I Love You: Chapter 2

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

Is there anyone who's going to explain what's happening? Natsume looked at his best friend, or his childhood friend, Ruka Nogi. For some reason, his best friend felt uneasy under his intense stare. He wanted him to spill it out now!
Ruka cleared his throat uncomfortably. "You see… This academy… There was…"

"Ruka," Natsume said warningly. He really hated it when Ruka stuttered like an idiot. It made him sound like those stupid fan girls confessing to him.

It was the violet-eyed girl named Hotaru Imai who explained to him, "Mikan has lost her voice. As you can see, we're wearing this bracelet, so she can tell us what she's trying to say. As for Narumi-sensei, Mikan communicated with him through her Telepathy Alice. She's doing her mission right now if that was what you wished to know, Katou-san."

The rest of the class acted as an audience for their little drama. Eventually, everything returned to normal as they had already made a silent agreement with a "we-will-talk-about-this-later" look on their faces.

...xXx...

Mikan looked at Persona quietly. Her face was void of any emotions.

'Mission accomplished,' Mikan said monotonously through her Telepathy Alice.

Persona smirked. "I believe so. There was a new student today. You know what you should do, right?"

'Hai, Persona-sensei.'

Persona walked away from her. "Good. Have a nice day, Shirou Yuki."

'Have a nice day to you, too.' Mikan closed her eyes and sighed tiredly. She was exhausted after using more than one Alice in a day. Jumping from tree to tree, she slowly approached her dorm. When her room came into view, she made a long jump to her balcony. From outside of the balcony, she could hear her friends' voices. As usual, they waited for her to come back from her mission. She opened the door. 'I'm back, everyone.'

"Welcome back, Mikan-chan," the group replied back with a smile.

Mikan's eyes slightly widened when her eyes met with Natsume's crimson eyes.

Silence engulfed the room as no one dared to say a word.

It was Ruka who broke the awkward silence. "Mikan-chan, Natsume has been my best friend since childhood."

Mikan broke eye contact with Natsume and took off her mask. 'Continue please.'

"I was wondering whether you would make another bracelet for Natsume?" Ruka gulped nervously as the group glared at him.

The silver bracelets on their wrists were created from Mikan's Alice. Alices to be exact since Mikan was a multi-Alice user.

Mikan smiled. 'I have no problem with it, Ruka-kun.'

"Please don't push yourself too hard, Mikan-chan," Sumire said worriedly because everyone knew Mikan was tired after her mission.

Mikan let out a smile. 'Thank you, Sumire-chan.'

Slowly but steadily, Mikan approached Natsume. Once she stood by his side, Ruka spoke, "Your hand."

Natsume glanced at his best friend before offering his right hand from his pocket to Mikan.

Mikan touched his right wrist and closed her eyes. A thin silver bracelet started materializing on his wrist within seconds. She opened her eyes and smiled. Hajimemashite, Natsume-san.'

Natsume's eyes widened in surprise while the others sighed in relief because their precious friend didn't exhaust herself.

'You can hear me now, right? As what you've heard from my friends, I've lost my voice, so this is how I communicate with them normally.'

Natsume was speechless. Though he should have been joyful at that moment since hearing her voice in his mind was like a puzzle being solved, he was at a lack of words and could only nod.

Mikan smiled sadly.

"Thank you," Natsume said when he came back to his senses.

Ruka gaped in shock because his best friend never said 'thank you' to anyone. Circumstances had never allowed him to express gratitude for services as his words were absolute for everyone to follow.

Mikan smiled brightly as her inner heart said, "You've alleviated my exhaustion and made today a good day, Natsume."

Unknown to her, Natsume heard what her inner heart said. He looked into her eyes as his inner heart replied, "So have you for me, Mikan."

Mikan's eyes widened in shock.

Everyone was confused and bewildered by the two of them. They didn't know what they were talking about. The last thing they heard was Natsume thanking her. After that, they heard nothing.

Natsume and Mikan only stared into each other's eyes as they realised one thing: their hearts were connected.

"How could you hear my inner heart?" Mikan looked at Natsume in disbelief.

Natsume shrugged. "You also can hear mine. Don't you think it's fair enough?"

For the first time since she joined Gakuen Alice, Mikan laughed inwardly, and everyone could hear her because of the bracelet.

Bewildered, Natsume stared at her.

The group became even more confused.

"Will the two of you stop and tell us what's happening?" Hotaru demanded as the last time she saw Mikan's happy expression was before she lost her voice.

With tears of joy, Mikan faced the group. 'Everyone, I found him! He is the one I'm looking for!'

Everyone was surprised, and Mikan turned to Natsume. 'I've been waiting for you.'

"Waiting for me?" Natsume was confused. For what?

Prev Chapter 1—The Mute Girl Chapter 2—The Black Witch Chapter 3—The Prince of Japan Chapter 4—The Special Condition Chapter 5—The Decision Chapter 6—The Unexpected News Chapter 7—The Forbidden Family Chapter 8—The Ancient Memory Chapter 9—The Other One Chapter 10—The Price Chapter 11—The First Pact Chapter 12—The Pain Chapter 13—The Endless Love Next