Summary: Natsume's mother died when he was young, only five years old. He never knew his father, only his aunt Yuka - his mother's best friend since their childhood, so Yuka raised him. When Natsume was seventeen, Yuka passed away. Her last words to him were to watch over her daughter and make sure she was okay. Natsume promised he would do so. He just never thought he'd fall in love with the girl too.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.
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Dying Promise: Chapter Three
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This Natsume Hyuuga fellow has gotten popular quickly. And he's been here three days. And for some reason, he only talks to and associates himself with Anna Umenomiya, Nonoko Ogasawara, and on the occasion, Yuu Tobita. He has been hit on by so many girls already, I think he has out ranked Ruka Nogi in only these short days.
He stays quiet during class, not even speaking to Anna and Nonoko when seen with them. He just sits quietly beside them, even at lunch, nodding and listening – which is more than anyone else gets.
Except me. I am still confused from our first encounter. "It's you," he had said. How did he know me? I have no idea who this kid was.. and yet, like all the other girls, I am intrigued by him. I wasn't like the other girls flawing all over him, but something about him is different that everyone else here in Alice.
After school, Koko and I are waiting for our third musketeer, Youichi Hiriji. He is a grade lower than us, but taller than Koko by an inch. He has longish, rainy silver hair that falls right above his big, blue-green eyes. "So all the girls are going crazy over this Hyuuga kid." Koko says leaning back against the bricked building. I bite my lip, thinking back to this morning. He is in a couple of my classes – three out of six: first, fourth, and sixth. Every time I saw him, I would purposely ignore him. I don't know what the girls would do to me if they found out he is trying or had talked to me. "You think he's cute too, don't you?" My best friend says elbowing me in the side. I glare at him, nudging him back harder. "Ow. I was only kidding." He pouts, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"No. I've seen much cuter." I say nonchalantly. In actuality, I find him very attractive, just like the other girls in the school do, but I am no fan girl. But who wouldn't find him attractive? He is a mystery to us all. No one knows where he came from or why he is here. Some rumors started that he is in witness protection program. Others about him being a teen secret agent or something. I do not believe any of the rumors in this town anymore. Not since most of them used to be about me.
Koko and I are standing there, him talking and I listening, when he walks by. Anna and Nonoko are on each side of him. As he walks past, he turns his head to watch me as he walks by. I catch his gaze for a split second, getting caught in his crimson red eyes. It's not til he turns the corner to finally leave the area that he breaks his gaze with me. What is it that he want with me?
"Yeah, so much for not liking him." Koko says raising an eyebrow at me. I glare again, smacking his arm.
Youichi walks out to this, amused. "Can't stand up to Mikan, Koko?"
Koko's eyes hardened. "I would never hit a girl, You-chan." He uses the nickname for Youichi, which by the way he hates. I'm sure if anyone else tried to call him by the name, he would kill them. Literally. He used to try and kill Koko at first, but slowly he's gotten used to it. I have never really tried, but I'm sure I could get away with it. After all, I am his older cousin.
Youichi is the adoptive son of my father's brother, Kazu Yukihara, principal here at Alice High. Youichi was seven when my uncle adopted him, so he was old enough to know his own last name. It was the only thing he had left of his parents, so uncle Kazu let him keep it. Technically speaking though, Youichi's name is Youichi Hiriji Yukihara.
That's one of the reasons Youichi and I got along when he first moved here. He didn't talk to anyone, not that it has changed much now, but his first month with us Yukihara's and he didn't speak a word to my uncle, my father, or I. When I finally told Youichi about my mother leaving me when I was younger, he began to open up to me. He got close to my best friends, who at the time were Hotaru Imai and Koko Yome.
When I was little, my mother left my father and I. He doesn't talk much about her to me, just that she left when I was a year old, how she was so beautiful, and low I look just like she did. I know her name is Yuka Azumi Yukihara. When I was old enough to search for her without my father's knowledge, I would spend a majority of my time online looking her name up. Hotaru spent a good amount of time helping me, until we separated.
"Hey, You-chan, Mi-chan has a crush on the new kid." Koko said grimacing. He broke my train of thought. I look at him and my cousin, Youichi looking at me funny.
My face turned red. "Koko, I do not like him!" I hollered, smacking him upside the back of his head.
He just laughed - used to the beating by now - as he walked away. "Whatever you say, Mi-chan."
Like most days after school, Koko came home with Youichi and I. Youichi doesn't live with me, but he and Uncle actually live right down the street. The teachers at Alice High aren't usually gone until another two hours after the students, so he comes over to my place until our fathers are off of work and usually stays for dinner. Koko likes to join us most of the time.
On our way back to my place, we decide to go to the Umenoyima Cafe for some coffee. It is Koko's idea. He has never admitted it, but I am pretty sure he has a thing for that girl in our class, Anna Umenoyima. He is always making a big fool of himself in front of her just so that way she will recognize him. Or that's how I see it.
When we walk in, Nonoko Ogasawara is standing at the front counter, giving an order to an older woman – most likely Mrs. Umenoyima. I do not come here enough to know what she looks like. When she sees us, she yells back for someone to come up and help us. She greats us with her best smile, seats us, and tell us that our waiter will be right with us.
I expected Anna or Nonoko to come out and be our waitress, but when Natsume Hyuuga comes out wearing the cafe's uniform and a little black book in his hand, I am stunned. I inwardly curse at my luck. I was trying my best to avoid him. He seems to be shocked to see me as well, but he hides it easier. "Ah, Hyuuga, right?" Koko asked before the onyx haired boy could speak. He sends me a grin, and I glare back. "I had no idea you worked here. And here I thought the Umenoyima Cafe was a family owned shop."
"I guess I'm an exception." He said rather harshly, but in a quiet voice, more to himself than Koko. "What can I get for you?"
I wonder how many girls know that he works here. I could just picture all of the money the Umenoyima's would make off of him here. Once they found out, they'd be here every single day just for Natsume to ask, "What can I get for you?"
"I will take a cappuccino, regular. No sugar. Low-fat milk." Youichi said quick. He normally gets his coffee just regular and black. He isn't much for sweets.
Koko put his index finger to his lip. "Ah, and I will - hmm. I will get a chocolate chip frappuccino." Unlike Youichi, Koko has a major sweet tooth, but I am not one to talk because mine is probably worse than his.
Natsume looked to me for my order, but I hadn't really thought about what I wanted yet. "And for you?" He asked, keeping his same monotone voice when I didn't say anything.
"You know," I say, not really sure what I am doing. I am going into my nervous ramble. "With an attitude like that, you won't get many happy customers." I point out. Whenever I get nervous, I tend to do this thing where I don't know what I am talking about, but I just say whatever comes to my mind. He raises an eyebrow at me – I get the same look from Koko and Youichi. My palms begin to clam up. "You know what I mean. You are supposed to smile and greet your customers."
"Have you ever worked as a waiter?" He asks. I hesitantly shake my head. "Alright then. What can I get for you?"
I pout, looking at the menu. "Vanilla bean frappuccino, please." He doesn't even write anything down, just walks away, shaking his head. And I feel like whatever little chance I had with getting him to not hate me like the rest of this town just went down the drain.