Disclaimer: I don't and can't own Gakuen Alice even if I wanted too. It belongs to Tachibana-sensei.

Please enjoy~

~1000 Yen Romance~

If every morning was like this, I wouldn't mind waking up, Natsume thought as he stared at his Mikan's sleeping face. Yesterday, he thought he was going to lose her. His Mikan was kidnapped and when that son of bitch, Reo, called him, he was out for blood. How dare he touch Mikan with that filthy hands of his?

He shook his head. He shouldn't be thinking about that now. All that matters is that Mikan was safe and sound, asleep in his arms.

He never thought that he was capable of risking his life just to save Mikan. But he knew, deep inside that Mikan wasn't just any girl. She was the one that manage to break down his walls with just a smile of hers. Her smile that had the ability to make him melt like a puddle. He'd do everything in his power to keep that smile on her face and that's why he didn't hesitate to save her. She was his sunshine. Crap when did I get so sappy? Natsume thought as he chuckled lightly, lovingly touching Mikan's cheek.

"Natsume..." Mikan murmured as she buried her face on the crook of his neck.

"Hn?" Is she dreaming about me? Natsume thought bemused.

"I..."

"You?"

"I... love..." His heartbeat was speeding up.

"Howalons..."

"... You're really one of kind aren't you?" He said as he chuckled, giving her forehead a light kiss.

Before closing his eyes and letting sleep take over his body again.

An hour later he woke up again, only to find no Mikan beside him. He quickly sat up and glanced around his room, still no Mikan. Did she leave him? He panicked. He stood up slowly, his thigh wound still stings bad after all, and was about to go out when someone entered the room.

"Natsume! You shouldn't be standing!" Mikan said worriedly as she quickly went to his side and was about to help him to his bed when he hugged her.

"Don't leave without informing me, please." Natsume said as he buried his face on her shoulder. Mikan's heart swelled.

"I'm sorry... I got hungry when—"

"Natsume, I see you're finally up and about." Subaru Imai greeted as he entered the room, looking at Natsume with a brow raised. Mikan immediately broke their hug, much to Natsume's dismay, and ushered Natsume back to his bed. Her face beet red as she did so. Natsume merely chuckled at her cute antics. Mikan pouted as she took her seat beside him.

"Well, it seems to me that you're already healthy enough to be discharged." Subaru stated as he skimmed through Natsume's charts. Mikan's eyes instantly lit up as she hold Natsume's hand.

"Remember not to overexert your injured thigh and it'll recover just fine. I'll just fix your papers including the medicines you would need to take regularly in order for you to get well soon then you're good to go. I'll send a nurse here when everything's done." Subaru continued.

"Thank you, Subaru-san."

"Hn."

"I'll be taking my leave now then..." Subaru was standing halfway out of the door when he looked back at his cousin and said, "I'm glad you're well again, cousin." before leaving the room completely.

"I'm so glad that you're really okay." Mikan said teary-eyed. Natsume smiled as he caressed her face gently.

"Of course, I'm Natsume Hyuuga after all." Natsume said smirking. Mikan rolled her eyes.

"Yep, the arrogance knows no bounds after all."

"You still love me anyways." Mikan's face turned red almost immediately.

"I didn't even say that I—"

Natsume's face suddenly turned serious.

"I love you, Mikan."

Were her ears deceiving her? Did Natsume just say that he loves her? Who was she kidding she heard it loud and clear. Her mind was already repeating Natsume's I love you like a broken record, her heart was doing hyper active somersaults and she thinks that there's gazillion butterflies in her stomach. Seeing Natsume's handsome serious face, hearing him saying I love you for the first time to her was too much for Mikan's poor heart to handle that all she could do was hug Natsume's torso tightly, effectively hiding her reddened face also.

Natsume, who was really nervous at the fact that he just confessed what he really felt about the brunette, immediately calmed down and wrapped his arms around her.

"You may think that I might be a little too fast with my feelings... but I know what I feel. When you got kidnapped, I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you. That's when I realized that my feelings for you are definitely real. It's not just infatuation. I was willing to risk everything just to save you." Natsume continued as he rubbed her back gently.

Natsume could feel his shirt getting wet.

"Mikan, are you crying?"

"Mffff."

"What? I can't understand when you're burying your face on my chest like that."

Mikan finally looked up to him, her eyes red and puffy. Even so, on the eyes of Natsume she still looked beautiful.

"I'm just so embarrassed... I feel like my heart's going to explode and I... I haven't even thanked you enough for saving my life." Mikan mumbled, her tears flowing non-stop.

"Don't cry, I hate seeing you cry remember?" Natsume said, smiling at her, while wiping her tears away.

"Bu-but I feel like you've done so much for me and I—"

"Then tell me you love me." Natsume bargained.

"—wha... what?"

"I love you, Mikan. See, what's so hard about that?" Natsume said as he pecked her forehead, smiling boyishly at her.

"I... uhh... I..." The blush on Mikan's face darkened. Natsume chuckled softly before cupping her face gently.

"It's alright, Mikan, you don't have to say it if you're still unsure of your feelings, I understand completely. I don't want you think that I'm pressuring you—"

"I love you..." Natsume's heart sped up as he gave Mikan a genuine smile. "...you stupid, conceited moron Natsume."

"The stupid conceited moron wasn't necessary... but I love you too, Mikan." Natsume replied smiling widely before leaning down and taking her lips for a tender kiss.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER KIDNAPPING CEO'S GIRLFRIEND
Reo Mouri, aged 36, was arrested last week for kidnapping Mikan Yukihira, the girlfriend of Hyuuga Corporation's CEO, Natsume Hyuuga. The incident happened when the CEO's parents were holding a party at their hotel, Crimson. The motives were unclear as to why she was kidnapped.

HYUUGA CORP CEO NATSUME HYUUGA BACHELOR NO MORE
A lot of hearts were broken last week when the young CEO entered the hotel with a beautiful brunette by his side, his arms wrapped around her waist securely. The crowd went wild when the ex-bachelor carried her and announced that she was indeed his girlfriend. Who would have known the Natsume Hyuuga had it in him?

WHO IS NATSUME HYUUGA'S GIRLFRIEND?
Mikan Yukihira, aged 24, is a waitress at a small local cafe called Sérendipicité. The young waitress was one of the lucky buyers of the once in a lifetime date with Natsume Hyuuga from Imai Inc's 1000 Yen of random things. That's probably where things hit off my friends.

A week has passed since the incident and Natsume has recovered completely. Why wouldn't he? He insisted that Mikan should stay at the Hyuuga household for the whole time he was recuperating. Mikan being Mikan, couldn't say no to Natsume's charms and was left with no other choice but to agree. Kaoru, Takahashi and Aoi were more than happy to let the brunette stay. After all, it was refreshing for them to see Natsume's different display of emotions around the brunette.

Reo Mouri was sentenced ten years of imprison for kidnapping Mikan but after they've learned that he was also responsible for the death of Mikan's parents, he was immediately sentenced lifetime imprisonment. Mikan couldn't be more grateful towards the Hyuuga family, Ruka and Hotaru.

Luna Koizumi, who was an accomplice and the step-sister of Mouri, was sentence five years of imprisonment but after more snooping around, courtesy of Hotaru Imai, her father was also dragged down with them. Apparently, after adopting Mouri he cleared his name using illegal means and his business was doing something illegal too.

In the week that she was with the Hyuuga family, Natsume insisted that he should at least meet her parents even though they have passed away already. She was surprised when Natsume told her he already met her parents and he just wanted to pay his respects to them. At first he thought he was kidding around but when he told her the dream he had when he was lying on the hospital bed, she couldn't help but cry. Even when her parents were already at the afterlife, they are still watching over her.

All in all, everything was in order except for the fact that Mikan have to accept she had no private life anymore. Ever since her boyfriend announced to the entirety of Hyuuga Corp. connections that she was indeed his girlfriend. The girl who bought his heart for a mere 1000 yen.

In the middle of the night, a brunette was surfing the internet on her computer, supposedly to ease her boredom but instead made her annoyed at the news and articles that were showing up. Probably because all the news and article were pertaining to the said brunette.

Mikan Yukihira, aged 24, was the hot topic of whole Japan since last month when her super famous boyfriend announced that they were in a relationship. Ever since last week, Mikan has found numerous paparazzi in front of her house, was chased down by reporters while she was on her way to work just to try and get an interview or photo of the famous CEO's girlfriend. It has been a month and the news about her still haven't died down one bit.

It was tough for someone like her to get used to this kind of environment but she's taking it with a determination and stride. After all, she didn't want to give up on their relationship just because of some stupid paparazzi and media were following her every move. Besides, it's time for her to learn the world her boyfriend lives in. She can't let him protect her forever. She got to stand up for herself in order to be with Natsume Hyuuga. Speak of the devil and the devil shall call.

Omoi wa afureru bakari de

Todoke—

"Mou! A month has passed already, can't they leave me alone?" Mikan immediately ranted to Natsume.

"That's one of the perks of dating Natsume Hyuuga."

"Your arrogance is flowing again, dear, and it's not a perk at all, it's more of a cons of dating the oh-so-famous Natsume Hyuuga." Natsume just chuckled.

"So how was your day?" Mikan smiled as she told her boyfriend about her day.

Her whole life may have changed drastically but it was worth it. She met all sorts of people, avenged her parents' death somewhat by getting kidnapped and most of all found someone who she deeply cares and loves. It has been a roller coaster ride for her the last month but she wouldn't trade it for anything else and this all happened due to a mere 1000 yen she spent on an accident that one boring evening.

Author's Note:

After years of waiting guys, I've finally uploaded the last chapter for 1000 yen romance. It's a bit overwhelming that a lot of you guys out there was still waiting for me to finish this. I'm truly happy and thankful to you guys who stayed and waited patiently for me. I don't think I've delivered an ending that could match the time you've waited but I still did write this to the very best of my abilities. If it wasn't something you expected or was underwhelming for you, I'm really sorry.

As I've written on my other story, I got ill and was hospitalized for quite some time. One of the reasons of why I couldn't really update. I was also finishing my overdue degree. This pandemic actually gave me free time that's why I had the chance to update but still I'm sorry for the delay. This story will now be marked complete even when there's still an epilogue left.

For those who reviewed, stayed and even reviewed on my other story just to remind me of this. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.