My Little Secret: Chapter 9

#01: Gakuen Alice (Natsume & Mikan)
...xXx...

On the way to Central Town, Mikan could feel Akira's eyes on her. "What?"
Akira smiled. "How are things for you here?"
"Everything is fine, Aki-kun." She hesitated for a moment.
"But?" he urged gently.
"It's Okaa-san." She sighed. "She told me that she will be back soon, but… I have the feeling that—"
"Everything will be fine," Akira interrupted and embraced her.
"Okay," she muttered under her breath and hugged him back. I hope everything will really be fine.
After a moment, she broke the embrace. "Aki-kun, Nii-san and I are going on mission tonight at ten."
"I'll come with you, then," he said with a smile.
Right after that, her eyes darted to a familiar store behind him. She mumbled, "Howalon…"
Akira turned around and looked at the store. He chuckled quietly. "To the Howalon store we shall go."
After walking around and not finding anything special, they sat down on one of the benches in Central Town. Akira glanced at his wristwatch. "Sakura-hime, it's time for us to go back now. Ru-chan might be waiting for us now."
"Let's go then!" Mikan nodded. She took Akira's hand and teleported them back to the academy with Teleportation Alice. When they arrived, the queue to the counter was long. But, when they approached the line, the students made a way for them. She was puzzled as she stared at them, but the students seemed to have wanted them to go through. Still slightly confused, they walked towards the counter without haste.
"Special Star Meal," she told the waiter.
The waiter nodded and turned to Akira, who inclined his head. "Same here."
Again, the waiter nodded, scribbling intently in her notebook and within seconds their meals appeared. "Enjoy your meal, Mikan-sama, Akira-sama."
After they got their trays, Mikan looked around to look for Hotaru. They saw Anna, who was waving at them to sit with them. They went there, but a silver-haired boy ran towards Akira. Akira quickly held his tray higher to prevent the little boy from spilling his lunch.
The boy looked up at him. "Akira-nii-chan!"
Akira smiled. "Be careful, You-chan. I'm still holding the tray."
After they reached their table, Akira put the tray on the table. He knelt and stared at the little boy, eye level. "You look handsome and as cute as ever."
Youichi grinned at him.
They took a seat then Mikan glanced over the table and mentally counted. Everyone's here except…
"Natsume said he's not coming with us," Ruka said as though he had read her mind.
Mikan merely nodded impassively. Where did he—wait a minute! Why am I thinking about him now?
Immediately, Mikan shook the thought off of her head. She didn't want to think about him. Thankfully, someone broke the silence.
"Mikan-chan, at first, we thought that Azumi-kun being your fiancé was a joke," Anna said before gushing, "But when we saw the two of you together, we believe it now. You two are perfect for each other…"
"Please call me Akira." Akira smiled suavely, making the girls, except for Mikan and Hotaru, blush.
"They are cousins, too," Hotaru piped up.
The others gasped and stared intently at the mentioned. "Say what?!"
Mikan closed her eyes, feeling rather defeated. "Hotaru, why must you tell others about my secrets?"
"Correction, fact, not secret," Hotaru said emotionlessly.
Akira laughed, and Mikan scowled. "Aki-kun!"
"My bad, my bad! Don't be angry, Sakura-hime. Ru-chan's teasing you," Akira tittered.
"So, Mikan-chan is really Akira-kun's cousin?" Nonoko inquired.
"Yes. Mi-chan is my cousin, but we're not blood related either. I'm adopted," Akira explained with a sigh.
Their fellow classmates echoed, "Oh."
So, Akira-kun and Mikan-chan are cousins. I need to tell Natsume about this, Ruka reminded himself.
"Powerful families are always like that. They usually get married within their family circle," Yuu said at once.
Why is everyone talking about me? Mikan thought irritably.
"I still think that Akira-kun and Mikan-chan are meant for each other. Right, everyone?" Anna asked, and the others mumbled in agreement.
Aki-kun and I? Mikan mused and turned to look at Akira. A mixture of emotions washed over their faces. Mikan blushed when their eyes met, and she quickly looked away. Akira, too, blushed and glanced away immediately.
"Stupid love birds… they don't even realise that they like each other," Hotaru puffed out unemotionally.
Mikan tried hard not to blush any redder. "Why's everyone talking about me?"
They roared in laughter. Admittedly, seeing the group happy made her happy, too. She let out a small smile. Maybe… I wouldn't be so lonely with them by my side.

...xXx...

Natsume was enjoying himself under the Sakura Tree when he felt a presence of another approaching him. "What do you want?"
"My, my, don't be so harsh, Kuro Neko," the approaching figure replied.
"I wish not to have any business with you, Persona."
"I just wanted to tell you that you are no longer required to go on missions for the academy," Persona informed tonelessly.
He startled but quietly muttered, "Is it because of Mikan?"
Persona smirked. "Since when were you so worried about Mikan, or should I say, my little sister?"
"I don't care about her," he denied quickly. "Just give Aoi back to me."
"Don't worry; you'll get her back tonight," Persona said coldly and disappeared from the sight.
I hate that guy. He closed his eyes and admitted, I like his sister, though.

...xXx...

As soon as their friends went back to their respective rooms, Hotaru turned to her best friend. "Where did you go last night?"
"Helping Nii-san with a mission," Mikan answered with a shrug.
"What time did you come back?"
"Around midnight… I'm sorry, Hotaru. I should've at least told you about it last night, but the group was with us. I can't tell you about it when I received the message from Nii-san."
Hotaru nodded.
"Anyway, I have another mission with Aki-kun tonight."
Hearing this, Youichi tugged the elder boy's sleeve. "Akira-nii-chan…"
"Please take care of Onee-chan for me," Youichi pleaded cutely.
Akira smiled at the boy and ruffled his hair. "I will."
"If she's hurt, you'll become my guinea pig to test out all my experimental Baka Guns," Hotaru warned seriously.
Hotaru is so scary. Mikan shivered a little and smiled. But she's so caring, too.
Akira nodded. "Don't worry; you have my word."
"Good. Now we have to go back to class," Hotaru said impassively.
They left the cafeteria, walking towards the classroom. Akira then turned to look at the pretty girl at his side. Until I find someone who could replace me to protect her, I will protect her, no matter what happens…

Prev Chapter 1—The Arrival Chapter 2—The New Student Chapter 3—The Older Brother Chapter 4—The Younger Brother Chapter 5—The Partner Chapter 6—The Fans Chapter 7—The Name Chapter 8—The New Guy Chapter 9—The Truth Chapter 10—The Mission Chapter 11—The Kiss Chapter 12—The Sacrifice Chapter 13—The Time Chapter 14—The Promise Chapter 15—The End of Time Chapter 16—The Reason Chapter 17—The Dream Chapter 18—The Dance Chapter 19—The Departure Chapter 20—The Little Secret Next