Wings to Fly

At the graduation ceremony, new teachers, and a new headmaster leading the institution, Mikan was standing in the row of her class in front of the stage and stared at the headmaster who was giving his speech. She did not hear a word he said.

Her mind was full of memories, scenes that occurred at this place, and people playing an important role in her life. Her peers seemed to be enwrapped in the headmaster's words, listening intently and not moving an inch. Each one of them held his rolled graduate certificate in their hands, and wore a small smile, indicating the happiness they felt to be finally free of this place.

Mikan was glad too, more than just glad. She was happy that she made it through in one piece. She knew that if she had not done what she did, things would not have changed. Maybe for her yes, because she would not be here, but the students coming after her – they would be infected with the ill atmosphere and nothing would have changed.

It had been the same with their generation. It was not as if the bullies were like that from the beginning. There were older students who attracted them with their coolness of self-importance and control over other students. It was fun for them to walk through the corridor and everyone made space for them, avoiding their eyes. It was fun when a person of the same age cried and begged you to forgive him or her for whatever he or she had done.

Mikan still remembered the first time she witnessed a scene like that. It was in her first year; she could have not imagined she would be in their place sometime later. As a happy-go-lucky freshman, she walked into the building with bright eyes and with intentions to experience everything good. She started with a group of friends; Anna and Nonoko her closest ones. They were all chatting about school and friends one day when it happened.

An older boy came rushing through the corridor, but was soon stopped by a group of other boys. Mikan and her friends shut up in shock when they saw the group push the boy to the wall. It was a scary scene.

''Tetsuma, Tetsuma, Tetsuma.'' The leader threatened the poor boy with his deep voice, an evil smirk playing on his lips. ''What did I tell you about greeting me in the morning?''

The boy whimpered and whispered a weak ''Good morning.''.

The leader pulled the boy by his collar and the violently pushed him back at the wall. The boy stifled his cry, his whole body shaking violently. ''I-I'm sorry… Good morning.'' The boy said lauder and the group laughed. The leader pushed the boy to the floor and let him there, walking away with his followers.

Mikan and her friends were frozen to the spot, watching the poor boy stand up shakily and walk away. ''What was that?'' Anna asked and looked at her friends.

''Were they bullying him?''

''Does something like that actually happen?''

''Kami-sama… These upper-classmen are crazy.''

The next few days they witnessed even more incidence like this. It was also the time Natsume Hyuuga accidentally bumped into Mikan. They locked eyes as he apologized and gave her a half-smile. Mikan smiled back, blushing slightly. He was a very handsome boy of her age.

''It's not a problem. I wasn't watching as well…'' she told him shyly, her heart beating a little faster with the attention the boy was giving her.

''Then… See you around…'' he saluted, glanced her way one more tie and walked off. Mikan stared after him, her cheeks warm and her chest a little tight. It was a nice feeling.

They bumped into each other several times after that and Mikan's friends got the idea it was not a coincidence. Every time Natsume bumped into Mikan, he smirked at her, and helped her steady herself. He usually held her by her shoulders and told her it was his bad. Mikan was flattered by the attention and started hoping for him to change his tactics of approaching her and simply start talking to her in a normal way. If he asked her out anytime soon, she would have nothing against it.

But for some time, Mikan noticed he stared at the bullying group with admirable eyes – not when they bullied people, but when they walked through the corridor like kings and queens. His eyes followed them, smiling a little at the sight of their confident laughter and laud conversations.

There was one time he noticed Mikan speaking with Yuu, her classmate in front of her classroom. The two were laughing at a joke and Mikan playfully pushed at the boy's shoulder. Natsume found his reason to start his new way of gaining attention and once again bumped into her, this time not apologizing, glaring at the boy next to her. After that it just went on, his bullying side finally coming out with full force.

Mikan did not know who was his first actual victim, but she did hear from her friends that Yuu got his food smashed into his face one day. His and his friends' victims were many people Mikan knew, but it was not until later that year that they actually focused on her. Natsume was the one opening the season. He tripped her in the full corridor, her panties showing. The group laughed, Natsume throwing her an evil smirk she saw by the older bullies. ''Careful there, Sakura… Look at where you're going.''

It broke her inexperienced heart and hurt her to the core. But that was nothing comparing to what was about to come. Since that day, hell opened up under her feet and she fell in like a stone. She was not the only one of course, but it felt like that.

Every day someone bullied her; sometimes they stole her belongings and hid them, and sometimes they destroyed her books and notebooks. It happened several times that either her sportswear or her spare uniform went missing. Most of the time; however, Natsume and his followers liked to gang up on her, push her around, pull at her hair, or flush her face in the toilet.

The humiliation and fear Mikan and many of her peers felt at such moments were nothing in comparison to the hurt they felt after realizing there was no one trying to help. No one. Not even the teachers. They all looked away when someone was being bullied.

The desperation for a solution was so strong that Mikan even tried to tell her mother about it one time. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she felt pathetic. Pathetic and embarrassed. She felt bad for being such a weak girl, running to her mother when someone was being mean to her. She knew she should say something, but the humiliation made her cover her eyes and ears and she hid herself in a corner and let her tears fall only when she was alone.

But it is all in the past.

The bullies were taken to the Juvenile Treatment Centre, where they had to spend a year going to therapist sessions and doing some work. They were punished for their behaviour and actions, and Mikan could only hope they would come out as different people.

Now, at the end of her high school education, finally free of these sick people, Mikan still felt afraid. Her teenage life had been wasted and she had no idea what normal behaviour towards confident people looked like. Her poor mother who had cried for days and nights once she learned about Mikan's problem, tried to help her stand on her own feet. Together they attended sessions with a therapist and Mikan had no idea if it would actually help her.

She had no idea if she would ever heal. She tried of course – the optimistic person inside her did not die; it had been sleeping for a few years, but it was slowly waking up, its eyes fluttering open, taking slow breaths.

She would make it somehow. She would walk out with her head raised, her eyes bright, and her heart yearning for the future that was ahead of her.

''So, dear students!'' the new headmaster's voice reached her ears. ''Your life just started. Live it, giving your all. I wish you best of luck on your path, and I hope you will all achieve everything you set for yourself.''

Mikan smiled, clapped her hands, and breathed in. Her life just started.