Chapter 16: Something to be remember forever
"And now, welcome! Welcome to the Reunion Part II! To start, may I invite all guests to sit down on the chairs that are in front of the stage. The chairs are arranged in a circular form so we can all see each other. I am now giving the floor to Ms. Hotaru Imai for the program!", Aoi announced. "Sumire, what exactly is happening here? What 'Reunion Part II' is Aoi talking about and why are supposed to sit on those chairs?", Mikan asked as Sumire just replied, "Just follow them, ok?" The two proceed to the chairs. The company sat anywhere they like. This time, Mikan is with Mr. Narumi. "Hi there Mr. Narumi! Glad to see you! And oh, are your wounds fine?", Mikan asked as she saw Mr. Narumi's bandages. "Ow, don't worry, I'm fine. Sit down, Mikan, sit down.", Mr. Narumi said as Mikan sits down and tries to look for Natsume but he's not there. And then she was thinking, "Now that Persona's dead, I'm already free. Free to love and talk to him as much as I want with no one set me a limit. But, should I tell them about the agreement between Persona and I? Maybe that will just ruin their night or they might get angry to me for not telling it and agreeing with that kind of agreement. Come on! What am I supposed to do? Or worse, Natsume might not accept me anymore! Oh please! Not now that we have been together for the whole day! I might as well keep it a secret. A secret that will never be revealed and a truth will be hidden for the rest of my life…" Mikan was bothered when Hotaru suddenly said,
"Perhaps, all of you are wondering why we have this 'Reunion Part II'? Well, our Reunion awhile ago was ruined by Persona's sudden appearance and we have to make it up. To tell exactly my point, I just want to share something to you. We have been together for quite some time now and we have seen that each of us changed in some way. Though it is quite late or really late, I can say, let's reminisce the days back then. The days when all of us are still young and all of us still waiting for our precious diplomas to reach our hands…", Hotaru was stopped when, "But we aren't complete by then!", shouted one of them. Murmurs can be heard like "Yeah, Mikan was not there." Mikan was embarrassed of what she can hear when suddenly Hotaru said, "Don't you think it's already time to tell us your secret, Ms. Sakura?"
"What secret are you talking about? I'm not hiding anything from you.", Mikan said stuttering
"I'll go straight to the point. As your best friend, I have the right to know why you weren't there on the day of our graduation and as for them to be friends and your former classmates, they ought to know it the same as I do."
"I do not understand what you're trying to say!"
"In the first place, Persona wouldn't come here if he has a sole reason."
"Huh? And what is that reason?"
"You're intelligent enough to understand what I am saying Mikan. All we want is the truth to come out from your mouth."
"What 'truth'? I am saying the truth."
"You're still not good in lying Mikan. You can't fool me."
"But what is it that you want from me? I thought we're in a reunion! We should be as one! Not like this, we're fighting over some unnecessary stuff!"
"If this is unnecessary for you, this is very necessary for us! We just want to know what really happened, that's all. Is it bad to ask for that thing TRUTH?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'll just leave and go to my room. This conversation is not going anywhere.", and that she left her chair and walked but before that… the white screen in the stage showed something peculiar that made her stop and turn around….
"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!"
And then another scene comes in…
"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!"
And then another scene…
"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…"
"What ca you say then?", Hotaru asked. "Does Natsume knows this?", Mikan replied as she bows her head. Just as she said her reply, Natsume went down from a tree behind Mikan and said, "Yes, all of it." Mikan was shocked and couldn't believe of what is happening. After a couple of seconds, Mikan turned around to face Natsume and said, "Look, I know that I am the reason why you were almost put to death awhile ago and I just want you to know that I am very, very sorry and…", she was cut off when Natsume said, "No. You don't have anything to be apologized. In fact, I'm the one that needs to apologize. If not for me you wouldn't deal with that agreement."
"You're not angry with me?"
"No."
"Why? You should be angry with me! You could've died awhile ago!"
"Ya and because of you I am still alive!", Natsume said with a smile on his face.
"Idiot! You should be mad! Angry! Not this! You can tell me everything! Blame me for happening this to you!"
"Oh ya! If not for you, I could've found my dearest sister! Thank you!"
"Get angry! Why can't you get angry! Use foul word to me! Curse me! Why won't you!"
"Even if you've done something wrong to your best friend Hotaru, she doesn't get mad. I mean, yes she does get mad but that will take just minutes and then you're friends again! Right?"
"I won't force you if you don't like. I'm tired. I need some rest.". With that, Mikan walked away. As she passes through Natsume, Natsume said, "I will not and never will get mad or angry to someone I love very much…" That statement of his made their former classmates have the at-last-after-all-these-years feeling. Mikan suddenly stopped walking and said, "You're just tried. Try and get some sleep.", then she continued walking. However, before she can make her third step, Natsume is already in front of her. Natsume stepped closer as his hand mad its own way to her back. He then said, "No matter what happen or whatever you do, I will always love you with my whole heart and I will never let you go." Mikan cried on Natsume's shoulder, hugged him in return and said, "I've been waiting for those words for all these years but I've been a coward in telling it to you! I love you very much Natsume!" Their former classmates and teachers clapped their hands and made a standing ovation for the new couple. The new couple then went to the circle and sat down beside each other, both wearing a big smile on their faces. But then, they were all interrupted when Hotaru said over the microphone, "I've got something to confess." Silence covered the place as they waited for Hotaru's confession but Ruka stood and immediately said, "No! WE have something to confess." The whole company, Sumire, Koko, Mucho, Anna, Nonoko, Yuu and Aoi stood and went to the stage. Hotaru continued, "Since the time that you two, Natsume and Mikan, arrived here in the academy, everything was set up already. I mean the time when Aoi got mad at you because of the spilled liquid, the trip to the Central Town and the accidents there. That was our entire fault. We planned it all, except for Persona's appearance, to make at least one of you propose to each other because we know, the whole academy knows that you have been together for all these years but you don't have the guts to tell each other what you really feel. And the reunion must be celebrated after 10 years and yet, we're celebrating it even though we haven't gone half of it. It's just that I can't stand to see my best friend staring at the window the whole morning praying and hoping that she will again see Natsume! I'm sorry and I hope you understand…" After that, the microphone was passed on to Ruka and he said, "Natsume, I'm sorry but this is the sole reason why I forced you to come to this reunion. I know that in that time you're moving on but you just can't really manage. And when Hotaru told me about this plan, I was glad because you guys will be given another chance to tell each other's feeling. And most of all, I'm sorry best friend…"
The microphone was passed on to Aoi. She said, "Brother, I know that I made you mad because of the spilled liquid and everything but that is all part of the plan. I honestly didn't mean it and I wouldn't dare to do it again to my sister-in-law. I'm sorry and I hope you will understand why I voluntarily joined the plan." Then, the microphone was passed on to Yuu and said, "In behalf of Anna, Nonoko, Sumire, Koko and Mucho, we ask for your forgiveness for making up this plan and even though it was a success, you guys ought to know what we have done and it's up to you now to accept it or not. We will understand if you will be mad at us because we know that it is not right to just join other people's lives but it is for their own good, you can count us in anytime. That's all we need to confess. Thank you. We know that you two will be a perfect couple." Expecting that the couple will somewhat become frustrated or disappointed, they stood up, walked through the stage and clapped their hands. "Thank you guys! We love you very much and we will never forget this night! Right Natsume?", Mikan said as Natsume answered, "Absolutely! Although, I just can't help thinking how my sister voluntarily joined in the plan? It puzzles me a lot, though." Aoi then said while pointing at Mikan, "Just think about it this way, brother dear, you're already old and you must and certainly need a lawful wife – that's why I searched for her. And boom! There she is!" They all laugh as the new couple hugged each of their friends in gratitude for what they have done for them. And that is how the two proposed their feelings to each other…