I Like You, Natsume-oniisan
Chapter 18: Fun in the Festival
She remembered how he had looked like when he brought an unknown person back home for the first time. His face was dull and drained in colour as he opened his mouth to introduce that person. That person was pretty and all she could do was to smile and admire that person's flawless face and body.
However, her heart felt like it was being stabbed. It was so painful that she wanted to cry. But she did not. As her attention shifted to him again, she saw him looking down on the floor with a painful and sad look on his face. She had never seen it before. She wanted to touch his face and asked him what had happened but she could not.
Because that person was watching her every moves intently. That person was none other than...
"Ahh!" Mikan screamed and clutched onto Hotaru's long sleeves tightly.
Irritated by her constant scream and yelping, Hotaru pulled her arm away from Mikan and walked ahead of her.
"Hotaru! I'm scared! Ahh! Look! Sadako is coming our way! Ahh!"
"Shut up! It's a fake Sadako," Hotaru hissed and continued to walk forward. "Furthermore, you are the one who suggested to visit the haunted house so bare with it."
"But..."
Ruka laughed, "Come on, Imai-san. If Coolbreeze feels really scared, we can always head for the exit."
Mikan gave him puppy eyes and sniffed, "Ruka-pyon knows me best!"
Suddenly, Mikan felt a hand touched her shoulder and squeezed it hard. She was frozen in her steps and her mouth kept jittering. She slowly turned her head to where the clawed hand was placed and immediately screamed. Sadako touched her. Not only that, Sadako was drooling with bloodshot eyes staring at Mikan, as if she was her prey. Mikan cried loudly and leaped towards Hotaru. However, Hotaru just pushed her away before she could even land on her. Having no choice, Mikan ran behind Ruka instead.
Sadako staggered towards Ruka and muttered, "Human... Virgin... Liver... Gut... Heart..."
"We... we aren't... tasty," Ruka stuttered in fear.
Truthfully, he was afraid too and Mikan's sharp piercing cries scared him further.
Sadako snickered and grabbed Ruka's wrist, "All virgins are tasty..."
Without further ado, Sadako pulled Ruka closer to her, together with Mikan who was wrapping her arms around Ruka's waist. Then, it was Ruka's turn to scream loudly, even the person who dressed as Sadako had to cover her ear with only one available hand.
"This couple," Hotaru finally spoke after enjoying the scene. "They definitely aren't tasty."
Sadako turned to looked at Hotaru and growled, "What did you just say?"
"I said that those two aren't tasty," she replied with a smirk. "Because they are no longer virgins."
It seemed like the whole world stopped suddenly. Ruka and Mikan gaped while Sadako looked extremely stunned and immediately let Ruka's hand go.
After about half a minute, Sadako took a few steps backwards and mused at Ruka and Mikan, "Oh my god. How could you guys... Oh my freaking..."
"Yes. So as to end this stupid game, please lead us to the exit before these two lovebirds blame you for forcing me to say that terrible secret," Hotaru snarled and crossed her arms.
Sadako nodded obediently and led them the way towards the exit. When Sadako was about to return back to the haunted house, Hotaru stopped her.
"About the virgin thing," Hotaru said cheekily. "I was lying and those two are actually very tasty."
Sadako just stood there stunned and a drop of sweat rolled down her forehead while Hotaru dragged her two dumbfounded friends away.
"Hotaru, how could you say this type of dirty thing? I nearly had a heart attack earlier on," Mikan whined.
"The two of you should thank me for saving your beloved asses," Hotaru snorted.
"What if rumours about us not being virgins start to spread?" Ruka asked angrily.
Hotaru laughed, "But I have told that person who acted as Sadako that everything I had said was a lie. So, I don't think she will tell others about it."
"I hope so..."
"So, what do you want eat? I'm a little hungry," Mikan asked everyone as she rubbed her stomach.
Hotaru smiled and said, "Me too. Let's go to the school field to check some stalls out. I heard that they also sell chilli crab, shark fin and mayonnaised octopus tentacles salad."
"Yuck! Do you seriously like these types of food?" Ruka coughed and put on a face of disgust.
"Yes, I do. Do you have a problem with it?"
"Guys, let's go now," Mikan interrupted with a sheepish grin.
Then, they headed towards the field to explore many different kinds of food and games. Mikan bought two fishball sticks and played a simple shooting game which required the player to pick any item on the shelf and shoot it down so that he or she could get that item. Unfortunately, Mikan did not win anything and she sulked throughout the walk until Ruka hesitantly gave her a keychain which he had won in a lucky draw. The keychain actually came in pairs so Mikan and Ruka each had one keychain but it seemed that Mikan did not take the awkwardness too hard. She thought it was for their friendship since Ruka was the one who gave it to her and he even said that having two lovely and cute keychains was too weird for a boy. Of course, Ruka actually did mind the awkwardness though.
"It's already seven-fifty and there will be fireworks at eight o'clock. Let's watch them in our classroom," Hotaru suggested and took out her camera from her small pouch.
"Fireworks? Wow! I have never seen one in real life before!" Mikan said excitedly.
"Gosh! In which era do you live in, Mikan?"
Mikan laughed, "In the bronze age."
"No, I think you live in the ice age since you didn't know a thing about catwalk until you reached high school."
Ruka laughed at the joke and teased Mikan, "I think Coolbreeze lives in the dinosaur period."
Feeling extremely offended, Mikan pouted and whined, "Enough said. I want to see the fireworks!"
"Fine. Fine," Hotaru tried to hold back her laughter and they went up to their classroom to wait for the fireworks to appear.
Luckily, there was no one in the classroom and the three of them just stood next to the windows while waiting for the very first firework to light up the dark sky.
Suddenly, they heard voices coming from the school grounds, "Three... Two... One... Yay!"
Then, loud cracking sounds was heard, followed by sounds of explosion. The first firework lit up the dark sky with a colourful and bright image of a flower. It was so beautiful that Mikan gasped in awe. Soon, the sky was filled with many colourful fireworks. Even the dark classroom which they were in turned bright and colourful because of the fireworks outside.
"They are very pretty," Mikan cooed. "Onii-san should have come to see the fireworks. Maybe this will make him feel much better from his bachelor blues."
"Geez! Even when you were watching the fireworks, you are still worrying about his problem! I have already told you that he would be fine," Hotaru said as she was busying taking pictures of the fireworks.
Mikan looked at the last firework and bit her lips. All of a sudden, she remembered that she had promised to buy some food back home for Natsume to eat for dinner. She quickly took out her purse from under her long sleeves and checked the remaining amount of money. Luckily, she still had some money left to buy a packet of teriyaki don.
"Guys, I have to buy dinner for Onii-san. Please wait for me here. I will be right back as soon as possible!" Mikan cried and ran out of the classroom before they could stop her.
So, Ruka and Hotaru were left in the classroom. They remained quiet as they stared blankly at the dark and plain sky.
"Imai-san," Ruka spoke first without leaving his eyes from the window. "Actually, what exactly happened to Coolbreeze and Natsume-sensei?"
Hotaru's ears twitched irritability and scowled, "Can you stop calling her Coolbreeze? Just call her Mikan or Andou. As simple as that! And hasn't she told you anything about her relationship with her brother?"
"Nope. Not a word about it," he replied.
"Actually, it's complicated. She liked him and confessed to him two years ago but he rejected her. After that, he got a girlfriend and they are getting married in a week time," Hotaru explained and realised Ruka had a shock look. "Of course, as I have told you before, Mikan and Natsume-sensei aren't related by blood. They are adopted. Furthermore, Mikan is trying to let go of her feelings for him. I can tell that she is trying her best to do it."
Ruka nodded and mumbled, "Oh, I see."
There was silence again. Only the sound of the people cheering loudly was heard from the school field.
Hotaru slowly turned her head to Ruka and spoke again, "Hey, do you like Mikan? I mean as in more than just friends."
Ruka got choked on his saliva and coughed violently as he glared at Hotaru for suddenly saying such a thing out loud.
He scowled. "What are trying to pull?"
"You do like her, don't you?"
"Wha..."
"Do you?"
"Actually," Ruka muttered softly as he turned his face away from Hotaru. "Yes... but you mustn't tell her! Please! I beg you!"
"Whatever," Hotaru interjected with a smile. "Then, I have one request for you and I hope you can do it. Not for me, but for Mikan."
"What is it?" Ruka asked curiously and at the same time, hoped that the request was not an absurd one.
Hotaru placed her hands together and bowed to him. He was taken aback by her sudden weird action and looked around desperately if anyone caught her for doing it as what she had done was totally out of character.
"Nogi."
He stopped fidgeting and looked at her again.
"Please go out with Mikan."
Hi guys, thanks for reading up to Chapter 18.
Next, I would like to thank those who had reviewed Chapter 17. Thanks for all those encouragements. Hope to hear more from you again! :D
Here are the reviewers:
- crimson hearts
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- Seangeline Akira
- someone
- mooshy3712
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- ACuteChibiAngel
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- jennifer8-Mikan Hyuuga
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Lastly, I would also like to thank those who had story alerted and favourited this story. :)
Here are the common questions which are being asked by most of you or you might be currently thinking right now:
1) Are those statements, which appeared in italics at the top and bottom of the previous few chapters, song lyrics?
To clear some doubts regarding those statements, they are not song lyrics; they are like speeches from the past or the future. I understand that it is confusing but if you were to carry on reading the future chapters, you will see how those statements are actually related to the characters' thoughts and feelings.
*This story is not a song fiction by any chance and I do not want this story to be taken down because of some misunderstandings. Thank you. :)
2) Is Natsume really going to marry Nobara? Will Mikan do something about it?
Maybe. Here is a spoiler: Something interesting is going to happen soon (in the next chapter) and Mikan will be a 'heroine' with someone sinister targeting behind her back on the wedding day.
Please feel free to ask me any questions. I will try to answer them as far as possible.
Preview of 'Chapter 19: The Start'
Mikan was shocked too and whispered, "Hotaru, I can't believe Onii-san and Ibaragi-san did it already! They haven't even married yet!"
Hotaru did not reply Mikan as she kept staring at the kissing couple. Her eyebrows were knitted very tightly as she observed them, especially Nobara's stomach area. When their lips were finally pulled apart, their eyes gazed at each other with a lot of affection for a long time without speaking a word to each other. It was as if their eyes could talk to one another.
"Please get that will done with quickly, Nobara. I desperately want my child back."
Don't forget to leave a review! Thanks! :)