Chapter 2. Rival, eh?

"Geez, you did call him, didn't you? Hotaru…?" Mikan looked at her bestfriend. Hotaru just smiled back at her and went to open the door. "Welcome, Natsume…" Ntasume walked in of Mikan's record room and saw what is the inside of a BSS record room. "So, this is what it is like here…" he thought and he was surprised to see someone he knew that he might see in the place. "Welcome Natsume Hyuuga… to my record room…" Mikan winked at him and caused Natsume to blush. Hotaru saw Natsume's blushing face and suddenly blurted, "Hey, stupid, don't fall in love with her," Natsume looked at her and said, "No… who would fall in love with a girl who wears childlike clothes?" Mikan heard it. "Hey… ne Hotaru! Why did you have such a cruel boyfriend…" Mikan said almost like starting a fight or competition with him. She began record again and Natsume was amazed to hear her beautiful and enchanting voice.

The sunset is passing into darkness
Into the entrance of the cold night
Face down, I ambush you, and at last we've met
It's just the two of us, unbeknownst to anyone else

(From School Days IN09, Let Me Love You – English Translation)

Mikan sang. Natsume looked at Hotaru. "So Hotaru, who is she?" Natsume asked with a monotone. "Yuka Kazumi," she simply answered because he just asked her who she is. "I know her name, of course, but why are you with her and why are you here? What are you to her?" he flooded her with questions. "Not contented eh? What if I say that she's my boyfriend? Ah, I'm just joking… she's my best friend and the star of BSS Studios…" Hotaru answered him then suddenly Mikan spoke childishly, "In short… we're rivals… I'm your rival and you're my rival… in Hotaru's heart and in career!"

Natsume walked closer to Mikan, "Rival, eh? I shall accept your challenge then, Ms. Yuka…" Natsume winked and inched his face closer to hers. "Go away, your pervert jerk!" Mikan pushed him away and blush, "What a cute blushing face you have there," Natsume teased. He love the way he teases girls but her loved this the most, and also Hotaru. "See ya again… my rival… Hotaru, let's go!" Natsume left with Hotaru. "What a day," Mikan sighed.

After a week, Mikan finally finished recording her newest ablum entitled, A Tale of Memories and Melodies, and it was a big success. It ranked 1 in the music album charts, together with another album. "What?! That man's album is also ranked 1? Arggh! I hate it… but let me hear if it's that great to match mine…" Mikan in her normal self murmured loudly while searching the net. She typed, "Natsume Hyuuga – Last Cross album," and click a link where she can listen all of Natsume's songs. She clicked the first song and listened.

Before anything begins to crumble,
You are always by my side, gripping me tightly.
Someday, everything would definitely
Overlap and come together, reminding me of you.

(From Katekyo Hitman REBORN! OP5, Last Cross)

Natsume's voice echoed on her mind. "Natsume… I didn't know that your voice can be this… enchanting…" she thought to herself. "Yeah, his voice is not beautiful… but enchanting… my rival's voice is enchanting…"

- TO BE CONTINUED –

Next Chapter: I'm not falling in love, right?

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I know this chapter is so short but the next chapter is so long. I hope you'll like the next chapter like I do when I wrote the next chapter.