Chapter 2: Secret Revealed
The days goes by and all the students and visitors at the Academy are having a lot of fun in the School Festival. They bought foods, items and others. Some tried the activities or attractions being held by the students and some of the visitors met up with old friends. It was the longest School Festival, until finally the last day of the Festival came. On the last day, everybody enjoyed every minute of it, and lived their lives to the fullest. But, some of the students are very busy preparing for the last dance.
To the students of Gakuen Alice, the last dance is very important to them. Because it was believed that the couple dancing together during the last dance will love each other more and the love will last forever. But for some students, last dance is just for fun and symbol of ending the School Festival.
Mikan and her friends were wondering if who would they ask to the last dance. For them, deciding is really hard but still, they have no idea who to ask.
"Maybe I'll just look at the guys later on" Nonoko said.
"Your right" Mikan agreed.
"I have to decide between Ruka and Natsume!" Sumire said in panic.
"Your asking Ruka and Natsume?" Hotaru asked. Sumire was horrified by Hotaru's question and remembered what Mitsukene said before, Oh no! Maybe they are a couple, they're just hiding it from us, she thought.
"A-Ah! N-No! Of course not! I was thinking to ask Koko, besides his my partner" Sumire quickly answered.
"Oh" Hotaru said. "I was just about to tell you to ask Ruka instead", she continued. Sumire was stoned. So they are not a couple after all, she thought. "Why?" she asked.
"Because Natsume is for Mikan. Remember they used to go on missions together." answered Hotaru.
"Oh yes, I remember."
"Hotaru! What are you talking about?" Mikan said who was now crying waterfalls.
"Admit it, you have a thing for Natsume."
"No I don't!" Actually I'm confused about my feelings towards him Mikan thought.
"Don't refuse it."
"How about you Hotaru-chan?" Anna interrupted.
"Huh?"
"You and Ruka?"
"What about us?"
"Aren't you already a couple? You're always together whenever Mikan and Natsume are on missions."
"We're always taking Youichi with us."
"Yeah but not always because Mikan and Natsume are taking Youichi with them more often."
"What? Your dating?" Mikan said with starry eyes.
"No were not. Baka." Hotaru answered. All of her girlfriends looked at her with disbelief. "It is true!" Hotaru insisted.
"Then do you have a thing with him?" asked Anna, all ears were on Hotaru but she just looked at them.
"Well?" Mikan asked her best friend.
At the park, the boys were sitting under a tree happily chatting. Except for Natsume who is reading a manga. Like the ladies, the guys are also talking about the last dance. "I wonder who Anna will ask" said Mitsukene.
"But aren't you guys always together?" asked Yuu.
"They should be, they're partners" said Koko smiling.
"Even though, they're only partners in our class" said Ruka.
"Isn't Koko-senpai dating Anna-senpai?" asked Youichi. When Natsume heard this, he got Youichi's attention.
"Oi, Youichi. Aren't you too young about that matter?"
"No. No I'm not, Onii-chan" answered youichi.
"Yes you are you're still 9 years old. An elementary."
"But I'm already in class B."
"Is that what you learned during those stupid missions?"
"Hai!" Youichi said happily. "I always see you and Mikan-senpai protecting each other." Natsume was stoned. but recovered quickly.
"But we're always protecting you too" Natsume said with a calm tune.
"Oh yeah."
"See?"
"Then I learned it from Hotaru-senpai and Onii-chan!" Youichi said smiling at Ruka. This time, it was Ruka's turn to be stoned.
All of the girls are looking at Hotaru, waiting for answer. She just seat their quietly, her head low. I can't answer them, she thought to herself. But I can't lie to them, especially on Mikan. I know that she's still not sure about her feelings to Natsume and I understand her, but me...
Mikan and the girls are looking at Hotaru, they were so excited to hear Hotaru's answer. To them, every second is like a minute and every minute is like an hour. They've been waiting for at least 3 minutes for Hotaru to talk, but still, no words came out from her mouth.
"Oh yeah, I remember, last year on Hotaru's birthday, when Youichi, Natsume and Mikan are on a mission. Ruka gave Hotaru a gift and Hotaru accepted it giving him a hug" said Yuu.
This time, Ruka was blushing very hard. I think it's about time to tell them the truth. He thought.
"Truth? What truth?" Koko asked. Oh no! He read my mind! Ruka thought with a shock.
"Gomene, I can't help it" Koko apologized.
"So, about the truth thingy, what is it?" asked Mitsukene.
Finally, Hotaru opened her mouth and took a deep breath. All of the girls' smile widened, and they all held the breath. Their eyes green bigger and they were now too close to Hotaru, all of their ears were open, not wanting to miss a word. Hotaru took another seep breath and looked at her friends.
"I can't lie to you guys" she said.
Ruka looked at his friends, this time, Natsume's ears were also opened to what is Ruka about to say. First, Ruka looked at his bestfriend, then Youichi, then Yuu, Mitsukene and Koko. Their eyes were all glued to him, waiting for a word or more to come out from his mouth. he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Well, I think it's really time" he said.
"Yes, we're dating."
Mikan, Sumire, Anna and Nonoko all screamed with excitement. They were happy that finally, Hotaru admitted her true feelings to Ruka. They thought that the two will not get along so well even if they are partners, because, Hotaru is always blackmailing Ruka whenever she wanted.
"I'm happy for you, Hotaru!" Mikan said and hugged her bestfriend.
"How about you and Natsume?" she asked. When Sumire heard this, she looked at Mikan.
"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not sure about my feelings. you all know that we always squabble about things."
"But do you like him?" asked Anna.
"I don't know."
"Maybe you should ask him to the last dance tonight" Nanako advised.
"Yeah, why don't you try?" Sumire asked.
"I'll try..."
"You can do it" Hotaru comforted. Mikan smiled at her.
"I knew it!" said Koko.
"So it is true!" said Mitsukene.
"They're dating!" said Yuu.
"Nii-chan is in love!" said Youichi.
"Hn" Natsume was a little bit happy. It's a good thing he's dating Imai.
"But didn't you tell us? and why is she blackmailing you?" asked Yuu.
"Well, we all know what Imai is. Her worlds revolves around money, and if she's selling my photos. She can price it as high as 500 rabbits."
"But, she can just take a photo of you with a good post, not a stolen shot that is very embarrassing", Mitsukene exclaimed.
"She tried, but only few people are buying it" Ruka is gloomy.
"Aww... Poor Ruka" said Koko patting his friend's back.
"Well, I saw Ruka-nii-chan kissing Hotaru-senpai the other day" Youichi said thinking about the details. Ruka was stoned again.
"You did?" asked Natsume.
"Yeah! Before the School Festival. Remember when all the dangerous ability class was called at the middle school principal's shrine and I didn't show up?"
"Oh that? Yeah."
"Well, I was on my way, but I saw Ruka-nii-chan and Hotaru-senpai walking together alone. So I spied on them."
"And?" asked Koko and Mitsukene who are listening eagerly.
"And, after a while, I saw them kissing passionately. Actually, I've got a photo of them" and he shpwed a pecture of Hotaru and Ruka kissing who were locked in each others arms.
"Youichi! That's embarrassing! Give it to me!" Ruka shouted and tried to snatch the picture. But Youichi released an evil spirit and it scared Ruka.
"You have to buy it."
"Buy it?"
"Yes, so that I can buy Howalon."
"But your monthly allowance is 300 rabbits! Isn't that enough?"
"No."
"What?"
"You know how I love them nii-chan."
"How much is that Yo-chan?" Mitsukene and Koko asked in unison with a black aura coming out of them and their evil smile that looks creepy.
"I had a bad feeling that they'll put it at their collection again" Yuu said to Natsume.
"Yeah" said Natsume.
"200 rabbits!" said Youichi.
"We'll take it!" Mitsukene said.
"Yes, we'll take it!"
"Wait! Don't!" said Yuu and everybody looked at him.
"Why?" Koko and Mitsukene said in unison.
"That's also Imai you're messing with!" he explained. When the two looked at the picture, they were stoned.
"Your right!" they exclaimed.
"Youichi, your not serious at selling that right?" Yuu asked.
"Of course I'm serious!"
"Okay, fine. I'll buy it Youichi" said Ruka.
"Yehey! Howalon! Here I come!" Youichi said and gave the picture to Ruka and got the money, when he received the money, he pulled Yuu with him and they went to central town to buy howalon. Koko and Mitsukene went with them.
When Ruka and Natsume are already alone, they went under a sakura tree ans sat there. They were just sitting quietly. Natsume was reading manga and Ruka was observing the picture that was on his hand, I can't believe Youichi, he was just Hotaru, he thought. Finally, Ruka broke the silence between him and Natsume.
"Hey Natsume, can you burn this picture please? I don't want Hotaru to see it", he said and gave the picture to Natsume.
"Okay", he got the picture and burned it.
"So, how are things between you and Mikan?"
"Huh?"
"You and Mikan?"
"Oh, well, I didn't confess to her yet."
"Oh, well, I think she likes you back too."
"I don't think so."
"Why?"
'Because, we always squabble and she keeps on saying she hates me."
"That's because you keep calling her polka dot."
"Ichigo-kara too" Natsume added.
"Natsume, you need to stop name calling her."
"I can't help it."
"Your excuse is that, you don't want her to see the darkness that you are into."
"Ah~"
"But in the end, she still lightens up the darkness in you."
"Yes, your right but-"
"Natsume, it's time to go out of that darkness, your light, Mikan, is already there."
"I think your right" Natsume said and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Ruka asked and stood up also.
"Let's get ready for tonight. I'll confess to Mikan" he answered.
Mikan and Hotaru were at Mikan's special room. The two are very busy for the last dance. Earlier, they went to the central town to buy things to wear. They've entered every store that's selling shoes., gowns and make-ups and they bought everything they wanted. All of the gowns are neatly lying on Mikan's king size bed. they can't decide which one to use. Finally, Hotaru picked a purple, backless long gown. The color of the gown matched her eyes and she looked pretty on it. Mikan, on the other hand picked a red gown; the gown was strapless and was above her knee showing off her legs.
next thing, Mikan picked a nude colored 3 inches high heels shoes so that her red gown will pop out. Hotaru then picked a 2 1/2 inches high heels shoes that is color black. Hotaru placed a hair pin in her hair with a butterfly on it. Mikan, n the other hand, tied up her hair, allowing some of her locks falling down. Next, they put on a make-up and they're ready to go.
The ball was held at the park, as requested by most of the students. In the middle of the park, there was a bonfire that will be lit when the occasion starts. The tables were placed randomly at the park, the buffet was set at one side and the center of the park was left empty except from the bonfire. In 30 minutes, the occasion will star, and at this time, all of the students from elementary to highschool are on their way to the park.
When the students were already there, the occasion which is also a closing ceremony for the school festival started. Most of the students already busied themselves on the buffet area, and some were happily dancing with companions.
Mikan, Hotaru, Sumire, Anna and Nonoko arrived at the ball at the same time and sat on one of the tables. They were all so happy and excited for the night, and they are also looking for the guys. Anna is wearing a blue gown that looks simple but elegant and paired it up with blue 3 inches high heels shoes, Sumire is wearing a magenta gown with little ruffles at the edge and paired it up with a black 3 1/2 inches high heels shoes, while Anna wore a black glamorous gown and black 2 inches high heels and she tied her hair up in a ponytail.
A few minutes later. the boys came. All of the girls are staring at them with admiration, esp to Natsume, Ruka and the 19 years old Youichi. When they sat down on one of the tables that are near to Mikan's table, all of the boys' fangirls were surrounding them asking them to a dance. Sumire was pissed off by this, because they were so loud, so she decided to scare the girls away. Mikan and the others just sweat dropped.
After a while, Ruka stood and asked Mikan on a dance. At first, Mikan was nervous because it's her bestfriend's boyfriend. When Hotaru noticed this, she smiled at Mikan.
"Baka, it's impolite of you if you don't accept Ruka's proposal to dance with you" she said.
"B-but he's your boyfriend Hotaru" Mikan said looking at Hotaru.
"Hey, don't worry, it's just a dance" Ruka said and pulled Mikan away.
Next, Yuu asked Sumire to dance and Mitsukene asked Nonoko and Koko asked Anna and Youichi asked Hotaru. So, only Natsume was left their, looking at Mikan.
While Hotaru and Youichi were dancing, they got a glimpse of Natsume, sitting quietly and ignoring his fangirls. At first, they thought, he just wanted to sit around, but they noticed that he's been looking at Mikan who is now dancing with Yuu. Finally, Youichi transformed back to his 9 years old form and took Hotaru to Natsume.
"Nii-chan, why don't you dance with Hotaru-senpai?"
"Eh?"
"I'm tired, so dance with her nii-chan, then with Sumire-senpai, then with Anna-senpai and with Nonoko-senpai" Youichi said.
"Okay" Natsume said and took Hotaru's arm ad took her to the dance floor.
"So, tell me, do you like Mikan?" Hotaru asked while they are dancing.
"What?"
"Well, ever since that baka entered this academy, you've changed."
"What made you say that?"
"I know that Mikan's smile and her positive side had helped you a little, you see, if she's no here, maybe your worlds is still dark."
"Hn."
"I just wanted to ask you one thing."
"What's that?" Natsume asked and begun to twirl Hotaru to Koko.
But before Hotaru and Nonoko crossed each other, she told her request to Natsume, "Please take care of her, you know how fragile she is" That thing keeps on rining on Natsume's head. I promise, I'll take care of her, he thought.
Finally, it was time to the last dance. When the host said that each of everyone may pick the person they wanted to dance with, all of Mikan's fanboys gathered around her asking her for the last dance. But, Mikan was not paying attention, she's busy thinking about Natsume. There's no way I can ask him to the last dance now, I'm sure he'll just pick one of his fangirls, she thought. She was just about to pick randomly among her fanboys when the host caught their attention "Mr. Hyuuga Natsume, here, wants to dance with his partner, not only in class but also in missions, Miss Sakura Mikan!" mikan was stunned by what she heard, and all of her fanboys were cursing Natsume, also, Natsume's fangirls to Mikan.
When Natsume took Mikan's hand, they danced gracefully looking at each other's eyes deeply. To them, it seems they were the only person that was on the ball. "Why would you choose me?" Mikan asked after a while.
"Why? You don't want to dance with your partner?"
"It's not that, it's just that, most of your fangirls really wanted to dance with you."
"I don't care about them, and stop talking about them, Polka."
"You still haven't change."
"Hn."
When the music stops, everyone was surprised because the music was changed, when they looked at the Dj, he was gone and the person controlling the music was the 19 years old Youichi. He changed the song from waltz to rock and held the microphone near hi mouth, "Hey! It's the longest school fest ever! And it's the first time for the dangerous class to participate in the activity! Now, it will be also the first time to break the tradition of the last dance! Let's get the party started!" Everybody was amazed by what he did, because no one dared to break the rule. Youichi went to the dance floor and took Mikan away from Natsume.
"Nii-chan! Can I borrow her?"
"Sure, besides I don't own her", Natsume said and leave.
"What did he say? You're not yet his girlfriend?" Youichi asked Mikan.
"No! What are you talking about? Let's dance!" and everybody danced non-stop. Just as the students were having the time of their lives. The music, again stopped.
This time, the students were about to complain, when they see the 3 principals, and the teachers on stage. Everyone was stoned and scared as to what might happen. The look on their faces were scary.
"Alright, who started this?" Narumi asked the students.
"We all know that you all break the rules, as for that, you will be all finished if you don't tell us who started it" Misaki-sensei said.
"As what they said. i have nothing to say for you now" Noda said and instantly disappeared, maybe he went to the past of future, who knows?
"Well, I did it", Youichi said and tranformed back to his 6 years old look and went on stage.
"Why?" asked Misaki.
"Just for fun" he shrugged and laughed nervously.
"You know that you broke the tradition."
"I know. I'm sorry!"
"Okay, since you were all enjoying, you may continue the party, but..." Naru said and looked at the 3 principals.
"You will still be punished" said Jinno.
"Yes, and we'll think of your punishment" said the middle school principal.
"As for now, you can enjoy the night" said the high school principal.
Youichi was happy and signaled the Dj to play a song and thus, the party continued. They all danced non-stop, even the higher-ups and the sensei's had the time of their lives, and you can see all the happy faces of each and everyone in the academy.