CHAPTER 7 revision done!

So here it is, the improved version.

Read and enjoy!


"HUH?!" Mikan can't help be astonished by his offer. "Are you crazy? What has gotten into your mind?" Mikan almost shouted. She can't believe how Natsume Hyuuga really thinks.

People near them were staring at her outburst.

"Mikan…you are too loud. People are looking." Natsume stated, looking around.

"You must be crazy." Mikan said, breathing out, more calm now. "Marriage? I'm not looking for a husband Hyuuga. All Natsuki needs is a father."

"Okay. Listen to me." he started. "I have just been thinking over the past days of a way, a solution to solve this problem and this is…"

"Wait. Wait. Wait. Problem? You think of this as a problem." Insulted by Natsume's choice of words. "I am telling you don't have to worry about it. If you think that Natsuki is just a problem then it is not for you to worry, it is mine." Mikan got up not giving Natsume another chance to explain.

"Mikan. It's not that." But too late Mikan has already left taking Natsuki by the hand. Natsume exasperated, repeatedly running his fingers through his hair.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" the little boy was asking after being pulled away by his mother. "Why are we leaving? What about daddy?" he looked back at his dejected daddy on the bench.

"Natsuki, we are going home and we are not going to see him again, ever." Mikan said, firmly, keeping his hold on Natsuki tighter.

"But Mommy…" he tried to argue.

"No more questions."

With that, he just stayed silent and behaved. He didn't want to anger his already angry mother. But it doesn't mean that he doesn't want to see his daddy again, soon.

"I can't believe him. Making an offer to solve this "problem" Ugh!." Mikan thought angrily. " Ahhh…I cant believe him." Mikan added.

So lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice that they arrived already. She paid the cab and carried Natsuki in her arms. She did have a little hard time in opening the apartment door with Natsuki in her arm while her other hand was reaching for the key inside her bag. That was quite hard but, she eventually managed.

As she has settled Natsuki into the bed, Mikan finally was able to sit and relax for a bit until her phone rang. "Who could be calling? I don't really want to talk." She thought as she looked at the screen. It was Hotaru and nobody ignores Hotaru's calls.

"Hello." She answered, as she leaned lazily on the couch.

"Hey, it's me." Hotaru replied. "I heard you visited Hyuuga, today." It seems like no information run pasts her.

"Yes. I did."

"By the sound of your voice, it seemed it didn't go that well." NOTHING really do get past her even just a slight change in Mikan's voice.

"Good guess, it didn't go well as I expected, Hotaru. But I managed." Mikan said smiling a bit.

"You should have told me that you were visiting so I could have kicked Hyuuga or whatever but anyway…" Hotaru paused. "Just tell me when you're ready. Bye." She hanged up, how typical of her.

"Bye." Mikan placed the phone down smiling. "Thank God for a friend like her." she said aloud to no one in particular.


"That baka did change, don't you think?" she said, as she ended the call.

Ruka looked at her and replied, "Yeah. She did. Must not have been easy to be a mother alone."

"The happy Mikan is gone. Her bubbly voice and her cheery attitude are all gone. How can we get it back, Ruka?" She was worried and misses the sunshine that Mikan brings along with her. Ever since Natsume left her brokenhearted and having his child, the child in Mikan seemed to have been blown away.

"I don't know, Hotaru." He shook his head, sadly. "I guess, whatever decision she makes, we'll just have to support her."

"But, I wonder what happened today with Hyuuga?" she asked curiously. "I mean Hyuuga usually have the tendency to say the wrong things and Mikan being herself, can easily get angry too. But I'm feeling that Hyuuga must have said something that bothered her. I am wondering what they talked about."

"Really? I mean Natsume can be mean too but you know how important Mikan is to him." He defended his friend.

"He left in the first place without notice." Hotaru shrugged, ignoring how Ruka defended Natsume.

"He had to, remember? Emergency as he said." Ruka explained.

"Whatever." She still can't forgive how Natsume left her that day. It might have been reasonable but hurting Mikan in the process was a different scenario. "Can you give Hyuuga a call and ask?" she asked Ruka.

"You are really that worried, are you? Why don't you give him a call or a visit?" Ruka said teasing her a little.

She glared at him. "As if I would talk to that person." She got up and started keeping her things.

"Hey, don't be mad." Ruka coaxed. "Just teasing you a little, it is unusual for you to be worried so much." Ruka said touching Hotaru's shoulder.

"I'm not. So I'm going home and rest." Hotaru simply replied then walked away.

Ruka just watched her walk away, knowing that she was truly worried. She always wanted to see things work out and be managed. Hotaru hated how people can make things so complicated sometimes. Although, she seemed cold and heartless, Hotaru was actually not as she seems.


She was supposed to be home by now but she just can't seem to relax without knowing what happened. It was part of her curiosity and concern for Mikan. Although, she said that she would wait until Mikan tells her but Hotaru had to take matters into her own hands now.

So now, she was impatiently sitting at the lounge waiting for Natsume. Honestly, she hasn't been here for quite some time since although they were friends and civil with one another that didn't mean that they were close enough to visit each other's workplaces. It made her feel a little bit awkward seeing Hyuuga without Ruka but she needed to do this for her peace of mind.

She has been glaring at the secretary for quite a while now. "I really hate waiting. Where is he anyway?" she looked around.

"Ma'm, sorry to keep you waiting. He is alread in his office." The secretary informed her.

She stood up right away. "Thank you, Misaki." She walked ahead to the Natsume's office.

"I really hate the arrogance this place brings." She thought, as she entered the office.

Hotaru saw Natsume sitting comfortably on the couch by mini receiving area in his office. "What brought you here, Imai? It is unusual for you to come here." He asked, curious of the sudden visit.

She sat across him. "I heard Natsuki and Mikan visited you this morning." Getting straight to the point.

"They did." Natsume replied. "So?"

"What did you talk about with her? She said it didn't go well when I called her." Hotaru asked bluntly.

"It was something that doesn't concern you. It's just between Mikan and I." Natsume answered, not wanting to explain to Hotaru his stupidity.

"I want know."

"I won't tell you."

"I need to know."

"Why?" Natsume asked, interested on Hotaru's persistence.

"I miss her already." Hotaru replied, her eyes showing sadness.

"Huh? Miss her? But she's here already."

She stayed quiet not saying a word. She looked at him in the eye and Natsume finally got what she meant. He misses her too and he had missed her for a very long time.

"Okay." He decided. "I asked her to marry me." Making the story short.

"You did? Why?"

"It was the only way I could think of. I want to take responsibility." Natsume said these words sincerely.

"Seriously Hyuuga?" she smirked. "Responsibility as a father? There could have been better ways to do that than proposing to the mother." She can't believe Natsume's reasoning.

"What else could I do?" He was desperate.

"Anyway, what did she think about it?" she asked.

"She thinks that I have gone crazy and she got angry later." He looked away, combing his hair with his fingers.

"What did you say now Hyuuga?" Hotaru's tone was accusing.

"I may have said a few things like solution to a problem." He totally regretted those words. He was a businessman and using those statements have become so common that it just came out.

"WHAT?!" Hotaru raised her voice. "You really are stupid, Hyuuga. How many more mistakes are you going to make?" She can't believe he said that, no wonder Mikan got angry. "Stop doing crazy things before she runs away again." Hotaru warned him, serious with her tone now.

"I'm trying not to. But I just keep messing it up." He said, regretfully. "I have a son Imai and Mikan's finally here again. I can't allow them to be gone again from my life."

"I think we are on the same boat on that Hyuuga. I wouldn't want them away again where I can't see them." At least, there was one thing they agreed upon. "Are you really serious about that?" Hotaru asked him, with her eyes looking into Natsume's without blinking.

Before Natsume could even speak or think, she continued, "You better be. We may not be that close but for Mikan, I'll be doing you a favor. I'll help and Ruka too."

"Did I really tell him that I'd help? Oh my…I am really desperate." Hotaru thought as she stood up, quickly heading home before she changes her mind.

"Wha—" he couldn't even finish talking, Hotaru stood up and left a stunned Natsume.

He was still trying to take in Imai's words. As mentioned, they weren't really that close and an offer of help from someone like Hotaru Imai was like a drop of blessing from the heavens. If now that Imai was trying to help out, maybe things can work out better.

"Imai's helping me for free? I must have done something really good to deserve this." Natsume was thinking as he still couldn't believe what just happened.


Imai and her subtle kindness. I love her, really and a friend like that would be amazing.

Anyway, I would like to do a shoutout to PurpleHime for your long review and I had to do this since I can't PM you. And to the rest who reviewed, thank you so much and I'm glad we're on the same boat on marrying Natsume. HAHA.

So, continue dropping your reviews. Thank you.

-ECO