If I had a choice, without hesitation, I would choose to live the same life again. Another chance would mean living another life. But that would mean becoming someone else—not me. It would be different from everything that defines me.
And that was something I would never want…
But what if you were forcibly taken from your own life and made to live another one? What if you were forced to become someone you didn't want to be, someone you were never meant to be? You are the only chosen one, and the decision has already been made for you. What then? Would you try to escape this fate?
What if you were in my place—what would you do?
You don't know? Well, I understand. It's okay. If so, let me tell you...
My name is Mikan Sakura, ten years old. I have brown hair and olive-green eyes. I live a good life—a mother and a father, a cute dog, a small house with a garden with plenty of trees. A beautiful picture, right? Yes, it was a happy, peaceful picture. And I was happy too, as long as I was there with them. But everything was shattered into pieces by the hands of a man who destroyed it all. I was the only one who survived.
It all began the day I met that man…
He had short black hair and cold gray eyes that made me shiver the moment I saw them. That cold and hateful person...
That morning, I waved goodbye to my parents with a big smile on my face, heading to school in a cheerful mood. I had the usual problems with my math teacher—he scolded me, and my friends laughed. But it was fun. We spent some time studying in the library after class. After school, I walked home, humming a tune, my heart light and carefree. Then, out of nowhere, he appeared in front of me. His eyes were ice-cold, staring through me with a piercing, terrifying intensity.
He said: "You are one of the chosen ones. You're coming with me. Or else… you'll regret it." The moment I saw him, I was paralyzed. I could barely understand what he was saying—I was too frightened.
A second later, instinct took over, and I was running for my life. I knew he was dangerous. But he didn't chase me. I made the mistake of turning back to look.
His expression was dark as death itself. I had never seen so much hate in a person before. It froze me to the core…
I immediately took my secret shortcut road and ran as fast as I could. I reached home, slammed the door shut, and collapsed against the nearest wall. My breathing was so heavy it hurt my throat, but my heart was even worse—it was pounding like it would burst!
With all my fear, I screamed what was in my heart. "Mom! Dad! Someone tried to kidnap me! It was so scary!" I waited, but no sound came. I got up and hurried upstairs. "Mom!"
I could hear my blood rushing in my ears. I looked around, but they weren't there. 'Where are they?' I thought, trying to stay calm. "I have to calm down first." I whispered to myself. I went to the kitchen, hoping some water might help me relax. But I hadn't prepared for what I was about to find…
When I saw my parents, I froze like stone. At first, I couldn't comprehend it. It was a nightmare beyond any I could have imagined. And then I understood it was real…
From the depths of my being, I screamed.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
My parents was lying there on the floor, their bodies in pools of blood! I fell to my knees. "MOM!" But there was no reply. She was dead! I turned to my father. "DAD!" He stared back at me—lifeless. Their empty, vacant eyes made bile rise in my throat. I don't know how long I stood there, frozen. My mind was empty and ringing. Suddenly I found myself running outside, he was there. The man was watching me, a cruel smirk twisting his face. My tears began to flow as I realized what he had done.
"How could you!" I whispered, my voice breaking.
"You should have listened to me. I warned you, didn't I?" he said, pointing at my dog. My little dog lay at his feet lifelessly. He was only a year old, his once pure white fur now matted with red. My poor dog…
Anger boiled over inside me. I screamed, "What have you done?!" He laughed at my fury. "Now it's your turn."
Just then, three men appeared between us. They wore black clothing and masks. One of them glanced at me. The other two nodded to each other, and then two of them began fighting the man, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I couldn't understand what was happening, but I didn't care anymore. I just sat there, numb and lifeless. The one who'd glanced at me approached and said softly, "Don't worry. We're here to save you."
I couldn't respond. They were already too late. My entire family was gone. When he saw I wasn't responding, he wrapped me gently in his arms and whispered, "Everything is going to be okay."
He looked over at the fight and sneered at the murderer who killed my family. The murderer, realizing he was outnumbered, began to retreat. He glared at us with hateful eyes. "This isn't over. I swear I will get her!" With that, he disappeared.
The other two men approached us, and one of them said, "Let's go." They nodded, and my vision grew blurry. When it cleared, we were standing before massive doors with towering walls. Two men were guarding before the doors. The guards stepped forward and pushed the doors open effortlessly, as if they weighed nothing. I was already closing my eyes. I didn't want to see or remember any of it anymore. My tears started streaming down my cheeks.
I had lost everything in an instant. How could this happen? I wanted to scream, but it wouldn't bring them back. The image of my parents' lifeless bodies flashed through my mind, and I opened my eyes suddenly.
"I need to give my parents a proper funeral. Let me go!" I pleaded. But the one carrying me shook his head. "I'm sorry, but that's already being taken care of." I sobbed as pain tore through my heart.
"Mom… Dad… I'm so sorry," I whispered. I felt despair overcoming me. If I hadn't been a coward, maybe this wouldn't have happened. I should have gone with him. This was all my fault… I fainted feeling drowned.
I woke up feeling dizzy. I tried to focus my eyes, but everything was still blurry. I closed them, struggling to piece things together, to remember. And hatefully I remembered… That time when I came back from the school and…and!
It all came rushing back to me, hitting me like a blow. The terrifying man who had appeared out of nowhere, ordering me to come with him. Then me running home—and what I found there… My parents, murdered in cold blood!
Tears began to flow again, unstoppable. I had lost them! This wasn't a nightmare—it was real!
"Mikan?"
I don't remember, if he was already near me before but when he spoke suddenly, I jolted in fear.
"Calm down," he said gently. But I couldn't. I was trembling terrified. He looked at me with concern.
"Who are you?" I whispered.
He smiled. "My name is Narumi. I'm one of the teachers at this school."
I tried to understand him. "School?"
"Yes. Alice Academy," he replied.
I was shocked. "Wha—?"
Alice Academy—the famous school in Tokyo. Though no one knew much about it, people talked about how many skilled individuals came from there, often becoming famous.
"But… Why am I here?" I asked, bewildered. His smile widened. "You're a student here now. That's why."
I stared at him like he was crazy. Last night, my parents were murdered by some unknown man, and he was acting like everything was fine. My expression went blank as I remembered everything, this time with clear mind.
"I don't care about some school or anything else. Just tell me, why my parents were murdered, and who that man was."
His face fell, and he sighed. "Your parents didn't send you to this school when you should have. For you to have a normal life, they hid you from us. You know, they graduated from here and had really strong Alice powers. Because of that, Academy kept track of them. But one day, they disappeared, cutting off all contact so no one would find them. You learned that you inherited their Alice, so they had to keep you safe." He signed much more with sadness.
"But they couldn't hide you forever. AAO, the Anti-Academy Organization, eventually found them. Their plan was to kidnap you and kill your parents so the Academy would lose their support. They first appeared before you, hoping the trauma would weaken you, making you vulnerable to their control. We discovered their plan and your location too late and your parents were assasinated… When we rescued you, you fainted from the shock. We checked on you while you were unconscious. And here you are." he finished.
My heart grew colder as he spoke. I closed my eyes. So it really was my fault. "What is Alice?"
"Alice is a power. People with an Alice come here to learn how to control it," he answered. I looked up at him. "What's my Alice?"
He smiled softly. "Nullification and Stealing Alice."
I looked at him, feeling utterly hollow. So, all of this happened because I had these cursed Alices.
Why? Why did I have them? I'd never imagined I could feel so miserable, so utterly broken. "Why?" I whispered, my voice laced with pain.
He looked at me with sympathy, but I didn't want his pity. Not now. Not ever. "Please leave me alone," I said coldly. "I need to be by myself."
He stood up but didn't leave. Though I was drowning in the darkness of my mind, I forced myself to listen as he began to speak. He reached out, touching my arm gently.
"Mikan, I know how much pain you're in right now. I was close friends with your parents. They were precious to me too. I knew them well enough to understand not to blame myself in despair. They would never want you to drown in sorrow and lose yourself. Smile, Mikan. They loved to smile and bring happiness to those they loved. Keep their spirit alive by smiling from your heart. Don't let yourself suffer in guilt. It wasn't your fault. The people who killed them are the ones to blame. You know that too, don't you?"
I couldn't stop the tears. As he spoke, the pain grew so intense I felt like I could die from it. Of course, I knew. They were always smiling. Everyday without expection…
My mom would always tell me, "Smiling is the most beautiful and important thing in the world, sweetie. Never lose your precious smile." Then she would smile so warmly and say, "When you smile, so lovely and bright, it makes my world feel right." And my dad would laugh and hug us both, kissing her cheek.
"Yes, I know," I said, my voice choked with sobs.
Narumi smiled softly. "Three days from now, I want to see you smile—just like in the photos they sent me." I tried to nod, but I knew I couldn't bring myself to smile, not anymore.
Through my tears, I managed to say, "I'll try. I'll try." He smiled sadly, as if he could see through the lie in my voice.
"Don't worry, Mikan. I know you can. You're Yuka's daughter and carry Yukihara's courage. They're watching over you from above. They'll be guiding you, even if you don't realize it." I nodded, silent, as tears continued to stream down my face.
"Thank you, Sensei, but please… leave me alone for a while." He was quiet for a moment, then said, "I understand. But there are some things you need to know before I go. You'll begin school in three days. You'll be in Class 3-A and the Dangerous Ability Division. I'm your homeroom teacher, so you can come to me for anything. Your star rank is three stars. You might not understand what that means right now, but you will soon. I'll send some class reps to show you the dormitory and around the school. That's all for now."
He tried to smile, but there was a sadness in his eyes that betrayed his own emotions. As soon as he left, I finally let myself fall apart. I screamed in agony. All the anger, sadness, and confusion I'd been holding inside came pouring out, washing over me.
Late into the night, I calmed down. I stared at the ceiling as a resolution hardened within me. I promised myself that I would have my revenge. I would become the monster in their nightmares. I would show them no mercy, just as they had shown none.
"Mom… Dad… and Fluffy… I promise…" I whispered. My eyelids grew heavy, and eventually, I slipped into darkness.
I hear voices nearby. But... who?
I feel strange, a bit dizzy.
Where am I? ...
I tried to remember. I was wandering around the academy, tired of the intense stares of others. 'The New Student' stare they gave me or when they tried to talk to me made me irritated. Needing solitude, I slipped away to the forest near the dormitory, where I was sure no one would find me. After some time, I sat down on a large rock, savoring the quiet. Yet, I had a sense that someone was there with me. I waited, glancing around, but saw no one.
Then… then I… All my memory is fuzzy…
"I'm telling you, we should leave now! Are you crazy?" a man's voice hissed.
"No, we're waiting for him too. I'm certain they'll send him for her. He's the best, after all. I want to capture him as well," replied another voice, colder and more controlled. "It's not easy to get inside here. You know that perfectly well. Stop complaining already!"
A shiver ran down my spine. The voice... It was him—the man who killed my family. I felt as if I might explode right there, every cell in my body igniting with fury. I opened my eyes. I was a short distance away from them, tied tightly with ropes.
A slight rustling came from a nearby bush, and then I saw a pair of piercing red eyes watching me. For a second, fear overtook me. But then I realized it was a person—a young man, intense and calculating, watching me as if I were his prey. He turned his gaze to the others. Suddenly, flames erupted around us, as if he were holding fire in his bare hands. Or… was he creating it? How is that possible? It feels like I'm losing my mind.
While the men struggled to escape the encroaching flames, the boy cut through my ropes with a swift, practiced movement. I was so shocked, I couldn't move at all. Looking annoyed, he helped me to my feet and pulled me forward. As he began to drag me away, I turned, desperate to kill that man—but he held me tightly, preventing me from breaking free.
"Stop trying to get yourself killed, little girl," he said, irritation in his voice.
"Wh-What? I'm not…" I started to argue, but then, that man—the murderer—appeared in front of us again. He was smiling darkly.
"Well~, our little hero is here. It's been quite a long time, hasn't it, Black Cat?" he sneered.
"Hmph. Right, murderer!" my rescuer spat back, pure hatred in his eyes.
I looked at him and saw something familiar—a grief so raw it mirrored my own. He had suffered too, lost people he loved. In that moment, I felt both sorrow and rage.
"You murderer! How dare you show your face!" I shouted furiously. An unfamiliar energy surged around me, surrounding me in a strange light. With a fierce shake, I broke free from the boy's grip.
"Wait, you idiot!" he shouted, but I ignored him. I ran toward the murderer, who watched me coldly. Not this time, I thought. I wouldn't let him have his way this time. He seemed stunned as the dark cloud around him vanished. I wanted to laugh at the look of shock on his face. Smirking, I punched him in the stomach. My white light enveloped him, and his eyes widened with fear. In that instant, I knew I'd taken something from him. I could feel a strange, heavy energy in my hand.
"You little—!" he snarled furiously, reaching out to grab me, but I slipped away.
"This isn't over! I swear, I'll make you wish you'd never crossed my path!" I screamed at him. He growled in frustration. Just then, someone pulled me back, and everything vanished.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in front of the academy walls.
...
I took a few shaky breaths, my whole body trembling with anger. I looked down at the dark stone in my hand and hid it in my pocket. This would be my proof. My promise. Then I noticed my rescuer and another man staring at me.
"What?" I snapped.
"Not 'what' to us! You almost got yourself killed. I had to call him because of you! You reckless idiot!" my rescuer retorted sharply.
"Hmph, like I care!" I said, turning away.
"Oh, you little—!" he began, clearly irritated.
The other man cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um... Natsume, I have to go and report to the headmaster. So…"
"Right. Go," Natsume replied, his tone professional before shifting back to irritation as he looked at me. "And you—stubborn girl! You're coming with me!"
I glared at him for a moment but decided to follow him, feeling a bit guilty now that my anger had cooled.
"Don't call me an idiot, you idi—" I started, but my words trailed off when he gave me a sharp look. It seems I'm in great danger, whether I'm inside or outside this academy. Although I was saved, looks like it was not over…
"Hey!" I called out.
"..."
"I said hey! Are you deaf?" I yelled this time, frustration rising.
"..."
"Tell me already. Where are we going?" I demanded, growing impatient.
Still, no response from him.
Ugh, this is so annoying! Fine, I'll try a different approach.
"Look, I'm sorry, alright? I know I was wrong, but I couldn't stop myself when he was standing right in front of me."
"...Whatever... Stupid," Natsume replied arrogantly, barely looking at me.
"Wha-? So annoying! You—"
"Don't do something like that again, got it?" Natsume's voice became serious, though I could sense the hint of worry behind his words. "You won't get away with it next time, even if you have that Alice of yours…"
Why is he worried?
"...I understand. I'll be careful, I promise. But I can't promise I won't do it again."
Natsume stopped in his tracks, turning to glare at me. His eyes were intense, full of unspoken expectations.
Scary! Seriously, what is it with this guy?
I glared back, knowing he was right. But still… it's impossible to forget the anger I felt. I promised myself I would never turn my back on that man who took everything from me.
"Do whatever you want, you stupid girl!" Natsume shouted, already turning and walking away at a brisk pace.
"H-Hey!" I shouted, but he ignored me, walking faster.
I hurried behind him, frustration mounting.
"What's with you, anyway? It's my problem, right? And can you at least tell me where we're going!" I demanded, trying to keep up.
"Shut it. You'll see when we arrive," he said coldly.
"Fine! Hmp!" I muttered under my breath.
We turned a corner, and we came to a wall painted with every color imaginable. Natsume didn't stop, and I was sure he was going to walk straight into it. But then, before I could warn him, he vanished inside.
He… disappeared?!
I stared in disbelief at the wall. A hand suddenly shot out, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward a hidden passage.
"No! Let go!" I yelled, but before I knew it, I was pulled through.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for whatever was coming.
"Stupid! Stop playing and get in here!" Natsume's voice called out from the other side.
I opened my eyes to find myself in a large room filled with mysterious items. People sat around a massive table, all wearing masks. I couldn't make out their faces.
Natsume moved to sit beside a small child, no older than 8 or 9, who wore a white mask adorned with gray clouds. Natsume himself wore a black mask with flaming designs. What is this, some sort of mask party? Who are these people? And what is this place?
I was standing in a massive room, and each wall seemed to hold something different. One was lined with weapons—swords, knives, guns, even full suits of armor. Another wall was filled with doors of all sizes. How many doors can there possibly be? There were even tiny ones. Who would even use those?
A third wall was filled with shelves stocked with books, papers, and folders, while the last contained bottles filled with colorful stones. Alice stones, just like the one I carry.
I was speechless, completely overwhelmed. Then, a cough broke my stupor. I turned to see a tall man standing at the head of the table, his mask dark purple with black lines streaking down one side.
"Welcome to Dangerous Ability," he said, his voice icy. "Mikan Sakura, from now on, you will be one of us. You must learn to fight and defend. Our mission is to protect this school at all costs. Those of us born with powerful Alices bear this responsibility, and we must not make mistakes that could endanger it. You've already compromised our mission with your actions. I trust you understand?"
His cold words felt like a bucket of ice water dousing me. But I've faced worse—there's someone with a voice like hatred itself. His presence alone made my blood boil with memory.
"I'm sorry, sir. But I don't understand at all." I spoke with a dark edge to my voice. "I've always behaved well, you see."
One of the masked figures growled from across the table. He wore a red mask, with black circles around the eyes.
"Watch what you say, little brat!" he snarled.
I smirked, my eyes narrowing. "Did I say something wrong?"
The man stood up abruptly, cursing under his breath, and the tension in the room thickened.
I smiled sweetly, a flicker of dark satisfaction swirling inside me. I didn't want to admit it, but I liked the feeling of pushing back. Yet, that darkness inside me was fueled by something much deeper, something I wasn't sure I understood yet.
What's happening to me?
"Stop! Sit down, Itsu!" the man in the purple mask commanded, his voice cutting through the room.
Itsu, the man with the red mask, sat back down, shooting me a final glare.
"One more enemy," I muttered under my breath.
"I'm the headmaster of the elementary division," the man in the purple mask continued. "And I am responsible for Dangerous Ability. Whether you like it or not, you will respect me here. If you cause trouble again, or act recklessly, you won't be shown mercy. Understand?"
I gave him a mocking smile. "Ok, understood, sir."
Like I care! But I'm not stupid enough to cross this man.
"You may be young, but age doesn't matter here. We respect strength and intelligence above all else. This is your only warning. Do you understand?" he repeated.
"Yes," I answered, my voice steady despite the anger bubbling inside.
"Good. Now, off you go. Natsume, show her out," the headmaster said before disappearing.
The others quickly filed out, but the man with the red mask lingered.
"If you ever cause any more trouble, I'll be the one to deal with you," he hissed venomously.
I smirked, meeting his gaze coldly. "But remember this—I'm not someone you can mess with," I replied icily.
Natsume, along with the little kid who had been sitting beside him, walked over.
"We're leaving! Don't waste my time. Hurry up!" Natsume barked at me.
"Alright!" I said, grinning at the red-masked man's furious expression.
I followed Natsume and the child to a medium-sized green door. Natsume opened it and ushered me inside.
I found myself in a hallway, the central corridor connecting the dorms. There were no strange doors like the one we had come through earlier. I glanced around, looking for any other exits.
"Hey, you headless idiot!" Natsume called out behind me.
"What did you just say!? You—" I began to yell, but I stopped when I met his cold, hard gaze. He wasn't joking.
"Go directly to your room," he ordered. "From now on, your room is under protection. If anyone suspicious follows or tries to talk to you, use the phone in your room. You can contact me or another member. Be on your guard."
"I know, I know!" I snapped. "You guys have said that enough already. I'm tired of hearing it."
I didn't want to listen anymore. I was exhausted.
Natsume didn't say anything in response, but his eyes remained emotionless, watching me with a cold calculation.
Don't look at me like that. I won't cause any more trouble… maybe.
After a moment of silence, I turned around, offering a genuine smile this time.
"I didn't say it before, but... thank you for saving me."
Natsume, still emotionless, nodded slightly.
"Natsu-nii?" the little boy beside him spoke up.
"Hmm?" Natsume replied, his attention turning to the child.
"Do you think she'll try it again?" the boy asked quietly.
"Maybe, but I'll make sure it doesn't happen again," Natsume said firmly. He turned to the boy as they walked away, adding, "Youichi, don't mention this to her, alright?"
"Okay. I won't."