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Disclaimer; I do not own Gakuen Alice
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Out of This World
By Keiko Oda
:Chapter Two:
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In the schooling years of Natsume Hyuuga, he had seen a lot of new students walk into the classroom - people of different races, cultures, sizes, shapes and personalities. He had met some who were articulate in ten different languages (including Japanese!), and those who only beheld tongues of English. He had had a seatmate with hair larger than an elephant, and a laboratory partner with braces shinier than diamonds. In the third grade, a transferee was rumored to have had a tail. It was no surprise for Natsume once he found out that that rumor was true. That boy had always been strange.
But not as strange as this new girl seemed to be.
She stood on the classroom platform, wearing an orange, oversized men's blazer over her black uniform and neon-green Converse chucks instead of the prescribed leather black Mary Janes for girls. Her honey-colored hair stuck out in pigtails and her nails were painted red.
The class was in complete silence. Natsume had this gut-feeling that everybody wanted to burst out laughing. Nobody had seen everybody look so ridiculous. Who would dare look like such an idiot in, of all years, HIGH SCHOOL? She looked like an utter freak.
She gave the class a pleasant smile.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, I'm Sakura Mikan from Tokyo City!"
What was once dead silence immediately morphed into endless chatter. The whole class, especially the girls, began buzzing with excitement. Not much have been to the big city, and if ever, only on a day trip. Everybody wanted to get drunk and get lost amongst the bright lights loud music of pure cosmopolitan life.
Narumi-sensei clapped his hands. Silence filled the room.
"You may get acquainted with your new classmate later," he turned to Mikan, "A seat has been prepared for you over there" he told her, pointing to an empty desk next to Ruka's.
Natsume's eyes flickered to the other side of the classroom. He sat in the sixth row, the last one, next to the window. He felt very isolated now, especially now that the new kid would inevitably befriend Ruka.
Along with everybody else, he watched her glide to her seat. The ringlets at the tips of her hair bounced as she walked, and she gave each one of them a smile – including Natsume, who immediately averted his gaze to the window; where he sat next to.
"Now," said Narumi, turning to the chalkboard, "Please turn your books to page 109 and we will begin our lesson"
Natsume didn't. He never did. He leaned back and looked at the new girl. He fished out his manga from his bag and opened it. He looked at her again. He turned the page and gave her another stare. He couldn't stop. There was a need that had erupted inside of him – a need to know who she was, what she liked and disliked, what time she went to bed and what time she got up. He hadn't even met the girl. It was such a peculiar feeling! But the more he thought about it, the more curious he got.
What the hell is wrong with me?
He didn't want to sound like a creep, so he remained silent during lunch.
"What's gotten into you?" asked Ruka, noticing that Natsume hadn't said a word to him since first period.
Natsume shrugged, leafing through the pages of his manga.
Ruka took a bite out of his sandwich. "You know, what –
"Hellooooo princes of Hakodate High!" screamed a voice from the entrance of the cafeteria. Natsume and Ruka looked. It was Kokoroyomi.
The sandy-haired boy ran up to them, and slid over next to Ruka. He was wearing gym clothes from P.E class, and he smelled like morning dew and rain. He had a messy chilidog in one hand and a can of Diet Coke in the other. He looked at Natsume curiously.
"What's up with him, man?" he nudged Ruka.
"I don't know," said Ruka, and mouthed, "He's weird"
"I heard there's a new chick in your class" Koko said, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly.
Natsume's ears perked up.
"Yeah, Sakura Mikan, she's my seatmate," Ruka replied, "She's kinda weird, but real nice"
"Is she hot?" Koko asked eagerly.
Ruka let out a laugh. "Well –
"Like, is it true that she actually wore an orange blazer to class?" came a voice from behind their table. Ruka and Kokoroyomi turned their heads. It was Shouda Sumire, batting her eyelashes at them like a cat.
Before the boys could reply, Sumire hopped next to Natsume. The rest of her gang followed her, and Natsume and Ruka's table was pretty soon filled up with gossipy females with manicured French tips wearing thick mascara and shiny jewelry.
"Yeah" nodded Ruka awkwardly, as several of them turned to him with hungry fan girl eyes.
"Do you think neon blazers are the new style in Tokyo?" inquired a pink-haired Anna to Sumire.
Sumire shook her head. "It's not on the Japan Vogue – and if it was, it's SO last season!"
"Guys, look, the new girl's outside!" said one of the Sumire's friends, beckoning everyone to come over to the window.
Everybody flocked over to the long, cafeteria window that viewed the expanse of woodland that stretched behind the main building of Hakodate High.
"She's soooo weird!" said the girls, and began whispering furiously.
Natsume got up from his seat and peered over the window. His eyes caught view of Mikan immediately. It was easy to spot her – her vivid carroty blazer stood conspicuously amongst the dry, browning leaves. She was sitting down under a tree, popping dumplings into her mouth while she animatedly chatted up the leafless trunk.
"Who in the world talks to a TREE?" spat Sumire, obviously disgusted.
Natsume raised his eyebrows and turned around back to his seat.
Sakura Mikan, WHO the hell are YOU?
o:o:o:o:o:o
By the end of the day, it began to rain. Natsume and Ruka rushed to the parking lot; using their blazers to cover themselves from the rain. Natsume fished out his key from his pocket and unlocked his black pickup truck. Ruka climbed in the front seat and Natsume got into the driver's seat.
"Damn, that's some storm" Ruka said, peering out the window. The rain battered wildly against the car, pelting against the windshield and the windows like there was no tomorrow.
Natsume and Ruka dumped their stuff behind the car and began driving off. As the car approached the bicycle racks, they caught the sight of Mikan, soaked in rainwater. She fumbled through her bike chain, her body shivering in the cold.
"Dude, it's Sakura-san!" Ruka said, nudging Natsume.
"Yeah, I know what I see" said Natsume. He rolled down his window but didn't say anything. Ruka leaned in and called out to her.
"HEY!" his voice was barely audible with all the rain gushing down. "YOU NEED A RIDE??"
Mikan looked at them, her eyes wider than saucers. She didn't say anything, nor did she nod. She simply picked up her bag and jumped into the car.
"Jeez," said Ruka, turning to Mikan, who was hyperventilating, "Were you seriously planning on BIKING with that weather going on outside?"
Mikan shook her head. "I had nothing else" she said in a small voice.
Natsume could smell her from the driver's seat. She smelled like rainwater and mint.
"Lame," shrugged Ruka, "If we didn't pass by, who knows what would've happened?"
"My upholstery wouldn't get drenched" murmured Natsume, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
Ruka laughed, but immediately shut his mouth. Mikan's eyes went wider.
"G-gomenasai! I really didn't mean to intrude!"
Natsume didn't say anything.
"So, where do you live, Sakura-san? We can drop you off"
"I live rather far. You can drop me off in the bus stop if you like" she said shyly.
Ruka thought for a bit, and then his face lit up. "I know! Why don't we all go to my place to chillax for a bit until the rain wears off?" He turned to Mikan. "Is that okay with you, Sakura-san?"
Mikan nodded. "Your friend doesn't talk much" she said, referring to Natsume.
Ruka laughed and looked at Natsume, who grew redder than a tomato.
"That dude ain't the talking type" he said and punched Natsume in the arm.
"Shut up, bastard. I can crash this car and have you decapitated in seconds" Natsume said icily, and took a right turn to Ruka's house.
"Only a joke, man," Ruka chuckled, "Relaxxxxx"
o-o-o-o-o-o
Ruka's house was a warm, homey one. It was a traditional Japanese house, with shoji walls and bamboo mats. Ruka led them to the living room.
"I'll get you a towel," he told Mikan and left her and Natsume there.
While Ruka was away, Natsume didn't bother to talk to Mikan. He made himself comfortable on the carpet and lay on his back. He fished out his manga and continued from where he left off. Mikan sat across him, looking like a drowned rat.
There was much silence in the room – not to mention AWKWARDNESS. Natsume could feel it press against him. He wished Ruka would return and not take his sweet time fetching the girl a towel. He did not dare look at Mikan. But he knew Mikan was looking at him.
He flipped a page.
"Do you ALWAYS read that?" asked Mikan, annoyed.
Natsume didn't say anything.
"Do you ALWAYS read that?" she asked again.
Natsume still ignored her.
Mikan rolled her eyes and snatched the book from Natsume and tossed it to the other side of the room. Natsume looked at her in contempt.
"What the hell was that for??" he yelled, sitting up.
"I asked a question, I expect an answer" Mikan said, crossing her arms and sticking her nose up in the air.
"It's a free country, bitch," Natsume said, "I don't have to answer your dumb questions"
Mikan reddened as she balled her fists. "Don't call me the B word!"
"Bitch. Bitch. Bitch." Natsume said coolly. "I can say it as much as I like, bitch"
Mikan grew red with fury. "What is your problem?!?! You're so rude!!"
"And what is your problem? You're such a baby!" Natsume hissed, mocking her high-pitched voice.
If Ruka hadn't entered at that point, Mikan would've burst into tears. But he had, with fresh towels and some clean, crisp clothes. He looked at Mikan and Natsume curiously.
"I could hear you from upstairs. What's up?" he asked.
Mikan and Natsume didn't say anything – they remained giving each other scathing glares.
"Well!" said Ruka, breaking the silence and turning to Mikan, "Here's some towels, and some clothes. They're my mother's. She won't mind, just as long as you return them tomorrow. You can change in the guest bathroom; it's just down the hallway"
Mikan gave Ruka a heart-warming smile. "Arigato gozaimasu, Nogi-sama!"
Ruka shrugged. "Sure"
Mikan left the room.
"What, do you like her?" Natsume asked, lying down again.
"Nah," replied Ruka, "She's just a friend in need"
"PSSHHH How many times have I heard that line?" Natsume scoffed, resting his hands under his head. He yawned and closed his eyes. "First it's friends...then it's best friends...then it's..."
"Dude," Ruka interrupted, "It's only been a day. I barely know her"
"Yeah sure," Natsume said, smirking. "I need to take a leak. I'll use your bathroom"
"Yeah, use the one upstairs cause Mikan's in the one downstairs"
Natsume left the room and went upstairs. He stretched his arms and turned left to the hallway. And then he saw Mikan, standing in the middle of the hallway, wrapped in a towel.
Natsume stopped dead in his tracks.
He quickly looked away, but his eyes immediately returned to Mikan. The white, damp towel draped around her body clung to her so tightly that he could see her bodily curves. He could feel his cheeks grow hot, but he immediately covered it up by saying:
"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked grudgingly.
"Uh...the water downstairs didn't work..." Mikan began, but continued no longer once she realized that she was wearing nothing more but towel. Her face immediately turned seven shades of red. "Y-YOU PERVERT!"
"What?" Natsume said coolly, "I didn't come up here to check out, of all things, your FLAT CHEST"
"JERK!" Mikan screamed and stormed off.
"Do you even know where the bathroom is, dumbass?" Natsume called out to her.
Mikan turned around, giving him a contemptuous sneer. Natsume gave her one in return – but once he did, the colour of her eyes instantly flashed from dark brown to flickering silver.
It was only a moment before it turned back to its original colour, but it only took a second for Natsume to see it. He took a step back, his eyes widening in shock.
He didn't wait for the girl to say anything; he simply turned back and went downstairs.
o-o-o-o-o-o
When Natsume entered his classroom the next day, he found Ruka and Mikan sitting on their chairs; chatting and laughing like they had been best friends since preschool.
"What the hell" Natsume murmured to himself, as he walked past them and dumped his things on his desk angrily.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!" Ruka called out from the other side of the room.
Natsume rolled his eyes. "Killer all-nighter" he lied, rolling up his sleeves and putting up his legs on his desk.
Ruka got up from his desk and walked over to Natsume. He sat on the desk next to him.
"Dude, she stayed over night"
Natsume almost choked on his own saliva. "What?"
"My mom's so weird. The rain didn't let up till after midnight, right? She insisted that Mikan stayed over"
"Did you guys have fun?" asked Natsume smugly.
Ruka punched his arm. "It wasn't anything like that, man"
"Well did you notice her silver eyes then?"
"What?"
"Look, dude," Natsume whispered, "When I went upstairs to use the bathroom, I saw her – she was wrapped in a towel and –
Ruka burst out laughing. "What the hell? You're kidding me right?"
"Shut up," Natsume hissed, "Anyway, she got all pissed at me for being all perverted and all that shit, and then she gave me this glare – and her eyes turned SILVER"
"Silver?" Ruka scoffed. He burst out laughing. "Maybe she's a unicorn in disguise!!"
"Bastard," Natsume sneered, "I'm serious"
"Nat, I know she's kinda weird, but don't you think SILVER EYES are too – you know – unreal for her?"
"I know what I saw" said Natsume sourly.
"Whatever," Ruka laughed, "And anyway, silver eyes shouldn't be something new to you. I mean, your eye colour is kinda weird too right? Y'know...RED"
Natsume shoved the blonde boy and glared at him. "Do you have a problem with my EYES?"
Ruka said something, but Natsume wasn't listening. He met the gaze of his own reflection in the window. He hated to admit it, but Ruka was right. Natsume was the only one in school with crimson eyes. He didn't understand why his eye colour wasn't like those of the others. Everybody else had blue, green or brown eyes, so why was he given red ones?
He remembered his first day in kindergarten, the kids at the playground made fun of his eye colour.
"Nyanyanya! Why do you have such weird eyes??"
"Are you a monster or something??"
"Get away!!! He might burn us with his laser eyes!"
Elementary and middle school weren't so smooth either. The kids at school would keep a safe distance from him. Nobody would dare cross his path or go up to him and strike up a friendly conversation. He would never ask his parents about his eyes, he would just spite them for giving him such "dumb" ones. It was only in high school where everyone decided to lay back and accept Natsume's eyes – all the guys began buying red contact lenses and the girls even started a fan club of him (the club logo was a red eye). By the second month of freshman year, Natsume's popularity had skyrocketed and he even became more popular than the senior heartthrobs.
But still, secretly, he wished for much more normal-looking eyes.
He blinked hard and looked at his reflection once more. He then turned to Mikan, whom he caught staring at him too. She quickly looked away and hurried out the classroom.
Maybe he and that Mikan girl were much more alike than he thought.
END OF CHAPTER
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