Naruto dragged himself through the streets of the Leaf Village, heading in the direction of Ichiraku Ramen. Training had been extra hard today, and he was spent. I'm definitely going to get some hot, steaming ramen. Then it's nap time for the rest of the day!
As Ichiraku Ramen came into sight, Naruto remembered that he had promised himself he would ask Ayame out on a date yesterday. He groaned, his heart prancing around inside of him at the thought of asking her such a question. Oh man! This is it! This is going to turn out so bad! Prepare to be rejected Naruto!
Sitting down at one of the stools, he grumbled to himself when he saw Kakashi there again, nose deep in Icha Icha Paradise. Kakashi's one revealed eye flicked to Naruto and back so fast, Naruto thought he imagined it. He also seemed to be smiling. It took everything Naruto had to keep from slapping his sensei right across the face.
"You did very well in your training today Naruto. You've improved since coming back from your little vacation with master Jiraiya." Kakashi said, taking his eye away from the book for a few seconds to regard Naruto with a questioning look in his eye.
"What did you expect sensei? I don't goof off during training, believe it!" Naruto yelled in excitement, happy with his praise.
"Indeed, but you still need work if you're going to beat me." Kakashi said quietly, returning to his book after Naruto's excitement seemed to drip out of him.
"What do you want today Naruto?" Ayame's soft voice asked from behind the counter.
Naruto's head swiveled around to see Ayame standing there, a big smile on her face. Naruto barely swallowed a nervous lump in his throat and told her he wanted the special, to which Ayame nodded and headed back into the kitchen.
You idiot! You should have asked her right there! He smacked his forehead, and then rested his head in his arms. His head hurt worse than anything, but he had a promise to keep, and he never went back on his word. Ahhh! She's gonna say no and then I'm gonna look like a total loser! Oh, I should have known this was a bad idea! Stupid!
Naruto continued to berate himself until Ayame came out with a steaming bowl of noodles, lots of veggies piled on top. Naruto didn't know what it was, and he didn't care, because now he had food!
As Ayame turned to walk away after serving the meal, Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped, thinking better of it. He called himself a coward this time, and hovered over his food, head down, slurping his noodles and eating his veggies slowly. It was only until he heard that soft, sweet voice that he looked up.
"Naruto…I have something to ask you." Ayame said quietly, looking at him with those beautiful eyes.
"….what is it?" Naruto asked after a moment.
"I was wondering if you….you know, wanted to go out sometimes? Like on a date." Ayame asked, smiling and regarding Naruto with anticipation.
It took a while for the impact of Ayame's words to sink in, but once they did, Naruto's heart starting doing somersaults in his chest. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. He seriously thought he was going to be sick. He fought off the hotness in his cheeks, while his heart fluttered out of his control.
Ayame was waiting expectantly, but patiently. Once Naruto composed himself, making sure to not let her see how shocked he really was, he looked up at Ayame, giving her his best smile.
"Yeah, sure! I would love to!" Naruto answered happily, sounding better than he felt.
Ayame seemed to relax a lot more, the tense look of her shoulders immediately receding upon Naruto's answer. She smiled back and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.
"When do you think we could….get together? I mean, what time would be good for you?"
"Um…I'm not doing anything…tomorrow, so I'm totally free. What do you say to tomorrow…..at about one in the afternoon? I mean….if that's okay with you and everything. We could meet here." Naruto said, amazed that he managed to get all of that out. His heart was still about to explode out of his chest, but he quelled its fury.
"Yeah, that's fine. I'll see you then?" Ayame asked, half turning back to the kitchen.
"Definitely, I'll be there. I won't be a minute late!" Naruto declared confidently.
They smiled at each other one more time until Ayame returned to her work. Naruto hurriedly gobbled up his ramen and jumped down from the stool, thanking the ramen guy for the meal, and ignoring the happy chuckles of his sensei sitting next to him.
Dragging himself down the street leading to his building, he smiled from ear to ear, happiness and bliss clouding his brain. She...asked ME!? She actually asked me, when I was about to...this is so awesome!
When he got home, he collapsed in his bed, and let sleep wash over him. He was in disbelief. He was going to go on a date with Ayame tomorrow, and he couldn't wait. He just wished the butterflies fluttering around in his stomach would go away.