Chapter Two
It was already after dinner and everybody was getting ready for bed.
Except for Mikan.
She had been strolling around the school grounds, deep in thoughts, for almost an hour now.
Finally, she decided to sit down on a bench.
She propped her feet on the seat and hugged her knees tightly. Then she buried her face into her arms.
"You might catch cold out here," A voice said to her after a while.
She looked up to find Ruka standing in front of her and smiling gently at her.
"Here," He wrapped a blanket around her and sat down.
Mikan stared at him.
"I'm sorry about what happened earlier," Ruka said, gazing up at the sky.
Mikan just kept on staring.
Ruka continued, "I wanted to tell you something personal. But when I've already mustered up the courage to speak, Natsume suddenly came that I was embarrassed and ran off."
I still don't understand, Mikan thought, turning her attention to the ground.
What about Natsume's reaction when he saw us?
And where have the two of you been the whole day?
"Whenever I look at the stars, I think of your smile, Mikan." Ruka said all of a sudden, breaking her thoughts.
Mikan shot a glance at Ruka, feeling her face redden. Then, she too gazed up at the sky.
The stars that adorned the velvet black sky were shining so bright and beautiful that she couldn't help smiling with admiration.
A shooting star passed by.
I wish, she thought, not knowing what she would wish for.
"Your smile is like a star, always sparkling, always beautiful. Just looking at your smile takes away all my troubles, just as looking up at the stars would," Ruka continued.
Mikan felt her heart beating faster. She turned to look at Ruka and was surprised to see him gazing, not up at the sky, but at her.
"Remember the shooting star a while ago? Do you want to know what I wished for?" Ruka asked her.
"I wished for you, Mikan."
For a few moments, they stared at each other.
"I like you, Mikan," Ruka said, breaking the silence. "Do you – do you like me, too?"
Mikan flushed.
"Ruka, I – I don't know what to say," She managed to speak, looking away.
Ruka didn't say anything for a while. But then, he said, "You don't have to answer me right now.
Find time to think about it.
Then come to me if you finally have an answer.
I will just be around, waiting."
He stood up.
"It must be nearly midnight. We shouldn't stay up late. We still have classes tomorrow," he said.
Mikan looked up to see his right hand extended out to her.
"Come on," Ruka said, smiling.
Mikan took his hand and he helped her up. When she was finally standing, he let go of her hand.
Together they walked back towards their dormitories.