Summary: When people see Natsume Hyuuga, they see someone who is pure perfection, they see someone they envy, hate, love and admire. But when Natsume Hyuuga looks at his own reflection he sees someone who is imperfect, someone who will never be loved, never accepted and never cared for. However when Mikan Sakura sees Natsume Hyuuga she see's someone who is an imperfect perfection.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice or its characters.
I stared at Anna and Nonoko, who in returned looked bewilderedly at me "What's wrong?" I asked them. I watched as Nonoko shook her head and Anna started to blink rapidly "The real Hyuuga Natsume?" Anna said pointing at Hyuuga, who was standing behind me. "Well, yeah…you said I could bring anyone that I wanted to bring, right?" I said in a questioningly tone while walking past her.
Maybe I shouldn't have asked Hyuuga to come with me, I thought with a pause, if I'd known that Anna would react this way, my thought continued as I caught up with Nonoko, who had been a few steps ahead of the rest of the group.
"She's over reacting" Nonoko told me, I nodded my head "She's the one who insisted that I bring someone" I said in a exhausted tone, taking my seat once we where inside of our karaoke box "I suppose her reaction isn't surprising" Nonoko told me, taking her seat not to far away from me. "Since when have you and Mikan-chan been friends?" I heard Anna ask Hyuuga. Again if this was an anime I would fall out anime style. I lowered my head, Nonoko sensing my distress, quickly changed the subject "So, Anna what do you want to sing?" Nonoko asked her curious cotton candy pink haired younger twin sister. As soon as the distraction was launched Anna was now currently in a debate with Nonoko about what type of songs that they had to sing from. I looked at them and chuckled a little to myself.
"How long have you known them?" Hyuuga asked me. I glanced over to him. I could have sworn that he was on the opposite side of the booth. I blinked a few times at him "Huh? You mean Anna and Nonoko?" I asked him. Hyuuga nodded "Almost a decade" I told him with a pause, tilting my head to the side, pondering back to the day that I had meant the both of them.
"I first met Anna and Nonoko when I was seven years old, I was never well liked by other kids" I told him, chuckling a little "It's funny actually…I met Anna and Nonoko, when I was being bullied by the other kids in our class, but before that I had never spoken to them, and after that day, the three of us had become friends" I told him, staring at Anna and Nonoko as I did. Hyuuga stared at me, though I wasn't looking at him, I could feel his eyes on me. I turned to him. We stared at each other. I started to open my mouth and demand to know why he was staring at me, when Anna cut me off "Mikan! Why don't you sing?" Anna asked me, while handing me the microphone in the process.
I looked down at the microphone, I could feel myself starting to turn red, heat rising up my neck and onto my cheeks "What?" I asked Anna. Anna pushed the microphone closer towards me, in an encouraging swift motion. I slowly reached out and grabbed a hold of the microphone, and stood up, holding the microphone closer to my face. I started to begin singing, stammering every couple of lines. I turned pink when I heard Hyuuga laugh a little, I could feel my eye start to begin twitching.
All was said and done, and when it was time to go. The four of us were standing in the parking lot. Anna and Nonoko walking arm and arm, in front of me and Hyuuga. I listened to the two of them as they chatted amongst themselves. "Mikan are you going to ride with us?" Nonoko asked. I started to open my mouth and tell them yes when Hyuuga cut me off "She's going to ride with me" Hyuuga said grabbing a hold of my forearm and dragging me towards his car "Slow down" I said, looking back at Anna and Nonoko, I could have sworn that the two of them were smiling to themselves.
During the car ride to my house, we stayed in silence, still no words were exchanged. I felt my cell phone start to vibrate in my pocket. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone "Who is it?" Hyuuga asked me "Anna" I said briefly while flipping open the phone, and reading the message that was being displayed on the screen.
'What's going on with you and Hyuuga?' the message read. 'Nothing' I typed and sent the reply. I stared at the cell phone screen, waiting for Anna's reply. 'What was that business about you riding shot gun with him?' the reply asked 'What do you want me to say?' I typed in. 'Explain what it is between the two of you' the reply demanded 'We're just friends' I replied 'Just friends? That's all right…if so, then that's good, I'd hate for you to get involved with him and his crazy psycho fan girls' the brand new text said. I flipped my cell phone closed. His crazy fan girls, I thought.
Hyuuga pulled into my driveway, and stopped the car, turning the headlights off. I turned to Hyuuga "Sorry about today" I told him "My friends…are unique" I told him, playing with my fingers "Its fine" Hyuuga told me. "Sure?" I asked him, Hyuuga just nodded "And I'm sorry about earlier when Anna asked how long we had been friends" I said, watching him carefully "We are friends right?" Hyuuga asked me "Well, yeah" I said briefly. "Then can you do me a favor?" Hyuuga asked me "Sure" I replied. "Could you try not to refer to me so formally?" Hyuuga asked me, I nodded my head "Um, okay…" I said "What should I call you then?" I questioned him. "Just Natsume" he said to me with some sort of emotion that I couldn't quite understand. "Natsume" I said, hiding my facial expression behind my brunette bangs.
I watched as Natsume backed out of the drive, I waved to him, and watched as his car disappeared down the street. I placed my hands on my cheeks, feeling the sudden change in temperature as I repeated Natsume's name again "Natsume" I shook my head and headed for the front door. Natsume and I had just made a break in our friendship, and we we're a bit closer now. But nothing could have prepared me for the intervention that would be fall me the next day.
To Be Continued…