Normal POV:
"We need to talk,"
"About what?"
"Mikan."
"What about her?"
"Why won't you even try?" Ruka asked him. Natsume looked up at the sky. He started walking.
Natsume and Ruka walked in silence. Although Natsume hadn't said a word after Ruka's statement, they both knew where they were heading. They were heading to the hospital.
"Doctor Imai?" Natsume asked a nurse at the register. He knew where Imai would most likely be, but he asked anyway.
"He's in his office," The nurse replied, barely looking up. Natsume and Ruka walked to the room, the same thing that they had did so many times before.
"Natsume-san, Ruka-san." Imai greeted us. He gestured to the two chairs that were lined up against the wall.
"Imai-san," Ruka said with a small smile. Natsume just nodded. The two boys sat down in the chairs, enduring the heavy silence. Imai looked around for something and picked up a clipboard.
"Natsume's life span is decreasing rapidly because of his Alice. He'll live up to 50, in the best case scenario." Imai-san announced, holding the clipboard. The three knew that the best case scenario wouldn't be possible. Natsume still had missions to complete, even though they were now lighter. He had agreed to these missions, so there was no backing out now.
"Hn." Natsume said. Ruka stared at his best friend sadly.
"Well, thanks Doc." Natsume got up from his chair and walked out of the room. Ruka nodded at Imai-san before following Natsume.
"Why?" Natsume asked as they left the hospital. It didn't sound like a question.
"What?" Ruka asked.
"You asked me why, before. About Mikan," Natsume said.
"Ah, yeah."
"This is why." A silence overcame the two as they walked back to the dorms.
"B-but! You still have hope," Ruka protested. Natsume stopped and looked at Ruka with his crimson eyes.
"Do you really believe that?" Natsume asked Ruka in a quiet voice. Ruka remained silent.
Ruka POV:
I remained silent after Natsume's question. I cursed myself silently for saying such a meaningless things, including what I said about Mikan earlier.
"At...least live with no regrets," I said carefully.
"I'll regret leaving people to live by themselves for the rest of their life. That's why it's better to kill two birds with one stone," Natsume said in a flat tone.
"You always think of others, but you never think of yourself Natsume." I replied.
"Shut up. We're done with this topic." Natsume answered in a cold voice. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and stared straight ahead as he walked.
"We could ask Mikan to steal your fire Alice," I suggested.
"Tch. I'll get kicked out of Alice Academy," Natsume said. I kept suggesting alternative ideas, but he shot them all down. It was just a repeat of what happened a few years ago, before Mikan came. Except this time, it wasn't to escape the academy. It was to escape Natsume's fate.
"Get some sleep, rabbit boy." Natsume flashed his brand name smirk.
"Rabbit boy?!" I exclaimed, but I didn't feel offended. I looked up at the sky. It was already dark, and the stars were starting to appear.
"Hey," I heard someone say as I continued to stare at the sky.
"Hotaru," I said, looking at the Ice Queen. Her purple eyes shone in the dark.
"Is Natsume really going to die?" She asked, her face expressionless.
"Of course he is. We all die one day," I replied nervously. Did she know?
"Don't give me any of that nonsense. I hacked into my brother's computer," Hotaru said with a cold voice.
"...Your brother said he has 50 years to live, at best." We exchanged knowing glances.
"No cure?"
"We looked through Alice's history but there's never been a cure."
"I'll help," Hotaru said briskly.
"Help?" BAKA! The baka gun went off, aiming at me.
"Yes, help. Don't make me repeat myself."
"There's no cure, though." I said, confused.
"No cure has been discovered, yet." Hotaru corrected.
"Why are you helping?" I ask her.
"For that baka, of course." Hotaru replies.
"Mikan?" Hotaru turns around and walks away, but I swear I see a flicker of a smile on her face at the sound of Mikan's name.
Normal POV:
"Tsubasa-senpai!" Mikan cried out as she hugged her favorite senpai. She looked like a monkey hanging off a tree.
"Whoa! Mikan!" Tsubasa said with a laugh.
"Where were you?!" Mikan asked. Tsubasa had been missing the past week.
"Ah, I was doing something for the other class." Tsubasa pet Mikan's head.
"Come back to the Special Ability class, Tsubasa-senpai!" Mikan complained.
"Mmm...I might," Tsubasa said. Mikan sniffed and continued hugging him.
"Tch, what a fool." Natsume said as he passed by Tsubasa and Mikan.
"Hey! I heard that!" Mikan yelled. Ruka gave an apologetic nod as he followed behind Natsume.
"Come back here! Whoa- OW!" Mikan landed on her bad foot as she let go of Tsubasa.
"Baka Polka." Natsume continued on walking.
"Ah," Ruka looked back and forth between Mikan and Natsume.
"It's fine, I'll take care of her." Tsubasa assured Ruka. Ruka glanced at Mikan, but ended up following Natsume.
"Ne, Natsume. Are you okay?" Natsume had been in a foul mood since ability class.
"Just Persona," Natsume said. But Natsume had also been irritated by Tsubasa, who had come back from his latest mission. That blue haired guy had been teasing Natsume about Mikan ever since he had come back.
"Oh," Was all Ruka said. Ruka had spent the night yesterday worrying about Natsume and thinking about Hotaru's offer to help.
"Natsume! Ruka-pyon!" Mikan called out. She tripped because of her bad foot and ended up lying on top of Natsume.
"Get off of me," He growled. Mikan's eyes widened. She stood up unsteadily, glaring at Natsume.
"PERVERT!"
"Who's the pervert?" Natsume raised an eyebrow.
"Tsubasa-senpai's going to join the auditions too!"
"What auditions?" Natsume muttered.
"You forgot? I told you about the auditions for becoming a model!" Mikan said with a grin.
"Oh that thing. Its suited for an idiot like Tsubasa,"
"Are you just afraid that you can't pass, and I will?" Tsubasa mocked Natsume as he walked up to them. He had a mischievous look in his eye, and had a teasing tone in his voice.
"Hah. I'd beat you," Natsume said humorlessly.
"Obviously you can't if you don't sign up," Tsubasa replied with a smirk. Natsume was getting more irked by the minute. He knew this was just a trap, but Tsubasa had a way of annoying Natsume.
"Fine, I'll sign up. But if you don't make it through and I do, I swear I'll make you my slave." Natsume's crimson eyes glowed with anger. Tsubasa let out a nervous laugh, probably regretting provoking Natsume.
"Yay! Now Natsume, Ruka-pyon and Tsubasa-senpai are all in!" Mikan gave Tsubasa and Ruka-pyon a hug and tried to hug Natsume. He pushed her off before she could get close. Natsume clicked his tongue and walked away.
Thanks to XxShirayukixX, Analatelle, CherushiG, CrimsonPrincess14, sweet715930, lunaloveday, RockingAngels for either reviewing, favoriting or following!
Enjoyed this chapter? Review! Arigato! (The next few chapters will center around the modeling audition. Won't it be fun to read about Natsume learning how to strut on the runway?)