Chapter 15 – The 70 kg Girl.

"Let me down, let me down you smelly man! My dad's a boss, and I'll tell him to beat you! He has lots of back-ups! I'm not scared of you!" Mikan shouted at Shuichi. On the other hand, Natsume was in the arena, practicing fire casting. But he still can't make it due to his health.

Then, Shuichi went to the arena.

"Hey, isn't that Natsume over there?" Shuichi asked.

"You're a pervert Shuichi. Put me down! So many people dislike you!" Mikan insisted. Then Natsume went near Shuichi and asked him what he's doing at Alice Academy.

"Natsume," Shuichi said.

"Natsume, tell this monster to put me down." Mikan told Natsume.

"This little guy looks interesting. He's soft and fluffy like a girl. No wonder I thought he was one." Shuichi says to Natsume about his opinion on Mikan.

"Shuichi, I'll kill you." Mikan said.

"You better let him go." Natsume said to Shuichi.

"So studious…" Shuichi replied, "Okay, come down." After Shuichi puts down Mikan, Mikan punched him – but not as powerful as her punch towards Kaoru.

"You bastard! You have no manners!" Mikan says as she slapped Shuichi's face, "What are you trying to do?! I'm so mad!!!" After Mikan slapped him, Shuichi was so mad already.

"You smelly guy! No one has ever had the guts to hit me!" Shuichi says as he was going to punch Mikan, but Natsume stopped him.

"Enough Shuichi, doesn't it look too degrading for you?" Natsume asked Shuichi as he lets go of his hand. Shuichi looked at the two for a while.

"So, this is how it is. You're hiding in Alice Academy for so long – because you're gay!" Shuichi says in front of Natsume. Natsume didn't fight back. "This is too funny," Shuichi continued, "I remember you two."

"Hey, don't talk like that! What are you talking even talking about? Gay," Mikan says, "You're the gay one." Then, Natsume pointed his finger towards Shuichi's chest.

"Be careful before you speak." Natsume said.

"The one who needs to be careful is you. Hyuuga Natsume, if you want to practice, then practice furiously. Because I'll give all that I have just to beat you. Of course, we'll talk about it when you're up to that level." Shuichi says.

"Shuichi, what are you talking about? Who do you think you are? We're not worthy, no way! You really have no manners. Didn't your parents teach you manners? You don't have courtesy at all! Why are you bothering us here? If you want, we'll fight- Alice-by-Alice." Mikan says as Natsume tries to stop Mikan from attacking Shuichi.

"You better not let me wait for you too long. We'll meet at the arena." Those were Shuichi's last words to Natsume that day, as he walks back to his own school.

"Shuichi, don't walk away!" Mikan says as Shuichi turns around to them and said; "Dating… Being gay, too shameful for you Natsume." Shuichi says.

"Shuichi, don't walk away! Come back here and fight with me! You're the gay one!" Mikan says as smoke was coming out from her ears. Then, she ran to Shuichi but Natsume stops her.

"Mikan, calm down." Natsume says as Mikan stopped.

"Natsume, aren't you worried? I'm so pissed off! I'm so mad, ah!" Mikan shouted. On the other hand, Shuichi was thinking of something.

"That guy has too much energy to burn." Shuichi says about Mikan.

The whole day, Natsume kept on practicing his fire casting, but fails to make a really powerful one because of his health. He still continues to practice even though it would cost his life. Then, his chest starts to hurt, he starts to weaken but still he practices. Then, he reached his limit – he can't take the pain anymore, but he still ignores it. He took a break for a while. He drinks some water, and he tries to rest. Then, when he was about to walk, his chest really ached – it was more painful than ever. And yet, he tries to fight it. He tries to fire cast even if it costs his life. He loved fire casting so much, and he can never give up. Then, he remembered what Shuichi said; "Hyuuga Natsume, if you want to practice, then practice furiously. Because I'll give all that I have just to beat you. Of course, we'll talk about it when you're up to that level."

"Beat me? The me right now, I can't even reach a simple line. I can't even fight in a duel yet. Isn't even worthy of rivals. Shuichi, you're expecting too much from me." Natsume says to himself. He felt like he wasn't worthy of everything anymore.

On the other hand, Mikan was jogging with Yujiro, Natsume's dog. Then, she saw Natsume.

"Hey Natsume! So how was the practice? Was today's practice good? Do you want to eat together?" Mikan called Natsume.

"I'm not hungry." Natsume says coldly at Mikan as he was walking in the other direction. Mikan noticed that he was running out of breath when she talked to him.

"Looks like Natsume didn't do well in practice. But Natsume, you can't give up like this. No matter how tedious or hard-working, you must never give up. Then you'll lose to yourself." Mikan thought. She was really worried of Natsume's condition. Then, Mikan took a seat and talked to Yujiro.

"Yujiro, let's just give Natsume some space. Natsume's not in a good mood. If we bother him, he'll only be more bothered, understand? The present Natsume, he can only depend on his own strength to overcome his obstacles. Yujiro, I'll tell you a secret okay, and you would promise not to tell. Natsume doesn't really know that he's helped many people. Once upon a time, there was a fat girl – very fat. She was probably 70 kilograms. I really don't want to remember that." Mikan thought as she remembered a flashback about her past.

FLASHBACK:

"That fat girl, she was too fat and was made fun of. So, she stayed home everyday, never going out, never playing with her friends. Everyday she watched T.V. and ate. Watch and eat, watch and eat, watch and eat. Nut suddenly one day, she saw Natsume fire casting on T.V. I think then it was an admiration for him. That fight girl, was once interesting in something else than eating." Mikan says as Yujiro fell asleep,

"Oh, you slept like that? Anyway, I wanted to get pictures so you can look at them. Since you're asleep, I'll look at them myself." Mikan pulled out a picture of herself, fat before. "Ah, this fat picture – I always have this by my side reminding me to never get fat like that. Also, that was the first time I saw Natsume. Then, I sacrificed myself for my love one – to lose weight.

"I was weightlifting before, and started working-out. I was laughed at many women. I'm not bragging. For 2 years, I lost 20-30 kilograms. They should be shocked alright." Mikan continued, "The Natsume back then, he tried hard to reach his goals, and was stronger year after year.

"When I look at the one I admired trying so hard, so I must also try hard. So I joined the track and field team. My event is short distance running. I not only succeeded in losing weight, and also became a very fast runner, running faster than the guys. That is the power of love." Mikan says. Mikan didn't notice that Natsume was hiding behind a tree, listening to every word Mikan says.

END OF FLASHBACK…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

"Yujiro, do you know that admiration is a kind of love? Love is really a very mysterious and magical thing. It can make one better. Have more guts and strength. Me, I just want to see Natsume fire cast so I especially flew in from America to come to Alice Academy. Natsume must slowly experience how he really loves fire casting and never ending mental strength to overcome his strength. He really does bring people hope, but he just doesn't know. If I could just continue to stay by Natsume's side, I'll be full of energy and confidence. Yujiro, aren't you the same? Because of Natsume, your life became so much better, right? To be able to speak out about it. Oh, I feel so light-hearted and relaxed. Thank you for listening me talk, Yujiro. So it's decided. You can never tell this secret to anyone. Understand?" Mikan asked Yujiro. Natsume, hearing every word Mikan said, went to her. Mikan saw Natsume, and was surprised.

"Oh, when did you walk back here? You didn't hear anything, right?" Mikan asked Natsume nervously.

"What? I didn't hear anything. I came over because you were sneezing. Here, wear my jacket. It wouldn't be good to catch a cold." Natsume replied.

"Oh, thank you." Mikan said.

"About Yujiro, I'll take him back alone." Natsume answered.

"Oh," Mikan says as Natsume gets Yujiro's leash and walked him back home. "Good, Natsume didn't hear anything I said to Yujiro. Okay, that's a good thing. I can't let Natsume know that I was once fat." Mikan thought. While with Natsume, he was also thinking of something.

"Mikan, I'm sorry. I couldn't confess that I heard it all. Because I'd never think that I made such a big impact on you. Even after listening you talk, there is more pressure for me. But I'm sure that you're a god's sent angel helping me with disappointment. Thank you, Mikan." Natsume thought.