The story begins in a scene
where Hotaru Imai is set to leave the town to enter Alice Academy. Her best
friend, Mikan Sakura, felt like she was being abandoned. But however many
protests she did, Hotaru still pursued to enter the academy, leaving Mikan a note
behind via a turtle mail (her invention).
Mikan cannot accept this, thus
she went on her own to find this Alice Academy for geniuses like Hotaru. Her
efforts were not all in vain, for she indeed, was able to find the academy.
When Mikan stood outside the
academy, a teacher (sensei) greeted him, but not to encourage her to step
inside, instead, to drive her away. This teacher, Narumi, possesses the
Pheromone Alice and he could order anyone by attracting them. However, when he
tried his alice to Mikan, he failed and this confused him. Meanwhile, his
original task was quite forgotten and thus a disaster suddenly followed.
An explosion interfered with
Narumi-sensei and Mikan’s conversation. Apparently, a student with the Fire
Alice, Natsume Hyuuga, is trying to escape again. This is the first meeting of
Mikan and Natsume, the main protagonists of the story.
Nonetheless, after trying to
stop him for several times, Narumi was successful in his appointed task. He
brought Natsume inside, and Mikan too, for he felt that maybe Mikan’s an alice.
When Mikan was left alone with
unconscious Natsume, she looked at her photos with Hotaru and hoped that she’d
meet her in this campus. However, in the middle of this reminiscing, Natsume
was suddenly awake and attempted to burn her hair. But during this time, his
alice did not work as well, like what happened to Narumi’s. Ruka Nogi, his best
friend, appeared with an eagle and crushed to the window to fetch him and
escape the teacher’s nagging. Just in time, they went away before Misaki,
another teacher and Narumi came.
This first encounter wasn’t at
all pleasant, in Mikan’s perspective and she started to despise this trouble
student.
Later on, Mikan was accepted
to the academy, and she met Hotaru. Hotaru showed no signs of appreciation for
this at first, but as the story progressed, she too seemed happy that Mikan
chose to follow her.
The reconciliation of the two
brought many changes in the academy. First, in the class of Natsume. Iinchou,
the president of the class, welcomed Mikan who seemed to receive too much
bullying from everyone else. She was an outcast and everyone, especially Sumire
(a.k.a. Permy) disliked her, accusing her of untruthful stuffs like ‘just
wanting to level with geniuses’, because she cannot really show her alice –
something she doesn’t know and understand yet.
Although Narumi and the other
teachers were already certain, they still did not say anything about it. This
put Mikan in a rather difficult situation and thus her being accepted by the
class is close to impossibility. Natsume, being a genius and arrogant at the
same time thought it would make sense if something could explain why he wasn’t
able to use his alice on their first encounter. He challenged Mikan to prove
her being an ‘alice’ through surviving the forest that was rumored to be evil.
Mikan, being a persistent
girl, answered to his challenge and took Hotaru and Iinchou with her. In the
forest, she met the moving Bear and several other odd animals. The test was
simple, she have to go in, and get out. However, having the fact that it is
impossible due to their limited force, Hotaru thought of a brilliant idea –
dragging Ruka Nogi along. She thought it’s quite of use because Ruka has the
Animal Pheromone alice. Using blackmails, Ruka joined them. This reached
Natsume and did not please him. His only friend, Ruka, shouldn’t be used for
ridiculous things.
However, Ruka had already
saved the company when Natsume arrived to the place. He was so mad at Mikan
that he lit a fire large enough to turn everyone into ashes. Mikan felt
terrified of this and as much as she wanted to do something, she doesn’t know
what it is that she was supposed to do. The realization happened when she
caught a sight of Hotaru being surrounded by fires. She immediately had the
will to stop Natsume from producing more. When she pushed him, something
miraculous happened and even Natsume was surprised. The fire was extinguished.
Mikan did not understand at
once how but Narumi explained everything to her. She was the Alice of
Nullification and has the ability to repel any attack.
This made Mikan glad, and
because of this, she could stay inside the academy.
The story went on with
lightness until several truths unfolded. It all started when Natsume was
kidnapped by Reo – a ‘terrorist’ with the Voice Pheromone Alice. He was saved
by Mikan and Sumire and after that, things happened bit by bit, making the story
heavier, and more dramatic. It was at that point too when Natsume started to
show weaknesses in terms of his physical strength. It was then explained that
he was one of those with the type called Life-Shortening Alice.
As the mysteries unfold, it
was revealed that Natsume, along with several other protagonists like Tsubasa
(Mikan’s friend, she calls him Senpai; Shadow Alice), and Tonouchi (Amplifying
Alice) are doing dangerous jobs for the school, and this type of job causes
Natsume’s life to shorten for he has to use his alice a lot.
But however dangerous the job
is, Natsume cannot give it up. He has his personal reason, and that is his
sister whom was kept somewhere in the academy. Even if it will mean that he’s
going to die, he would risk to save Aoi Hyuuga, also an Alice of Fire.
Natsume’s past was told in
several chapters. It was narrated by his best friend Ruka. They were younger
and were outside the academy. Ruka was at that time living with his parents who
were, as described, rich people (almost royal). He later met Natsume and Aoi in
the school and became friends with the two. He also found out that the Hyuuga
siblings live with their father, who was an Alice too. Their mom had passed
away. Like the Nogi family, Hyuuga family also moved from town to town,
escaping the academy, preventing their children from being captured by the
school.
Natsume was feared by his
classmates even before. He wasn’t a very cheerful child but is overprotective
when it comes to his little sister Aoi. Unlike Ruka who has bodyguards all the
time, he fights for himself when he needs to. However one time, Ruka was all
alone and was being captured by the people from the academy…and Natsume came to
save him. From then on they became the best of friends and a thing or two
changed Ruka’s mind. His mom, who was the most overprotective of all, also saw
this change in Ruka and accepted that his son had grown-up.
Ruka and Natsume would’ve
escaped the school forever if not for one awful incident. Persona (a.k.a. Serio
Rei), who was the Elementary School Principal’s pawn, was sent to meddle with
the capturing. He gave Aoi a stone that would encourage her alice to burn the
whole town. And just as he expected, the whole town did burn.
Narumi and Misaki were the
ones in-charged at that time with capturing Natsume but they resent using such
measures to get the child. Narumi wasn’t able to stop Persona from this devilry
and thus, the tables turned.
The whole town detested the
alices. When Natsume admitted a crime he did not commit, he was hated more by
the whole town and said awful things to him. Ruka stayed by his side but this
was something Natsume would never wish. He pushed Ruka away so he won’t be
involved in his dark world.
The academy was then visibly
in-touched with the incident. They took over Aoi’s case and used her to
blackmail Natsume. Since he had no other choice but to abide by the orders for
the sake of Aoi, he entered the academy. When he stepped inside the car that
will transport them to the academy’s grounds, he found Ruka inside. Ruka,
apparently, had decided that he shall come with him and will not let him be
alone ever again. As the car went away, Natsume’s father came running after him
but since he wasn’t allowed to see him before his leave, Natsume did not even
dare look back. Ruka held his hand and they settled to face what’s about to
come.
Inside the academy, Natsume
grew colder and wouldn’t associate with anyone except Ruka. He kept on doing
the deadly missions in hopes of finding his lost sister.
This frequent using of alice
took its toll on him to the point that he would always be found coughing blood
and staying at the hospital.
By the time the past of
Natsume was revealed, they had already been quite good friends and Mikan’s cheerful
aura gave him a reason to keep on living at least. It was implied that he
started to fall for Mikan during the dance, and Christmas balls.
The signs of Natsume weakening
began to be very visible when the incident with the Z happened.
Hotaru was shot by a woman who
was believed to be a member of Z. Because of this, they needed to get the
antidote to cure her.
Mikan, having a firm decision
that she will find the antidote herself, went with Ruka, Natsume, and Tsubasa
to get the antidote, and also, Iinchou’s alice which appeared to be missing,
and was believed to be ‘stolen’ by the same organization.
Through a so-called warphole,
they were transferred to another place. Later on they met the organization
responsible for all the incident. Mikan did not, however, expect that she would
have to face somebody whom was connected to her. Yuka – the woman with the
Stealing Alice was faced by Mikan and Mikan showed her great disgust for this
woman specifically, claiming that she’ll never forgive her for what she had
done to Hotaru.
However, this doesn’t seem to
make any sense for now but Yuka helped Mikan get the things she need and sent
the company away safely. Mikan did not understand, but Tsubasa seemed to be
enlightened about the mysteries of his friend.
Going back to the present
course, the class of Mikan started to be friendly towards one another. Even
Permy seems to be warm, although she would have her moments still at times.
Nonetheless, the fate of the academy seemed to change while everything else
drifted as well.
The plot began to play with
several kinds of ups and downs.
When Mikan found out about
Natsume’s past, she was with Ruka, Youiichi, and Hotaru searching for him who
apparently fled to find his sister Aoi in the lair of the Hime-sama, the Middle
School Principal, she has the Barrier Alice. Her place was supposed to be surrounded
by a barrier so that alices won’t be used or would be leveled. This is because
that place was a prison. At the underground was Aoi…being held as a hostage by
Persona, by the orders of the Elementary School Principal.
The three separated to look
for Natsume. Mikan then, either by luck or skill, found Aoi. Apparently she can’t
see and was brainwashed. According to Aoi, Persona treated her with kindness
because he is his brother. This disgusted Mikan and explained to her that
Natsume Hyuuga is his brother and is now searching for her. To this, Aoi
responded with confusion for she doesn’t remember anything about Natsume.
When they all found each
other, Persona also found them, giving no chance for Natsume and Aoi to
properly reconcile. Mikan tried and tried to make Aoi remember about her
brother, and Ruka.
Persona, being a cold-hearted
owner of the Alice of Death, hated all this fuss. Mikan saw he attempted to
snatch Aoi again and she stopped this. Tough luck though, because Persona
without a mask is lethal. His bare touch could kill a living.
Mikan started to show signs of
being infected by death. However, a strange thing happened. She was able to
survive and defeat Persona. The incident brought several other mysteries about
Mikan’s alice.
Several theories were raised
but in the end it was cleared that Mikan possesses the Alice of Stealing. This
aroused several questions, but one stood out: Why does Mikan have the same
alice that Yuka of the Z possesses?
The manga veered into another
flashback via Nodachi’s alice – the Time Traveling Alice.
The teacher brought Ruka,
Natsume, Hotaru, and Mikan into the past when the war began in the academy and
it was decided that Mikan should leave with Yuka – who was revealed her mom.
Because Mikan cannot seem to accept, neither could her friends digest this,
they asked for a proof that Mikan’s mother deserves to be trusted. Thus, they
traveled through time.
The story of Mikan’s mother,
Yuka, started inside the academy when she was abandoned by her cold-hearted parent.
Little Yuka pleaded for them to not leave her all alone in the academy, but her
parents were promised a large sum of money they cannot refuse. This arc also
implied that they didn’t like to keep the young Yuka with the Stealing Alice as
she causes more inconveniences than benefits.
Yuka thus grew up in the
academy, but she grew up as one stubborn kid – always that kid who was trying
to escape in any way she can. No teacher can make her open up, and she grew
colder each day with her rebelliousness.
Then one day, a man named
Yukihira entered the academy as a teacher. He is the little brother of the High
School Principal who possesses the alice that can detect alices even through
just photographs. Yukihira was detected to have the alice of Nullification only
when he was already in his twenties and is already fit to be a teacher. He was
assigned to Yuka’s class and was informed about the rebellious kid.
Yukihira is good with kids,
and thus taming Yuka seemed such a piece of cake. The two became good friends
even when Yuka left elementary division.
Among the many good deeds of
Yukihira includes being nice to Serio Rei, or Persona, who was at that time was
kept in prison due to his alice that he can’t control. Because Yukihira has the
alice of Nullification, it didn’t bother him to get touched by Rei.
Yuka, on the other hand,
became livelier as she grew older, and developed feelings for her teacher
Yukihira. But these weren’t exactly revealed at once. She met then Narumi who
was already friends with Misaki. She and him became real good friends too and
later Narumi helplessly fell in love with his Senpai Yuka. This is where the
chain of changing the fates began.
Yukihira was the first teacher
who showed a different side. He was kind, he was good to the kids, and he doesn’t
like seeing them do the academy’s dirty works. Yuka realized that her teacher
is right, and because of this one thing lead to another.
The Elementary School
Principal, who was revealed to not be in the body of a child in Yuka’s time in
the academy, had worsen his malice and greed. Due to this, he even became so
close to forcing Yuka to marry him…all for the sake of her Stealing Alice. Yuka
of course couldn’t agree with this because she was in love with Yukihira. This
angered the Elementary School Principal and so he plotted Yukihira’s doom.
The Elementary School
Principal involved his greatest weapon, the most lethal Serio Rei in this
scheme. He made false claims and this enraged Rei, and thus not even the
Nullification of Yukihira could save him. He was killed before he could make it
back to Yuka’s side to escape with her.
At this time, Yuka had gained
many friends already, and this include the Hime-san who had a brother named
Shiki, who also developed feelings for Yuka. The Hime-san had a ‘maiden’ named
Kaoru who had the Memory Manipulation Alice, it is a life-shortening type too.
She became one of Yuka’s bestest friends amidst the odd mix.
When Kaoru graduated, she
continued to look after Yuka and made her promise that they will meet outside
the academy after she graduated too. Yuka agreed to this. However, she didn’t
anymore wait for the graduation and instead, when she learned about Yukihira’s
death, her immediate decision was to escape before the Elementary School Principal
would come back to harm her…and her child, Mikan.
Yuka left the academy after
saying goodbye to Narumi who cannot stop her. Narumi, being the cold hearted
kid way back, was asked by Yuka an important favor. She asked him to stay in
the academy and help the younger ones from the inside…at that time, Narumi and
Yuka had already met the young Subaru Imai, and Sakurano, whom, in Mikan’s time
were juniors already; Subaru, being Hotaru’s older brother.
When Yuka found Kaoru, she’s
already nearly about to give birth to Mikan. Yuka found out that Kaoru was also
pregnant, and that child is going to be Natsume Hyuuga, the alice of Fire. Yuka
did not want to involve Kaoru in her messy life, and so she went away…and left
Mikan to a complete stranger, to the person whom Mikan calls Jii-chan or
grandpa. After that, she disappeared with Shiki who had the same alice as his
sister, the Hime-san, the alice of Barrier, and continued to become terrorists,
not with the Z, not exactly, but she and Shiki did things on their own.
When Kaoru was killed by the Z
people, Yuka wasn’t able to accept it. She cut her hair and styled it like Kaoru’s
and swore to continue what Yukihira and Kaoru willed to do while they were
alive – to protect the children from the darkness that the academy holds.
Mikan saw it all. Her father’s
death, their first meeting, their parting…everything. Natsume saw it all too –
and it convinced him at some point that the hand he refused to hand to somebody
else could be safe in Yuka’s caring. Hotaru understood that Mikan will do this
decision knowing her mother did sacrificed for her.
When Nodachi was done showing
them the fractures of the past, they return to the academy’s time only to find
that the war had began. In this terrible war, Luna Koizumi, who happened to be
one of the closest friends Yuka had during her schooldays, had joined the
Elementary School Principal’s alliance, claiming that it is out of jealousy and
hatred for Yuka, because Yuka gets love without trying, and that the Elementary
School Principal was the only person who had been there for her ever since.
This war caused Yuka’s death.
She died fighting for the children, and right in front of Mikan. On the same
day, Mikan had to stand watching both her parents’ death as if it was a part of
a movie on screen. This made Shiki step out and against the Elementary School
Principal. Carrying the dead Yuka, he made deals with the Elementary School
Principal…deals he knew the villain won’t refuse.
Shiki became the Middle School
Principal, as according to the deal. He also took Mikan into custody. Mikan was
sealed inside a building with barrier made by his own alice. Mikan’s lessons
were taught to him directly by her uncle, the older brother of Yukihira and the
High School Principal.
When Christmas came, everybody
wondered what kind of life must Mikan be having. The whole class wanted to see
them. Hotaru had an idea that they will send their messages through books of
the Grimm Brothers…the Fairytales. This was an indirect insult to Natsume whom
she accused as not fit for a prince because he had been wasting his life by
staying with the Dangerous Ability even if he was given the chance to stop
doing the missions. Ruka understood him though, thinking that he’s doing it to
have the free pass in private buildings…in hopes to find Mikan.
Tsubasa also kept the truth
about him staying in the Dangerous Ability for fear of having the children
worry, and also for Misaki.
However that Christmas ball,
Shiki who holds the control of the barrier lowered his guard and let Natsume
and Mikan have a Christmas magic. Natsume found Mikan, and he climbed to her
balcony. They exchanged alice stones, and that day, their intentions, feelings,
became clearer through admitting by words with only the moon (and Shiki too
though he decided he shouldn’t watch any further) as their witness.
However all magics stop, like
all Christmases end after the 25th. Natsume had then a firmer
decision that no matter what happens, he will not stop unless Mikan is out of
that isolated place.
The peace the academy felt
left when another war came. This time it was a war started by Z’s Reo whom was
the kidnapper of Natsume from before. Apparently, the plan was to murder the
Elementary School Principal. But Reo, being an idiot, fell to this. Narumi,
however, came to murder the Elementary School Principal himself. However, when
he was about to really do it, it was revealed that the boy he was holding was
just another clone of the villain. Narumi was shot. But Reo got him out of the
place using his bodyguards’ alices.
As the war went on, one by
one, the allies of the villain betrayed him. Persona betrayed him after seeing
that Mikan cured his closest friend – Nobara, the feared Ice Princess. Persona
swore to protect Mikan. Luna also betrayed, although she did not really leave
the Elementary School Principal.
Mikan, at this point, had her
alice all used up. She exerted a maximum effort and her alice perished. This
was all to stop Natsume from using his alice any further. She was afraid he
would not make it anymore. But Natsume lay unconscious. It was a tough luck
since only the healing stone could do the trick this time. But without anyone
who has the alice Mikan possessed before – the Inserting Alice, Natsume was
fated to die.
There was one little hope that
flickered though. When Mikan’s uncle handed him a stone that had her alice in
it, he said it was possible to regain her alice. But when that happens, she
could only use her alice once. She did not hesitate to do this. She
successfully inserted the healing stone to Natsume. However, no beat could ever
be heard from his heart still.
Hotaru saw her best friend’s
despair and decided that she would take the matters to her own hand. She made
Nodachi take Natsume and him back to the past. Her older bro Subaru went with
her. She left Mikan a promise…she promised she would bring Natsume back alive.
But since Mikan wasn’t anymore
an alice, it was decided that soon she would leave the academy. A hard decision
was also made in order to protect her…her memories are going to be taken from
her. Everything that happened, everyone she met, inside the academy will be
forgotten by her. Mikan pleaded, but the academy cannot grant her this wish. It
is for her benefit as well.
Of course those friends of
Mikan cried. Even Sumire did. And Mikan’s last days in the academy was spent
for Lessons About Memories where they talked about the most memorable things
that had to do with Mikan.
On Mikan’s last night in the
academy, she was visited by Hotaru. She was so happy but then, it was obvious
that peril is upon them. When she asked about Natsume, Hotaru asked her to not
question her just this time. She had promised, and she will fulfill her promise.
Mikan woke up and found that
Hotaru wasn’t gone. Ruka, who was visited by her that night too, thought it was
a dream. But seeing the item Hotaru left him that was instructed to be given to
Mikan ‘someday’, he confirmed to himself that it really did take place.
The last chapter ended with
Mikan about to get out of the academy with Mr. Bear who apparently was given to
her with the approval of her uncle. The bear though, was instructed to protect
her, and to never ever move once outside the academy’s grounds. Mikan is going
to forget him as a moving bear anyway and it would surprise her if she’d see a
moving bear.
The academy Mikan left was in
peace. Jinno became the new Elementary School Principal. Narumi became the head
of the Dangerous Ability class. The rest maintained their positions.
Meanwhile, Hotaru had made a
choice her brother can’t accept. Nodachi also disapproved of this but Hotaru
had made up her mind.
According to the rule of Time
Travel, you cannot change someone’s fate…but when Hotaru couldn’t accept this.
She was already determined to do everything for Mikan. ‘You cannot change
someone’s fate’, but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t possible. Nodachi later
on admitted that it is possible but it has consequences. The person who will
alter the fate will be forgotten by everyone. Your existence in everyone’s
memories in exchange of altering the fate. Hotaru willingly accepted this. But
Subaru would not let her alone. Thus, the Imai siblings did the impossible…they
altered the fate of Natsume Hyuuga.
Hotaru was holding an alice
stone that belonged to Natsume. It was orange, so it was assumed that it was
Mikan’s. As a rule, if you’d get your alice back…you will get your memories
back. Hotaru hopes that when Natsume meets Mikan again…and her alice would be
restored to her, her memories would be restored…
Note:
The manga doesn't end here.
