Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice...
As usual, it ended up the whole of 2B class is going to the Central together. As they were waiting for bus, Nonoko approached Mikan.
"Mikan-chan, gomen… I don't mean to make you cry just now." She apologized.
"E… iie… it's not your fault Nonoko-chan." Mikan said with a smile.
"Hontou?" She asked.
Mikan the nodded and she smiled back happily. The bus soon arrive and Mikan sat together with Natsume and Youichi as he wanted her to sit with him earlier. As for Shiki, she sit on Ruka's lap and hold his rabbit, with Hotaru beside him. All of them were very shocked at this combination and there is a lot of whisperings going around the bus.
"Ne, ne… Ruka nii-chan, what are they talking about?" Shiki asked as she pats Ruka's rabbit.
"You don't have to know about it, Shiki-chan. They are talking nonsense. Don't grow up to be like them, ok" Hotaru answered.
"Hai, Hotaru nee-chan!" Shiki replied with a smile. "Wow! Ruka nii-chan. The bus is moving so fast!" she then said.
"That's right, Shiki-chan. We will be reaching soon." Ruka said.
No sooner after Ruka has finished his sentence, the bus stopped and they got down. They went for window shopping 4 a while, letting Shiki has a fill of the shops around. They then went to queue for the Howlon and bought 2 boxes to share.
"Oiishi…. Howlon Oiishi… Shiki daisuki!" she then said. "Youichi-kun?" she asked Youichi.
"Oiishi…" he replied as he continue eating his Howlon.
After they had finished eating, the kids fell asleep as they played too hard just now in the campus. Natsume and Ruka then carried them and they settled down under the shade for the kids to sleep.
"About the yume incident, it is a very rare encounter. Do you think that the yume is actually your previous incarnation?" Ruka asked.
"If it is, then why does it keep letting us see the past, as if they are hinting to us that there are dangers around us?" Mikan said.
"If it is the truth, then we will have to be more alert." Hotaru suggested.
Natsume looked at Mikan, "I have a feeling that the incident in the village is somehow related to it but no proof for that." He then said. "Well, enough of the yume thing. Mikan, why did you cry just now?" he then asked.
"Well, all of them looked so happy when they talked about the home-stay. They get to see their parents, stayed with them and even bid good-bye to them. Their stay seems to be very pleasant and fun. But, ours is not, or mine is not. Although I also get many pleasant and good memories from the home-stay, but I also lost my one and only family member because of it." Mikan said, tears threatening to drop again.
Natsume then pulled her against him, "Don't think so much, Mikan. You still have us with you." he said comforting her.
"That's right, Mikan." Hotaru replied too.
Mikan wipe her tears, "I'm alrite. Just a bit sad when I thought about Ji-chan's death. I'm ok now."
"But you don't look so just now when Yui-san they all talked about it." Ruka said.
Mikan smiled at him, "Well, I was a bit surprise at his question at first and the first thing I thought of is Ji-chan." She replied.
Suddenly, Mikan felt someone touching her face. She looked at the small hand and saw Youichi, awake already, was sort of consoling her.
Mikan smiled at him, "Wake up already, You-chan? You still want to sleep some more?" she asked.
Youichi shook and sat up from Natsume's lap. He then looked at Shiki, who is still sleeping peacefully at Ruka's lap.
"Why haven't she wake up yet?" he asked.
Hotaru looked at Shiki, "She has been crying yesterday. Her eyes are a bit swollen just now when she came in." She said.
"She must have miss home and didn't sleep well yesterday." Ruka continued.
As if she heard their conversation, Shiki's tears dropped silently.
"Ma ma… where are you? Shiki is afraid… very dark… Shiki afraid…" She sobs.
Mikan immediately carry her off Ruka's lap and comfort her, "Don't be afraid, Shiki. You are not alone here. Don't be afraid…." Mikan said gently.
Shiki slowly opened her eyes and saw them looking at her. She then burst out crying in Mikan's arms. It took them some time before Shiki stopped crying.
"Want to shop some more?" Mikan asked her and she nodded.
Mikan carried her as they continue their window shopping while Ruka carry Youichi. As they walked around the Central, Shiki no longer look sad, but she is now excited. This is, after all, her 1st time here and she is very curious about everything. As they walked pass one of the shop, Sumire saw them and joined them for the rest of the shopping. However, they did not realize that they are being watched from far.
"Targets found!" The mysterious person said as he looked the posters. "This time round, I'll make sure I won't fail Tayama-sama." The mysterious person smiled wickedly at Natsume and Mikan.
At the other side, a couple is also watching the group as they walked into one of the store.
"Although we no longer have Alice, but we swore to protect Ouji-sama and Hime-sama no matter of what." The guy said.
"That's right, dear. Even if it means to cost us to loss our life, we will not give up." The lady said.
The man looked at his partner, "I guess we better get going 1st. I won't want the Gakuen to know of our presence here." The guy said and she nodded.
However, as they were leaving, they bang into Persona.
"Why are you 2 here?" Persona asked.
They then smiled, "You will know the reason in the future." The man said and they left.