Mikan's Little Twin

Chapter 45: Their past- pt. 2

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The months pass by, and Natsume befriends Ruka while unconsciously opening up to Akako. The girl was super annoying and sometimes Natsume had the sudden urge to tape her mouth shut, but she was likeable to a default. It was too hard to not like her with her big smiles and chiming laughs.

She eventually met Aoi when Natsume's younger sister sought out the two people that her brother talked highly about. Akako and Aoi got along like tweedled dee and tweedled dum, but seeing the two of them get along made Ruka and Natsume happy. Although they were all an odd pairing, somehow their differences made them similar, and everyday was an adventure for them. Their days consisted of them laughing albeit there were many days where Natsume threatened Aoi to not go with them. Each of the guardians of the children seemed to love the friends, they had many sleepovers and spent almost everyday together.

"Akako-chan, how old are you again?" Aoi asks one day while she, Akako, and Natsume sit on the play equipment of the abandoned park.

Akako stops braiding the flowers in her hands and turns to give Aoi a small smile, "I'm Natsume's age."

The answer made Aoi's eyebrows furrow, "Then how come you're my height?" Akako's face drops but she keeps the smile on her face and sweat drops at her, she gives a nervous laugh and scratches the back of her head, "Hehehe. I'm just naturally short."

Natsume side glances at them, straying his eyes from his manga, "Don't you find it odd that you're too short for our age."

A waterfall of tears fall from Akako's eyes, "Natsumeeeeee! Why do you have to say such mean things?"

Natsume rolls his eyes as a small smile comes onto his face, he reaches over and rubs her hair. "Be quiet. You're fine." His words and actions cause the girl to immediately giggle, her tears long gone. Natsume knew that Akako could never actually be upset with him. In her eyes, Natsume was equivalent to an angel. Yes, he got on her nerves and she would give him the silent  treatment, but she'sd always come back because she loved having Natsume in her life.

Akako sighs and looks around with a pout, "Hey. Where's Ruka-pyon?" The three of the children are waiting at the abandoned park where they were all supposed to meet fifteen minutes ago.

Aoi skips to the swing-set, dragging Natsume with her, "I don't know. Maybe his mother is what's keeping him." Natsume begins to push Aoi with a tic mark as she laughs and smiles, seeing her happy like that makes Natsume smile.

Akako scans the horizon one last time, hoping to see her friend. After she sees empty space, she stands with a disappointed face, "Well, I need to get going. I have to meet my sister." At the mention of Akako having a sister, Aoi gasps and hops off the swing.

"You have a sister?" She walks over to Akako in excitement while Natsume frowns at his sister, "Don't jump off like that, Baka. If you hit your head and get hurt you'll get dumber." But the girls don't give him any attention, making his roll his eyes.

"Yeah, she's my twin. She's seven minutes older than me and looks a little different but we both act alike!" Akako says, her face showing exactly how much she loves and admires her older sister.

"Does Akako-chan's sister have an Alice as well?" Aoi asks, Akako shrugs and shakes her head, "I don't know. Jii-chan and I thought it best for her to not be exposed to the world of Alices'. Jii-chan made me promise to turn off my Alice when I'm with her." Aoi looks a little sad at the response.

Akako pulls out a letter from the back pocket of her shorts and holds it for Aoi to see, "In this letter, Jii-san says we're supposed to meet at three o'clock." She says before turning to walk away.