Author's Note:

I'm literally crying now...thank you ElleIU2000! This chapter will probably have Natsume, I swear! Please read and review, don't be a silent reader! Comment on my vocab, plot, or what you would expect for the next chapter :) And also there'll be a new chapter up tomorrow to apologize for not updating last week because of my camp and a lot of activities :)

The bus lurched forward, the engine roaring back to life as plumes of carbon monoxide spurts out. Strangely, Mikan was seated with Nonoko and there was a palpable tension after the altercation between Mikan and Hotaru. All traces of discrepancy in her poker face had vanished over the night, and she was facing the window pane, flickers of uncertainty dancing in her violet pupils. She had lost her temper back then, triggered by the surmount worry she had for her best friend. The idiotic girl, the one who had followed her to the Alice Academy, if she was caught drifting in between the rifts of time and space, she would be trapped there for years! But it wasn't like she would listen to her - she had a stubborn mindset that never let go of an idea once it had been decided upon. Unfortunately, all Hotaru could do was wait and stop her from attempting to change the future she currently lived in.

"..."

Instead of the mundane smatters of conversations and occasional guffaws during the bus journey, the class remained eerily quiet, without the infectious happiness that had deformed into a unsettling sadness that probed everyone into silence. Kokoroyomi had tried to read Mikan's mind but she had been one step ahead and wore sunglasses whenever he approached her. Although her classmates had approached her to try to cheer her up, she had refused to let them into the source of her problems. Her mood seemed to have temporarily lifted today, but her soul was still anchored somewhere far, where no one could find her.

" Mikan-chan, are you okay? You look glum..."

Nonoko knew about the fight with Hotaru. Although conflicts between the two were common, Mikan would usually be the first to compromise and apologize to Hotaru, who would in return admit she was wrong about some parts. However, this was somehow their first 'real' fight. Neither parties had conceded, and it was probably over the issue that had bothered Mikan over the past few days.

" uh, well, I'm fine! Really! I just have this idea-"

Mikan immediately clapped her hands to her mouth.

" Mikan...IS THERE SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME?"

Her fearsome glares pierced right through the heart of Mikan's secrets, and all of a sudden, Mikan began to sweat heavily.

" uh, no! I mean why would I? I don't lie you know..."

And she rambled on with a million other reasons stating why she was telling the obvious truth, but Nonoko had an evil ambiance that would often force most to spill the beans. She had not used this aura on Mikan for she sympathized with her sadness, but now that Mikan had let it slip, she was more curious than ever.

" okay...okay..."

Mikan slunk back into her seat after the passionate reasoning and began explaining in bits and pieces, of her idea to use the keyhole to unlock another parallel ending, just like the ones she had seen in Otome games. She did not tell on her infatuation with Tsubasa, but Nonoko had formed a general idea of what she wanted.

" hmm, well, I guess you should go ahead. You know, if I was you, I wouldn't let whatever consequences stop me. I'd do it, in the name of love."

In the name of love? That was an interesting point of view, one that Mikan mostly agree with since it was right on her gut feeling. But then there was the consequences that came with it that even made Hotaru explicitly show her emotions.

" I'll support you, if you want."

Well consequences can go to hell. As soon as Nonoko had nudged her forward with her previous encouragement, Mikan had her heart set on her main aim.

The bus screeched to a stop, fold-able doors opening for the students to exit the bus.

It was almost time to execute her plan.