. . .What Matters Most. . .

sWeETie: ehehe, ano..Sorry for the veeeeeeeeeeery long wait. I think it's about a year? Ahah, gomenasai! It's just that there are so many going on our school last year. And, I always thought of typing this chapter, but, I never find enough time. I'm really sorry! Well, here it is! I hope you enjoy.^^

DISCLAIMER: I, sweetstuff417, disclaim, here in front of you, (readers) any ownersip I have in Gakuen Alice.^^

CHAPPIE 2:

The morning was like any other, except for the puffy eyes and red nose. Mikan woke up to see no one but a note.

Oi Baka,

If I wait up for you I'll be late. Also, here's your bill for yesterday night.

50 rabbits for hugging.

60 for consoling.

45 for staying.

75 for speaking.

All in all, it's 230 rabbits.

I deduced more than half of the price because, as you always say, I'm your best friend. Forget about him, baka.

-Hotaru Imai

'Mou, Hotaru…' she thought but smiled. She got dressed and walked through the halls. It's still early anyway. She arrived in the classroom before the bell rang. (A/N: I forgot to tell you guys, she's a three star here and she matured incredibly.)

"Ohayo!" she greeted her classmates. Some answered back, some didn't even bother. "Ohayo, Hotaru!" she greeted her best friend and leaned for a hug. She succeeded and whispered in her ear, "Thank you." Hotaru smiled a micro smile and Mikan sat in her seat. This surprised many but did NOT utter any word, afraid of what Hotaru Imai can do. Hotaru just ignored the stares and continued tinkering with her invention.

BANG!!!!

The door busted open and in came the two most sought boys. Natsume Hyuuga and Ruka Nogi walked to their seats. Hurt flashed through the eyes of Mikan, and this didn't come unnoticed by a certain inventor. "Good morning Ruka-pyon, Natsume." Mikan greeted the two with a small smile. Hotaru, seeing this, got her baka gun and. . . .

BAKABAKABAKABAKABAKABAKABAKABAKA

No, not Mikan, but Natsume was the victim of her gun.

"IMAI…" Natsume said in a menacing voice. It is obvious that he's controlling his anger.

"Serves you right Hyuuuga." Hotar uttered in her monotone voice. The class sweatdropped, but they can't help wondering, first Mikan without hitting by the baka gun, then Mikan without her usual big smile, and Natsume being hit by the baka gun. Yup, not so ordinary now, huh? Then, the door was once again opened and Narumi walked right in with his usual get-up (white blouse and purple pants). Next, they proceeded to the lesson (now, that's a first).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCHOOL DISMISSAL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Um Mikan-chan, is something wrong?" Yuu Tobita asked. Suddenly, the brunette's head shot up and faced them with a small smile. She found almost the whole gang there (A/N: the gang consists of hotaru, yuu, nonoko, anna, koko, sumire, kitsuneme, ruka, natsume and mikan, and currently, Natsume is not there, clear?) "Oh, nothing's wrong Yuu. Don't worry about me." Mikan said with a gentle voice, "I just feel a little dizzy. In fact, I'll just go to my room to rest a bit." She told them and flashed them a smile. "Are you really okay Mikan-chan? Do you want us to accompany you?" the twins (Anna & Nonoko, don't worry, they're not literally twins.) said. "No, don' bother. Thanks anyway." The brunette said and then walked away.

"Do you think Mikan-chan is really alright?" Yuu asked when Mikan is nowhere in sight. "No, there's something wrong about Sakura-san." Ruka said "I didn't get a chance to read her mind. She always has her nullification up." Koko shared then Sumire said, "She'll get over it." "Yeah! C'mon, I'm hungry!" Kitsuneme interjected.

'I wish', thought the girl inventor.

"Uh, guys…?" Ruka suddenly stopped "Any of you noticed that Sakura-san and Natsume NOT talking through the entire class?" This statement made them all stop in their tracks and looked at the one who made the comment. A sigh escaped Hotaru's lips and said, "I guess you noticed, Nogi." then "Meet me at my lab tonight. 7:00 p.m. if you want to hear the story." and walked away.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^ At H. Imai's Lab ^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^

Hotaru started telling them the story of what Mikan told her, no more, no less. They clearly understood how Mikan was feeling. They admired her toughness and ability to face her pain and endure it. Anna and Nonoko were crying. Sumire and the boys were hiding their eyes with their (bangs) hair. Ruka can't believe the story. He cannot believe Natsume could, and capable of hurting Mikan.

"Imai, is Sakura-san sure it's Natsume? Not some dude who looks a little, no, a lot like Natsume? Is she 100% sure?" Ruka asked in a fast tone.

BAKABAKABAKA

The next minute, you see Ruka lying on the floor unconcious. Just joking! Ruka just rubbed the painful part that was targeted and shot a look at Hotaru.

"Are you questioning the idiots' judgement?" she asked holding her baka gun still with smoke. "Even if hes' your bestfriend, it doesn't mean you'll take his side, right?" hotaru ashed again, now holding his pictures with Piyo, and him tripping in the bathroom. How'd she got that, we will never know…

"IMAI!!!" shouted a red-faced Ruka. The observers of this "scene" just sweatdropped. After that, they left the lab and proceeded to bed.

Sweetie: Ano..I think you're gonna kill me if I say this, but, I might post the next chappie when it's already vacation time here. I know I suck at posting but, I just type whatever I think about so, I need some second opinions about this story through the help of my beloved twin sister. So, bear with me please.

Sweetie: Also, please leave your reviews. Flames are not accepted but constructive criticisms are. Thank you very much, and have a nice day. Or, have a peaceful night and sweet dreams…!