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

Please enjoy~

Mikan Yukihira couldn't sleep. For the past fifteen minutes, she's been trying to get herself some shut eye but to no avail, her brain was too awake. Mikan groaned in frustration.

It was all her boyfriend's fault. That stupid idiotic moron, CEO Natsume Hyuuga. He had informed her that he was going to be busy for a week or so due to a business trip on another country that he must attend. He occasionally calls her but with the timezone and their works, it was always cut short.

Mikan knew his line of work does require ample amount of time but he always made sure he had time for her. She misses him terribly but she understands that his work is important.

Being a CEO doesn't mean he can just laze around and let his employees do the work and besides Natsume wasn't like that. So here she was waiting for him patiently to come back.

For the past few days, she made herself busy with work. She had been promoted to a manager. The past few months, Jin-jin's cafe became well-known and it expanded so he left the main branch to Mikan to accommodate the new branches. What do you expect? Natsume was always visiting that cafe since that's where she works. Sometimes she visits his company with the help of Koko.

It was hard to maintain their relationship. With the media all over them, they couldn't have normal dates but Mikan was getting used to it. One thing she couldn't get used to was the amount of hate mails she receives on a daily basis.

The media kept speculating since the start of their relationship whether when Natsume Hyuuga would finally dump her. Even though his family and friends accepted her without any problems, the people around him weren't so accepting.

She came from an average family and was orphaned at an early age. Mikan really didn't let the hate mails and news get to her. Besides, Natsume was always there to assured her that she's his forever. She always laughed at how cheesy he sounded.

She felt tears prick her eyes. She always placed her faith and trust in him. She knew Natsume wasn't like that but for the last three days he had not contacted her. She knew he was busy but she couldn't help but feel so alone at the moment.

"I miss you, stupid Natsume."

Mikan awoke to a rather loud banging on her door. She glanced at the clock, 7 am. She didn't have work today and was adamant on spending her day off watching some dramas as a way to somehow deal with missing her boyfriend so much. She made her way towards her door, wondering who it was. She was greeted by a goofy smile.

"Yo, Mikan!"

"Koko? What brings you here?" She asked.

"To deliver something of course!"

"But... I didn't order something—"

"Well, this was addressed to you so here ya go." He grabbed a letter from his pants back pockets, quickly giving it to her. She looked at it with confusion clearly on her face. What was this about? She thought as she opened the letter.

Congratulations! You have won a once in a lifetime ticket to date the famous CEO, Natsume—

"Whoa, a ticket-date with my boss again?"

"Are you sure you that it's my address? And didn't Hotaru say that it was only—"

"Would you look at the time, I need to go deliver the other stuff, bye Mikan!" He quickly said and left before answering her questions. She looked at the ticket again. What was this about? She thought as she entered her house.

Mikan was so engrossed to watching that she didn't notice it was already four pm. Her stomach growled, all she ate for lunch earlier was a sandwich and we all know it wasn't enough for her. She was about to cook something to ease her grumbling stomach when there was another knock on her door. Her face morphed into confusion as she went to her door, who was it this time?

BAKA BAKA BAKA

"What was that for Hotaru?" Mikan mumbled as she rubbed her aching head.

"Get dressed."

"For what?" Hotaru rolled her eyes. If Hyuuga didn't paid her handsomely she wouldn't have helped. Besides, not that she wanted to admit it but she didn't like the brunette being mopey. For the past months, Hotaru had really taken a liking to the brunette not that she'd admit it out loud.

"Do you want me to drag you to Harada-senpai looking like that?" Hotaru replied looking at her blankly. Mikan gulped, shaking her head. Before she was even friends with Hotaru, she was already scared of her threats. She thought when they've become friends, it would disappear but she was proven otherwise, in fact it just amplified. She knew what Hotaru was capable of.

"Then move it."

"Hai." Mikan could only sigh in defeat.

Natsume couldn't focus. He misses her so much. When he was at that business trip, all he could think about was ditching it and go back home, it didn't help that whenever he calls her it was always interrupted.

He hasn't heard her voice for the last three days as he was buried in his work. He wanted to call her but he had a bunch of clients to attend to and he was on the other side of the world, the time zone was shit.

He was also sure that if he heard her voice, he'd take the first plane back to Japan. As much as he wanted to go home, he knew this was important besides Mikan would definitely lecture him about it.

He glanced at his wrist watch.

Any moment now, Mikan would arrive at the restaurant they first met. He clutched the velvet box that was safely tucked inside his pants right pocket.

The only thing good about that business trip was that he was able to think of a way to propose to his bubbly girlfriend. Another reason why he haven't had time to call Mikan really was because he had been planning everything the past few days with the help of Ruka and his fiance, Imai.

Well, they have been in a relationship for god knows how long, honestly it was about damn time Ruka got the guts to propose. Mikan was very happy about it especially when Imai had chosen her as her maid of honor. She didn't believe it at first. Natsume couldn't either, he was surprised at how fast Mikan got close to the ice queen.

He glanced at his wrist watch again, only a few minutes have passed. Natsume was getting impatient. He wanted to see the brunette already. His prayers were answered when the waiter opened the door to the private room he had reserved for their dinner.

There she was finally standing in front of him. All surroundings were immediately lost to him, that's how she affects him. He didn't even notice the waiter had left to give them their privacy.

"Natsume."

He quickly stood up and closed their distance with his arms wrapping around her.

"Mikan." He murmured as he buried his face on the side of her neck. Mikan's face turned red quickly as she reciprocate his affectionate hug. She admits, she missed his warmth, his smell, his everything.

"I missed you." Hearing Natsume say that to her, she felt tears pricking her eyes.

"I missed you too."

Natsume ended up ordering almost all the items on the menu when he heard his girlfriend's stomach growl. He laughed when he heard it of course, but then glared at her when she told him that she haven't a decent meal because of binge watching dramas on Netflix. Mikan just smiled sheepishly at him.

They were now at the outskirts of Tokyo, the place where Natsume brought Mikan to redeem himself from a bad start of their date. Mikan was leaning her head on his shoulder and Natsume has an arm wrapped securely on her as they sat on the blanket that Natsume always seem to have.

"So how was your business trip?"

"Hn, boring as usual but I closed all the deals."

"I guess you were really busy the past days, you haven't dropped a call or something." Natsume's eyes softened as he turned, his crimson eyes never left hers as he held her hand, bringing it to his lips then kissing it gently.

"I'm sorry... The clients were really demanding and the timezone was something I couldn't ignore either, you could have been sleeping when I called and we both know that you sleep like a log."

"Mou! I do not... or maybe I do but... even so you could have left me a message."

"I'm really sorry." He pecked her lips.

"Forgive me?" He said gently as he gave her a boyish smile. Her face quickly turned red when she saw his smile. Seriously, she didn't know how much effect he has on her.

"...that's cheating." He laughed, sending butterflies to her stomach.

"So am I forgiven?"

"Yes... now can you stop turning on your charms?"

"Keh, I never knew you're affected by my good looks that much."

"Ugh... you're so full of yourself you know that? But... I wonder who got jealous easily when I mentioned my landlord's name, who's old enough to be my grandpa."

"...Hn. In my defense, I didn't know he was your landlord."

"Riiiiight. If you say so."

Mikan giggled. Natsume glared at her slightly before chuckling to.

"Alright, I admit it. I'm as much as affected by you. How can I not be? When you're clearly a 10/10." Mikan blushed at his words.

"But seriously though, what's all of this for? We usually just hangout at my house or yours. You rarely bring me here."

At her statement, Natsume stiffened. His face morphed into series of emotions and his eyes showed nervousness briefly before reverting back to his blank face. It was amusing but at the same time it made her nervous.

Then he stood up, dusting his pants slightly and went near the edge of the cliff. Was he hiding something after all? Mikan couldn't help but think about it.

The silence was deafening. Mikan never thought she would have this kind of moment with Natsume, of all people really. Mikan stared at Natsume. His gaze wasn't even directed at her but rather at the glimmering lights of the city buildings that was seen from afar. She couldn't help but feel anxious making her thoughts wander.

"What's going on really?" Mikan asked Hotaru, as she was getting her hair and make-up done by a regular employee since Harada-senpai was out.

"..."

"I can't help but think you guys are hiding something from me. Don't think I didn't notice how you guys have been distant. I know you guys are busy with your companies but Natsume always have time and—" Hotaru sighed as she went to Mikan, flicking her forehead lightly.

"Don't worry about it too much."

"But but but..."

"You trust him right?"

Mikan nodded.

"Then, continue to do so. Hyuuga's really smitten with you."

"But Hotaru... it's been a week and he hasn't even contacted me for the past three days."

"That was stupidity on Hyuuga's part but I assure you it's not what you're thinking of."

If Hotaru was backing Natsume, it couldn't be that bad right? Well, she'll give him time to explain if it wasn't good enough, he'd better be prepared. Mikan sighed in defeat.

"Alright."

She sighed softly. Hotaru told her to trust him but here he was in front of her, acting all weird and serious. She has seen him like that whenever he was at work but never when they were together alone like this. She couldn't take it anymore. Her mind wanted answers to her million questions. She took a deep breath and was about to call him out of his reverie when he spoke.

"Don't you remember what today is?" Mikan tilted her head in confusion as she racked her brains for the answer, finding none she shook her head.

"I really have no clue. I know it's not our anniversary cause it's a few more days later." She answered, standing up to make her way towards him when he turned to her.

"It's the day we first met."

"...really?" Mikan found it sweet that he bothered to remember the day they first met.

It was now or never, Natsume thought.

"It's the day I've met this amazing woman who changed my whole life. How can I not make it special for her?" Natsume stated as he made her way towards her.

"Natsume..." He held her hands, he was looking at her with love and affections swirling in his crimson eyes.

"To be honest, I wasn't very keen on getting into a relationship. I wasn't really looking for someone but then you came..." Natsume caressed her face. "You were someone whom I thought was forever lost in my world, someone so genuine and true to herself. Then again, I told myself that you're just pretending so you could be with me but then you proved to me that you weren't."

"You were so rude that day." Natsume just chuckled before continuing.

"Before I knew it, you were all I could think of. I was depressed when you didn't appear in front of me, even when I did that interview just to lure you out. Then I met you again in the café you work at. We got together and then a lot of things happened. When I confessed that I love you already I promised myself I wouldn't let you out of my sight again."

Natsume took a deep breath.

"And that's why..." He bent down on one knee.

"Natsume, what are you..."

"Mikan Yukihira, I love you. I love how your smile can turn my frown upside down in a span of seconds. I love how you shy away whenever I do something very affectionate. I love how I get lost in your auburn eyes whenever I stare. I'm really no good with words but you'll make me the happiest man on earth if you'd let me change your surname to mine..."

He chuckled slightly. He really wasn't good with words. He glanced up to her as he took out a red velvet box inside his pants' pocket and opened it, revealing a platinum, cushion-cut ruby ring.

"What I'm saying is, marry me?"

Tears started streaming down her face. Natsume almost dropped the ring as a bawling Mikan tackled him to the ground, burying her face into his torso.

"O-oi..." Mikan then removed her tear-stained face from his chest and gave him the biggest smile she could ever do.

"Of course, I'll marry you, you stupid idiotic moron Natsume." Natsume's face lit up when he heard her words. He wasted no time slipping the ring into her finger. She was finally his.

"I love you, Mikan."

"I love you too, Natsume."

He cupped her face as he leaned down and capture her lips for gentle kiss.

An auburn haired girl was frantically searching for a place to hide when she stumbled upon their library. She quickly hid herself behind a bookshelf but due to her clumsiness, she had knocked the bookshelf a little too hard causing some books to fall. One of it fell in front of her, opening at a random page that was occupied by two tickets.

It piqued her interest and completely forgot that she was currently playing hide and seek.

"Found you, Mitsu!" A raven haired boy shouted as he saw his twin sister crouching just beside a bookshelf. Her sister was really predictable. He noticed that she was looking at some kind of book. He made his way towards her.

"What are you looking at?" He asked, glancing at the book she was looking at.

"I wonder..."

"Natsuhiko! Mitsuko! There you are! I've been looking for you two. It's time for lunch... what are you two doing?" Mikan asked as she made her way to the two.

"Mom, what's this?"

"Yeah, mom. It says date with dad's name written on it."

Mikan immediately smiled as she saw what they were talking about.

"Oh that, it's a ticket for a date with your dad back then."

"Ticket?"

"Date?"

Mikan chuckled.

"I'll tell you the story sometime. It's time for lunch. Your father's already waiting."

"Hai!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

There you have it folks, the epilogue of 1000 yen romance, fresh from the stove. I still think I suck on writing endings. It has been an honor to have so much supporters for this story of mine. This all started from a problem from my probability class and look at what happened. Although, you guys waited for a long time for my updates, I'm so glad you waited patiently. Some of you might have dropped it but for those who continued waiting kudos to you guys. You were what inspired me to finish it.

There were a lot of reviewers, comments, favorites and follows, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This has been such a pleasure to write and you guys made it more fun. I really wouldn't have done it without you guys encouragement.

I do hope you guys continue to support me when you find something that I wrote to your liking.

1000 Yen Romance has officially ended and it's all thanks to you readers!

REMEMBER TO STAY HYDRATED AND SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.