I Like You, Natsume-oniisan

Chapter 9: Request Rejected

"I wanted to ask you if you want to be my bridesmaid. But your mother immediately told me that you will definitely do it. So, thank you very much."

Mikan squinted and dug her ears rudely with her pinkie finger. Just by seeing Hotaru's stunned face, she knew that she had not heard wrongly at all. After thinking about all reasons why she should not support that woman, she smirked. Playfully, Mikan used her index finger and pulled her right bottom eyelid down, and stuck out her tongue.

"Yeah," she mocked. "As if I would do it."

Hotaru's jaw dropped. She had never seen Mikan talking back to people before. Mikan was more of a submissive type of person, so doing and saying those things were totally out of her character.

Nobara was appalled by her rudeness and narrowed her eyes.

"Such imprudent behaviour is not allowed and is a disgrace!" she reprimanded Mikan who was trying to escape.

Mikan coughed and retorted, "That's why I don't want to be your bridesmaid because I might accidentally tear my dress apart while escorting you. So, I think you should go and pick another gentle and prudent virgin. I'm totally not suitable for this type of thing."

"You are just acting childish, aren't you?" Nobara said in annoyance. "The Mikan that I know is not like that!"

"Then, right before your eyes is a currently-undergoing-puberty Mikan Andou!" Mikan joked with a sarcastic laughter. "Just give up on me, Ibaragi-san. I would rather be a guest."

"But your mother agreed to it!"

"Yeah, but eventually it is still my choice. I am the one who will be doing it, not her! So I will choose whether I should be your maid or not."

Hotaru corrected, "It's bridesmaid, not maid."

"Whatever it is, I just want to be a guest!" Mikan shouted irritability.

Nobara clenched her fists tighter and muttered, "I will tell this to your brother."

"Go ahead and tell him," Mikan challenged with a grin. "Anyway, let's just think this way. I am actually doing you a favour by saving your face and Onii-san's pride on that day. Adieu!"

And Mikan walked away from Nobara with a small and lazy wave. Hotaru gave Nobara a glare and stuck her tongue out at her too before running ahead to catch up with Mikan. Nobara just stood there like a statue while pursing her lips tightly and angrily.

After catching up with Mikan, Hotaru turned to look behind and saw Nobara stomping away.

"Mikan, you really have said some bad things there," Hotaru said as she continued to stare at Nobara.

"It's none of my business. No one tells me about their marriage. Is everyone in that household against me or disregarding me?" Mikan sulked.

"I don't know. Still, I think what you have said earlier was great. You've changed a little. I mean, I think you should be let that, if not everyone will take advantage on you."

"I've no choice. If I don't reject it, I think I will cry on their wedding day so I am making use of the guest status to sneak out silently on that day."

"You're becoming like a ninja."

Mikan finally laughed and Hotaru gave her a small smile. Hotaru held onto Mikan's hand and they walked home together.

After reaching home, Mikan went up to her room and locked herself in it. Turning on the computer, she logged into the social website and chatted with that online person instantly. Luckily, she was back home first so she can do whatever she liked first before her parents returned home.

Ruka N. says:
Hey! Guess what?

Coolbreeze says:
Hi Ruka-pyon. What is it?

Ruka N. says:
I got a good piece of news to tell you.

Coolbreeze says:
Geez! Just spill it!

Ruka N. says:
I am...

Coolbreeze says:
You are?

Ruka N. says:
Haha! I will see you outside that mini-casino tomorrow!

Coolbreeze says:
Oh, you are coming to school tomorrow!

Ruka N. says:
Yup! I got better today.

Coolbreeze says:
That's great! Hope to see you soon!

Ruka N. says:
By the way, how do you look like?

Coolbreeze says:
Hmm... I have dark brown hair and brown eyes. You?

Ruka N. says:
I'm a blonde with blue eyes.

Coolbreeze says
Blue eyes? Wow! It reminds me of Runo!

Ruka N. says:
Runo? Haha! Are you a fan of him?

Coolbreeze says:
Guess so. I like his songs! I know my friends are even crazier than me to the point where they even worship his relationship with his manager.

Ruka N. says:
Weird. I think it is just some spice up news about him. It could be a lie.

Coolbreeze says:
Yeah. That is why I don't believe in any of those news.

Ruka N. says:
I think he is a normal person, not a gay.

Coolbreeze says:
I know. I know. You like him too, right?

Ruka N. says:
Maybe...

Coolbreeze says:
Oops! My parents are coming back soon so I have to stop now. See you tomorrow!

Then, Mikan hastily switched off the computer upon hearing the sound of keys and stumbled to her desk. She took out her homework and unlocked her door before returning to her desk.

"Mikan, are you home?" Misaki called out.

"Y... Yes!" Mikan replied.

The door of her bedroom swung open and revealed Misaki and Tsubasa. They walked in to take a look of what she was doing.

"Nobara-san called me a few minutes ago," Misaki spoke as she said down on her bed. "She said that you refused to be her bridesmaid."

"Yeah. It's true," Mikan said.

"She also said that you were acting childish and spoilt," Misaki continued.

"I was just rejecting her normally and she began begging and nagging so I just snapped at her."

"Why don't you help her? She will be your sister-in-law soon. Maybe just this once."

"No," Mikan quickly replied and looked at Tsubasa with puppy eyes. "Daddy, I bet you don't want me to wear those outrageous frilly dresses, right?"

Mikan knew that her puppy eyes technique would make Tsubasa think twice about the situation or decision. And it worked. Tsubasa hugged Mikan and pretended to sob.

"You're right. Those dresses are not suitable for Mikan. Mummy, don't force her to do this type of thing. Call Ibaragi-san to get another girl," Tsubasa whined.

Misaki smacked his head and pulled his ear while shouting, "The only little girl she know is Mikan! Who else can she pick?"

"Pick her own father," Tsubasa spat, refusing to let Mikan go.

"Are you trying to be funny, Tsubasa?"

Mikan tried to hide her smile of success as Misaki suddenly gave up, "Fine. I will apologise to Nobara-san about it. But Mikan, why do you not want to help her?"

"I would rather be a guest," Mikan answered with a grin. "So I can wear something light and plain and pigged out. Furthermore, I've no time for things like helping out with their wedding preparations. I am going to study really hard and promote to Class 2A or 2B next year."

Actually, it was a lie. She just wanted more points to play in the mini-casino. Mikan might be a slow person, but at least she knew how to swerve her way through in this type of troublesome situation and satisfy the other party with her assurance which was filled with white lies.

Tsubasa said, "I know that my little girl can do it. Misaki, see? Mikan has a goal in her mind. Let us support her until the very end like what we did with Natsume."

Misaki and Tsubasa left her room, and Mikan continued with her schoolwork. She could hear Misaki apologising profusely over the line. Truthfully, Mikan felt very bad for turning down Nobara's request in rather rude way but she did it for herself. She was planning to escape from the wedding venue stealthily and return when everything was over.

When dinner was ready, the whole family, including Natsume, had their meals on their dining table. Natsume had also known about Mikan's refusal to be a bridesmaid but he did not touch on that. Instead, he started rambling on and on about her attitude which made her feel sick.

"Your rebellious attitude is getting worse since yesterday! Do you know how to treat someone who is older than you well?" Natsume scolded.

Mikan tore the chicken meat from the drumstick and spat, "Of course, I do! I treated her super duper well yesterday at first. Because she kept pleading with me continuously, I have no choice but to shut her up and walk away. My time is wasted because of your girlfriend!"

"Oh yeah? Says the one who taunted her first!"

"Okay. I admit that I was the one who mocked her words but I will never forgive those who never even asked my permission and happily agreed to some request, and accepted the fact I did not know anything at all until today!" Mikan yelled and slammed her hands on the table, making everyone jumped in fright.

Misaki frowned and asked, "Are you trying to blame me for not telling you and accepted her request?"

Natsume followed up, "Hey lil' girl, are you trying to blame Nobara too?"

"Neither!" Mikan shouted. "Onii-san, I want you to stop blaming me too. If your girlfriend is hurt, then I will apologise."

Mikan picked up her plates and stomped into the kitchen. After washing her plates, she returned back to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

It seemed like everything was changing. Natsume had definitely changed a lot while Mikan was only beginning to learn how to change herself. It was only a small step but it had caused unhappiness to the people around her. Maybe she should revert back to her original self and suffer alone.

What if she decided to take another bigger step in changing herself? Would it lead to something worse than all of these which had happened earlier?

Thanks for reading up to this chapter and thanks to all those who had reviewed Chapter 8.

Some of you said that Nobara is a 'beach' while some said that Mikan is a 'beach'. However, most of you still find Mikan's response reasonable. After this chapter, do you still find her behaviour and response reasonable?

Please leave a review before you exit this page. Thank you. :)