Special Alice (Gakuen Alice / Alice Academy FF)

SA 46 - Mochi Mochi

{Author}

Misaki senpai exchanged a look with Hotaru, who had casually tossed the invitation aside. The other students were taken aback by Hotaru's nonchalant dismissal of the invitation.

Permy, Anna, Nonoko, and Mikan gathered around Misaki-senpai, eager to hear more about the Flower Garden Party. Misaki senpai sat at the table, nibbling on her mochi while regaling them with the details.

" However, listening to the rumors about it is so disgusting. No one really knows why they put so much emphasis on the Flower Princess thing," Misaki-senpai mused, her shoulders shrugging with disinterest. Tsubasa chimed in with a sheepish grin, " That's because the Flower Princesses have many special privileges."

Hotaru's ears perked up at the mention of privileges. She promptly snatched up the discarded invitation. The others watched her in amusement, knowing Hotaru's penchant for money and food.

" Classic Hotaru," Inchou chuckled, shaking his head. Knowing her, she wouldn't let the invitation slip through her fingers if it offered anything of value.

" I still dislike them, though. The horrible rumors about the Flower Garden Party are just too many," Misaki-senpai admitted, her face contorted with disdain. " Just imagine, keeping favorite girls caged inside your premise. That's just too weird and scary," she added as she savored her mochi. Natsume got up from his seat and went beside Ruka who was currently carrying Youichi.

" The current Flower Princesses, how are they like?" Hotaru asked, curious about the girls who will be attending as well. Misaki-senpai's narrative piqued the curiosity of Hotaru, Nonoko, and Anna. 

" I'm not interested in that party but I heard that prominent girls like those in the council are there. Oh yeah, that Yuri senpai you all like very much is also included." Misaki senpai spoke. Hotaru, Nonoko, and Anna's eyes twinkled hearing that Yuri senpai who possess female pheromone alice will be attending.

As Misaki-senpai mentioned a hidden selection ball, an item that allowed an ordinary student to attend the party the girls, excluding Misa and Hotaru, began to scour the room in search of the elusive selection ball.

" Give up; no elementary student has ever found the selection ball," Tsubasa warned, his voice laced with humor, attempting to manage the kids' expectations.

As the students combed the area, an odd sensation swept over them, making them shiver with curiosity. Suddenly, they felt a strange force pulling them in a particular direction.

" Eh!" Mikan gasped as the invisible force tugged at her, causing her to stumble.

Hotaru toppled from her chair, finding herself pressed against Ruka's back. Mikan, still connected to Ruka, collided with him, their shoulders touching. Kitsuneme and Koko were stuck together, as were Anna and Nonoko. All of them squealed in shock as the mysterious force worked its magic.

" Aah!"

" Wah!"

Misa, who had been quietly eating her mochi, was yanked away from the table. Natsume, too, was caught in the peculiar phenomenon, ending up face to face with Misa like they were hugging each other.

" What is this?" Misa gasped, her eyes widening as they found themselves uncomfortably close.

After being pulled together, Tsubasa scratched his head, realizing that he had forgotten about the sticky powder he had secretly introduced into the mochi. " Right, I forgot about this little prank," he admitted with an awkward chuckle.

Natsume, annoyed by the situation, quickly retorted, " Is this your idea of a joke?" Tsubasa reassured them, " You'll separate in an hour!"

Misa sighed, her voice strained as she contemplated the situation. " Senpai, didn't you think this through?"

Tsubasa promptly retrieved the empty sticky powder packet to show them what he had used. " This is a popular prank in the Junior Division, so I decided to pull it on you kids," he explained with a grin. " If you put this in mochi after the fermentation period, it splits into two, three, or four pieces. If different people eat it, their bodies act like magnets, sticking together and becoming inseparable."

Natsume shot Tsubasa a glare, but the latter quickly quipped, " But don't worry; you'll separate after an hour!"

Misa turned her attention to Natsume, asking, " You... ate it?" Natsume confirmed it with a nonchalant hum. " Hmm. Tasted bland." Tsubasa's mischievous grin widened. " I ate her mochi before, and it tasted fine. Maybe your taste buds are broken." Natsume glared at him, but this time Tsubasa wisely chose to remain silent.

" Stupid, senpai! In such an event..." Mikan began, but her comment was cut short by a chance encounter with Ruka's eyes. An embarrassed silence enveloped the two.

Mikan clumsily dropped her red packet, prompting Nonoko to point it out. " Mikan, your packet fell," she observed.

Mikan bent down to retrieve the fallen packet, but as soon as she picked it up, confetti exploded from within, revealing a small ball. The students gasped in amazement.

" The selection ball!" Misaki-senpai exclaimed. Tsubasa's eyes widened as he connected the dots. " Why is it inside Sakura's packet? Does this mean she's one of those invited?" he questioned, scratching his head.

Misaki-senpai pondered the situation. " It's strange. Hotaru's friend got invited as well, so it's suspicious if little Misaki received an invitation too."

Misa interjected, admitting, " Ah, actually, senpai, this must be a mistake, but I kind of received one." She reached into her sleeve and pulled out another invitation. The students exchanged wide-eyed glances at the surprising turn of events.

The envelope burst open with confetti once again, drawing a pout from Permy. " How can you be so lucky? Being able to get stuck with Natsume and receive an invitation," she commented, prompting Koko and Kitsuneme to tease her.

" She's prettier than you," they chimed in. An irked Permy gave them a good, hard knock on the head.

" It's been an hour; can you all try to separate?" Misaki-senpai suggested, directing her gaze toward her stuck companions.

Koko and Kitsuneme successfully managed to separate, as did Anna and Nonoko. Mikan and Ruka managed to pull apart as well.

However, Hotaru, Youichi, and Ruka remained firmly connected. Similarly, Natsume and Misa couldn't part ways.

" It looks like you and I are in this together for now," Misa hissed at Natsume. He responded with a scoff. " As if I wanted to be stuck with you."

" Shut it, or I'll drown you," Misa threatened, puffing her cheeks. Natsume simply averted his gaze.

Tsubasa fretted over the situation, concerned that if it continued into the next day, Hotaru and Misa might miss the party. " The Junior Highschool Principal is strict with uninvited guests, especially boys," Misaki-senpai explained. Tsubasa scrambled to find a solution, fretting over the impending party.

Narumi returned to check on them, and Inchou and the others attempted to separate Hotaru and Ruka, as well as Natsume and Misa. But no matter what they tried, they remained stuck together.

Narumi, bemused by the situation, decided to report the curious incident to the Junior Division Principal to figure out what would happen next.