Something You've Read Before
Chapter Four
Festival
Every student in Alice Academy slept later and woke earlier than usual because of the very reason that the third day of School Festival started. The lack of sleep didn't falter the excitement of the students as they still went to school with bright smiles and expectations of what would happen for the next two days. A few meters away from school, the festival atmosphere was already present with welcoming banners lined at the entrance and this made Mikan jitter and at the same time thrilled. She ran towards the second floor with her costume on hand. This was also the time when she could apply the makeup tutorial she searched on the internet a week ago.
Mikan made a recap on what she did for the past days. She participated in the marathon wherein she earned a place, gladly. She also attended the play that the younger batches prepared. Hotaru even mentioned about her being everywhere in this ongoing festival as Mikan giggled at the thought. In totality, she participated very well on this school festival. On her way up, she saw Yuu looking at the large glass windows like he was thinking really deep. Her steps became gradually quiet until she personally had taken a glance on the view Yuu stared into. When her steps were no longer doing its part on being quiet, Yuu diverted his brief attention to her. There was something about Yuu's uneasy smile that sent bad thoughts in her head and made her pray immediately. Only that Yuu noticed her worry that he changed the curve of his lips to a reassuring one.
Words were not exchanged on that concise meeting but it was full of message. Yuu signaled her to go upstairs because everyone was waiting. Mikan hesitated to go in advance because she felt that Yuu needed a friend but she could not come up with the right thing to say either. As she was close to their classroom, voices and lights greeted her. It was like the world was being insensitive to Yuu's current matter but she could not do something about it because the world didn't revolve around her. It would never revolve around for somebody. Her classmates welcomed her with good mornings and commands to dress up. She diligently followed with delight as though she did not witness a friend's suffering.
Yuu entered the classroom a few minutes after her, acting normally. Like a hawk she watched Yuu. Hours passed and the eight in the morning opening was successful. Their first customers were faculty members who needed caffeine in their system in order to survive the day because they lack sleep also with all the facilitating that they needed to be done. Words spread and the students came also. Cafés were usual concepts for school festivals but they tried to be different in the theme. The whole class voted on the apocalyptic theme because of its popularity in the social media world. Even so, the class was excited as a whole to dress like it was Halloween in the middle of a festival. Mikan was assigned in the waiting service in the morning and on the afternoon, the counter.
"This is an amazing café, Mikan."
Narumi was all smiles when he said that. He sat on the corner and already placed his order. As a teacher, he could not be happier to see his students hit different things other than the books. Alice Academy was a strict academic player in the education field mainly because its mission was to produce the future country leaders and innovators so a change of environment even for a week was not even close to bad. The students, he once thought shy, were happily calling customers to their respective stores. He felt fulfilled as a teacher.
"Thanks, Dad."
"And you are a cute zombie," he praised.
Mikan flipped her pen and brought up her pink notebook. "Thanks again! Try our specialty pastry? You only ordered a drink."
"Oh, sure."
"May I remind you that it's not for free though."
Narumi placed a shocked expression as if he was offended in a major way. "Oh, spare me!" he cried.
"If we'll always do that, our café will go bankrupt before the festival ends."
Narumi shook his head as he watched Mikan relay his orders on the counter. "Your thinking is so advance sometimes, Mikan."
"Mikan!" Anna called from the door, jumping in glee.
Nonoko then came with Anna both dressed in ruffles painted with rainbow colors. They sold sweets from the entrance walk of the school. Their three-hour shift for the morning ended that was why they paid the café a visit but of course with an extra visitor who happened to be Sumire. Mikan and the rest of the class were fast in welcoming them.
"Hello! Welcome to Class 3B's Apocalyptic Café."
"What's the best seller?" Sumire asked right away.
Mikan felt challenged but answered promptly. "Mocha frappe, of course."
Sumire smirked, taking a moment to read the menu and its funny names. "Give us three of that."
Mikan nodded and quickly placed their orders. In five minutes, she delivered the drinks on her friends' table and stayed for a moment to hear their comments. The class decided to count the customers they would have in total since they had a target of 100 customers but with the popular students who came like Sumire Shouda, Mikan predicted they would reach beyond the target.
The three first sips of Sumire would give either give them a positive or negative review and it was kind of important because Sumire could literally spread news. Mikan gulped as she saw Sumire's mouth began to open. "Not the most delicious frappe but I'm satisfied."
Mikan was dumbfounded until Nonoko whispered in her ears. "She's complimenting you."
"O-oh. Thanks, Sumire!"
Sumire was hard to please, Mikan concluded. But, Sumire was not selfish in giving indirect compliments also. She always had something to say may it be constructive or positive and that was a good thing. Mikan had a love/hate relationship with frank people and that's because she admired honesty but feared negativity. Whereas, Sumire was not a negative person thus Mikan could only see good things with her. Could they be friends? Mikan hoped so.
"I love your costume, Mikan. It's like you are a character from that computer game that came into life and so as your classmates, must I commend. Risking in the festival is not too bad, right?" Anna said, trying to cover up the silence that just happened.
"Thanks, Anna. I'll drop by to your shop later. I heard you have awesome cotton candies. Heaven knows I love cotton candies!" Mikan informed heartily.
"Oh, we do!" Anna squeaked.
Mikan threw a glance at the counter and saw three new customers. "I should go now. Enjoy."
The café was not very busy but at least it never gone out of customers. Mikan met Yuu in the counter dressed in manner that was hard to distinguish it was him. Yuu had pale make-up on his face, arms, and feet with rags sewed together as shirt and loose pants. His hair gelled up with spikes forming, both of his eyes looked like tearing apart. Mikan asked for a glass of water because dehydration started creeping onto her organs while Yuu silently started tallying their partial earnings. After the drink, Mikan was about to say anything but she failed to do so due to lack of courage. Mikan was scared that she would say something wrong.
"Mikan-chan!" Koko yelled as he entered the room with familiar faces.
Right off the bat, squeals boomed the whole room and most of the girls neglected their duties and flocked at the entrance. Such a thing only existed in televisions shows and movies but it was happening too in their school.
"This is so cool. Student Council officers are coming to our café," a voice behind Mikan said.
"Isn't that normal?" Mikan asked to herself, shaking her head in disapproval.
It was long before she realized that if the officers were here, of course Ruka would be here. She rapidly joined the raging fan girls in the entrance and was not disappointed at what she saw. Ruka was truthfully, completely, and without a doubt there. He visited their café. She could be included in his reasons to visit. Just like the other girls, she screamed in happiness. Mikan's eyes were closed, she could feel that her throat would reach its limit on the screaming part but she could not hide her excitement.
"No way. It's Natsume Hyuuga!"
That silenced Mikan up. That also made the screams ground-breaking.
"Whoa! Get their orders. Quick!"
Good thing she did not propose to take their orders and her other classmate was so quick of it or else she would face another fit from Natsume Hyuuga. She went back to the counter because the SC officers were more than being taken care of. She counted in her head, hoping for an opportunity to come just to have a reason to go there and look at Ruka in a closer distance. Just like lightning, three large cups appeared on the counter.
"Whose orders are these?" Mikan asked in gladness, acting like she had no idea who were the drinks for.
"Ruka-kun," her classmate answered.
No more second thoughts, she grabbed the drinks and declared, "Then I'll give it to them!"
With a dash, she went to Ruka's group not missing the slanted eyes Natsume gave her. She brushed the judgmental look though and went on with her task in hand. No doubt that Mikan thought that this gesture was another step forward of Ruka getting to know her. It was a big leap if your crush would know your existence. Before, it never crossed her mind that she would serve Ruka a drink but it happened and in the most unexpected way.
"Two Mocha Armageddon Blend and one Chocolate Die Hard Cream Chip frappe," Mikan announced.
"Where's Yuu, Mikan-chan?" Koko asked.
Mikan pointed at her back. "At the counter. Should I call him?"
"No, just asking."
She nodded, giving everyone a smile. "Enjoy your drinks."
Mikan regretted that she had not said anything after that like ask Ruka how was his day and if he enjoyed the festival or if he liked to order more. Her energy was plastered by her own shyness, add to that the guarding behavior of Natsume Hyuuga. Mikan decided that she needed more practice to interact with Ruka normally. She even promised to herself that the next time she would encounter him, she would definitely make it something memorable.
She then felt her phone vibrate and excused herself from the customers and classmates to answer the call. She signaled Yuu that she would go out for a moment to which he nodded. Her blushing cheeks, caused by Ruka, gradually returned to normal because of the caller. Analyzing the quietest place in the campus, she made her way to the fire exit. It was a waste not to cherish the brief interaction she had with Ruka. Leaning at the metal bars, she gazed at the peaceful side of Alice Academy. The front part of the school was full of stores and happenings while the opposite happened on the back. The call lasted for three minutes as if the person on the other line had no prior intentions of calling her.
Mikan covered her red face with both of her hands as her body dropped knee level because of the rush she felt inside. She gripped the hem of her loose shirt and bit her lip to contain herself. Kicking the stairs, she found temporary relief and grief. Mikan hated breakdown moments like this after a momentous event and she hated herself for being so affected even after many times. Good thing, she learned not to cry. After a few minutes, she calmed down but continued staring at the serene fields at the back of her eventful school. Mikan knew she had an unfinished job at their café but she had no strength to get up and face other students with a smile.
The brunette slowly stood up, reaching the door longer than it usually took. The hard metal opened without a sound, also caused by the short aisle connecting the exit to the hallway but Mikan almost yelled her lungs out when a familiar person greeted her.
"What's with the face?"
Mikan swore that her breathing paused the moment she heard that question from Natsume Hyuuga. Why was it always him? Of all the people or classmates that could be concerned of her, why was Natsume the one here? She could feel his interest, she could hear his questions, and she saw that he acted clueless about it. Natsume had a poker face on but it would be human nature to thought of what happened for her to react like that.
"What's with you suddenly appearing like that?" Mikan almost yelled.
Natsume shrugged his shoulders, showing an expression that he was unaffected. "I always surprise people."
"Why are you talking to me? Didn't we have a bad separation last time?"
"You make it sound like we're friends."
Mikan fixed her hair. "I gotta go."
Natsume held her arm, leaning closer to whisper, "You didn't answer my question."
"Are you that curious?" Mikan spat. She was very irritated.
"No, I just don't get why you are upset. You somehow became existent with Ruka today which made you disgustingly happy and with just one phone call, everything has changed."
Mikan took a step forward, away from Natsume's intimidating presence. He had the nerve to follow her up to this lonely fire exit. That meant that he had a motive. Maybe to spike up her temper for the nth time. No, Natsume wouldn't care about her problems. Maybe he was asking because she should be happy with the festival and all. Or it was pure coincidence that he would be here.
"We're not friends. Why do you think I'll tell you?"
Natsume smirked, placing both hands on his pocket and walked two steps towards the door. His soft hair was messed by the graceful winds that came from the small opened portion of the exit but he looked amazing nonetheless. He didn't follow her, actually. It was just an accident because he wanted to use the fire exit instead of the crowded stairs to get down. He was surprised to see Mikan in such state though. All he witnessed that she was speaking to someone and then her reaction made him questioning.
"I don't expect you to tell me anyways. Whatever that is, don't let it meddle with your affairs. I don't want a psycho stalker for my best friend."
Mikan sighed, feeling insulted. "I'm not a psycho stalker."
Natsume faced her with a flimsy smile. "Yes. Yes, you are."
Then he left casually.
"Jerk."
Mikan hated him so much for being so confusing.
For hours, Mikan pondered at Natsume's action. It was like he showed some concern and hid it through the use of his stinky attitude. Mikan shook her head, refusing to believe that Natsume actually cared. She started reasoning out inside her head and presented the pros and cons if ever she would be friends with Natsume Hyuuga. Befriending him would get her close to Ruka but Natsume was a hard shell to crack so it would take years and Mikan could not take years with Ruka graduating, her time was running out. Continuing her war with him would mean a longer path in winning the heart of Ruka Nogi also and Natsume could badmouth her and lost all her chances. Too many dilemmas in a day.
Suddenly, Mikan realized that she was paying too much attention on the person who hated her. She gritted her teeth and kicked the ground twice in aggravation. Natsume did not deserve a millimeter of her neurons so she would just let it be. That was when she decided to just enjoy the festival and strike every opportunity present. It's not like festivals lasted a lifetime and this was Ruka's last school festival so she should focus on that. Mikan almost forgot that she had a delectable cotton candy to finish.
"This is a delicious cotton candy! Where's it from?" Mikan asked, pinching another piece from the stick.
"Anna and Nonoko came up with the ingredients," Sumire answered.
"You two are amazing! It's like you can do anything." Mikan then focused her attention to Sumire who also enjoyed her cotton candy. "What did your class come up, Sumire?"
Sumire smiled proudly and positioned herself in a more elegant posture. Mikan noticed how her eyes twinkled by the mere question. No doubt that Sumire led her class and Mikan already guessed the possible ideas in line with Sumire's way of thinking.
"We transform the ugliest duckling to the most beautiful swan!"
"Oh, the famous makeover corner!" Mikan supplied.
"That's right. Aren't we brilliant?"
"Indeed!"
Sumire smirked. "You should visit us before this ends."
Mikan tried her best not to frown. Was she just insulted? "I'd love to but I have a limited time."
"It's a good thing you get to enjoy the festival and not work all the time to your café," Anna said.
Mikan nodded with a smile, focusing on the food in her hands. "Yeah, we divided works and I requested an earlier leave. I told Yuu to not take it too seriously also. I just hope he listened. He works too hard for the past months."
Anna was silent for a moment. Her concern for Yuu was evident, making it obvious that she was aware on Yuu's situation back at home. "He's just having a rough time," Anna said quietly.
Nonoko felt the anxiety and decided to lighten the moment. "Why don't we do more fun things? Like buying stuff to commemorate this festival?"
They followed Nonoko's advice and actually spent a good amount of money to buy products made by the students themselves. They even wrote on the Memory Wall placed on the school's entrance gate and took pictures everywhere they went. Due to much enjoyment, they failed to notice the time and that it was already evening and that the last parts of the celebration were just around the corner.
One by one, the shops closed. Mikan felt a weird longing on how such a hectic day little by little halted. She brought out her phone and texted a congratulatory message to her classmates. She received a bountiful amount of replies. They all worked hard and it was tiring but in their hearts, they did not want this to end. Not yet. Mikan smiled bitterly. Just when you're attached, they end. Or was it because it's ending that you felt the attachment?
"This school festival is the best," Anna exclaimed.
Nonoko stared at the sky dreamily and sadly blurted, "Ah, the fun ends here."
Mikan pouted. "Don't say that, Nonoko. We can have fun every day."
Nonoko only gave her a small smile which Mikan knew that her new friend was only half-convinced. It made Mikan wonder what definition of fun people had in mind because for her fun was a simple thing. As long as it made you smile, you had fun. But, some people had high standards of fun, making them so greedy for it. Mikan could not complain though because that was human nature and who was she to whine about it.
Koko waved a few meters from day, running towards them and hugged Sumire. After that, they did not interrupt the couple. Gradually, the organizers of the festival, composed mainly of the officers, gathered in one place. Mikan excused herself to visit Ruka who was standing near the back. She made a small wave and stood beside him. Ruka should be at the front, together with his co-officers but he chose to stay at the back. Mikan didn't know if such act should be admired or warned. Ruka acknowledged her presence by waving back and for a moment there, Mikan's heart leaped again.
"Thanks for putting up a wonderful festival, Ruka."
What possessed Mikan to approach Ruka in such casual manner slipped her mind because as she talked to him, she yelled inside her mind for being overconfident at the moment. Good thing that Ruka received her presence with no signs of awkwardness or else Mikan would willingly wait a month to talk to him again.
"Ah, no, it's the result of everyone's effort."
Mikan giggled shortly. Did she try to flirt? "You're so humble."
"Just being honest," Ruka cleared, putting a hand on his nape, slightly embarrassed. "This is my last school festival and I really wanted to make it memorable. The request to make it week-long was not granted but these three days have been wonderful."
The truth about Ruka's last year in the academy saddened Mikan even if graduation was far. Her time to impress him shortened as day passed but she could not just directly confess her admiration for him because that would be totally creepy. If only Ruka would notice and confront her, she would gladly admit it but he showed signs of being dense. That was something Mikan had to work on.
"I agree," Mikan replied, not knowing what more to say.
Alice Academy's principal then went to the platform stage and gave a short speech. The winners for the different competitions during the festival were recognized and awarded. Most of the winners belonged to the graduating class. Their heartfelt thanksgiving nearly put some people to tears. A louder round of applause was delivered. After the awarding ceremony, Mikan saw Natsume approaching their location.
Natsume did not even look at her and only focused on Ruka.
"It's time for your speech, Ruka."
That's what he only said with his deep, husky, and less audible voice. Ruka nodded and excused himself before Natsume followed him. Mikan would like to say that she felt insulted by the avoidance and complete act of ignoring her but she could not do that, couldn't she? She hated to admit it but ever since Natsume started talking or degrading her, she felt an attachment. Not in the romantic and clingy way but just for the goal of being acknowledged with respect by the boy. It was like Mikan wanted Natsume's approval despite of her refusal that it was not his business whether she liked Ruka or not.
Mikan walked closer to the stage to get a better view. She never minded being alone because she already felt like she belong with the students crowding in. Ruka looked nervous. Mikan guessed that her crush's confidence was not still topnotch. She would be very glad to help him in that. A bitter smile escaped her lips. What was she thinking? She had not enough confidence to face other problems herself and yet she had in mind to help Ruka.
"Good evening, Alice Academy. Three days of celebration has finally come to an end. As the president of student council, honestly, it was not easy putting this celebration and for that I thank my council and for every committee which helped us. To my co-students who participated actively in every event. For our teachers who guided us and became one of us during these three days. I cannot thank you enough but I want to all of you know that I will treasure this memory forever. That even if this is my final year in the academy, I will never forget a single bit of this festival."
Everyone clapped the short speech especially Mikan who felt very proud of Ruka. When the music started, Mikan chose to rest first at the less crowded place on the corner of the school grounds. She was far from the celebration but she could still feel its atmosphere. Maybe because she could still see a bit of it from where she sat. This year's celebration was a lot different from before. This year she bonded with more friends and she became more involved. Mikan didn't do much but at least she cooperated and helped in a different level.
"Did you enjoy, my dear daughter?"
"Dad!" Mikan exclaimed, standing up to hug her father. "I did. It was so fun. This year was a lot different."
Narumi sat beside her, saying, "Too bad everything ends."
Mikan pouted, summarizing in her mind all the happenings. "You're right but I'm not sad. The festival itself was a blast but the company of my new friends is so much more."
"I'm glad to know that."
Narumi was more than glad, actually. He was always worried about Mikan keeping a limited number of friends. His daughter's infatuation for Ruka Nogi was not something he completely accepted but it was better than Mikan being picky with friends. Mikan slowly opened up herself to mingle with various kinds of people. Narumi sighed in relief. He stressed himself for years because of the worry that Mikan would only. Sure, Mikan was a girl full of smiles but he knew the truth. Looks could really deceive you.
Mikan patted his father on the shoulder, assuring him that everything was going smoothly. Narumi replied with a nod then displayed a slightly surprised expression.
"Natsume Hyuuga. What are you doing here?" Narumi asked kindly, smiling with all his might.
"Handing cotton candies courtesy of the council," Natsume answered casually and leaned to give a piece to Narumi. "Here, Sir."
Narumi stood up and accepted the freebie. "Thank you. Great job on the festival, Vice President."
Natsume suddenly remembered when Mikan mentioned Narumi's odd way of talking about him. He was not blind to not notice that Narumi was fond of him for Mikan. He hated the sole idea of it and was completely disgusted but showing indecency would tarnish his name even if their family practically owned the school.
"It's the effort of the council but thanks anyways," Natsume replied coolly. He could see Mikan making faces at his answer.
Narumi noticed the two avoiding each other leading him to ask something to make Natsume's stay a bit "The music is lovely. Is the dance going fine?"
"It is, Sir."
Narumi grabbed Mikan's arm making her stand up. "Then, what are you waiting for? Mikan, you must join the dance. It's a chance." Narumi winked at his daughter which made Mikan confused. Narumi then faced Natsume again. "Would you please grant me a favor Mr. Natsume Hyuuga to escort my daughter to the dance?"
Mikan was alarmed and fast to respond. "No! There's no need. I'm sure nothing would happen so Hyuuga doesn't need to escort me. That would be so ridiculous." She then started walking towards the dance. "Bye, Dad."
In such short time, Mikan was nowhere to be seen. Narumi only chuckled. "Sorry for that."
Natsume noticed that his teacher enjoyed the gauche of the situation. "It's okay."
Avoiding him won't last forever but Natsume accepted the challenge silently. He bowed before leaving Narumi, his thoughts preoccupied with Mikan's weakness. It seemed like words hurts Mikan badly like with that mysterious phone call and just like that Natsume felt he won. He was good with that. With insulting words. After all, he heard it all.
Meanwhile, Mikan had a hard time finding her friends with all the people around. She even collided with some students just to find her friends. It was not an easy task because of the little space available for walking and searching. She saw familiar faces but not her friends until someone grabbed her from behind, making her turn.
"Mikan! Where have you been?" Anna asked, holding a cup of soda in her hand.
For a moment, Mikan was disoriented but quickly shook the feeling. "Sorry. So, what's happening?"
What a silly question. Just by looking around you could already tell what obviously was happening. Mikan hated herself for being preoccupied by Natsume so much to the point that it turned her to be self-conscious and pressured her to be better, to be more deserving.
"As you can see, academy couples occupy the dance floor. Koko and Sumire are currently on their fourth song. Hotaru has been asked multiple times but refused to do so. I'm so envious. I've just been asked once so far."
"Who did you dance with, Nonoko?"
"Mochu from our year. Do you know him?"
Mikan shook her head apologetically. "No, sorry."
"Well, he's my classmate. People have a bad perception of him but he's cool once you get to know him. He's my lab partner, by the way."
Mikan found the idea that such story existed amusing. She could hear the defensive tone in Nonoko's voice as if she belonged to the people who judged this Mochu. Good thing she had nothing to determine who Mochu was, her judgment was fair.
"Sounds like a nice person to me," Mikan said.
"I promised him the last dance," Nonoko said with little shyness. Then, her phone beeped twice and quickly read the message. "Oh, wait. Got an emergency in the food booth. Be right back. Enjoy the dance, Mikan."
"Sure."
Mikan found an empty chair at the side of the empty stage. She kept thinking how much this last dance signifies to other people like it was a promise of eternity and not doing it with the person you like would be a mere taboo. She enjoyed being a spectator, watching other students' reactions. Their smiles, their blush, their shyness, their sweet love, and their simple admiration. Alice Academy was not heavily decorated but somehow the people dancing magnified its design. The school year just started and it only meant that more things will happen. Mikan knew that when she started to be involved in things, it never came easy.
"Yuu's enjoying," Mikan said.
Hotaru sneered. "I forgot he has a thing with Anna."
"Are you enjoying, Hotaru?"
"What do you think?"
Mikan smiled a little, shrugging her shoulders as if not bothered by Hotaru's sarcasm. "I think that you'll enjoy more if you dance. Nonoko said that many asked you already. Who are they?"
"No one you know."
Bad mood? Mikan could not conclude. She knew how much Hotaru wanted to answer with one-liner sentences but this was just weird in an awkward way. Mikan refrained for a while and thought of the next appropriate question to ask.
"Oh. Did you see Ruka?"
Hotaru tilted her head a little and heaved a shallow sigh. "Probably near the music station."
"I hope he's not busy. There's nothing wrong with asking him to dance, right?"
Concern was evident in Hotaru's eyes. "As if I can stop you."
With an awkward nod, Mikan bid her temporary goodbye to Hotaru and made her way to the music station. There was something about this night that reminded Mikan of late night parties during her childhood. Her father was once a member of a biker's association in their community and whenever there was an event, their home was the last stop of the bikers. The decoration was almost the same. Mikan's mother liked beaming lights while her father believed that music made the world go round hence the loud music inside the house. Many people came back then but not too much because their house couldn't handle it. Those were the days of happy occasions.
She was a child back then and had no appreciation of large gatherings. For her it was just an external source of deprived sleep because she would hear conversation even past midnight but her parents enjoyed it so she endured it. Now, she was filled around with it and it happens even spontaneously but she never really got used to it. She tried to appreciate it even now, determined to make memories but why did it feel so forced?
"Hey! Ruka."
"Hello, Mikan-chan. Enjoying the dance?"
In Ruka's smile, Mikan found one memory to remember. She felt she was a day closer to Ruka, that their acquaintanceship slowly transformed into friendship. Well, she would not have enough confidence to ask Ruka if she was still a nuisance to his life.
"Yes. Will you dance with me?"
Ruka paused a bit, taken aback with the question. He had a hard time distinguishing if it was a joke or a serious offer. He stepped closer nonetheless and offered his hand with a reluctant reply, hoping that he would not feel humiliated after this. "Ahmm, sure?" he said.
Mikan accepted the hand and giggled. "Oh, come on. Is this the first time a girl asked you to dance?"
"More like my first friend who asked me to dance with her."
Ruka was stuck into feeling revealing his shyness or if he would just equal Mikan's reaction to this. he just knew her not so long ago and honestly he did not see Mikan as the direct type of person, that she would be the one to insist a dance. Or maybe she only had something to say or was very bored and not she found him sitting in a corner again and decided to do him good and asked him to dance. There were a lot of theories behind it but one thing Ruka was very sure: Mikan had only one reason. Of course. Many reasons were not needed in the first place. Ruka laughed at himself, he thought of too much.
"Well? Do you want to?" Mikan asked, holding onto Ruka's hand tighter and shaking it a bit to ease the tension.
"Yeah. Why not?"
"Everything's glowing, Ruka. I love these lights in crystal balls."
They were parallel to each other now, dancing slowly. Both of Ruka's hands encircled Mikan's waist while her hands rested firmly on his shoulders. Ruka was in a tight spot. Would he turn Mikan around or not? Were those even requirements when you're dancing with someone? Ruka did not know what made him so uptight with this dance. On the other hand, Mikan thought of what Ruka might be thinking at that time. She was successful in looking so relaxed when she really trembled inside especially when Ruka confirmed that were already friends. If Ruka only guessed it right, then she might have confessed her feelings spot on. Her overflowing admiration that reaches beyond the stars. Mikan smiled at herself for thinking so cheesy.
"That's Sumire's idea. Actually, everything was her idea and we only executed it. Everyone was congratulating me but I feel that I don't deserve the credit."
Ruka was indeed a humble man. Small conversations about anything, even the most nonsense things, could really help in knowing a person. But, Mikan was a bit disenchanted and it worried her. She only thought of good things regarding Ruka and his flaws went into somewhere that was hard to dig. For Mikan, in knowing a person, you have to know the two sides: the good and the less good. She refused to call the less good 'bad' because that was a negative way of putting it.
"Of course, you do. Why would you think otherwise? You gathered them. You're their leader. You fix things when problems come. You give directions. You computed the budget. You conceptualized this. Do not think so low of the things you did because even I can't do it."
Ruka scratched his head subtly, feeling more undeserving of the praise. "Thanks," he whispered.
"Thank you for the memory, Ruka."
"You're most welcome," Ruka replied but he was really taken aback with the choice of word.
Before their second song ended, Ruka was tapped by Natsume and whispered something Mikan was not able to hear. Ruka explained that he had to go because the Head Faculty called for him. Mikan bid her sweetest thanks and goodbye. She did not even mind the presence of Natsume and how much she knew how the crimson-eyed boy hated what she did. The crowd was almost clear when she made her way to her friends, her face flushed with her two legs hitting each other, unable to walk straight.
"What is wrong with you? Are you high?" Sumire asked, her arms crossed.
"My heart's leaping," Mikan managed to mumble, tapping her chest.
Sumire made a face as Mikan went past her. "The hell with that mushy line. What happened to her?"
Mikan had no answer but Nonoko had one. "No idea, Sumire. It's just that she danced with Ruka and she's in dazed after."
Gossip. It all started with a sinister smile and cutting the distance to the nearest person beside you. Exactly what Sumire did that night. She had that knowing smile and immediately approached Mikan. She cleared her throat so that her next words would not fail on the loudness criterion. Her introduction remained unnoticed by Mikan but that was until she really opened her mouth.
"Oh. I see. Someone here has a crush."
Mikan snapped back to reality, turned her head from left to right to check if Sumire was talking to somebody. The somebody turned out to be her, Mikan realized. "What? Of course not, Sumire. What are you talking about?"
"Why don't you tell me?" Sumire dared, eyebrows raised.
"I'm not. I don't."
Nonoko reacted normally to it. "Don't be shy, Mikan. It's normal. I'm sure many girls have a crush on Ruka."
Mikan was quick to defend. "I'm not many girls."
Sumire only rejoiced. She knew denial very well. "See? She likes him. You like him!"
Mikan was alarmed. Very alarmed. Nonoko heard it and so did Anna which was just beside her and lots of other random students. She wanted to cover Sumire's mouth with anything because Ruka was such a well-known entity in this school. Mikan's face heated up and she could feel her cheeks full. This was very bad. Very bad, indeed.
"Okay, stop. What's the big deal? It's just a crush."
Sumire clapped as if Mikan admitting her feelings was such an achievement. She examined her nails as she added distance from Mikan's position. "Because you tried to deny it. It's a surprise though."
"Why do you say?"
"For a second there I thought you have the hots for Natsume," Sumire explained frankly.
Did Mikan hear that? In a split of second, everything she put onto her stomach seemed like dancing and was ready to go out via her mouth. The idea made her intestines turn into different directions. It was a perception she could not accept.
"Hots for Hyuuga? Major yuck. He hates me but it's cool because I hate him also. I take that back. I hate him more! Yeah, that's it. He actually threatens me when I do something to step up my relationship with Ruka. I mean, what's up with him? So damn overprotective. It's not like I'm a crazy fan girl."
"Oh, hush. Don't be surprise anymore. Natsume does not trust easily. He has a history, I think."
"A history?" Mikan asked, her curiosity perking up to the sky.
Sumire nodded casually but glared at her all of a sudden, even pointing a finger. "Yeah. But it's not a pretty topic. We don't actually talk about it so don't dare ask."
"Okay."
Sumire believed her but that means they have yet to know each other deeply because Mikan was not the one who would let go of information like this especially that she hated Natsume. The moment Mikan heard that from Sumire, she owned the sinister smile. It was the time to attack her enemy and she used gossip to attain more details. To whom did Mikan ask first? None other than Hotaru Imai. Simply because Hotaru knew everything. Hotaru knew the past, present, and future. That was why Mikan admired her best friend for eternity.
"Hotaru, what happened to Hyuuga?" Mikan asked in a whisper.
"What's with the sudden interest? It's not actually a secret and the school knows the half truth about it."
"Sounds serious," Mikan commented as she stared into space.
"If you're planning on helping Natsume—"
Mikan raised two hands on mid-air, her lips formed a defensive smile. "No, I don't. I'm just curious."
"I don't gossip. If you really want to know, why don't you ask him?" Hotaru challenged because she knew that Mikan would not go that far.
The brunette frowned, already losing hope to get the facts she dreamt of getting that night. Mikan forgot that Hotaru also could keep secrets. But if the schools knew the half-truth about it then she could ask random people and she would get the answers to initiate her plan. Hotaru looked at Mikan with frail disappointment, mainly for the reason that Hotaru read her mind as always and she did not like the brunette's plan. So, Mikan decided to lie even if she knew that Hotaru would not believe her.
"We're not close enough for me to barge in like that and ask him a personal question."
"Exactly. So, just quit it, Mikan. You're the most annoying when you begin to be curious."
Hotaru made her exit and when Mikan was about to follow her, she received a call from Yuu. Mikan wondered why couldn't just Yuu approach her when the dance was still ongoing. She answered the call and was about to say 'hello' but stopped herself because she heard someone crying.
"Yuu? What happened?" she asked with voice trembling. Mikan prayed that what she had in mind was not Yuu's reason for calling.
"Damn it."
Mikan held her phone tighter. "Are you alright?"
Yuu laughed hysterically and Mikan was more than worried. "No, I'm not. Why would I be? My Mom just died."
End of Chapter
Heya, guys! I am back. Sort of. Well, I decided that writing is amazing so I will really come back to it this time. Lots of things happened to my life while I was away so I hope it's all worth the sacrifices. I am going to continue this story no matter what happens. I just love where this will go so I hope you will feel the same excitement, too. : )