Chapter 15: A Truth for a truth

"I didn't know that thing happened!", Mucho said. "It's ruining our privacy. It doesn't show the scene where Persona deals with her. This is not going anywhere, better stop it now.", Natsume said coldly. "Wait! NO!", Aoi exclaimed then continued, "You can't stop it! Don't you know this is the only way we have in order to solve our problem! Bear with it Natsume! This is for the sake of Mikan, remember that." With that, Sumire then said, "Let's go on with the video."

Under a Sakura tree, Natsume sits as he reads a book. This time they're already grown up and it happened 2 weeks before their graduation. "Hey Natsume! We're already graduating in the next few days. Aren't you happy?", Mikan asked.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't have anyone to celebrate it with."

"We're here! I'm here!"

No answer…

"I know it feels different if you have your relatives here. Hey, I know! How about your sister?"

"She's still under Persona."

"Then, we'll look for her!"

"It's not that easy especially when your Alice is already limited."

"I'll help you!"

"You'll just put your life in danger."

"So what! I'll do anything to make you smile!"

"What's your assurance that I'll smile if I'll see my sister? What if I want someone else?"

"I sure that she's the one and besides, I-can-feel-it! That's my promise!"

"Do whatever you want just be careful, Polka Dots!"

"You know? I don't think you mean it because until now, I haven't heard my name from you! I just wish that day would come! Hmph… anyway, a promise is not meant to be broken but instead it is made to be kept!" With that, Mikan ran away leaving Natsume smiling.

"How will she fulfill her promise?", Koko said. "I don't know but I have a feeling that Aoi is part of this, not that she's conniving with Persona but the cause of the agreement.", Yuu said. "Maybe you're right!", Anna said. "Well, there's only one way to find out!", Nonoko said cheerfully. "Roll on, Ms. Imai or shall I say, Mrs. Nogi!", Mucho said. "I might have that title sooner or later, right Ruka?", Hotaru asked. "Absolutely!", Ruka said to her.

"How shall I help Natsume? For all these years, all he wants is to see her long lost sister, Aoi! Ow! How can I help? I'm not good at fighting and if in case I'll go with him, I might just be a hindrance! Oh god! I don't know what to do and besides, I already gave him my promise! Poor Natsume!", Mikan said as she throws herself onto her bed in her own room. "That's not a problem, my dear.", a voice said. "Who's that?", Mikan said as she stood up and look everywhere. Then, a man in black with many rings and a mask that covers only his eyes appeared at the front of her closet. "Who are you and how did you get in?", Mikan said bravely. "In case you didn't know me, my name is Persona.", he said.

"Natsume's teacher who orders him to do the academy's dirty works and Aoi is with you! You insufficient fool! Bring back Aoi! And what are you doing here? If you're not going out of my room at this very moment, I'll scream!"

"Relax, my dear! I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just here to offer you something you will surely love!"

"And what the hell is that?"

"A plan. But, it is not just a plan. It's a plan that will certainly help you fulfill your promise to him."

"This is non-sense! Get out of my room, now!"

"Just give me a minute to explain and I'll leave the room at once. This is a chance of a lifetime, Mikan, don't forget! We're talking about Natsume here. Natsume. Natsume. The man you've always loved."

"Ow, fine! Just a minute then go!"

"I'll help you get Aoi but in one simple condition."

"And what the hell is that?"

"Never use your Alice, stay away from Natsume and never ever talk to him again at any cost!"

"That is impossible! Not to use my Alice is all right but talking to him even with just a letter or phone is forbidden! It's unfair!"

"Well, this is Natsume's happiness. And in case you didn't know, it might be worth the sacrifice. Imagine, it will make Natsume smile and by then, your promise is already done!"

"But I'll never gonna see the others again."

"So what! Knowing that Natsume will be worth the sacrifice and Aoi will make him happy as well."

"Happy! No! What do you know about happy? You make people suffer! I'll never accept your offer! Never! Now, get out of my sight!"

"Okay, but I'll meet you again tomorrow to see if you're accepting the offer already…" Then Persona vanishes.

The next day…

"Okay class! Today, we're going to list down your expected relatives to attend in your graduation.", Mr. Narumi said as he gives everyone a paper. He was stopped when Natsume won't accept the paper. Mr. Narumi then said, "Here's a paper Natsume, hold it." "You're just wasting you're paper on me. You know very well that I don't have anyone to write on that paper.", Natsume said coldly. "Oh, I'm sorry.", Mr. Narumi apologized. Mikan heard this conversation and felt guilty to the fact that as a friend of Natsume, who trusts her sincerely, can't do anything about it. And with that, the day went on and still, Natsume is sad and won't eat lunch and dinner. Mikan, on the other hand, went to her room, stand by the window and asked herself quietly, "Would it be right to accept Persona's plan? But, what about the consequence? Ow! This is giving me headache… But I can't stand seeing him like this all the time! What to do? What to do? What to do? His Alice is weak and overusing it will take away his life! This is not getting better, it's becoming worse than ever!" "Have changed your mind already?", Persona said as he suddenly appeared on her back. Mikan turned her back, sat in her bed and asked, "What will happen if I talk to him?"

"Simple, Natsume will meet either God or Satan."

"You're insane! Why is it that you have to punish him? Punish me instead!"

"Well then, does this mean you're closing our agreement with a 'yes'?"

"For his sake then…"

"Okay, then I will think about who to punish…! I'll just send you a letter regarding on what you should do next, nullifier! HAHAHAHA!", then he vanished.

"Is my decision wrong? What the hell! At least he could be happy when his sister is here already. Although, the consequence is I'll be far from him and worse, we can't even talk to each other! This is in exchange of his smile! I know this will end well."

Then, the scene ended. Everyone in the room was shocked. Now every one of them knows already what Mikan has done. The others can't believe what she has done for the sake of Natsume; even Mr. Narumi is shocked and doesn't know what to do. Aoi is already starting to cry while Natsume, standing, is bowing his head and doesn't even know what to do. "Now that we already know what happened, what are we supposed to do?", Mucho said and in an instant, Natsume rushed outside the door and is headed to the Sakura tree which can be seen in the room where Mikan and the others were. When Natsume reached the tree, he punched and punched the tree until he wounded his own wrist and then sat and cried.

Meanwhile, inside the room, the others are talking. "I didn't know she was the one who saved me.", Aoi said. "What do you mean?", Anna said. "A person in black came over to the cellar and brought me to the academy. It can be seen that the person is a girl because of her body and she fought different kinds of people that are trying to hinder our way out. And one thing she said is that, 'Might as well use this nullifying alice because this could be the last time!' That's it!", Aoi answered. "It is really Mikan then! There's no doubt about that!", Yuu concluded. "Oh Mikan! How could do this? This can completely kill you! What were you thinking?", Aoi said as she went near Mikan and cried.

"I have a plan.", Hotaru said. "What is it?", Sumire asked. "Just promise me that all of you will cooperate no matter what, including the man down there.", Hotaru said as she pointed out Natsume. "Promise, guys?", Ruka asked the others as they all nodded in unison. Then the plan was already spread out including Mr. Narumi and Mr. Yamato. Everybody went out of Mikan's room to prepare for the plan. Meanwhile, Mr. Narumi went to Natsume, who is sitting under the tree, and sit beside him. There was silence for a minute then Natsume asked, "What are you doing here?" Then Mr. Narumi said, "You know, people do crazy things when they're in love."

"And what's your point?"

"Many."

"What 'many'?"

"Accept things as they come. Face them. And most of all, learn to thank people and forgive them."

"Why are telling this to me?"

"Both of us know that you are already old enough to understand what I am saying. I know that you can remember that day after Mikan left the academy unexpectedly, the faculty was tumult. Mikan is an intelligent girl; in fact, it was planned that she will be the top 1, you will be second, Hotaru the third and Yuu the fourth; however, …"

"However, things didn't turn out to be that way. I became the first, Hotaru the second and Yuu the third."

"She agreed with Persona not only because she want to make you happy but also because this is the only way that she can repay for all the things that you have done for her and anyone would do ANYTHING for the person he or she loves most."

"I don't understand."

"You are very lucky to have her. Cherish her while you can and don't waste your time."

"Huh?! What are you saying? Explain it!"

"Think it over and you'll understand. Hotaru has a plan and it will start the moment Mikan wakes up and don't ever forget to be there. Don't be late. I'll be heading there. See you in a while. Oh yeah, I just want you to know that girls love surprise proposal especially the ones done in front of many people."

"Huh?! What the hell are you saying?!"

"It's for me to know and for you find out by thinking it over. Tara!"

On the other hand, Hotaru said to Sumire, "Sumire, can you watch on Mikan and stay there until she's awake. Give us a signal if she's already awake." "Oh alright. But are you sure she will be waking tonight. It's almost 2 hours since she fell asleep.", Sumire asked. "Mikan is a fighter. It's only 10:00 pm… I suppose that before 10:30 she will already be awake and please fix her hair, face, dress and everything.", Hotaru answered. "Ok. You can count on me.", Sumire said in assurance as she walk her way to Mikan's room. "Good thing Sumire can be relied on now?", Ruka said. "People change as time passes by and she has overcome her jealousy towards Mikan. I think they will be good friends after all.", Hotaru said to Ruka. "And you know, I'm also happy because my girlfriend has change already. She became the girl that never forgets her friends and always ready to help people no matter what. But most of all, she became the girl of my dreams – one that should and must be treasured forever.", Ruka said sweetly to Hotaru. And after Ruka's long speech, Hotaru gave him a kiss – one that caught the others attention…

Now, everything is set. The venue in front of the Northern Forest is already set. The tables and chairs are also there along with a candle light on each table. The stage is ready and the spotlight's ready. Hotaru and company are all ready, except for Sumire and Mikan. They all had their clothes worn properly. All set for what?

Let's for get about that for a while. First, let's see how Sumire and Mikan are doing. Sumire sat down the chair and pulled it near Mikan's bed. After 10 minutes or so, Mikan started to move her hands, and slowly opens her eyes. When she finally opened it, Sumire leaned over to her and said, "Glad you're awake now!" Mikan was still groggy then after a couple of seconds, she suddenly said, "NATSUME!!!! Where's Natsume? Is he fine? Is he injured? What happened?!" "Relax, Mikan! Relax! He's fine and we have treated his wounds already. Don't worry. Now, all we have to do is fix your self and we'll go downstairs then we'll meet them all. Stand up and go to the bathroom and clean your face, I'm going to retouch your make-up." Mikan stood and headed her way to the bathroom while Sumire called Hotaru on her phone saying that Mikan is already awake and they'll be downstairs after a couple of minutes. After that, Mikan came out of the bathroom and said, "I'm done!" Sumire then said, "Sit here and I'm going to retouch your make-up and fix your hair as well. By the way, how are you feeling?" "I'm fine. Did I sleep too long?", Mikan asked.

"No, you just slept for two hours and it's about 10:30 today. Just in time!"

"In time for what?"

"In time! Uhmm… I mean you woke up before 12 midnight! In time!"

"Ow… Is that so! Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

"What happened to Persona?"

"Oh, Persona! He's dead. Your attack killed him…"

"So he's dead now. Uhmm… Why is it that you need to retouch my make-up and fix my hair again?"

"Just wait and see."

Sumire then finished Mikan's hair and make-up then fixed her gown. Now she looks gorgeous, as if she didn't have any fight and no bruises. Now, they're ready to go down; however, before that, Sumire said, "I'll just take a pee. Wait here." Sumire then get into the bathroom, called Hotaru and said, "We're about to go down there. Prepare yourselves." Then she hung up and went out of the bathroom. There she saw Mikan on the front of the mirror, staring at herself and said, "Why do I have to look like this? I mean why I have a ball gown while all of you have a straight gown?" "Oh come on, never mind that, we need to go downstairs already. I'll take care of you.", Sumire said as she pulls Mikan to the door and walk to the front of the Northern Forest.

Meanwhile, "Are you all ready? Is the microphone on? Are the lights working? Are the candle light already lighted? How about the sound system? Make sure it's working well! Go to your positions now! Are we all set? Where's Natsume? Where's Natsume? He's the most important here! Look for him!", Hotaru demanded as Natsume came out of the tree wearing his well-looking tuxedo. "Oh good! You're here!", Yuu exclaimed. "Ruka told me everything. Mind if I joined in?", Natsume asked as the others are all shocked. Why would he join such a thing? Well, maybe because Mikan is involved but no! If he's up to something, he could've talk to her privately or maybe… he already changed his attitude? Is it too impossible? "We'll be glad to welcome you, Mr. Hyuuga. I know you'll make the right choice.", Mr. Narumi said. "OK! Now that we're all complete, positions everyone! They're gonna be here any second now. Aoi! Get ready! You know what to do!", Hotaru said as Sumire and Mikan are on their sight. What will happen now?