Here's the new chapter. Thank you to Yuza-Mei who reviewed the last chapter. Oh and also everyone else from other chapter :)

I just realised you can reply to reviews :O (sorry, I'm new...) so from now on I'll try and reply to all you guys' reviews.

Your Fan () - I can't really change that much since I've written most of the story, but there are some bits in there where I tried to make her seem older... eg. this chapter.

I will be spending a couple of chapters on this DA lesson (purely because its fun to write about and why not?). Anyway, please enjoy!

CHAPTER 5: A CHALLENGE

"Tsubasa-sempai, I honestly never thought that you'd become a teacher," I voiced.

"Neither did I," he laughed. "But a few reasons caused me to do it."

"Like?"

"Well, you for one. I never realised how much I liked spending time with kids until I met you." I beamed.

"Pedophile..." Natsume mumbled under his breath. We ignored him.

"Also, I was always so irritated about how the teachers knew everything and students didn't. I figured if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. When I found out you could teach things other than history and maths, I was all for it."

"That's great!"

He then turned towards the class and announced, "Alright class, I've got the usual activity for us to do today!"

"Oh God, here we go," muttered Natsume grimly. I shot him a look of asking and he pointed an accusing finger at Tsubasa, "This idiot is worse than Narumi!"

"Hehe... what can I say, I realised that Naru's methods were fun," defended Tsubasa-sempai meekly.

Tsubasa-sempai... worse than Narumi-sensei? I have sure missed a lot.

"Get it over with," Natsume ordered.

"Hey, I'm the teacher here," Tsubasa-sempai said. "Besides, I think that you'll especially like this lesson."

Natsume's eyes shot daggers towards him. He laughed weakly and returned to address the students.

Next thing I knew the curtain at the end of the room was drawn, automatically it seems. It scared the living daylights out of me. Everyone else seemed to be expecting it while I nearly fell over. Natsume caught me in one swift sweep and helped steady me again. "Don't worry," he said, "it gets everyone on the first time. Welcome to our training area. The content changes everyday, Tsubasa seems to have gotten more creative than usual today."

After I had recovered I finally noticed what was behind the curtain. This room was actually 30 times bigger with the curtain drawn. There beyond me was quite a setup. There were heaps of props representing hills and trees though it was obviously wooden cut-outs. The trees were a very cute, bright pinkish colour. They had painted on them the most peculiarly shaped fruits, all of a mixture of bright colours. The hills were variants of bright green sprinkled with flowers here and there. There were various scenes painted on the wooden props, almost like fairytale stories.

The scene was dotted with various red signposts with CHECKPOINT written on them. The hills were of various sizes and heights, and were making several pathways throughout the room. A maze. I pondered about the many things that could be hiding behind those wooden cut-outs but dismissed the thought when something else caught my eye. At the far end of the hall was a large bronze cup full of... no way... HOWALON! My mouth was beginning to water.

"KAWAIIII!" I exclaimed. "Tsubasa-sempai did you make this?"

"Hehe, yes I did. It was a short notice build, I only heard you got back this morning. I tried to remember what you like, of course I only remember ten-year-old Mikan but I'm glad you like it," he replied with pride.

"It's amazing!"

"Well, thanks. Shinobu-san, do you mind explaining to Mikan the rules of the game."

"Eh? Game?" I inquired.

"The objective of this game is to reach the cup at the far end. It seems today it is made out of brass, around 1500 rabbits worth (Wow, and how can she tell?). It is filled with howalon too for an extra added bonus. The players will travel in groups of no more than three people. Today it seems, now that we have a new arrival, we will be put in teams of two. They may not separate throughout the quest.

"Each team goes into a different entrance into the maze, all of which lead in some way to the cup. There will be several obstacles that each team will face on the journey towards the cup. Each team is selected by Tsubasa-sempai and so is their point of entrance. You will find that each challenge is suited for your teams' Alices. Be wary and be careful. Best of luck and pleased to meet you," said Shinobu-san, directing the last sentence to me.

Excitement filled me when I discovered it was a game. But this is the Dangerous Ability, I bet that its really challenging. "Arigatou, Shinobu-san."

"I shall now assign your teams," began Tsubasa-sempai. "Team one: Souta-san and Atsuko-san."

"Yes!" rejoiced Souta under his breath.

"Team two: Shinobu-san and Kouro-san. Team three: Noburu-san and Daichi-san." They hi-fived each other and stood beside their entrance.

"Team four: Jirou-san and Jirou-san."

"Ah man!" they complained in unison.

"Team five: Natsume and Yo-chan and that finally leaves Team Six: Haruka-san and Mikan-san."

I looked over at Haruka-san to find her staring back at me. She looked like the typical rebel girl. She had a beanie on, sort of like the one Tsubasa-sempai used to wear. She had her sleeves rolled up and it somehow complimented her short hair that waved in different directions. She seemed to be examining me intently with deep blue eyes, as if sizing me up.

I managed a smile and gave her a weak wave. She raised an eyebrow, shrugged and walked over to me. She stood next to me and looked intently at the starting line. My sweat dropped. I waved it off and also readied myself by the start position. As we were waiting for Tsusbasa's say-so, Haruka caught me by surprise. Without even moving or averting her gaze to look at me, she stated, "Just try to get in my way."

It wasn't a warning. It wasn't a threat either. It was a challenge. I registered the words and smirked. I wasn't the same little crybaby seven years ago, not entirely at least. I'd spent seven long years out in the real world, full of danger and full of deceit. The world that hardly any of the students in this academy have experienced. In the past seven years, I learnt that it does no good to do two things: run away from a problem and back down from a challenge. My eyes ignited with a new determination, that which I inherited from my mother. You're on, Haruka. You're on.

"Go!" announced Tsubasa.

Has Mikan made a new friend or a new enemy? Find out in the following chapters (which once again, depending on how many reviews, will be up within the next 3 days). And as always, please review (it really motivates us authors, and makes our day!).