DISCLAIMER: Yeah, yeah. You know what's mine and what's not. Hihi

A/N: Thank you PhoenixOtaku and forestblack461 for following! I hope all of you will like this update! I'm trying my best to update everyday so sorry if it's waaaaaay too short (cries)

A/N (05.13.14) I misspelled forestblack461 huhu gomene~

Chapter 9: Frien-emies

(Hotaru's POV)

I'd never seen Mikan cried like this ever since that Natsume left her.

"Mikan..." I soothed her hair. It was so damn messy.

"Na—" She cried again. Ever since she arrived here, she couldn't finish even one sentence.

I sighed. I knew too well that the one behind this was Natsume. Whatever reason he had this time, he would pay for this.

.

Sumire went in our room while Mikan was still crying. She gave me a worried look but I just nodded at her, wanting to tell her that Mikan was fine even though, obviously, she wasn't.

Sumire, on the other hand, understood that it wasn't her business so through out the night, she stayed in her room, just coming out once in a while.

.

"Good morning, Natsume!" Mikan beamed at Natsume, as if nothing happened.

Natsume just stared at her and nodded to recognize her.

That idiot.

I couldn't help but to walk towards them.

"I need to talk to you." I said coldly as I could to Natsume. He just looked at me with a blank stare then stood up

"Hotar—" I cut Mikan off.

"It's nothing you should worry yourself about." We walked away.

.

"What do you want, Imai?" He leaned his back on the wall.

"Stop being a douche to Mikan."

"Huh?" He raised his brows.

"What happened yesterday?" I carefully chose my words. Being careful not to spill anything to him like Mikan crying all night.

"Nothing." He was about to walk away when I got the picture that was in my pocket the whole time.

"You don't want this to be spreading around now, do you?" I smirked, knowing this would catch his attention.

And there he was, blackmailed of a baby picture of him, naked.

"Where the hell did that come from?" He hissed.

"Oh you know, your childhood lover." I couldn't help but grin evilly.

"You're evil." He shook his head and leaned back, again. Ready to explain this time.

"Well, I just told Mikan that we should remain as friends." He said emotionlessly.

"Do you know that that could hurt Mikan, a lot?" Even though he changed a lot, I was pretty sure that his feelings for Mikan wasn't completely gone.

"Who cares?" And that hit my nerve.

Who cares? I tried to control my anger but he made it snap.

"Besides, she's nothing but an idiot who believe that love makes the world go ro—" And before he could finish his statement, I slapped him really hard.

Love. Is that the real issue? Or...

"It's the fame, isn't?" I turned my back away from him.

As I walked in the room, I couldn't help but glance at my best friend. She was talking to Koko, her smile was real but it wasn't the same smile she had before. It was just less than a month and look what damaged that Natsume caused her.

.

(Mikan's POV)

"Kokooooo!" It was after lunch break when I saw Koko again. Even though I felt really sad from what happened yesterday, for some reason, being accompanied by Koko was really fun. He was such a joker and all he just made me smile the whole morning.

As I got nearer to him, I threw my arms at him – for some weird reason.

...

"Uhm, you don't mind right?" I awkwardly asked while breaking the hug.

"Of course not, Mikan-chan!" He grinned his boyish smile again at me. "Anyway, Natsume can't say anything against this since you were the one who befriend me." He scratched his head.

This statement made me looked at Natsume with my eyes twinkling.

Does that mean he doesn't want guys near me? My hopes were slowly rising when he burst my bubble.

"Tch. You could do whatever you want to her, Koko. She's our friend anyway." He said while giving emphasis on the words our and friends.

.

(Natsume's POV)

Damn it. I cursed in my head after I said that statement.

Though even with this current situation that was really annoying me, I couldn't help but notice that Sumire was staring at us. And I couldn't be wrong that she had a scowl expression on her face.