Seven year old Mikan's POV
I was crying really, really hard because Mama yelled at me. I'm going find s-someone who will be m-my friend. I-I know I am. Mama's lying to me.
"Shut up. You're annoying."
I looked up but my tears were making my vision all weird. All I could see was a blurry boy. The boy threw something at me but if wasn't hard, it was a soft piece of cloth, a handkerchief.
"Wipe your eyes with that."
"T-thank you."
I wipe my tears into the handkerchief.
"I'll make sure to clean it and give it back to you."
"It's fine. So why were you crying?"
"My Mama told me that if I wasn't going to have any friends if I didn't play violin really well. And everyone thinks that I'm like my parents."
I looked towards the ground as I tried to fight back the tears and stop myself from whimpering.
"Then they're idiots."
I looked at him. I looked at his face now that I could clearly see it. His black hair was very messy and an I don't care aura surrounded him but the thing that was really interesting was that his eyes were red. I mean seriously have you ever seen a person with red eyes cause I haven't.
I blinked at what he said.
"No one should judge anyone unless they met them or know them well."
I smiled at him. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"Making me feel better. What your name?"
He started thinking, then said," You tell me yours first."
"Mikan, Yukihara Mikan."
"Natsume," he simply said.
"Tell me your full name."
"No."
"Please. Come on I told you mine."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Pretty please."
"No."
"Pretty please with sugar on top?"
He didn't say anything.
"Come on Nat-chan. Tell me."
"If you promise never to call me Nat-chan again."
"I promise. Pinky swear."
"Hyuuga. My name is Hyuuga Natsume."
Two months later…
I started running towards the sakura that me and Natsume always meet by. After we first met we've been really close.
"Natsume! Guess what I got!"
"Hmm," he asked under his manga.
"Guess what I got!"
"Underwear that's not polka dot printed?"
"Meanie, guess again!"
"A brain?"
"Natsume! Guess seriously."
"I don't know what?"
"I got a letter from Onee-chan."
"Interesting."
"In it she asks what's going on. What should I write back to her?"
"That you are a polka-"
"No! Something that doesn't have to do with my underwear."
"Then tell her that you have a friend."
I looked at him and smiled. That's the first time he called me his friend.
"Okay then what else?"
"That you are a po-"
"Stop saying that!"
"Don't deny the truth."
A month later…
"Natsume I brought my violin like you said but why do I need it?"
"I wanted to see how bad at it you are."
"I am not bad at it!"
"Prove it."
I took out my violin and immediately started playing. The song flooded out. It was gentle and kind. It was a song for him. When I was finished I looked at him.
"Well?"
"It's pretty good for a-"
"Don't even finish that sentence. The song. What do you think about the song?"
"It's nice."
"Glad you like it. It's for you."
He gave me a questioning look. "I made it for you. Its called My Memory. It's to let you know that I definitely won't forget you." (This is a song that I don't own.)
"I won't either."
"Pinky swear," I asked holding out my tiny finger.
He looks at it then wraps his finger around it. "Pinky swear."
"Natsume… I've got to go before Mama finds out I left. Same time tomorrow? I'll bring strawberry cake."
"Sure."
I smiled at him and waved goodbye.
And so the next day…
I ran over to the sakura tree. But something was different, there was no Natsume. That's strange, he's always here before me. Something shinny caught my eye. It was on one of the branches. I took it off and it was a silver sakura flower. I opened it and a small piece of paper came out. Written on it said, "I'm sorry Mikan." Inside was a picture of both of us smiling. Then I turn it around and looked at it's back and in pretty writing it said,"I promise I'll never forget you. I'll always be your friend now and forever."
"It's so pretty but why are you sorry Natsume?"
I opened my eyes. Those memories… Why did I dream those memories? Where am I anyway? I looked down at the piece of paper in front of me. Oh, right I was writing a list of what to get everyone for Christmas. For Anna, a cute apron since she likes to cook so much. Then for Nonoko I'll get her a new lab coat. Then for Hotaru a box of crab brains. Yu gets a new book. Ruka gets a new coat and then I'll send Onee-chan a necklace with a letter. Then there's Natsume… um…. This is hard… should I give him a song? Maybe… Or I could give him the strawberry cake that he loves.
"Maybe I should get him both! I need to start working."
I quickly went to the kitchen and grabbed a cook book. Let's see…I'm going to need a lot of things and a lot of practice. And then tomorrow I'm getting the rest of the presents. So first I need to get the measuring stuff out.
After a few hours, a hundred burnt cakes, and 10 fire extinguishers…
"I-I did it."
I collapsed in front of the large cake that took me forever. I looked at my fingers. They had a few burn marks and cuts but this wouldn't have happened if my parents only let me in the kitchen more. Anyway, I'll decorate it next week. Then a week after is the class party then the school Christmas party. It's going to be really fun! Natsume's going to remember me soon. I just know it.
Oh, I need to start composing that song for Natsume. It'll be a bit painful but I'll be able to finish it before Christmas.