even more difficult when that enemy can extend his invisibility to another person. The intruders may have slipped into the academy any time its gates had opened. They may have disguised as merchants in Central Town or maybe as an assistant to any one of the guests that the academy had.

Whatever the means they used, they had succeeded in entering the academy. To Middle School Principal Masachika Shki, it meant that he had failed miserably — even if the intruders were eventually caught. It was hard for him to meet High School Principal Kazumi Yukihira's sharp yet sympathetic eyes.

"Principal Yukihira, I didn't do my work properly. Words are not enough, but I am deeply sorry for what happened."

"There is nothing to be ashamed of, Shiki. Stand up straight."

"But, Sir—"

"If you're so regretful, make up for it with your actions. You never were good with words. We're wasting time here. Go back to making sure there's no more of these intruding pests in the academy, Shiki. I'm going to see what's happening with the interrogations."

"Yes, Sir. I'll be on my way right away."

One of the intruders was the elusive soprano Tohru Noyamano, who murdered the former director. Kitsu's presence of mind had led to her capture. He had decided to trust the adults once again, as Narumi had asked him.

Noyamano had approached Kitsu in a secluded path near the academy's library, which was being renovated. Kitsu was using it as a shortcut. She smiled shyly and greeted him.

Kitsu froze for a few seconds before he spoke the code word into his speech recognition gadget. To his horror, the Noyamano-senpai he admired so much for her Opera Alice was gone in an instant.

Noyamano tried to attack him the moment she realized he wasn't going to help her. He suffered a broken arm because he was too dazed to try evading her by flying. Before she was taken away, he had just enough time to ask her one question.

"Why are you doing this, Noyamano-senpai?"

"Why? Anyone would do the same things I did if they traded places with me," Noyamano said defiantly as she turned her face from her distraught admirer.

Her words stuck with Kitsu as he sat in a hospital bed. He wasn't thinking of his broken arm. It was confusion and disappointment that ailed him more. Koko and Sumire were by his side, unsure of what to say.

"Thanks for being here. I guess I'm just shocked. That's all," Kitsu muttered.

"No problem," said Koko.

"Do you want something to eat? I can fetch you something from the hospital's cafeteria. How about an apple?" said Sumire.

"Their apples are the best! It's a cliché, though. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, or something like it."

"I'm not hungry…but I appreciate the thought, you two."

"Oh, it's not a big deal," said Sumire. Koko nodded.

After a few moments, Kitsu spoke once more.

"I hope our other friends are safe."

"Even you are safe. They should be in no danger," said Koko.

Kitsu threw a pillow at Koko with his uninjured arm. Koko dodged it easily as Sumire picked it up from the floor while rolling her eyes.

"What the heck? What's that supposed to mean, Koko?"

"I believe you're recovering well, my friend!"

"Tsk. Remind me again why you're my best friend?"

"That's easy…because I'm the coolest guy ever?"

"You're insufferable, Koko!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Kitsu!"

"It's not a compliment and you know it."

"You two are still so immature!" said Permy. "Anyway, Serina-sensei, Misaki-sensei and Sakurano-senpai, I mean Sakurano-sensei are in charge of making sure all students are accounted for."

Far away from the academy's hospital, Tohru Noyamano sat inside a holding cell. There was a table, two chairs and a bed in it. Narumi, who was in charge of interrogating Noyamano, watched her from behind a specially reinforced glass window. In another holding cell, Noyamano's companion, the one with the Invisibility Alice, was in Jinno's charge. Both cells were heavily guarded.

Narumi entered the cell and sat across the table from Noyamano. She looked calm.

"Would you like a glass of water?"

"I'm not drinking or eating anything from you or anyone else."

"It's going to be easier if you cooperate with us, Noyamano-san."

"Go ahead. Use your pheromones on me. I've heard a lot about you from Reo-san."

"I see. Is he well?"

"I haven't seen him in a while."

"Ah, so he's with the leader of the Genesis as we surmised."

"I didn't say that."

"You are correct, but isn't it obvious? Reo is one Genesis' elite, like he was in Z. Why are you here, Noyamano-san? It's not too late to defect. We can protect you from Genesis."

"I don't need protecting from Genesis. I've found my family in Genesis and I will protect them by resisting you."

"Family, huh? Genesis is a terrorist organization. Even if your father leads it—"

Noyamano stood up abruptly from her chair, making it clatter to the ground.

"I didn't say that!"

Narumi stood up as he let his pheromones work. Noyamano staggered and stepped back until her back found one of the room's walls.

"You are correct once more, but we have very reliable sources. We also know he's suffering from a terminal illness. I don't know if he used his condition to persuade you to do things for him, Noyamano-san. You have been brainwashed. We can help you."

"You…don't know…anything…he…he's…"

"I was informed that you told one of my darling students that anyone would do the same thing if they traded places with you. This time, you are not correct."

"Kitsu's not… your…darling…student… Mikan… she is…"

Narumi smiled.

"I suppose she's my dearest student."

Noyamano plopped down on the floor.

"She…would…do…the same…"

Narumi sighed deeply and stopped using his pheromones.

"Noyamano-san, Mikan-chan would never walk down the path you took. She would never hurt anyone. Maybe if someone guided you, you wouldn't have gone astray."

He gently carried Noyamano to the bed in the cell. She didn't have the energy to protest and soon closed her eyes.

"Besides, Yukihira-sensei is Mikan-chan's father. They are the most innocent people I've ever met."

Noyamano mumbled something unintelligible as Narumi left the room. As soon as he closed the door, he came face to face with the icy green eyes of High School Records Director Kyousuke Minami.

Narumi took a brief glance at the guards. They looked at anywhere but him. Narumi looked at Minami once again.

"Minami-san, I'm quite sure that you aren't supposed to be here."

"I know, but I just wanted to see Noyamano for myself and hear her out. Why didn't you press her more? I know you went easy on her, Narumi. Your pheromones are much more potent than that. She was starting to break! If it was me, I'd—"

"You'd mess up her body temperature using your Water Alice, for a start."

"It's not like you wouldn't do the same. You'd modify the room temperature. That will mess her up and make her more likely to talk."

"You know that's not a fair comparison, Minami-san. Besides, you have a personal stake in this instance because she killed your uncle."

Minami looked at the sleeping Noyamano though the glass.

"You said Noyamano was brainwashed. A Mind Control Alice?"

"Z had someone like that. Still, I believe that's only partly why Noyamano-san has changed drastically from being a sweet soprano to a terrorist."

"She's blindly following the ideals of her long-lost father, then."

"Yes, like Persona once did. Noyamano's circumstance is worse in some ways, because it's her real father in this case."

"Noyamano mentioned Sakura-san. Aren't you going to see her?"

"You know how it is. I need to be here, Minami-san. I have full trust that it's Natsume who can protect Mikan-chan best. He'll be with her."

"Of course. It's his greatest desire to keep her safe."

That's the main reason why he's been sparring with me with all his might, he thought.

Minami frowned. Earlier in the day, he had spotted Natsume with a medicine bottle. He was about to confront him but then the alarm sounded due to the confirmation of intruders in the academy. He had to report to Principal Yukihira, so he didn't pursue Natsume anymore.

At the present time, Natsume was indeed with Mikan in her room. She was not happy. She had discovered the medicine bottle in his pocket.

"You shouldn't worry about me, Polka dots. I'm fine. Stop glaring at me."

Mikan glared even harder and crossed her arms.

"Look, there are more important things happening. I said I'm fine."

"Then why do you have that bottle? What are you doing, Natsume?"

"It's nothing."

"Oh, really? Why don't you just tell me, Natsume?"

"I have nothing to tell you. Calm down, Polka dots. Your blood pressure will go up."

"It will go up if you keep dodging my questions, Natsume. I can't help being worried about you. Why are you taking medicine again?"

"I'm not. Look, the bottle is still sealed."

"I can see that, Natsume."

Natsume kissed Mikan's cheek softly. She embraced him tightly.

"There's no need to be scared for me, Mikan. This bottle is just a precaution, believe me. You should be more worried about the intruders."

"Promise me you won't put yourself in danger, Natsume."

"I promise."

Mikan broke their embrace.

"Do you mean that?"

"I do, okay? You should cheer up, Polka dots. Your face isn't very attractive right now. It's all a bit crumpled."

"Excuse me? I dare you to repeat that, Natsume Hyuuga!"

"We make it in the end. That's what you told me. So be at peace — but still alert. You do know you could be a target of whoever's been lurking around in the academy."

"Maybe you're their target."

Natsume sniggered.

Maybe they're seeking both of us, they simultaneously thought with a sense of dread.

End of Twenty-Second Chapter