Chapter 16 – Mikan, Don't Cry
Mikan was still sleeping as Natsume was trying to wake her up.
"Mikan, Mikan," Natsume said.
"Yeah," Mikan says as she falls back to sleep.
"I… I want to fire cast for you to see." Natsume says, but Mikan was still sleeping.
"What?" Mikan asked.
"I want to fire cast for you to see." Natsume says again as Mikan's eyes widened and her smile showed up.
"Ah?!" Mikan says as Natsume smiled.
They were already in the arena. Natsume must get a bull's eye to make sure how powerful and how he can control his power. He was warming-up as Mikan continued to cheer. He demonstrates to Mikan.
"Mikan, that bull's eye is my target. If I ever hit it, and can make a really good aim, I can fire cast again. If not, then I should practice more." Natsume says as he tries to do it.
"Oh my god! I can finally see Natsume fire cast! I've always watched him on TV, now I'll finally get to see Natsume fire cast with my very own eyes! My heart is beating so fast! Aside from being on Natsume's side, this is the best thing!" Mikan thought, being happy by what she's seeing. Now, Natsume was starting.
"It's starting, it's starting. I'm so nervous!" Mikan thought as she jumped for joy.
Natsume was already starting; he begins with his fire balls. He makes a fireball which has a tail on it. Then, he released; the tail was connecting from the fireball. His fireball never reached the target or the bulls' eye. Mikan was shocked, but she never showed it, for she was one of Natsume's number 1 fans! This time, Natsume targets the bulls' eye one more time. Mikan bid him good luck as he starts over again. For one more time, he makes a fireball with a tail connected to it; but still, it never reached the target, even the bull's eye. Mikan was praying that Natsume can make a bull's eye, but it never happened. For the third time Natsume tries to fire cast. Mikan wanted to cry and stop Natsume. But still Natsume can't fire cast a simple target. Mikan covered her eyes when Natsume tried to fire cast at that time. Then, she thought that Natsume has reached his limit.
"Enough, enough Natsume, enough! Don't fire cast anymore." Mikan said as she ran to Natsume and hugged him, as she cried her tears, "I understand, just don't push yourself." Mikan cried. Natsume was panting because he was losing his life every time he uses his Alice, and might die if overused.
"So devastating, right now I can't even do a target, and I can't duel anybody for now. You can, you can definitely jump over it." Natsume says.
"Natsume, you will definitely hit that target and duel again." Mikan says as she continued to cry. Natsume's eyes were covered with his bangs. He let go of Mikan's arms that were embracing him.
"I don't know how to duel again with my powers. I can't control them anymore. But… I won't ever give up," Natsume says to cheer up Mikan as he puts his hand on her shoulder, "Because you gave me this chance. It's you who made me realize that what I needed was to return to the arena, to compete with other casters. So Mikan, don't cry. I hope you will encourage me during this stage. Understand that I will be good as before. Don't you remember? You are my number 1 fan! Cheer me on!" Mikan stopped crying after.
"That's right," Mikan says as she wiped her tears, "I am your number 1 fan!" Natsume returned to fire casting again as Mikan joined her hands together and prayed that Natsume would fire cast and hit the target this time. After praying, she called to Natsume; "Natsume, good luck, good luck, good luck!"
"Natsume, I'm sorry. I was overjoyed when I knew that you were going to fire cast again, that I forgot the most important thing. Before I couldn't relate to your tedious practices, I'm sorry. But I want to thank you; thank you for this chance. I won't let you down. Because I am Natsume's world's most supporting fan! Good luck Natsume!" Mikan thought.
Later that day, Mikan talked to Dr. Mei Tian, the school doctor.
"Hyuuga Natsume can't fire cast anymore because of his health." Dr Mei Tian said.
"Health? What do you mean?" Mikan asked.
"It's because as Natsume uses his fire powers, he loses his life. And if he overused it, there might be a possibility that Natsume will die because of fire casting. It's not only in the mind, He's really okay, but body and mind are two different things. " Dr. Mei Tian replied as Mikan was thinking of something. Dr. Mei Tian tapped Mikan with his pen on her forehead.
"It looks like your eyebrows and big forehead is permanently joined together." Dr. Mei Tian said.
"I'm worried of course. And I don't know what the best thing to do is. This kind of thing isn't like if clothes are dirty, you go wash them and wear them. It's not that easy." Mikan said.
"What kind of talk is that?" Dr. Mei Tian asked as he waved his hair, "I just want to say to you that it doesn't matter if you're worried over this thing. Natsume must use his own strength to overcome it. But in this kind of situation, what he needs most is someone who can stay by his side."
"Me?" Mikan asked Dr. Mei Tian. Dr. Mei (for short) nodded his head after.
"It'll be difficult to convince you to be at his practice. Natsume is very independent. You better give up either you are Natsume's strength to go on." Dr. Mei says.
"The strength to go on?" Mikan asked. "Wow, such great words, doctor. Teacher, what you said was very good! Now, I am someone's strength to go on."
"I really shouldn't have said all that rubbish in one breath. Come here, Mikan," Dr. Mei says as Mikan went near, "Do you want to see my pictures?"
"What pictures?" Mikan asked.
"I took them," Dr Mei said as he opened his drawer and took out a photo album. As Mikan saw it, she quickly ran away.
"No thanks, I don't want to see." Mikan said as she ran outside.
"So this kid can be scared easily." Dr. Mei said.
While Mikan was in class, she drew a doodle on the end tips of the page of the book.
"Someone to cheer on Natsume, how can I express that I'm cheering him on?" Mikan thought, "I remember what Mei teacher told me. I must start from things I can do. What can I do? Help Natsume in exercise…Hey, the idea's not so bad. NO way, I'm a guy right now Guys don't do that. What about a massage? That a little bit I don't know if Natsume will like that. How do men support each other? How do good friends help each other? Guys usually say…" Mikan spoke her mind by saying: "HEY MAN WHAT'S UP?" during class.
"No, sorry." Mikan said to the teacher. Then Ruka noticed. He was getting Mikan's attention.
"Mikan, Mikan," He called, "Hey man what's up? What are you doing? Trying to get Mr. Jinno mad at you. He is the one grading for your star class."
"No way… Hey Ruka, help me think, okay? How do you guys support each other?" Mikan asked. Ruka laughed for a while, then finally spoke.
"So it's something that little? Then it's right that we are men." Ruka said as he puts his clenched fist at the left side of his chest, "Because I – Leave it up to me. Okay?" Ruka asked. Mikan nodded as her reply.
END OF CHAPTER………………………………………………………………………………………………..
