One More Chance

Chapter 12: The New Rival

*Love is like a puzzle. When you're in love, all the pieces fit but when your heart gets broken, it takes a while to get everything back together.

"Move a little more to the right. Tilt your chin a little higher. There. Add a little bit more of a smile. Pause. Perfect!" The director droned on and on with directions as Mikan performed every pose that he instructed.

They were in LEX studios, doing the photo shoot for the cover of LEX's next magazine issue. Mikan was chosen to be the model that will be showcasing the company's latest fashion collection. Fortunately, she was excused from all of her classes and Hotaru (after several hours of begging) and the others promised to let her borrow their notes when she returned.

"Okay, we're done for today. Thank you for all of your hard work!" The director finally announced after several hours of shooting.

Mikan couldn't help but sigh in relief. Finally, she'll be able to return to the academy again. It's been already a week since she left. Just as when she was about to enter her dressing room, someone covered her eyes.

"Guess who?" The person asked, chuckling.

"Tono onii-chan, I know that it's you!" Mikan couldn't help but giggle. The person behind her finally took his hands off of her eyes.

Mikan turned around to face a young handsome man who was probably around his early twenties. He had long dark hair and dark eyes. He was the type of guy that girls would dub as "tall, dark and handsome". This was Akira Tonouchi. Like Mikan, he is also a model for LEX and was one of the few models chosen to showcase the company's fashion collection for men.

"Great job today." He complimented, grinning. Mikan couldn't help but grin back.

"Same to you."

Mikan went into her dressing room. Tono also followed behind. He sat on the couch and made himself comfortable, glancing around.

"So, where are you heading after this?" He asked.

"I'm going back to Alice Academy." Mikan said, as she gathered her belongings and put them in her bag.

"Aw, come on. You're going back to school already?" Tono complained. "Can't you hang out here for a while at least?"

"I've already had a lot of time hanging out here. Besides, I've already been absent for a week." Mikan explained.

Tono sighed.

"You're too much of a good student."

Mikan couldn't help but laugh.

"Not really. I just don't want my teachers to torture me more than enough. I probably have a week's worth of homework already."

Tono smiled. He noticed something on top of the coffee table.

"Is this your boyfriend?" He asked, a photograph in his hands. There was grin etched on his face.

Mikan blushed scarlet red. She almost forgot about her and Natsume's photo together. She immediately grabbed for the photo, but Tono was too fast. He was able to move his hand away before Mikan could reach it.

"Well?" He asked, his eyes sparkling with suppressed laughter.

"Come on, Tono onii-chan! Give the photo back to me." Mikan cried.

Tono continued to grin.

"Answer my question first." He ordered.

Mikan suppressed the urge to scream. She slumped on the couch and crossed her arms, pouting.

"Well?" Tono asked again.

"He's not my boyfriend." Mikan said.

"Then why are you two embracing?" He coaxed.

Mikan blushed even brighter.

"It's none of your business!"

Tono laughed.

"Gauging from your reaction, I think I'd better not ask you that question again." He said between laughs. He finally handed the photo back to Mikan.

"Tono onii-chan is so mean." Mikan pouted.

Tono chuckled.

"I was just teasing. Besides, it's normal for young girls like you to fall in love. Just make sure that you choose the right one." He said.

Mikan smiled.

"I know that he's the one for me." She said.

"Does he feel the same?"

"I'm not really sure." Mikan admitted. "But I'll make sure that he does." She said confidently.

Tono grinned.

"Good luck." He said.

Mikan beamed at him.

A few minutes later, Tono finally left Mikan's dressing room. Afterwards, Mikan was fetched by the Alice Academy limousine (fancy, right?).

A few weeks later…

"Oh. My. Gosh!" Sumire squealed with delight as she and the others looked through the pages of the LEX fashion magazine.

"Mikan-chan, you look so beautiful here." Anna complimented.

"And the dresses suit you very much." Nonoko added.

Mikan couldn't help but blush.

"Thanks guys. Although, don't give me all of the credit. The staff was great and the make-up artists were good." She said.

"Well, they really did a good job to be able to transform your ugly face into a presentable one." Hotaru said.

"Hotaru is so mean!" Mikan cried. Sumire and the others laughed.

"But don't you guys think that it's ironic that Mikan looks so great with Natsume's favorite color?" Koko spoke up from behind Sumire.

Everyone immediately glanced at the magazine. True enough, in the cover, Mikan was wearing a red dress with a black sash. And frankly, Natsume's favorite color is red.

Mikan blushed even more.

"It's just pure coincidence." She insisted. Natsume, who was beside her, smirked.

Suddenly, the bell rang and everyone went back to their seats. Narumi entered with a bright smile on his face.

"I have wonderful news my students!" He exclaimed. "Once again, we have a new student who will be joining us this year."

"Another new student?"

"There are so many this year."

"I hope that it's a girl this time."

"I wonder who it could be."

Whispers and murmurs echoed across the room.

"Now, please welcome your new classmate, Luna Koizumi!"

And suddenly, all hell broke loose.