A/N: I AM ALIVE AND WELL. Yes, it may be hard to believe, since I haven't updated this story in about . . . eight months? Nine months? But I am back and BETTER THAN EVER. (Not really, I'm the same as always . . . unfortunately.) Nevertheless, here is your update, dear readers. It's short, but I wanted to get something up. Hopefully, another update will be coming your way very, very soon. ;D

Disclaimer: Despite being back and better than ever (but not really), I still do not own Gakuen Alice.


Monday, November 27th7:52 AM – Hyuuga Corporations Headquarters, Tokyo

Could there be a worse time to spill coffee on your new blouse and send your friend into the icy grasp of your brother alone? Definitely not, Aoi decided as she hurried to the ladies' room on the ground floor of the towering, glass building that was Hyuuga Corporations' main office.

She shuddered as her mind replayed the five seconds in which her shoes had betrayed her, tripping her as she ascended the front steps of the building.

At least none of it got on Mikan. Aoi sighed. So much for my plan to introduce her to Natsume . . . Well, I'm sure she'll be fine anyway. I hope.


7:56 AM – The Elevator

Mikan drummed her fingers on the polished silver railing as she watched the floor numbers tick by. She absentmindedly took a sip of the cup of black coffee that Aoi had shoved at her and grimaced. I'll never understand people who drink coffee black. 18 . . . 19 . . . 20 . . . Ding.

The sleek doors slid open, revealing a spacious, light-filled hallway. As her eyes adjusted, she saw a row of black chairs, on which were perched several women finger-combing their hair and pulling on their already low-cut shirts. Oh, how lovely. There's a fan club.

A door further down the hallway clicked open, and a blond in a miniskirt and kitten heels strutted out, followed by a man with a rather displeased look on his face.

"He obviously doesn't know what to look for in a secretary," the woman declared, flipping her pin-straight hair and sending a wave of noxiously floral perfume through the air. She threw a business card at the man behind her and said, "He'll be needing that."

She quickly gave each of the women in the room a snobby up-and-down, stopping at Mikan. "You know, dressing like a schoolgirl slut won't help you get the position. Natsume and I happen to know each other personally, and I assure you that sixteen year-olds with tiny skirts aren't his type."

Mikan lifted an eyebrow and replied casually, "Twenty-four with a law degree, actually. I'm sure he doesn't like hypocritical forty year-olds with fake tans and absolutely revolting perfume either."

"How dare you! I'm thirty-one, for your information. Only three years older than Natsume-kun." The blonde tilted her nose up at Mikan and sat down in one of the chairs. "Well, we'll see what his type is. Why don't you go in next? Hmm?"

"With pleasure," the brunette responded coolly. The man, obviously an employee at the company, ushered her to the door.

So what exactly am I getting myself into?


8:00 AM – The Office of Hyuuga Natsume, President and C.E.O. of Hyuuga Corps.

"Enter," a voice called.

I opened the door and walked in, keeping my eyes on the floor. When I finally looked up, I almost dropped my jaw in shock.

Sitting behind the desk and in front of a glass wall overlooking Tokyo was quite possibly the most handsome man I had ever set eyes upon. I immediately dropped my gaze. Aoi would have to pay for this. Why wouldn't she at least tell me that my future boss would be drop-dead-gorgeous?

I looked up at this Hyuuga Natsume and waited for him to address me. After more than a few seconds of silence in which we stared at each other, I teasingly asked, "What's the matter? Surprised to see someone wearing appropriate clothing to an interview?"

"Not exactly." He stood up and walked over to me. "I can't help it if other people are eager to impress, " he said, referring to the rather skimpily dressed group of women waiting outside.

A pause.

"Is that coffee?" Before I could answer, he took the cup from my hand, downing half of it in one swallow . . .

"You know I've drunk out of tha—"

. . . and promptly spitting it back out. "What is this? It's disgusting! Gritty . . . and lukewarm at that."

Correction: Aoi neglected to mention not only that my future boss was handsome, but that he was a handsome jerk. Well, my ex-future boss, now, I mentally chuckled.

"I'm so sorry, sir. Or should I say, your royal highness? I came here for a job interview, not to bring you coffee. And I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave without completing the interview either." I turned around.

"Would you mind getting my coffee before you go, then?" he asked, with a cheeky grin on his face.

I sighed, turned back around . . .

"Here."

. . . and promptly dumped the rest of the "disgustingly lukewarm" coffee in his face.

"Consider it done." I made my way to the door, opened it, stepped out of Hyuuga Natsume's office, and closed the door with a satisfied look on my face.

To my surprise, the forty, er, thirty-one year-old woman had apparently already left. Well, I'm out of coffee anyway.

I dropped the plastic cup into a nearby trashcan and got on the elevator again. Time to explain things to Aoi . . . This'll be pleasant.


A/N: I'll be back with another update soon, but in the meantime . . . Why not write me a little review? Please? I won't ask for more than four reviews before I put up the next update, since I do feel horribly guilty about leaving you all hanging for so long.

See you soon. :)