CHAPTER 6: THE DECISION
HOTARU'S POV
I was sleeping peacefully in my bed enjoying the soft mattress where I lay at that moment. I was in the middle of my own wonderland where as far as I can see, everything was full of brand new parts for my inventions, they were calling me to pick them and make another new creation. At the center of it all was a buffet style table full of crab flavored foods. Crab meat, crab soup, crab ice cream and everything I had been wishing for.
I was about to pick one up when something that sounds like a hammer pounding on a wood echoed through my dream. Distracted by the annoying sound, I was forced to leave my wonderland and face the cause of it. That person, thing or whatever it is will surely pay for destroying my wonderful dream. I opened my eyes hastily but the sudden brightness blinded me momentarily. After I adjusted to the light I picked up my baka gun on the bedside table and immediately opened the door, sending the person knocking straight at me.
"What the hell is your problem?!" I shouted at the person who took my wonderful dream away while giving him my infamous glare.
He raised his hands as if in surrender and said, "Chill down, Hotaru. It's just that, don't you think we'll be late? It's already seven thirty in the morning, and our classes' starts at eight!"
"Ruka," I started, "You destroyed my wonderful dream just to say that?" I said menacingly.
"Weren't you the one who said that you hate being late?" he reasoned then continued, "Well, it's fine for me," he said as he put his hands on the back of his neck and started to walk off. I stared at his back for a moment, processing what he had said.
"Matte!" I stopped him and he looked back at me as if he was expecting me to say something he knows I would certainly say.
'Am I that easy to read now?' I asked myself. Even though I knew that he and Mikan are the only ones who can RARELY predict what I will do next. Others, well, others just don't know and will never know what goes around my head.
"We won't really make it?" I asked him knowing full well that the answer is, "Yes, we're going to be late," he said.
'What now?!' I asked myself. 'I would get a tardy mark on my clean record! What excuse should I make?! They wouldn't excuse students who woke up late because of taking care of her best friend together with her boyfriend!' I thought disgusted at the things those malicious teachers and students will think.
I sighed as I ordered Ruka to prepare himself. I also went inside the room to clean and compose myself up while thinking for a reason to make my record clean. After I took a bath, another knock echoed in my thoughts, I glanced at the clock, quarter to seven! 'What should I do?! Absent?! No!' I picked up my baka gun and pointed at the door.
Thinking that the person who was knocking was Ruka, I immediately shoot the person when she opened the door.
'Wait! SHE?!' I helplessly watched the unfortunate person get hit by the upgraded baka gun I made, but that 'she' seems to have good reflexes as she tilted her head a bit to avoid getting hit.
I smirked at the person and said, "Impressive, that was quite a shock."
"Thank you for the compliment," she said as she bowed down and continued, "The breakfast is ready, Madame, I am here to take you to the dining room."
"I see, what is your name, maid?" I asked her; still amused.
"Nobara," she said, "Ibaragi Nobara, Madame."
"Alright, Ibaragi-san, please show me to the dining room," I said as I finished getting dressed.
As we walked down the hallway, I scrutinized her with my stoic gaze. I started to wonder how come she easily avoided my baka gun when Ruka still had a hard time to react. I started to feel like something is not right.
This maid has a wavy mid-length azure locks that ends at her back, below her elbow. She has a smooth and white, like a snow, complexion, and long and slender arms and legs that can pass for a model. Her deep cerulean eyes, gives you chills if you look at first glance, yet it turns into a comfortable feeling when she smiles. She definitely looks like a doll, no doubt about that.
"How about Mikan and Ruka? You won't call them?" I asked suddenly but she doesn't seem surprised by the sudden question.
"They are already there, Madame," she answered.
"I see. You can call me Imai, please avoid calling me Madame," I said to her. 'So the two is already there,' I thought as an idea hit my mind.
'I know how I can be late without dirtying my record,' I smirked at the ingenious idea that only Imai Hotaru can think.
We reached the dining table in silence. I still had the feeling that she's not just a maid, but for now, I must face my problems first. I sat down on the chair and started to eat.
"Join us Nobara-chan," Mikan said as she pointed at the vacant seat at her side.
"Iie, Mikan-chan, I am not really-" Nobara said, not accepting the offer but she was cut off by Mikan.
"Come on, Nobara-chan, I insist," Mikan said as she tapped the chair and smiled at the girl.
"You seem quite close," I was supposed to say the same thing but Ruka beat me to it. I looked at him then turned my questioning gaze at Mikan while observing the maid's reaction.
"Well, I met her at the hospital," Mikan explained then continued, "The nurse, who was taking care of me said she had amnesia due to an accident, the only thing she remembers is her name. Then, I went to her room and I made friends with her."
'A patient, I see,' I threw a glance at her for the last time then resumed to my conference with Mikan.
"Hmmm, that definitely sounds like you, Mikan," I said as I took another bite at the lobster I was eating. 'Anyway, time for my plan!'
"Where's Yuka-san?" I asked. Everybody looked at me as if I asked something I never should have.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked again as I finished the lobster I was eating. I wiped my hands clean then glanced at the clock; eight o' clock.
"Oh, we're definitely late," I said out loud then turned my attention back to them who were quite surprised.
"What's the problem?" I asked when nobody answered my earlier question.
"Well," Mikan started but then she looked away and Ruka continued it for her, "Yuka-san went off earlier because she had an important meeting," he said quietly as he fixed his spoon and fork in the plate, you know, those damn table etiquette that bothers me a lot when eating my favorite crab.
"Oh," I was speechless. Well first of all, Yuka-san never left Mikan alone, especially when eating breakfast, just for a meeting. She had been acting weird since last night. But still, I have to think quickly, or else, my perfect attendance would fly away from my grasp.
"I see," I continued. If Yuka-san is not here then I have to force Mikan to do it, "Mikan- chan," I said and everybody looked at me, once again, weirdly.
"Hotaru-chan," Mikan emphasized the word "chan" than she was supposed to. Still, I waited for her to talk while raising my eyebrows as the cue for her to continue, "what are you planning?'"
'Oh! I forgot she got sharp these past few years,' I thought as I smiled wickedly. She pointed her fork at me and said, "Hah! You are definitely planning something!" she shouted then raised her hands in a cross position that definitely says "NO".
"Mikan, you don't even know what it is. What if you will like my idea?" I said as I look at Ruka for help, but he seemed clueless and just look away then scratched his head while trying to avoid my piercing eyes.
I glared at him and thought, 'you're dead, Ruka Nogi!'
"Fine!" Mikan said, "Spill!"
"Well, I wonder if you would like to go to school with-" I was cut off before I even finished my sentence. 'Not really that surprising,' I thought, 'That's Mikan we're talking about.'
"No!" she exclaimed.
"See, I knew you wou-, WHAT?! But I thought you want to get out of here?" I asked surprised. I definitely thought she would agree and this is so sudden,
'I take it back, not really Mikan at all,' I thought then frowned.
"Why not, Mikan?" I stared at her hard, I know from the very start that she wanted to be normal again, she doesn't want to be secluded from the world anymore, then why is she refusing my offer?!
"I," Mikan started, her eyes were covered by her bangs, "Well?" I asked once again.
"It's just that," she tried desperately to reason out.
"Mikan, just answer me truthfully," I said, 'Damn! Fine! Forget the perfect attendance! Mikan is much important than that,' I said to myself grudgingly. Although that attendance is important, I must say that her reason is much important than my ambition. So then, I have no choice but to focus on her problem.
"Do you want to go or not?" I ask, forgetting the big plan I created before this serious talk.
Everyone at the room waited for Mikan's answer, well, we were the only ones at the room, including Ruka and Nobara, but anyway, we waited for her answer and finally she said, "I don't know."
"Why?" I asked her. If she doesn't know then it is either she really wants to but she can't OR she doesn't want to but she can. That was always the case anyway and that applies to everybody.
"I'm scared," she answered truthfully. I waited for her to continue and she said, "I don't know what I should do, what if everyone will think I'm weird or what if I can't control my emotions that well? There are lot's of what ifs going on in my mind," she said while covering her face with both of her hands.
I let everything sink in then I said, "Then, how would you know if you won't try? Time is running, Mikan," I said to her then I turned my gaze outside, "Do you think it will wait for you? I think you should do things you want, before it runs out and everything will be too late by then," I said.
"Mikan, just do what will make you happy, I'll support you," with that said, I stood up and started to walk towards the door. But before I went out of the dining room completely, I turned around and asked, "Should I call Yuka-san now?"
Mikan looked at me still with hesitation painted in her face. Nobara took her hands then smiled while looking straight at her eyes.. She might have gain some confidence from the action made by Nobara as she looked at me once again, this time, with determination, as she nodded calmly at me. Ruka smiled and so does Nobara who squeezed Mikan's hand and said, "You can definitely do it, Mikan-chan!"
"Oh?" Yuka Azumi said surprised by the sudden phone call she received from Hotaru who was currently in their mansion.
*pause*
"Ah, is that so? Then I can't do anything now, can I?" she said as she smiled whole- heartedly.
*pause*
"Yes, I'll take care of that Hotaru-chan. Please take care of Mikan for me, ne?" she laughed once again then smiled.
*pause*
"Okay then, can I talk to her?" Yuka said then closed her eyes and sighed.
She hadn't eaten breakfast with her precious daughter this morning, and this seems to be the first time that thing ever happened. It's not because she doesn't really want to eat breakfast with her daughter, God knows how much she precious every second with Mikan, it's just that, something that definitely should be put first came up and if she didn't appear on the sais meeting then everything that she and Yukihara had been fighting for will only go to waste.
While waiting for her daughter to pick up the phone, Yuka found herself looking at the family picture taken several years ago, when they were still in the happy, blissful days.
The picture consists of her in her mid- twenties wearing a summer dress and a woven hat with a big red ribbon while smiling brightly at a tall and handsome man in his early- thirties that has silver with a tinge of blue highlighted hair and deep sapphire blue eyes. He was wearing white cotton short with matching white thin polo and he was carrying a little Mikan with little curly pigtails, who wears a green sleeveless dress. Then there was an old man whom Mikan was smiling at.
Yuka smiled at the memory. It was taken on their summer trip in Hawaii. Their last summer trip together, the four of them. If only she hadn't found out about his father's, Mikan's grandfather, deal with that detestable man! She looked away from the photo. Unconsciously, tears formed in her eyes that caused her visions to blur. She hiccupped a bit then wiped her eyes dry.
"It's time to face reality now, and correct these mistakes," Yuka said for the last time but was surprised when somebody talked in the phone.
"What is to be corrected," the voice said, "mom?"
"Mikan!" Yuka was surprised and didn't know what to say. 'If I told her, then it might happen again! I don't want her to have another attack right now!' Yuka thought.
"Dear," Yuka started to explain.
"Yes? Mom?" Mikan said while waiting patiently.
"I just want to tell you, I'm really sorry this morning! I never intended to leave you this breakfast! Really!" Yuka explained, well since leaving Mikan is a mistake for her then she is telling the half-truth, but not the whole- truth.
"Oh, that's fine mom. Hotaru, Ruka and Nobara- chan is with me anyway, so I guess its fine. No need to worry about it, really," Mikan said shrugging the matter off. Yuka thanked the heavens for moving to another topic.
"Well then, take care of yourself in the school, okay?" Yuka said to Mikan.
"Yes, don't worry about that mom. Hotaru's with me so I'm fine," Mikan answered.
"Then, I'll call you later, okay?" Yuka said.
"Okay, Bye," Mikan said then hanged the phone.
Yuka sighed once again and massage her temples. She took the bottled water from the table and emptied it.
"I hope everything turns out fine. Where are you?" Yuka said then looked outside, "Kaoru-neechan."
Beside the family picture was a picture two high school girls, one has long and straight auburn hair with amber eyes and the other has strong deep azure eyes and raven black hair. They wore the same uniform; it's just that the girl with the black hair seems to be a bit older than the one with the brown hair. Both of the girls were smiling happily.
"Let's go Mikan-chan," Nobara said smiling.
"Eh?! You'll be studying too?!" Mikan exclaimed but not overly, since you know her condition.
"Yeah, she'll be going too since I forced her too," Hotaru said then went inside the car. 'That way I can monitor her if something came up.'
"If you, people, want to walk then that's fine with me," Hotaru said but before she closed the car door, the other three had all ready got in.
"That was quite fast," she said stoically. "Ikuso (Let's go)," she said to the driver.
Now they are heading to Alice Academy where Mikan's life would definitely be turned upside down by fate.
"Gambatte ne," Mikan said as she smiled to her self.
"Yeah," the other three agreed.
Somehow, Mikan felt that something will definitely go wrong and her intuition just seems to prove it.
Gomen ne minna-san!!!
I finished this chapeter a long long time ago but I had failed to upload it!!!
Hontou ni gomen!!!
anyweizzz,... I knew you want to read how they met,...
but, you see,...
i really have a problem in how am i going to make their meeting ... "unique"...
so,... please hang on,...
Thank you very much for your everlasting support!!!!
Thankz for the review!!!!
Thankz for the review!!!!
Thankz for the review!!!!
Thankz for the review!!!!
Once again,...
PLZ. REVIEW!!!
PLZ. REVIEW!!!
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PLZ. REVIEW!!!
yeah,.. before I end this,... I recommend "Seigi no Mikata"!!!
It's really cool!!!
you should watch the drama!!!
Shida is so CooL!!!
Kanata's there too!!!^_^