Done for lilmisssushi's challenge over at LJ. There are a few others, too, but I can't be bothered to post them right now.

'Shikamaru.'

'Hm?' the jounin was too absorbed in figuring out what the next move should be that Neji doubted he was actually listening.

'Listen to me for a moment.'

As he moved his piece, Shikamaru looked up. 'What?'

'Please refrain from taking Haruno out for lunch every single week.'

'I only do it every other week.'

'What were you doing with her yesterday, then?' Neji accused, yet he managed to keep the coolness of his voice.

'Watching clouds.'

'Then…?'

'Go to a dumplings stand.'

'That's lunch.'

'Not quite.'

'…'

'Wanna stage anymore complaints?'

'… I want you to schedule your weekly check-up to another time besides 10-o'-clock on Saturdays.'

Shikamaru lifted an eyebrow. 'Why should I? It's the least troublesome time for me.'

'It happens to also be the time Haruno's shift starts.'

'Well… I guess we're both perceptive enough to know that.'

'…' Neji didn't reply.

He moved his piece. 'Your turn.'

'Why are you so interested in her?'

'I'm not. Why are you?'

'It's too troublesome for me to be interested in anything.'

'Hmph. Well, I don't care about Haruno.'

'I guess that's why you've memorised when her shift starts and you follow every single one of her steps.'

'I could say the same to you, Shikamaru.'

Another awkward silence lingered, until the sliding noise of Shikamaru's piece was heard.

'We're both in denial, aren't we?'

'I'm not denying anything.'

'… Then I guess you won't mind if I play shogi with her tomorrow.'

'No, you won't,' he replied. 'We're going to sharpen our skills tomorrow.'

'…' Shikamaru still had the lazy look on his face, but Neji swore he looked like he was about to smash his precious shogi board to the floor.

'Well, enjoy yourself with her, then.'

Neji smirked. 'Oh, she's not coming with me. You are.'

Shikamaru gaped.

Neji took out a scroll. 'Hokage-sama has a new mission for me, and since I thought it might be good for you to gain a bit more field experience, I signed you up.'

If anything, Shikamaru looked more murderous than before.

'Oh, don't worry Shikamaru, I made sure you will have backup if you're going to deny the mission.'

'…'

'I'm sure Haruno wouldn't mind going out of the village after staying in the village for months.'

'… Thinking ahead this time, Neji?'

'I learnt from the best, Shikamaru.'