Arigatou, minna! (Bows head respectfully)

I am sincerely grateful for the comments. Thank you to all those who reviewed and/or added this story or Clapping Reflection into their Favorite Story/Author and/or Story/Author Alert List. I really thank you!

Please enjoy!

Mikan's POV

I ran for my life.

Half of me wanted to hear Natsume's footsteps if he followed me, but the other half of me wanted to just go some place where I could just be alone.

I was really hurt. And the sad thing is, it was no one's fault but mine.

Meanwhile… With HOTARU

Thanks to an Elementary student, everybody thinks that Hyuuga and I are a couple. Why? The idiot claimed to see the play-boy and a certain inventor making out behind the bushes.

Where the heck did the student get the idea?

Hey, Hotaru, remember last Friday?

... Oh right... ANYWAY...

Despite the angry fan-girls and chaotic atmosphere, both Hyuuga and I agreed that it was going to be interesting to play along.

I kind of wonder what Mikan's reaction is… Does this mean I'm a failure as a best friend?

Meanwhile… With NATSUME

I have no idea how Mikan is feeling right now. What happened to her, seriously?

Could it be that she got rejected by someone? That would make sense, because she was mumbling something about "flirting with other..." or something like that… Interesting…

Okay, who the hell am I lying to?

It seemed that we somehow mutually understood each other. There was a high possibility that Mikan liked me, but her reaction to my "I-Like-Hotaru" wasn't anything big. She just looked surprised and encouraged me.

I mean, if you liked someone who liked somebody else, would you support them?

…

PLUS, she believed that Imai and I were really going out.

Flashback

WHOOSH!

The door to the classroom opened, and there stood a kid with a headband reading IMAI. Probably a stalker who worshipped the inventor.

"IMAI-SENPAIII!!" he literally ran over to where the inventor was loading her Baka-Gun.

"100 rabbits, state your business quickly."

"I… (pant) Is it true (pant) that you are (pant) going out with (pant) Hyuuga- dono?"

The class suddenly grew silently before erupting.

Natsume casted a glance at Hotaru as he lifted an eyebrow. The inventor caught his eye and smirked. Natsume understood and smirked back, giving his permission. It seemed as if the ice-queen and fire-prince had communicated without talking. They kinda did, just so you know~ 3

"Oh, Natsume-kun, it seems as if we can't hide it anymore." Hotaru said sweetly.

That day, half of Class A appeared in the health office, all with dislocated jaws still frozen in shock.

End of Flashback

I shivered thinking about it… Not that a fire-wielder like me could shiver…

Yes, that was the sad part. Mikan actually believed Imai's lie, and I can't do anything about it.

(AN: Natsume Hyuuga is a failure at being a real man. JKJK... I love you, Natsume-sama~ xD)

Mikan's POV

The sobs slowly faded away as I sat on a pile of hay by a tree and leaned against the trunk of the creation which Kami-sama painted when he dropped his paintbrush…

Now, I was hiccupping intermittently. I didn't want to take any chances. I covered my mouth with my hand and tried to stifle the sounds as I closed my eyes, begging Kami-sama.

My tired eyes and dried up tear-ducts did their job, and I fell asleep.

I had a dream. It was about me losing my face again.

I retrieved my dignity once more, and I don't plan on losing it again. Never again.

Gomen, I'm sorry it's short!

I'll have a better chapter up next time…

I'm not begging you to review (God knows how tired we are of those R&R announcements…) but if you can, please drop by something telling me that I still have your attention.

Arigatou!