Chapter 3: Natsume's Partner partI

Next day

1 more day before the Last Dance

Hotaru was in her stall/booth again in the festival when she Mikan's voice echoing in the distance.

"HOTARUUU!!!!!!!!!!" Mikan said as she reached for her best friend.

BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!

Hotaru launched several shots at Mikan's face with her baka-gun out of nowhere.

"Owww!! What was that for!?" Mikan said.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm busy, baka. I need to do something really important so stop bothering me. I'm not always free." Hotaru replied coldly to her.

"So…can I come back later..?" Mikan asked.

Hotaru looked at her sideways but didn't reply.

Mikan frowned at her and said, "Fine then! I'll come back later!".

She turned and found Natsume and Ruka.

"Oh, hi, Ruka-pyon!" Mikan greeted cheerfully.

"Hi…" Ruka said plainly.

Upon hearing Ruka's name, Hotaru turned to their direction to see if he's really there. Then they (Hotaru and Ruka) looked at each other eye to eye.

"Uhm…ohaiyo, Imai…" Ruka said, blusing.

"…" Hotaru didn't say anything.

Then Mikan looked at Natsume and asked, "What's going on? Did we miss anything?"

"Tch. How should I know?"

"Oh yeah, they weren't with us last night." (No dirty thoughts, people!!)

"What do you want anyway? I need to do something important here, so if you want something, say it or leave." Hotaru reminded them.

"Fine, fine, we're going…" Mikan said.

Suddenly, Iinchou appeared out of nowhere and said, "Hey you guys, could you help us prepare for the dance?"

"Oh sure! C'mon!" Mikan said as she grabbed Natsume's arm.

"Chotto matte!" he said, but she didn't pay attention to him.

"Uh…I'll be going now…" Ruka said, quite nervous.

"Hey, Ruka…" Hotaru asked.

"Uh…what?"

"I…oh forget it."

"What is it?"

"I said forget it.

And with that, Hotaru resumed her work while Ruka went off.

Meanwhile, Mikan and Natsume were helping with the decorations for the Last Dance, which will be held tomorrow night.

While preparing the tables, Mikan asked Natsume.

"Hey Natsume, I know I said this before, but WHO is your partner?"

"…"

Mikan pleaded and pleaded Natsume to tell her who his partner is, until he finally gave in.

"Fine! Just stop talking!" he said.

Mikan smiled. 'I'm gonna know who Natsume's dance partner is!'

"It's…" he said.

"It's..?" she repeated.

"It's…"

"IT'S…?"

A/N: chotto matte: wait a sec!

Anyways, pls. review!