Author's note: Ok, people, let us continue our story. We will begin the story with some prologue, then we'll continue with regular story. So, please read and review! Thanks!

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Chapter 2: Prologue, part 2

I searched the door key in my pocket. Found it. I opened the door with that key.

"Tadaima!" I shouted so Hotaru will know I have got back home.

"Ah, Mikan, You're home, already." There she was, standing in front of her room. She couldn't look any paler, or sound any colder now.

"Hotaru! You're awake already! Daijobu, ne?" as I put my sweetest smile and my usual cheerful tone, even though I didn't really feel like it. I mean this thought about her life is making me feel… guilty somehow…

"Of course, I am. What am I? A pig?" She answered with her monotonous voice. Hotaru then retreated back to her room.

I smiled, true smile though… Maybe this is the way she makes herself more… happy. To let out her emotion and her thought instantly, at least to me. I followed her to her room.

"Writing a journal again, Ho-chan?"

I circled my arms around her neck from behind and rested my head on her shoulder. I looked to my laptop that she was using. Hotaru has been writing journals to be post by magazines, and she got money from that. She gave the money to me and told me to use that for our daily-needs

"I just don't want to be useless" She didn't take her eyes off the screen

I smiled. Actually, you're not useless Ho-chan. But I won't try to push you to stop from thinking like that. I just need to let you do things that make you feel not useless anymore. That way, you can start to trust yourself, that you can do things. Feel courage to find your own happiness.

I got up from her, turned back, and headed toward the door

"Just tell me if you want to post that, Ho-chan. Ok?"

"Hey, Mikan."

"Yes?" I turned around again, to see Hotaru, which was starting to type something

"Hyuuga called you. He said that he will come here tonight. Bringing food"

"Oh, ok, thanks, Hotaru!" I took a last glance before I got out from her room.

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Author's note:

Ok… I will stop to describe Mikan's feeling… And that's mean… End of prologue!!! So, let us continue to the regular story, shall we… O yeah, reviews, okay!

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Normal POV

DING…

The door bell rang. Mikan quickly opened it.

"Ah, Natsume..." Mikan smiled

"I bring you and Hotaru some food." Natsume said as he gave a white plastic bag to Mikan. He went inside. Mikan looked what was inside the bag.

"Marinara pasta? It's Hotaru's and my favorite. Ah, thank you, Natsume, you're the best…"

Natsume Hyuuga, he's Mikan's ex-boyfriend. They broke up because they both are just to busy with their own works. Mikan consider him more as a good friend rather than a boyfriend now. (Author: remember Tsubasa and Misaki weird relationship? It's just like that I guess) But Natsume often goes to Mikan's house

"Ho-chan! Natsume brought Marinara Pasta."

"What took him so long? I'm starving here" Hotaru said. A hint of annoyance could be found in her voice.

Mikan prepared 3 plates with spoons and forks.

"So help your self!"

Mikan was the first one to move the pasta from the Styrofoam to her plate. And during the dinner, she always be the one to start a conversation, so that it wouldn't be so silent. But then she started to feel tired.

Mikan's POV (during dinner)

What is it with them two? They never change... Am I must always be the one to make a conversation here? If I don't, they won't bother to make one. And the silence strike. But if I keep on doing this, it will be too awkward!

I sighed. But, whatever happens, I prefer myself to be the clown, rather than to drag myself to the eerie silence, you know. Trust me, when you are in silence between these two people, you feel like you're in graveyard or something.

Normal POV

At last, the dinner was over. It was like heaven to Mikan. She just escaped a horrifying role she has to do. And now, she is sitting on the couch with Natsume, watching a movie, while Hotaru is preparing herself in her room.

"I'm going, now." Hotaru suddenly went out of her room and spoke.

"Huh?" Mikan was confused. "Oh, Friday night… Got it. Well, save journey Hotaru!" She drank her smoothies after saying that.

Every Friday night, Hotaru works as a singer at a café.

"Hey, Hotaru, you haven't said thank you, you know" Natsume spoke

"Heh? For the food, huh?" Hotaru smirked, "Won't say it, because you gave a bad service, Hyuuga"

It was Natsume's turn to smirk

"It's a good thing I brought you your favorite pasta! Don't treat yourself like some kind of queen"

"Whatever" she murmured, but loud enough for Natsume and Mikan to hear

"Agh, you really hate me, huh?" still got his cool…

"Oh yes, I do…" still with her monotonous voice. And she hit it…

"Aargh!!" Natsume shouted. He gave up his coolness

Mikan laughed instantly. Soon, her laugh became cough. When Hotaru said "I do", she was sipping her smoothies. And yes, she choked.

"Aah… Mikan, what is it with your sister?"

"I don't know… Maybe she just hates you…" Mikan still chuckled

That was the last thing Hotaru heard before she closed the door. She didn't go yet after that, instead she replayed the conversation a while ago in her head. And little did we know…

Hotaru's POV

I closed the door. But I didn't move after that. I just kept replaying my conversation with Natsume a while ago.

"Agh, you really hate me, huh?"

"Oh yes, I do…"

I looked at my feet and covered my eyes with my bangs. I wanted to cry, but no tears able to escaped my eyes. Natsume, how can I hate you, if I… love you? (Author: Oh my God, people!!!)

"Do you think I enjoy the conversation, Natsume?"

I peeked inside through the small window beside the door. I can see Natsume circle his left arm around Mikan's shoulder, and she started to rest her head to Natsume's shoulder. I couldn't take it much more. I started to run, to the café of course. Why? Why is it that I'm falling for Natsume? I just can't…

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Author's note: So, it turns out there is a shocking fact from Hotaru here… So, once again, reviews! Flame accepted. It will improve my writing style. And remind me if there are any grammatical mistakes. Just want to tell you. After this, there will be a lot of HotaruNatsume scenes, but it will be MXN pairing in the end… Okay?! Keep reading you guys…!

Next Chapter: I Can't Deny It…