Disclaimer: Naruto belong to Masashi Kishimoto!
Summary: "I know you wouldn't care, but a part of me hopes you would. I didn't want that hope to vanish, because hope always kept me going, you know?"
A/N: This is the first fanfiction I ever wrote. No, scratch that. It's the first story I ever wrote, hands down. I have the skills of a writer comparable to a rock, but I hope you'll try this one out. Some constructive criticisms, please?
shoji - sliding doors, made from wood and paper, in traditional home
Thump, thump.
It's her footsteps again, he thought. He expected her to come back, of course. She's been doing that every day, for the past two years. Ever since he graduated from junior school, when she was but a mere freshman.
She came, everyday, to visit him. To talk to him. To, at least, have him look forward to something when he'd wake up and drag on through the rest of the day.
Obviously, she doesn't know the last one. He's not planning to tell her, either. There are some things better left unsaid.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sliding of the shoji, revealing a petite girl with an exuberant smile on her face. Her cheeks almost had the same shade of her rosy hair. Cute.
But what he liked most of all is her pair of jade eyes. They always seemed to have a twinkle in them. It was weird, in a good way. With those, she could effortlessly stand out in a crowd.
"Good afternoon, Sasuke-kun!" she said with an even bigger smile. And so he wondered up to what extent her happiness could reach.
"Sakura." No greeting. It had always been like that.
Sakura walked over to the middle of the room, a foot away from Sasuke, and went on her knees, sitting on her calves. Her bag leaned against her side, and seeing how it seemed a little bigger than usual, he knew he's bound to get something today. She pressed her palms down to her lap, to prevent her excitement from showing so much.
"How've you been?" A question she asked everyday.
"I've been feeling like a prisoner." An answer he gave everyday.
He knew she expected that answer, and that she would try again. Because that's what she's good at: trying again.
"Well, do you know what day it is today?"
"It's a day like any other day."
She smiled, and if he wasn't so accustomed with her dynamics, he would've called her stupid. There was nothing worth smiling about, especially by how pessimistic he just answered her.
And so she unzipped her bag, revealing a pack filled with cookies, with a red ribbon tied around it. She settled the gift on her hands, extended them towards him.
"A gift for you, Sasuke-kun," she told him.
He made no move to receive it, and instead gave her a questioning look.
As if expecting his reaction, she smiled and said, "Today was just like every other day for you, wasn't it? I just wanted to change that, so I thought I should bake you cookies at school."
Again, he stilled. But he realized she's not taking 'no' for an answer, when she placed it by his side. Trying again.
She started making a conversation again, with him idly replying. It suited them both just fine, actually. He was never one to talk and she loves talking. Meanwhile, he can't help but feel the warmth by his side, where the pack of cookies sat.
It was the first day of his last year in junior high. That day, there weren't really any formal lessons in his classes. It was all about introductions of the teachers, briefing of the year's subjects, and some icebreaking between the students. For Sasuke, it was downright unnecessary. But he did look forward to lunch, where he could get away from his loudmouthed friend and doze off.
"Um, s-senpai..."
Sasuke opened his eyes, and he was ready to glare at whoever was disturbing his nap. He was unable to, though, for some reason, as he stared at the pink-haired girl standing in front of him. His first observation was how her hair matched the cherry blossoms from the tree he was sitting against.
She didn't look familiar, so he guessed she was a freshman. A fan girl, perhaps.
It was as if that f-word suddenly hit him and automatically brought out his menacing attitude. "What the hell do you want?"
The girl cringed, but before she could reply, the school bell was heard. It was only after the bell that she stammered, "Th-that. The bell rang… a-and we're all supposed to be b-back to our rooms. I thought y-you might not wake u-up," as he glared.
"Whatever." He got up, and went past her, not turning back. He felt her stare at his retreating figure, and idly wondered what her reaction was.
"Oh, look at the time," she mumbled under her breath as she glanced at her wristwatch. It was seven o'clock; the usual time she leaves his place. So, she stood up and gave him one of those many smiles again.
"See you later, Sasuke-kun." The same goodbye, everyday.
"Hn." With that, she mirthfully laughed and left the room.
Review, please?