Chapter 8
The Punishment
How long has it been since we talked? Natsume frowned after remembering Mikan's face that day.
Natsume is sitting under the tree where he talked with Mikan, for some reason every time he wants to take a rest his feet carries him to that same place. He was leaning on the tree, holding his manga he's not reading it though. He's looking up at the few more leaves falling from its trees then he felt a cold breeze in his skin. Winter is almost here. It's funny how things change together with the season he said then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
It's been almost a month since the day Mikan and Natsume talked, she never spoke to him again not a single word. She kept her promise, she never bothered him again. Just after that day Mikan is back to her usual self as if nothing happened. The only thing changed is that Natsume doesn't exist to her world anymore or that's what she's trying to do. It's like they were playing hide and seek the only difference is that they are both hiding from each other.
Natsume and Ruka talked after they fought. They just give time to clear each other's minds. Everything gone smoothly though Natsume still hasn't told Ruka the real reason behind what he did. Ruka understood that his friend wants to keep it a secret. Everything is ok or so it should be but because of that incident there seems to be an invisible barrier between them. Every time they talked they ended up talking about Mikan with makes them both feel uncomfortable that's why as much as possible they try to avoid having conversation.
What have I done? Did I make another mistake? Natsume took another deep breath. He remembered the days when he was having fun with Mikan and the others. That would never happen again would it?
"Ring, ring" his thoughts were interrupted by the bell. He can here students rushing back to their classrooms for the afternoon class.
After class Mikan and her friends stayed in their classroom. It's Friday, last day of school day so they are going to plan on how are they going to spend their weekend. For the past weeks it's either Mikan or Natsume is missing on their weekend gathering. There are few who notices what's been happening yet no one tried to ask a word about it.
"what should we do this time?" Sumire asked first.
"shopping" Kaoru suggested.
"again. Don't you get tired shopping?" Sumire answered with irritation.
"No I don't" kaoru said straight.
"Then go shopping on your own." Sumire answered back.
"stop it you two. We're not here to fight" Yuu stopped the two.
"We can have a talent show, except for our Alices that is." Nonoko suggested.
"Better yet we can just spend the day in our rooms resting. That's what should we be doing anyway.
"That would be fun. Nonoko's suggestion that is. I mean we can show each other that we can do something else even if we don't have Alice's." Yuu agreed.
"it would be a waste of time. No one can match my talent anyway." Kaoru started boasting.
"are you serious, you're the one who can't match my talent" Sumire said.
"Are you really trying to pick a fight on me?" Kaoru looked at Sumire with burning eyes.
"I'm just trying to correct what you said?" Sumire answered back.
"is that so. Fine, Then let's see tomorrow who's telling the truth" Kaoru challenged Sumire.
"Sure, I'll make sure you'll regret challenging the all time president of Natsume-Ruka fans club"
Everyone sweat dropped upon hearing the conversation. " I guess it's decided. We'll have a talent show tomorrow" Yuu concluded the meeting.
While walking back to their dormitories Mikan and friends are still talking.
"What would you do tomorrow Mikan?" Yuu asked her.
"I'm not sure if I'm going" Mikan said with a gloomy face.
"What's wrong with you, you've been missing our activities a lot?" Sumire asked her irritated.
"There's nothing wrong with me I just don't feel like coming that's all" she said to her friends without looking at them. She was walking ahead of them.
"Mikan, no matter how hard you try being yourself you still can't hide the fact that there is something bothering you." Sumire said in much calmer tone.
"we have an idea of what's been happening, we just don't wanna ask questions. We're just waiting for you to tell us." Yuu added.
"ring, ring, ring" their conversation were interrupted by Mikan's phone.
Mikan quickly answered her phone. Her friends just watched her while talking to whoever it was. They have no idea what they're talking about all they know is that Mikan seems happy. After finishing the call, "I have to go somewhere guys you go ahead" she said to her friends then run away from them.
"I wonder who it was, Mikan seems excited." Yuu said.
Mikan found Mr. Narumi waiting for her on the shed near the greenhouse.
"Do you really have a letter for me from grandpa?" Mikan asks excited.
"Yes. Here." He said then handed Mikan a small envelope.
Mikan slowly opened the letter with excitement and teary eyes.
To my dearest Mikan,
Grandpa misses you a lot and has been worried about you. I was relieved when Mr. Narumi arrived and assure me that you are doing just fine. he told me that you've been worrying about me as well so I'm telling you now that there is nothing to worry about.
According to what I've heard, you've gain a lot of friends on your stay at the Academy, I'm so proud of you. If you have any troubles don't forget to lean on them, they'll be your strength, they won't leave you behind.
Those were the few parts of the letter that registered on Mikan's mind. After reading the whole letter Mikan walked beside Mr. Narumi then she hugged him very tight and cried. "Thank you Mr. Narumi" she said while sobbing.
After they talked Mikan left Mr. Narumi with a big smile on her face. I've got what I needed I'll fine now, for sure. She said to herself.
Mr. Narumi on the other hand stayed on the shed. "If you guys have something to say just say it" he said then from behind the trees Mr. Misaki, Mr. Noda, and Ms. Serina came out.
"What are you trying to do Narumi? Why do you disobey the Academy for that girl?" Mr. Misaki asked him.
Narumi take a sip on his tea then answered "You know my reasons"
"I just hope you know what you're getting in to" ms. Serina said.
"I know and I'm ready" He said with no indication of worry or fear.
"just be careful Narumi" Mr. Noda said.
"Thank you" he said. Mr. Misaki, Mr. Noda and Ms. Serina just sighed while looking at Mr. Narumi.
After Mikan talked to Mr. Narumi she headed to her friends who are having a snack in the cafeteria. When she saw them she ran to them full of joy. She was totally different from the Mikan they were talking to just a while ago and they all noticed it.
Mikan hugged Hotaru thinking that she will not hit her anymore but she was wrong. The moment Mikan laid hands on Hotaru she hits her with the "baka gun".
"What was that for?" Mikan cried in pain.
"I haven't given you the right to touch me" Hotaru said to her frankly.
"I'm your best friend, isn't that right enough" Mikan asked.
"No" Hotaru answered frankly.
The others sweat dropped upon hearing the very "friendly" conversation.
"Anyway Mikan, what happened to you, your mood changed so suddenly" Yuu asked.
"Nothing, I just received some good news"
"huh?!" her friends asks with puzzled look in their eyes. Mikan didn't answer them yet she continued leaping with joy.
She's certainly doing fine now. Someone from afar said.
There's nothing to worry about anymore. Another one murmured.
"see you guys tomorrow. Itsuki come with me." Mikan waved her hands and ran out of the cafeteria dragging Itsuki.
"are those two together?" Sumire asked puzzled.
"no idea" one of them answered.
"Hotaru?" they looked at Hotaru with questioning eyes.
"don't know and don't care" she said. After hearing Hotaru's answer they sighed then looked at Kaoru with the same questioning eyes.
"What?" she asked.
"You know something don't you" Sumire asked her partner.
"I'm not really sure all I know is that Itsuki is really into Mikan"
"We're are we going" Itsuki asked Mikan who is still dragging her.
"we're going to Tsubasa and the others"
"we don't know where they are"
"Trust me I know" they went at Mr. Bears cottage.
"Hi guys I know I'll find you here" Mikan said when she entered. Tsubasa and the others look puzzled upon seeing Mikan's happy face.
"did you bumped your head or something? You look really different" Tsubasa asked.
"actually she looks like her real self right now" Misaki said then murmured something at Itsuki's ear. "what's with her"
"don't know. She wasn't like that earlier but she just bolted in the cafeteria moments ago like that"
"really. But it's good seeing her back to her own self" Kaname said.
"Yeah. It's a relief" Itsuki agreed.
"what are you guys looking at?" Mikan asked after noticing the puzzled look in her friends. "Anyway I came here to ask you guys to join us tomorrow in our activity. we'll be having a talent show without using our Alices"
"that sounds interesting. You sure we can come"
"Of course"
"ok then we'll be there."
That night someone visited Mr. Narumi in his slumber.
Dream state…
Mr. Narumi is standing in the center of a room unknown to him. There were three people surrounding him. A lady in kimono, a man in a military dress and a kid in a uniform.
"Do you know why you're here Mr. Narumi?" the man asks.
"I may have an idea" he answered calmly.
"Do you know what we do to those who betray the rules of the academy?" the kid asks him next
Mr. Narumi didn't answer. The lady walked closer to him she hold on to his shoulders and she whispered to his ears "they get punished" those were her words. After her words Nr. Narumi felt a great pain inside his body
Mr. Narumi bolted up from bed sweating heavily and still feeling the pain inside his body. He walked out of bed and headed to the bath room. He washed his face and looked at himself in the mirror. While looking at his reflection, he noticed something on his chest. There is some sort of symbol written in it and from that symbol an unimaginable pain emerges. He holds his chest upon feeling the great pain and tried not to make a sound. So this is the punishment. This is nothing as long as I can see Mikan's happy face.
Outside the academy…
"any news from those two?" Reo asked their boss.
"according to what I've heard everything's going according to plan. Itsuki's succeeding in getting Mikan's trust"
"what about black cat?"
''We need to give up on him"
"we need him. His Alice. He has the strongest Alice among all of the students"
"The girl is stronger. Once we got her by our side there's nothing to worry about"