The brunette was dragged out by the back door. Reluctantly she went home. She wanted to be a part of this town.
But she was being unfair, she wasn't even supposed to feel anything for them, she must not get attached anymore than acquaintances.
She shook off her feeling, she tried to, but she badly wanted to stay, like she always did, but her fate won't let her, or she won't let her fate ruin anyone anymore.
'We love this town far too much' Those words stuck to her head like a leech clinging for blood, a parasite, killing her.
'This town, is far too kind, far too gentle to be destroyed by me.' She thought, she wanted to leave right away, wanted to start anew AGAIN. AGAIN, that has been her life's philosophy, to repeat failure over and over again, tragic.
By the time the Brunette had walked a few meters away, a raven haired opens the Cafe's door.
"Natsume!" The girls squealed. Natsume ignored them and went straight to the counter. Sitting on a stool he acknowledges Ruka's presence with a nod.
"How are you holding up Hyuuga?" A cold voice asked him. Without a glance he replied "Still alive Imai."
Girls flocked his seat and tried to talked to him. "Everybody Quiet!" Sumire shouted and all the fan girls sat down their respective chairs .Ruka ordered juice only to be mocked by the Ice Queen.
"Too baby to drink alcohol bunny boy?"
"Nope. I need to stay sober to watch all of you." He retorted but smiled. Hotaru snorted at him.
"Hey Hotaru, do you know about the new girl?" Koko asked but keeping his voice low so that no one else would hear them.
"There's nothing I don't know about." She shrugged.
"Is she trouble, or is she trouble?" Kitsune popped up.
"..."
"Hotaru."
"..."
"Hey."
"..."
"She is trouble." Koko clicked his tongue.
"She is not." Hotaru replied and walked away.
"I've seen girls like her, she just stays for Natsume, then gets killed for it, then what? Natsume carries the burden? AGAIN?" Koko mumbled to himself. 'AGAIN HUH?' He thought deeply about it.
Only to be pulled back by a loud thump on the counter.
"What the hell is this Kokoro Yome?" His voice was monotonous but hearing his full name, Natsume is angry.
He looked at the Newspaper.
"Hahahaha, That's just a silly article." He sheepishly laughs.
Natsume narrows his eyes, "Read it closely, ten,Natsume Hyuuga's girlfriend."
"It wasn't me Natsume, It was Hotaru swear!" He waved his hand defensively.
The Ice Queen glanced his way, he sweat dropped.
Natsume went to the Ice Queen, "The hell, Imai."
"Yes, I am hell, should I sentence you to eternal damnation now?" Hotaru looks nonchalant.
"I'll really be damned." He showed the article. "Look here Hyuuga, your name is money. A simple mention of your name on a newspaper sends women to buy every copy available, I just hit two million yen today just because of your name, so deal with it."
He muttered curses under his breath.
"Why isn't Youichi here, Natsume?" Ruka asks worriedly.
Natsume glanced at his clock, "He's sick." which reminds him that the child should eat.
"Look, I can't stay, Youichi's sick and he's asking for your specialty." Koko rings the bell and Natsume takes the food.
The girls were all disappointed seeing Natsume leave.
"We look like we have some secret rendezvous everyday." Mochu sighed as the girls leave.
"Look, Natsume eating here attracts costumers, can I ask for anything more?" Koko smiled.
Natsume grunted, he was tired and all but the kid was sick and he wanted Mr. Yome's food.
But he admits Koko's father surely does cook nice food.
"Here." He handed the kid the food and helped him sit up. The kid was burning with fever.
"Thanks, nii-san." Natsume just ruffled Youchi's hair.
"Just get better already." He yawned before succumbing to sleep.
The brunette was twisting in her futons trying to sleep. Counting sheep does not have any effect on her. She imagines a place full of laughter. Grass everywhere and trees swaying gently with the wind, she smiles to herself, she's still capable of imagining things.
Sleep swallowed her whole.
The next morning was better, she was branded with new hope.
She took a nice long bath. She relaxed as her body dipped the lukewarm pool of her tub.
The shower drizzled on her skin ever so lightly.
She was going to find him today between one to three in the afternoon.
She ransacked her backpack trying to find a casual but fitting for a job clothes.
She french braided her hair and smiled at the mirror. She was a different person, outside.
She walked to her first job a little earlier than expected.
"Hey boss." Koko was shocked to see her early.
"You're early."
"Early birds catches the worm." She raises a finger up.
"Just wear the uniform. There's your locker." Koko pointed to a locker in the employee's lounge.
"Okay boss." She saluted.
Waiting tables were not as hard as they seemed, and Mikan seems to like her new job. Koko just taught her the basic for about twenty minutes then she was on her own.
"You do good Mikan." He smiled at her.
"Yes, unfortunately for you, you'll have to reward someone with best employee this month, and that person in moi." She giggled at herself.
She hummed to herself while she works, wiping tables diligently. She looked outside, it was very bright, except for the black men who followed her again. She glared at them but continued her work.
The chimes sounded, she was about to turn when Koko hauled her to the employee's lounge.
"Okay, that was harsh." Mikan tugged her hand back hissing because of the sudden friction.
"Stay here okay." Koko commanded and left her. But she had enough with that treatment, she was going to stay, and stay for only two weeks, but she will be a part of this community.
She stormed her way in catching the attention of the man who just walked in.
"He's still sick and he wants your cooking." She gazed up the Human God in front of her.
"Oh, no." Koko readied himself. But then Mikan turned to him.
"Okay what's so important you had to drag me back there? There's no commotion here." Hands on her hips she pouted at Koko.
Koko was surprised by this. She didn't seem to fawn over him. "Where's the town's biggest secret?" She was getting red, with anger.
"Uhhh, look, I just didn't want you to fawn over Natsume."
"Who?"
"Natsume."
"Who?"
"Natsume."
"Who's he?" She snapped, as if she'd know who Natsume was, she was new to town for goodness sake!
"Me idiot." She turned her glare to the man who just spoke. "Oh, so you're the oh so great secret. What's so great about you?" She mocked. She's not angry, she's in rage.
"Aside from intelligence I didn't think you'd lack your sense of seeing little girl." He said. Mikan's jaw dropped, was he ridiculing her? Oh no he won't.
"At least I'm not some Mr. Biggest secret making a fuss over himself."
Koko looked at Natsume then Mikan. It's a first for Natsume to speak to a girl other than Hotaru or his flings moreover a girl he doesn't even know.
"Look, It wasn't me who kept myself a secret, it was this dumbo." Natsume pointed at Koko.
"God you're both infuriating!" She yelled.
"Woman you're so loud." Then the bell dinged, ORDER'S UP!
Natsume picked up the package of food before smirking Mikan's way.
"I hate you Koko, and I was thinking I would be a bother to town, thinking there's this one big secret you all hold, why all of you are teenagers running businesses! God!" She continued her ranting.
"Look Mikan, what season is it?" Koko interrupts her.
"Summer"
"Right"
"What does that have anything to d-"
"It's summer Mikan, we're working summer jobs." Mikan suddenly realized what Koko said.
It was all sinking in. Temporary boss means they're just there for now, and they thought a youngster like Mikan can fit a job like theirs.
She was so dense. She smacked her forehead with her palms. This is just an ordinary small town, and she was about to ruin it all for them.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Mikan said and sat down.
A/N: Here's their first meeting :P oh yeah I wanted to thank nurulamalinasalihah and Corpiew R. 82. YOU BOTH MADE MY DAY :)
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