It has been three years since Mikan had graduated from Alice academy. She was in her second last term of college now. She is a very popular student and not just because of her looks and her sunny attitude but also because of her paintings. She was a student of fine arts and ever since she joined the college her paintings had won every competition hands down.
But that was not the only thing that made her famous. What made her more attractive was the aura of mystery around her. She befriended everyone but would never let a guy come too close and it was a no to every confession. She never even looked at a guy with even a hint of interest.
Everyone wondered why she was so aloof in this matter while she was an open book in every other aspect of her life.
Her friends from school visited her often and attended every single exhibition of her paintings. Every one of them was pursuing their own goal in life, but they always found time for each other.
"So is everyone here?" Hotaru asked.
"Yep all accounted for Major."
"Very funny Koko."
"Enough you two, we're here to celebrate Mikan's victory in advance, not to argue. Tomorrow at her college's Culture Fest she is, like at every other fest, gonna win the gold medal, and as we're sure of it, we're celebrating today." Said Ruka smiling.
"To Mikan…" he said.
"To Mikan…" they all chorused.
Mikan smiled and thanked them all.
After some time Anna asked Mikan what she had painted.
"Mikan, this is the first time none of us has seen your painting in advance. Please tell us what you have painted?"
"You'll see tomorrow. It's a surprise. But I can tell you this, it's my best portrait so far."
"Portrait huh?" said Nonoko.
"Yep it's a portrait but for any other information you'll have to wait."
"That's ok. It's not going to be a long wait." Yuu shrugged.
Mikan unveiled her portrait and many people in the crowd gasped. But all her friends were smiling. Anna and Nonoko even had tears in their eyes.
It was a portrait of a boy in his teens. He was sitting in the branches of a Sakura tree and cherry blossoms were floating around him. Sunlight filtered through the leaves before falling on him, and the effect made the painting look like a window.
The boy himself was very handsome, with raven hair and ruby eyes. One of his legs was hanging down from the branch while his other knee was raised with his elbow resting on it. He wore a uniform no one from the college had ever seen before and a bored expression as if wondering why everyone was staring at him but not caring about it in the least.
It was a portrait of Natsume Hyugga. Her only love.
Her college classmates were stunned.
Mikan made a portrait of a guy? I thought she wanted to be a nun or something… Guess she just has a secret love… Thought a random girl.
Koko slammed his fist in his mouth to hold back his laugh.
Slowly people started clapping for the painting was truly a masterpiece. Mikan won the first prize again as her friends had predicted. And she was requested to allow them to keep the picture where everyone who visited the college could see it. Mikan gave her consent.
Everyone was congratulating her on wining the prize but she seemed sad. She wanted him to be here, not just his picture.
Her friends had been telling her for some time now to move on. It was her way of saying to them that she will never move on. She too had had a little doubt but when she remembered his face, and the song that he had sung for her, all doubts were gone.
Softly the leaves of memory fall
Slowly I'll gather and pick them all,
Today tomorrow and all my days through
I'll cherish every moment spent with u.