Mikan's POV

I nodded a thank you to Senri and in an instant fell to a dream.

In my dream, it was the events that happened nine months ago reenacted.

"Please join me in signing this petition so that our Satsuki Elementary School won't be shut down!" I shouted with the help of the megaphone.

I'm standing on top of the teacher's desk to ask for my classmates' support.

"Everyone, I'm counting on you!"

"Mikan-chan, what are you doing?" one of the trio, my friends asked.

The three of them—one blond, the second a ravenette and last dark green, places by the shortest to the tallest order—tilted their heads.

"An opposition movement!" I exclaimed.

"An opposition movement? What for?" they asked.

"For what?" I echoed incredulously. Obviously the answer was, "The community decided to get rid of this school and have us commute to the city schools!"

"Our school is gonna be shut down!"

They exchanged a look; a silent conversation and a soundless agreement.

"That sounds a lot better than making the daily trip to this old, run-down school."

One by one.

"And we won't have to take the school bus to get here anymore!"

They gave me reasons I found frivolous.

"And those school uniforms they have are really cute."

And stupid.

"You fools! Doesn't this school have all our memories in it?!" I tried to talk some sense into their minds.

"Memories..."

"I'm sure you have them! I'm sure! We all have so many...precious memories!"

Since I don't have my parents anymore, my grandpa dressed up in a suit and came to the entrance ceremony.

Though it was a bit embarassing...

"I'm Sakura Mikan! My goal is to make lots of friends in this school!"

Our first class trip... The sports festival...

But for me, the most memorable thing happened during our third year.

"Well then, does anyone have any questions for Imai-san?" The teacher gestured to the girl beside her.

"Yes!" A boy raised his hand and stood. "What's your favorite subject?"

"Nanotechnology."

"What's that? Is it food?" All of them murmured.

The teacher gestured the silver-haired boy with her other hand. "Any questions for Tojo-san?" Most of the girls raised their hand.

"What is your specialty?"

"Different kinds of martial arts, fencing and kendo."

The girls had hearts in their eyes and sighed dreamily, except me and Hotaru.

And Senri gained the admiration of all the boys our age.

At first, she was just some popular new transfer student... Same as Senri...

Who everyone always clung to, so I had a lot of animosity towards her.

Not Senri because he's a boy, though he stood out as well, more than Hotaru even.

But one day...

"Hey... Do you want to be my friend?" She called.

"Eh?"

She was holding brochures for two competitions; beautiful girl and handsome boy karaoke contests.

"As long as we act ourselves, don't you think there are a lot of advantages to cute girls like us sticking together?"

Those were the strong, loving words that won me over.

At that time, I thought...this was a girl who could see how people were different.

"Ah, for the other contest I'd asked Senri to participate."

Ever since that day, Hotaru and I became so famous in our neighborhood...that even people we didn't know would talk about us.

Senri became somewhat the village's own idol and singer.

His fanclub kept on increasing, they also sold CDs of him singing.

Hotaru received many profits by selling posters of him.

He didn't seem to mind, maybe because there's none embarassing ones.

We always did things together. Though we were a bit chaotic sometimes...

I got annoyed of Senri, he kept smiling when he watched us fighting.

He even kept record of mine and Hotaru's wins and losses.

No matter what we did, Hotaru was always so unique with what she did...

Senri was always so mysterious with his aura...

Hotaru and I were always together, whenever and wherever we were. And Senri kept us company.

BOOM!!!

"Indulging one's self in memories is fine and all... But don't just stand there talking non-stop all by yourself when no one is listening."

"Hotaru! You've arrived at a good point!" I lunged to hug her but she held me at an arm's length.

"Let me say this to you now... This school shutting down has nothing to do with the community deciding anything like that," she told me.

"R-really?"

"Yup. Simply put, there's no money. Not in this village nor this school," a deeper voice piped in our conversation.

"Senri!" He was leaning on the door frame, giving his famous close-eyed smile.

"Your bangs are getting longer. It reaches your eyes," I stated. He waved it off, asking me to concentrate on the topic. I frowned.

"Money? Even if there's no money, they have to let children get a proper education...don't they?" I twiddled with my forefinger.

"That's why they're merging the student body here with the one in the city," Senri concluded.

"Eh?! But...! And grandpa feels the same way, too."

They sighed. "At any rate, if you want to fight this, you'll be doing it alone," Hotaru remarked.

"Don't say that. Come on and join me, Hotaru!" I persuaded.

"I have some business to attend to, so..." Hotaru left, giving me a last wave.

With what I hoped to look desperate I plead with Senri.

He awkwardly laughed in a surendering gesture—both hands in the air—and carefully backed off.

Before walking away after an apologetic smile.

The scene changed to the part when I had read the letter Hotaru sent me using her snapping turtle-mail.

I ran to the staff room, and finally outside the school to search for her.

And when I found her...

"Hotaru!" I shouted.

She turned cooly. "Mikan."

"Hotaruu!!"

"You...big idiot! You moron! You block-head!" I mocked as I jumped and attempted a drop kick.

Like always I got swatted by her and I flew around two meters.

I caught a glimpse of silver—Senri—before dropping to the ground.

Instead of catching me or helping me up, he only smiled.

The imaginary scoreboard he kept that somehow everybody could see appeared.

He flipped the paper for Hotaru's score, indicating one more point for her win.

Mikan – Hotaru
0 – 51

They snickered and high-fived each other.

When I woke what first came to my mind was 'Hotaru, Senri, you heartless fiends.'

••••••••••• NOTE •••••••••••

Hey, guys! This note is a MUST READ!!!

So, questions:

1. Love interest. Depending on who you choose for Senri I can change his gender.

From a real boy as a girl disguised as a boy. An additional plus it won't affect the story line. My plot is flexible.

2. Basing this fanfic by the manga or anime.

It all depends on the most vote on this poll, though.

Options for love interest:

1. Ruka

2. Hotaru

3. Yuu (Iinchou)

4. Three girl OCs as male Senri's fiancé candidates

Options for the base:

1. Manga

2. Anime

The deadline is: 30 July 2016