The Pretty Wallflower

Keisuke-san…I've liked you since freshman year."

"I… hate ugly girls."

The incident only occurred two years before.

But it seemed so long ago…

Mimi sighed as she recollected her memories one by one. Not surprisingly, all of them were tactless stories.

"MIMI-CHAN!"

A bubbly and vigorous girl with long, lavender hair burst in the bedroom's double doors.

She glanced up at her energetic and only friend with questioning eyes. "Miyako-chan! Why are you in such high spirits?"

Miyako Inoue, the Tachikawa's part-time maid, waved a fancy envelope in the air. "You received a letter from your Aunt Tomoko!"

Mimi's eyebrows puckered in confusion. "Hontou ni? (Really?) Let me see."

Mimi-chan,

Your okaa-san and I have discussed that you should settle in my manor for the rest of your high school years. Since you have already been informed about your parents transferring overseas, you are welcome to stay in my home! I can't wait to see you. For your info, a limo will pick you up tomorrow afternoon at 3 o' clock sharp. Ja ne!

Auntie Tomoko

The brunette's face paled; fingers quivering as she gripped onto the flimsy paper.

"What…the…heck…"

Miyako tried to peek at the letter Mimi held in her hands. "What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

Mimi turned around slowly and stared at her maid. "Miyako-chan…I'm moving tomorrow."

"NAN DA TO? (WHAT?)"

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'So this is the grand mansion…' Mimi mused as she ogled the massive manor house placed sturdily before her eyes. She dragged her two pink suitcases to the porch and rang the doorbell.

Nobody answered.

'Strange…maybe if I try opening it myself…' Mimi turned the golden knob and without warning, it creaked open.

'YES! I'm in!' Mimi smiled to herself and stepped inside the large hall. "Hello? Auntie Tomoko? It's Mimi!"

Her calls were unheard. For a second time, no response. She realized it was very quiet, too quiet. The sixteen year old had goose bumps speckled across her skinny arms. "Brrr…why does this place seem so isolated?"

And then, she saw the note. The note that made her shriek in horror. "Joudan ja nai! (You've got to be kidding!)"

Mimi-chan!

If you're reading this by now, then I'm delighted that you have arrived! But oh ho ho, it seems to me that I can't live with you for the next two years. I've recently moved in with my fiancé! My sincerest apologies; don't be shocked. I forced the butler to take care of you so you won't be lonely. Take care, my dearest niece. I'll visit every month!

Auntie Tomoko

"Um- will you please stop yelling? You just woke me up from my afternoon nap." A disheveled blonde boy, who looked like he just woke up, scratched the back of his head sleepily.

A boy. In this mansion. Mimi stared at him. He stared back.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Miss, keep your voice down!" The blonde winced at her ear-splitting scream and covered his ears with both hands.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" She prolonged to screech in panic, clasping her fists tightly at the sides.

He couldn't take it anymore; her unpleasant crying was getting to his nerves. "Urusaii! (Shut up!)"

Mimi's brown eyes flickered with hostility. "Don't tell me what to do! I live in this house now!"

The boy, who appeared to be a few years older, frowned back at her. "Excuse me; I have been taking care of Tomoko's household for past half year."

"Wakaranai…(I don't understand…) What's your job exactly?" Mimi snapped, placing her hands on her hips crossly as she eyed him up and down.

Sapphire eyes flashed with nobility. "I am… the butler. Ishida Yamato, at your service."

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Mimi Tachikawa was not happy.

'Why did I have to be trapped in this house with him?' Her eyes flitted to a smartly dressed boy who was wiping the dining table earnestly.

'Oh Aunt Tomoko, you're such a meanie. Leaving me in the house with a boy.' The girl pouted and watched Yamato set the table with narrowed eyes. But she had to admit; he was handsome. His cat-shaped blue eyes were his most striking feature.

They were…hypnotizing.

Clank.

"Dinner is served, Miss Tachikawa."

Mimi's eyes sparkled. "Food…" She clamped her jaw shut. "Hold on a second. Did you make this, or was it ordered in?"

'Please say ordered in!' She mentally pleaded while shooting the butler an accusing look.

"Ordered in, Miss Tachikawa." Yamato rolled his eyes. 'Why is she so rough with me, anyway? What have I done to her?' He shrugged his thoughts away as he looked back to the girl who hasn't even picked up her chopsticks.

'Fried tempura! Glass noodles! Chicken teppanyaki! I haven't seen so much delicious food all at the same time in my life. Maybe it won't be so bad staying in Tomoko's after all.' Mimi licked her lips gleefully as she eyed all the treats.

"If you don't start eating, I'll eat it for you!" A scowl escaped the butler's mouth. He was tired of waiting for 'the mistress' to begin her meal.

"Ungh. You men are so demanding." Mimi chided before sliding a piece of chicken into her mouth.

'Pssh..what a snob!' Yamato shook his head, reclining to the kitchen. He plodded his way to the cabinet and pulled out a bowl of leftover instant noodles. "Great. More scraps for me!" He sighed in exasperation and plunked himself down on a wooden stool.

"Itadakimasu. (I receive.)" He said to one in particular.

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"ISHIDA-SAN! COVER YOUR EYES-!"

Yamato hastily ran out of the bathroom, ducking a flying soap bar that hurtled past his head. "Haah, haahh…Tachikawa no baka!"

He took a deep breath. "Haah!"

'How was I supposed to know she was taking a bath? The door wasn't even locked! Mou…' The blonde-headed boy gritted his teeth in fury and stalked down the carpeted stairwell.

But he was not aware that his cheeks were as red as strawberries.

Meanwhile, Mimi cautiously wrapped herself in a towel and tiptoed to her room. She locked the door behind her and rested on it with much relief. "That Ishida! I will get him back for peeping at my purity!" She clenched a fist and fumed.

"I WILL GET YOU BACK FOR THIS, ISHIDA!"

The intercom switched on. "Shut up."

Mimi threw daggers at the intercom speaker with rage. "Don't tell me what to do, you lowlife, sleazy, good for nothing butler!" She flung open her closet aggressively and selected her comfy hello kitty print pajamas for bed.

"Jeez. He pisses me off!"

The lights in the mansion one by one switched off. 'What a day…' Two sleeping figures mulled over to themselves before falling into a yawning slumber.

A/N: What do you guys think? Good, bad? I got some of the story ideas from a manga called The Wallflower. It's quite popular, so I'm sure some of you might be familiar with it! Sorry for the short chapter, and this is dedicated to all you Mimato fans!

" " - speech

' ' - thoughts

italics – flashbacks (only in this chapter)