I Like You, Natsume-oniisan
'Before that, I used to think that
it was impossible for me to give up on you...'
Chapter 16: Outside the Classroom
"It's your fault," Mikan mumbled angrily as she squat down tiredly.
Hotaru's ears twitched in annoyance and grunted, "Stop blaming me. You're just like Nogi. Blaming people when you guys are in trouble."
"But you are obviously the one who caused it," Mikan whined.
"Shh... You're loud!"
After getting caught by Natsume for not paying attention in class, they were told to stand outside the classroom for the rest of the lesson. They tried to explain things to him but due to his stubborn attitude, he refused to listen to their explanation and sent both of them outside as a punishment.
"Then, you should blame Onii-san."
Hotaru's eyes sparkled and said, "Oh! You're right! By the way, he is getting a little meaner and begins to pick on us often. Petty guy..."
"Natsume-oniisan is petty. You know, there was one time I accidentally threw a ball and hit his face. The next moment, he refused to talk to me and tried to take revenge by stealing my teddy bear," Mikan giggled. "Until when I said 'I'm sorry and I really didn't mean it. As you know, I like you, Natsume-oniisan. There's no way I would want to harm you', then he stopped."
"Does he have a sister complex?"
"Nope. Impossible," Mikan said. "If he does, he would try to stop me from having a boyfriend. Of course, not by Dad's will."
"Because he already has a girlfriend."
Mikan looked down and sighed. She was thinking about Natsume's and Nobara's wedding. She doubted the fact that she would be able to get along with Nobara. Nobara might seem cute and lovable but the night before, her personality changed towards Mikan. She was a little scary and liked to poke her nose into other people's business. Mikan wondered how Natsume could really stand her. What if she was just acting all cute and lovable in front of everyone but only be mean to Mikan?
She shuddered and shook her head vigorously. She was thinking a little too much.
"I will give up on him," Mikan suddenly changed the topic. "And find a good boyfriend."
"Well said, Mikan," Hotaru said and patted Mikan's back gently. "On their wedding day, let's pig out."
Hotaru's eyes were glittering at the thought of good food. Mikan could only nod and laughed.
"I wonder how Ruka-pyon is doing," Mikan changed to another topic.
"That idiot? Honestly, you care too much about him," Hotaru teased while poking Mikan's cheeks. "You like him, do you?"
Mikan blushed and retorted in a low voice, "As... as if! He and I are just good friends."
"Even though I don't really like him, I think it's okay if you two go out together. I think he likes you too."
Mikan hid her blushing face using her knees and said, "As if he would like me. We are just good friends and we just knew each other face to face not too long ago."
"At times," Hotaru paused and shook her head in a sympathetic manner. "You can be quite slow."
Mikan looked up and laughed, "Me? Yeah. I didn't even know what catwalk is until the first day of high school."
"Because you are stupid."
"Thank you," Mikan replied angrily and hid her face behind her knees again.
Just then, they heard voices coming from the stairs. One of them sounded like Yuka's voice and the other sounded like the Principal's.
"Yuka, have you gone to see him?"
"Yes, I have but it was a few months ago since his last anniversary."
"How sad that he actually left very early before the child was even born. If the cancerous cells didn't spread to his heart, he might have seen her before he passed away."
"Yeah. But that child died too. It was all my fault. If I hadn't done it, Sensei's child would not have died. Luna, what should I do? Since the day I found out she was dead, I keep having nightmares about her and Sensei almost every night," Yuka's voice quivered and sobs could be heard too.
Mikan and Hotaru looked at each other in shock. Something was up with Yuka.
"I sense murder," Hotaru whispered to Mikan.
"What? Yuka-sensei is a murderer?" Mikan asked softly.
Then, the Principal, Luna Koizumi, comforted Yuka, "It's the past, Yuka. Nobody will know what happened to that child. Even if Sensei knew about it, he would not blame you either. You have your reason to do it."
"I should have done something else to save her but what I have done had killed her instead."
"But nobody knows what exactly happened to her, except for me and probably Sensei. That child's body was never being found again. Like what you have said a few years back, her body must have been dumped into the incinerator by mistake so that was why her body was missing for many years. Don't think too much about it, Yuka. It is affecting your health and even your tummy becomes flabbier than before."
"Oh gosh! Why is it everyone keeps saying about my tummy?" Yuka grumbled.
"They are fats," Luna laughed. "Actually, it's pretty normal for you to have flabby tummy, especially after having it. I heard that if you have too many of it, your tummy will get flabbier and flabbier."
"Eww."
Suddenly, Yuka and Luna appeared in front of Mikan and Hotaru. The two girls gasped while the two adults was staring at them, looking very stunned.
"Girls, what are you doing here?" Luna asked and her eyes trailed into the classroom where Natsume was still conducting his lesson.
"We are being punished for talking in class," Mikan answered.
"And it is very unreasonable, Kouchou!" Hotaru snorted unhappily.
Luna raised her eyebrows and queried, "Why is that so, Miss?"
"I was just asking Mikan a question and we are immediately sent out of the classroom for talking in class," Hotaru said.
Luna did not say anything. In fact, she did not hear a word about whatever Hotaru had spoken. Her eyes were staring at Mikan in a frightened manner. It was as if she had mistaken Mikan for a ghost. She clutched onto Yuka's sleeves and pointed her shivering finger at Mikan.
"I'm seeing double Yukas!" Luna exclaimed loudly. "Yuka, why didn't you tell me that you have a cute little sister? I could have hold a party for her and cuddle her... oh, and treat her like my sister..."
"Seriously, we are not related," Yuka sighed and smacked Luna's head. "You seriously acted like you have seen a ghost just now. Girls, ignore your Principal."
Luna pouted and winced, "At first, I thought she was Sensei's child. She looks a little like him too. But if you stare at her face a little longer, she doesn't have that dashing look which Sensei was famous for. Somehow, I begin to feel that she looks totally like you."
Mikan felt so insulted by that word 'dashing'. Obviously, she was not dashing because she was a girl!
Hotaru asked, "Kouchou, who are that 'Sensei' and his child, the ones who you are talking about earlier?"
Yuka flinched and began fidgeting while Luna casually replied, "About that, he is a teacher from another school and his child... she is a dog."
"What? Not a murder case?" Hotaru blurted.
"Dog? Wow!" Mikan said excitedly and placed her hands together. "I love dogs and teddy bears!"
The three ladies just gawked at the excited Mikan with mouths wide opened.
"What is going on here?" Natsume stepped out of the class upon seeing Luna and Yuka. "Are my students causing you any trouble?"
Luna immediately let go of Yuka and coughed.
"Natsume-sensei, I am just speaking to your students," she answered with her arms crossed. "Please bring them back in. They cannot afford to lose any of their lessons."
"But it is their punishment for talking in class," Natsume shot back calmly.
"What I want is results," Luna said. "Bring them back into the classroom before I decide not to give you any bonus this month."
Natsume frowned and sighed in defeat. He glared at the girls and pointed at the door, signaling them to enter the classroom.
Hotaru smirked. She could tell that Luna would be her best adult friend ever.
"Thank you, Kouchou," Mikan said as she bowed to Luna and then looked at Natsume. "Thank you, Natsume..."
Natsume's eyes never left Mikan's as he clenched his fist tighter.
"...sensei."
Then, he finally released his palms. When he saw the girls entered into the classroom while Yuka and Luna walked away leisurely, he smacked his own head.
"Why the hell was I being so... What was I expecting for?"
'... but how wrong was I when I am here standing right in front you
with a smile on my face.'
Hi guys, thanks for reading up to Chapter 16. Luna has finally appeared as a principal! :)
Next, I would like to thank those who had reviewed Chapter 15. Thanks for all those encouragements. Hope to hear more from you again! :D
Here are the reviewers:
- Vehemens Ford
- Sariko-chan723
- Vegie-1526
- Scarlet Ammo 19
- Sakura-chan212
- sakura-san29
- jennifer8-Mikan Hyuuga
- scarley
- meLOVES'NATSUME
- Sia
- ACuteChibiNeko
- sakuraXnatsume
- lisaOpine
- aurora0914
- Coldheart12
Lastly, I would also like to thank those who had story alerted and favourited this story. :)
And don't forget to leave a review! Thanks! :)