Mikan's POV
It's been a while since I've been to Central Town. Things haven't really changed. Everything's still like I remember it.
"Mikan?"
"Yeah?"
"Shouldn't we hurry up? You've still got extra practice lessons don't you," Rou asked.
"Its fine, for some reason Koizumi-sensei isn't forcing me to go for a while. So we can have fun today."
"I see. "
Rou and I are alone since Misaki and Tsubasa suddenly decided to go see a movie and then Nobara said she had to go somewhere. But where would she go? We went to the candy store that sold Howalon and bought a couple of boxes.
I opened a box and handed one of the cloud like pieces of candy to Rou. "Try one Rou."
He took the candy from my hand and slowly took a bite out of it. "It's good I guess."
"Be honest. Really, maybe it was a good thing that Nobara kept going on and on and on…"
"I get it. It's good. Now that I think about it, speaking of Nobara where is she?"
"I thought you knew? Oh well maybe she made a friend here or something. Anyway you got any ideas about a song for the contest?"
"All I know is that we probably should go with our different instruments, just to give these students a bit of a surprise."
"Definitely, Misaki on the synthesis, Tsubasa with his drums, Nobara and you-"
"Will probably be on guitars. Then you should sing."
"Me? Is that really a good idea? What if I get nervous and forget the lyrics?"
"You performed in front of millions of people and got the highest grade in singing out of the five of us. This way you can finally speak your mind in front of other people. Besides it's been a while since I heard you sing."
"I'll sing then but we still need a song."
"We'll think of something."
Ah… being with Rou really makes me feel more relaxed about things.
Time for Natsume's POV
"Come on Natsume-kun, hurry up and chose," Nobara said.
She said that I should get my own guitar to practice with. I've already got people to help form a band with. Ruka, Yuu, and Koko. I know Koko but he was the only one who could play the drums well.
"Fine that one."
"It took an hour just for you to choose that one. Now, oh shoot!"
She suddenly tried to hide behind a drum set. Why did she-? I looked out the window and saw Mikan with that guy. And she was smiling at him. Why can't she smile at me like that? Then he kissed her on the cheek.
"Um… Natsume…"
"I'm definitely going to beat that guy. Oi, Nobara give me more lessons."
"O-okay? Can you just do one thing? Calm down you're releasing flames. Get your band mates and I'll help you guys practice, make a song, and everything. As long as I can get Mikan to listen to it it'll probably be fine. What do you want to say in your song?"
"Sorry."
"Okay, now you want her to hear it right?"
"Obviously. Sorry for the person I was to her," I said as I paid for the guitar.
"Do you want her to believe you?"
"Yeah. Why are you asking me these questions?"
"You'll see."
She took out her phone pushed a couple of buttons and closed it.
"Just texting Mikan that I'm going," she answered to my confused look. Then I took out my phone and told the guys to meet me in the music room.
Mikan's POV
I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket and took it out. A text from Nobara.
I'm heading back to do some practice for next month's concert. I'll be in the dorm later. ^^
I texted back: Be sure to help with the song. We'll save some Howalon for you.
And send. I closed the phone and said," Nobara's going practice. I wanted her to enjoy our day off."
"Her loss. Might as well her Howalon."
"Don't, I said I'll save her some. So what'd wanna do now?"
"Let's find you an outfit for the contest."
"I won't wear some dress. I wear them all the time for our concerts."
"Then it won't be a dress. Not like it matters you look good in anything."
I could feel my face getting warmer. Then we went inside a rather gothic looking shop. Too stiff, can't move easily, ugh! No, just no. Way too short, shows too much… This will be good for covering the scars on my wrists. Fingerless gloves, they'll go perfectly with my heels that I'm forced to wear. Oh, a dark blue tank top and black pleated skirt. That'll look great on Nobara. Then the red plaid skirt and a black off the shoulder shirt with a red rose for Onee-chan. Why is it so much easier to choose stuff for other people?
"Mikan, why don't you try this on?"
"Hmm," I asked as I turned to see what Rou was holding. A long black tube top and black pants. Not bad. It looks pretty comfortable and matches the gloves.
"Perfect. Now why do you know my sizes?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"No. Come on let's get these and go."
We have outfit but we still need a song. Probably would be good to think of a theme first.
"Thank you very much. Please come again."
"Rou hold the bags."
"I'm already holding all of your candy and there s four boxes of it!"
"I was joking," I told him. Then I heard someone crying. I looked around and saw a small black haired girl crying.
"How could he?"
I walked over to her. "You okay?"
She looked up at me. Her eyes were a bright crimson filled with tears. "Can you tell me what happened," I asked as I sat beside her.
"Nothing," she said as she wiped tears from her eyes.
"You're crying. How can nothing do that to you," I asked as I took a candy box from Rou.
"There's no re-"
She stopped when she saw the Howalon in my hands. "When you're sad sweet things can help."
She slowly took it from me and ate it.
"Now can you tell me what happen?"
"I just saw my boyfriend with another girl and when he saw me he said that we're through. He does this every time! When the girl breaks up with him he gives me a song and begs me to take him back and I say yes every time."
"You need more than a song. This time don't say yes. If he constantly does this he doesn't really love you."
"But he was the only person who won't freak out about my brother. Every girl in my class hates me just because my brother dumped them and every boy is afraid of him. I just wanna know if I belong cause I feel like I don't."
"Who's your brother?"
"Hyuuga Natsume. My name's Hyuuga Aoi."
It just had to be him didn't it? Aoi really seems broken. There's a lot of girls that go through this. They need more than a love song. That's it!
"Aoi-chan, you know about the music competion between Alice and Toudon?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Come to the performance and make sure that guy is there. You'll be in for a surprise."
I stood up and started to walk away with Rou but Aoi asked something, "Wait, who are you?"
"You'll find out," I said as I walked away with Rou.
"Got an idea?"
"It would be good idea if I could do something for that girl. She's in a broken state. I think I'll give her a gift."
"You're so nice. So you have a basic idea of the lyrics?"
"And the tune. It's going to be perfect."