Author's Note:

Okay I'm sorry for not focusing on Natsume, that will be around Chapter 4, around there. Please bear with me! Leave reviews please! Now enjoy :) Songs used - Perfect strangers

The female students swarmed into the dining hall in smatters, each pulling out a mahogany chair with a carved heart incised at the top and a cushion on the seat, and settled down before they tucked into their respective dinners.

Today's Dinner Menu

1 Star - Mushroom soup, a slice of baguette with butter, simple tomato pasta with meatballs

2 Star - Corn and Potato soup, 1 loaf of garlic bread, Herb crusted Langoustine pasta

3 Star - Chicken essence soup, 2 loaves of garlic bread, one bowl of mixed fruits, Homemade tagliolini topped with two pounds of fresh Maine lobster and one ounce of black truffle

The room buzzed with the frantic energy of students who had no concern for table manners and the fast exchange of words over the dinner table. Takahashi-san, the carer of the female dormitories wheeled away to prepare for the washing of dishes, pleased that the meals were well received today too. Mikan wolfed down her meal with an insatiable appetite, the imminent hunger from starving herself the past few days filling itself now that she had finally broken the fast. Hotaru fought to suppress the bubbling laughter that tickled her throat, trying to keep a straight face at her commonplace villager behavior.

" Thank you for the meal! "

She stood up and left for the kitchen where Takahashi-san was collecting the dishes to clean for tomorrow's breakfast. When she laid her dish on the pile that had collected in the sink, Takahashi-san came over to her side suddenly, surprisingly Mikan who had almost hit the piled plates with the back of her hand and almost toppling them.

" Are you feeling better, Mikan-chan?"

Her robotic voice was laced with humane care for her welfare, an unusual thing for robots who usually had monotonous voices and held no emotions for humans. This was yet another special feature of the school. Mikan couldn't help but feel pinpricks of guilt that attacked her conscience for being at the receiving end of her friends' concern for her well being. It was always her who had the responsibility of making sure everyone felt comfortable and happy, but her selfish personality had caused her to neglect the responsibility she had ever since her first day of school.

'" I am, so don't worry, okay? "

Takahashi-san was taken aback by those words at first, but seeing the trademark grin on her face convinced her not to fret over Mikan anymore.

" Tell the others to deliver their plates soon!"

" Okay!"

Mikan hollered back to the kitchen as she left. Hotaru was still consuming her pasta in a refined manner, her face blank as a sheet. Hotaru really had no appreciation for food sometimes, Mikan sighed internally. Deciding that she would review her plan with the logic minded Hotaru, she slid back into her seat beside Hotaru and tugged on her shirt. Calling Hotaru by her name would get her ignored anyways.

" What. "

Her disinterest in the conversation was evident in her tone but Mikan had learnt that Hotaru hid her emotions well and actually had a soft spot for her friends, so she would definitely help her out.

" I'm planning to use the keyhole we'll visit on tomorrow's trip to go back into the past and change my future!"

" DON'T DO THAT!"

The prattling of students about their day ceased for a moment as they turned their heads to look at Hotaru who raised her voice for the first time, her face contorted in fear and anger.

" You don't need to shout about it..."

Mikan twiddled her thumbs in and shot her a saddened look in an attempt to mollify Hotaru, but Hotaru was not appeased in the slightest. Her foolish actions could land her in a great deal of trouble, and Hotaru hadn't expected Mikan would be that desperate when it came to love. More accurately, her persistence was being used the wrong way. Inhaling deeply, she calmed her nerves and sat back down, yet again turning to Mikan.

" You better not be doing that. I'm serious. "

When Hotaru was this serious, there was most probably a disastrous consequence behind whatever she was planning. But Hotaru didn't know how much this mattered to her. Tsubasa was her world, her everything, her oxygen, and most importantly, her first love. Just trying to abandon and forget her strong feelings had damaged her beyond repair, trying to change her future would be better than nothing...

" but.."

" NO! you hear me, don't do it!"

Alarm bells were ringing in Hotaru's mind. Flashes of worry clouded her poker face expression, but she could care less. Time travelling was dangerous, and to utilize time for such selfish requests could get her trapped! But obviously Mikan being the complete air head she was and having no interest in reading up on time travel, she probably wouldn't believe her if she told her the consequences.

" You know what, suit yourself. I'm heading to my room. "

" Hotaru! Come back!"

She pulled out her chair abruptly and trudged off, unable to face Mikan. Why did she care so much about that idiot anyways?! It pained her that Mikan was such a careless fool, doing things based on what she thought was best... there was an unfamiliar pressure behind her eyelids and when she blinked, a thin yet steady stream of tears flowed down the curves of her face, sadness piercing her heart in the form of an arrow plunged deep in her heart, opening up a wound.

Meanwhile, Mikan was albeit a bit confused, but knowing that she had upset Hotaru for some unknown reason, she decided not to pursue Hotaru. After all Hotaru probably needed some time alone. It was the first time she had ever raised her voice in public, which gave her a shock.

" well, who cares about stupid Hotaru anyway! "

"You do. "

Great. There was another internal debate that was going to happen now.