One More Chance

Chapter 6: The Little Visitor

*Love doesn't make the world go round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

"Hey, did you hear?"

"Where are they?"

"What class are they in?"

Murmurs and excited whispers from the other students echoed across the corridors as Mikan, Hotaru, Anna, Nonoko and Sumire passed through. They saw a group of girls giggling and squealing who immediately ran off towards the other direction. Another group also came rushing after them.

"Doesn't everyone seem to be a little bit too hyper today?" Mikan pointed out. "Anyways, what are they so enthusiastic about?" She couldn't help but ask her companions.

"I heard something about gym." Hotaru said.

"What about gym?"

"I don't really know."

Mikan looked at Anna and Nonoko, who just shook their heads.

"Wait a second; the boys are having their gym class today." Sumire exclaimed.

Gym was the only period wherein the whole class would be participating together. Well, not technically; the girls and boys are divided into two groups and each has separate sessions with different instructors.

The girls' gym instructor, Shizune Yamanouchi, who was a past student from Alice Academy, had to take a temporary leave due to some important commitments outside of the school. And because of that, the girls had no gym class for a whole week, much to Mikan's disappointment.

Curious as to what all the excitement was about, Mikan and her friends hurriedly went to the gym. When they got there, the entrance was crowded by groups of girls who were typically, cheering and screaming their heads off.

Mikan and the others squeezed their way into the front of the crowd, dismissing glares and yells from the other girls whose feet were stepped on. That was when they saw what all the commotion was about.

The boys were having a game. And it wasn't just any game, it was basketball. All of the boys of Class 2-A were split into two groups: the red team and the white team.

"Mikan!" Someone called from the group that was on the right side of the court. Mikan immediately knew who it was. Standing right at the center of the group, with a white jersey on, was Eiji. When he saw that he got her attention, he jogged away from the group and approached them.

"I'm glad that you're here." He grinned at her. Mikan couldn't help but smile back.

"So, who are you guys up against?" She asked, although Mikan already knew that Eiji's team would win hands down. After all, he was captain of the school's basketball team.

"Them." Eiji pointed towards the other group on the left side of the court. When Mikan saw who were the members of the other team, her heart almost stopped.

Right in the center of the group, with a red jersey on, was none other than Natsume Hyuuga. And on his team were Ruka, Koko, Yuu and Kitsu. Mikan couldn't help but stare at them in shock. When Natsume raised his head, their eyes met.

Embarrassed, Mikan immediately looked away, her face starting to get warm. She couldn't believe that he caught her staring at him! Sneaking a glance at him, she saw that he was smirking, much to her dismay. Eiji must have seen this, because he immediately grabbed her waist and looked straight in her eyes, his emerald green eyes tense and mesmerizing.