Barrier Alice | ✔

[27]

After Natsume being carried away by Narumi-sensei followed by Ruka; Mikan, Sophie, Iinchou, and Hotaru walked out the north woods and head towards the elementary building. It was already evening and by the time they reach their class, Yusaku stands in front of the class with a grimed face with Mirai, and yoi-chan greet Sophie cheerfully.

"Where did you go Sophie-nee?"

"Sophie nee? Ohh, is he your brother?" - Mikan chirped as her head popped out from Sophie's back.

Sophie, who is sweating profusely, replied

"Ah... well, you see, umm... I was helping a friend you know"

"You know that Amy-nee will get worried, seeing your uniform has a bit burned edge and what's not"

"Please don't tell Amy-nee! Please Yusaku-kun..."

Sophie pleaded with her puppy eyes. He just shook his head and reply

"I make no promises Sophie-nee. I bet by now she already senses something amiss- considering we are not back yet"

Oh, shoot - Sophie cursed.

"So... who is she?"

Yusuke pointed out at a twin tail girl who keeps on staring at them with painfully star-filled eyes.

"Ahh, this is the new friend I talked about. Mikan sakura. Mikan, this is my younger siblings! Yusaku, Mirai and Yoichi"

"Uwaa, your siblings are so cute, though the brother is a bit grumpy" - replied mikan while gushing at both Mirai and Yoichi. In which Yoichi responded by releasing his Ghost Alice, scaring off mikan.

"Uwaaa!!" Mikan shouted - due to shocked

"A-anyway, let's head back now, ok"- added Sophie quickly while carrying Yoichi.

-GA-

Yusaku who walked with Mirai is already far ahead, leaving behind both Sophie and mikan. Inchou went to the staff room to report on something while Hotaru has long gone- riding her mini scooter to her lab.

"So... Sophie. Umm, I'm so sorry again, for putting you in danger."

"Issokay mikan. I choose to go and help you. So any injury is my own responsibility ya know."

"B-but still, you could have been burned by him. If it were not for me, being so useless, i-i, I won't cause you so much problem. Just like Hotaru says, I should do this with my own power, and not dragging others into this."

"It's fine. The most important thing is that we are now safe, right Yoi-chan"

"Umm!" Yoi-chan reply.

Mikan just looked down. She does realize moping around like this won't help. And so she thanked Sophie once again for her help.

"Sophie, is Natsume always like that? Selfish, demanding, annoying, and a big pervert!"

"Ahaha! Pervert! That's golden. He must have done something to you right? Well, I'm not sure. He usually acts indifferent toward others, except for Ruka of course. But then, maybe he irked because... Because he is tired."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know whether I have the right to tell you this. But as a friend, all I can say that this school is weird. My nee-chan keep on saying so - to be wary of this school. Did you see the earing Natsume wore?"

"Yeah, I did. Is wearing accessories allowed here?"

"Well, it's more like he was being forced to wore that. It's a punishment earing, which will limit his Alice power and electrocute him if he went above a certain range"

"What?! Electrocute? Who did that to a kid?!"

"I know right? It is so harsh. I asked my sister if there's anything we can do to help, in which she just stays quiet. Maybe there's no option yet for now."

"I-i see... I never thought that he was imposed such a heavy penalty."

"That's why... mikan, I hope you can forgive him."

"Yes?"

"You see, Amy-nee once said to us, to never judge a person before getting to know them better. You may see him as a negative person, but who knows who he will become in the future. Amy-nee also says that... that him acting like that is because he is feeling rebellious and dislikes this school. So he shows his defiance. That's why.."

"That's why..?"

"That's why I hope you can give him a chance. To get to know him. And others too. Most people here never get the chance to be with their family, they feel lonely and wanting attention. That's why they have been acting like that."

"I see... I felt guilty for jumping into conclusion like that." Mikan looked down.

"It's ok. Rather, let's do our best ok! Let's bring more smiles to our classmates"

Mikan just nodded enthusiastically at Sophie's words. Honestly it was a bit hard for her to accepted it. But the one who says all those words are the one who helps her a lot. Surely a kind person like this can be trusted.

Then, they walked back to their dorm happily.

-GA-

They almost reach the main door to their dorm when Sophie suddenly freezes. Puzzled, mikan throws a questioning look to Sophie.

"Sophie? Are you ok? Oh no! Is it perhaps you are actually in pain? Oh no! Are you- wait why are you shaking your head."

Mikan decided to look at the direction Sophie stare. There, in front of the door, a girl no older than them standing in a soft pink gown with a peach blanket wrapped around her shoulder. That girl smiled at them.

"G-Good evening Amy-nee... Ahaha" Sophie greeted the girl while gulping.

Amy-nee? Oh, is this perhaps the sister she frequently mentioned of today? - Mikan thinks to herself.

"Welcome back, So-phie-Tsu-Yu-Ri... What have you been doing while I was gone hmm? You have A LOT of explaining you need to do Missy!"

At this, Sophie just inwardly cried to herself while mikan shivered at the sheer coldness from the voice of this sister in front of them.

Let's pray for Sophie's survival together. Goodluck sophie~