I do not own Naruto.
There were five rows of six desks. Three large (often open) windows on the left. Two blackboards in the back and one massive whiteboard at the front. A small file cabinet and a makeshift table sat pathetically in the corner where the teacher would grade papers and drink coffee.
The lights were fluorescent and gave him a migraine every day.
It smelled like pencil shavings, fresh paper and dust. The field for PE was outside the second story classroom. The sounds from rowdy students often joined the teacher's lecture.
The seventh grade English students inside the room grew accustomed to it and were no longer distracted after the second week.
He counted the fifth seat of the third row and looked at the polished surface.
The lights were off and the fading sunlight glinted in his blond hair as he leaned closer and squinted at the nearly illegible handwriting.
Uzumaki Naruto only knew one word outside of his native tongue. Dach. His friend had said they would be the only people who'd get it. The school didn't offer German, only French and Spanish, so they were safe.
The codeword was roof and it meant what it said. Sasuke was up there, waiting for him.
There wasn't a staircase to easily take him there. Once Naruto was outside he had drag a garbage can to the metal ladder attached to the back of the library. A plate of metal locked over the first half often hurt his toes when he squeezed his feet around it. Still, it was good for keeping most unwanted guests out of their meetings.
The top was flat and tar. The shadows were long and dark. It was easier to feel the wind three stories up.
Their meeting spot required a short jump to the science building, behind the A/C unit that gave out every September only to start working again when it was no longer needed.
He leaned back against it and slid down until he was seated, comfortable with his shoulder brushing against Sasuke's. He hadn't been scolded for the contact in a long time.
Sasuke did not look at him. "I'm switching schools soon."
"Why?" The breeze was blocked by the warm metal.
"My scores were high enough to get me into this advanced academy."
The Sage Academy. Most students from Konoha only dreamed of a GPA that would earn them a ticket there. "Oh. When are you leaving?"
"I don't really know. Probably soon."
"Yeah?" The last person from Konoha had been Sasuke's own older brother.
"Yeah. My Dad isn't going to bother moving the family. He's already looking into transportation out there. I'll be living with my Uncle."
"Ha, you get all the luck. Congrats, I'm happy for you."
"Then why do you look like you're about to cry?"
Because he was. "…Shaddup." Naruto stood up and dusted off his pants. "If that's all you didn't have to call me up here."
"If you came with me," Sasuke turned his head and stared at Naruto's legs, "you wouldn't have to live in a box anymore."
Technically it was a shed.
"There's no way I'm getting into Sage. Besides, I couldn't afford to move."
Sasuke's eyes were an odd thing. Even with light from the sunset hitting his face directly, his eyes were matte. "I'm your only friend, Naruto." When his eyes were so dead, Naruto couldn't even feel insulted.
It was the plain, hard truth.
"Don't wanna leave on a good note?"
"I'm just pointing it out." Back at the sunset. It made his skin look sort of orange. It made his eyes look more flat.
Naruto watched him then sat back down. "You want me to say I'll miss you?"
Sasuke didn't respond.
"Because I will." Sasuke's shoulder was always warm despite how cold he looked. It was much more comfortable than a flat and tired old pillow. "I'll follow you…eventually." He felt Sasuke's face in his hair. "I'm all you got too."
The sun went down and the stars witnessed the brief meeting of lips and the whispered promises they'd never keep.
Eventually the mosquitoes chased them down.
Eventually Sasuke moved away.
Eventually Naruto forgot.