AN: This didn't really turn out how I expected, and I'm not happy with it… but the world needs more ShikaSaku, so here it is.
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They were in the training grounds. He was in his usual spot. They were sweating, fighting, running around. He was lying on his back in the grass, staring at the sky. They were arguing. He was sleeping. She punched something. He woke up from the crash. They stopped. She left. He got up.
She was coming in his direction. He leaned against the tree he had been sitting under and waited. She slowly shuffled through the leaves which paved the small, old path leading back to the village. He looked up when she came closer. She kept her head down, vision blurred with tears, as if she hadn't noticed he was there.
He went to her. She stopped. He sighed.
"They're troublesome, aren't they?"
She let out a weak laugh. Yeah, they were troublesome.
He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll walk you back." It would be troublesome if they were seen walking back to the village together, especially if those two should find out. But maybe it would be worth it. Occasionally, a few of the things he considered troublesome turned out to be interesting in the end…
She looked up, her sea-green eyes puffy and her cheeks damp. "I... I don't want to be a bother…," she mumbled, trying to wipe any traces of crying away from her face.
"You won't be… not too much," he said, putting his arm gently around her shoulders. They began to walk further along the worn path. He smiled inwardly.
"I think it'll be just troublesome enough."