I Like You, Natsume-oniisan

Chapter 13: Request Accepted

"Hmm... It's clean," Natsume mumbled as he stared at the tidied and freshly-scented storeroom and rubbed his chin in amusement. "I hope the five of you have learnt the importance of not ditching punishments and heading off to somewhere else to play. Especially you guys are still Years Ones, it's unhealthy to gamble your marks away."

The five teenagers bowed and said together, "We're sorry, Natsume-sensei."

Without saying a word, Natsume walked off, leaving them outside the storeroom. Anna heaved a sigh of relief. The reason why the storeroom smelt so fresh was because of Anna's aloe vera scented deodorant and Nonoko's minty flavoured mouth spray. Yes, they did spray them around the murky room. Though the scent would probably last for an hour but that was okay for them. As long as the five of them were released from their hellish detention and punishment, they were already far more than glad.

As they walked out of the school together, they bade goodbye to one another and headed off to different directions. Mikan and Hotaru walked home together as usual and along the way back home, they bought ice-cream for themselves. After doing nearly more than four hours of back breaking job, it was the best to reward themselves a little. By the time they reached Mikan's residence, they had already finished their ice-creams. After exchanging farewells, Hotaru walked away while Mikan opened her gates and walked into her little garden. When she headed to the main door, she noticed a pair of unfamiliar three inches high heel shoes placed next to her gardening slippers.

There must be a visiter, she thought to herself. Unless Misaki bought a new pair of shoes for herself which was unlikely as Misaki did not have any likings for high heels. She hated to be so tall. Of course, that pair of shoes could not have been Mikan as well because due to the influence of Misaki, she prefer wearing a pair of one inch high sandals to a pair of three inches high heels.

"I'm home!" Mikan shouted as she got into the house. "Is there a visitor today? I saw an extra pair of..."

"You're late, Mikan!" Misaki interrupted and appeared from behind the kitchen sliding door. "And yes, we have a visitor today."

"Ah! Andou-san!" a familiar voice called out from the kitchen.

Obviously, Mikan knew who it was. Frowning, she quickly placed her shoes onto the shoe rack and walked swiftly to the kitchen.

Upon seeing Misaki and that visitor, she crooked a smile and greeted, "Good evening, Ibaragi-san. What are you doing here?"

Nobara pouted and asked, "What am I doing here? Am I not invited here? Is it wrong for your future sister-in-law to be here? I want to get to know more about the Andou family. Is that also wrong, Andou-san?"

"I didn't say anything about you being wrong or whatsoever. I'm just being... surprised to see my future sister-in-law, that's all."

"Surprised? You ought not to be because you are going to see me often right here."

"Don't you have a home where you can idle all day you want?" Mikan continued to put on her best smile for show.

Nobara chuckled and replied, "Of course, I have. Didn't I say that I want to know all of you better so please expect me to be here often until the big day comes. Right now, I am helping out with your mother."

"Mikan, don't be too rude to Ibaragi-san," Misaki warned and gave a slight glare to Mikan.

Mikan groaned and walked away from the kitchen. She kicked open her room and locked it. She wished she had gone home later. With Nobara's presence, everything would be very awkward and uneasy. She was also very sure that Nobara must have came here with a very good reason, instead of that reason she gave about knowing one another better. It was obviously about the bridesmaid issue.

She turned on the computer and logged into the social website as usual. Ruka was already online. Happily, she started the chat with him.

Coolbreeze says:
Yo! How is your way back home?

Ruka N. says:
Pretty fine. I saw a cute little kitten on the way too. Too bad that it got all scared and ran away. What about you?

Coolbreeze says:
Haha! You have scared the kitty! Well, mine is fine too. Hotaru and I brought ice-creams on the way. You know, I was feeling very happy then but when I reached home, everything just crumbles!

Ruka N. says:
Why? What happened? Is it because you came home late?

Coolbreeze says:
It's a very long story. Maybe I will tell you the next time. It's kinda hard to explain here.

Ruka N. says:
If there's anything wrong, you can always tell me. I will try my best to help you.

Upon seeing that, Mikan felt so touched. Ruka had always been with her even before they really met face to face with each other. Whenever she started chatting with him online, he would surely make her smile. It had always been like this for the past two years. Excluding Natsume, Ruka was her first male friend.

"Mikan! Dinner is ready!"

Mikan sighed and typed her last message.

Coolbreeze says:
Ruka-pyon, I will be right back. It's time for dinner. Chat with you later!

Ruka N. says:
Okay. I also better have my dinner too. Bye!

Then, both of them logged off together. Mikan went to the dining table and realised a bowl of rice was missing.

"Oh, your brother will come back home late tonight," Nobara spoke while she placed a plate of green vegetables on the table.

"Oh? Why didn't he tell me so? What happened to him?" Mikan queried.

Nobara sat down and chuckled again, "He is out to buy something for me. I wonder what it is."

Nobara tilted her head slightly and stared immensely at Mikan to see her reaction. Mikan did not respond to her answer and sat down too.

"Me too," Mikan muttered and looked at the rice with a poker-face. "Do you know that your eyes are somewhat burning through me? It's feels uncomfortable."

"Sorry, Andou-san. I was just wondering how clever you are as you're studying in Gakuen Alice, a very prestigious school. I wish my future child could study there too."

"I'm stupid so there is nothing special about me. I just got in with pure hard work, that's all."

"How high is your IQ?" Nobara asked as she played with her fork.

"I don't know. Maybe below hundred," Mikan answered impatiently as this conversation was getting nowhere. "I didn't even know what catwalk was until recently."

"Below hundred?" Nobara mused and put down her fork. "You're funny, Andou-san."

"Thank you," Mikan mumbled sarcastically.

Just then, Misaki and Tsubasa came out of the kitchen and sat down too. After saying their graces, they began eating their meals.

Tsubasa asked Nobara, "Ibaragi-san, have you found someone who can be your bridesmaid?"

Nobara shallowed her food and shook her head. "No, I haven't. I cannot find anyone either. So far the only person I know who can do it is Mikan Andou-san."

Mikan coughed and glared at her. Nobara just gave her an apologetic look and looked back at Tsubasa who was giving her a confused look.

"Actually, Ibaragi-san is also an orphan. She had no relatives and had always been living in that orphanage where we adopted Natsume and Mikan. Now she is living alone and because of her shy personality, she hardly get any friends," Misaki explained. "That was why I wanted Mikan to help her instead."

Tsubasa's and Mikan's eyes widened. Nobara was actually an orphan, just like Mikan and Natsume. But she was not adopted so she had been staying in the orphanage until she was graduated from high school.

Nobara giggled softly, "It's okay. Even if Andou-san doesn't want to be my bridesmaid, I can manage on my own. It will be better if she were to accept it because it will be like honouring her brother. I'm just saying."

Mikan kept poking the vegetable stem. She never knew Nobara was an orphan and did not have a chance to experience the warmth of a family. Maybe she had but it was definitely a long time ago. Maybe helping her once in a while would be better to express her sympathy for her. Maybe for this time round. Furthermore, it would be the best to honour Natsume. Anyway, she was still trying her best to overcome her feelings for him and luckily, it was working relatively well, thanks to Hotaru. So, helping them this time would be quite fine. She hoped so too.

"I... I think I will be her bridesmaid. Since no one wants to do it, I will do it for Onii-san's sake," Mikan voiced up with a small smile.

Nobara cupped her face with eyes glittering at Mikan's sudden decision. Misaki and Tsubasa were practically surprised by her choice for doing so. Before that, Mikan was fiercely objecting the idea of being a bridesmaid and right at this moment, she agreed to it.

"Thank you, Andou-san!"

"I'm only doing it for Onii-san's sake."

"Mikan, what about your studies?" Tsubasa asked, still not quite liking the idea of her being a bridesmaid.

Mikan smiled confidently at him and reassured, "It's okay. I know how to plan my time well and I don't think helping Ibaragi-san will take up much time either. So Dad, don't worry about me."

"Yeah. I promise it won't take up too much of her time," Nobara said.

Misaki and Tsubasa nodded and continued with their meals while Mikan was just stuffing the rice into her mouth and suddenly stood up.

Nobara looked at Mikan in awe and said, "You sure eat quite fast and... a bit too little. I thought you are a big-eater, according to your brother."

"Did Natsume-oniisan really said something like that?" Mikan asked with her eyebrows shot up. "Sorry, I don't think I am a big-eater to begin with. Furthermore, I am not very hungry too. So, please excuse me."

Mikan walked into the kitchen and after washing up the dishes, she returned back to her room and logged into the social website again. She was not in the mood to study or do her homework.

Suddenly, there was a slight knock on the door and a voice was heard, "Andou-san, can I come in?"

"Sure," Mikan answered and switched her monitor to standby mood.

The door swung open and Nobara walked in. She looked around Mikan's bedroom and giggled softly. Her bedroom was like any other typical girls' bedroom. There were posters of Runo, posters of her favourite artistes and other fanciful items hanging on the rosy white wall of her bedroom. Books and other display items were kept in the shelves in an organised manner. It was rather neat and tidy.

"You eat rather fast too, Ibaragi-san," Mikan commented and turned to face Nobara. "What do you want?"

"I have something for your friend," Nobara replied as she opened her handbag and took out an invitation card. "It's for the girl whom I met the last time. She was with you."

"Who?"

"I don't know her name but she has short black hair and deep violet eyes."

"You mean Hotaru? Why are you inviting her?" Mikan questioned suspiciously.

Sensing the tension in her words, Nobara laughed sheepishly and replied, "Since she is your friend and your brother knows her for quite a long time, I was thinking to invite her as well. Your brother don't mind either."

Mikan took the card from her hand and examined it. It was weird. Why was Nobara suddenly inviting a person whom she had no idea of?

"Sure. I'll pass it to her tomorrow," Mikan said while slipping the card into her schoolbag.

Nobara turned to around and walked towards the door.

Without looking back, Nobara spoke in a very soft voice, but loud enough for Mikan to hear, "Mikan Andou-san, you know it. You know that you ought to give up now. It's useless..."

Mikan's eyes widened and fixated at Nobara's back.

"What are you talking about?"

Then, the two pairs of eyes met. The eyes of Nobara looked intimidating as they seemed to give Mikan a hint of hatred. It was something which Mikan had never seen before and it just did before her very own eyes. Mikan shuddered at the sight of it. Maybe she deserved it as she had treated her quite badly a week ago. But her assumption was wrong.

"I know everything. Everything about your unrequited love for your brother."

Hi guys, thanks for reading up to Chapter 13. The next chapter will be the end of Part 2 of this story. Please be prepared for a new arc. ^ ^

Next, I would like to thank those who had reviewed Chapter 12. Thanks for all those encouragements. Hope to hear more from you again! :D

Here are the reviewers:

- edwardelric108
- aurora0914
- sakura-san2910
- jennifer8-Mikan Hyuuga
- Coldheart12
- someone
- HappyBlossom
- i. Love. food. but. not. you
- Guest
- Marcokaye
- Vehemens Ford
- TsuragaKyoko
- Depressed Writer
- lisaOpine
- Angel star

Lastly, I would also like to thank those who had story alerted and favourited this story. :)