A/N: Hey guys! So this is my first fanfic and I was inspired to write this because I had been reading a lot of NatsumexMikan fanfics lately (idk why but my Gakuen Alice hangover when I finished reading the manga came back a few months later) and now here I am… writing a story of my own.

Important note: This story happens after the last episode of the anime, and I'm not going to follow the storyline of the manga. My story most revolves around the NatsumexMikan ship (sorry I'm a die-hard fan of that ship ahaha) although I may follow the timeline of the manga.

Once again, this is my first fic so I'd appreciate any suggestions for future chapters or any fixes that I might need to make. Thank you so much, and please enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Gakuen Alice. None of these characters are mine, and I only own the story plot. All credits go to Higuchi Tachibana.

Soon after the incident where Mikan thought Hotaru was once again going to make an unannounced departure, she sat beneath the sakura tree that had now become somewhat of a meeting place for Natsume and Mikan, although Natsume was usually already at his usual spot reading a manga and Mikan would just come looking for him.

"Ne, Natsume, why do you think Hotaru is so mean to me?" Mikan asked, somewhat depressed. Hotaru had ignored her for a whole day today, indirectly telling her that she was busy and did not have time for, quote, "a bumbling idiot named Mikan Sakura" and basically told her to piss off. Mikan was awfully hung up about this.

It was several minutes before Natsume answered. "Why do you think I'm mean to you, polka?"

"Don't call me polka! Also I'm pretty sure you're mean to me because you're Natsume. Natsume the pervert is mean to everyone!" Mikan replied, and stuck her tongue out at the raven-haired boy.

"Tch. You're dense as ever. That's the wrong answer. Well let me tell you the right answer, the answer to your question is the answer to my question." And with that, Natsume was back to reading his manga. Mikan pouted at the unsatisfactory answer and stood up.

"Well, thanks a lot for the meager help, pervert. I'm gonna go find Hotaru again." The brunette then ran off, leaving Natsume shaking his head.

That idiot, she's gonna get a few more bruises on her head.

In the distance, the sound of Hotaru's baka gun goes BAKA BAKA BAKA thrice and a heavy thud follows suit.

Never mess with Hotaru Imai, kids.

The next morning, Mikan walked into the classroom, cheerful as always. "Good morning everyone!" Everyone greeted her back, exceept for a certain raven-haired boy and girl. When Mikan saw the girl however, she screamed, "HOTARU!" and ran towards her with open arms.

BAKA BAKA BAKA.

Everyone sweat dropped. Does she never learn?

"Moe! Hotaru when will you stop?!" Mikan whined.

"Shut up idiot, you're annoying me." Hotaru said coldly.

Mikan stood up with a pout. She humph'd and walked to her seat and sat down. She was instantly cheerful again, and greeted her two seatmates. "Good morning Natsume-kun! Good morning Ruka-pyon!" She smiled brightly, and Ruka smiled back at her.

"Good morning Mikan-chan!" As for Natsume, he had a manga over his face and didn't say anything. Mikan knew he was awake, but she was used to being ignored anyway. A few minutes later, Narumi skipped gayly into the class (you know how gay means happy and also that you're gay? Well for Narumi it goes both ways if you think about it XD)

"Good morning class!" he said in a sing songy voice.

"Good morning, Narumi-sensei!" Came the only reply from Mikan. Everyone else thought, is this guy really our teacher?

"Your english teacher would like you guys to write an essay about what you like to do! It's due in one month! Now it's a free period because I have stuff to take care of! Bye!" Narumi then proceeded to skip back out of class. Everyone started chattering about the new assignment. Mikan was basically jumping up and down with excitement.

"Hey Natsume! What do you like to do?" She asked. He didn't bother removing the manga off his face, and the only reply she got was a "hmph". Mikan didn't get discouraged and continued talking.
"Well, what I like to do is talk, hang out with my friends, and so much more. Of course, you're included as one of my friends, too!"

Secretly, Natsume was disappointed that he was only a "friend" but his reply was curt, "You're annoying polka, go talk to someone else." Mikan glared at him and stomped off. "Fine! Be like that." When Mikan was gone, Ruka turned to Natsume and spoke in a quiet voice. "Natsume, you went on another mission, didn't you." A statement, not a question. Natsume nodded curtly before standing up and jumping out the window. Ruka looked at his retreating figure, worried.

On days after a mission, Natsume had absolutely no mood to stay in class. He went to his Sakura Tree and climbed up. The view from where he sat was absolutely beautiful. After a minute, he picked up his manga and started reading again. It was peaceful, that was until a brunette came along looking for him.

"Natsume! Natsumeeeeeee! Where are you?!" Mikan called. Natsume, getting sick of the loud calls, jumped down from his branch and regarded her with his cold, crimson eyes.

"What do you want?" He said, curtly.

Mikan looked down at her feet before replying. "I don't know, I suddenly felt very lonely and I wanted to find you. You'll let me stay, won't you?" She asked nervously.

"Hn. Stay if you want." Natsume sat down with his back against the tree. Mikan sat down next to him. She sat pretty close actually, close enough for them to feel each other's warmth. Natsume didn't say anything, and continued reading his manga.

"Natsume, lately I have been feeling scared." Natsume pretended to continue reading his manga, but secretly he was listening to her.

"Ne, Natsume, no one's going to leave me right? You, Hotaru, Ruka-pyon, Anna, Nonoko, Yuu, and everyone else won't leave me alone, right?" Mikan chewed her lip nervously. She had no idea why she suddenly was thinking like this.

"Idiot, no one's leaving you. Now stop thinking like that. It's making me itchy." Natsume snipped, and then went back to reading his manga.

"Hey! No need to be so rude ok!" Mikan said indignantly. But then, she calmed down and smiled at him. "Thanks, Natsume. You're right." Mikan then stared at Natsume. Like, stared him down. She was trying to do the thing where Natsume looks at you and it's like he can see through you. However, it definitely didn't work and Natsume just glared at her. "What do you want, Polka?"

"Pervert! That's not my name!" She pouted, and then kept talking. "I was wondering, since I'm always going up to you and telling you my problems, I'm hoping that one day, you'll tell me all of your problems too! Instead of always enduring everything yourself, you should share your problems with me too!" Mikan spoke cheerfully, but Natsume just shrugged.

"Hn. Whatever you say."

Mikan merely smiled and they sat in comfortable silence. Soon, they would both fall asleep, where Mikan's head was on his shoulder and Natsume's rested comfortably on top of hers.

A/N: Phew! Chapter 1 finally done. I know there were A LOT of Mikan and Natsume moments, but trust me, it was necessary so that I could set up my story! Or maybe I'm just fangirling too much… eh whatever! I'll try updating regularly, RxR and thanks for reading!