"Na... stu... me."

"Mm..."

"Natsume!" I jerked up and blinked repeatedly. Where was I again? "You should go home already. There's no need for you to be here. The nurses said they'll be releasing me tomorrow anyways..."

Oh yeah, the hospital. She's finally gained the color of her original tone and her eyes are as sparkly as usual. But her smile...

"I don't have anything better to do..." I lied as I leaned against my arm and swiftly wiped the drool off the ends of my lips.

"Natsume... I'm alright, trust me-"

"What happened... back then? When you were singing..." I swallowed hard, stood up and looked her in the eye, "Why did you do it?" I asked instead.

"Do you remember when I told you that I wanted to be a singer?" I nod as I remember that day in which she was asking me many questions about myself. I also remember thinking that she was growing suspicious. Hahaha... I can't believe I couldn't notice something was wrong... "It's always been my dream and I love to sing, but..." Her face paled.

"But... what?" I asked her. Let's see if she'll tell me the truth.

"I have a disease involving my vocal cords... I get worse very time I sing." She looked down at her hands, "I cough out blood every now and then and my Grandpa had me hospitilized when I wasn't doing so well at school. That's why I'm at the hospital all the time. It's also getting harder to move around, so I needed someone to help me. That's why you're here, Natsume." Her hands shook as she straightened the sheets below her.

How could I have not noticed any of what she'd been going through? All those smiles... and cheerfulness. There's no way that there could be anyone that happy in the world. Then again, Aoi was like that before...

"Why do you do it?" I asked.

"Do what? Sing?"

"No... why do you smile if you know you're going to die?" I finally confessed. I wanted to know why she smiled if she had no reason to.

"How do you know-"

"Just answer the question, dang it!" She flinched and shook her head.

"Hyuuga. Leave her alone." I whipped my head back and instantly spotted a pair of amethyst eyes. Imai... "I came to check how you were doing. How are you, Mikan?"

"I-I'm fine, and you are...?"

"Hotaru Imai. Hotaru is fine." She extended her hand and Mikan hesitated to shake it.

"Nice to meet you... erm... Hotaru."

"Hn..."

"Imai... I thought you had a meeting?" I mumbled angrily.

"I did, but I canceled. I needed to meet this Baka girl." Mikan glared at her but Hotaru shrugged it off, "As you can see... I'm not very sociable. But I came here anyways because he asked me too." She pointed at me and I blushed at her comment, with a scowl of course.

"What? Natsume you-"

"Hmph!" I interrupted her, "Are you making fun of me? What the heck do you know anyway!?" I yelled at Imai.

"I'm not. I'm just restating what you told me. That's all." She smirked. I crossed my arms.

"You two... used to date, right?" said Mikan, "How-?"

"It was back in Junior High. We were fools. That's all." I mumbled.

"Is it maybe... because you're both alike?"

"I'm nothing like that stupid boy." Imai argued over my glare. What her and I had was a mistake... it was something that never should have happened. It's too bad that I had to find out the hard way. I thought that she was someone who understood me but I was wrong. She could never know how I feel and understand the circumstances I'm going through.

"Yeah... sorry. That's not what I meant. I meant to say that you two are similar when it comes to feelings. I can tell that you both are caring over your friends and you are the kind of people who puts others first before yourselves. You two are very alike but personality wise... very close but different. You are more calm and intelligent." I began to protest but she cut me off, "Natsume... you are aggressive, possessive, rude, arrogant, narcissistic, blunt-"

"You're point is?!" A vein popped from my head and I clenched my teeth angrily, trying to keep my cool.

"But, you are one of the few people I trust the most in this dangerous world. When I need you the most, you are there for me. You are the most soft-hearted person that I have ever met in my life. Each day, you show me how great of a person you are. That's all in the inside, I was just listing what you were pretending to be: tough. I know it, Hotaru knows it, everyone knows it. Just how you really are."

Who am I really?

"You are you."

"I was wrong to compare you two because you two are really different but you're motives are the same. I wish I could have what you two do. If only I was that kind of person. Unfortunately... I'm me." She smiled with her eyes close and the whole time she was talking, I never glanced away. It was incredible the way she described me. It was as if she was describing someone beautiful. I-I wasn't anything like she described me. I am selfish and dishonest. If anything... I'm the opposite of what she described.

"I wish I could be like you." The words slipped out of my mouth, but even as they left my lips I didn't feel a trace of regret from saying it. Imai and Mikan looked at me but said nothing.

"Like me?"

I couldn't stop anymore. My lips moved on their own. That's what happens when you hang out with a certain potato girl.

"If only I had your guts. You are probably the strongest girl I've ever met." I gulped. More. Tell her. More. About how she is to you.

My mind speaks to me.

"Yeah..." I chuckled, "You're so nerdy and plain. But you're nothing like that. From all the time I've spent with you... I've gotten to know you better. Everything about you is radiant. Even if you hide it all behind your smile, you are always strong for everyone. If only I had that admirable quality.You're able to forgive everyone too. I'm nothing like that. You say that I am so great but I-"

"Hyuuga." Hotaru warned.

"I'm not what you think I am."

"What do you mean? Natsume... what's wrong?" I look down at my hands that are shaking hard. Tell her. Tell her. Tell her. Tell her. My mind repeats the words in my head. It drives me crazy that I just might tell her the truth. The whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"The truth is-"

"Ouch..." I rub at my cheek, "What the heck Imai??" My cheek feels numb. In her hands is her weapon which she named, 'Baka Gun' which is apparently used on Baka's.

"Don't make her anymore worried than she is already. Can't you see that her plate is already full?" She glared at me and shook her head at the door. I stood up and gave her one last glance of confusion before I left the door. I stood by close and just rested my head against the wall.

Why would she stop me? Agh... I don't understand her. It doesn't matter anymore, we're over and she means nothing to me now. Ah... but I really want to know what they're talking about in there...

I lean against the frame and listen to their conversation.

"Sorry about that... He's really stupid. I can't believe he would embarrass himself like that. What a fool." I frown at her constant dumb ranting.

"He's been acting weird lately. Do you know why, Hotaru?"

Silence.

"No idea. He's been like that for a long time."

"Hotaru? Can I ask you a question?"

"Yeah...?"

"How did you two get together?"

"It's a really long story."

"Please??" she begged and I also begged, well for her not to tell Mikan. There's a pause then a sigh coming from Imai.

"Me and Natsu were childhood friends. Although we treated each other more like rivals. In Junior high something came up that made him make a decision. I still don't know why he did but he begged me to go out with him. So I did and we became a couple. Then..." She stopped and I knew why. I just shook my head and listened though my head was getting restless again. "he suddenly broke up with me... He avoided everyone and never once gave me a single glance. I tried many times to ask what was wrong but he never told me anything. When I tried to help him, he pushed me away and then I realized..." I didn't catch the last words she said because a couple of nurses walked by talking as she was.

What did she realize? Did she know why I distanced myself?

"Hahaha..." I heard Mikan burst out. "You're right. I completely understand. Ruka is just like that. There was a time when he asked me a question. I got worried that he had grown to love me as a woman and not as a friend. But he never asked or did anything anymore after that so I'm relieved."

What did Imai say to her? I grew curious and I was about to open the door and ask her myself when Ruka came from around the corner.

"Oh, hey Natsume!" Ruka greeted me. "What are you doing?" He whispered when he saw me leaning against the door.

"Shush" I hissed, "I think they're talking about me."

"Who?"

"That girl from yesterday and Mikan. Now be quiet and listen." so he did and leaned against the door.

"I don't hear anything." we waited and he was right, silence.

"Huh?" I heard a little breeze but that was all. What was going on in there? Before we know it, Ruka and I end up face-planting the floor.

"Karma, stupid boys." Imai's voice says in monotone. "Try and pull something like that again and I'll make sure you two can't hear anymore."

"I don't even know you." Ruka rubbed his forehead, "but I'm really sorry." We stood up from the floor, still sore.

"Well... I'm not. I regret nothing." I smirked at her and she raised her brows and crossed her arms.

"Oh yeah? Wanna go Hyuuga?" She took out her Baka gun and my smirk fell.

Never have I ever ran that fast in my life.