Special Alice (Gakuen Alice / Alice Academy FF)

SA 86 - Chase

{Author}

" Natsume... Since when did you get here?" Misaki whispered.

Natsume loomed in front of the two girls, and Nobara quickly came over to help Luna. After assisting Luna, she rejoined Persona.

" How dare you!" Luna roared while clutching her burnt hair.

The ESP's expression turned serious. " To think that I gave you missions just to send you outside... You really love being the knight in shining armor of this woman," he pointed in Misaki's direction.

Misaki was taken aback. " Huh?"

" You didn't even tell her about the mission, thinking that you could do it without her," the ESP scoffed and shook his head.

Misaki's eyes widened. 'I was supposed to go with them, but he did not tell me. Was he protecting me for the nth time?'

The ESP glanced at his hand, cracking his fingers. " What a foolish child... Well, I do know that you would do anything just to be here. But I didn't expect you to be this stupid, though."

Persona, who was standing beside Nobara, sighed. " Nobara..."

Nobara was torn, unsure of whether to follow her mission and go against her friend.

" So, what's your plan?" the ESP asked, now looking at Natsume.

Mikan watched with increasing worry as Misaki and Natsume appeared to defy the ESP. " Natsume," she muttered.

" By standing there, what could you do?" the ESP taunted Natsume.

Suddenly, the Elementary School Principal chuckled. " No matter how you resist, you're all as good as birds in a cage. You have no power to change the current situation you are in, and..."

A smirk formed on his lips. " You have nowhere to escape."

Narumi Sensei stood by the door, unable to do anything just yet. As he witnessed three of his students facing this dire situation, he understood what would happen next.

" Natsume-kun," he sighed.

" So stop resisting, and the treatment afterward may be reconsidered," the ESP said.

Natsume didn't waver, despite the ESP's words. " Shut up."

" The woman I love," he began, " can't bear to see her fully sink into the darkness that I am in. And whatever damn things that might happen in the future..."

Natsume clenched his fists. " Those thoughts can't enter my head now."

Misaki's eyes widened as she held Natsume's left arm. " Natsume." Mikan, on the other hand, had mixed emotions about this sudden confession. 'Confessing to Misaki in such a situation... Natsume must be crazy.'

" The future you guys wanted, I don't care about that," he said without hesitation.

Natsume maintained his composure even as he confessed his love to Misaki. " No matter what happens, I will protect this person."

Luna was infuriated and lunged towards them. Natsume conjured a wall of fire to prevent Luna from getting any closer, and the ESP looked displeased with their rebellion.

" They plan to escape with those flames!" one of the Fuukitai exclaimed, extremely frightened by Natsume's Alice.

" Nobara, stop Natsume's flames!" Persona ordered. Nobara hesitated, torn between her duty and her friendship. " Ah-."

During the commotion, the ESP spoke once again. " In this situation, if we take a look at the difference in power, then you're in a bad situation."

" If he manages to protect the two of you while being shielded by Natsume's flames, you can't simply ignore your friends, can you?" the ESP threatened.