Chapter 10: Hanabi Festival is The Best Thing in the World
Disclaimer: not mine...
Message: Thank u everyone for giving me reviews 4 my story!! Urushii(happy) desu!! Diz is da 1st time I write a story... and I got many viewers! Tq so much everyone!! It feels like I've been slacking off... I felt like too lazy to type... I really can't get rid of my laziness... tee hee...
6.00 pm sharp.
Mikan stepped out of her bathroom while wiping her wet hair. (remember: natsume's not there, he's been kicked out of her room) She walked over to her bed.
On her bed, there were plastic bags contained her kimonos/yukatas for the Hanabi Festival. She rummaged through them and pulled out all her yukatas for her to choose. She lay one by one on her bed. She bought 4 Yukatas just in case. The first one sea-blued Yukata that patterned with roses. The second is designed with tangerine-colored Yukata with small yellow beads at the end of the sleeves. The third one is a red-colored Yukata with red leaves design. It was such a pretty sight. The last one is dark green Yukata with wild flowers design. Her thumb is put under her chin as if she was investigating something. Well, she was investigating which one she should wear...
"Hmm... this is kinda hard... I think I should ask Hotaru..." then she realized something.
Wait! Why should I ask Hotaru anyway?! After all she had done to me?! She's a traitor! A TRAITOR!! She humiliated me in front of everyone with that stupid video! All she wants is MONEY!! Of course money is important, but people can't buy everything with money!! I'll ignore her for the whole night of festival!! But what about Permy? I bet she would hate me for the rest of my life...
Mikan felt really frustrated. She sighed in irritation and sat down on her little chair near the dresser. She doesn't know what she should do if she faced her... she sighed again.
"Mou, enough of this already!" she yelled to no one. She quickly went to her cupboard and wore her undergarments. Then she looked at her laid yukatas on her bed. After a long moment staring and wondering which yukata she should wear, finally she chose to wear the tangerine-colored instead.
Mikan looked at herself in the mirror and twirled around to view herself. She smiled happily. "It looks good on me!" she sat down against her dresser and applied some pink lip-gloss on her lips. She pressed her lips firmly so that her lip-gloss will spread on both her lips nicely. She took her hairbrush and brushed her long auburn hair. She decided to make low pigtails, but she stopped suddenly. She remembered something of what Natsume said.
Flashback
"You 5 years later... you still want this kind of hairstyle?" Natsume said, caressing the tip of one of her wet pigtails.
"Huh?" Mikan stared at him in bewilderment. "Wh-what do you mean?" she asked.
"You yourself 5 years later, put down you hair. You look kind of better like that,"
Mikan blushed as she stared at him.
"Next time, put down your hair," Natsume said again before turning to walk away to where Ruka and Tsubasa were.
Mikan just stared after him with a red face. "W-who would listen to what you said?!" she stuttered. (manga spoiler)
End of flashback
Mikan blushed slightly as she remembered the memories.
"Yosh, I'll put down my hair like you suggested, Natsume!" she smiled as she continued brushing her hair. She put her butterfly clips on the sides of her head and clipped her hair. Mikan turned her head left and right to view herself.
"My, I looked good with my hair down..." she smiled at herself in the mirror.
"Okay, time to go to the Hanabi Festival!" she cheered and raised her hand.
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Meanwhile...
"Mikan-chan is late, isn't she?" Anna said and glanced at her wristwatch. It read: 6:35 pm.
"Guess it can't be helped. We have promised her to wait here at the bus stop," Nonoko sighed.
"Hanabi Festival is held at Central Town, right?" Anna asked.
Nonoko nodded, smiling.
Anna wore a chocolate-reddish Yukata with tulip flowers designed on it. Her hair is tied in a tight higher bun with long black hair clips. (imagine it guys) While Nonoko wore a plain light purple yukata with no designs on it. She also made her hair tight bun a little higher on her head. And her hair at both sides of her head is let loose. The two looked so beautiful, like a traditional Japanese woman from Heian era. The people around them, especially guys, stared at them with their eyes shaped hearts.
Just then a cheery voice called for them. "Anna-chan! Nonoko-chan!!"
"Ah, it's Mikan-chan!" Both of them turned around and saw Mikan coming towards them, waving.
"Am I-I l-late...?" Mikan stopped running and panted for oxygen.
"No, you are just 5 minutes late," Anna smiled after she glanced at her wristwatch.
"Wow, you looked cute, Mikan-chan!" Nonoko complimented her.
"Arigatou! You too, Nonoko-chan!" she smiled, blushing slightly.
"No no! I'm just wearing a plain yukata here! See!" Mikan looked at her from top to bottom. Then she grinned. "You looked just as cute as ever, Nonoko-chan! Don't feel humble! Everyone here wearing beautifully just for this day,"
Anna giggled. "The festival starts around 7 o'clock. We still have time to wait for the bus,"
Just immediately after that, the bus arrived. The trio went on the bus and seated at the second seat from the back. They were so many people in the bus, so some of them had to stand for there were not enough seats.
"This bus is crowded..." Mikan sighed. She put her chin on her left palm and stared out of the window. Anna and Nonoko looked at her.
Unknown to Mikan her friends, Natsume and Ruka had been following them and even gotten on the bus and sat the very far back, meaning they sit behind Mikan...
Natsume had been staring at Mikan during the journey to Central Town. Ruka sweat-dropped looking at Natsume, who was busy staring at Mikan.
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"Wuahhh..." Mikan stared at the Hanabi Festival in front of her eyes in awe. Her eyes twinkled in delight. "I've never been to a very pleasant festival like this!" she squealed. Children running around happily with the other kids. Some were wearing mask at the back of their heads. They were also accompanied by their parents. The parents held onto their kids' hands, maybe afraid they will get lost. The place also crowded with lovers enjoying themselves. The girls giggling and laughing listening to their boyfriends. There were also so many stalls at the festival for tourists too.
"Glad that you like the festival, Mikan-chan!" Anna giggled, looking at Mikan. Mikan nodded happily.
"Alright, let's tour the festival!!" she shouted as she raised her fist in the air.
"Oi," a rough yet kiddy voice spoke. Mikan's long wavy hair stood up due to shock she received. She turned around to look at the owner's voice. Her eyes widened.
"N-Natsume??!!" she shrieked. Natsume frowned. Just then she saw someone taller behind Natsume.
"Ruka-pyon?!"
"Yeah, it's me... Sakura," he smiled lovingly.
"Wh-what are you doing here, Natsume!!" she shrieked terrified. Both of them also wore kimono (for men) too.
"What? What's the matter I'm coming to this boring festival?" he said nonchalantly.
"Boring?! Then you don't have to come! I don't want to celebrate this Hanabi Festival with you anyway!" Mikan said, looking down at him. She had that anger vein on her head.
"Who wants to celebrate this event with you, Strawberry Print?" he said, stuck out his tongue.
"You pervert!!!!!!!" Mikan yelled and grasped Natsume's body and shook him violently. Well, since Natsume had a body of a kid, Mikan could shake him easily. The people around them stared at them in bewilderment.
"Sa-Sakura!!" Ruka tried to calm Mikan down.
"Mikan-chan, calm down!" Nonoko panicked.
"Mikan-chan, stop! You will kill him!" Anna said. But unfortunately for her, Mikan ignored her pleading. Natsume felt like he was about to faint. (poor natsume... guyz, don't do diz at home)
"Someone, please stop her!" Ruka tried to restrain Mikan.
Suddenly, several bullets hit Mikan on the head, and she was about to collapse when Ruka held both of her armpit. Anna, Nonoko and Ruka looked at none other than Imai Hotaru.
"Che, that idiot is very noisy, screaming like that," she said emotionlessly. The three of them sweat-dropped.
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Mikan woke up from her unconscious state. She rubbed her eyes to clear her vision. She realized she was at some kind of secluded place, not very far from the Hanabi Festival. Indeed, she was lying in a grassy field.
"Finally you're awake," a voice said beside her. Mikan glanced at the person none other than Natsume.
"N-Natsume... what are you doing here? In fact, why am I alone with you?!" she shrieked, looking around for any signs of her friends.
"Don't know. I have just awake," he said, staring at the Hanabi Festival, putting his chin on his palm with a bored expression.
"..." Mikan fell silent.
"Really, you would have made me almost died when you shook me roughly just now. I feel nausea until now," Natsume said again.
"What?! No way!" Mikan turned to look at Natsume. She saw the look on Natsume's face. She looked away.
"I-I'm sorry..." she looked down, her bangs covering her eyes and her long silky brown hair swaying, played by the wind. Natsume looked at her.
"It doesn't matter to me anymore..." he sighed, staring at an empty space.
"It is!" Mikan suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around him. Natsume gasped and his eyes widened in shock. He blushed.
"I-I feel horrible! I never realized that I would kill you! I'm truly sorry, Natsume!" she sobbed. Tears dripped continuously from her eyes.
"I... I couldn't control my rage..."
"That's because you're an idiot, Strawberry Print," Natsume teased her and smirked again.
"What did you say?!" Mikan immediately became angry and released him. Then she saw what Natsume rarely do: smiling gently. Mikan's eyes widened.
"See, you're back to your normal self again. Just a little tease, then you would stop being gloomy,"
Mikan merely looked at him. She couldn't say anything. She just rubbed her tears away.
"Natsume rarely smile... what possessed him to do that... and that smile... it seems gentle, sweet and honest... and those eyes... it's those kind of eyes I stared at when we were sleeping together in my room..." she thought while staring straight into Natsume's eyes. Suddenly she remembered the kiss they shared that night. Mikan blushed madly and quickly looked away and avoided Natsume's gaze.
"What?" he raised a brow.
"Nothing... l-let's go to the festival, s-shall we?" she quickly stood up and grasped Natsume's hand. He looked up at her confusingly and followed her to the festival.
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"Is it really okay to leave the two alone?" Ruka asked worriedly. Well, he felt worried that anything would happen if those two are alone.
"It's okay. I bet those two will realize it," Hotaru said, munching on her chocolate banana. Ruka sweat-dropped.
"Want some?" Hotaru offered her own chocolate banana and letting Ruka have a bite.
"It tastes... sweet and delicious," he commented after he wiped his mouth that had bits of chocolate.
He suddenly realized something. Hotaru. Let. Him. Have. A. Bite. On. Her. Own. Chocolate Banana. He gasped. Wasn't that... an... an... indirect kiss?!!
His hands trembled and sweaty. His eyes widened and kind of looked scary. Hotaru didn't seem notice that fact while she was still looking at other stalls.
Ruka panicked even more. He was more scared about what will Hotaru do to him if she finds out. "Oh my God..." he thought in fear.
"What are you doing, Ruka-kun?"
Ruka glanced at her in panic. "N-nothing!"
"Hmm..." Hotaru stared at him. He saw that his cheeks turned red for some reason. She raised an eyebrow.
"Right... well, let's go to the next stall. This time you pay," she said nonchalantly.
"Eh??! Why would I pay for you?" he protested, turning his back on her.
Hotaru took out her baka gun from who-knows-where and shot 5 bullets at him. Ruka groaned in pain.
"What's that for, Imai?!" he said, rubbing his head.
"I told you to pay for me. Subordinates must obey their queen. Or else..." she clicked the baka gun and aimed it on Ruka's forehead. Ruka gulped and nodded, panic written on his face.
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
"Good," she smirked.
Yeah, Ruka is forced to accompany Hotaru. Must be because of one of her blackmails...
A few meters away from them, a cheery, high-pitched voice called happily. "Ruka-pyon!!"
"Ah, Sakura!" he replied cheerfully with a big smile on his face. Hotaru twitched in disgust. Mikan stopped running to them and panted heavily. "Great thing I meet you here," she grinned.
Then she saw Hotaru looking at her emotionlessly. She made a scowl. "I'm not going to talk to you!" she thought angrily. She still remembered what Hotaru had done to her, just to get more money, without her permission.
She looked away, not wanting to look at her best friend's gaze. Hotaru's eyes widened a bit.
"Sakura?" Ruka noticed Mikan had been a little weird.
"Ah, Ruka-pyon! Gomen ne, I just spaced out a bit," she made a fake smile. Ruka seemed to buy it.
"Really... I'm glad you are happy again," he smiled in relief.
"Where's Natsume? He isn't with you?" he spoke again, looking around.
"He's here," Mikan held out Natsume's right hand and he appeared. Natsume grunted. Mikan let go of his hand.
"When will the fireworks start?" she asked.
"I think... when the clock struck midnight... probably," Ruka replied with doubt.
"While we are waiting for the fireworks, let's play around a bit, okay?" Mikan squealed happily. Ruka nodded in agreement. Hotaru just stared at her. Natsume sighed.
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"Yummy!" the brown-eyed brunette squealed happily at the taste of the chocolate banana she was eating.
"Deshou (isn't it)?" Ruka smiled at Mikan and he proceeded to eat his own too.
"Oi, Strawberry Print,"
"What is it, Natsume?!" Mikan felt annoyed coz he didn't call her by her name, but the designs of her panties.
"There's the chocolate cream on the left corner of your lips," he said, pointing at the cream.
"Eh? Really?" she took out her tissue and wiped the chocolate cream. Then she smiled at him. "Arigatou Natsume."
Natsume looked away and blushed a little.
"Natsume, do you want some of mine?" she said, handing him the chocolate banana. Natsume simply looked at it, but he didn't take it. "I don't want it."
"Mou, Natsume, please! Just a bite! It's really delicious!" she tried to persuade him.
"You just had a bite on it, and I don't want your saliva entered my mouth." He said, his back facing Mikan. A vein popped on her head. "Whatever!"
"Ah, is that Mikan?" suddenly a girl aged around 9 years old dressed in a red Yukata. Her hair is pinned nicely in buns.
"Eh?" Mikan turned around and face the little girl. Natsume, Ruka and Hotaru also looked at the little girl.
"As I thought you are Mikan onee-chan!" she squealed happily.
"Ano... who are you?" Mikan sweat-dropped.
"I'm Sadako (I took the name from The Ring.. ahahahaa...)! Nice to meet you!" she held her right hand up to Mikan.
Mikan hesitated at first, but finally she grasped her hand and shook it. She smiled a small smile at Sadako. The girl smiled back.
"I've seen the video!" she said happily as she took away her hand.
"Huh? What video?"
"The video about you're dating with Natsume onii-chan!" she grinned in a goofy manner.
Mikan turned white as sheet. Natsume's eyes widened in shock.
"That's right! It's Sakura Mikan! And the little Hyuuga Natsume!" some girls squealed. Just then more girls came surrounded Mikan and Natsume. Mikan couldn't find a way to run away from the huge crowd of girls that keep pestering them:
"Natsume-kun! Can you go out with me too?"
"Have you two kissed yet?"
"Sakura-san, you're so lucky to have Natsume!"
"Are you two really love each other?"
"I've seen the video and it's great! I even paid Imai-san extras just to get the posters she made picturing you and Natsume-kun!"
And more random remarks came out from their mouth to get the confirmation. Suddenly, one of the girl's hair caught fire. The girl screamed, hoping to get help from people around her.
"What the—" Mikan knew that was Natsume's doing. She felt pity for the girl and a bit angry towards Natsume. Suddenly her body got dragged by her hand by Natsume. He grasped her wrist firmly and led her out of the commotion he made to get away from the mess. The girls didn't seem to notice to have gone.
He led her to a nearby grassy field, the place that they were at earlier.
"Natsume, wait! Stop, please!" Mikan pleaded. She panted for air after she stopped running. Natsume finally released her hand.
"This place is..." she looked around, sweat-dropped.
"I think just a few minutes more the fireworks will start," Natsume said, looking at the sky while lying on the grass with his head on his arms. Mikan turned around to look at him confusingly.
"How do you know? You don't have a wristwatch, do you?" her left brow raised a little.
"Baka, there's a big stand of clock there, right? You're really dense..." he sighed inwardly. He closed his eyes to savor the moment lying on the grassy field with soft wind playing with his raven hair.
Mikan just ignored his sarcastic remarks. She was just too tired to argue. She sat down beside Natsume and enjoyed the feeling of the breeze swaying her hair. Mikan gazed at the festival with bored eyes. Some of the people there were still looking for her and Natsume. Must be the girls had been screaming their names. There were silent to the both of them. None of them didn't dare to open a conversation. Mikan, sick with all the silence, she finally spoke.
"Ne, Natsume..." she glanced at him.
"What?" he repliedly bluntly, not looking at her. He opened his eyes to gaze at the stars in the moonlit sky.
"I want to say... thank you," she said, caressing the tip of her long, brown hair. Her hair still smelled like a citrus shampoo. The shampoo must be permanent, for Mikan's hair still smelled nice like that for long hours.
"For what?" he questioned again, still not looking at her. Mikan felt a bit pissed off.
"For saving me back there... if it wasn't for you, I will still bombarded with groundless questions by your useless fan girls." She answered, laughing a little.
"Yeah, you still couldn't live on your own. You still need my help," he smirked. A vein popped on Mikan's head.
"Yeah right, whatever! I can still manage on my own without you!" she puffed her cheeks and looked at other direction, still feeling annoyed by Natsume.
Natsume glanced at her direction and chuckled. "You admit it too!"
Mikan glared at him with fiery eyes. Just as Mikan was about to yell at him, colorful fireworks popped into the black sky. Mikan watched the fireworks in awe. Her eyes twinkled in delight. Blue, red, pink, white, yellow, green and other kinds of colored fireworks came into the sky.
"So wonderful..." Mikan gazed into the sky. Natsume looked at her and smiled a little. His eyes held very gentle eyes. That's the first time he saw Mikan was very, very happy and... beautiful?
He edged closer to her and called her name. "Mikan."
"Huh?" she turned her head towards him and saw that his face was very close to hers. She blushed. She saw Natsume's eyes mixed with emotions that she couldn't comprehend. "N-Natsume..." Mikan heart beat a thousand times faster than usual. She noticed that this time he was so... handsome?
Natsume was about to place his lips on hers when suddenly they heard a voice called Mikan's name. Both of them pulled away fast. Natsume just looked away.
"There you are, Mikan-chan!" Anna waved her hand. Mikan just simply looked at her, still blushing. Nonoko followed her friend from behind. Hotaru and Ruka came too.
"Wow! I never expected this is the best place to look at the fireworks clearly!" Anna squealed.
"Indeed," Hotaru nodded and smiled a little. Ruka just nodded.
"Hotaru..." Mikan looked at her best friend, feeling a bit sad. "I'm sorry for ignoring you and getting mad at you. Gomen ne, Hotaru."
Hotaru just smiled at her. "Don't think about it. It was my fault, anyway. We are still best friends, right?"
Mikan's eyes formed endless tears and ran over to Hotaru and hugged her tightly. This time, Hotaru didn't push her away or shoot her with her baka gun. She let Mikan hugged her. Mikan sobbed on her shoulders. Her face held on satisfied smile. Finally she released her best friend and rubbed her tears away.
"Feeling better now?" Hotaru asked.
"Em!!" she nodded happily.
Everyone enjoyed watching the fireworks with smiles on their faces, except Natsume. But he still felt happy and glad inside. Ruka sat next to him and smiled. Natsume looked at him and smiled too.
Hanabi Festival is indeed the best thing in the world... this event will be not forgotten by Mikan and her friends.
TBC
Sorry for da late update... I feel veryyyy lazy to type... well, if I have da mood to type, I'll type..
I know diz chapter is boring... even I, the maker of diz story, felt diz chapter is boring... dat's coz I also have no idea what to write... guess I have to read more fan fictions 2 get ideas...
And becoz u. the viewers' supports, I'll try my best to keep my story entertaining...