Summary: They've been best friends since they were kids. They vowed at each other that they will always be best friends forever. Yes, forever.

Chapter Ten

And now, the moment all has been waiting for. Mikan is back in school! Yay! She was allowed to go back home after the week and now, Mikan is all smiling while she made her way to the classroom.

"Ohayou, minna-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!" Mikan greeted when she opened the door of their classroom.

Everybody turned to look at her. Their eyes were wide and their jaws were dropped. They couldn't believe Mikan is back until...

"Mikan-chaaaaaaaaaaaaan!" Nonoko and Anna squealed. They ran towards her and hugged her tight as if they've never hugged anyone in their whole lives before.

Mikan chuckled. "A-alright, you guys. Enough."

Nonoko and Anna let go of her and flashed her a smile. "You're back! We can't believe it!" They said together.

Mikan smiled back. They look as if their twins, as always. "Hai!"

"Mikan-chan, welcome back!" Yuu, their president who has the Alice of Illusion, and Koko, the mind reader, waved their hands, approaching her with a smile.

"Thanks, Iinchou! Koko!" Mikan smiled back.

"Sakura?"

Mikan turned around and saw Ruka. She waved her hand. "Ohayou, Ruka-pyon!"

Ruka smiled and hugged Mikan. "Hey, welcome back, Sakura!"

Mikan couldn't believe Ruka was hugging her. She started blushing, her heart pounding. "A-ah, t-thank you, Ruka-pyon!"

Ruka faced her, still smiling, his hands on her shoulders. "How are you feeling now?"

"I'm perfectly fine now, Ruka-pyon!"

"That's great!"

They made their way towards their own seats and that's when most of their classmates surrounded Mikan, asking her if she was already feeling better.

***

Natsume didn't come to school. Or so Mikan thought. She looked for him everywhere but failed. She went home, sighing every single minute. She missed him. So much. And she wanted to see him badly. She was really looking forward to seeing him again in school but he was not there. Where could he be?

Mikan went to their treehouse. But before she could reach the top, she heard someone talking.

"You need to decide, Kuro Neko."

Mikan widened her eyes. That voice! It sounded familiar!

"You know her condition, you bastard."

Natsume! Mikan thought.

"I can do anything you want me to do alone. Don't include her in your plans."

"I know you need her, Kuro Neko. You can't do everything alone. Just look at your last mission. You were a screw-up. You weren't able to get the Alice Stones back."

What are they talking about? Who her? Last mission? Alice Stones? Mikan thought, starting to get confused.

"And so? What do you care about that? Those are just stupid Alice Stones. People could make them anytime and anywhere they want."

"But if the AAO has those Alice Stones, they could use it against the Academy, against us. They could recruit people using those."

"And you care why? You're the bad guy here, you know."

Mikan could imagine Natsume rolling his eyes.

"I am the bad guy for you but I do this to protect the Academy and its secrets."

"Right. (Natsume said this prolonging the "i" like... riiiiiight xD something like that. O= ) You do this to protect the Academy? Why not do those damn missions yourself then?!" Natsume shouted.

Mikan got startled with that. She lost grip of the ladder and fell on the ground flat. "I-Itai..." She looked up and saw Natsume looking down at her.

"Polkadots..?" His eyes were wide.

"A-ano..." Mikan waved her hand. "Hi, Natsu-chan! I'm back!"

Natsume glared at her. He jumped from the tree house and landed in front of Mikan. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"(=.=) I went to visit, Natsu-chan. Is it bad?"

"Yes. At this kind of time."

"Why?" Mikan blinked innocently.

Natsume, being convinced that Mikan didn't hear anything, offered his hand out. "Never mind." He muttered.

Mikan took his hand then Natsume pulled her up and into a hug. Mikan widened her eyes at what he did. "N-Natsume..." She said. "Neh, is there something wrong?"

"Nothing..." Natsume muttered.

Mikan hugged him back and smiled. "I missed you, Natsu-chan!"

"Hn. Welcome back." Natsume faced her.

"Thanks!"

Natsume smiled a little. "It's great to know you're back, Polkadots."

Mikan was almost going to hug him tight because he smiled but she stopped herself when she heard the word "polkadots". She raised her clenched fist, a vein popping from her forehead. "You pervert!"

Natsume smirked.

"Anyway, let's go up!" Mikan ran past Natsume and was about to climb the ladder when Natsume grabbed her hand.

"No."

Mikan looked at Natsume. I have to know who's up there... She thought. "Why is that, Natsume?"

"Because I'm going to treat you today." Natsume suddenly pulled her with him away from the tree house.

"Treat me?" Mikan asked.

"Uh-huh. Your favorite howalons."

~~~~~0o0o0o0o0~~~~~