Alice Academy: The Relationshippers' Guide by huamulan03 (edited 2007.10.25)

EDITED: 2007.10.25: I put a lot of work and a lot of myself into these write-ups, so if you are going to use my content elsewhere, link back, attribute, and do not alter, transform, or build upon as this protected by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. Thank you for the courtesy. (I had to put this reminder up here as I found my Alice write-ups in another Alice Academy blog here in Blogger; another one on freewebs.com; and in one forum. Copyscape, the website plagiarism search detected them.)

Consolidated: 2006.09.18
Cleaned up: 2008.12.22

Oideyasu! Welcome to You're my gravity, niki's relationshippers' guide to the Alice Academy (Gakuen Alice - 学園アリス) anime, my own li'l contribution to spreading the GA wub ^^

As indicated by the title, YMG concentrates on the overtly (overly? ^^) shippy moments between Higuchi Tachibana (樋口 橘)-sensei's main characters: Sakura Mikan and Hyuuga Natsume—two elementary school kids with special powers called Alice. Like other Alice wielders, Natsume and Mikan attend a special school: the almost correctional facility-like Alice Gakuen.

This guide also features noteworthy scenes between the two (or three—it's shaping up to be an OT3 after all with the addition of Ruka or Ruka-pyon as Mikan affectionately calls him) that, for whatever reason, registered on my shipper radar.

In other words, if you're looking for a regular episode guide, this is prolly not it.

However, even with guest couple appearances (Tsubasa and Misaki), I did my best to keep the spotlight on NatsuMi.

To indicate shippiness, I use the Alice star ranking system: Special, Triple, Double, Single (no hoshi nashi here).

READER BEWARE!

• SPOILERS! (Does anyone reading an anime blog actually heed this warning? ^^)
• predominantly anime-applicable only
• content subject to frequent tweaking
• WAFF entries, subjective ratings, and much (illogical) editorializing
• pre-teen pairing (If you're against shipping Natsume x Mikan or just generally don't like to see/read about/discuss couples younger than 16, I suggest you BAIL NOW. Thank you.)

That outta da way, here we go.

(You can use these shortcuts to jump to the episode you want.)

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 of 26

The Relationshippers' Guide to Alice Academy (TV)

version Natsume x Mikan
compiled by niki AKA 花木蘭03 (huamulan03)

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EP01 学校がなくなっちゃう☆

Gakou ga nakunachau ☆
(The school's going to be shut down ☆)
aired 2006.03.06 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

En route to her reunion with best buddy Imai Hotaru, our intrepid heroine Sakura Mikan first lays eyes on Hyuuga Natsume, the FFOHC (Future Father of Her Children; see episode 2), as he makes an unsuccessful attempt to bust out of the Alice Academy. She actually doesn't see his face yet as he first appears as the Kuro Neko (Black Cat, from the cat-face power restraining mask he wears).

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EP02 ようこそ☆アリス学園へ

Youkoso ☆ Alice Gakuen he
(Welcome ☆ to Alice Academy)
aired 2006.03.06 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Double ☆ ☆

A concerned Mikan rushes to a prone Natsume's side and asks if he's okay. After being belted with a bean whip by Narumi-sensei, I should think not. But Mikan's only ten—let's give her the benefit of her generous heart. And what does the poor girl get for her concern but an aborted fire attack.

Narumi-sensei tasks Mikan to look after the unconscious Natsume who's been knocked out by a massive dose of the teacher's pheromone Alice to keep him docile. Mikan is left alone in a room with Natsume for a spell and she's totally fascinated with the kuro neko. It's a fascination that will continue to grow, despite Grandpa's warning in the past that black cats are bad news.

Upon waking, Natsume immediately flips Mikan on her back, threatening to burn her hair if she doesn't tell him who she is. (Alpha. Very Alpha.) His bestfriend Ruka arrives soon after to rescue Natsume.

Natsume's parting shot to Mikan: Bye, Polka-dot. This refers to the motif of her underwear, which Natsume, Ruka, and the cavalry (Narumi-sensei and Misaki-sensei) all got a dotty eyeful of when Mikan's skirt slithered off as she went running to Narumi-sensei for help. (As noted by readers of Higuchi-sensei's manga, the original polka dot scene is different; see below.)

Mikan gushes rivers. Now I won't be able to become a wife! She states this, not because she believes only spouses may see underpants but because in the manga, Natsume ends up holding her underwear—it wasn't merely Natsume and Ruka seeing her in her polka-dotted glory, as toned down in the anime.

In any case, both anime and manga Narumi-sensei placates Mikan with: You don't have to worry about that. We'll have Natsume-kun take responsibility at that time, so...

relevant link
Alice Academy: Anime and Manga Points of Divergence (Manga volume 02)

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EP03 アリスなんかにまけてたまるか☆

ARISU nankani maketetamaruka ☆
(I won't lose to any Alice ☆)
aired 2006.03.13 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

Narumi-sensei tells Mikan that in order to become a full-fledged Alice Academy student, she has to be accepted by everyone in Class B. However, Mikan ends up trading insults with classmate Natsume.

For daring to provoke the fire Alice user, one of Natsume's lackeys levitates Mikan into the air as punishment. At the same time, the president of the Natsume and Ruka fan club Shouda Sumire volubly rushes to Natsume's defense. Shortly into Sumire's waxing lyrical about him, Natsume orders Mikan to be brought down to the ground. He then places Mikan in the hot seat by asking her what her Alice is (which she doesn't know yet). When Mikan flatly refuses to answer, Natsume orders her levitated again.

I don't believe that people with Alices are on a higher level than others. Natsume and Ruka listen intently as Mikan refutes Sumire's snobbish contention that people with Alices are better than those without.

Natsume decides to give Mikan a chance and tells her he will acknowledge her as a member of the class if she can successfully overcome his challenge: pass through the Northern Woods safely and discover the type of Alice she possesses. He's even magnanimous enough to let her bring a friend with her. Iinchou follows Mikan of his own volition and they are later joined by Hotaru (who initially refused to help but eventually relented).

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EP04 これがウチのアリス☆

Kore ga uchi no ARISU ☆
(This is my Alice ☆)
aired 2006.03.13 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

Ruka—him of the animal pheromone Alice—is inveigled into helping out Mikan, Hotaru, and Iinchou as the three are being chased by a giant Piyo (chick) in the forest. In the process, he's exposed for the marshmallow fraud that he is. Mikan sings as she dances the can-can with Ruka's animal friends, You're just a lovely animal boy, before asking Ruka why he refuses to smile. Ruka replies: I won't smile because Natsume won't smile. Whenever Natsume is hurting, I don't want to be the only one feeling good.

For his part, Natsume goes ballistic when he learns of Mikan's "trickery." His retaliation is pretty cruel—more so than in episode 2 (don't like). But I mention it because it's the last time that Natsume gets this violent with Mikan.

Both are shocked when Mikan's nullification Alice (mukouka) ends up cancelling Natsume's fire Alice.

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EP05 星階級はシビアやなぁ☆

Hoshi kaidan wa SHIPIA yanaa ☆
(The star rankings sure are tough ☆)
aired 2006.03.20 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

Before retreating from his skirmish with Narumi-sensei, Natsume takes a few precious seconds to tell Mikan that she'll rue the day she voluntarily came to the Alice Academy. From this I get the feeling that it is Natsume who regrets that Mikan is now in the academy, too.

Natsume is interested in what Mikan thinks of him. He listens to her ranting about him in class (He's violent and his face p*sses me off!) and doesn't retaliate. You can make the case that he can't use his Alice (as he's fitted with the restraining kuro neko mask), but that doesn't preclude verbal or physical attacks which we know he is very capable of.

Narumi-sensei assigns Natsume to be Mikan's partner—to teach her all about the school and be her overall guide to Academy life. Natsume's reaction: Whatever. Mikan's reaction: It's just fate... Again, Natsume warns Mikan about the real possibility of being hurt while at the school.

Speaking of injuries, Mikan notices the wound on Natsume's neck, and she is probably the only one who does so.

Natsume and Ruka are shown watching Mikan—awarded a No Star ranking by Jinno-sensei—chase after a skittish trashcan (oh, the things a hoshi nashi has to do...)

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EP06 うちはみそっかす系☆？

Uchi wa misokkasu ito ☆?
(Am I an outcast type ☆?)
aired 2006.03.20 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

After being briefed on the various Alice type classes and learning that she is a Special Abilities type, Mikan wonders to which class Natsume belongs.

Three middle-school bullies, one of them Sumire's older brother, mistake Mikan for Natsume's kanojo (girlfriend). Using her, they try to threaten Natsume.

Mikan's senpai in the Special Abilities class, Andou Tsubasa, makes his first appearance and saves Mikan from her tormentors.

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EP07 負けへん☆アリスドッジ

Make hen ☆ ARISU DOJJI
(I won't lose ☆ Alice dodgeball)
aired 2006.03.27 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Double ☆☆
(NB Read this for a comparison with the manga.)

From behind a tree, Natsume watches Mikan lead a now tractable trashcan.

Mikan has developed a crush on Tsubasa and raves on and on about him in true fangirl form: He's kind, strong, has a face like a movie star's, and his Alice is cool, too! He's any student's ideal senpai!

Thinking that he and Tsubasa will get along well, Mikan invites Ruka to join her and a couple of girls to meet their senior. Ruka vehemently refuses (me thinks he doth protest muchness; it's probably because he's sitting beside Natsume who wasn't invited). Mikan takes Ruka's refusal in stride, telling him she'll invite him another time.

For his part, Natsume has a very scary glare on his face when he asks Ruka if he's been fraternizing with Mikan.

Natsume tells Ruka he can stay behind in class if he wants to, after Ruka attempts to dissuade Natsume and his gang from cutting class. In classic boy-likes-girl contrary behavior, Natsume reveals, Ever since she came here, I get pissed off when I'm in that classroom. (Oh, really? ^^)

Natsume tricks Mikan into agreeing to use an Alice dodgeball for the match she suggests the class play. Unlike a regular ball, when thrown, the (banned) Alice dodgeball reacts to that person's Alice. For instance, when hurled by Natsume, the ball turns into a fiery projectile.

Ruka tries to stop Mikan from going through with the match, saying Natsume is totally serious about it. He tells Mikan that Natsume gets irritated by her, especially by her constant smiles in the face of all the bad things that happen to her. Chou genki Mikan sez that's all the more reason for her to push through with the match, explaining that her reason for playing dodgeball was to make you and Natsume smile. Ruka blushes in response.

Ruka (again) is blackmailed into joining Mikan's dodgeball team, using the photos taken of him acting all besotted with the giant Piyo from episode 4. Natsume almost believes that Ruka joined Mikan's team of his own free will but Ruka refutes this and tells Mikan he will stay in one spot for the duration of the game, thereby making it easy to hit him. After Mikan thanks him (You were really worried about us and joined our team, right?), Ruka takes a hit meant for her, surprising even Natsume.

When only Mikan and Natsume are left on the field, Natsume pitches the dodgeball with all his might but refrains from using his Alice and Mikan realizes this. You didn't use your Alice in that last throw, did you? This (if I remember correctly) is the first time Mikan thanks Natsume.

Mikan's comment only serves to anger Natsume and he blurts out: Why...? Why are you always smiling?! Mikan's replies, Well, of course, I am. You didn't get angry during the entire match... You looked like you were having fun. (Who's the real winner now?)

Loser of the match Mikan has to be the winner's go-fer, but Natsume waives this claim.

At the drinking fountain, Natsume and Ruka share a "male bonding moment" over Mikan. Natsume proffers, She really is an idiot. Ruka avers, Yeah, I guess so.

relevant link
Alice Academy: Anime and Manga Points of Divergence (Manga volume 02)

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EP08 じーちゃんに会いたい☆

Ji-chan ni aitai ☆
(I miss Grandpa ☆)
aired 2006.03.27 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆
(NB Read this for a comparison with the manga.)

You sure are a hopeful person, Natsume tells Mikan like it was an insult, but it's probably one of those things—such as her sunny smiles and cheery disposition—that he reluctantly likes about her.

He also tells her that the daily letters she's been writing to her grandfather will never reach him. There will never come a day when Narumi will deliver your letters to your grandpa. By this point, I'm thinkin' he's warning her out of concern, not out of spite.

People like us, who are constantly watched. Natsume realizes that he and Mikan are truly alike and tells her so.

Ruka joins Mikan, Hotaru, and Iinchou (Natsume is nowhere to be seen) when they monitor the latest (bugged) missive Mikan asks Narumi-sensei to mail for her. I think this is the first time we're shown Ruka in Mikan's company without him feeling like he's betraying/abandoning Natsume.

On finding out that Natsume was right about her letters not getting delivered, a teary Mikan accuses Narumi-sensei of being the students' enemy and the confrontation is near heart-breaking.

Ruka uses his Alice to lure the robot Takahashi-san away so that he can sneak in food to Mikan who's been confined to her quarters as punishment. While the snacks were actually from Hotaru and Iinchou, it was Ruka who snuck them in to Mikan.

Ji-chan ni aitai... (lit. "I want to see Grandpa.") Ruka comes to Mikan's rescue again: he switches uniforms with her and takes her place so that Mikan can escape from the Academy and see her grandfather. He places his eagle friend at her disposal, allowing Mikan to fly over the school walls. As she leaves, hanging onto a ring clutched in the eagle's talons, Natsume watches her.

Outside the school, Mikan is nearly kidnapped by "Alice slavers" and in rescuing her, Narumi-sensei takes a bullet to the shoulder.

After Mikan is brought back to the Academy by Narumi-sensei, he lets her stay with him instead of in her hoshi nashi room. Mikan displays a generosity in trust when she accepts that Narumi-sensei can't give her an answer as to why he didn't deliver her letters. He does promise her, however, that he will deliver her letters sometime in the future.

Mikan later asks (innocently!) if she can sleep with Narumi-sensei; he lets her. This would've raised a Pedophile! alert, had the following convo not taken place: Narumi-sensei allows Mikan to call him Dad (Oto-san), in place of Ji-chan which was her original request. They fall asleep, thinking of the sunny tomorrow that awaits them.

relevant link
Alice Academy: Anime and Manga Points of Divergence (Manga volume 02)

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EP09 大好き☆蛍様

Daisuki ☆ Hotaru-sama
(My beloved ☆ Hotaru-sama)
aired 2006.04.03 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

Natsume and Ruka come upon Mikan and Amanatsu—the robot Hotaru fashioned in the image and disposition of Mikan—as the two are listening in on a convo between Hotaru, Misaki-sensei, and a prospective sponsor. Natsume comments on Mikan's "eavesdropping " hobby, greatly flustering both Mikan and her robot look-and-act-alike.

When Mikan is affronted by an upperclassman challenging Hotaru, Natsume does the partner thing (i.e., acting as Mikan's guide to the Academy) by telling Mikan that it's not rare to see jealousy flare up among people with similar Alices.

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EP10 うきうき☆セントラルタウン

Ukiuki ☆ SENTORASERU TAUN
(How exciting ☆ Central Town)
aired 2006.04.03 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

It's time for a treat. The Alice Academy students are allowed to leave the school premises for an outing. Jinno-sensei makes it a condition that Mikan's partner Natsume has to accompany her if she wants to go to Central Town: And he must be with you the entire time.

Mikan grovels in front of Natsume-san and respectfully begs him to go to Central Town with her. Sumire gives voice to what we're all thinking: Oh, so little Miss No Star decided to ask Natsume-san on a date.

Mikan notices the cute little boy sitting on Natsume's lap and asks, Is he yours? Natsume answers (cutely), I'll burn you.

Turns out the kawaii kid is Hijiri Youichi, three years old, and belongs to the Dangerous Ability type class like Natsume, explaining why the older boy is attached to him (explication by Ruka).

After Youichi or You-chan (who seems to have learned some from Natsume when it comes to insulting people) manipulates spirits into chasing Mikan and Sumire, Natsume gives the boy the briefest of smiles and pats him on the head. Mikan notices.

The group eventually leaves for Central Town and Mikan is totally elated by all the Alice-crafted things sold there. She ends up using the measly five rabbits she's been given as allowance to set free a talking apple that didn't want to be eaten. Unfortunately for Mikan, after the Great Apple Escape, she discovers a candy called Howalon (fluff puff in the Animax version) that You-chan, Kokoro Yome-kun, and Ruka-pyon are eating that she absolutely must have.

Ruka asks You-chan to share his last Howalon with Mikan, but You-chan just plays with her and ends up popping the fluff puff into his mouth. Unfazed, Mikan enlists the aid of everyone to help her put on a show—her take on the faerie tale Little Match Girl—to earn money to buy the smallest box of Howalon. Natsume listens intently as she outlines her plan and later, (raptly?) watches the performance—all the while keeping himself firmly to himself. But (prolly despite his best intentions), Natsume also ends up helping Mikan by igniting the "match" (twig) that she's waving about to banish the spirits You-chan summoned.

Mikan shares her precious fluff puff with Iinchou, Hotaru, Ruka-pyon, You-chan, and Kokoro Yome-kun—everyone who helped her out—but gives the last one to Natsume. Natsume acts like he doesn't want it but we know better? ^^

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EP11 ただいまアリス☆特訓中

Tadaima ARISU ☆ Tokkunchuu
(The "I'm back" Alice ☆ special training)
aired 2006.04.10 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

Natsume flashbacks to his dark past (that Ruka, standing beside him, is obviously not privy to) as he watches flames consuming one of the Academy buildings.

When SA adviser Noda-sensei tells Mikan about the fourth Alice form—in which a person's Alice is limitless but shortens the lifespan of the wielder everytime s/he uses it—she is dismayed to find that the person who immediately came to mind was a certain firecaster (What's with me? Why am I thinking about Natsume at a time like this?)

Sauntering up to the Alice warrior-in-training, Natsume reveals how well he's gotten to know Mikan when he casually comments, I see that you're enjoying making a futile effort, as always. When Mika insists that she's serious in her training, Natsume orders the telekinesis kid to be her opponent. She is soundly trounced and challenges Natsume (after Iinchou reminds them that she successfully extinguished Natsume's flames during the Northern Woods confrontation in episode 4). Natsume agrees and is the undisputed winner of the match.

Narumi-sensei takes a leave of absence from the Academy. We see his bag and beside it are piles of Mikan's letters. He plans to deliver them, obviously. *heaves a big sigh of relief*

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EP12 学園祭がやってくる☆

Gakuen matsuri ga yatte kuru ☆
(The school festival is coming ☆)
aired 2006.04.10 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Double ☆ ☆

If I remember my film editing theory correctly, when you cut from one closeup (Mikan) to another closeup (Natsume), the intent is to show that the latter is looking at/thinking about the former (the reasonable inference). This is exactly what happens when Narumi-sensei announces the start of the school festival in front of the class: we go from Mikan's CU to a CU of Natsume.

When Mikan returns to the classroom to mull over how the Special Abilities type class can participate in the school festival, she encounters Natsume there, on his own, reading. She takes the seat in front of him, facing front. He (sotto voce) calls her: Hey, Polka dot. She leans back the slightest bit. He orders her to angle in closer and... burns the ends of her hair, whispering, Get out of here, ugly. (I guess it's his take on the boy pulling the pigtails of the girl he likes.)

ASIDE | Paku Romi-san's acting here lends SO much to the building of dramatic tension and warm and fuzzy feelings ^^

When Sumire's oniisan, who drops by with Sumire, insults Mikan, Natsume sets the elder boy's hair on fire.

A second show of gratitude: Mikan thanks Natsume for providing her with the RPG idea to propose to the Special Ability kids.

The convo under the tree: Mikan, depressed after getting into an argument with the SA types, sees Natsume reading under a tree and asks to join him. He refuses out of habit, but per usual, doesn't do anything to shoo her away. Mikan asks, Is it all right for me to sit here? You see, I also don't have any place to go. After the briefest pause, Natsume tells her to do whatever she likes and Mikan thanks him a third time.

Hotaru and Ruka spot the two looking for all the world like the best of friends. Natsume restarts the conversation, asking Mikan what's the matter and Mikan answers that she argued with the other members of the Special Ability type class over what to do for the festival. Natsume approves of the fact that Mikan can actually have an argument with someone.

Mikan subsequently asks Natsume if he wants to do anything with her for the festival, seeing as they're both not doing anything and are partners to boot. Natsume is taken aback. But instead of agreeing to her request, he encourages Mikan to approach the SA people once more: It IS you we're talking about. You probably wanted to do something and got into that argument, right? When Mikan displays amazement and asks if it's because of his Alice that he knows, Natsume continues, Yeah, right. It's because you're so stupid. His voice (Paku Romi-sensei!!) is almost tender when he adds, So stupid and innocent. You're way too easy to see through. Mikan retorts, Well, excuuuse me, and Natsume concludes, Well, if you understand, then hurry up and get outta here.

Before complying, Mikan tells him, Thanking you again and again kinda makes me angry, but... thanks! Her fourth thank you is accompanied by a beatific smile. After she leaves, Natsume collapses from the gunshot wound he sustained at the beginning of the episode.

When Mikan finds out that the SA class finally got permission to join the school festival, she goes in search of Natsume to tell him the good news. Unfortunately, Natsume is no longer under the tree and is in the hospital.

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EP13 トップ☆スターを追いかけろ

TOPPU ☆ STAR wo oikakero
(Go after the superstar ☆)
oad 2006.03.17, encore 2006.08.23 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

PIKA PIKA no taiyou This episode opens with an injured Natsume dreaming in full color angst (and don't we just wub cute bishounen and their emotional luggage) about his purported "sins." Just as guilt is about to gain the upper hand (and he loses it from the needless rehashing), Natsume hears someone calling his name.

Predictably, it's Mikan and from where her voice is coming from, a light shines—like the sun's rays cutting through deep sea water. Natsume flies/swims towards her voice and wakes to find Mikan & Co. gathered around his bedside. In other anime, this would have been occasion for a humongous sweatdrop, but this being cool Natsume we're talking about, no such luck. While I think it's safe to say he was relieved at being roused and wrested from the clutches of nightmare, being Natsume, you'd pry out that confession only upon pain of death (or maybe not even). Anyhoo, it's too totally warm 'n fuzzy that Mikan can keep his demons at bay ^^

You're too loud. More predictability: Mikan had rushed to the hospital after finding out that Natsume had collapsed and what does she get for it? A glassful of water and the buncha roses Sumire had brought Natsume (ooh, the heartbreak of our cat-dog Alice user...) thrown in her Mikan's face—the otherwise in-character show of affection (gruff wub) by Natsume. Not to be fazed, Mikan invites Natsume to visit the Special Ability types' attraction for the upcoming school festival (he—or rather, the manga he'd been reading—was the original inspiration, after all). Obviously, this would be after the hospital releases him.

Yup, they're MFEO: we see the Special Ability kids working on their festival attraction, with Tsubasa lording it over all (wub when he's so the responsible senpai...). As he and Mikan do the rounds, they come across doppelganging Misaki arguing with herself about the color of the paint she's using. Tsubasa, who knows her well enough (or too well) to predict this eventuality, goes and breaks up the fight between Misaki and Misaki (also wub when he's the take-charge partner ^^).

Lest we forget that this episode is actually about Reo (or Leo, according to a placard held up by one of his Gakuen Alice fans, and brought to life in the original Japanese by the fantabulous SuzuKen): Understanding senpai that Tsubasa is, he lets Mikan go off to ogle Reo instead of immediately buckling making her immediately buckle down to work.

As Mikan runs the gauntlet of Reo fangirls and boys (or rather, tries to crawl through the barrier of people's legs gathered to squee, KYAA! KYAA! over His Creepiness), she gets kicked and ends up hugging Reo's legs. He helps her up, acting the total isn't-this-a-great-photo-op-lemme-be-Mr-Nice-Guy celebrity, which totally ruins ever-entrepreneurial Hotaru's plans to hawk pictures of the aidoru Alice grad. Of course, we expected it but I still like Mikan not succumbing to Reo's voice pheromone Alice manipulation.

Hotaru ropes in Mikan, Kokoro Yome-kun, and the kid who has the Alice of flight to help her snag sellable pictures of Reo during performance. She's totally serious, as can be gleaned from the big guns she hauls out for the mission: spy glasses; levitating socks; pig nose; panda earmuff communicators; power up patches; and a ring that does—I forget what it does. But for all the equipment, they don't get the pictures, the boys get caught, and Mikan again ends up crashing into Reo who uses the opportunity to fake an injury and get sent to the hospital where Natsume is recuperating.

It's a good thing Hotaru is so tenacious about those pictures, even to the extent of cosplaying grown-up nurses with Mikan and Sumire *insert shudder here over the appearance of backache-producing boobies in Alice Academy* If she hadn't been so persistent, the latter two would never have stumbled on Reo voice hypnotizing Natsume and whisking him off to parts unknown.

NATSUME! Mikan's panicked calling of her partner's name at episode's close. Nuff sed. ^^

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EP14 棗を取り戻せ☆

Natsume wo torimodose ☆
(To rescue Natsume ☆)
aired 2006.03.17 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

Without hesitation, Mikan, accompanied by Sumire, goes off to rescue Natsume who has been abducted by Reo and the radical anti-Alice Academy group.

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EP15 学園へ帰ろう☆

Gakuen he kaerou ☆
(Let's return to school ☆)
aired 2006.03.24 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Double ☆☆

A bound Mikan wakes up mere centimeters away from a bound Natsume (care of the kidnappers; Sumire is placed to the other side of Mikan) ^^

That Mikan and Sumire would go to extreme lengths to rescue him shocks Natsume.

Despite being utterly weakened, Natsume uses his fire Alice to burn through the rope binding him and unties Mikan's bonds. Which, unfortunately, causes the Alice barrier that blankets them to react, bringing Reo and the other kidnappers to check on what's happening.

As Reo questions the two girls to determine the type of Alice they possess, Natsume uses what little physical strength he can muster to heave a metal bolt at Reo and break the "spell" cast by Reo's voice pheromones.

Natsume tells Mikan and Sumire to run for it while he creates a diversion: blowing up a warehouse, some ways off, stocked with dynamite. The blast radius would encompass the warehouse where he and Reo are at a stand-off.

Mikan, who ran out on Natsume's orders, realizes what he's planning and rushes back to stop him. She is adamant in her refusal to let Natsume sacrifice himself. I didn't have a choice. You're my partner, after all. She also invites him to come home (go back to the Academy) with her, and it is a testament to how much Natsume has fallen for this girl that he who loathes the Academy gives his tacit consent to return with her.

The two are cornered again, and when one of the kidnappers flings Mikan against a wall, knocking her out, Natsume goes postal and blows up the warehouse full of explosives.

After she wakes up in the hospital, the first person Mikan wants to show off the Single star she earned for coming to Natsume's rescue is Natsume (of course ^^).

---

EP16 迷路で勝負☆魔法のランプ

Meiro de shoubu ☆ Mahou no RANPU
(Maze-match ☆ The magical lamp)
aired 2006.04.24
shipment index Triple ☆☆☆

An indulgent Tsubasa sweeps Mikan up in his arms when she becomes dejected over the Special Ability class' RPG game not having any customers. He had the option of patting her on the head and saying yoshi, yoshi (there, there), but noooo.

When Mikan asks Ruka what he thinks of Mikan's (tummy-exposing) genie costume, he freezes and blushes fit to rival a tomato. Mikan's senpai-tachi Tsubasa and Misaki notice. Tsubasa tells Mikan, Let's leave him be, while Misaki comments, You, heart-breaker, you.

When Natsume gets a look at Mikan in her genie outfit, he totally notes that she's flat. (No chest to speak off.) This is again toned down from the manga (in chapter 19, Natsume actually peeks inside her top). Natsume's insult sends Mikan wailing to Tsubasa, crying No one's gonna marry me! Tsubasa tries to comfort Mikan who by this time is glomped onto Tsubasa, prompting a definitely ired Natsume to wonder who Tsubasa is (or if we put it another way, what he is to Mikan)

Tsubasa, who IS prolly the smartest genie in the lamp, hugs Mikan tighter as a test. Mikan is totally oblivious, but the move draws the attention of a definitely jealous Natsume AND Ruka.

Natsume wins the RPG game by playing on Mikan's sympathy: since he can't use violence or his Alice to get her off her carpet within thirty seconds (the last RPG challenge), he does it by pretending to be in pain. And Mikan is beside him like a shot.

For his prize (one of the Special Ability kids whose lamp is chosen will become the winner's slave), Natsume picks... Mikan's lamp. Originally shooting for Tsubasa's lamp, he was directed to Mikan's by Kokoro Yome-kun. The latter thought it was Mikan's lamp that Natsume wanted. Wasn't I supposed to pick out her lamp? It was her face I saw in your mind...

---

EP17 蛍のひみつ☆

Hotaru no himitsu ☆
(Hotaru's secret ☆)
aired 2006.05.01
shipment index Single ☆

Natsume wanders the festival grounds with Ruka and slave Mikan in tow.

The trio ride a broomstick and take in the school grounds from high above. (I can't imagine Natsume and Ruka indulging any other girl like this; in fact, if it were just Natsume and Ruka, I think they would have passed up on the ride or simply asked Ruka's eagle friend for a lift!)

We all have one thing we're good at. Natsume comments on Mikan's prowess with not using her Alice, again showing off how well he's gotten to know her.

Ruka joins Mikan and Iinchou in spying on Hotaru's convo with her older brother and helps to quell her indignant yelps.

---

EP18 暗闇で☆ふたりきり

Kurayami de ☆ Futarikiri
(Just the two of us ☆ in the dark)
aired 2006.05.01 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Triple ☆☆☆

Natsume throws tea in Mikan's face to stop her from taking a bite out of a banana pie made with flour a century past its use-by date. When Mikan complains about Natsume's chosen way of doing things, Ruka explains that Natsume did what he did to save Anna (who baked the pie) the embarrassment.

Natsume looks askance when Mikan, terrified by Iinchou's haunted house illusions, latches onto Ruka's arm.

Natsume places himself between Mikan and a falling statue, injuring his leg in the process of saving her. He thinks she was unconscious at the time but it later turns out she wasn't ^^

Natsume and Mikan are imprisoned inside a walled-off section of the haunted house after the lights trip off because of Jinno-sensei's extreme reaction to being terrified out of his wits. Scaredy cat Mikan asks if she can sit closer to Natsume, incrementally reducing the distance between them as she does so. Natsume rebuffs her verbally (No, it's embarrassing!) but doesn't move away anyway.

Read between the lines: Mikan confesses to Natsume: When I first came here, you weren't my favorite person. But now....

Natsume notices the strawberries on Mikan's underwear, which she accidentally exposes to him (cf. episode 1). Outraged, she tackles him. She and Natsume are then caught in flagrante delicto (Mikan's on top of Natsume) by a shocked Ruka who again is on rescue detail. Natsume nonchalantly comments: Typical. Attacking me like that just because no one's looking. (Wishful thinking? ^^)

Ruka reveals his dream of becoming a vet in the future to Mikan.

Later, as Ruka continues to dream about the future, his reverie includes an older Natsume (who he asks the same question as Mikan) AND Mikan.

---

EP19 開演☆眠れる森の白雪姫

Kaien ☆ Nemureru mori no Shirayukime
(Raise the curtain ☆ Snow White Sleeping Beauty)
aired 2006.05.08 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Triple ☆☆☆

The episode opens with Natsume and Ruka on the rooftop, watching the night sky. Ruka obviously wants to discuss something with Natsume but when Natsume gives him an opening, Ruka can only say, nandemonai (it's nothing/never mind).

Because of an accident with a box of glue-y sticky balls, Natsume ends up stuck to one of the kids playing one of the seven dwarves in the Somatic types' play. To work him into the scenario, Natsume is asked to play a cat. (Now that's casting!) And a very cute neko at that. The girls all think he's kawaii (adorable), and on being threatened, kowai (scary). Only Mikan doesn't. Think he's fearsome, that is. She thinks he's totally cute and plays gleefully with his cat ears (I thought Ruka was cute, but so are you!) Natsume tells Mikan acidly that a boy does not appreciate being told that he's cute and flicks her on the forehead.

It has to be pointed out that at first, Natsume doesn't want to be in the play, especially as it is Narumi-sensei (the play's director) who first asks him. Even Mikan's insistence is not enough to sway him. However, when the kid is told by Narumi-sensei that he would have to sit the play out, Natsume relents in the face of the kid's oh-so-obvious disappointment (what a softie).

Because of the same accident, Mikan ends up playing the prince to Ruka's princess. On orders from Natsume.

When Mikan, dressed as the Prince asks Ruka what he thinks of her appearance, the poor guy can barely get out the word cute pretty (kirei? kawaii?)and is again, blushing like mad (cf. episode 16). They both agree to do their best for the play.

Meanwhile, outside, Natsume asks Hotaru if Mikan and Ruka are practising their lines and she comes back with, Does it bother you? Natsume, of course retorts, Don't talk nonsense.

Mikan has trouble playing the Prince and tells Ruka that she thinks she sucks. Ruka thinks otherwise and gives her much needed encouragement. Natsume notices that the two are bonding and we know that's one unhappy kitty.

Narumi-sensei makes changes to the play and Mikan is instructed to kiss Princess Snow White Ruka on the lips. She is reluctant to do so, but after much waffling, decides to do the deed. Before she can buss Ruka on the lips, however, someone's fist clenches and an apple comes flying out of nowhere to bop her on the head. The lights go out.

It appears it was Hotaru who threw the switch. Beside her is Natsume and the kid stuck to him who had been eating an apple. (Yeah, big hint there as to whose jealousy ruined the moment.)

After the play, Ruka looks mighty disappointed that the kiss didn't happen.

---

EP20 ラストダンスは誰と☆

RASUTO DANSU wa dare to ☆
(Who will have the last dance ☆)
aired 2006.05.08 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Triple ☆☆☆

The school festival wraps up and culminates in a last dance. It's a dress-up event where everyone is... still in uniform! *insert nik falling down, legs sticking up in the air like in a manga* (rights herself) But still... angels! Or faeries. Whatever. The girls ask the guys they like for the honor—seems that an HEA ending is assured for the couple who dances the last dance. Predictably, a horde descends upon Natsume and Ruka but (since the fangirl rabble is minus Mikan who has absolutely no clue about romantic love) the two simply walk away. Mikan notices that something is up, especially with Natsume, and asks Ruka who doesn't give a satisfactory response.

Tsubasa and Misaki pair up for their second Last Dance. Mikan's friends Nonoko and Anna note that the two look and act like a married couple.

Later, one of the Ruka-besotted girls confronts Ruka with the rumor that he's dancing the last dance with some girl who played the Prince in the Somatics' play (yeah, you know who she is). The one he is rumored to be crazy over. Ruka and the girl in question Mikan both issue statements of denial as Natsume stands to the side, listening. When Mikan calls out to Ruka as he is about to escape, Natsume shoves the fleeing boy back in the direction of Mikan.

Mikan asks Ruka for a dance, stressing that it's not the last one. He agrees and the two look absolutely adorable as they enjoy themselves. Ruka retires and Mikan proceeds to dance with Tsubasa, Iinchou, and Narumi-sensei.

After dancing, Mikan looks for Natsume. She has the feeling that he's hiding somewhere behind the shrubbery and lo and behold, she's right. (Soul mate radar?)

Meanwhile, Hotaru tells a slightly-dazed Ruka that that girl doesn't know, giving away that she's figured out he's infatuated with her best friend. She virtually orders Ruka to go find Mikan and bring her cake.

Natsume tells Mikan that he doesn't want her approaching him anymore; that she doesn't need to learn more about the darkness in which he is mired. You don't need to see into the darkness with that head of yours that doesn't really think much—hinting at his wanting to preserve Mikan's "innocence." But true to her nature, Mikan refuses, prompting Natsume into calling her ugly again. Mikan blasts him for using anything but her name and as she is in the middle of her enumeration of all his names for her, Natsume calls her Mikan in a low (almost tortured) voice. An eavesdropping Ruka bearing a slice of cake witnesseth all.

Mikan is so shocked that Natsume called her by her given name that she walks away, blushing, her heart totally going doki-doki, yet she doesn't know why.

Ruka joins Natsume and tells him that that was the first time he ever heard Natsume call a girl by her real name. Flustered, Natsume states that it was just to shut her up. Ruka tells Natsume to go and join the dance, saying that Mikan is probably saving the last dance for him. Natsume disbelieves, saying that it is Ruka she wants. They do a "You! No, you!" thing before an announcement proclaims that Rookie of the Year Imai Hotaru will be dancing the last dance with... Sakura Mikan. The two boys burst into laughter and they go to watch Mikan and Hotaru.

Last but not least, Narumi-sensei makes good on his promise to deliver Mikan's letters to her grandpa and brings back one for her in return.

---

EP21 目指せ☆優等生賞

Mezase ☆ Yuutouseishou
(Aim ☆ for the honor student award)
aired 2006.05.15 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

The student who places first in the examinations gets to go home for a week and Mikan infects the whole class with her zeal to study. Natsume ends up helping some of their classmates as Ruka, who claims he doesn't want to go home, looks on, feeling left out.

When asked what kind of love letter he wrote for Narumi-sensei's English exam, Natsume sez he didn't write anything (afraid of being found out? ^^)

Scary Persona (Natsume's "boss") subs for the Social Science teacher because he wants to see for himself the little kitten with the different aura responsible for Natsume losing the dull expression in his eyes. He reveals this to Natsume, who looks more determined than ever to push Mikan away from him.

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EP22 ベアと王子様☆

Bear to Oujisama ☆
(Mr Bear and the Prince ☆)
aired 2006.05.15 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

Mikan meets Kaname, a middle school student—the one who animated the violent teddy bear of the Northern Woods Mr. Bear. Kaname has recently undergone medical treatment in a nearby hospital and has returned to the Academy for a short visit. Tsubasa, Kaname's bestfriend, tells Mikan that Kaname possesses the fourth Alice form (in which a person's Alice is limitless but eats at the life force of the wielder everytime s/he uses it; episode 11) but persists in using sed Alice anyway. Mikan's thoughts wing to Natsume who she suspects has the same Alice form.

After Mikan learns to accept why Kaname refuses to stop using his Alice in spite of the dire consequences, we're shown someone in pain, surrounded by medication—Natsume?

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EP23 サーカス☆がやって来た

SAAKASU ☆ ga yattekita
(The Circus ☆ is here)
aired 2006.05.22 (Animax Asia)
shipment index N/A

Don't get me wrong—I love this episode. The development of the myth-arc and the deeper look into our characters—especially Ruka—simply validated my investment in this series. But since there was barely any interaction between Natsume and Mikan in this episode, I couldn't rate it for shippy content. And no, unlike Jinno-sensei, I don't believe in awarding no stars.

What IS important about this episode, however, is Ruka's brainwashing at the hands of Reo (masquerading as the circus ringmaster) and Ruka believing that Narumi-sensei is a spy and the anti-Academy faction represent the right.

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EP24 鳴海先生の嘘つき ☆

Narumi sensei no usotsuki ☆
(Mr. Narumi's lies ☆)
aired 2006.05.22 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆

To stop Persona from administering a questionable drug to an exhausted and sick Natsume, Ruka orders the boy to be brought to the B classroom where they barricade themselves. Inside, Natsume lying on a bench calls out in agony first to Ruka and then to Mikan. This marks the second time that Natsume calls her by her given name, and like the first time, it occurs during a painful moment—or times in which we are usually most honest.

NOTE | The Animax English dub only has Natsume asking for Mikan; the original Japanese definitely begins with him calling Ruka's name first.

This reveals much about how close Natsume really feels to Mikan and how important she is to him.

When Mikan reassures Natsume of her presence, he grabs her hand in a my lifeline sorta way. Meanwhile, Academy security personnel try to smash their way into the classroom and the brainwashed Ruka tells Mikan that both of them must work together to protect Natsume. However, with Natsume's condition worsening, they are forced to let Narumi-sensei, who has come to negotiate, escort Natsume to the hospital. Unfortunately, Persona follows and despite Narumi-sensei's efforts, succeeds in whisking Natsume away. When Ruka, Mikan, and the others come to visit, they find an empty bed and a despondent and apologetic Narumi-sensei. The episode ends with the B class students boycotting Narumi-sensei's class and Reo freeing the circus animals to seek out Ruka and wreak havoc in the school.

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EP25 学園を取り戻せ☆

Gakuen wo torimodose ☆
(Let's bring back the Academy ☆)
aired 2006.05.29 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Single ☆
nb The only episode without the PIKA PIKA no Taiyou cheerleading opening

The episode begins soberly with Narumi-sensei contemplating the fate of the Alice Academy with Yamada-sensei and the conversation predictably swings in Mikan's direction. The female teacher asks Narumi-sensei if his regard for Mikan has anything to do with that person he so admires, the one with the similar nullification Alice. He agrees with the possibility, adding that Mikan and her Alice could be key to changing the Academy and by extension, Natsume. The sensei-tachi's discussion is interrupted by the substitute teacher barging in and informing them hysterically that the school is under attack from wild animals.

Outside, Mikan props up Ruka who had been zapped by Hotaru's brother to stop the boy from asking further questions about Natsume and the covert activities of the academy. The circus animals approach them and Ruka leaves Mikan and the others to look for Natsume. He rides on a lion and the cub he saved in episode 23 accompanies.

(I couldn't resist including this) Mikan and Hotaru flee from the attacking circus animals, with Hotaru firing shot after shot from her Baka gun to hold them off. Mikan trips and both girls fall; Hotaru loses her weapon. Just as a lion is about to pounce on the two hapless girls, they are saved by... Hotaru's oniichan. Awww... T'was a supremely touching moment and proves that ice is not the only thing coursing in his veins (I actually like Hotaru's brother or cancha tell?).

Inside the academy headquarters, Ruka faces off with Jinno-sensei who is blocking the former's path to the headmaster. Mikan, Hotaru, Narumi-sensei arrive to stop Ruka. Mikan tries to reason with him, but the spell cast by Reo's voice pheromone is too powerful. To make matters worse, Reo, Shido, and company also arrive and Reo uses his Alice again to force Ruka into doing his bidding. Ruka tries to resist but can't and finally, snaps and orders the animals to go forward. Mikan renews her attempt to stop him and Ruka sets a circus lion on her. Just as the lion lunges... flames burst out in a protective barrier in front of Mikan. It is our hero Natsume, albeit weak, coming to our heroine's aid. He leaps into the air, using the lion's back as a springboard, and slaps Ruka, effectively bringing him back to his senses.They're our friends, can't you see that?

Natsume and Ruka friendshipping: over the course of the series, we've come to know that Ruka, bitterly calling himself a coward, feels horribly guilty over not doing anything to help or stop Natsume from undertaking black ops missions for the academy. This is why Reo's suggestion worked so well with him. After slapping Ruka, Natsume comes clean about his real feelings towards the academy and his work, saying I don't follow orders that go against my principles. And I've never hurt any innocent people. When Ruka finally looks convinced, Natsume reverts back to stereotypical male mode: Can we stop this? I hate talking like this. It makes me itchy. ^^

Careful, Ruka! Mikan shows concern for Ruka when he and Natsume are about to go after Reo who has commandeered the school's PA system. It's understandable after what Ruka just went through and probably not because she's not worried about Natsume as well (or conversely, she has more trust in Natsume's abilities?).

(Couldn't resist including this, part II) Narumi x Reo, anyone?? Anybody else get this feeling? Especially as it appears everything Reo does stems from what he considers Narumi-sensei's deception. From Kokoro Yome-kun broadcasting Reo's feelings of betrayal to all and sundry to Narumi-sensei's embracing him and saying you're a wonderful person after Reo turns his Alice on himself—kyaaa! Later when Reo escapes and Shido asks him if Narumi-sensei's pheromone Alice was that strong (that it could leave Reo almost helpless), Reo replies, That wasn't his Alice... The line that you read between and which divides platonic and not wears thin.

Lastly, Natsume humors Mikan when the latter relates her fight with the rampaging bear. His indulgence of her tickled me too, too pink!

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EP26 友情は☆エンドレス

Yuujou wa ☆ ENDORESU
(Friendship is ☆ forever)
aired 2006.05.29 (Animax Asia)
shipment index Double ☆☆
nb Back to the usual cheerful opening titles

And we've come full circle: on a fine April day, Mikan discovers that Hotaru is leaving the academy to pursue studies abroad. This leads Mikan to a whole soul-searching about what it means to be a best friend. Does it require her to constantly chase after Hotaru, no matter where Hotaru goes, just like she did when Hotaru entered the Alice Academy? Following her through schools, jobs, and eventually retirement? As a lifetime of dogging Hotaru unfolds in her mind, Mikan concludes that separation from her best friend is ultimately... inevitable.

Narumi-sensei delivers an impromptu, somewhat mawkish speech during graduation (Together, let's think about what Alice is and what should we do with it or something to that effect). During the applause that ensues, Natsume's eyes seek out Mikan and notices that she is not her usual genki self.

After the ceremony, Tsubasa, Misaki, and the Special Ability type kids gather together and Tsubasa notices that the usual super-excited and bubbly during these kinds of events Mikan is not around (and it is up to Natsume to locate her ^^).

Hey, Polka Dot! When Natsume finds Mikan, he correctly gauges the situation and goes for levity by calling her by nickname (the one exclusively reserved for his use). When this fails to get a satisfactory rise out of Mikan, he cajoles her into 'fessing up: Come on, what's wrong? You can tell me. For once the English voice acting comes up to scratch; the affection Natsume has for Mikan is palpable. He continues, I do actually tune in and listen some of the time, you know, which prompts Mikan into finally sharing Hotaru's coming departure. She asks Natsume if it were Ruka, what would Natsume say to him. He answers that if it was what Ruka wanted, then he probably wouldn't say anything at all. Mikan thinks this over and when she appears to have accepted it, Natsume with a small, wondrous smile tells her, Now run along, Polka Dot.

Mikan insists on having the last word: I'm not polka dot today, so there!

Afterwards, Mikan goes to see Hotaru and is confronted with an empty dorm room and a messenger turtle. But instead of a letter to her best friend, Hotaru has left Mikan with a list of likely questions for the make-up exam Mikan has to take in order to be promoted. In tears, Mikan reiterates what she said once before to Hotaru: Your way of showing affection is just too twisted. At this juncture, her other friends—Iinchou, Nonoko, Anna arrive and realize that Hotaru has left without saying goodbye. Mikan tells them bravely that she will take the make-up exam, using the guide Hotaru left her. Moved by her words, the gang decides to go after Hotaru. Natsume and Ruka observe this full-on effort.

Meanwhile, Mikan sitting in the classroom discovers that the problems Hotaru left her indeed appear in the makeup exam. She valiantly tries to complete the test but her mind is too full of Hotaru. Nonoko (Anna? Both? I forget) arrives to tell her they were able to locate Hotaru. Math teacher Jinno-sensei tells Mikan that he had "reminded" her to go to the bathroom before the exam started but since she badly needs to go, he would give her a one hour grace. Narumi-sensei witnesses this and ribs Jinno-sensei about growing to like Mikan. I think Jinno-sensei replied with a maybe, but he definitely said he wanted to try out Narumi-sensei's way of doing things.

The gang is doing their best to prevent Hotaru from leaving. Even Natsume and Ruka join in. While denying that they are there to stop Hotaru, the giant chick Piyo blocks Hotaru's way. Natsume tells Hotaru to at least say goodbye to Mikan. LMAO moment: The expression on Natsume's face when the giant Piyo runs off with Ruka (who has been shown the blackmail material photo of him and Piyo) is priceless! The scene only needed a giant Piyo-sized sweatdrop to complete it...^^

Mikan arrives on the scene and after much bouncing about (from having been hit with Hotaru's fly swatter to bouncing off the giant Piyo to being socked by Mr Bear to finally crashing in front of Natsume and the gang), Mikan angrily tells Hotaru that she wants to have a talk with her. It comes spilling out: how Mikan loves Hotaru but doesn't like herself constantly relying on her best friend. And because she doesn't, Mikan declares her decision not to chase after Hotaru anymore. But she does ask Hotaru to be the brilliant person she is destined to become and remember that once, they were the best of friends. Hotaru in turn reveals that she is not leaving the academy; she is only moving to her lab for the interim while she prepares a presentation for some prospective sponsors. After a hug and some talk of the rabbits Mikan still owes Hotaru (of which Hotaru had prepared an itemized list), Hotaru resumes her walk to the lab. But this time with Mikan, lugging Hotaru's humongous balled up cloth containing who knows what, trailing. Mikan's voiceover to her grandfather—how much she loves being in Alice Academy— closes the episode.

---

Sigh. So ends the Alice Academy anime. I wish I can say something profound at this point to mitigate the loss this wonderful series will leave us with but I have no words. I will say this much though: Alice Academy totally qualifies for the Going Out in Style award in my book.

And for that I am thankful.

If you still haven't had your fill, here are some things you can do:

• Read the manga (for Indonesian residents, Gramedia publishes the official Indonesian release. Four Nine tankoubon have been released and monthly installments are continuing in the HanaLaLa mangazine).
• Discuss Alice Academy at this message board.
• If you also ship NatsuMi, why not sign up for the TAFL-approved Natsume and Mikan fanlisting?
• Read some Alice Academy fanfic. My favorite (NatsuMi of course) is a one shot written from an older Natsume's POV: Nightly Musings by Silent Sage.
• Take one of the Gakuen Alice quizzes at Quizilla. (I did and my result is part of the end notes)

~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03) who's off to work on the anime-manga comparison

copyright information
Gakuen Alice is © 2004 Higuchi Tachibana · Hakusensha/Gakuen Alice Production Committee. No infringement intended.

relevant links

• Alice Academy: Anime and Manga Points of Divergence (Manga volume 02)

(almost endless) end notes (Read only if you have nothing else to do)

needless post title explication
You're my gravity is a lyric snippet from Jewel's Absence of Fear from the album Spirit. My personal pick for Natsume's song, AoF also graced the Roswell TV series (which is where I first heard of it/discovered its possibilities) where it scored a very dreamy moment between Max and Liz. Lyrics as follows:

Inside my skin there is this space
It twists and turns
It bleeds and aches

Inside my heart there's an empty room
It's waiting for lightning
It's waiting for you

And I am wanting
And I am needing you here
Inside the absence of fear

Muscle and sinew
Velvet and stone
This vessel is haunted
It creaks and moans
My bones call to you
In their separate skin
I make myself translucent
To let you in, for
I am wanting
And I am needing you here
Inside the absence of fear

There is this hunger
This restlessness inside of me
And it knows that you're no stranger
you're my gravity.

My hands will adore you through all darkness aim
They will lay you out in moonlight
And reinvent your name

For I am wanting you
And I am needing you here
I need you near
Inside the absence of fear

fanart
Listening to Absense of Fear inspired a NatsuMi fanart and there it is, my first Alice Academy banner, up there ^^ It's based on the convo underneath the tree from episode 12.

Kansai talk According to my book on Kansai Japanese, if you enter an establishment in Kyoto, you'll most likely be greeted with oideyasu instead of the regular irasshai welcome greeting. And your leaving will probably be accompanied by maido or okini rather than the usual arigatou gozaimashita.

Given that Mikan speaks in Kansai-ben, I thought it more appropriate to use this greeting ^^.

shipper
Does anyone remember that it was within The X-Files community that the term shipper first started? (This wikipedia entry confirms.) At the time, it was to distinguish the fans who supported the extreme possibility of a romantic relationship between Mulder and Scully, and those who insisted that the agents' relationship was purely platonic.

The point of this "time trip" is to give credit where credit is due: when I first became a Mulder x Scully shipper, Kipler's Relationship Episode Guide to The X-Files was one of my favorite sites to visit. It was an episode guide with a twist, listing as it did the shippy moments between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, the leads of Chris Carter's masterpiece.

Seeing as I appropriated the title for my Alice Academy episode guide, I would like to say here, thank you muchness, Kipler.

Hyuuga Natsume x Sakura Mikan (NatsuMi)
Not that I regularly espouse relationships between pairings who are not yet even in their teens, you understand, but these two look to be the canon couple of this series (from what I've seen of it so far), unless—despite all the evidence I presented above—this wasn't manga-ka Tachibana Higuchi-sensei's intent (she indicates as much in one of the quarter columns in the manga). Whether she planned it or she didn't is immaterial to me; I just like the NatsuMi pair for the possibilities open to them for when they reach the age of consent.

Shipment Index
Uses the star ranking system in Gakuen Alice, explicated in episode 5:

• Special: the highest star ranking and the one awarded to Natsume
• Triple star: Hotaru and Iinchou's (Tobita Yuu)
• Double: Natsume fan club president Shouda Sumire's rank
• Single: the mindreading kid Kokoro Yome-kun
• No Star (Hoshi Nashi): originally Mikan's star ranking before Jinno-sensei promotes her to Single post episode 15 (in the manga it was Narumi-sensei who gave her the star).

And since I'm already talking about the star rankings, I might as well share that Ruka's star rank (which is not obvious from his uniform) is three stars, according to the manga.

episode titles
Where I watched the Animax English dubs first, I use those titles. Otherwise, I fall back on Anime News Network's or use fan sub episode titles or translate 'em myself (my limited Nihongo permitting).

Behind the tree
Roswellian dreamers (Max and Liz shippers) ought to know the significance of someone watching from behind the tree. This behavior (and what prompts it) is such a dead giveaway...

Seiyuu wub
Top-tier seiyuu Ishida Akira-san plays Narumi-sensei while Sakurai Takahiro-san is Misaki-sensei. Miyano Mamoru-san who plays the oh-so-charming Tamaki in the currently airing Ouran High School Host Club (and was also Ryou in Sokyuu no Fafner – RIGHT OF LEFT ~single program~) is the time-tripping Noda-sensei. Three more reasons—aside from Paku Romi-san bringing Natsume to life—to watch Alice Academy in the original Japanese.

strawberries (or "strawBehries," real ones as opposed to the ones on Mikan's underwear) Inveterate Roswellian dreamer that I am, I just had to note this—another Roswellian icon and a most dreamy one at that.

the import of a name
The reason why I go on at length about Natsume using Mikan's given name rests on the difference between Japanese and English, especially in the use of honorifics. Del Rey Manga usually has this note before any of their releases which explains the significance of calling someone by their first name:

The lack of honorific means the speaker has permission to address the person in a very intimate way (emphasis mine). Usually, only family, spouses, or very close friends have this kind of permission. Known as yobisute, it can be gratifying when someone who has earned the intimacy starts to call one by one's name without an honorific. But when that intimacy hasn't been earned, it can be very insulting.

So you see the difference between Ruka always calling Mikan Sakura versus Natsume who thinks of Mikan as Mikan and calls her such.

Alice Academy quiz
Took one at Quizilla and here's my result:

Who are you in Gakuen Alice (a.k.a. Alice Academy)?

You are Sakura Mikan! She's so cute! RATE PLEASE!
Take this quiz!



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Technorati tags
anime, Gakuen Alice, Alice Academy, Higuchi Tachibana, Hakusensha

invaluable resources (click to unhide)

1. Animax Asia
2. Anime News Network » Alice Academy episode list
3. 学園アリス (Aniplex's official Gakuen Alice website)
4. Del Rey Manga on honorifics (quoted from Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Volume 1)
5. Kipler's The Relationship Episode Guide to The X-Files

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