So here I am, back with another chapter. It's fast forwarded, just to let you know. I don't want all of you to be surprised because of it when you read it.

So, here you guys go! I hope you enjoy it!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice. Higuchi-sensei does. I only own this story plot and my randomly made up characters.

Selfless

~Chapter 3~

"Seriously? Polka-dots?"

Mikan flinched as she pulled down her oh-so short uniform skirt. That's what she hated about it; it was so short that you could practically see the girls' underwear. The person who made the uniforms must have been a real pervert.

Standing up, she tried to calm her furious blush down. "Sh-shut up you perv!"

Twirling around, she found herself face to face with a smirking Natsume, his eyes lit up in amusement.

"That's such a childish design. You should go with lace sometime," Natsume's smirk widened as he saw the completely livid look on Mikan's face.

"What the heck is wrong with you? You shouldn't go peeking at girls' panties!" Mikan growled.

"I wasn't peeking. You showed them to me."

"Ugh!"

"Is that even a real word?"

"Just shut up!"

Mikan twirled on her heel and stomped off towards the school, trying not to scream in frustration. When he first came, she didn't know how much of a perv he could be. At first, she thought that he'd be sweet since he was always so quiet. But, no! He had to be one of the most annoying excuses of a guy instead!

Mikan huffed and managed to calm herself down. There was no way she'd let him get to her head. Especially if this is the first time she's seen him in a couple weeks. She'd rather get along with him so that she didn't miss him as much as when he disappeared after they fought.

Mikan had noticed that Natsume was coming to school much more often than when he did in middle school. He has been attending for a few months now as the winter season began to stroll over. And sometimes, he'd come to school for one week straight. She was happy about this. She and him got a lot closer because of this. But they'd still argue and tease each other… Or more like Natsume always found something to tease her about.

But then, there were those times when Natsume would disappear for a couple days or a week or two. She would always be worried for him, and when he would come back, she'd always feel relieved. She was happy when he was with her. She'd always shower him with hugs the day he returned.

And then there were those other times when they would argue and he would disappear the next day. She'd feel absolutely horrible and become worried for him. She always wondered if she was one of the reasons as to why he disappeared. And it always made her feel horrible. She'd miss Natsume terribly and wish in her heart for him to come back so that she could apologize for yelling at him (and he'd also apologize for the weird and perverted thing he did to her in his own way).

Mikan sighed, a small smile making its way onto her face as the pair walked into their first class of that day. She was happy he was there. No matter how much he got on her nerves.

Natsume's eyes slipped to Mikan's figure half way across the room. She was diligently doing her work, like how a good student would do. He hid a smile as he looked down at his own desk, writing down his own answers for the assignment that was given for their English Honors class. He didn't know why some of the others at his group table thought that all of this was so hard. It was fairly easy to him.

As the bell rang, Natsume packed up his things and slung his bag over his shoulder. He's gotten pretty used to everything since he's attended a lot more than what was usual this year. His parents had been very happy when he came home the first day he attended and found him smiling like a maniac. So, they tried their best to allow Natsume to stay at school more often than usual. This made Natsume ecstatic. He was grateful to his parents. But he was still worried and wanted to help them all he could.

"Natsume!" He heard Mikan call as she made her way to his side as they exited the classroom. "Wait up!"

Natsume put his hand in his pocket and turned around half way to look at Mikan. "Hurry up. I don't want to be late to class because of your slow butt."

"Shut up, I'm not slow and you know it," Mikan grinned playfully as she lightly hit Natsume's shoulder. "Now let's go!"

Natsume sighed and smiled. She was so cute.

Just as the two were passing the office, a worker came out and spotted Natsume without a uniform. He never was able to get one. And whenever Mikan offered to help, he'd always turn her down, his pride getting the best of him. If she did that for him, he'd get so embarrassed.

"Excuse me, young man!" the office worker called, jogging her way over to the two.

"Yes?" Natsume said as politely as his personality would let him.

"Why aren't you wearing your uniform?"

Just as Natsume was about to reply, the worker cut him off. "There isn't any excuse for not wearing your uniform. You are in so much trouble young man-"

"Excuse me, ma'am," Mikan piped in, stepping slightly in front of Natsume, "but you're quite mistaken. Natsume here, he… he can't exactly afford one-"

"Then he shouldn't be coming to this school." This office worker was pissing Mikan off.

"I'll buy one for him." Mikan said, determined, serious.

The office worker looked startled. "Excuse me?"

"You're very excused."

"Young lady, I do not appreciate how you are back talking me!"

"And I do not appreciate how you are making a huge scene in front of the student body just to embarrass my friend here. You could very well take me to the office and call my parents; I don't care. They'd side with me because they know that I wouldn't talk this way unless it was completely necessary. You are practically bullying my friend with the snide comments you are making and you could very well be fired from you position as a hallway monitor for this school. So please, let us be so that I'll be able to get my friend the things he needs for this school."

Natsume stared at Mikan, stunned. The way she handled the situation was so…wow. It was like she was used to this and knew the situation at hand so well that she could worm her way out of it as easily as snapping her fingers. Where in the world had she learned to diss an adult so politely?

Shocked, the woman could only nod. Mikan took this as a 'warning' and she grabbed Natsume's hand and dragged him off towards the office, ignoring the awed looks that were being given to her from the woman, Natsume, and the rest of the student body that had stopped to watch. She sighed. She could practically here the rumors about that spreading around school already.

"W-what are you doing?" she heard Natsume stutter.

She giggled. This was the first time she's heard him stutter like that. She thought it was… cute. "I'm getting you a uniform, silly! We don't want another thing like that happening, now do we?"

Natsume could only shake his head, still trying to compose himself from Mikan's little speech.

Soon, they were at the front desk, Mikan asking for a school uniform for Natsume, telling the worker the correct size. And once she got it, she handed it to Natsume.

"Thanks," he muttered, looking down at the clothes that was placed in his arms.

"You're welcome. Now go get changed!" Mikan pushed him into the boys bathroom and waited outside.

She turned towards the door as it opened once more, Natsume stepping out with a plastic bag for his street clothes and trying to fix his tie. Mikan fought down the blush rising to her cheeks. He looked so… handsome.

She stepped forward to fix Natsume's tie for him, seeing as he was having a difficult time with it.

Natsume blushed, turning his head away from her while placing his hands in his pockets. He spied the office lady looking at the two of them. And when their eyes made contact, she grinned and winked, thinking of the two as a cute 'couple'. Natsume, knowing her thoughts, blushed even more and avoided contact with the lady as she chuckled lightly beneath her breath.

If only that were true, Natsume thought to himself. He'd be happy his entire life if they really were together.

"Done," Mikan sighed, giving Natsume a smile. Luckily, his blush was under control by now.

Natsume nodded, unable to say anything for the thought that his voice might waver.

Mikan stood back and looked Natsume up and down, making him, once again, battle with a rising blush. "Well, don't you look snazzy!"

Natsume cleared his throat. "Y-yeah. Let's just get to class." He cursed himself for stuttering again.

"Here you two, go!" the office lady called. "You should take this to class. Sessions already started."

Natsume watched Mikan walk over and take the hall pass, her thanking the lady profusely. But, when she didn't come back for a little, Natsume made his way to the conversing pair and grabbed Mikan's hand, leading her out of the office while excusing the two of them.

"Natsume!" Mikan whined.

"If you haven't noticed, we need to get back to class," Natsume said.

Mikan sighed. "Fine."

"Mimi!"

"Sup, Koko!" Mikan laughed as she was swept into a spinning embrace with her best friend.

Natsume tried not to strangle Koko for getting so close to Mikan. He had no right to! Yeah, he was her best friend, but so what? It didn't mean that he could put his filthy hands all over her!

He sighed as he sat down, leaning back on a pillar. He couldn't do anything about it. If he did hurt him, she'd get mad. And he wouldn't want that. If he did, then maybe she'd stop hugging him whenever he returned from a week of illness, work, or both. He always liked it when she gave him attention. Especially her hugs and cuddles. He liked the feeling of her small figure in his arms.

He heard a shriek before he felt a familiar body fall onto his lap. Blinking, he looked down and saw Mikan herself, the middle of her body cushioned with his legs from her fall. But, with her arms and legs dangling off of him, he noticed they didn't have the same protection.

Carefully, Natsume flipped her over and sat her down on his lap, taking a look at her knees and elbows. She was fine except for a pretty nasty looking scratch on her right knee.

Shifting her in his arms, he swept her up as he stood, grabbing his and her things before he started walking off.

"H-hey!" Mikan gasped, wrapping her arms around Natsume with the fear of falling.

"I'm taking her to the nurse's office." Natsume called to the group of friends that were worrying for their bubbly friend.

"I'll come too!" A voice called; a voice that Natsume wished wasn't present: Koko.

Natsume sighed as he let Koko take their bags from Natsume as they walked towards the office. They ignored the stares they were receiving- Mikan blushing profusely- and entered the office. Ignoring the same lady that had mistaken Mikan and Natsume as a couple, they walked towards the nurse's room.

"Oh, what happened here?" the nurse asked as Natsume gently placed Mikan on a bed.

"She tripped and scraped her knee." Natsume replied for her.

"Well, I'll fix her right up! You two wait out there for a little, okay?"

Natsume and Koko nodded as they went out of the door, letting it close gently behind them. They leaned on the wall, surrounded by an awkward, uncomfortable silence.

Koko was the one to break it. "I know you like her."

Natsume looked at him, incredulous. "What?"

"You like her and you know it," Koko said, childishly crossing his arms.

"No I-"

"Stop trying to lie," Koko laughed. "It's actually very obvious. I'm not very surprised that Mikan hasn't noticed. She never does until it's too late."

Natsume raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Koko stared at him, wide eyed. "You mean you haven't seen it?"

"Seen what?"

Koko sighed and looked at the blank, white wall before the two. Natsume did the same.

"Mikan... she has many admirers," Koko began. "And every, like, six weeks, one of them would confess. She's always turned them down. She's always said she didn't feel that way for any of them. She's way too innocent for her own good, and she doesn't know what guys feel for her until she'd figure it out; which is probably a day or two before he confesses."

They were silent for a little while, the only thing that kept it from being deathly quiet was the clock's ticking at the breaths of the two boys. "So you like her too?" Natsume finally asked.

Koko turned to face Natsume, a surprised look on his face. "Are you kidding me? She's like a little sister to me! And liking my own sister would be disgusting!"

"Hn."

Koko laughed. "Don't worry, I won't tell her."

Natsume looked at Koko with an annoyed look.

Koko grinned. "I'll leave the confessing to you."

Natsume sighed, wiping the sweat off of his brow as he placed another order on the counter. "Order up!"

School had let out a few hours ago, and Natsume immediately made his way to his part time job: an assistant chef.

The owner of the small restaurant was a kind old couple, offering jobs to anyone who would accept. And, luckily for him, that included 15 year olds. In the economy today, there were barely any jobs for teens because of the fact that everyone who has went into retirement had to get a job again and that the people straight out of college couldn't snag another job except for the little ones that teens would get for summer jobs.

He'd found it yesterday when he was wandering the streets, just fired from another job. He had felt sad and dejected that he couldn't even think about how his parents would look like when he got 'home'. But he didn't need to fret when they got out of the restaurant and offered him job.

And today was his first day on the job. So far, the kitchen staff liked him. He had yet to meet the floor staff- the ones who put on the roller skates and served all of the customers. But he was sure that they'd get along… well, as long as he didn't mess anything up.

"Thanks!" a very, very familiar voice said as they took the platter and skated away.

And just before the girl was out of sight, Natsume caught sight of familiar, silky brown hair.

"Let's have you meet the others, alright?" the owners, Mister and Misses Miyazaki said as they led Natsume out the kitchen.

Right now, the waiters and waitresses were saving up their energy, as it was the calm before the 'after movie rush'- families came from the movies and got dinner here a lot, therefore having the time gain such a name.

As they stepped through the door, a name they called made Natsume's heart beat faster: "Mikan!"

~Chapter 3 End~

So, it's finished! I hope you liked it!

I guess that I'm not gonna get ten reviews huh? Well, that's okay! I'm very thankful to all of those who have reviewed for me and tell me how I'm doing! So, I thank all of you! XD

And speaking of reviews, I'd like to thank all of those who have sent in a review and/or added me to their faves! Sorry, my e-mail is weird, so I don't really get to list out who exactly added me to alerts and favorites.

And I am very sorry for not listing down your names. I would, but I'm in sort of a rush. So, here's an answer to one of the questions that I have gotten in my reviews:

No, I haven't spoken to him yet, but I really plan to. The next time I see him (hopefully soon), I want to go up and talk to him. I really want to become friends with him and tell him he was inspiration to this story. I want him to feel welcome to join any group of people he likes if he puts his mind to it. :)

Thank you all once again! I'm very thankful! :D

I'll see you all later, ne? And make sure to REVIEW!

~xXPaintingRealityXx logging off! :D