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Utakata Hanabi
SasuSaku Month 2017
Day 1: First Love
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Uchiha Sasuke started to regret why he said yes to his teammates' invitation to dinner until Yamanaka Ino did something that made him think otherwise.
After team 7's mission that day – a day before the summer festival, both Naruto and Sakura urged him to join with the rest of their age group to dinner at a new restaurant. He insisted on staying home, but he couldn't say no to pleading eyes greener than the fields in spring. Thus, he found himself surrounded with his peers.
"Come on, forehead! Sing for us!" Ino shouted from the karaoke machine and pointed at Sakura using the mic.
Sasuke looked at the woman beside him whose cheeks burned bright red. "W-What are you talking about Ino?!"
"Sakura-chan can sing?" Naruto pondered out loud. Everyone turned to the pink-haired kunoichi, who started sinking in her seat – all the while glaring at her best friend. Right then and there she wished that the ground would just swallow her whole.
Ino smiled deviously. "Have you guys watched the movie Utakata Hanabi?"
"It was that super popular movie back then, right?" Tenten answered.
Kiba added, "That movie was sappy, but still good though. Heard it made millions."
"Why haven't I watched it then?" Naruto demanded. Hinata gave him a timid smile before answering. "It was back when you left the village to train with Jiraiya-sama, Naruto-kun."
"And you guys know of its theme song, right?" As soon as Ino said those words, Sakura bolted from her seat and tried to cover her mouth. But her dear best friend quickly released the secret before she could kill her.
"It was sung by a singer named Cherry. That Cherry is actually Sakura!"
"Ino!" Sakura screamed while the blonde just gave her a peace sign. When she turned around to look at her friends, all of them looked at her with eyes wide.
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"Eeeehhh?!"
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"Why didn't you tell us, Sakura-chan?" Naruto wailed.
"I think she wants to keep it a secret, Naruto. Though it is obviously not a secret anymore," Shino responded.
"How troublesome, Ino." Shikamaru remarked.
"Ne," Chouji ate some barbecue before continuing, "I think you owe Sakura big time, Ino."
"It is time to let your youthfulness show, Sakura-san! Sing for us!" Lee exclaimed with his usual passionate voice.
"Don't humiliate yourself," Sai stated while giving her a smile.
"Sakura! Sakura! Sakura!" All of them started to chant. Her eyes wandered to Sasuke, who kept silent throughout the entire time of her ordeal. He returned the gesture, and for a few precious seconds their eyes meet once again. Sasuke gave her a nod – and it was enough for the butterflies in her stomach to take flight.
With a defeated sigh, she grabbed the mic form Ino. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
Ino immediately punched the numbers in, before Sakura could change her mind. As the opening notes started, everyone kept quiet, eager to listen. She could feel a certain pair of onyx orbs watching her, and a small smile formed on her lips.
I was thinking of him back then when I sang this. I guess it's time to sing it in front of you, Sasuke-kun.
With a quick release of breath, Sakura started to sing her heart out.
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Afureru hito de nigiwau hachigatsu matsu no omatsuri
Yukata wo kite geta mo haite
Karan koron oto wo tateru
Fui ni agatta hanabi wo futari de miageta toki
Muchuu de miteru kimi no kao wo
Sotto nusumi mita no
Kimi no koto kirai ni naretara ii no ni
Kyou mitai na hi ni wa kitto
Mata omoidashite shimau yo
Konna kimochi shiranakya yokatta
Mou nidoto aeru koto mo nai no ni
Aitai… Aitainda
Ima demo omou kimi ga ita ano natsu no hi wo
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To say that Sasuke was surprised is an understatement, but he didn't let it show. Sakura usually just hummed while they were waiting for Naruto and Kakashi back in their genin days. He didn't know about this talent of hers, but he was pleased.
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Sukoshi tsukarete futari michibata ni koshikake tara
Tooku kikoeru ohayashi no ne hyururira nari hibiku
Yozora ni saita ookina ookina nishiki kamuro
Mou sukoshi de natsu ga owaru
Futto setsunaku naru…
Sakasama no haato ga uchi agatteta
Ahaha tte warai atte
Suki da yo tte kisu wo shita
Mou wasureyou kimi no koto zenbu
Konna ni mo kanashikute
Doushite deatte shimattandarou
Me wo tojireba
Ima mo kimi ga soko ni iru you de
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Sakura remembered the time when the producer of the movie offered her to sing the main song of his movie. He heard her sing while she was helping out in the hospital and she immediately refused. The song was beautiful, but it reminded her too much of of her beloved Sasuke.
But he intended to help with the finances of the hospital if she said yes. With a little push from Tsunade, Shizune, and Ino – she finally gave in.
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Amai toiki binetsu wo
Obiru watashi wa kimi ni koishita
Sono koe ni
Ah... Sono hitomi ni kizukeba toki wa
Sugi satteku no ni
Mada kimi no omokage wo sagashite
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Once more, her eyes locked with Sasuke's. Can you feel it, Sasuke-kun? I sang this for you, Sakura thought. She closed her eyes as she sang the last chorus, still very much aware of his stare.
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Hitorikiri de miageru hanabi ni
Kokoro ga chikuri to shita
Mou sugu sugi no kisetsu ga
Yatte kuru yo
Kimi to miteta utakata hanabi
Ima demo omou
Ano natsu no hi wo
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When Sakura opened her eyes, she saw everyone looking at her. Naruto with his mouth hanging open, Ino smiling like the little devil that she is, while Sasuke… she didn't know what was in his thoughts now.
"That was great, Sakura-chan! Like a real idol!" Naruto proclaimed, giving her a thumbs-up sign. Everyone started to clap, and she felt the blush forming. When she glanced at Sasuke, her heart leaped when she saw the smallest of smiles from him. One that somewhat showed that he was proud of her.
She had little time to dwell in her happiness, for Ino immediately requested another song. She thanked her lucky stars when a ninja suddenly appeared, requesting her presence in the hospital immediately. She ran off, somewhat thankful she dodged another round of singing and probably loads of questions.
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But then she remembered that they were all going to the festival together tomorrow night.
The emergency lasted until morning, and she immediately went home to replenish her chakra levels. Sakura woke up from her sleep in the late afternoon, feeling well-rested. After taking a bath, she made tea and started reading the reports of her trainees in the hospital.
Her doorbell rang, and as she approached the door, she felt him.
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Sasuke.
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He looked elegant in his kimono, Sakura mused as she gazed at him. When he just gave her a look, alarms went off in her head.
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The festival!
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"Uwaah Sasuke-kun gomenasai! I'll get ready quickly!" She let him in before dashing to her room.
After a few minutes, Haruno Mebuki came to visit her in her apartment. Sakura was grateful for her mother's great timing. With her help, she was able to get everything done early. She and Sasuke left and headed to the festival grounds together.
"I'm sorry again for making you wait, Sasuke-kun. The festival just slipped from my mind!"
The Uchiha nodded. "You were tired. It's okay, Sakura."
She just gave him a teasing smile. "It sucks that you lost the bet against Naruto, huh? Now you have to attend the festival with him and the rest of us."
"Hn."
When they came to the meeting place, not one of their friends were there.
"I think they left us because of my lateness," Sakura sulked.
"Tch. That dobe."
She turned towards him, a bit bashful. "Since we're already here, let's just enjoy the festival, Sasuke-kun!"
He found himself lost in her eyes once again. It's becoming a common occurrence, now that he thought about it. Though he had the chance to leave, something inside him pushed him to say "Okay."
When she gave him one of her brightest smiles, he felt like the luckiest man alive.
Surprisingly, they didn't bump into Naruto and the others throughout the night. None of them minded though – both much content of each other's warm presence. When it was time for the fireworks, they found a spot to stay for a while.
While waiting for the display of lights, Sasuke found himself blurting out, "You have a beautiful voice, Sakura."
Her face turned as red as her kimono at his compliment. "T-Thanks, Sasuke-kun. I guess my secret is not a secret anymore, huh?"
"Why did you keep it, then?"
She looked up towards the night sky. "I just thought that it was unnecessary?"
A few moments of silence passed, when Sasuke surprisingly broke it. "Back in the academy, I heard a girl singing in the fields… picking flowers. The wind blew some of those flowers away, and I helped her get it."
Sakura's eyes went wide. That… that was the first time they talked.
The time when she started to love him.
"That memory… just came to my mind when you sang. Then I remembered… she was you."
The first fireworks brightened up the night sky, but the two Konoha shinobi didn't notice. They were busy looking into each other's eyes once again. Sakura can't believe it; he actually remembered the memory closest to her heart. She recalled that after that sweet encounter, she immediately ran off to find Ino and the other kids.
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Listen up, everyone! I'm in love! Who do you think it is?
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Her eyes started to glaze over. Whether it was from happiness or shock, she couldn't tell.
Sasuke was reminded once again of Sakura's love for him. He still found it surreal, though. How could someone still love him after all those years? After all he's done? But Sakura's love just shone like a beacon of light through it all – guiding him. Slowly, he reached out to hold her hand. "Sakura… arigatou."
He couldn't say the three words yet, but he hoped Sakura understands. She did though, ever since.
Uchiha Sasuke will always be Haruno Sakura's first love. And she is certain it is the kind of love that will never waver despite all the circumstances. It's a love that will bind them together – their red string of fate. Sasuke couldn't be more thankful to have that kind of love. He knew that in this lifetime or the next... or even in another dimension, it will always be her for him. He will always be for her.
The fireworks in the sky continued to shine, but it goes away as quickly as it came. The fireworks couldn't represent their love. Their's is more of a small, steady flame.
Gaining strength, staying strong, one that will grow into something bigger.
Their love will continue to shine, always and forever.
Author's note: So I just realized that though I have read hundreds of fanfiction, I haven't actually written one for this OTP of mine. This is my first SS fanfic, and also my first entry to SS month. I hope I still have some dignity left after this :)
This story's been stuck in my head for a while, and it's nice that I've finally written the words down. So… yeah...