Chapter 22 – Oh No! Brother's at School!
"Mikan, what are you doing here?!" Shiro, Mikan's brother asked. He was so mad at Mikan. Then, Mikan went towards her brother.
"Brother, I'm begging you." Mikan says.
"You're too much." Mikan's brother said.
"Please don't say this now! We can talk later. You don't have to explain." Mikan begged for her brother.
"Come back with me now. We're going home!" Shiro, the brother of Mikan said.
"I don't want to." Mikan answered as Natsume let go of Mikan's hand from her brother.
"Enough," Natsume said, "why aren't you letting go of him? Mikan said he didn't want to come back with you. Don't force him." Natsume says.
"And you are?" Mikan's brother asked.
"Natsume Hyuuga." Natsume said.
"Ah, so you're Natsume Hyuuga huh, the fire caster?! Good… very good. You can fire cast now, show me fire coming from your hands. Come on show me!" Shiro said to Natsume, but Natsume didn't show any fire casting for Mikan's brother. Then, Mikan's brother turned around on her and said; "Mikan, you transferred schools because you wanted to see him fire cast right? Tell him to fire cast for us. Only then you'll be satisfied, right?" But Mikan refused the offer, "You know what Mikan, you're too much! You transferred here just because of him?"
"Bro, I can't, not now! Natsume tries to fire cast so hard but because of his health, he needs to recover more!" Mikan said to her brother, which made his brother pause for a while.
"So he can't fire cast for now," Shiro said, "Don't worry, I'll be here for 2 weeks. Within these two weeks, if he can fire cast and win a duel, you'll stay, and if not, you're going to be a good girl and come back with me okay?!" These words that Shiro said made Mikan's jaw drop. It's because of now, Natsume really can't fire cast because of his health, and whenever he tries to, he loses to himself. Mikan was really worried this time. Shiro was really mad.
After the incident, Mikan was walking inside the building, while Dr. Mei Tian happens to pass by her. Mikan was very happy to see Doctor Mei because she knows he's the only person who can help her think of a problem. She smiled after. "Teacher Mei," Mikan said as Dr. Mei ran away from her. Mikan tried to chase Dr. Mei.
"Teacher Mei, why are you running?" Mikan asked Dr. Mei as they continue to run.
"It's no good bumping onto you. I must run." Dr. Mei answered.
"Teacher, don't forget that I'm the 100 meter dasher." Mikan said.
In the end, Mikan and Dr. Mei were in his office. Mikan kept on crying, Dr. Mei's having a headache because of Mikan's never ending problems.
"My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States." Mikan said this again and again which annoyed Dr. Mei so much.
"STOP!!!" Dr. Mei shouted that made Mikan stop, "I already know that your brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take you back to the United States. What's next? Do you need to say it again and again?"
"That's right, what do I do teacher? This is more important than aliens invading the planet earth." Mikan asked Dr. Mei Tian. Dr. Mei Tian sighed after
"Besides aliens invading Earth, don't you have a better example? You seem worried… This means that your brother is serious. Whatever he says, he'll do it." Dr. Mei said as Mikan nodded her head.
"Yes, yes, yes, you're right Teacher Mei! You really do understand it. So what should I do?" Mikan asked, "With Natsume's condition, it's impossible for him to fire cast and duel with another person. And there's also Shuichi pressuring him everyday. I don't want to be a burden for him, but I don't want to go back to the U.S. like this. Teacher, what should I do? Help me please!"
"My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States." Mikan said as Dr. Mei Tian covered his ears and shouted; "STOP!"
"To be honest," Dr. Mei Tian says as he turns around towards the window, "I can't think of any ideas to help you. Besides, this is your family matter. What does it have to do with me?" Then, Mikan stood up and went to Dr. Mei, begging to think of more ideas. Unfortunately, Dr. Mei avoids Mikan, but Mikan still begged to think of a really good idea.
"Teacher, don't be like this! You always have a plan. Don't say something so cruel. Hey, what if you meet my brother and help me explain to him. It's easy to recognize him. He has small eyes and a chubby nose, and he always wear suits and ties walking in long strides carrying a briefcase. I beg you teacher! Or maybe, I'll give you the address of the hotel he's staying at and the telephone number for his room and you go meet him. Remember to take along your naked photos and scare him back to the U.S. Teacher, I'm begging you!" Mikan says as Dr. Mei Tian was being annoyed. He was trying to avoid Mikan, but Mikan always tags along.
Dr. Mei waved his hair, "I feel that instead of trying to prevent your brother from bringing you back to the U.S, you just spend time practicing with Natsume in fire casting." Dr Mei said, but this made Mikan puzzled, "Because the chances of Natsume fire casting over his record is more likely to happen than your brother changing his mind. Any man wouldn't want to see his sister in an all boys' school." Because of what Dr. Mei said; Mikan went to the corner, sobbed more and continue to say her phrase.
"My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States. My brother said that if Natsume can't fire cast, he'll take me back to the United States." Mikan continued to say these sentences. Dr. Mei, took out some cotton balls from his table, and put some in each side of his ear so he can't hear Mikan's annoying sentences.
That late afternoon, Mikan was at the benches with the sad face. Then, she decided to walk for a while, and she happens to bump Natsume.
"Natsume," Mikan said.
"Hey Mikan," Natsume replied.
"Hey, where are you going?" Mikan asked.
"I'm going to talk to my instructor to tell him that I want to join the spring preliminary duels. I'm going to fire cast there." Natsume answered as he walked away with Mikan.
"Natsume's going to duel in the spring preliminaries? Even though Shuichi always bothers Natsume, I think he is doing his best for me to stay here. With his current condition, he can't even fire cast a target or duel yet. What's the best thing to do? What can I do? That stinky Dr. Mei, I'm faced with huge crisis and he doesn't bother with me." Mikan thought. Then, Mikan accidentally bumped over Natsume.
"Sorry," Mikan said as Natsume turned around.
"Why do I feel that you're talking to yourself behind my back?" Natsume asked.
"Really? Did I say it out loud?" Mikan asked.
"Hey Mikan, can you lend me 500 yen, I forgot to bring money. I have to hand in the registration fees. And could you take care of Yujiro for me? Before the duel, I want to concentrate on training hard." Natsume said to Mikan.
"Ok," Mikan replied as Natsume smiled and walked away. Then, Mikan thought; "Can I help Natsume by taking care of his dog Yujiro?"
After class, Mikan was walking with Yujiro. As they were walking, Mikan was thinking.
"Can I only watch Natsume train furiously?" Mikan thought, and then she saw Natsume having a duel with another person. Natsume has fire, while his enemy controls land. They were fighting, and Natsume lost the first round. Mikan noticed that they've arrived at the arena.
"How did I walk here again? Yujiro," Mikan knelt down, stooping to Yujiro's height, "We're the professional number 1 fans of Natsume. We can't bother him, do you know? What? You also want to learn how to do it? Okay. For number 1, you use your left foot. Look, number 1. And for fans you need to use your right foot." Mikan said as she lifted Yujiro's heavy paw. Then, Ruka happens to pass by and saw Mikan.
"Hey Mikan!" Ruka called.
"Eh, Ruka! Is your practice over?" Mikan asked.
"What are you doing? Looking for Natsume? I'll help you call him." Ruka said to Mikan as he was about to call Natsume, but Mikan didn't want to interrupt Natsume during his practice.
"I was just taking Yujiro for a walk," Mikan answered.
"Hey, do you want to go eat something together? I feel kind of hungry." Ruka asked Mikan.
"Sure, but help me to take Yujiro back." Mikan replied. After they returned Yujiro, they went to Central Town to eat at a new restaurant. Ruka was busy eating noodles, while Mikan never bothers to eat. Ruka noticed, and he asked her.
"Mikan, why are you not eating? Hey, this is a new restaurant and they have the most delicious food here." Ruka asked Mikan.
"Okay, I'll eat." Mikan answered. After she ate the noodles, she liked the taste. "Ruka, this is really good!"
"Delicious, right?" Ruka asked Mikan, "You know what Mikan, a person who comes to study here alone; I can say that the surroundings are different. But if I'm here and taste this food and meeting a boss who has the same hometown as me, I feel that I'm not lonely anymore, right?"
"Ruka, to be with you, is very comfortable. I can feel your happiness. No matter how bad I feel, because of you I feel better already." Mikan said.
"Hey, why are you saying this all of the sudden?" Ruka asked Mikan. "Hey Mikan, you're not going to eat your egg right? I'll just eat it for you." Ruka took Mikan's egg from the noodle soup and he ate it.
"Hey, I didn't say that you can eat it! Oh boss, get me another one!" Mikan said.
"Then I'll give it back to you." Ruka said as he puts back the egg to Mikan's soup.
"Hey, you already ate this! Here you go, it's already yours." Mikan said as she puts back the egg in Ruka's soup.
"Before I wouldn't help with anything, and I thought I was a burden for Natsume, but now I feel so warm and at ease. Because Ruka is not alone, I'm not alone, and Natsume's not alone. We're connected and became a body in life. This is great; Natsume has my support, so I must be strong." Mikan thought.
Night came, and Mikan arrived at her room with food for Natsume. Unfortunately, Natsume was sleeping. She stopped for a while. Mikan saw Natsume sweating. Mikan thought; "It looks like Natsume is forcing himself to do extra training. His life span's going down, and his health's no good. But I don't want to go back to the U.S. Natsume," Then, Mikan put the food on the table and unpacked her things. Natsume smelled something, and he began to speak.
"What's that smell? It smells like food." Natsume said. Mikan heard his voice, so she turned around.
"Oh Natsume, it's just some beef balls and noodle soup. Do you want to eat it?" Mikan asked. Then, Natsume stood up, sat down and ate the noodles. You can see the way he eats – What I mean is that he's hungry. Mikan smiled at Natsume. Then, Mikan tried to talk.
"Natsume," Mikan called.
"Yeah," Natsume said while he was eating.
"Sorry, because of my brother's appearance you now have more pressure. I… I feel bad. And I'm also your number 1 fans. How could something like this happen? But I also want to say to you," Mikan paused for a while. She was very sad because she thinks that she's a burden for Natsume.
"What do you want to say?" Natsume asked.
"I wanted to say… thank you." Mikan said. This made Natsume pause for a while, and then he answered.
"It looks like I am the only one in the world because of 'thank you' will win the duel." Natsume said this, which made Mikan touched.
"Natsume, I feel so touched to hear that." Mikan said to Natsume.
"I think you've mistaken me. I joined the duel because of Shuichi is too bothersome. I don't wish to see him in school all the time. And about your brother's thing, it's just a coincidence. Besides, I still need to join competitions. If he comes or not, it's his problem, now do you understand?" Natsume asked Mikan. "Look, don't keep on thanking me. I'll be scared." Then, Mikan felt like crying.
"I understand. I won't feel any gratitude." Mikan replied.
"Hey, if you do understand, don't crumple your eyebrows together. Be the real you who doesn't have a brain with stupid and persistent attitude. Be a baka (Baka means idiot)." Natsume said.
"Hey, are you insulting me or praising me Natsume?" Mikan asked.
"What do you think?" Natsume said as he stood up, "Let's go!"
"Go, go where?" Mikan asked again.
"After eating, I need to burn some calories not through fire, but through exercise, so I'm going jogging." Natsume said.
"Ok, sure. I haven't jogged for a long time." Mikan said.
"Yeah, you need to exercise more before you get fat again." Natsume said.
"HEY! How come you talk like I was fat before?" Mikan asked.
"At first glance, I can tell that you were fat before." Natsume said, which made Mikan blush and surprised.
"How, how did you know?" Mikan asked. Then, she thought; "I think I am really stupid or dumb. Natsume always sees through me, but he also protects me. Natsume thank you. I think the only thing I can do is to not think too much, and pray to god every night hoping that you'll win the duel."
END OF CHAPTER……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
