DISCLAIMER: I do not own GA.

CHAPTER 14: A little talk with my mom

It was a fine and cloudy Sunday morning, the birds are chirping happily as Mr. Sun was now releasing its beautiful bright rays on everything below it. This made Mikan stir and wake up. She then gazed outside her window as she admired how wonderful the nature can be.

She then came downstairs as she heard someone humming in the kitchen. It was a very familiar voice to her, a voice of someone whom she has missed for a very long time. "Huh? That's okaa-san's voice! Could it be that?!" Mikan thought as she ran towards the kitchen and then gave her mother a big bear hug.

"Okaa-san! You're back! I thought you'd be back by early January? It's only the last week of December." Mikan said.

"I finished all of my paper works and interviews ahead of time so that I could spend New Year with the two of you." Yuri replied with a smile.

"Yipee!" Mikan cheered. "Oh, where's Natsume-nii? It's very un-Natsume like for him to wake up this late."

"Your brother left a few moments ago before you woke up, sweetie. He said that he promised Ruka that he would accompany him to bring Takumi to his physician." Yuri replied. "And since when did you start calling him onii-chan? As far as I could remember he doesn't want to be called that way."

"I had the charm to convince him since he was older and all. Hahah." Mikan answered back with a giggle. "Oh, can I help you with something here?"

"No thanks sweetie. I'm almost done so just sit down and we'll be eating in a minute."

"Ok then." Mikan stated as she headed to the dining hall and then sat to the seat right next to her mother's seat. After a few moments, Yuri came in with loads of food. It was the type of breakfast that every person could ever dream of.

"Whoa." Mikan mumbled in awe. "Okaa-san? Why'd you prepare this much? You know that there are only 4 people in this house and Natsume-nii is not even here."

"Well, it's just that I missed cooking. I am not able to cook ever since I left this home since the people there are the ones serving me." Yuri replied as she poured some iced tea on Mikan's glass. "So how are you and Natsume lately?"

"Busy. Real busy." Mikan answered while munching on some bread. "We are both excused from all of our classes since we both need to practice."

"Practice for what? The big game? I thought it was still on January?"

"Uh-huh. But coach said that we better get prepared properly of we want to win. Natsume-nii is with the team practicing hoops and stuff while I'm with my squad practicing all sorts of cheers."

"I see." Yuri added. "How about Hotaru? Does that mean that she has to stay in the room and have classes?"

"Iie." Mikan said as she shook her head. "She was authorized by Coach Takashi to film the progress of the cheer squad. So she sticks around with me most of the time."

"That's good." Yuri replied. "Uhm… Mikan-chan?"

"What is it okaa-san?"

"You see, you're birthday is near and you're already turning sixteen. Have you made your decision about that 'thing' by now?" Yuri asked while the two of them didn't even notice that Natsume has just arrived and now he was listening to their conversation.

"What thing?" Mikan asked innocently.

"You know. The one when you need to choose when you turn sixteen." Yuri explained without specifying any details. "Oh! That one?" Mikan asked while eyeing her mother as Yuri just gave a nod.

"What 'thing' are they even talking about?" Natsume thought as he continued to listen to them.

"Ano.. I haven't made a decision yet." Mikan replied quietly. "Do I really have to choose? I'm already happy this way." She continued. "Except for the part that I could ONLY be a sister to Natsume. But I guess that would be fine at least I could still be with him in some ways. Huh?! What on earth am I thinking! Bad thoughts go away! Shoo! Leave me alone!"

"You have to sweetie. And you know that. Whatever your decision will be, I'll respect it. You'd still be staying here with anyway, right?" Yuri said calmly as Mikan nodded.

"That's exactly my point mom. I'll still be staying here so what's the purpose of choosing something?"

"Well, it's because that was what was written in the contract. You know that we have to abide by the rules and regulations and stuff like that." Yuri explained while Natsume was still baffled on what the heck was going on.

"*sigh* I know, okaa-san. It's just that I'm still confused." Mikan said.

"You don't have to worry about a thing, sweetie. We will always be here for you no matter what your decision may be." Yuri responded. "Now since you're done eating, why don't you run along and have some fun outside with your friends? It's a nice day outside and it's not fun to be stuck in this boring house all alone you know." She added with a chuckle.

"Okay then. I think I'll call Hotaru and ask her if she could go to the mall with me." Mikan answered with a sweet smile as she headed towards her room.

"I just hope that Mikan would make the right choice" Yuri thought as she headed out of the dining hall. When she exited the door, she saw that Natsume who was standing right next to it.

"Oh, hello there, Nat-chan. How long have you been there?" Yuri asked in a state of shock.

"A few moments ago." he replied.

"How long is that a few moments ago exactly?"

"Enough to listen to the part of the decision making of Mikan crap. What the heck is going on?" Natsume asked his mom as Yuri just sighed.

"There are some things that must be left unsaid, my son. But don't worry. You'll find out about it soon enough. You just have to be a little bit more patient for the meantime." She replied.

"Will Polka Dots leave?" he asked in a very serious tone while covering his face with his bangs. "Please say no, okaa-san. I can't take it if she'd leave me."

"No. She won't be leaving us." Yuri replied. "Unless she chose to be a Sakura and prefer to stay back at the orphanage."

"That's a relief." Natsume thought. "But why do I feel like they're still hiding something from me?"

"Hn. Whatever." He said as he headed towards his room.

"Sorry if I couldn't tell you this as of now, Natsume. But Mikan still needs to clear her mind on what life she prefers to choose. But I also want you to be happy. Ever since you were little I knew that you already like her more than a sister. So I hope that she'll choose to be a Sakura instead so you could continue on loving her. Even though I wanted a daughter so badly, I also want you to be happy. And besides, if you two will be together, Mikan would still be my daughter, a daughter-in-law, that is." Yuri thought as she walked to the living room.

Natsume then went to his bed room and he threw himself onto his king sized bed. He was still bothered about what his mom and sister was exactly talking about earlier. He was so spaced out in his own world until a few knocks on the door zapped him back to reality