Remember, i don't own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto does (he's so lucky).
Sakura stared at herself in the mirror and gave herself a firm and motivating nod.
"Today, I tell him." She said to herself. She had dressed with more care than usual, and now deemed herself as ready as she would ever be. Yesterday Ino had told her that if she, sakura, really liked him…she should make her move soon before it was too late, because after all these years of ignoring him…he might have moved on. Sakura had then frowned because Naruto had become quite popular with girls and even if he always been blissfully unaware of their attention, but soon enough he might notice.
So because of that she had decided to tell him, no matter how ridiculous it would seem for her who had once ignored him to now want his attention. She sighed. How funny fate is. She went downstairs then out the door as she had asked Naruto to have breakfast with her, his choice, which of course was ramen.
She reached in record time, so Naruto was not yet there when she arrived. She greeted the wise ramen maker and his daughter then sat and waited. Fifteen minutes later she was still waiting. Oh well, it's my fault for coming early. She continued to stare at the door. The flaps swung, her heart leapt…then crashed as she realized the person was not naruto. It was a village member that she saw often but didn't know. She slouched and continued to wait.
"Ah, morning Sakura." said a familiar voice. She spun around so quickly she almost fell off the stool. "Sorry I'm late, I overslept…too much training yesterday night with Hinata." He came over and sat down. He greeted the old man and his daughter and then ordered.
"Its okay, you're only a few minutes late" Sakura said. It was 20 minutes but it doesn't matter. She ordered and when the food came they ate and talked even if naruto was doing most of the talking as sakura was thinking.
When they were both done they got up and went outside. "Well, I better get going or else I'll be late."
"For what?" she queried.
"Meeting Hinata, we have training….and…don't tell anyone yet but… I'm going to tell her I like her, as in really like like her. Isn't that great?" he grinned waiting for his friend to share his joy. Sakura froze. Her mind seemed to stop working. I should have known as he had been spending a lot of time with Hinata and as Hinata had become more open around him. This is what Ino had seen while I had been blinded by my feelings, that everything would always be the same…that he would always be there when I was ready to confess. I'm too late. She smiled, but it did not convince naruto.
"Are you okay? What is it?" naruto asked concerned.
"It's nothing." She mumbled.
"What? I didn't get that."
"I said that it was nothing." She said louder.
"If you say so." He turned to leave, "If you ever want to tell me… I'm here." He took a few steps.
"Naruto, wait!" she cried, running up to him, "I know it's too late…but…I -wanted to tell you that I-I- I like you… as more than a friend…I know now that you don't like me like that anymore and…and that's okay…I know you'll have good luck with Hinata…she's liked you since we were in school…you two deserve each other… good luck." She placed a hand on his shoulder and kissed him on the cheek then turned around and walked calmly for about two seconds then ran off, tears running as if from a faucet down her cheeks, soon, she was out of sight.
Naruto stood…shocked. Life is so funny. After all these years of liking sakura…after letting her go and finding somebody else whom he liked more…here she was confessing to him. He smiled a grim smile. I'm sorry sakura. He didn't go after her. He merely walked away to go meet Hinata, the one he now cared for in the way sakura now cared for him. I wonder if things will ever be the same between sakura and I…yes, they have to…hopefully…