Gakuen Alice 53

The silhouette of a long wavy haired girl and the Narration explains that the 3 Alice schools (elementary, junior and high) have distinct colours. Elementary grade made of unthinking reckless groups. Junior high made of people wanting to crowd together and gossip. High school thoroughly made up of individualistic people with secret principles. In the gossip in junior high, since 2, 3 years one of the many whispered rumours about the mystery surrounding the junior high principle, of the age being unknown, maybe coming from high social rank. That the junior high principle has a favourite girl loved as a doll, and so no one can ever see this favourite girl she is locked up in a dark room for ever. And whoever sees this "secret" can never escape the darkness of the junior high...during this Narration, the side silhouette of the long wavy haired girl(which eyes ect.. we cannot see therefore cannot recognise) someone speaks: "Hii-sama(written with the kanji Hime=princess), the arrangements for the banquet have proceeded with no problems" "really...then, I'm looking forward...."The story continues more brightly with all the girls and boys dressed in Kimonos for the new year(this chapter is dated as being January 1st) Mikan has received a new years postcard from her grandfather and as a narration she answers back: "Dear grandpa, happy new year. I'm making the New Year great here at the Alice Academy dorm. The boys and girls complement on how cute and handsome they look in Kimonos and how delicious the new years Osechi looks. Mikan, Hotaru, Natsume, Ruka and the usual group all sit together and start eating the Osechi, and they also receive envelopes with money though the osechi everyone can enjoy no matter their star ranks, the Otoshidama are seperated amounts depending on the star rank. Mikan simply compliments that she's just happy to get one. While some play by painting srolls, Mikan, Ruka, Parma, Kokoro-yomi ect. are playing Karuta(a traditional card game) Mikan tries, by changing the text she reads on one of the cards to make the other realise that it's her birthday, though they all pretend like they don't know. Mikan remembers that until now it's only been her and her grandpa celebrating her birthday.She keeps trying to get the others to realise it's her birthday, hinting "today is someone's B-day!" but the others still pretend they don't know. Before Mikan can make anyone answer it's her B-day, the subject is changed by the arrivals of the new years postcards(tradition in Japan to send to family, friends an acquaintances your best wishes for the new year on a postcard.) Hotaru recieves piles and piles of them. Parma and other girls start fussing around Ruka wanting to see his postcard which has a picture of his family on it. Mikan and Hotaru also want to see and take it away from him. On the postcard is the picture of a 2 elders and a beautiful woman dressed up in fur coats and hats. They are all surprised that Ruka's mom is a super beauty, Mikan says: “Ruka-pyon's female adult version" Ruka's mom wrote her best wishes and that they are all in good health and calls him Lu-chan. Hotaru teases him by asking: "is your mom a foreigner? Then that would make Lu-chan a half.. Lu-chan how many people in your family?" Ruka: "don't call me Lu-chan!" Kokoroyomi: "Lu-chan is a family of 5, only child with parents, grandparents and dog" Ruka: "don't read my mind!"(on the post card the mother asks if Ruka is still doing well with Natsume and Aoi-chan. Mikan remembers about Luka being childhood friends to Natsume and having entered AG together, she wonders who is Aoi-chan, not being able to remember anyone of the name. Natsume takes away the postcard and scolds that it's impolite to read someone's mail without permission. Mikan is stuck for words...then trying to change the subject she asks Natsume how many postcards he got. Everyone around freeze, Natsume gives an angry look at Mikan then leaves the room slamming the door behind him. Mikan, not understanding why, wonders surprised: "did I say something wrong?" Parma replies in an angry mood. Iincho says no one's ever seen Natsume recieve any letters or post, Parma continues by explaining that no one knows why but that there must be school reasons and Natsume's particular reasons to why no mail ever comes for him. With their reaction it seems as if the subject is more or less Taboo. Mikan remembers when Natsume told her that the school would never permit, especially to students who are under surveyance, to ever have contact with the outer world. Parma continues to scold, saying that anyone who thinks a little would know not to touch the subject and calls Mikan an Idiot for ruining the festivv mood. Mikan is a bit depressed by her mistake. Natsume’s alone sitting by a window side. A voice saying: "big brother...big brother..." a young child crying; "big brother help me..." Mikan walking alone outside in the cold depressed;.."I'm the worst"...she thinks she's terrible for having gotten excited about the new year and thinking only of herself and her birthday, thinking how bad a person she is...(In the meanwhile Iincho and the others are looking around the school for Mikan) On the way Mikan meets with Narumi-sensei (who is dressed up in a woman's Kimono).

Narumi: "are? Mikan-chan?" Mikan: "Narumi-sensei” Narumi: "what are you doing here? I was actually going to the elementary are to see you guys" Mikan: "Why?" Narumi: "For the new year’s greetings and to deliver something" Mikan: "a delivery?" Narumi smiling gently: "Happy Birthday!" He gives a big beautiful bouquet of flowers to Mikan. Narumi: "Congratulations, your 11 years old Mikan-chan. Here’s a present from me." Mikan begins to cry. Sitting on Narumi's lap, she explains about her mistake towards Natsume, saying she has no right to celebrate a birthday, and says that only Narumi-sensei and her grandfather remembered about her birthday. Narumi laughs and says that Mikan is contradicting herself ('cause she says se has no rite to celebrate but is also crying 'cause everyone else forgot about her B-day) Narumi notices the postcard Mikan is holding from her grandfather. Narumi: "This is from your grandfather? He must have wanted to see how big and beautiful Mikan has grown" In his mind comes up the Image of Mikan's grandfather and Mother calling out for Mikan. Natsume sees Mikan and Narumi from the window. Mikan says that before she had asked Narumi-sensei why she was being pointed out by the school (like someone after her) and that at that time Narumi did not want to answer just yet, that at the Christmas ball she a partner she danced with made her mask come off , and though it may just be her misunderstanding but that partner looked a lot like the elementary school principal (again she remembers the principal's words about not loosing something special to her) She's a bit worried 'cause she keeps making problems in school and wonders if something will happen to her, like maybe getting a cursed seal like Tsubasa-senpai (his star on his cheek)Narumi-sensei conforts Mikan, saying all will be fine, that she shouldn't worry about such silly things, to smile. He says: "Don't worry I will protect you no matter what" Mikan taken by surprise to this manly expression of Narumi-sensei blushes, and laughs that she now feels a bit embarassed. Mikan laughing happily; "that's true, I have Narumi-sensei. I shouldn’t' be scared of anything. Narumi sensei I love you. I love you a lot. Narumi remembers Mikan's mother's words (when they were still in high school) that she could never answer to his love, to stop loving her. Narumi: "Me too, I love Mikan-chan a lot. More than anyone." (Narumi to himself: Perhaps my future from now on is all for you, that I wont feel regret giving it all for you, not even the sound of my own ruin approaching will make me feel any fear...(means that for Mikan he would do anything, even die.) Mikan: "that's a lie! I know narumi-sensei has a girl he likes!" Narumi: "eh? What’s that about?" Mikan: "I saw the old albums!" Narumi: "Really?!" Natsume’s still on the window still holding a present for Mikan. Narumi and Mikan still outside. Narumi: "the weather has gotten worse." Mikan: "narumi-sensei your hands are cold, even though your’e wearing gloves. Ah this hand is warm, only your right hand is cold. How strange" (thats the blackened hand) Narumi: ‘’well then, why don't you warm it up for me. Let’s hold hands and walk back to the dorm. You came out without telling anyone didn't you, I'm sure everyone is worried about you." Mikan: “you think so?".

Narumi points towards the dorm, everyone from class are walking calling out: "Mikan where are you?" Mikan and Narumi are hiding behind a tree checking out the others. Iincho is most of all worried, saying it's already been 2 hours, maybe she got lost. Kokoroyomi suggest maybe she ran away from school, feeling lonely walking under the cold blue sky because everyone forgot her birthday, and then she gets attacked by some terrible accident. Iincho gets even more worried. They wonder if she's upset because everyone pretended to forget her birthday, Kokoroyomi says it's because Parma said some terrible things to her. Parma gets angry saying its not her fault then asks who's idea was it to prepare a surprise party and pretend that no one remembered her birthday. Hotaru, the one who made up this plan about everyone pretending to forget Mikan's birthday says its fun to tease Mikan, and that it's cute. "Any complaints?" Everyone frozen by Hotaru's cold gaze: "no. no complaints." Narumi: "Mikan, go ahead" Mikan runs towards the others Iincho running back toward Mikan: "I was so worried!" everyone happy to find her. Narration (Mikan talking): "already this New Year has begun with excitement, may this New Year be a good year, and may the next and the next after also be, for ever and ever..."

Narrator: Even on a birthday which cannot be celebrated with family, with Narumi-sensei in all the others it's a birthday full of happiness. Happy New Year and a Happy Birthday.