Note:
Chapter 8
Normal POV
The Christmas Ball came so fast. Mikan and her classmates were helping in the decorations. And at last, everything was finished so they returned to their room to change. They wore their formal wears provided by the school. Mikan put on a red, off-shoulder dress with a fat glittery belt. Hotaru came inside Mikan's room. She was wearing another design. It was a halter-top dress with a silver ribbon worn a bit higher than her waist. Mikan gave her a little smile and returned to gaze upon herself in the mirror. Hotaru approached her and gestured her to sit down.
Hotaru: Mikan, I'm gonna put your hair down.it looks better that way.
She was slowly combing Mikan's hair with the brush she took from the table. She placed a silver ribbon as a sort of a hair band on Mikan's head.
Hotaru: There, you look 30 prettier. Well then, let's go now.
The two friends entered the ballroom. Time passed and then the room fell as silent as a graveyard and only faint footsteps were heard. Mikan turned around and saw Natsume.
If you were wondering where Hotaru was at this time, she was sitting on a table and eating her favorite crabs.
Mikan's POV
There he was, standing amidst the crowd with all his glory. Though he wore the same suit as the others, he really stood out from the rest. His earring shone in the moonlight as he turned to look at me. At that moment I froze and the tension was too much that I quickly turned away. He's just my classmate right? He should mean nothing to me… I was thinking about it real hard but something took me away from my thoughts. A present rested in my hands. The exchange gift must have begun, I thought. I opened it and took a look inside. It's a pink, round music box decorated with Carnation pink and white Sakura flowers. There was a little hole in one side but I just ignored it. There was something strange because I couldn't open it. I don't know why… what could be the secret of this music box…?
Normal POV
Anna: Mikan-chan, what did you get…?
Nonoko: Uwah! That's a pretty music box!
Anna: Let's open it!
Mikan: It won't open…
Nonoko: Oh… That's too bad… It must have some factory defects…
A song began playing which marked the start of the masquerade ball. They all wore their masks. Mikan couldn't recognize anyone except for Hotaru, Nonoko and Anna because she saw them put on their masks.
Natsume's POV
It's a good thing I knew that that present would land on her. She's really cute in that dress and she also let her hair down. She looks a lot prettier…but how will I give this to her without her noticing that it's me…?
Normal POV
Mikan sat down on one of the chairs she was looking at the dancing couples but still she was very lonely unlike the old Mikan who enjoyed this kind of parties. The song changed to "First Love" by Utada Hikaru when she heard a click. Before she could even turn around, he already left. Mikan only saw his raven-black hair and his mask, nothing more. Mikan soon realized that the guy placed a beautiful necklace on her neck. The pendant was a Sakura flower with a silver lining, a dot of gold on the center and little diamonds scattered around which looked like pollen from afar.