Ok, guys, here's my next chapter. It's actually a good length. I updated quick because the last chapter was pretty short.

CHATPER 2: THAT MUCH

"!" I nearly broke everyone's eardrums screaming it.

When I finished however, I saw that Hotaru and Koko already had their ear muffs on. Go figure. At least this means Hotaru knows the reason for my outburst.

"What's wrong Mikan?," asked Anna.

"Ask Hotaru," I said stiffly.

"...hn?" was all she said.

"Oh don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about!" I nearly yelled.

She looked at where I was staring pointedly. She took one look at her hands, which were intertwined with Inchou's, and slowly looked back up to me.

"I'm going out with Inchou," she said plainly and dismissively. Inchou began to blush. What? Oh my goodness! She, Imai Hotaru, my best friend in the entire universe was going out with Inchou Tobita, in our class! Wow! I began to wonder who dominated in this relationship... as if I didn't know the answer already. Waah! Hotaruu.

I allowed the words to build up before I burst out, "OH MY GOODNESS HOTARU, YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME RIGHT AWAY? INCHOU? HOW LONG HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN GOING OUT?"

Once again, Koko and Hotaru already had their earmuffs on while the rest of the crowd probably had shattered eardrums.

She replied calmly, "Yes, Mikan, I have a boyfriend. It 'happened' 27 months ago when Tobita asked me out. I said yes and that was that. You just got here, besides I knew you'd figure it out, hence the earmuffs. Yes, Inchou, and as I said, 27 months." She continued eating her food as if nothing happened. I processed this all, trying to remember the order in which I asked the questions.

"B-b-but..."I stuttered, clearly dumbfounded.

"Geez, Mikan, your not the only one allowed to have a love interest," Sumire scolded, looking coldly from Natsume to myself. "Besides, we're all much older now."

Oh yeah, how selfish of me. Oh dear, I'm blushing again. I glanced at Natsume. He had the most unreadable poker face on. I guess it didn't bother him.

I guess I shouldn't dwell on that. A switch flicked at the back of my brain. Cheery me decided to come out... with a bang. I practically bounced off the surroundings as I squealed very audibly towards Hotaru.

"Hotaruuu! I'm soo happy for you. You and Inchou make the cutest couple. Two smart three stars. Awwwww... I bet you guys sit together everyday and in class. Do you walk... or ride... to school together everyday? You must tell me everything that's happened since -"

Baka! Baka! Baka!

I forgot she had that. I rubbed my head. Stupid baka gun.

"This is not the time Mikan," she said.

I mentally agreed. Mostly because I would have enough bruises for tomorrow.

I turned my attention to the rest of my friends. I was still sulking from the blows.

"So, guys, tell me everything that's happened since I left. Anna? Koko? Ruka? Sumire? Natsu -"

But he was already gone... again.

"Wha – Where'd he go? Don't tell me he left me again!" I whined.

"Shows how much he cares about you," Sumire said smugly.

Oh well, I'll get him back for it later.

"So... what's happened?" I insisted.

"Well," Ruka started, "it was chaos at the school for a while once you left. Fukutai were everywhere and we were all in custody. Once they decided you wouldn't be coming back, they eased their grip a bit. After a few months, everything went back to normal. We sorta knew we had succeeded however they kept close eyes on us, as your supporters. We couldn't really do much but continue to live and learn and hope that you were succeeding..." He trailed off.

"But no one missed you more than Natsume," pointed out Koko. This child does not seem to care about anyone's privacy. "He went through what I call 'Natsume's Three Stages of Depression'. First stage: after you left, he became really angry. He was frustrated that he couldn't protect you. He went into ballistic self-punishment mode and began to over exert himself using his Alice on all of the fukutai he could get his hands on. They couldn't capture him or subdue him he just kept coming at them. He worked and exerted himself so much that he collapsed. He went into a really serious coma."

"Natsume...!" I gasped.

Koko continued, "He was out for at least two weeks but thanks to Imai, Subaru Imai, that is, he made a recovery. His Alice was really fragile after that. Things were beginning to settle while he was unconscious and once he came to, he went into stage two. He became emo and didn't use his Alice at all. I guess (though we all knew Koko didn't 'guess') he thought that you would want him alive when you came back, Mikan. He was intent on waiting patiently, sort of a hopeless cause. He was very anti-social and didn't talk to anyone but Ruka."

"See what you did to him, Mikan!" cried Sumire frostily.

Koko went on, "After a while, and a lot of persuasion from Ruka and blackmail from Hotaru, he started talking to everyone again: stage three. He had to get to this stage eventually, we couldn't let him spend how ever many years under a blanket. It sort of went back to the way life was back in elementary school, before you came."

"That's that way it should've always been!" sulked Sumire.

After once again being interrupted he concluded, "Well, life continued on, Imai and Inchou started dating (Koko received an icy stare from Hotaru), the cycle goes on. And now your back!"

Natsume... why didn't he tell me? I never thought that would... Oh, Natsume! He really cared that much... silly Natsume...he really missed me that much...

I snapped out of it. I'd confront him later.

"So any other couples?" I asked to the crowd.

I walked up to Ruka. "Ruka-pyon, you must have a girlfriend!"

He seemed a little embarrassed. His face was going redder.

"Um... not really," he mumbled.

"Ruka-kun prefers to stay a bachelor, thank you very much," interrupted Sumire. I guess she had tried and that was her reply.

"Ok then, anyone else?" I asked. "No... ok."

The bell rang again. Break's over.

AN: School starts again for me on Monday, so I won't be writing as much (never fear, I have a 15 chapter headstart... yeah). Hope you enjoyed. Reviews, once again, are appreciated.