Cocoa: We're back! Glad that you guys liked it, so I hope you'll like this chapter too.
Rich: More reading, less chatting...
'Since it seems that I like him, I might as well.. no matter how bad it sounds, spend some time with him.' Mikan considered silently.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the classroom –teacher's not there yet, again-. She didn't stop at her desk; instead she walked all the way to the back of the class.
"Natsume Hyuuga, would you have the honor to spend tomorrow with me?" Mikan proposed bravely.
All the fangirls in the classroom gasped, Sumire fainted.
They froze, in tense anticipation for Natsume's reaction.
"Sure." He replied calmly before going back to reading his manga.
"Arigato gozaimas!" Mikan cried, returning to her cheerful self. It was so much easier than expected for her, or was it?
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'That cute baka…' A smirk accompanied Natsume's thought.
He was oblivious of a disappointed Ruka, who was unusually quiet.
"I… I'm going out for awhile, be back shortly." Ruka murmured with a blank expression.
"Hn, whatever."
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Ruka sighed and sat down under a tree. Should he just let Mikan go like that? After all, he knew fully well that Natsume liked her too… and he -as in Natsume- would be a much better choice for her.
"Ruka!" Mikan called in her usual happy tone. "Where's Natsume?"
His heart sank even further. Although it was just a question that anyone would ask him if he was alone, it was as if love was teasing him. Mikan, asking for Natsume.
"Ruka?"
"Sorry Mikan… I didn't see you there."
"You were staring at her like she was made of gold." Hotaru, who happened to be behind Mikan, said bluntly.
"He's just in deep thought, Hotaru." Mikan turned to Ruka, "Are we disturbing you?"
"No.. I just want to take a break from everything." Ruka replied, staring at the sky.
"Okay then, um… we'll head back first." She responded with a smile.
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"ALRIGHT! LISTEN UP!" Sumire shouted, and continued when the room was quiet.
"Our Natsume has been brainwashed by this insolent little girl."
She took out a picture of Mikan, jabbed it with her index finger, "Let's make her life living hell for that!"
All the Natsume fanclub members listened intently while nodding their heads in agreement.
"We must make her look bad without making us look bad, understood?"
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Natsume was just walking out the classroom in the direction of the cafeteria when he caught sight of Ruka, motionlessly sitting under a tree.
"Hey." Natsume nudged his close friend with his feet.
"Oh… Natsume."
"What are doing here by yourself?"
Because of Ruka's lack of response, Natsume decided to settle down on the opposite side of the tree.
Both guys sat there, silently enjoying each other's company.
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Mikan was early and alone in class. She sat down at her desk, and looked around. The smell of the classroom was exactly the same when she first arrived in this school.
She started to wonder about her grandpa, and began to miss him. How he would be at home, alone like her now, thinking about her.
Her train of thoughts came to a halt when Sumire and some other fangirls entered the room.
"Natsume Hyuuga," Sumire imitated in a higher-pitched voice, "Would you have the honor to spend tomorrow with me?"
Another fangirl who was pretending to be Natsume, instantly replied, "Of course not! Are you kidding?? The sight of you disgusts me!"
After their little skit, all the fangirls laughed their annoying laugh.
Sumire went up to Mikan, one hand resting on Mikan's back, the other, tapped her cheek and said, "You better watch out, from now onwards."
The school bell rang, and a rush of students came in. The fangirls, including Sumire, headed back to their seats and acted like nothing happened.
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"We're gonna be late."
"..I was planning on skipping today's lesson."
"That's rare." Natsume smirked.
"Are you joining me?"
Natsume wanted to say 'why not', but he gave a thought about seeing Mikan, "Not today."
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Last lesson
'Where's Ruka?' Mikan wondered as she glanced at the back of the class.
She only saw Natsume and the rest of his notorious gang.
Their eyes met and Mikan immediately blushed at his teasing smirk. She turned back to face the front, her mind filled with their kissing moment.
"Class, you're dismissed." The substitute teacher announced at the sound of the school bell.
As soon as Mikan stood up, everyone –except Hotaru and Natsume- started calling her a loser.
Confused she dashed out of the classroom.
Coincidentally, the people she ran past also called her a loser, some even jeered at her.
The girls would giggle as they pointed at her.
Her vision blurred with tears, she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Ru-ruka!"
"Why are you crying, Mikan?"
"Everyone keeps calling me a loser…" She whimpered, wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve.
Ruka reached behind her and retrieved a piece of paper with a torn piece of scotch-tape dangling from it. It read, LABEL ME A LOSER!
"H-how..?" Mikan stuttered.
"Someone must have touched your back when you weren't looking, or you didn't notice." Ruka tore the piece of paper, "It's just a prank, don't cry over this, okay?"
Filled with exaggerated gratitude, Mikan thanked him non-stop while giving him a hug.
Just then, Natsume came into scene.
Cocoa: I know.. the fangirls part was kinda stupid.
Rich: So pls review so we can improve:D