Chapter 5: Hotaru's Departure
Hotaru's POV
It was a bright and sunny Tuesday, the birds were chirping, students were chattering and laughing outside, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky either. Almost everybody would say it was a perfect day, and yes, you heard me right, ALMOST everybody, because for Imai Hotaru, this would be one of the most dreadful and least anticipated days of her life.
Why would this happen to me? Are they banishing me or something? I don't even know why I'm being sent off to some place in Europe, only to invent inventions for greedy scientists who'd most likely have currency signs for eyes. I'm putting the blame on the principal too. It's his fault he's such a greedy and cruel idiot too.
I look down on the sealed box on my desk; it was an invention I was working on all night. It was worth a large sum of money, and I'm not sure because I can't really know how much people would be willing to pay to get their hands on this machine, but even so, today is the day I would be giving this priceless device to a person very important to me, for free. No extra fees, no interest, no nothing.
"Aminatsu, I'm leaving. Please take charge of arranging my things for my departure later."
"Right away, Hotaru-sama."
I pick up the box on my way out and take in a deep breath, hoping for the best.
"Hotaru!" Mikan says with a smile on her face. She never exclaimed it out to the world like she used to before, but now that Hyuuga's gone, Mikan's energy level kind of dropped to a mere 40%, instead of the usual 200%. But nevertheless, she still never forgets to greet everyone with a smile on her face, and although it may not be the same stupid smile she always wore back then, this smile never failed to brighten up our now dimmer classroom even just by a bit.
"Hey there, baka. How's it going?" I tell her with a milder tone while she puts her arm around me.
"Eh? Hotaru's not going to hit me today?"
"Mikan, I have something for you."
I take out the device from the box, and place it on my desk, arousing a few people's attention because of the machine's colorful exterior and numerous beeping sounds.
"What is it?"
"It's a device that let's you see the person you want to see the most." I explain indifferently while I get a light punch on the arm by Mikan.
"Funny, Hotaru, why do you have to invent such a machine? It's true that I want to see Jii-chan, but I don't really get why you'd have to go through this much trouble to make a machine for me. Now that's just silly!" Mikan chuckles, half-heartedly, because she's not really in a place right now where she can laugh freely from the heart, like she used to before.
"If you don't want it, then I can always take it back. This would be worth millions in El Salvador…"
"No. It's absolutely perfect. I would treasure it with my life. Thank you, Hotaru."
Mikan reaches out and hugs me with an angelic expression her face. It felt so warm that it made me want to cry.
"Good morning class!"
Argh, interrupted and yet somehow saved by Narumi. I was somehow one second away from tearing out, but I gratefully looked down and blinked my eyes to stop the tears the moment Narumi came in through the door.
"Sit down, sit down. Right now I have a very important announcement to make. Your classmate -"
"Imai? Imai Hotaru? The principal is requesting your presence at his office before your departure for Nijmegen today at 10 AM. Is there an Imai Hotaru here?" A teacher comes bustling through the door while reading something from a clipboard.
The whole class turns to look at me with questioning eyes, all but one. Mikan was looking at the teacher with confused eyes filled with fear and shock.
"What do you mean 'departure'?! Is this some kind of joke? Tell me you're lying. Please tell me you're lying!"
"Mikan-chan…" began Narumi, only to be cut off again by Mikan.
"Hotaru, are you leaving?"
I swallow in nervously while Mikan looks at me with those shockingly bright eyes, which were now filled with tears.
"Yes, I'm sorry Mikan. I couldn't tell you, because I knew what would happen if I told you I was leaving you again. And if told you about that, I'd have to use my horse hoof gloves to shoot you all the way to the Northern Woods to stop you from bugging me again…" I explained with a sorry look on my eyes.
"But, Hotaru…" Her tears were welling out and they started falling down her cheeks.
I get up from my seat then go over to where Mikan was sitting, and hug her. I could feel her tears wetting my sleeves, and I'm pretty sure she could feel my own tears wetting her sleeves, too.
"Hotaru, you're crying…"
"I know Mikan. But always remember that you can see me through that clairvoyant screen I gave you, and I'll be coming back in five months, that's not too long…"
"Not for you it is, but for me it will be…" Mikan said through her sobs.
"It won't be, I promise." I said soothingly as I patted her back. From over her shoulder, I could see our classmates staring at us with mixed feelings on their faces.
Iinchou, Nonoko, Anna, and Sumire were looking at us with teary expressions. Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Mochu, Koko, and Kitsunume were glancing at us with solemnly shocked expressions. I could bet they were thinking how a cold person like me could even produce tears, and at the same time, grieving for my departure too. And I look Ruka while Mikan was wiping my tears, he had this pained expression on his face, but his eyes held this message saying "I'll protect and watch over her while you're gone. I promise."
I give him a small smile, and pat Mikan's head for the last time.
"I'll be back soon, promise."
"Bye Hotaru." And soon enough, the whole class joined in gloomily while I was walking over to the door. I take one last look at the class and see Mikan give me a reassuring smile telling me to be strong. I smile at her back and finally step outside the classroom.
My thoughts have been awfully fast-paced today, but now that I got reassurance from Mikan, and Ruka, too, I knew that things would be all right. I just knew it.