Hello! Sorry for the late update. I had noooo internet!:( I died. So sad! Anyway, I hope you like this new chapter! Enjoy.

And as promised…I dedicate this chapter to:

KOALAS - LOCK. AND. LOAD

-Thank you for your awesome review. I love it!:D

And to everyone who reviewed not only my last chapter, but also the past chapters, THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!

High School Sweethearts

Written by:

13ISMYNUMBER

Chapter 26

A New Game

"Just because I was there the first time doesn't mean I'll be there again. You missed me once; I took that as my cue to leave."

Hotaru Imai

Famous Ballerina Back in Japan

Hotaru read the headlines over and over again. And her instincts were right once more. It was no other than her.

"Hana Sakurano." Hotaru said as she placed the newspaper on the table. She resumed eating her breakfast with her mother, Amanda.

"Hotaru." Amanda said as a maid took away her plate. Hotaru looked up at her mother, waiting for her to continue.

"I'm sure you've seen Tsubaki lately." Amanda started.

Hotaru doesn't like where this is going. "If this is about siblings and arrivals, please cut to the chase, mother." She said as she drank her tea.

Amanda heaved a sigh and pursed her lips; thinking hard of how she would break the news to her daughter. And when she finally thought of the perfect words to say, Hotaru beat her to it and said, "Subaru's coming home."

Hotaru stood up and Amanda's eyes followed her. Hotaru grabbed her bag and took out her keys from her pockets and headed for the door while saying, "Because she's here too, that's why."

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

It had been days since Nonoko's flight and tonight Sumire shall take her leave. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the girls decided to meet up since Sumire wanted to have lunch with them.

Anna pushed her covers and stretched. The maids already opened the curtains for her and she knew that it was really going to be a beautiful morning. She pushed her legs off the bed and stood up. She headed for the bathroom to do some morning routines.

Once done, and still on her pajamas, she headed downstairs for some breakfast, only to find out that the maids were not around. 'Then who opened my curtains?' She wondered. She then heard some noises inside the kitchen and decided to check it out.

"Who's there? I know karate!" Anna shouted as she slowly pushed the doors of her kitchen. Once the door was fully open, she saw Kitsuname with flour in his face trying his best to mix something in a bowl.

"What are you doing here?" Anna said as she slowly went to Kitsuname's side.

"Trying to make you breakfast." Kitsuname said as he stopped what he was doing and faced Anna. He smiled a smile that could be seen with a kid. A kid pretending that he didn't do anything wrong.

Anna smiled and laughed. She looked at the bowl and said, "How about you just treat me outside for breakfast and next time, I'll teach you how to cook."

Kitsuname likes the idea. He lifted Anna on the counter and trapped her with his arms. He moved his face close to Anna and said, "I'd like that idea."

Anna placed her hands on his cheeks and said, "I'm so glad that our relationship is working out."

Kitsuname moved away and his face turned serious. "Anna. What if your grandmother decides I'm not good enough?"

Anna removed her hands from his face and her face fell.

"I need you to promise me, that you would always be by my side. No matter what you hear, what you see, I need you to promise me that you'll talk to me about it first. And if you're hurting or anything or not happy anymore…you have to let me know.

"Because Anna, I can't…I can't…I don't want to lose you. Not now, not ever." Kitsuname said as he held both her hands in his. He inched closer and closer to her face and whispered, "Cause where you are…is where I want to be."

And he kissed her. Anna's eyes closed on its own, and Kitsuname's hand instantly went to the back of her head.

And the deck released another sweet romantic card. This is a fairytale that no one would want to close the book on.

And as their lips part, Kitsuname said the words he never thought he'll say, "I love you."

Anna hugged him tight and Kitsuname carried her off of the counter. She kissed his cheek and whispered with so much happiness, "I promise to stay with you because I love you too."

The eleventh card has been revealed.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Sumire flipped her hair as she walked down the mall, heading for the restaurant that she told her cousins to meet up. Her shades were still on and everyone who passed by looked at her. "Look, mama, I think she's an actress!" A child pointed at her.

Sumire got used to this. Everywhere she would go, people would mistake her as an actress. She was beautiful. She knew that. She was rich. Everybody knew that. She was a walking and talking Barbie doll. A girl who lived the perfect life, that was who Sumire Shouda.

Next to Mikan, she knew she would still stand out. Mikan was beautiful, she had to admit too. She was a beautiful brunette, and she was a beautiful dark head.

Somehow, she knew that anybody would give anything to be them…to be related to an Uchiha. But in their world, everything has its price. And the price of their beauty and wealth is their shattered past, broken present and unsure future.

"An Uchiha would always deserve so much better. You need to be in utter perfection." Sumire remembered her grandmother's words. She was five back then. She didn't fully understand but as time pass by, as they started growing up. The world started teaching her what those words meant and for once, she started to think that she was higher than the others.

"But when you're on top of the world, the only way you're going is down." Sumire whispered to herself. And this is down for her. At least, that's what she believes.

"S!" Mikan shouted as she walked towards her. "You ready for your flight in—" Mikan paused to look at her watch, "3 hours?"

Sumire smiled, removed her sunglasses and said, "Yes, I am."

"Well. Shall we enjoy your last 3 hours in Japan with us?" Hotaru said as she started dragging both Mikan and Sumire inside the resto. Anna and Misaki were already seated and were already ordering.

"So, are you excited to see L.A.?" Anna said as she gave the menu back to the waiter.

"A little. I decided to study fashion in L.A. and start my own line." Sumire said proudly.

"I knew it!" Misaki said laughing.

"Will Tsubaki say her goodbyes? Will she meet you here?" Hotaru asked as the waiter placed their drinks on the table.

Sumire took a sip from her drink and said, "No. I'll be meeting her at the airport."

"Oh. That's just sad. I guess, we'll just visit you guys in L.A. sometime this summer." Mikan said.

"That'll be great. Anyway," Sumire took out envelopes from her bag and placed them on the table. "I want you all to have the time of your life while I'm having mine."

"Anna. I want you to go to Singapore and Brazil to eat exotic food and just travel with Kits. Right after graduation, I want you two to go, okay?" Sumire said as she handed her the envelope.

"Misaki, I first thought of just giving you a new pair of shoes or a bag but then I remembered that you'll be traveling around Rome for a whole year. Lucky you. No school. So, I decided to give you this." Sumire said as she handed it to Misaki. "Open it." Sumire said.

Misaki opened the envelope and took out the folded paper inside. "I always knew you wanted to have bartending lessons. You were always amazed out how bottles were thrown into the sky. I paid for it. I want you to learn something while you're in Rome!"

Misaki squealed and hugged the paper. It was an acceptance letter to a school in Rome.

"Hotaru, I know that you and Ruka are going well. And I saw that Hana is back in town? I have two tickets to her show, bring Ruka with you…and finally tell him why you're so mad at your brother. He needs to know you better, honey. And this might be a great step for you." Sumire said as she gave the envelope to Hotaru. Hotaru just stared at the envelope for a second and said, "Yeah, you're right. I need to be honest with him for he has been with me."

Sumire smiled knowing that Hotaru really wants to work things out with Ruka. She turned to her left to look at Mikan. She handed her two envelopes. "One is for you…and one is for Koko. Give it to him. I want for him to at least know what I feel."

"Got it. I'll make sure he'll have it soon." Mikan said as she placed Koko's letter in her bag. The envelope had a 'Best Friend' written in bold letters.

"The one for you, I decided that after your heartbreaking story with Natsume, you should visit Natsuke's grave. I found out that he was buried in Hokkaido. The address is inside. I also placed my best friend inside—my credit card. Buy a ticket whenever you decided that you're ready to see him." Sumire said and then she hugged Mikan tightly. "I hope that would clear your head."

"Thanks, S. This means so much to mo, to us." Mikan said, hugging her back.

The food came and all Sumire could say was, "I need to watch for my girls, of course!"

And everybody laughed at Sumire…even Hotaru.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Sumire wiped her tears and hugged her cousins one last time. Tsubaki did the same.

"Take care, okay?" Sumire said as she placed her shades carefully back on. Tsubaki placed an arm around her and said to the girls, "We'll be back. Don't worry!"

And with that said, Sumire and Tsubaki headed off. Sumire knew in her heart that what she's doing is for the best. She just hoped that when she arrives in L.A., she could really start anew, just like how she hoped when she first arrived in Japan.

She looked back at her cousins and waved goodbye and breathed in.

'The next time they see me, I'll be good as new.' Sumire thought as she happily continued walking side by side her sister.

Mikan wiped her tears and took out the envelope for Koko. She looked at the girls and said, "We've got a letter to send, girls."

"Send to who?" Someone said behind them. Everyone looked at where the voice was going and there they saw Kokoro Yome.

"What are you doing here?" Misaki said obviously surprised to see him.

"Did you just arrive?" Anna said, being surprised too at Koko's sudden appearance.

Koko grinned at them and walked a little bit closer to them. "I have a flight in an hour. I arrived just in time to see Sumire off." Koko said answering the two girls' questions.

"Flight? Where are you going?" Hotaru said to him.

Koko just smiled. He took the envelope from Mikan's hand and said, "I believe this is mine."

"How did you know?" Mikan asked, trying to hide her surprise from him.

"Because there's only one person who has this hand writing and that person only has one best friend—me." Koko said as he played with the envelope.

"You didn't answer my question, Yome." Hotaru said, annoyed.

"To Los Angeles." Koko said. He smirked at them. "Unlike Yuu, I have a backbone. I waited so long to tell Sumire I love her, and I'm not just going to sit around and wait for her. If she needs to make a decision, I need to at least give it a try to show her that she should choose me. I would die if I just wait for her and do nothing…even if in the end, she might choose Quin." His voice turned from proud to sad. He looked down and then back at the girls, his smirk back in his face.

He took out a plane ticket from his back pocket and said, "Maybe you better hide this letter, Mikan."

"What? Why?" Mikan said as Koko handed her the letter.

"I need to hear from her the words she wrote in this letter. I don't want to just see it; I need to hear it from her. I want to hear it from her." Koko said.

A guy came and handed him his suitcase. Koko looked at his watch and said, "Well. I'm off. I'll see you all soon, okay? Take care of yourselves."

Koko started walking away from them and all the girls watched in awe for how brave he is. He then halted and turned to them. "Oh. And Mikan…even if Natsume lied to you, I believe he really does love you. Not as Natsuke, not as you childhood friend, but as him. The man you met, that's the real Natsume."

The twelfth card has been revealed. The deck is prepared to show more.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Mikan turned off her engine, Oh how she missed riding with Sumire. She laughed at herself, missing a person who just left a few hours ago. Mikan opened her door and went down. She headed for the front door but then she saw Natsume standing a few feet away.

"What are you doing here?" Mikan said as she glared at him. "If you think I'm ready to talk to you, think again."

"Mikan, just hear me out." Natsume said as he walked swiftly to Mikan's side. Mikan took a few steps back. "Please. Look, I'm sorry."

"Oh, you're sorry? For what? Wasting my time, breaking my heart or being a shitty person all together?" Mikan said in a tone that really hurts Natsume.

Natsume tried again. "Yes, for all of the above. I know, I messed up and I know you hate me but…" Natsume said. "Just listen, okay?"

Mikan stood her ground and said, "Go ahead. But if you tell me to take you back, I am seriously out of here." She pointed back at her door with her thumb.

Natsume took a deep breath and said, "I'm not asking for you to take me back. I'm just hoping that maybe you could forgive me and make amends."

Mikan chuckled. "Forgive you? Make amends? After what you did to me?" Mikan said, pissed at what she was hearing right now.

"I know, it's not easy but please, just do me this favor and I will stop bugging you." Natsume begged.

"How about you just stop bugging me? Period." Mikan bit back as her reply.

Natsume stepped forward and tried to touch her but Mikan pushed her away. The lump on Mikan's throat was back, and she can no longer hold back the tears anymore. She took a few steps back away from Natsume and took a deep breath.

"I want to be your friend too. I want to forgive you and forget everything. But I can't, I just can't because every single time I see you, I remember how much I love you and then realize that I miss you and then there's a throb in my heart again, knowing that you broke my heart." Mikan paused to wipe her tears away. She took another deep breath.

"I hope that when I say 'I love you', it could melt the pain away, make me forget and just bring me back into your arms again. But it can't because the pain is still there…my heart is still broken. I'm still broken." Mikan said as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I love you. I love you so much." Natsume said as he too cried in front of Mikan.

Mikan shook her head and continued stepping back. She reached her door and said, "You lied through your teeth, and for that…fuck your feelings."

And before Natsume could process what was happening, Mikan's door was already closed. And all he could do was stand there and cry because now, he really knew…he broke her real good.

Because sometimes, no matter how much you love a person when you're hurting too much and unconsciously breaking inside…walking away could still be the best option.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

A man in a limousine looked out his window. 'Home.' He thought.

He then heard his phone ringing.

"Hello?" He said in a monotone.

"She has a show tomorrow night. We have reserved V.I.P. tickets for you, sir." The man on the other line said.

"That's great. Send it to my home." He replied. He ended the call and continued looking out the window. His previous thoughts running back to him…and then he remembered her.

'Hana. Just wait for me.' He thought once more.

The thirteenth card of the deck has been revealed. But the cards had been mixed and shuffled once more, and a new game is starting. But this time, Fate has different plans.

High School Sweethearts by 13 is my number

Hotaru walked the halls of her mansion and entered the library. Her family has been, forever, fond of books. As she closed the door and walked a few steps away from the door, her eyes never left the person she saw.

"So, you're really here? I knew it." Hotaru said her voice in monotone.

The man turned and smirked at her and said, "You're not glad to see me, sister?"

Hotaru continued to walk towards him and said, "You're here because she's here too, Subaru."

Subaru took a sit on the couch and took out a black folder. "Take a sit." He said to Hotaru.

Hotaru slowly walked to a seat and sat on it. She looked at her brother and waited for him to speak. Subaru slid the folder in front of her; Hotaru opened it and read what was inside.

"Sign it." Subaru said, handing her the pen.

Hotaru closed the folder and said, "No."

"What do you mean no?" Subaru said. He cannot believe Hotaru is refusing such a wonderful offer.

"It means I decline. I don't want to. I refuse. Do I need to say more?" Hotaru said as she took the pen from his hands closed. She stood up and took her bag and was ready to leave.

"I am giving you all of my shares in dad's company. This is what you wanted all along! It's right here, in front of you. All you have to do is sign it." Subaru said as she too stood up and waved the folder in front of her.

Hotaru stood still and her face was still nonchalant. "And I don't want it." She said in a flat tone.

Subaru chuckled and said, "So, it's true. You are in love. It's because of that Nogi boy, isn't it?"

Hotaru rolled her eyes and said, "So, grandmother decided to actually make me as her next target? She sent you, didn't she?"

"No. I decided this myself, Hotaru, but she updated me from time to time." Subaru said as he leaned back on the table. Hotaru just smirked.

"It's because she's here too… and you now know that she achieved her dreams. So, you want to get her back." Hotaru stated as a fact.

Subaru looked away from her sister.

"Do you really think that after all these years she would just forget how you pushed her away, and take you back? What do you have to offer, anyway? You're nothing without these shares of yours." Hotaru said as she took the folder from her brother's hand and threw it on the floor.

Subaru looked at the folder on the floor and then back at Hotaru. "And you think that Nogi boy is something or someone already? You act as if you've already achieved so much!" Subaru shouted at her.

"Ruka Nogi will be someone. And that someone would be the person I love. And yes, I have achieved so much, so much than you could ever achieve. I learned to fight for what I feel and not for what I think is right just because the society expects me to." Hotaru bit back at Subaru.

"You go to every single show she has, wherever it may be. You're obsessed with her. But you see, she's already someone, and you are nothing but an Imai." Hotaru said with a smirk on her face.

"You're an Imai too." Subaru said.

"Yeah, the only difference between us is that unlike you, I have someone who loves me for me." Hotaru replied.

Subaru walked towards the folder and picked it up. He walked back to Hotaru and pushed her to sit back down. He opened his pan and placed it beside the folder in front of Hotaru. He said, "Just take it. It was always meant for you."

Hotaru looked up at her brother. She was not going to give up…and so was he. "You really thought it was that easy, huh? You thought you could play the same game with me that grandmother used with you. She knew you loved Hana, and she knew Hana loved her dream. So you, being the big ass and no back boner that you are, thought that if you stood out of her way, she'll achieve it because grandmother manipulated you to.

"So, now you're using my feelings so that you'll get what you want—Hana. Well, you should have had a plan B, brother. What if I say no? What will you do? You wanted to be the perfect son to dad so badly, well there you are. Suck it up 'cause I'm done trying to get your attention, especially now that I have Ruka."

"Don't act as if you know so much!" Subaru said as he tried to control his temper.

Hotaru stood up once more and this time she was determined to leave her brother. "Well then, don't act as if you own me 'cause you don't. I'm not signing the paper and you can't make me."

She walked away but Subaru grabbed her by the arm and said, "I need to win her back, Hotaru. Please, sign it. Please."

Hotaru removed her arm from her brother's grip. She glanced at how desperate he was. She took breath and decided to stand her ground. She was no longer going to be a shadow to her brother…no, she just has had enough. She looked straight ahead and said with a flat voice, "Just because I was there the first time doesn't mean I'll be there again. You missed me once; I took that as my cue to leave."

Done!:D

This was only about 9 pages long. I wanted to write my usual which is about 10 to 11 buuuuut, I was having writer's block every now and then as I was writing this story.:|

Anyway, I already wrote a plan on how this story would end. I'm hoping to have 30 chapters? Or if ever… something less than 40!:)) HAHAHA.

I don't know, we'll see, okay?

Please do review!

Note: I would like to apologize if my grammar or my pronouns are wrong, sometimes, I just miss that. Sorry. I work in the night between 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. in the morning on this story so I'm kind of...tired?:)) HAHAHA. Anyway. Thank you! Sorry.

Stay safe.

Love,

13ismynumber