Chapter 5: His Other Nightmare
She had got up very early in the morning and had a chase with Natsume and she was tired, so as soon as their boring teacher entered the class and started it, her uncontrollable drowsiness won over her and she fell asleep.
Unbeknown to our dear Mikan, the subject that this boring before-lunch teacher handles is one of the most important which of course, like any other 'most important' out there, meant that it was difficult to understand if not given explicit and or extensive attention.
She thought it was the middle of the day when she was awakened by such dreadful sounds that she jumped in an instant. What was it---what was it? The next minute she felt quite sure she knew. Doors were opened and there were hurrying feet in the corridors and someone was holding something that was screaming and singing at the same time, screaming and singing in a horrible way.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo! The sun is already high in the sky! Up stupid, get up now!"
The startling light seemed to poke her hard in both eyes. Looming shadows quivered in front of her for a moment; she blinked and four of her several friends came into focus, looking down at her. As she listened to the singing screams she did not wonder why some of her classmates were wearing sneers in their faces. She had missed Mathematics again!
Sitting bolt upright, she received a sharp blow on the top of her head that was powerful it made her face hit the desk.
"Lazy bum," Hotaru said, setting the punching glove back inside the noisy invention where it burst out. She closed the lid which served as the stomach of the miniature version of the 'Giant Piyo', another contraption that would make Mikan's life miserable as it is.
"Mou Hotaru!" Mikan groaned as she pulled herself up to full height despite the feeling that her head had been split in two.
"I-Imai-san…" Yuu called with a reproachful voice.
"You didn't have to hit me," grunted Mikan, rubbing the top of her head. "It's not my fault you know, it's---" Her voice tailed away when she didn't find the person in fault around the classroom.
"Shut up," Hotaru said sharply, turning and walking towards the door. "Don't blame us if we don't include you in the forthcoming presentation."
"W-what presentation?" Mikan turned her head right away at the president who wore a sympathetic look that made her somehow feel she shouldn't have had that nap.
† ♥ †
The sun shone down the whole day on the academy. Ruka was walking straight on where no one including him knew where it's headed, because that's chiefly where his best friend would be. No where.
His heart and head were still heavy with the excitement he had that morning. He was nervous, for his best friend dare not talk to him after he had accepted Mikan's invitation but then he was not that sure for neither he tried to strike a conversation with Natsume. There was that invisible tension that crowded up on them once again and he very much disliked it. Ruka disliked it because he always felt as if he has to explain himself to his best friend, and he disliked it more because he couldn't bring himself to do it for he knew there was nothing to explain.
Nevertheless Ruka had set himself to find Natsume after he had left him with an 'I'll go on ahead' look instead of the usual "Oi" utter he gives whenever Ruka was on the cleaners' list.
He was, most of the time, paired with quite a lot of fan girls that he did not question why he never gets to finish his job. Those inane girls rather tire themselves than get a glimpse of their 'prince' being exhausted with an un-princely job.
He even remembered an occurrence where there seemed to be a scuffle. There was no fighting really, but in a sense there was. Several girls were fighting to possess the grubby rug he used to clean the windowpanes. As soon as one girl got hold of it, the whole pack of them pounced upon her. Even when she ran, there was no escape. The others hemmed her on all sides.
It was a familiar game to Ruka. It was a game common to him, Hotaru and her inventions. Oh yes he had played the game and had come home quite hurt not that he received bruises and wounds, but because he lost to that girl again and he knew it was not for the last time.
He was running, hugging the photograph to his chest as he pushed with his free hand all those animal inventions that caught up with him. The beating of his heart was in frenzy as he neared the dormitory that was to mean his victory (for there would be a hundred of students and she'd lose track of him) when suddenly he tripped and fell over a guy who was just walking by. The man looked stunned as he rose and Ruka was calling him indecent names. Meanwhile, the photo had slipped from his hands and was taken away by one of Hotaru's inventions, a flying stubby triangle insect with a pointy little head.
Ruka shook his head robustly at the memory, especially when he thought of the man he had bumped onto. It was none other than Subaru Imai, one of the high-respected students of the High School division and his worst nightmare's older brother. He barely managed to lose the thought when the latter appeared out of nowhere with a stern look in his purple eyes behind those spectacles. He was strict as ever.
"Hey you there!" he called in a rather austerely tone. Ruka looked sideways, hoping there was someone else around but when the idea that he probably looked stupid to do this had struck him, he looked back at the person who was now approaching him.
"Me?" shuddered Ruka.
"Yeah you, bouya." Subaru now towered before him, his face calming all of a sudden. Ruka didn't feel anywhere calm though, for a muscle twitched in his jaw. He's 165cm tall and for his information, he is one of the tallest kids in his class.
"B-bouya? Why you---"
"I want you to give this to my sister." Ruka looked at what Subaru held in his hand and saw a white umbrella with a goose at its top end. Ruka found it familiar but since he was not feeling at all as he had when he had come out from the classroom, he did not think of anything but the insult Subaru dispatched.
"Why should I?" Ruka barked which would've scared his animal friends out of their wits if it was directed at them.
"Because you two seem really intimate with each other." He harangued. It was though something erupted into life in Ruka's stomach and searing blood seemed to run in his veins and up his brain and of course, his cheeks.
"We're not that close!" Ruka stamped his foot furiously. Subaru noticed this sudden rage but he continued in his severe tone.
"Then tell me how close you are to be huddled under that umbrella last night." The older of the two boys added, a shifty grin now presented itself. Ruka did not return it, for his lips pinched themselves together. He did not even try to control his rage and humiliation.
"WHAT? That was merely friendship, you idiot!" snapped Ruka indignantly. He grew sour and obstinate that he did not care whether this influential person decreases his rank. In fact, Ruka never cared for his level.
"What I saw was too much for mere friendship…" Subaru sneered ferociously, "…and for my liking."
"You're blind then, because our relationship is flat platonic." Ruka retorted without any affectation and he saw the smug in Subaru's face fading.
"I know what I saw, bouya---"
"I'm not a little boy!" snarled Ruka, "Besides, why don't you give her that yourself? You seem to dislike seeing us together."
Is this where that idiot is getting at? He thought, because he'd gladly accept to step out of Hotaru's (blackmailing) life for he was sick and tired of it. He doesn't need telling because he'll stay away himself. Besides, that's what he was trying to do ever since that hogging witch found out about the misuse of his Alice. And if only she wasn't the vouchsafement for him to get Mikan he would've---
These furious thoughts whirled around in Ruka's head until Subaru's horrorstricken face interrupted his musings. His attention was no longer pinned at him, for he was looking at another person who was only a few feet from where they were standing.
All the pink left Ruka's cheeks, for his face turned pallid the moment he saw the witch he was thinking of. Subaru and Hotaru's stares seem so cold yet they make Ruka wholly melt. He gazed from one Imai to another, and he felt as if days and even months passed as he tried to make out something from the icy glaring they give each other.
Until someone's voice vibrated and melted the ice away.
"You're coming, right Hotaru?" Mikan's voice looped and passed through the silence that enveloped the three. They all were awoken from what seemed to be years as Hotaru broke eye-contact by walking away.
"I'm not in the mood." The boys heard her say as she approached the now-whining girl who called her.
They were actually walking in the main bricked road to the park (for it was their habit to plan whatever group project they have there), when Hotaru saw this unlikely rendezvous between her brother and her friend.
The president of their class was walking side by side with Mikan while their other classmates, Anna and Nonoko were following close and Hotaru was at the far back. This was always the set-up, because Hotaru easily gets annoyed with the noise Mikan brings. Besides, whenever she lags at the back she always sees wonderful sorts of things and somehow, whether it's Ruka in his amusing animal charming or plainly just the scenery which reminds her of home, they please her.
She can perfectly hear well that Anna was inviting everyone for tea after the appointment when she heard and sensed someone bellowing behind the trees. Everybody passed that certain area without noticing anything beyond the trees…but she did notice. And it was then she regretted that clairvoyance of hers. She stopped briskly at the sight of her umbrella in the custody of none other than her brother, and that was when the staring began.
Ruka tried to call her but Subaru pulled him by the shoulder, silent signaling him to let her go with a shake of his head. Ruka saw the stern features of Subaru die away as his stare drooped on the ground.
"Now you understand why I can't give this back to her," Subaru spoke at last, "She barely looked at me as anyone close at all."
Ponpokopi no Bebenben!
Fufufufu! Finally another chapter from moi moi. Hee! I think this one is a bit overreacting but who the hell cares? Since Megami-sama and I think Subaru is hot (thank you ethereal collision-dono for revealing the name of Hotaru-sama's older brother to us), I want him to finally have an appearance in the fan fiction. Maa-ne…here are the notes.
(1) Yep. When that heart border appeared up there, it meant the time has fast forward to dismissal hours.
(2) Where were Subaru and Ruka-pyon standing anyway? Err…they're by the trees, a few feet away from the main road which was being trekked by Mikan's group. Subaru was meaning to give the umbrella to Mikan-chan but she was with Hotaru-sama and he didn't want her to see him. That's why when he saw Ruka walking alone, even though he…er…disliked the kid, he decided to take the chance.
(3) Ruka-pyon's height was based on our very own Tsubasa Andou, so if you're wondering how tall I've made him you've got yourselves a model. Fufufufu!
(4) 'Bouya' explanation: It literally means 'boy' in Japanese, and you know how proud they are, especially the children. So when someone high calls them this, they get the wrong idea that they're being called as 'little boy'. Why does Subaru tease Ruka-pyon as a "little boy" anyway? I don't know myself. I made that up because of the influential Edward Elric of Hagane no Renkinjutsushi and because that insult is most common in anime males. Don't you think so too?
(5) It seems OOC of Ruka-pyon to get angry that quick. And why the hell did he cut that thought of his about Hotaru-sama being the ticket to get Mikan? Fufufufufu! Oooooh the other chapters will let him realize that this isn't the only connection he has with her. Mwahahaha!
I hope to update soon. I've got more plans with this fic, but then my writer's block prevents me from wording them down. Hahahaha…well, the usual good-by's. Stay tuned please!