Special Alice (Gakuen Alice / Alice Academy FF)

SA 50 - Youichi's +10 candy

{Author}

Natsume had ventured to the bathroom but had yet to return, and both Mikan and Youichi were conspicuously absent. Concerned, Misaki, Hotaru, and Ruka exchanged bewildered glances, wondering where their missing friends had gone.

" Where did they go? Mikan was here with Youichi just a moment ago," Misaki mused, blinking several times in confusion. Hotaru noticed an orange on the floor - the same fruit that Misaki had given to Mikan earlier.

" That's weird," Ruka muttered, his concern for Mikan and Youichi deepening.

" Mikan wouldn't just leave like that," Hotaru asserted. Both Misaki and Ruka nodded in agreement, their bond with Mikan allowing them to understand her better.

" Oh my, those kids haven't returned yet?" Nadeshiko, one of the Hanahime, chimed in, joining Koume, another Hanahime, who sat down with her. " I heard her say that she wanted to go home. It was really worrying, but she probably left without saying anything," Nadeshiko added, piquing Hotaru's interest.

Ruka staunchly defended Mikan, declaring, " No, she wouldn't just leave by herself."

Nadeshiko raised a skeptical brow. " Really? She doesn't seem to be well-mannered either. Throwing away the invitation just like that, how stupid," she scoffed dismissively.

Hotaru's countenance grew even more serious upon hearing Nadeshiko's disdainful words. Ruka also displayed his displeasure.

" You're being quite rude to ever since, you and the others. I wonder if those flowery names are just names and you don't even embody the grace of being a so-called princess."  Misaki calmly stated, clearly unimpressed with the Hanahime's attitude, took the discarded orange and concealed it in her sleeve. 

Nadeshiko's mouth hung agape with Misaki's remark. Misaki cleared her throat before announcing, " Please excuse us, we'll find them ourselves," her tone as composed as ever.

Ruka's expression became stern as he firmly urged, " Let's go." The three of them moved toward the door, but Nadeshiko and Koume, still smiling, grabbed their arms.

" Don't mind those two," Nadeshiko attempted to convince the trio. She had a firm hold on Ruka and Misaki, while Koume held Hotaru and Ruka's other arm.

" That's right. Why waste your time?" Koume chimed in, chuckling merrily. Ruka's brow furrowed, and his fists clenched.

" I apologize for my rudeness so let's have fun, alright? Come on," Nadeshiko cheerfully coaxed the three, attempting to pull them in another direction.

" Let go of me," Hotaru and Ruka both retorted in unison, their voices carrying an underlying threat. Nadeshiko and Koume released their grips on the trio.

Misaki unexpectedly snickered, then swiftly cleared her throat. " Pardon me," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Yuri-senpai, also known as Wakatake no kimi among the Hanahime, chose this moment to speak up. " Now that I think of it, I saw a girl with both Koume and Nadeshiko in the Wild Goose's corridor." She nodded, sharing her observation.

Hotaru's eyes gleamed as she grabbed Yuri's arm, joined by a kindly Hanahime. " Let's look together," she suggested, and the group departed the room.

Before leaving, Misaki made eye contact with Nadeshiko, clicking her tongue and shaking her head at the girl. " Disappointing," she coldly expressed before trailing behind Hotaru and the others.

The search began as they scoured the corridors. While they were in the midst of this, a rustling sound and muffled voices emanated from a nearby room.

" The sound is coming from here," Yuri-senpai noted, and the group followed the noises.

" Sakura, You-chan," Ruka called out, looking around as he heard more rustling close by.

" Saku—!" Ruka was cut off as the wooden door in front of them burst open.

" Sakura!" Ruka exclaimed, his eyes locked on Mikan, who was sitting on the wooden floor. In front of her stood a guy barely wearing a kimono.

" Wh-who are you?!" Mikan exclaimed as she looked up at the nearly naked young man. Suddenly, the kimono slipped from his shoulder, and the other Hanahime gasped in shock at the sight of a semi nude boy before them.

" What is a naked guy doing here? Help!" one of the Hanahime shouted. Hotaru, Ruka, Misaki, and Yuri-senpai stood frozen in shock.

" Are you really Youichi?" Mikan questioned, her voice laced with confusion as she inspected the clothed Youichi, who appears to be older than he originally is.

" How is this possible?" Misaki scratched her head in bewilderment. Hotaru gazed at the older Youichi.

" You-chan, did you steal my candies yesterday?" Hotaru inquired, her tone calm but bearing an underlying intensity.

Youichi blinked in response. Hotaru sighed before crossing her arms. " Sorry, Hotaru-nee," Youichi managed to speak, causing the other Hanahime to swoon at his cuteness.

" His appearance might have changed, but his heart is still that of a young kid," Mikan remarked, her perspicacity on full display. Youichi draped his arms around Mikan's neck and requested, " Carry me."

Ruka raised an eyebrow and tried to convey the impracticality of Youichi's request. " Ah... You-chan, you're bigger than Sakura now. She couldn't—" His words were cut off as he watched Youichi successfully attach himself to Mikan's back.

Mikan struggled under Youichi's weight, muttering, " Heavy, heavy," but ultimately fell to the ground, unable to support him.

" You are so small, Mikan," Youichi observed, patting Mikan's head. Ruka offered his hand to help Mikan rise from her seated position. " You okay?" he inquired.

Mikan blushed and nodded shyly, inwardly frustrated that she couldn't project a more feminine image in front of the older boy. Misaki couldn't help but smile as she pulled Youichi away from Mikan. She took her time to fix the boy's disheveled kimono.

" Stay here, You-chan," she instructed, as Hotaru nodded in agreement, wanting to afford Ruka and Mikan some private time. Youichi agreed and clung to Hotaru and Misaki.

" Wait, it has been a while since Natsume left for the bathroom. He didn't fall into the toilet, did he?" Misaki jokingly blurted out, prompting a hum of acknowledgment from Hotaru.

" He's not that foolish, no need to worry," Hotaru replied, dismissing the notion that Natsume could be in such an unlikely predicament.

" Should we go and look for him?" Mikan inquired abruptly. Before anyone could respond, Shizune grabbed the girls who had locked Mikan and Youichi inside the room and pulled them away.

" Eh?" Mikan exclaimed, her gaze locking onto the girls who now had drawings on their faces, much like what they had done to her earlier.