Sasuke walked into the café, the waitresses soon huddled around him and he cursed to himself, Shit, I knew I shouldn't have picked this guy. It was actually Shikamaru under a genjustu. He suddenly felt silly and even ashamed. Why did he pick Sasuke? Did he secretly… flashbacks of Ino flirting and making googly eyes at the Uchiha flashed through his mind. What the hell is wrong with me! Shikamaru thought in frustration and shook off the memories. He chose a secluded spot in the back with a clear view of Ino and Sai. They seemed relatively bored together, with Ino doing most of the talking and Sai nodding his head nervously, desperately trying to understand her speedy, colloquial Japanese. She would make momentary pauses, hoping for a response. When Sai would just stare at her blankly and smile, she would just continue. Then, things took a complete and sudden turn.
Shikamaru's veins began to pop and his heart began to pound harshly against his chest when he saw Sai reach across the table, grab Ino's face and pull her into a big smooch. It must have lasted a few seconds, but to Shikamaru it felt like hours. He felt his stomach drop. He almost broke the genjutsu before getting a hold of himself.
"Is everything okay?" A concerned waitress asked, "Sasuke" nodded slowly and asked for some water which he immediately chugged. He rubbed his hands roughly against his face and then decided to look back when he accidently made eye contact with Ino. If her face was red before, it was now on fire, so he couldn't even guess what he looked like. Then it hit him. She…thinks I'm…
"Sasuke-kun!" Shikamaru looked in front of him to see Haruno Sakura, also known as Ino's best friend, wearing a puffy, short, pink dress and knee-high socks, blushing at him. "I can't believe you're early!" Shikamaru froze in terror. He couldn't believe this. This had to be a dream. A nightmare. "Oh, Ino-buta!" Sakura pointed and waved at Ino, who scowled. "Ugh, she still can't get over the fact that we're together." Sakura shook her head and whispered to "Sasuke", "That's why I convinced Sai to ask her out. I'm not even sure he knows this is a date." Shikamaru twitched. Was she serious?
"Well, I don't see why he wouldn't like her." Shikamaru said without thinking. He blushed right after. Sakura got kind of angry.
"What?!" She said between her teeth. "Do you have the hots for her or something? What's with that face, huh?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Shikamaru panicked. He really had to get it together.
"You're making that same stupid face Shikamaru always makes at her." She imitated Shikamaru's lovey-dovey eyes and mockingly gawked at Ino, "Oh hey look at me, I'm perpetually in the friendzone with a girl that would sleep with a rock if it gave off the right attitude but I'm too stupid to make a move." Shikamaru couldn't believe it. He thought Sakura was his friend. Was this really how she talked about him and Ino? He couldn't hide his feelings, and he started to walk away angrily before he wouldn't be able to control his rage.
"Wait!" Sakura shouted, gaining on lookers from those around them, including Ino and Sai. Shikamaru looked back at her in disbelief. He was suddenly grateful he wasn't Sasuke. Poor guy, no wonder he was such an asshole. Look at what he had to put up with! She walked towards him shyly, tears swelling up, sniffling. Oh my god. Here I am thinking Ino is dramatic. Sakura wrapped her arms around one of his, pressing them obviously into her chest. Shikamaru didn't want to be a jerk, but he instantly noticed yet another difference between Ino and Sakura. "I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. You know it's hard to be with someone like you…Every…*hick*everyone likes you…and I'm just…" Shikamaru began to feel guilty for his last thought. "I'm just so average." And then he had a great empathy for Sakura. He had never really considered how similar of a position she was in. He found himself embracing her in a friendly hug – which to her and the onlookers must have appeared romantic.
"You WHAT?!" Shikamaru and Sakura were interrupted by Ino's furious shriek. Shikamaru turned his attention to her, confusing and ticking off Sakura. Without thinking, Shikamaru headed towards Ino's table with Sakura trailing behind him. As he got closer, he began to understand the commotion.