DISCLAIMER: Nope. GA's not mine.

A/N: Yaaay finally done with the exam! Huhu I screwed it up huhu Anyway, yeheeeeet! Thanks to Kirei Aoi for following, favourite-ing and reviewing, crimsonrosette for following and favourite-ing the story and to XxShirayukixX for following! Hihi (heart heart) And to the people who reviewed, ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU! :D

I hope you'll enjoy! :D

Chapter 10: Finals Week

"So, as we all now, our finals week is fast approaching!" Narumi beamed at us. The class, as one, 'aww-ed' but we couldn't do anything about it – it is part of school life.

"Say, Mikan-chan, do you want to be my study buddy?" Koko grinned at me.

"Eh, Ho—hotaru?"

"She would be studying with Ruka while Natsume is with Sumire," he gave a nervous glance at Natsume, "I guess."

"Of course he will be studying with me!" Sumire chirped in.

"Ohh." For some weird reason, I felt depressed even though Natsume had already declared a lot of time that we were just friends.

"So?" Koko gave me an encouraging smile.

I gave a quick glance at Natsume who was expresionless then agreed with Koko.

We were to meet at the library tomorrow, at exactly five in the afternoon.

I wish I could study with Natsume. But I guess it's more that impossible. I sighed inwardly in defeat.

.

It was quarter to five when I made my way to the library. Not that I was excited to study, it was just Koko was there. Wait, that sounded so wrong. What I meant was that I shouldn't make someone wait for me, right?

"Mikan-chan!" He waved his hands at me as I made my way to him.

"What are you doing? You're starting without me!" I pouted at him which made him chuckled.

"It's more efficient since I arrived first. At least we can discuss more smoothly, I guess." He scratched his nape, giving me a cute and carefree side of his.

"Anyway, I... I really hate Math, Koko. I hope you can really help me."

He laughed, "No problem, Mikan-chan. That's why we're study buddies!"

And with that, we studied Math all night. The headache it caused me, you would never know.

.

As we head back towards our dormitory, I could help but ask about Natsume and Sumire.

"Ah. Sumire, as she arrived here days after Natsume arrived, she was bullied." He started while staring straight ahead, smiling a sad one. "It was something new to her, to be bullied, I mean. She usually stand strong and all. But even though she was bullied, she didn't give up. She is still confident. One day, Natsume was injured and she was there to tend him. It happened at the classroom when Natsume was bumped with a girl but Natsume was off guard that time causing him to sprain his ankles. The girl ran away so Sumire, who was there, helped him and well, she was the one who sort of take care of him. During those time, Sumire was still not that infatuated or in love, whichever you prefer," he looked at me, still smiling but looking sad, "with Natsume so Natsume thought that they can help each other. Natsume was really in debt with Sumire that time because two days after that, the school held a swimming competition. He wouldn't had won if Sumire wasn't there to tend him, right?" He paused.

"So they became close friends..." I concluded.

"Well, not really." Koko chuckled then continued. "So as days go by, they were seen together. Rumors said they were dating. Slowly, Sumire developed her feelings for Natsume and asked him to be her boyfriend one day."

I couldn't help but gasp which made Koko paused once again.

"I'm.. I'm sorry." I looked down, ashamed for interrupting Koko.

"It's okay. Anyway, Natsume said yes to her, knowing it would be for both of them. Sumire won't be bullied anymore, Natsume would have lesser fangirls. So it worked out, really, for quite sometime. But after, hmm," He paused again, looking up as if thinking, "after 2 months? Sumire went overboard. She became so in love with Natsume and Natsume didn't like that. But still, he kept their relationship going... until now." Koko looked at me. "That's it." He concluded.

"Why?" I said softly, sort of disappointed with Natsume.

"Why what?" Koko grinned at me, but looking at his eyes, I could see sadness.

"Why is Natsume still with Sumire? And..." I bit my lips, not quite sure if I should and could ask the next question. But Koko gave me a questioning look so I asked, "And why are you sad?"

He was sort of surprised, I guess, with my second question because I saw his eyes widened a bit.

"Natsume is still with Sumire because he knows it would break her if he would end their relationship. Natsume cares for her even though he doesn't want their relationship anymore. And I'm sad because..." He looked down, "I like Sumire ever since we were kids." Then he looked at me, giving me that fake smile again.

"Koko..." I couldn't help but feel sad about it, too.

"Well, we're here!" He exclaimed while stopping his tracks.

Little did I know that we had arrived already at my dormitory.

"Thank you, Koko! Take care!" I said while running to my dormitory and waving at him.

.

(Koko's POV)

It was the first time I opened up to somebody and even though we just knew each other, she knew what I really felt it inside. She was special, how could Natsume ignore this?

"Hey Yome." Natsume said as I saw him sitting at our sofa.

"Hey." I replied, smiling at him.

"You were with Mikan, eh?" He raised his brows at me.

"Hmm." I just nodded as I made my way to the kitchen.

"Stop seeing her alone." He hissed at me as I made my way back to the living room.

"Eh? Are you jealous, Natsume?" I could help but feel amused.

"Shut up." And with that, he made his way to the room, leaving me smiling like an idiot.