"Today... I want to tell everyone something regarding your classmate Sakura Mikan." Narumi stares down to the ground, unable to meet the eyes of his beloved students. All of them sit in their seats, wondering what was going on.
A tense silence fills the air as everyone awaits what Narumi was mentally preparing himself to say.
"Sakura... is going to be leaving the academy."
Gasps of horror fill the room as the information settles into their young minds. Tears fill eyes and despair clings to their hearts.
"There is something far more scarier than that." Narumi swallows the lump in his throat. "The memories she has of this academy... including the memories of her friends here will be wiped from her mind... all will be deleted and erased."
That's when all hell broke loose. Sobs fill the room as the students realize that they were losing yet another person they hold dear to their heart. The sound of their cries broke Narumi's heart but he could do nothing more for the children. The man wanted to keep trying to find different ways but it was hard when he as restricted and nothing was working.
That was a few days before Mikan's return. Nobody could accept what was to come yet they had no choice. After all, they were merely children- students that had no authority.
Obviously the question arose to Narumi and other higher-ups: What will happen to Akako in Mikan's memories?
As far as everyone knew, Akako wasn't going to return with Hotaru and the others. And even if she did, they wouldn't know when that time would be. This has been a great debate for a while, many people trying to figure out what exactly they could do should Akako never return. They couldn't leave Mikan believing that her sister was at a boarding school, living her life when she wasn't. That would be too cruel.
While teachers contemplate in the room, a timid knock resounds against the wooden door. They all stop and a sigh can be heard from inside of the room.
"Enter, Benjiro-kun." Shiki announces, realizing that the boy was listening from outside of the door the whole time.
The handle turns and the white haired boy peeks inside, slowly walking in. He closes the door behind him and stands in the middle of the room, looking around at all of the teachers staring at him.
"What are you doing here? You know this is a private meeting." Shiki scolds. The boy nods, knowing what he did was wrong but there was something bothering him.
"Shiki-San, what if we got that man?" He speaks up, peaking the interest of many of the teachers. The glance around at one another while Shiki shakes his head. "We simply cannot allow Mikan to have any recollection of the academy. Besides, not even that man could manipulate that amount of time with all of those memories."
"Shiki, what's Benjiro-Kun talking about?" Narumi's hopes start to lift a little at this mysterious person that Benjiro-kun mentioned.
Shiki frowns, not appreciating the fact that the child gave them a false idea of what could be accomplished. "There is a man who Benjiro-kun met when he was working with Reo that had the memory manipulation Alice. But he couldn't possibly be able to manipulate every single memory that Mikan has of Gakuen Alice to make it safe for her to leave with some memories. I admit, this individual is greatly gifted but it could still mess up Mikan's mind, it wouldn't be healthy for her. The most he could do is give her false memories after we wipe her mind but we couldn't possibly allow her to have memories- even fake ones- of her friends. That's still dangerous knowledge." Shiki explains to everyone.
Hearing his words, they realize that there truly is no way for Mikan to leave the academy with any recollection of them.
"So... we've made our decision?" Jinno asks the question that everyone wanted to avoid. "We tell Sakura Mikan that her sister passed away from an accident after her memories are erased."
The room is silent in agreement, Benjiro glaring at the ground as a few tears fill his eyes. He wanted to be able to do this for Akako. He wanted to be able to help her sister remember that Akako risked her life for her loved ones and thought of Mikan till the end. He can still hear Ruka begging him to try and persuade the board to find an alternative but Benjiro failed everyone.
He walks out of the room, leaving the solemn adults to mourn on his own. He goes to his bedroom to change into his pajamas as everyone had decided to see Mikan all together that night.
As the sun leaves the sky, retreating past the horizon, the Moon comes alive to illuminate the starry sky. Mikan stands on the balcony of the school, staring up into the stars as they shine down on her and her beloved friends that she held dear to her heart.
The night breeze blows around her as though the academy were giving her a final farewell, after learning of her new fate. Mikan closes her eyes, relishing the moment she was spending with everyone.
"I... have already cried a lifetime of tears." She mumbles, "In everyone's mind right now, I must be crying. That time as well, when I was separated from Akako and Hotaru, I was crying and whimpering." She recalls, remembering all the tears that came from her eyes when they both left.
All of her friends patiently listen as Mikan speaks aloud to herself.
"If I leave the academy without seeing either of them again, they'll only remember me crying. I... would hate for that. For their last memory of me to be of me crying." Mikan slowly raises her hand to the railing as she sets her hand on the cool concrete, "I don't want to leave a crying me in everyone's hearts. In everyone's hearts... I want them too remember me as someone who is smiling all the time."
"Even though my memories of everyone will disappear... If I can stay in everyone's hearts.. we'll always be together."
Ruka stares at Mikan, heart aching terribly at her words. Even when she's going through all of this and won't remember anyone, she's thinking of how they'll feel and remember her. Mikan truly was a selfless person and Ruka admired her so much for it.
"I want to stay in everyone's memory with a smile... and be with everyone forever and ever." She takes a step away from the balcony and turns towards her friends as her beautiful, signature smile graces her face. "So... until the lady second in this academy, I want to smile. I won't forget. It doesn't matter how long it will be, I want to smile with until the last second."
Tears fill Ruka's eyes as he walks forward to Mikan and grabs her hand. In turn, the girl only smiles at the boy.
'We will never forget you...' his heart shouts to the girl, his mouth not finding the courage to say those words. Though no one says it, everyone knows. There was no way that any of them could possibly forget the girl that came into their lives and flipped their world upside down.
///
Mikan walks down the hallway with a pillow in her arms as bear walks by her side. Her slippers pit-pat against the floor, gathering the attention Anna and Nonoko who were getting ready to go to sleep.
"Ah! Mikan-Chan! Where are you going to sleep tonight?" Anna asks, both sweet girls smiling ah their friend.
Mikan turns towards them, her hair tied into braids tonight instead of ponytails. "I'm going to sleep in Aka-Chan's room tonight!" Mikan grins. "I'm really happy that I got permission to sleep in any of the rooms until my last day!" She recalls Shiki and her Uncle allowing the girl that freedom.
"No fair, I want to sleep in a special room!" One of their male classmates groans only to be hit over the head. "That'd be weird!" His friend scolds him.
"We'll come sleep in my room soon!" Anna requests, Nonoko agreeing.
Mikan laughs and keeps on her way, arriving in front of Akako's room shortly. She reaches forward and turns the knob, stepping into her room. It was way nicer than Mikan's old room but as soon as the door closes behind her, tears make their way to Mikan's eyes.
A cute polka dot comforter laid on the bed with matching pillowcases and a few clothes were thrown about. Those were no doubt from Akako's last normal days of staying in her room. The whole bedroom smelt just like Akako, bringing memories to the surface of Mikan's mind.
Pictures of Akako with all of her friends lined one wall, serving as a constant reminder to her twin.
"I wanted my sister, my most favorite person in the entire world with me! You being such joy to my life, Mikan! I would cry in my bedroom at night on our birthday because I wasn't able to see your bright smile that makes everything bad go away!"
Mikan clenches her eyes shut as she slides against the door, face becoming hot with her tears. The pain in her heart was almost too much for the young girl to bear. The stabbing anguish pierced her so.
"Thank you... Nee-Chan... for being my big sister..."
"Akako..." Mikan buries her face into her pillow while Bear goes up to her, hugging her in an attempt to give her some support. "Thank you for being my twin.... but... come home." She begs.
I know, I know, this is a shorter chapter but I got it out! I've been crazy busy but I'm glad I wrote this for you guys! I'll try and write more whenever I can yall! Thank you all for all of the support, I'll work hard for you!
Hope y'all aren't still too sad!