Please FEED ME YOUR REVIEWS! ((stomach growls)) XD

Please, please, please don't be a ghost reader! Onegai!

To Jenzhou: Err, I resived it somehow. Don't know if you would like it better. Anyway, I only speak conversational Korean. I'll be taking it up in college, though.

Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice doesn't belong to me. It is owned by the great mangaka Higuchi Tachibana.

Summary: It's the day before their graduation and Mikan and the gang went out for drinks. Unfortunately, Natsume still hasn't told the girl of his dreams what he really felt. Would he ever have the courage to tell her OR would he just watch her slip through his fingers?

NatsumexMikan with a minuscule drop of RukaxHotaru. When I say miniscule, I mean miniscule.

A/N: Okay, back for another GA fic. Don't know why I keep on writing and writing. I just can't seem to stop! This may be a one-shot fic. Or two-shots OR three-shots. Don't know, depends on my mood and the story. But I assure you, I didn't rush this fic! I'm not trying to impress my readers with quantity (chapters, I mean :D). I want them to have quality Anyway, please read on and enjoy. Oh, and PLEASE REVIEW! Gamsahamnida. (bows)

Oh yeah, I might take a break from my GA fics for a week or two. Working on something else.. See next chapter for details.

Cheers, Guys!

Chapter 1: Nostalgia

It was a cloudy day at the academy. Cloud and windy enough for kite-flying. But of course, nobody flew kites in the academy. There were more exciting things to do there, like have festivals, play RPGs, invent useful gadgets, and many more.

The cherry blossom trees swayed slightly, as if dancing to the wind and the gentle rustling of the leaves can be heard all throughout the academy grounds. Birds sang their songs and bees hovered over the flowers, doing their usual work.

To put it simply, it was a great day for friends to gather one last time before the fateful day.

"Wow, guys! This is amazing! I can't believe we're all graduating tomorrow!" Mikan exclaimed to her friends. Hotaru, Yuu and Ruka nodded while Natsume remained blank as ever.

"Yeah.. I can't believe it's been years since we entered this academy", said Yuu, wistfully.

Mikan turned to her best friend and gave her a hug. As you can see, Hotaru didn't try to punch her again with her trusty baka gun.

Through the years, she has learned to accept the affection Mikan had lavishly showered on her. Also, her once emotionless eyes began to show much more, thanks to the person on whom she gave her utmost devotion.

Hotaru turned to give Ruka a slight smile and he smiled back gently at her.

Mikan saw this exchange and she grinned, secretly. Thought I'd never see the day, Hotaru. She turned to Natsume and found him staring off into space.

"Hey! Natsume!" She waved her fingers in front of him. Still no response.

She snapped her fingers in front of his face until he snapped back to reality. She giggled and said, "You must be at least a three thousand miles away. Where were you just now?"

Natsume gave her a shot-between-the-eyes look and hurriedly shook his head, as if to clear away his stray thoughts.

"N-Nothing. I just spaced out for a bit."

"Oohhh, really, now?" Mikan smiled at him, almost knowingly.

He looked at her suspiciously before saying, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing. Nothing really", she smiled at him again before turning back to Hotaru, Yuu and Ruka.

"Hey, guys! Since it's our last day today, why don't we get together later? Let's go to Central Town and have fun one last time, as students!"

Ruka beamed and said, "That's a great idea! Let's go to the newly opened tavern down the main street!"

Yuu looked a little worried but he gave his head a slight shake and said, "Well.. Okay. As long as we don't get wasted, alright? I don't want my last day here to be nothing but a blur."

Hotaru nodded her agreement at Yuu's words.

Mikan turned and questioned Natsume, "Are you coming, Natsume? Are you? Are you?"

She was slowly getting to his nerves so Natsume just grunted in response.

"I guess that's a yes", Mikan grinned. "Okay, then it's settled! Let's meet at the entrance at about.. 5 o'clock. That okay, you guys?"

The rest of them murmured their agreement and went their separate ways, leaving Mikan and Natsume alone.

"Ne, Natsume.."

"What now?" He looked at her, trying to mask his curiosity.

Mikan sighed and looked at the clouds overhead. "I just.. I just can't believe we'll be leaving this academy tomorrow. I can't.. I.. I can't imagine life beyond the academy gates", her voice brimming with an unspoken fear.

While she was speaking, Natsume was watching her with observant eyes. Mikan..

Mikan blinked and the tears that pooled at her eyes were gone. She was back to her usual bubbly self.

"Anyway, Natsume, I have to get ready. We'll meet later, alright?" She flashed him another cheery smile and bounded off.

Natsume stared after her, thoughts flooding his head. I must do it later. I must.

●●●

Natsume was the first one to get to the entrance. He stood there, looking at his watch, waiting patiently.

I guess it would be unbelievable to say that he was patient. But like Hotaru, Natsume had undergone changes as well. Small, but noticeable changes. Providing an example, he never did cut classes again nor did he impulsively burn something within his reach whenever he was pissed off. His rage had calmed down, thanks to the company of real and loving friends (although he would never admit it).

Finally, Hotaru, Yuu and Ruka arrived. Natsume looked up and he was greeted by smiles from Yuu and Ruka and a slight nod from Hotaru. He nodded in return to all of them, and then glanced at his watch again.

"What's taking that idiot so long?", came Hotaru's flat voice.

Ruka shrugged and grinned. "Maybe she's agonizing over what to wear."

Yuu chuckled at that and added, "Or maybe she couldn't find anything decent to wear because she forgot to pick up her laundry."

Natsume ignored them and continued to glance at his watch every now and then.

The three were exchanging looks as they watched Natsume. Ruka was tempted to tease Natsume when a voice pierced the air.

"HEY! GUYS!", came Mikan's excited yell.

Hotaru let out a whoosh of air and remarked under her breath, "Finally."

Mikan ran up to them, panting, then treated them all to her signature cheery smile. She was clad in navy tights, a soft blue cotton skirt and a white wool turtleneck. An orange and green scarf was wrapped loosely around her neck and Natsume couldn't help but smile secretly at how vibrant she looked.

"I'm so excited, guys! Let's all have fun tonight, shall we?" Mikan grinned at all of them gigantically.

Hotaru spoke up, "We're not even there yet and here you are, getting all jumpy" with an unreadable expression on her face. "Let me ask you, though. How old are you now, anyway?"

Mikan smiled sheepishly at that then turned to the three boys. "Are you guys ready?"

Yuu and Ruka smiled while Natsume merely grunted in response.

"Alright, let's go!", she shouted excitedly and marched towards the bus stop with the four following her.

A/N: Okaaay. You know the drill. Press the 'go' button below and type type type! I decided that it would have three chapters. It wouldn't be a one-shot after all. I couldn't just squeeze all of it here.

A few of my friends asked if I would be including their graduation here. The answer is no. It would be too heartbreaking for me to see them go! (sobs)

And yeah, Hotaru abandoned her baka gun. As I have said above, she went through changes over the years. This is one of them Also, it wouldn't be right for a girl nearing her twenties to keep on doing that, right? Un-ladylike and unsuitable. XD

I won't and am not planning to write their graduation fic, alright? c:

If you noticed, instead of typing 'sakura trees', I just put there 'cherry blossom trees' or cherry blossoms. I did that because, well, uhm, I just felt like it! Hahaha! Just saying.. XD