Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice is not mine, unfortunately.

Note: Slightly OOC.

Chapter 3: Cakes

"Why the heck are you making that creepy smile when you're just taking pictures of automobiles, Natsume?" Ruka teasingly told his best friend. It was a rare sight indeed to see Natsume's smile that's why he would always mock it as creepy. He only catches a glimpse of it when he is out shooting landscapes. Never did he see him curve a smile just by taking photographs of synthetic objects which was, most likely, forced onto him by greedy magazines who takes advantage of his best friend's financial troubles. "I know you found your brunette but seriously, that odd smile on your face will haunt me tonight."

The photographer stopped shooting pictures and glanced at a pink umbrella placed on top of the table as he turned his head towards Ruka's direction. "You should be honored to be haunted by my handsome face." He cockily responded. He wouldn't let Ruka's comment ruin his good mood and he was far too pleased to be bothered by a stupid remark.

As his best friend said, Natsume's facial muscles were not very cooperative today. He didn't know why but it seemed that a miniature smile decided to live on his face without his consent. Maybe it started to reside there yesterday. Yes, yesterday – the day he found the brunette he was looking for. Though it was more like…

the day she found him.

"Yes," he saw her lips curve a small smile as he stood by her side under the umbrella.

"Sorry for intruding."

They walked past the playground and past Natsume's car. Of course the brunette didn't know about the car but it was the opposite for the photographer. He could have just stopped there and went home using his car but that was an option that never popped in his mind. All his attention was fully consumed by the young lady beside him. Every little gesture and sound she made was etched into his mind.

"Uhmm… err… so where do you live?" the brunette finally broke the silence.

"Huh? What?"He was caught off guard by the sudden question thrown at him. He clearly understood her query but he was too surprised that the lady wanted to know where he lived. He was pleased and embarrassed at the same time.

"Your house? Where do you live? I need to know where we should go so that I can walk you home." She paused for a while and looked at the rain. "I can't possibly drop you off somewhere in the middle of this pouring rain." She finished.

"Ahh, I see" Natsume tried to stop the tone of disappointment crawling out from his voice. He was giving multiple meanings to the young lady's kindness and he felt stupid for what he did. "But I think it would be more appropriate that I escort you home. I'm a guy." He declared sternly as he pointed his finger to his face.

"Uhm… but I can't ask you that much. I mean you're wet and you might even get sick! My conscience will haunt me every night if I let a stranger get sick on my account." The young lady defended in a low and troubled voice.

"Hn. And my ego would eat me alive if I let you walk me home. So just agree with me, ok? Think of it as my form of gratitude for letting me share this umbrella with you." Natsume said. He sounded very determined and honest. There was no way he would let this brunette escort him home. His pride would not allow anyone to pity him, let alone this young woman whom he had come to 'like'.

"I'm not sure." The brunette muttered."Oh ok, but I'll only let you escort me two blocks away from my house. It's this deal or I'll definitely accompany you home!"

Natsume hesitated first before answering in a low and defeated voice "Okay.".

Time passed by quickly as they walked through the rain engulfed by the noisy raindrops it produced. It was a silent trip because Natsume was far too busy observing the brunette next to him to even start a normal conversation.

"Oh, so here is my stop." A cheery voice, once again, broke the silence. The brunette swiftly stood before Natsume and shot a smile at him as she was gesturing her goodbye.

"Hey, are you sure it's fine for me to let you go home alone? You could be the one getting colds." Natsume lectured the lady that was about to run towards the pouring rain.

"I'm sure I can handle myself. Thanks… .err… mister!"Again another smile shot at Natume.

"Natsume. You can call me Natsume."

"Oh. Then thank you Natsume!" The brunette said.

"You're welcome miss." The photographer mockingly said, imitating her gesture a while ago.

"It's Mikan. Sakura Mikan." She corrected.

"Ok Mikan. So, how about your umbrella? What am I supposed to do with it?"

"Hmm... you could keep it. Make sure you won't forget to bring yours next time, ok? Well then, goodbye Natsume!" the brunette said as she run towards the heavy rain.

"See you soon." Natsume said as he watched the retreating figure of the young woman.

'We'll definitely see each other soon.' He thought as he headed towards his house.

'Mikan.'


"Yeah Natsume, quit making that goofy smile. Ah! And before I forget, did you ask for her phone number or something? You know, just in case you want to ask her for a date." Koko smirked as he waited for his friend's response. It's not every day that he gets to mock Natsume like this and he sure is making the most out of it today.

"Haha! Yeah Natsume, do you have any means of reaching her?" Ruka grinned as he rode on Koko's joke.

The photographer didn't reply and just continued with his job. The two bursted into laughter when they understood the meaning of Natsume's silence.

"I can't believe you didn't even ask for her cell phone number! I mean, you were frantically looking for her, right? Geez Natsume, are you losing your touch?" Koko rambled on with his ridicule.

"Do you want my fist to touch your head?" Natsume stated as he sent a glare towards Koko.

"Haha! Chill Natsume. You don't have to take it seriously." Ruka disrupted his friends' conversation. "How about we go out and have some fun? It's been a while since us guys hanged out, right?"

"Hmm… nice idea Ruka, Natsume you better come, ok? I'll try to contact Yuu." Koko excitedly announced as he grabbed his cell phone.

"Hn. Ok, but this ought to be worth my time." The raven-haired young man agreed.

GOODIES AND CAKES

"What the?!" Natsume asked, bewildered by the name of the restaurant they were about to enter. "So this is your idea of fun?" Natsume unbelievingly questioned his best friend.

"Well, the rest of us wanted to have something different and sweet so we thought that this place would be good." Ruka defended.

"Yeah and isn't it fun to eat sweets when you're happy?" Koko added.

Natsume flinched at the word Koko used. "Again with the word fun. I'm starting to think twice about hanging out with you people."

"Come on, give it a chance." Yuu, who just arrived, convincingly pleaded.

"Hn." Was the only reply the raven-haired young man gave as he entered the restaurant and headed towards their table.

He didn't complain anymore, knowing that most of his friends are there; maybe it would actually be fun.

When they finished ordering their food, Natsume noticed that he was still wearing his camera. He forgot to take it off before they left his workplace. And since his studio was just few blocks from the restaurant, he thought of just walking his way there so his precious SLR would be free from possible scratches and damages.

"Hey–"

*ring ring*

Ruka looked at his ringing mobile phone.

"Oh it's Hotaru, I have to answer this one." Ruka made his way outside the restaurant and answered the call from his girlfriend.

After a few minutes, the waiter came and served their food. For a group of four people, they sure ordered lots of cakes. They started eating and noticed Ruka was walking towards their table with an ominous look.

"I'm sorry guys, I have to go ahead. Hotaru told me to take her to the mall; she's buying a gift or something for her best friend's graduation recital. I don't get her, it's just November and she wants to buy a graduation gift already!" Ruka sighed as he told his friends this unexpected news.

"Wow. I have to say, Ruka, your girlfriend is one heck of a slave driver." Natsume stated flatly.

It was not surprising that Ruka didn't argue with his girlfriend's selfishness. She had always been the boss and Ruka never did anything about it. He loves her just the way she is and though their relationship is strange for other people, he wouldn't want it any other way.

"I'm really sorry about this and don't worry guys, I'll treat you all next time." Ruka smiled as he shrugged a goodbye.

"Tch. Well at least there are still three of us here." The photographer voiced out as he shoved a piece of cake into his mouth.

"Yeah. Good thing I'm still here or this place would've been gloomville." Koko flattered himself.

*ring ring*

Koko's and Yuu's cell phone rang simultaneously.

"Tch. You guys should really stop bringing your phones when we hang out." Natsume said with an irritated tone.

"Sorry man, I have to answer this one." Yuu apologetically announced. "It's my professor."

"Yeah me, too. I have to answer this." Koko gulped as he tried to tell Natsume who the caller was. "It's my mom." He whispered.

Natsume tried to hold in his laughter at what Koko said. He was mocking him the whole day and now he was terribly shaking from just receiving a call from his mother.

While his friends were out taking the calls from their own 'bosses', Natsume pondered on his meeting with the brunette…with Mikan. He remembered how she smiled at him and how concerned and modest she was. He wanted to see her again and talk to her normally.

"Uhmm Natsume…" Yuu disturbed his thoughts. "I think I have to go. My professor told me to go back to the academy; we will start practicing for our own performances this coming graduation. I hope you understand this." Yuu explained as he motioned a bow.

"Me too Natsume, I have to get home quickly." Koko looked sweaty and troubled. "My mom wants me around. I think she misses me." He obviously lied.

"Great. After being dragged here to this fun place, you all decide to ditch me." The photographer said as he tried to hide the frustration he was feeling from the treatment his friends are giving him.

"You know Natsume, if you like this restaurant so much, you just have to say so. I promise to take you here again." Koko tried to make his friend laugh. He knew they were being unfair to him but the situation didn't leave them with much option. Again, Koko's sensitive side came out.

"Tch." He ignored Koko's side comment. "It's alright I'm about to go home anyways. I'll just wait for the bill and leave." What he said was true, he was about to leave earlier but he forgot about it because of the pestering phone calls.

"I'm really sorry about this…Well, I have to go." Yuu said as he headed for the door.

"Yeah, me too. It's not my fault my mom misses me every now and then. Bye Natsume!" Koko gestured a wave and followed Yuu.

The photographer sighed. He didn't like being alone but he knew he had no choice since his friends were all busy. He asked the waiter for the bill so he could depart for home already. But after a few seconds, his frustration seemed to morph to tenseness as he heard a voice he swore never to forget.

"I think I'll have a blueberry cheesecake, a Classic Chocolate Souffle and my favorite strawberry shortcake." An excited but sweet voice told the waiter.

'Mikan'He thought.

The voice he heard came from none other than the brunette. Even at a great distance, he was confident he could distinguish her voice.

When the waiter came, he paid for their food and headed straight to Mikan's table. There was no way he would let an opportunity like this slip. He wanted to talk to her and this was the perfect timing. It now seemed that his friends' act of 'vanishing' was a setting molded by fate.

"Hey." Natsume greeted the lady who was looking outside the window.

The lady turned her gaze to the man who spoke to her.

"Hey!" She replied as she curved her lips into a bright smile.

'I never thought we would meet this soon.'

Author's note:

Many thanks to the people who read and reviewed this story. Thank you guys so much for appreciating this story so far and I hope you'll do so until the end. Please send me your comments, suggestions and reactions if you have any. (lol feels like I'm selling a product XD)

Thanks again and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! \^o^/