Summary by Emi (http://ribon.toxikon.org)
Alice no Hoshi
by Kurahashi Erika
Volume 1
Chapter 3
Alika is in class, listening to some girls saying "have you seen the school paper?" and
"yeah, wasn't Touno kun so good looking??". All the students at school are going on
about who's cute, who's cool and stuff like that. She thinks to herself that even she is weird lately, because even though she hates guys, she's constantly thinking about Kazuki. Alika runs to the council room because she left her pencil case there. When she gets there, she is startled to see Makoto trying to open the safe. He says he's been trying for 3 days and he can't open it and he gets worked up, saying he's going to open it no matter what. Alika giggles to herself and asks him if he wants a clue or two. Makoto says he'll figure it out on his own. Alika thinks that there's nothing that valuable inside anyway, then says out loud "I'm juuuust talking to myself, but...." and proceeds to tell him a clue. She says the keyword is "Kaisai Girls" and Makoto yells at her, saying that she said way too much and now he's figured out what the numbers are. Then Alika realises that she's talking so naturally to a guy. She thinks how stupid she was because now she knows that even though they're guys, they're not the same as in primary school. She leaves the room and sees Kazuki at the door. He says hi and she says hi back. She thinks to herself that she'll be okay from now on and it's all thanks to Kazuki. Makoto finally manages to open the safe.
Later on, Kousuke and Kazuki are walking down the hall and Kousuke asks Kazuki what was inside the safe. Kazuki says "oh, well......" and Kousuke asks if there was nothing inside. Kazuki says it wasn't nothing, but... Then they walk past Tadokoro. When he walks by, Tadokoro calls Kazuki a "grandpa" (or an old man, it's an insult okay!! ^^;;) and walks off. Kazuki is annoyed and Kousuke says "that's Tadokoro from our class, have you done something to make him say that?". Kazuki says he has no idea, then Kousuke says maybe it's because Kazuki is friendly with Alika. Tadokoro said that Alika is his girlfriend.
Back at the council room, the guys toast (looking depressed) in celebration of openeing the safe ^^; Inside the safe was a photo album of all the student councillors (I think) and it wasn't exactly what Makoto thought would be in the safe. Kousuke shows Kazuki a photo he found in there. The photo is of Alika when they did the drama play "Alice in Wonderland". Kousuke says she looks really cute and asks Kazuki what he thinks. Kazuki says "yeah, you're really photogenic". Alika is a little disappointed that that's his reply ^^; Then Kazuki looks hard at Alika. She asks what's the matter. He asks her if she's really going out with Tadokoro. Alika has no idea what he's talking about because, of course, she isn't going out with Tadokoro. Mitsuko throttles Alika, saying she's never heard such a thing before. Alika shouts "I don't know anything about it!! I hate that guy!!" and everyone is silent. Kousuke says "I thought so" and says that Tadokoro got dumped by two girls last year. Makoto says just to ignore him because it's just some idiot spreading his own rumours. Nana says that Tadokoro must have something wrong with his head, making somebody his own girlfriend. Kousuke says that they'll be Alika's bodyguard. Mitsuko says that she might be stalked so she'll protect Alika. Kazuki says that if she's got this many on her side, then she won't be beaten. Alika thinks to herself that guys aren't the enemy, it's only one person, Tadokoro.
It's raining so the girls and the guys are sharing the gym to do phys ed. They're playing volleyball (yay!!! ^_^) and Kazuki is pretty good. All the girls are screaming and cheering for him. Alika watches him from afar. Mitsuko says that Kazuki is pretty good looking and he's popular even in her class. Alika says "what!?" and Mitsuko asks if she's panicking. Alika says she isn't and Mitsuko teases her by saying that Kazuki has somebody he likes. Alika can't believe it. Mitsuko laughs and says "guess who it is Alika....?" but Alika can't hear a word Mitsuko is saying any more. Alika starts to play volleyball again and she's bashing the balls at an incredible speed. Everyone asks Alika what the matter is because she's hitting the balls like missiles ^^; Kazuki notices and thinks she's pretty good. Alika is thinking that it was the first time she ever thought that she didn't want a guy to be taken by anyone else. To her, Kazuki is the most important person in the world and he is like her God. Class ends and Mitsuko thinks to herself that Alika does anything when she snaps. They're walking out of the gym when a voice calls her. Tadokoro is standing by the door. He says he came to take her home. Some guys whisper "are they really going out?". Alika ignores him and so does Mitsuko. She's walking out when Tadokoro grabs her by the arm. Kazuki runs over, noticing the commotion. Tadokoro tells Alika that she's the one who said she'd do anything he told her and that she can't run away from him. Alika gets angry and snaps. She pushes him away and Tadokoro falls to the floor. He says "oi, that hurt you....." but before he can finish his sentence, a ball comes flying at his face. Mitsuko, Kazuki and everyone else watch in shock. Alika shouts at him "why don't you grow up!?" and continues to throw more volley balls at him. Kazuki tells her to stop. She's trembling and slumps to the floor. Tadokoro runs off and Kazuki runs after him.
He corners Tadokoro in a dead end. He says "it's typical of a bully to run when there's trouble". He asks if he (Tadokoro) actually does want Alika as his girlfriend. Tadokoro laughs and says that Alika was like a slave to all the guys during primary school and she did anything he told her to. It pissed him off that Alika is now really popular with guys and whatnot. Kazuki then understands that Tadokoro is the reason why Alika hates guys. He tells Tadokoro that if he tries anything again, the student council won't stand for it and there's really scary members there. Tadokoro walks off. Mitsuko is walking Alika and they see Kazuki. He smiles and says everything is okay. Mitsuko says "oops I just remembered I have to do something, Touno kun can you take care of Alika?" and pushes Alika into Kazuki ^^; Alika blushes. Kazuki then says "do you want to walk home together?" and Alika is surprised. He says he'll walk her home, but only for today. Alika thinks that he's really kind and he always saves her. She apologises in her mind and thinks that his kindness should be enough, but she wants him to be only kind to her.
At the lockers, there's no one there. Alika is happy that she can walk home with Kazuki. A hand pats her on the shoulder and Alika turns around, thinking it's Kazuki. Instead, it's Masumi! He asks why she's so late. Then Kazuki walks up to her and says "let's go" then sees Masumi. He asks if he's her friend. Alika says that he's her brother, JUST her brother. Masumi gets defensive, then says "I'm not her brother, we're not even blood related, so don't lay a hand on her". Alika wonders what's gotten into Masumi.
END OF CHAPTER THREE