Something You've Read Before

Chapter Twenty five

You're Perfect

Packing for a three-day trip did not put any hardship on Natsume's part because he was used to travelling in a whim or travelling in general. He supposed it came with the package of being a Hyuuga being tossed around in different parts of the world to attend a family event or a business meeting Kaoru had to attend but could not let her children to nannies alone. Those were the days before and after the divorce. He checked the list he made on his way home containing the essentials and how many pairs of clothes he should bring with him and compared it to the mess laid his bed. No matter how light he wanted his luggage to be, the weather simply did not let him. At 14 degrees Celsius, his ears started getting red and smoke coming out from his mouth. The normal jacket was not effective in protecting him from the cold which seeped into his skin which was uncomfortable. Natsume liked summers better, its heat and warmth. He suddenly remembered that he had to bring chips and a sandwich tomorrow in case of hunger. So leaving his packing unfinished, he went down to the kitchen.

He was greeted by two household staff: one, the maid who bid him goodnight and inquired if there was anything he needed which he shook his head to and second their butler, who informed him that Kaoru was in the library. Natsume almost dismissed the report but he remembered his trip to Akita and how he did not inform Kaoru about it which did not sit well on Mikan. With the intention of talking to Kaoru in mind, Natsume changed his tracks, decided that the chips and sandwich could wait but Kaoru, most of the time, did not stay at one place. The library was on the other side of the house, just a room filled with Kaoru's books from the time she was single to married, and then single again. The light in the glass window indicated a presence inside. Natsume knocked twice, waited for the permission to enter before opening the door.

Kaoru was not in the table and instead read her book in the patio chair that seemed to be the only furniture that was out of place in the room. She enjoyed the silence of the room due to the hollowness of the design. Natsume placed both hands on his pocket, sighing the moment he realized that his mother would say more things than he hoped for. When Kaoru confirmed who the visitor was, she neglected her book and glasses. Her face was unreadable because deep inside, she did not know why Natsume had come to her but looked forward on whatever his words came to be.

"I'm going to a conference tomorrow," said Natsume.

At first, Kaoru remained quiet, smiling to herself with the announcement his son just made. "I'm flattered that you informed me," Kaoru drawled sarcastically, "Well, it's better than you thinking that you can go in the middle of nowhere without telling me. Remember that you are still under me even if you're 18. As long as you're in this house, you have the responsibility of telling me where you will be."

Obviously, Kaoru knew about his little excursion to the ends of Japan which was the cause of her snarling demeanor and raised eyebrows. There were many trips in Natsume's life that he did not tell to Kaoru with most of them were school-related. There were also times when his friends invited him to go to Osaka, Sapporo, Kyoto, and other local destinations which he did not inform Kaoru about. What made it different this time? Natsume chuckled bitterly on the inside. It was because of who he was with.

"You never asked. For me, that means you don't care."

Kaoru remained her intimidating smile. "Then, if you think so, why are you telling me this time?"

Natsume glared at her. "So, you don't blame my absence to somebody else."

Kaoru nodded in understanding, shifted her location from the couch to the chair in the middle of the room. "Are you talking about Mikan Sakura? I met her before. Quite rude, ill-mannered, not really the type of girl you can bring anywhere."

"You have no right to talk to her like that," Natsume spat, he felt his muscles in the face tensed, "She's amazing. More than you can imagine."

There were ways on how Kaoru could get Natsume out of his composure but the lad was quicker now in regaining it compared to when he was younger. Mothers always knew their children best to the point that even if they tried their utmost effort to hide something, the motherly instinct always worked perfectly. Kaoru wondered if it was the work, who took her time away with Natsume, that led her to be confused with his actions. She was aware that Natsume did not take the divorce lightly compared to the rest of the family but this antagonism between them had no indication of dying away sooner. She already made it up with Aoi, somehow had a decent relationship with Ioran, but when it came to Natsume, they always had opposing opinions, fighting for two different things, and did not respect the decision made by one another. Just the thought of it made Kaoru exhausted.

"Oh, I don't have to use my imagination. I know she's not good for you," Kaoru said to vex his son more.

"You don't know what's good for me," mocked Natsume.

That made Kaoru lost her composure, standing from the seat, and waving her hands in midair. All her efforts in giving Natsume the best future possible seemed dismal with his statement. Kaoru desperately asked herself what was it that his son hated very much to the point of not appreciating anything she had done for him. As if he saw her as a villain and not as a mother. She breathed in and out for half a minute before facing Natsume who looked like he was ready to fight anytime. She did not know if her dislike for Mikan Sakura had caused him to be in a worse state. Furthermore, she knew that blaming would help at all her strained relationship with Natsume.

"Then, what is it? Why don't we clear each other's minds for once, Natsume?"

Natsume accepted the challenge of her mother, walking near her. "Mikan is the best for me. She makes me want to do more. She believes in people, even in you."

"Is that supposed to make me accept her?" Kaoru said in disbelief.

For Natsume, he did not care if Kaoru would accept Mikan or not, the girl herself was enough for him to fight for this. "We don't need that," he said much to Kaoru's dismay. Mending his relationship with his mother seemed impossible in this state because they were both high from their respective causes. For Natsume, unless Kaoru promised not to pry in his life, he would not rebel to her anymore. As for Kaoru, if only Natsume agreed with her decisions then any support he needed, she was willing to give it. Both of their prides hindered them from seeing their situation in a different point of view, losing track of what should be done instead of arguing every single time they saw each other.

"Break up with her or else I will make you. Try to mend you relationship with Luna so I'll finally be at peace. Look at Aoi –"

Natsume was quick to not let her mother finished her sentence. "Don't try to control my life, Kaoru."

"I only want the best for you!" Kaoru cried.

Natsume fast approached the door but turned at the last second, yelling back, "Then, be my mother for once!"

The feeling after fighting with Kaoru never settled beautifully with Natsume. Guilt nagged his conscience but he knew the truth hurt and the truth he always gave. He walked back to his room in agitation, putting all his things disorganized in his luggage and ran back downstairs. Spending the night here suffocated him so it was better for him to steamed off to Ioran's abode. When he was inside the car, he thought of people to inform, the first thing that came into his mind was Mikan but he knew she would not receive well that he fought again with his mother because of their relationship. Ruka came into mind but he only sent a voice mail to prepare for the worst and he knew Ruka would get it.

Since Tokyo streets were almost cleared out at this hour, Natsume reached his father's home earlier than expected. He parked swiftly, turned off the engine, pulled out his things, and pressed the passcode on his door. Natsume walked briskly to the game room where his father slept during autumn since it's warmer there without using the heater. He opened the door to see the television opened in BBC News while the fireplace was also on. Scanning the room, he found none so he exited the area and traversed the house until he found Ioran on the kitchen bar, waiting for his water to boil for the purpose of ramen. Natsume sighed at the sight of his father then sat with him on the bar where Ioran jokingly served him a whisky which Natsume sat aside.

Curiously looking at his son, Ioran said, "Is it really hard for you to at least text me before you come? What if I have a woman in here?"

Natsume crossed his arms, leaning on the counter. "Bull. You never liked another woman after Kaoru."

Ioran walked to the pot to put his noodles in, pouting like a child. "That's not true. I've paid attention to a lot of women."

That sentence from Ioran made Natsume chuckle in incredulity, knowing how much of a lie it was. Opening one of the drawers in the kitchen, Natsume took another pack of ramen then placed it on the boiling pot. "Which makes me think what you saw in her. Even now, you still have feelings for her," he said.

"Let's just say that it's a different kind of love. It's the same with you. You still love her as a mother despite the circumstances" Ioran remarked with eyes longing for something else then when he realized he had a train of thought, he shook his head then with a smile he asked Natsume, "What happened to you this time?"

Natsume shrugged his shoulders. "I wonder when will Kaoru change."

It was Ioran's turn to giggle. "If I knew she would then we would not divorce."

Natsume did not look happy, though. "Yet I wanted to believe that she can because I want to work our relationship but she makes it so hard." Frustration was evident in Natsume's tone.

Ioran was on the process of turning off the stove and putting the pot in the table when he heard his son's statement, causing him to almost drop the hot pot. "Whoa! Wait a minute. Did I hear that correctly? You want to fix your relationship with your mother?"

"I guess you're not deaf at all."

"Whose idea is this?" Ioran asked away.

Natsume's first reaction when he realized what he just said was to avoid his father's gaze. He remembered that Ioran did not know yet that his relationship with Mikan moved to another level. Not that Natsume needed Ioran's approval, no, his father was never like that but this change in his life, he liked it very much to tell Ioran that he pursued a path against what the family wanted. On the other hand, Ioran felt surprised on Natsume's reaction of shying away from his inquisitive look which made him think that someone instigated this idea on his son and he wondered who. The answer was made known to Ioran not a second longer.

"Mikan."

"Oooh. Basing from that strong and sensitive suggestion, she knows your story," Ioran teased and reminisced the last time Natsume asked for his advice, "And you already made up from your last misunderstanding."

"We talked things through," Natsume said casually.

At the moment, Ioran massive feelings of proudness and support occurred to him, glad that Natsume made a decision for himself and his son did not have any clue of backing away. This certainly was not an easy feat because Kaoru had tendencies to go all out when it came to destroying a relationship, intentional or not. The glow in Natsume's eyes, his funny side of personality blooming out, looking so definite in his decision, all made want Ioran to encourage his son even more. If Ioran was not able to stop Kaoru during Aoi's time, at least now he was given another chance to be with his child all throughout. Looked like Mikan was also a good influence to him, inducing this patching with Kaoru idea to his son.

"Aww, my son. You look so in love. Did she return your feelings?"

Natsume glared at his father. "That's sounds so mushy."

"The first time you brought her here, I knew she was not just a friend to you. So, are you willing to risk it?"

The statement made Natsume look stern to his father, fully knowing what Ioran meant with the risks associated with this relationship. To say that there was no fear in Natsume's heart was a lie, it was there, in a little amount only because he knew his feelings were not that nimble for it to be trampled easily and he knew Mikan felt strongly for him, too. Although what happened to Aoi reminded Natsume that not everything could be taken lightly, he found it none in his heart to let go of what he had. Ioran waited for his answer with a crooked smile, as if telling Natsume that he was worried but if he wanted his help, as father, he would do so.

It took Ioran lots of energy just to deal with Kaoru during Aoi's time because of their such contrasting beliefs. They always had been different in opinion but they managed to compromise somehow but Ioran realized not for the sake of the happiness of his children. Suddenly, it was not about meddling with the love affairs of their children but it went so far as the future. Even if Ioran and Kaoru were paired up by their respective families, they happened to be fortunate because they learned to love each other but what if it was not the case for their children. This was what Ioran fought all these years: freedom. The liberty to make decisions for yourself and own up to its consequences, the freewill to choose your career, and the enjoyment of being with people whom you were comfortable with.

"I'm prepared," said Natsume with a nod.

Ioran elaborated his question with a worried stare. "Even if her will falters? Even if Kaoru repeatedly attacks her to the point when she can no longer defend herself?"

"I'll never leave her."

"Is her determination the same?"

Natsume nodded once more. "Yes," he answered.

Looking for a second to his son, Ioran closed his eyes then smiled. "You have my full support then."

Natsume acknowledged and appreciated his father's declaration, getting two bowls for each of them so they could finally enjoy the ramen. It meant a lot for Natsume, he was not just able to express it in words, but he felt tremendous appreciation for Ioran always looking out for him, supporting him in every decision he made and reprimanding him when he was on the wrong. It was a good thing that he found a wall to lean on in Ioran when Kaoru refused to offer any. Natsume realized that when his father needed his help someday, he would also be more than willing to give it even without asking.

"You're right," said Natsume while getting spoons and chopsticks.

"About what?" asked Ioran, confused.

"About the mushy thing you said earlier."

Ioran only smiled. Young love looked so promising. "Ah. Father knows best, right?"

With crossed arms, Mikan watched Narumi packed his things on a duffel bag. She had not said a word for quite some time while Narumi awkwardly watched his daughter stare at a distance. They just had dinner and it was only then when Narumi revealed that he ought to go to Nagoya with the representative of the Student Council being their adviser and all. This news put Mikan in a silent act of disbelief, realizing that she was all alone in the coming weekend. Since then, she started acting like a child being away from her parents for the first time, looking like on the verge of a tantrum while Narumi chuckled on the inside.

"My father, my best friend, and my boyfriend are all going to a trip without me," Mikan said childishly.

Narumi pointed a toothpaste to his daughter, humorously said, "Don't say you'll miss me because I won't believe you."

"Take care," Mikan said laughing, earning a teasing look from Narumi, adding, "Of yourself and everyone else."

"Have you read Subaru's e-mail?"

Mikan nodded. "About an investor. I actually laud that investor because that is one risky move."

"Business is full of risks and these men always like to buy a company on the brink of bankruptcy. They like it better that way."

Mikan stood up, approaching Narumi and helped him in making all the clothes fit in the bag. "But, that would help a lot in making Daddy stay. I will personally see through this and offer my assistance if needed."

Narumi made one last check of his bag before closing it before paying attention again to his daughter. "Since nothing yet is final, we can still think of ways to help Izumi."

They had been through brainstorming sessions for at least two just to formulate the best path for Izumi and sometimes Mikan wished that she had the money to save his father but looking in a different perspective, she knew that financial was not the only problem here. Narumi went to the bathroom to wash his face while Mikan gazed at the night sky through the large window in Narumi's room. She had all the weekend to herself so better use it to her advantage and do some studying about business. Better not disrupt those dear to her going to the conference and just focused on what she had to do. The brief silence though gave her a sad idea.

"What does it take for him to forgive me?" Mikan asked out of the blue.

Narumi dried his face with a towel, heard the mumble of his daughter and sat parallel to her. "I honestly cannot answer that specifically, my dearest daughter. I'm sorry. This is what I believe in, though. A parent's love does not disappear no matter how trivial or tragic things turned out. I know inside him he longs for your presence, too. It's just that he's choosing not to move on but once he makes the choice to go forward, eventually, he will heal and your relationship being fixed will come with that."

Mikan frowned but in the inside she was hoping that was true. "I hope it will not be too late. This is nine years we are talking about. I am afraid his mental health is worse than mine."

"The more reason we should reach out to him," said Narumi. But, it also feared him that Izumi was the one who should receive help more than anyone. The act that his brother failed to move on and still putting the blame on one person did not spell out normal in any way. Narumi hoped that they were not too late, though. Further tragedy was the last thing anyone needed in the family.

Mikan hugged Narumi for the last time that day. "Always nice talking to you, Dad. Have a goodnight."

That night, Mikan went to her bed after sending messages to Hotaru, telling her to take care, and to Natsume, to enjoy the weekend. She shifted positions from left to right, wondering why she was still wide awake despite doing her essay in English earlier which most of the times lulled her to sleep. She thought of things to do, in case she forgot any, but she already arranged her bag for the next day, all her projects were there printed out and kept in a folder. She was not in the mood to watch any online videos or read anything because she wanted to maintain the quietness of the world. Mikan extended her arm, as if she was reaching for the stars and tried to think of good memories until she closed her eyes and realized that her breathing steadied and slowly, her consciousness ripped away from her. The night was cold so the extra blankets added comfort to her state and she looked at peace with her being finally at sleep.

"We're gonna be there in one hour, Mikan. Are you excited?" It was Yuka's sweet voice which made Mikan snapped from her gaze on the window.

"Yes!" Mikan replied. She currently enjoyed the falling of the snow as it piled on the road while the authorities worked hard to put in on the side.

"Make that two, Yuka. The road is unexpectedly slippery."

Izumi's voice rang worriedly inside the car and Mikan only looked at her father's careful driving. That was when she realized that they were going in such a slow speed than usual. Mikan tried to be patient with the waiting for this had been already a year-long wait and she knew that her Daddy was just being careful but she could not possibly expressed how excited she was. She then helped herself to some snacks given to her by Yuka earlier.

"Be careful then. We're not rushing," said Yuka.

Maybe not more than ten minutes passed and while the radio news was telling that some of the roads were being closed due to heavy snowfall, they found themselves going in a slower rate, the temperature reaching negative. Yuka had her fingers intertwined, praying they faced a safe journey while Izumi was already feeling doubtful on the safety of the path. He gave it a few more kilometers until he decided not to continue the trip anymore.

"I think we have to go back. They're closing the roads."

Mikan reacted immediately, kicking the seat in front of her. "No! No! We're almost there! You said two hours."

Izumi already had enough of his daughter's antics. Although, he wanted to give her what she wanted, the weather was not letting him. "Mikan, don't be a brat. It's not safe anymore! This is why I strongly oppose going to the beach. We can go some other time."

"But, you promised. I waited for a year! You should not make promises if you will just take it lightly," Mikan cried.

"I would love to go to the beach but this is not safe anymore!" yelled Izumi, losing a bit of concentration on the steep road.

"Liars!" Mikan kept on wailing.

Yuka realized the gravity of the situation. "Mikan, please don't yell. You daddy is trying to explain to you."

"Don't get my hopes up again!"

"Mikan," Yuka tried to calm her child.

"Don't ever promise again! Never!"

In a glimpse, it was like the scenery changed in a 360 degree-fashion. They were not inside the car anymore because that had been studied by the police and also the truck carrying metal poles on the other side of the road. Their car almost slammed with the gigantic truck but at the last minute, Izumi was able to turn the wheels but the slippery road and thickness of snow did not let them stop in a smooth way. Instead, they collided with the tail-end of the truck then to the motorcycle following the truck and lastly to the tree which finally stopped their journey. The windshield and window glasses were all broken into shards, the radiator on fire, and the three passengers were all unconscious. Izumi's door plunged open because of its brokenness, bleeding evident from his face to torso. As for Yuka, who suffered the most, she was sandwiched between the dented hood and her seat which was removed from its original position. Due to her tummy being in a larger size than average, the rescuers found it hard to remove her and took some time. Mikan remained unconscious on her seat, the seatbelt somehow managed to save her from a big, deathly impact.

They were removed one by one in the fear that the car collapsed if they were removed altogether. They began with Mikan who was the easiest to rescue, next was Izumi, and last was Yuka. They were all laid on stretchers, their vital signs checked and assessed their chance of survival. Six different ambulance came into the scene to save the family, the truck driver and its companion, and the motorcycle driver. Good thing that the truck driver was still conscious to report the accident or else no one witnessed the accident. All of the victims were provided artificial airway with Yuka and Izumi intubated in the scene. Mikan felt someone touching her painful leg and body, opening her eyes but she saw nothing but light. She wanted to scream from the pain or asked anyone what happened but her condition refrained her from doing so. Only tears exited her eyes. She could not even choke from her tears.

"Mommy. Daddy," Mikan thought she said but she realized she was just saying it in her mind. Her hearing was intact still, able to comprehend the meaning of the words of her rescuer except for the medical terms. Mikan attempted to raise her arms but she found it too much of a struggle and resorted to lying on the hard bed.

"We have three people. The driver seems to be the father. Unconscious with unstable vital signs. We stopped the bleeding but the bp is still dropping. Stabilized neck for possible cervical fracture. The little girl is the most stable. Just a comminuted fracture in the left arm and leg. As for the third victim, no make that four, she's pregnant but I'm afraid she's the most unstable. We at least need to save the baby. How many minutes more to the hospital?"

"Two more. The roads make it harder to go faster," the ambulance driver replied.

"Faster, please."

"Mom. No!" Mikan screamed from her sleep, her face frowning from the bitter memory, tears already falling from her eyes until she woke up saying the words, "No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll never ask to go to the beach again. Please forgive me."

Mikan finally woke up completely from her cellphone alarm, sitting up instantly, and breathing heavily. Her tears kept on falling, her sobs also plugging her airway. She went to the corner of her bed, clutching the blankets for support. She checked her phone for the time, hoping that Narumi was still downstairs preparing breakfast or maybe in his room, just about to go. Although Mikan knew she was too late, she still ran to Narumi's room to find comfort but also found none of that because no one was in the house except for her. She settled on the floor of his father's room and buried her head on her knees, trying to calm herself. She realized that not all the time someone would be present to put her out in her anxious state. The sad thing about her dream was that none of it was a dream, it was a complete memory on the last moments of them together.

Taking in one deep breath and exhaling it as slowly as possible, Mikan stood up to composed herself. She disregarded breakfast for she knew she did not have the appetite anymore and instead went to prepare herself for school. She took a quick bath, checked her things and her phone, and walked her way to school. She still had enough time on her sleeves so running was not an option. The leaves kept on falling in her head as she travelled the moist roads. When she finally settled in her seat in the classroom, she sent an e-mail to Subaru in details, hoping to receive a feedback by the end of the day. The first half of the classes went on with her remaining quiet and just talking if she was asked or she needed something. There were moments when she wanted to inform Narumi, or Natsume, or Hotaru about what happened this morning but she realized that they were far away and had more important things to do. Besides, she was able to prevent a breakdown for now.

Mikan buried herself in reading in the study area of the academy, an open space filled with tables for group studies. She went there with Yuu and Sumire, who they bumped into while they were on their way. Yuu just came back from buying hot chocolate in can on the vending machine for him and Mikan and lemonade for Sumire who temporarily bid goodbyre, took a seat, and glanced at Mikan's behavior. He knew something was up but he wondered why Mikan was not saying anything. Yuu tried to theorize that it concerned that most of the closest people to Mikan were away but that sounded superficial and something not to be depressed about. She even looked happy the day before when they had lunch and even after the injury she attained during volleyball so the reason seemed not to brewed from yesterday's events

"You look sad," Yuu said.

Mikan looked up, knowing she owed Yuu an explanation. "I dreamt of the accident. I don't know what precipitated it."

Yuu looked at the outside, finding it not hard to come up with an answer to Mikan's question. "The weather maybe? I mean, it is almost winter. Are you okay, though?"

"I'll be fine," Mikan replied to assure Yuu but it meant like she was more of reassuring herself. She went back to reading when she felt a presence passed behind her, paying attention to the newcomer, Mikan greeted her with a smile. "Hey, Sumire. What are you so busy of?" Mikan asked when Sumire came back to their table.

Sumire dusted off her clothes and rubbed alcohol in her hands. "Oh, Natsume's father asked us to help him in this book drive. We can donate any books we want, put it into that box so when Christmas comes, he will distribute to the children he's helping. I came from the school's stockroom to retrieve tons of untouched books."

"I didn't know Natsume's father is into charity works," Yuu commented.

Mikan smiled at the memory of her first meeting with Natsume's father. "Ioran is the best when it comes to this," she blurted.

"You met him already? What, did you and Natsume have a two talk with Mr. Hyuuga about the future?" Sumire teased with much enthusiasm.

Mikan only snorted. "Don't be absurd. I met him way, way back. I helped Natsume carry his donation for Ioran's foundation."

"We knew you two just needed a time for yourselves so you can divulge your feelings," Sumire declared dreamily.

Mikan was able to laugh finally. "Thanks for being so supportive, Sumire."

Yuu watched intently the interaction of the two girls. He knew very well how vocal Sumire was when it came to supporting Mikan and Natsume's relationship but he could not pinpoint when it started or how it came to be. He remembered that Sumire was one of those people who raised their eyebrows when Mikan entered their circle of friendship so it was surprising how helpful she turned out to be. Everyone knew that Sumire had the tendency to be harsh on her words, a consequence of her honest nature but Mikan managed to win her heart.

"Yeah, well, you were supportive of me and Koko when we almost broke up. I never got to thank you but at least in this way, I can show you that I appreciate your help."

That warmed Mikan's heart, placing the most sincere smile she had for the day, realizing that her helping of others really put on a good karma on her. "Oh, this talk about appreciation makes me go hungry for ramen. Let's grab one after school."

Sumire snapped her fingers. "Good idea! I'll never back out of that deal."

After school, the three friends did what they planned earlier. They stopped by this ramen shop owned by the family of one of their schoolmates, curious if they food was delicious like the reviews indicated. When they went in, there were only a few tables left for their disposal and they found a good spot in the corner, far from the entrance, counter, and toilet. Three menu boards were distributed to them and also three different papers where they wrote their orders. All of them talked about trying the spiciest level of ramen for more enjoyment. They also added gyoza, maki, and vegetables on their orders so it was not astonishing that after their eat out, they were full in their bellies. They talked about the incoming Winter Break and what kind of activity they had in mind to make it a memorable one. They all had sorts of suggestion and suddenly their topic turned back to the Photography Club which restarted their club activities, gaining more members than anticipated. Rui now had his hands full and needed to assign an assistant.

The schoolmate who happened to be the daughter of the ramen shop owner thanked them briefly for dining in with them. It was Friday and they all had the free time in the world but decided to put the karaoke stint next time that they were complete. Sumire bid her goodbye, Yuu told Mikan to go home first because he needed to buy something from the bookstore, while Mikan decided to explore the vicinity a bit. It was not that the house would suffocate her but she realized that she could learn a lot how a business thrived in a busy place like Tokyo. Mikan walked with no direction, just happy to observe the shops and what people of different age groups liked to purchase. It was also a good idea to exert some physical effort because her heavy belly made it hard for her to move but not anymore when she opted to go around. She was fine alone like this and she had all the weekend to herself.

Only an hour passed with Mikan's little stroll when she decided to rest at home. She took pictures of the night Tokyo view with satisfaction evident in her face. There were one or two things she learned about mobile photography with her short lessons with Kaname and using it once in a while shown her improvement based on the composition of her photos. Mikan kept on walking while scanning her phone, careful not to bump with anyone on the way and cause trouble. She stopped on her tracks when she her vision caught a glimpse of unmoving feet in front of her to which she looked up to. Mikan encountered a woman in her prime 20s, dressed in casual clothes which obviously looked bought from luxurious brands, the girl had black hair, red eyes, and a wide smile. Her appearance gave Mikan a familiar vibe and the way she looked back at her made Mikan wonder if she was the one being addresses with the woman's stares.

"You must be Mikan Sakura!" the woman greeted.

Mikan furrowed her eyebrows, pointing at herself. "Excuse me?" Mikan asked.

The woman smiled wider before giggling. "Sorry for being rude. I'm Aoi Hyuuga, sister of Natsume. Ever heard of me? Can you come with me for some tea?"

There was something on Aoi Hyuuga which persuaded Mikan to come along with her. The charm Aoi possessed obviously came from her father, her beautiful features stood out in the crowd which Mikan felt a little intimidated to. Her smile never left her face but Mikan doubted if it was all true because knowing the cunning nature of this family, one never knew if one moment they would be sweet then another moment they were yelling at your face. Well, those were the old days with Natsume. Aoi brought Mikan in a café which the brunette did not know existed in Tokyo. There was orchestra on the elevated platform on the center of the room, the interior of the two-floor café high resembled palaces in Britain, and the prices on the menu almost made Mikan's eyeballs gouge out. Aoi did not ask for what she liked and ordered everything so it was safe to conclude that the heiress was the one paying for everything. Good thing because Mikan had almost nothing in her pocket after that ramen and the ice cream she ate after in a convenience store.

Mikan's eyes wandered the entirety of the mesmerizing café which seemed like places you only saw in movies or other European countries. The pastel paint and gold embellishments on every carve on the wall and even the numerous, elegant chandeliers illuminating the whole place gave Mikan the feeling of being inside a palace. That was when she realized that her school uniform was such an inappropriate attire but since this was out of the blue, she forgave herself. Aoi was in casual clothes, too, but when she threw a long, black coat in her whole outfit, it suddenly turned high-fashion which Mikan found unfair as a girl.

"This is my favorite café in Tokyo. Have you been here?" Aoi asked with elbows rested on the round table, hands under her chin.

"No," Mikan croaked, "I didn't know such place existed here."

"Well, I'm glad I was able to bring you here," Aoi said, placing the napkin on her lap and watched as their orders came in one by one.

Mikan examined the food carefully and just from the appearance of it, they looked delectable and worth its price. Food had always been her weakness that even though she dined with the enemy, she would not mind as long as she got a taste of what was on the table. Good thing that her full belly dissipated and she was ready for another round of eating. The waiter poured out tea on their cups while Aoi took the first move on cookies laid on a dessert stand. The elder Hyuuga had been friendly overall, not bad for a first meeting but Mikan wondered what made her relationship with Natsume go sour. Surely, there was a reason. Mikan observed Aoi's delicate actions with carefulness, trying to judge the Hyuuga's purpose of meeting with her.

"What do you need from me?" Mikan asked straightforwardly.

Aoi's eyes widened, taken aback on the frankness Mikan showed. "Oh, am I giving that vibe?" she coyly asked.

Mikan nodded, decided to be courageous when it came to dealing with people she saw for the first time. "So far all the Hyuugas I encountered the first time made a lasting impression on me. Most are bad and only one is good."

"Well, I cannot say where I am in those two. It really depends."

"How did you know about me?"

Aoi's eyes narrowed, lifting her chin up, she observed Mikan's stern emotion. "My mother wants me to knock some sense to you, young lady."

The revelation did not surprise Mikan anymore. Her encounter with Luna somehow prepared her for further contact with the others who Kaoru planned to send. Actually, Mikan felt so important that even the sister of Natsume, who he barely saw according to his stories, came personally to talk to her. It meant that the difficulty level risen. Mikan sighed, wondering if she was seeing Aoi negatively when she had yet to say anything. If Aoi returned unsuccessful to Kaoru, it was already expected that Mikan would meet the mother next.

"If you are going to talk to me about breaking up with Natsume, I am most certainly not interested," Mikan drawled.

Aoi liked the fire in Mikan's eyes. When Kaoru asked her for a favor to talk to Mikan Sakura, she only asked small details to avoid pre-judgement, that was why the actions and reactions of Natsume's new apple of the eye kept on astounding her. Even with Mikan's declaration of disinterest, Aoi had to accomplish her task. "Precisely why I'm here. I had a love story like you two actually. He was charming, good for me, made me feel like I am limitless. If we talk about going all through kinds of trouble just to be with him, I did just as that. I defied Kaoru, broke connections with her, eloped with the guy. I mean, I was 19, in college, had savings on my own. What could go wrong?" Aoi began her narration then eyed Mikan who did not even have the chance to sip from her tea, "Are you listening to me, Mikan Sakura?"

Mikan gulped, utterly surprised that Aoi was divulging a personal story to a person she met the first time. "All ears," Mikan replied in bewilderment.

Aoi smiled and signaled Mikan to carry on with her eating. "Good. Take your tea first. We met in high school, senior year, and we were confused with our feelings back then but graduation came and we decided that we will do this. We pushed the relationship because we loved each other. I did not care about my family, my mother, and the words of society. You see, he was a son of a middle class couple who managed to build a small restaurant in the outskirt of Tokyo. In terms of income, they were stable but not enough to impress Kaoru. You see, she was very particular on how each people that enter our lives will affect our livelihood. That's how she became one of the most powerful women in Japan. At first, I did not mind it. I said to myself that I loved the guy and will do everything to my power to protect our relationship. Kaoru knew nothing of what I feel, I told myself."

The chain of events remained so clear in Aoi's mind that it still made her feel stupid and her blood boil every time she remembered it. Each word of her story contained the truth and Mikan caught it from Aoi's small actions like the movement of her eyes, her gestures, and the way her fingers trembled. At the moment, Aoi really portrayed that girl who decided to take out all her buried memories for the sake of teaching a lesson to others. Mikan decided to give her a chance, to understand her more, and maybe found clues on her edgy relationship with Natsume.

"Which is true. No one knows your feelings but yourself," Mikan said.

The story of Aoi went on with the idea in mind that it was hard to deal with a stubborn teenager like Mikan. "Which was the biggest lie I told myself. Sometimes, other people can see better than you can especially when you've become blinded by the idea of love. Kaoru can be a beast if she wants to. She investigated the guy, his family, their history. She threatened their business, their jobs, his future. I still believed in our love despite those. I was no different than Natsume, maybe even stiffer. You see, Mikan Sakura, I did not know the truth. Eventually, he got tired. I woke up one day with him regretting the decision he made and sort of blamed me for the results of our decisions. Broke up with me, slept with another girl and got her pregnant then asked money for me as sort of severance pay. That was when I realized, where did that leave me?" Aoi sort of became emotional upon finishing that sentence, drank a little bit of her tea before proceeding. "I thought we loved each other. I gave everything up, even my family. But, it was so easy for him to let go the moment he felt exhaustion. Then, Kaoru picked me up and introduced me to this snobby heir of an electronics corporation. At first, I loathed his presence because I thought he was an airhead, an ass, and a spoil brat. Turns out he's smart, caring, and easy to love. Now, we are happily married for two years. I could not ask for more."

Mikan processed every bit of Aoi's story, imagining the events as if it happened in front of her. The guy was a coward, for sure, but one could not take away the fact that Kaoru must did something for him to change his mind. Or maybe he really got beaten up with all the drama of being with Aoi and when your family started to get threatened, you knew that it was not a simple matter anymore. Basing on the ending of the story, Aoi really got lucky on finding her soulmate and it just happened that Kaoru was the one who led her to the right guy. For that, Mikan felt that Kaoru did a good thing as a mother although her motives were still questionable. Aoi waited for Mikan's response in her story and the brunette seemed to notice this, clearing her throat. Mikan wanted to sympathize with Aoi but did not want to agree with her.

"You story is really a rollercoaster ride but what does it have to do with me?" asked Mikan.

The question made Aoi lean back to her comfortable seat, crossing her arms and legs. "What you and Natsume are trying to achieve will result to nothing. Been there, done that. You are still young and think that this is the love you are seeking for but you have yet to see the world, meet other people. There is so much more than wasting your time with each other. In the end, Kaoru will break you up and he will realize that Luna should have been his choice from the very start."

Mikan winced because indeed Aoi had the same mindset as her mother. If they thought that she was not the one Natsume would end up, how sure they were that it was also going to be Luna? To defend your feelings to people who did not even make an effort to know you seemed pointless for Mikan but she imagined that as family, they worried for Natsume and wanted to make sure that she was not the same person in Aoi's love story.

"I'm sorry if my next sentences will offend you, Miss Aoi Hyuuga. I know you are Natsume's sister and I respect you but I hope you will respect my stand also. First and foremost, your love story with this guy is indeed awful in a sense because he did not fight for you despite your efforts. He is the ass, the airhead, and the spoil brat without a doubt. You can blame him or not but you should not exempt Kaoru and her mischievousness. All of us have our limits so there is this part of me who cannot accuse why he wants to escape the hellish world your mother let him experienced."

Aoi gritted her teeth. "Why you, brat," she hissed.

"Please let me finish because I let you talked as much as you wanted earlier," Mikan said in her calmest tone ever, "Secondly, your story may have some similarities with mine and Natsume's but let me tell you this. I am not your ex-boyfriend and Natsume is not you. Natsume is not remotely similar to your ex nor I similar to you. How can you say that it's gonna end the same?"

"How are you sure that it's gonna end differently?" Aoi fought back.

Mikan gave an annoyed look, clenched her fist to gain the bravery to finish what she had to say. "Because, third, I am not stupid to think that love can conquer all. There will come a time that reality will slap us in the face. I know that I am not perfect, far from it, but so does Natsume. But, you know what, Miss Aoi Hyuuga, I am willing to go through everything with him. I don't plan on backing out unless it's Natsume who will tell me to do so. Yes, you are correct that the world has more to offer but don't undermine my feelings especially Natsume's. We may be young but we're not idiots. We are strong enough to face anything because we have each other. I will never give up on someone who is willing to be with me no matter what the cost and someone who makes me believe that I can do this. This may sound familiar to you and might have presumptions already but I'm insisting that none of us will back down."

"You sound confident. Remember that Kaoru can take your father's employment away from him."

Mikan's expression did not change but the insides of her felt a pang with that reality. She found no words for a couple of seconds until she managed to say something. "My Dad is a regular employee of Alice Academy so unless he has done something unlawful and against the academy rules, no one can fire him. That would be against the law."

Aoi shrugged her shoulders. "Beware for your mother, then."

"She's long dead but taught me the many important life lessons. Also, I am not interested in your wealth if that is what you are so worried about. I could care less. Besides, what can amassing millions of money do to me? It can never give me the happiness that I long for."

Aoi smirked at Mikan's determination, glad that Natsume did not find someone who was gullible and stupid and instead a girl who had clear ideas on what she wanted. The fight was not that easy and Mikan Sakura's mind was not simply manipulated. Kaoru had to exert more effort, like before, to bring these two down. There was this nagging feeling of pity on Aoi's part though because she knew that words were just words but when reality came crawling to them, the world became smaller. Aoi gave Mikan one last interfering look, testing to see if Mikan exposed some fear inside her but found none.

"Make sure you stay true to your word, Mikan Sakura. That you don't have any skeleton in the closet. That even if Kaoru scrutinizes your entire life, she will find absolutely nothing."

Mikan wanted their talk to come to its end as soon as possible because every word coming from Aoi's mouth threatened her. "She can ask me herself. You can join her also if you want to." But, Mikan also realized to let go of this fear, she just needed these people to accept her and what better way than to reveal them who she really was.

"I'll make sure to tell her that," Aoi promised with a smile.

"Thank you so much for the expensive tea. I must say that the Hyuugas really have something in common. You guys are excellent in making a lasting impression."

Aoi raised her arm to check out. The conversation with Mikan Sakura turned out to be to her interest and decided to follow this journey his brother was about to embark. "You talk big for a high schooler," Aoi remarked.

Finally, Mikan's stiff posture turned into a relaxed state. Gathering her things, she did not wait anymore for Aoi to dismiss her and instead initiated her exit. "My age does not matter. Please excuse me."

Yesterday's sudden meeting with Aoi Hyuuga, without a doubt, left a lasting mark to Mikan. She suddenly became paranoid if Aoi popped out of the blue again and see through her. Mikan wanted to smack herself for showing a promising feat of bravery them suddenly her feet turned cold upon the mention of anything in her character not deemed appropriate for Natsume. Her phone rang and it was Natsume again. She already sent a text to him that she was in the city library just to avoid hearing his voice then cry on the phone. That would not benefit the both of them and Mikan could wait until he returned. She knew that Natsume's excellent instincts would caught her in no time but as long as she could avoid it, she would. Mikan had to clear her mind and sitting on the bench helped her in that.

Mikan was at Alice Academy on a Saturday and not in the city library. Her empty house only amplified her thoughts so it was vital for her to breathe some fresh air. There was the park near their house but did not want to scare the kids with her grim expression. The school was open on Saturdays for club activities but for only a limited time. She knew she would get kicked out sooner or later but she had nowhere to go and opted to watch the football practice of the high school seniors. Sighing one more time, Mikan hated her overthinking. She boosted her confidence by praising herself but all she came were superficial things pertaining to her. The practice game was leading to an end with only two minutes left. With this, Mikan rummaged her mind on what better to do next. Someone who could give her advice, even a stranger would do, just to vent out her feelings. She looked around but assessed no one would be interested.

"If it isn't my daughter in-law."

It was a statement filled with teasing and humor, making Mikan break from her thoughts. She looked up and felt saved when she saw no other than Ioran Hyuuga, of all people and in all of places. Like the heavens heard her prayer and sent her a miracle immediately. Although, seeing another Hyuuga might be for the worse rather than the better, but if it was Ioran, who welcomed Mikan with open arms the first time they met, then maybe talking to another Hyuuga was not bad after all.

"Fancy seeing you here, Sir. Especially on a Saturday."

Ioran gave a dismissing wave on the utter respect showed to him. "Call me Ioran. I came to collect the books since this is my only free time. Students here are very generous. The box got filled in just a day so I had to empty it right away to give more room to others."

Mikan agreed then stared at the students of Alice Academy, mostly coming from prominent families. "Well, they have a lot to spare."

"Seems like you met my daughter yesterday," Ioran said as he took a seat beside Mikan and gazed at the ending practice game, "We had dinner after your meet up and that's when she told me."

"I've officially met your whole family," Mikan reminded.

Ioran laughed and lightly slapped his knees. "What can you say? The craziest one yet?"

Mikan was glad that he was able to put the conversation at ease even if they talked about their family. Ioran posed a fatherly figure in Mikan's opinion so imagine her happiness when she saw him today and able to verbalized her anxieties to an adult who knew the proper things to say. "I'd say that but when I think of mine, it changes my mind."

"My daughter has been amazed by you but sadly she reminds you of herself back then."

With a nod, Mikan acknowledged the praise and kind of knew she made that mark to Aoi. "I pray that we will be different. We can be anything if we want to."

"How do you feel about that?" Ioran finally asked. He was aware that this might not sit well on Mikan and needed immediate attention.

"I am actually really scared but I feel like I can do this," Mikan declared, "The first time you saw me, you said you knew I'm not his girlfriend. What made you say that?"

Ioran felt amazement that she was able to remember that. It seemed like such a harmless remark back then. "Because I know he is going to be entangled with Luna again. The girl is not bad and Natsume used to love her so I don't have any opposition if they somehow work it out. But, he met you. Everyone knows, especially Natsume, that I am his biggest supporter."

No questions on why Natsume adored his father very much. Ioran prioritized his children's own desires and just openly supported them in whatever they desired to pursue. He was a total opposite of Kaoru, in Mikan's opinion. If only Natsume heard these words, surely he would feel immense love but Mikan knew that Natsume knew and that was more than enough. There were a lot of things that she had to tell him the moment Monday came and it all sounded so dramatic and relieving at the same time. Having a great support system really helped in the healing process of a person. It did not matter if that system composed of one or two people, what mattered was they existed for your sake because they believed in you.

"Thank you. Can you ex-wife really do that?" Mikan asked.

"Do what?" asked Ioran, a bit confused.

"Destroy my life?" Mikan asked with a snicker, hoping that Ioran replied positively.

No use to denying the truth to a smart girl like Mikan and surely Natsume prompted her of the possibilities. Ioran saw the doubts on her eyes but she was trying to be strong and for him, that was enough of a fuel to push this fight. Maybe Mikan needed a pep talk from someone whose opinion really mattered to her.

"She can but this is a matter of who's more hardheaded. Can you really withstand my powerful ex-wife?" Ioran took back the question to her, standing up, he dusted off his clothes. "Oh, I apologize in advance."

"For what?" Mikan asked, clueless.

Ioran thought for a while if he would say it but he knew it would reveal itself not later than today. "You'll see," was his last words before bidding goodbye to Mikan.

After an hour when Ioran left her in the field, Mikan was kicked out by the security, saying that they were closing the school already and being a student did not give her further access to the school grounds. She had no choice but to go back to her house, feeling a little refreshed from her talk with Natsume's father especially now she knew that he supported them. The park that was filled with children earlier in the day had been emptied. Well, the sun already disappeared in the horizon and the temperature once again dropped a few degrees so it was just logical to stay at home. But, Mikan wanted to enjoy the coldness of the wind and the serenity of the park. She played with the amenities like a child. She made a few slides, rode the seesaw by herself, swung the swing with all her might. When she realized what she was doing, she laughed heartily at herself, feeling like a child with no worries at all again.

Feeling a little tired from being out all day, she rested on the playhouse, looking at the amazing scenery before her. From her standpoint, she saw the lively lights of Tokyo night, the busy bridge, and the trains coming in different directions. Mikan totally forgot about her phone and panicked when she realized that her father might be asking if she had dinner or Hotaru asking her well-being. Worse was Natsume whom she talked less since yesterday. She grabbed her bag placed on the corner and attempted to take her phone when a menacing voice stopped her from her action.

"You!" the voice yelled but seemed like it was just near. Mikan got scared on how venomous and familiar that sounded which caused her to almost drop her phone, until she recognized the man approaching her in the little playhouse.

"Where the hell is your phone?" Natsume asked, evidently in rage with his villainous expression and rapid steps. He carried many bags but all were thrown in the ground the moment she paid attention to him. He wore at least two layers of clothing with a knitted, black long sleeves and thick pants which looked so warm and added to that was the long, black trench coat which added to the masculinity of his attire. Natsume looked tired and lacking of sleep, though, but the angriness of his emotion managed to overcame those looks of being worn-down.

Mikan's jaw dropped, scratched her eyes just to make sure she was not hallucinating. She jumped off the playhouse to meet Natsume's steps but felt equal irritation because he was not supposed to be here. She slowed down her steps, able to realized what Natsume just did. "Natsume? What the hell are you doing in here? Aren't you supposed to be in Nagoya? In a conference where you should be learning something?" Her questions came in as a rant but she did not care because his presence surprised her to the core.

Natsume was not known to back out in a quarrel especially if he knew he had the advantage. He groaned, snarled, and gritted his teeth. "Nagoya, my ass. You are supposed to answer at least one of my calls or texts."

"I replied to your texts, excuse me!" Mikan defended. "And is that reason enough to ditch that event? Remember that it's in your punishment because you came to Akita with me!"

Natsume rolled his eyes, sarcastically said, "Oh, yes, one-liners are such a joy to read, Polka. It really made me feel calm to know you are doing good. Yeah."

Mikan had nothing to rationalize her actions so she honestly said, "As for your call, I intentionally did not answer."

"And why?" Natume's voice raised again, his eyes pinned dangerously at her.

Mikan avoided his gaze, though. "Because you'll know something the moment you hear my voice and I don't want to worry you. At least until we see each other again on Monday."

Natsume closed his eyes, took deep breaths, and calmed himself down. He took a cab to reach the bullet train, booked the earliest departure, and booked another cab to get to Mikan's home and found it empty. Fortunately, Ioran told him that he saw Mikan in the school so Natsume realized that she was just around the corner. He tried calling her but those were left unanswered much to his dismay. He hated not knowing anything, felt helpless that something happened to Mikan during the short time he was away courtesy of his mother and that he was not able to do anything to prevent it. Really good thing that she found a teenager enjoying herself in a children's playground. The relief succumbed his whole body and had the urge to reprimand Mikan for making him worry.

"Aoi came to you. Dad told me," said Natsume in a much relaxed tone.

Mikan replayed the conversation she had with Ioran hours ago. "Ah! That's what he's apologizing for."

"He said you looked worn, worried, and Aoi came to you under Kaoru's instructions. How can I attend a conference in peace with news like that?" Natsume said with anger mixed with worry.

"Still, that's your priority at the moment!" Mikan retorted.

"Nothing comes before you! To hell with politics and leadership. I can learn it all."

Mikan blushed, her tears forming in her eyes. "You're such a pompous idiot."

"And you're a stubborn, stupid, little girl!" Natsume yelled back then closed the distance between them, engulfing the brunette in a hug, "I got permission from Mr. Narumi and Imai. Mikan, I came to see you."

The sobs went louder the moment Mikan hugged Natsume back. She missed him terribly and it hurt her that she had to avoid his calls to make him not worry when in fact, she wanted to tell everything that happened to her. Natsume did a good job in making her emotional more by patting her head and tightening the hug. She could tell that he missed her also. God, this became a more emotional reunion than Mikan expected but she preferred it over the normal ones. Natsume's hugs were always the best in making her feel secure.

"I told her that I will fight for this. I gave her my piece, a long one might I add."

Natsume nodded, hugged her tighter to say that he was proud of what she did. "This is just the start. I know it's unfair for you but I have no plans of backing out either."

"Then that makes two of us," Mikan said in between her cries then disconnected the hug.

Mikan walked a few steps, planning to shout to the void to relieve her stress. Starting from the dream she had to the point of Aoi questioning her reputation of being fit with Natsume. They all went to a blur once Natsume convinced her that she had someone to lean into. His mere presence medicated her anxieties and it all transformed to happiness. Natsume did not let go of her hands. When more tears fell from her eyes, he wiped it away, hugged her again, and kissed the top of her head. She grasped his hands stronger, not wanting to let go of his physical presence. The fact that he rushed his way from Nagoya just to see her made her feel so loved and important, realizing how strongly she felt for Natsume also.

"I am a teenager diagnosed with depression, PTSD, currently in cold war with my real father. My brother doesn't know who I am and my soon-to-be stepmother hates me. I am not the smartest nor the kindest. I am not even that beautiful and when it comes to talent, I only have a few. We're not rich and I don't have any hidden wealth."

Natsume acknowledged Mikan's declaration, nodding in understanding, and willing to accept all of her flaws and perfection. He pulled her closer to her, saw it in her face that she heard too many words in the span of two days, words that hurt her feelings and tested her determination. He found it odd the moment she took time to reply on his morning text yesterday and when he wanted to keep the conversation, Mikan gave the impression of being not interested. Natsume managed to focus on various discussions of the conference and meeting with other student leaders. During free time, he asked Narumi if Mikan messaged him anything peculiar but nothing came like that. The distance proved to be a huge wall when it came to clear communication. Hotaru noticed that he became distracted when afternoon came but he only told her that Mikan was acting distant for no reason at all.

The observation led Hotaru to ask Mikan herself but she replied with lively emoticons which was farce, Hotaru saw through it immediately. She then proposed to Natsume that instead of being a big distraction to her and Anna, why stay in the conference instead of seeking answers to his worries. Natsume frowned at her suggestion because she was right and got to say it before he could think of it. With that, Natsume sought after Narumi's permission to leave the conference and faced the consequences afterwards. Anything about Mikan would be reported to them immediately. Narumi was torn between being a teacher and a father but he realized that Natsume was not really asking for permission and would still go even if he would not let him. So, Narumi agreed and told him to keep Mikan safe.

Natsume finally saw Mikan in her strong feet but the hug her gave induced her to give out all emotions. It relieved Natsume that he was able to come and see her early. What was Mikan thinking that she could hide anything from him? He knew her so well for her to hide anything. Well, she attempted and there must be a reason. It did not matter now because they were together. After her scream to the world, Natsume smiled at her.

"But you help without asking for anything back. You still make the hardest of efforts to fix your family. You love so sincerely. You experienced so many sad things in the past but your smile is as warm as the sun. You tell me when I'm wrong and does not tolerate my mistakes but even so, you support me," Natsume stated, gazing longingly through her eyes which turned red from crying, "You see? You're just perfect."

Mikan laughed her heart out, feeling so much lighter. "You always know how to make a girl feel special."

Natsume smirked at her compliment. "Comes out naturally," he joked.

"I love you, Natsume."

The world stopped then and Natsume steadied his breathing before kissing her fervently on the lips.

End of Chapter

This chapter talks about the different kind of support you can get from the people important to you. I just realized that once the conflict has been laid out, this story is going to be finished. But, I must admit, I am still undecided on which path I will take of all the scenarios brewing in my head because how it is going now is far from my original and second ideas. I am debating over the realism and fiction that I want to portray. Hopefully, I'll be settled with a decision soon. Thank you for your encouragement and good wishes for my exam. I just want to tell you that I was able to pass it with flying pigeons and ducks (LOL). Yey! Can I just express how much I appreciate you guys? And the way you also appreciate this story is so touching. I love reading your comments. I am glad that I am able to put happiness in your hearts even for a short while. What can you say about this one? A bit dramatic, right? And say hello to Aoi. :D