Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice and all its rights belong to the one and only manga-ka, Tachibana Higuchi.

The Painter and the Playwright

“The difference between pictures and words is that pictures convey words, and words convey pictures.”

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Chapter One

The Summer Stake

“The man who does not read books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”

- Mark Twain

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Dedicated to…

Daichi, Chini, Keitaro, Ky, Aki Tenshi, and Joy.

Love you guys!

I sighed, looking at my most recent work of ‘art’. I never did get why I inherited this trait when that little brat is much more engrossed in learning this than me. What bothers me most is why Dad likes her work much more than mine, even though I’m the one giving them food to eat and pay half of our tuition fees. He goes on rampaging criticisms against my works, which you should know, has been selling for more than 500, 000 Yen. Hers, on the other hand, had its highest bidding of 250, 000 Yen. No matter how I look at it, I can’t seem to comprehend his reasons.

Knock Knock

The door opened; its creaking sound audible to my ears. Even though I didn’t take my eyes away from my latest masterpiece, I could already tell who it is. Who owns footsteps lightest in this house? There is just one female in this residence anyway. “What do you want?” I asked, pretending to still scan the canvas. She pouted, letting out an annoyed sound from her lips. I looked at her from the corner of my eyes, my face still as apathetic as always.

“Dinner’s ready, Mr. Stingy.” Does she ever ponder about how lame her nicknames are? Seeing that she’s been using the same set of monikers for five years, I can assume that she doesn’t. How am I possibly related to this brat?

“Whatever.” I sighed. This would be going nowhere anyway. I stood up, yawning. Since I’ve been painting for so long, my life has become this boring. I never did enjoy what I do—it’s just a waste of time. I’d rather go and do some kendo than sit in a chair, look at a view, and transfer it to a canvas. Boring.

“Your paintings are always so detailed, but I wonder why they keep looking like they’re lacking something.” Criticize the ones who can do what you can’t—yeah, that’s a good motto to follow. “I guess it’s too dull. Why won’t you try painting something with actual people for once?” Yeah, like I will. I don’t see how people are better than landscapes.

“Keep out from others’ business, brat.” She better do. I’m sick of hearing the same criticisms again and again. With that, I walked away, not bothering to see if she was tailing behind me. Knowing the usual routine, Dad would probably ask me what I’ve been doing again. He should be that strict to the brat, not me. She’s a girl, an annoying one, after all.

“That sport is dangerous. How many times do I have to repeat it?” Sigh. There he goes again. He says the same words over and over that I’m beginning to think he’s a robot programmed to scold me for my ‘irresponsible’ decisions. I’m the captain of the kendo team, so he should be proud that his son is not as girly as to paint all day.

He sighed. Here goes with the grades. “And your grades, Natsume—Do you know how it feels to see a genius’ report card with failing marks? Why do you keep on skipping your classes?” Because they’re boring. I am a genius, after all. Do I even need to study? It’s not my fault that I was granted a mind that of a mastermind.

“To fence.” I replied, taking in a shrimp. I wasn’t lying at all. I find it better to practice my kendo when there are classes than to do it when the club actually gathers. I have to teach them this and that, that and this. If they weren’t all younger than me, then I would have refused the idea of being captain. Another reason why I agreed is because of Youichi.

“There’s time for that.” No, there is not. Knowing him, he would set a new rule upon me about going home after school immediately to practice my painting instead. Hell, like I will. “The competition season is starting next month, so it’s normal.” I said calmly. I think I already know what he’ll reply to that.

“But you do it even if it’s not that season.” Summer break is starting a week from now. Even if he says something about it, there’s nothing he could do. I’ll be forced to spend it training anyway, and he wouldn’t want the school be put to shame because of me, now would he?

“Anyway, since summer is near, I have a feeling you’ll spend it training kendo. If you don’t want to paint that much, then I’ll let you paint whenever you want to.” That’s a surprise. Was it me dreaming or did he just say I’m actually free for this year’s summer break? As much as I want to rejoice, I know he’s not the type to give me something I want that easily.

“On one condition,” I was never wrong, was I? This is my old man, after all. If I don’t give something for free that effortlessly, it’s because I inherited his traits. The only difference is that I would never, never get married, let alone have a girlfriend. I despise the female population. They’re all nothing but a bunch of burdens you carry on your shoulder.

“I visited the funeral of a friend the other day, remember?” The brat nodded, looking interested. What about that? Does he want me to paint his face as a memoir for him? If that’s the case, then I guess I would happily agree.

“She has a daughter, whom you should know, has no living relatives left. Since she inherited a sufficient amount of money from her parents’ savings, she’ll be moving next door. Japan’s Child Welfare Services have assigned Imai-san to be her guardian, and the only problem left is her schooling.” This man is always full of complications. If that’s the problem, what’s my connection to this? The Imai household is rich, so I bet there’s no problem in letting her in the academy.

“She’s a slow learner, however, and Alice Academy would be hard for her to catch up in. Since you have nothing else to do but practice your kendo, I’ve volunteered to hire you as her tutor until she manages to catch up. That would mean you’ll have to spend 2 o’ clock up to 4 or 5 in the afternoon to teach her the fundamentals in math and science. You won’t have to worry about Japanese and English. She’s a good writer, as far as I’m concerned.”

I have to do what?!

“You can have your training in the morning.” This is a punishment, not the freedom I heard about a little while ago. What the hell has gone into his mind? Me, Natsume Hyuuga, wake up early? Nah-uh, no siree. Is he serious? Besides, I don’t see any reason why I should tutor a little girl. With my mien, she would probably end up as another fan girl. “Have you ever given the thought that she might actually be a peril to my life?”

People, fan girls are cyanides. They’re nothing but a mere threat to a man’s life, and I specifically abhor their leader, Tachiko. She’s a shark, if you must know. Do you know how desperate she was to kiss me so as far to put aphrodisiac in my bag? Yeah, I know. She’s that low. Knowing her, she would kill the ‘lucky’ girl I’m going to tutor. Hold on, wouldn’t that be in my favor?

“Not all girls are your fans, you know.” Well, excluding you and Imai, that is. After all, a man who’s good at a sport, smart, not to mention excellent in something as calming as painting, and good-looking is every girl’s dream boy. Not that I care, but the female kind is simply disgusting, drooling over me everyday.

“At any rate, what makes you think I’ll actually do it?” Does he expect me to tutor that easily? Hell, do I look like a geeky nerd? No. This is exactly why I skip classes and never do schoolwork. Besides, how can I possibly teach a little girl? The old man hasn’t thought this through at all.

“Because I told you to and because I can’t afford to turn it down now. We’re being paid with the same income that you get with your paintings, so you’re free from the brushes this summer.” But not from damn girls. Jeez. No wonder he wears glasses nowadays. He can’t see how gifted I really am, and how lucky he actually is to have me as his son.

“Then tell me why me? You’re the one who stays here doing nothing all day.” He slacks here at home, painting whenever he feels like it, and then I get the responsibility. I don’t see the fairness he’s implying at all.

“I’ve been offered a trip to Italy next week. I’ll be gone for three weeks.” Blink.

I’ll be gone for three weeks.

Be gone for three weeks.

Gone for three weeks.

Holy crap. Since when did goats learn how to swim? Oh yeah, Aoi’s still a chicken out of water. “That’s even worse!” But it’ll be in my favor, actually. He’ll be gone, and I’ll really be free from his hold. Well, for the summer break, at least.

“It’s my reward for a masterpiece worth 20 000 000 Yen, Natsume. I deserve it. If you want to go somewhere in the world, then quit kendo and start focusing on your flaws in painting.” Like hell I will. If there’s a place where I can do kendo all I want and I won’t have to do painting for your sake, then I’d probably reconsider.

“Can I come with you?” Hopefully, he’ll say yes to that. If she’s here, she’d totally tell the old man that I didn’t do the job at all. She is the ‘angel’ of this house. Yeah, right.

“That’d be in favor of your brother, Aoi. Besides, I’m sure you’ll make great friends with your new neighbor.” Not. If she’s a fan girl, then the goat here would ignore her as much as she ignores my fan club. “I wouldn’t make that trip as well if you aren’t here. Someone needs to safeguard Natsume.” And he treats me like a baby. Jeez.

This summer will be the worst, I could tell. But I’m not letting this chance of freedom go that easily. The old man’s leaving and it’s a milestone in my current situation. This is going to be fun.

Real fun.

I scanned the place, ignoring the stares I’ve been receiving from those snakes. Where the hell is that woman anyway? I need to make a deal with her. Now. Ugh, I swear if that hag doesn’t appear, this would be easier. That chic’s one complicated weirdo. I don’t even get why Luca would want me to pair up with that thing.

“Natsume-kun!” Speak of the devil. If the gods weren’t so irritating, I would’ve sent this creature to the ground and give her to an ugly male to spend the time in bed with. I wonder if she even paid attention to the fact that I’m not, and will never be, interested in her. Ugh, I might take back all my plans if she begins to attend the ‘official’ kendo practice viewing the whole summer.

I’ll never understand women. There’s this loud, annoying type (specifically my fan girls) and then the quiet, greedy type. Speaking of the latter, since when did she get here? “What brings you here, Hyuuga?” To talk to you, what else? You’re the one who’s to blame since you agreed to guard that damn orphan. “Do I have to point it out?”

She smirked.

I glared.

It’s the standard language for silent, conceited geniuses, for your insufficient information. “I don’t see any reason why you should complain. She’s a pretty naïve girl, exactly your type. Being a playboy, I don’t see any problems with that.” Yeah, right. Like I’m one of those damn people addicted to pigs. Gross.

“I’m surprised you even agreed with the responsibility.” I glared daggers at her. The Imai doing charity work? Like hell am I going to believe that crap. Her parents are understandable but her? No way. She’s got something up that devious little mind of hers. “What are you planning, Gizmo Geek?” I’m that straightforward, mind you.

“There’s no point in telling you. Whether I had a plan or not, the outcome would be the same.” This woman loves lying, doesn’t she? The outcome would be same anyways? Jeez. I’m tired enough of actually trying to think of a way to escape this god-damn tutor thing. My freedom is only one step away, and then the stairs just regenerated, making my goal harder to reach.

Holy crap.

Since when did I become this dramatic? Ugh. This is exactly what you get when something hurdles you.

“Natsume-kun, what’re you talking about? Did something happen with you and Imai?” Yes, you annoying thing. She’s destroying my dear, precious life and you’re just fuel added to the fire. Damn it. When will I have a day wherein I won’t be tormented by these morons? I swear no amount of religious belief would make me not tempted to kill these things.

I sighed. “How much do you want?” Looks like money’s my last option to persuade this fiscal fiasco. She can find a replacement, so it should be as easy as that.

“Being offered money from the Hyuuga Natsume is appealing, but I firmly refuse it.” She smirked.

I glared. “Of all people, why did you pick me as your target?”

“Your father and my parents are acquaintances of her parents, and I happen to be fond of her as well. You’re next door, and I’m on the next street. It’s far more convenient that way.”

“I’m busy for the summer so find a replacement.”

“A man with skills from the likes of you doesn’t need to focus on training. Besides, you’ve trained everyday while skipping classes.”

“Tutoring is not my specialty, Witch.”

“Practice makes perfect. That’s your belief and comeback with kendo, am I wrong?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“Lying won’t get you anywhere, Hyuuga.”

“The same with you, Imai.”

“If you really think you’re all that, then do the tutoring and show me what you’ve got.”

“What makes you think I’ll agree to that?”

“I’ll double your pay, and persuade your father to give you entire liberty.”

“And how will you do that, I wonder?”

“That’s up to me. If I can’t do it, then I’ll shun your fan girls away.”

“And if I don’t meet your standards?”

“I get to have your manga collection, as well as the authority to ban you from the kendo team.”

“Deal.”

I smirked.

She smirked.

This is sweet.

To be continued…

Sorry if it’s short, but we had to stop there. Criticize, praise, or screw me if you want. I don’t care what you do as long as you review. Make sure you give me reviews that cover the whole chapter, not the ending part. Sigh. Natsume sounds out of character at the middle part and what follows. It's thanks to somebody here.

Hey!

We’re not updating until we get at least 10 reviews.

More like, you not we. Can't you even try to sound nice?

Sadly, no. Review or I’ll skin you alive.

--Rin