DISCLAIMER: I do not own GA.

CHAPTER 17: I have a deadline to accomplish?

NATSUME'S POV

Polka Dots haven't arrived home since last night all because she's with her best friend. The housekeeper has a day-off and okaa-san is out for the groceries so I am so damn bored already. And speaking of my mother, I still do not know what she's hiding from me! She told me that I'll know at the proper time but I'm not the type of person who has a lot of patience especially when the thing that they are hiding from me is something that involves Polka Dots.

I was so deep in my thoughts until the continuous sound of the door bell zapped me back to reality. I lazily got up from the couch as I headed towards the door.

END OF POV

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"Ohayo, Natsume! May I come in?" greeted Ruka.

"Hn. What brings you here this early in the morning?"

Then they both entered the mansion as they sat on the couch in the living room while watching some movies and such. They were both too silent so Ruka decided to break it.

"Natsume? What's wrong? You seem to be quiet today." Ruka asked.

"Betsuni. I'm always quiet so what the heck is new?" Natsume replied.

"Oh come on Natsume. I've known you ever since we were kids and I definitely know whenever something is bothering you." Ruka stated while Natsume just continued to keep quiet as Ruka sighed. "Is it about Mikan?"

Upon hearing the name of Mikan, he then looked at his best friend. "What about her?" he coolly said.

"You don't have to hide thing from me, Natsume. You could always trust me when it comes to things like these. Hiding things all to your own self is hard." Ruka stated while Natsume still remind as silent as he could ever be.

"He really is stubborn." Ruka thought. "*sigh* Fine. I just want you to know that I know how you feel for Mikan. And it's something more special than a feeling for a sister. It's more like the feeling that I have for Hotaru. And I bet that you're missing her right now." He stated.

"What made you say that, Ruka? She's just a sister to me and there's nothing more to it." Natsume said while staring at the TV.

"Don't be so stubborn Natsume. I know you too well and I also know whenever you're lying so don't even try denying it. You worry you head out whenever she's nowhere to be found. Your blood boils whenever other guys come near her. You just blankly stare at her whenever she doesn't notice and you have little daydreams all because of her. Why don't you just admit that you've fallen for her?"

"It doesn't matter whether I've fallen for her or not, Ruka. She's my sister and nothing can change that."

"But she's adopted and you're not exactly blood related so don't lose hope that easily. I know that she's the only one that can make you happy so why don't you tell her how you feel?" Ruka said.

"It'll only confuse her. And with the dense brain that she has, she won't understand at all so why would I even bother? As long as she's here with me then it's fine." Natsume replied.

"But wouldn't you be a lot happier if you two were actually together? And besides, it's not like she's going to live with you in this house forever. One day, you both have to go separate ways and have your own lives with your new family."

"Then I guess I'll just make every minute of my life with her worth it until that day comes, Ruka." Natsume said seriously. "I also wanna tell her how I feel for her but there are some things that are preventing me to do so and you know that."

"But you could at least try. You see, the best time to tell someone that you love her is before someone else does. And you have to admit that there are a whole lot of guys in the school who wants to be with Mikan. So if you really want the two of you to be together, you have to tell her." Ruka replied as Yuri suddenly came in.

"Tell who what Ruka?" asked Yuri.

"Oh, Auntie! You're here. It was nothing. Natsume and I were just thinking that we should tell Mikan not to work too much during cheerleading practices since she's tiring herself too much." Ruka replied as he lied.

"Hn. The baka usually comes home too tired." Natsume continued as he played along with Ruka.

"Oh, I see. Don't worry, if you want I could tell her that." Yuri answered.

"Iie. There's no need auntie. We'll be going to Hotaru's place now so we'll be the ones telling her and then we would also pick up Mikan at the same time." Ruka said while staring at Natsume a we-better-get-going-unless-you-want-to-get-busted-by-your-mom look.

"Hn. We'll be going, ja." Natsume said as they both left the mansion while they hopped into Ruka's car and then drove off to Hotaru's place.

"Of all the places why did you tell your girlfriend's house?" asked Natsume.

"For you to be able to see Mikan and for you to tell her already, so don't waste the opportunity that I have given you already. It won't be that hard telling her." Ruka replied.

"Are you out of your mind? You do know what could happen if I tell her, right?" Natsume retorted while eyeing Ruka as he gave him a nod. "So what's the point of telling her in the first place?"

"But you'll never live in peace if you have something like that bothering you." Ruka replied. "But if you really are not yet ready to tell her now, I'll let you pass this time. But I'll be giving you a deadline."

"And what would that deadline be?" said Natsume while cocking an eyebrow.

"Simple. Just tell her anytime and in any place that you want as long as it's before the championship game. Would that be long enough for you?" replied Ruka.

"hn. I guess. But are you really sure about this? I probably would just get rejected by her anyway."

"There you go again. I already told you not to lose hope. The usual Natsume that I know never gives up on anything. I was able to do it with Hotaru so it's positive that you can do it with Mikan too."

"But your case is different. That inventor also has the same feelings towards you and I don't even know if that baka loves me too. And besides, Hotaru was never your sister to begin with."

"At first I also didn't know how Hotaru felt for me and I treat her as a sister at the beginning so we're just even. You would never know how Mikan feels for you if you do not ask."

"But – "

"No more buts Natsume. You're going to tell her no matter what happens." Ruka said as he parked right in front of Hotaru's house.

"You have to tell her since Hotaru told me about the deciding thing. Your feelings for her might affect her so that she'll decide to be a Sakura instead. That way, you two could really be together. You two are just waiting for each other to tell each other's feelings that's why Hotaru and I decided to help you. I just hope that you'll be telling her soon." Ruka thought.