Ino had fallen into a pattern that year. Woke up, freshened up. Went to the kitchen to make herself a light breakfast while chatting half heartedly with her parents. She would gather up her things to go on missions with Team Asuma. On days when she had spare time... Those days were too few and far between. She often found herself bumming around her parents flower shop, wishing for a different life, a different brain. Anything.
That particular morning, Team Asuma was supposed to meet up. She wanted to stay home. Covers around her neck, sobbing.
"I'm starving, let's go get some barbecue." Choji said.
"You're always starving." Ino sighed.
Shikamaru crossed his arms. "Man, what a drag..."
Suddenly from around the corner appeared Team Kakashi. This brought butterflies to Ino's stomach, making it hard for her to focus on anything but one specific member of Kakashi's team: Sakura Haruno.
"I'm gonna be Hokage one day! Believe it!" Hollered Naruto to no one.
This caused Sakura to slam her fist into the side of Naruto's head. "Naruto, do you have to be so annoying?!"
The last to join the group was Sasuke who immediately caught Sakura's attention.
"Hi Sasuke!" She practically drooled at the boy's feet.
Ino refrained from rolling her eyes at the sight of it. Instead, she played along to keep face.
"Hey, Sasuke. How are you today?" Ino batted her eyes adorably.
Sasuke muttered something unpleasant before going off to Hot Topic to replenish his eyeliner supply.
Sakura burst into tears and let out a blood curdling scream. "Sasuke?! Where are you going? Take me with you! I love you, Sasuke!"
Ino's neck vein nearly popped as she watched the scene in front of her. "Sasuke would never love someone like you."
Someone so beautiful and delicate, Ino thought to herself, but I do. I love you, Sakura.
Sakura turned bright red and tried to sock her female peer in the face. "HOW DARE YOU!"
Ino hesitated before uttering the words, "Suck it up, Billboard Brow."
Kakashi showed up then bringing the fight to an end, only a whopping twenty minutes late. He ushered Sakura and Naruto away to start a new mission.
Asuma gathered his team up and they headed the opposite direction. Ino resisted looking back to stare at Sakura one last time.