0.
Soccer practice on Monday
Soccer practice on Monday
Soccer practice on Monday
SOCCER PRACTICE on Monday
I'm so excited! (to kick Hyuuga, accidentally)
AND LIFE'S AMAZING! If and only if I have a mother
And… maybe some strawberry cake tomorrow?
Spend the day with Naruto.
Watch Bambi and Charlie Brown and listen and sing The Best of Pavarotti!
(yes, yes… I'm babbling.)
(and I sound stupid and immature)
(why am I ranting on my calendar?)
…
Today, I ate ice cream with Sakura-chan!
We watched Bambi!
(a caricature of Bambi's head)
And tomorrow's what to do:
ramen
ramen
basketball
annoy Teme
LIVE, LOVE, LIFE!
ohhhhh, it's Let's Annoy Sasuke Day tomorrow!
XD XD XD XD
…
Hn.
…
buy new make up
buy the red dress I've been raving about for months
watch my favorite drama
read Romeo and Juliet for the BILLIONTH TIME
update my BLONDEonHILLTOP blog
update my Twitter
upate my MySpace
update my Facebook
BE PRETTIER THAN ANYONE ELSE!
and wake shikamaru up!
…
troublesome (scratch, scratch)
…
Ano… ano… um… um… ummmmmmmm…
…
BRING AKAMARU TO VET!
Arf! Arf!
And eat our favorite pastry…
Arf! Arf!
PEDIGREE!
…
…should I use Pantene?
Or Clear?
…
Youth prevailed! I came, I conquered, I bought the greenest green youthful greening green SPANDEX! I sparkled in green!
Tomorrow, I will show my newest new shining shimmering splendid spandex to EVERYONE! They will… shine!
I WILL SHINE!
TODAY
TOMORROW
FOREVER
IN THE YOUTHFUL QUEST OF YOUTHFUL YOUTH!
let the power of youth—
--
-
colors, making sense, falling water, breathing
-
--
I.
"How many songs are we going to do?" asked Hayate.
"Three songs." Seki looked around at his band mates, raising his brows as if challenging them to refute. Sasuke shrugged, not caring. Touya nodded, not caring as well.
Seki sat down comfortably, a little smug but not overbearingly, leafing through music sheets in front of him. "Right, three songs: Hanafubuki, Jeepstar—"
"Ano, Jeepstar? That's a difficult song!" Hayate groused.
Seki ignored his friend, knowing it would not hurt him, picking up the music sheets and separated them. "What do you think?" he arched a brow at Sasuke.
"I'll do it."
Hayate made a feeble attempt to complain but was interrupted. "And… hmm," Seki paused, contemplating. "Maybe, Desperate Angel."
"Another difficult song!" Hayate whined.
"Then, we practice." Seki snapped, standing up and picking his guitar. "Do you have any more complaints?" He directed this at Rei who recoiled under the stare. "If none, get your act together! We will start rehearsals today and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and after that and after that after school. And do not complain!"
"But—"
"DO NOT COMPLAIN!"
-
-
II.
Sundays were completely dull for most students. Thus when Monday came, one week and three days after Haruno Mikoto and Uchiha Sasuke came to the Big Blue House, students were high with anticipation and curiosity.
Half of Konoha High School gathered around Uchiha, who was in the changing room, changing his footwear.
Sasuke scowled,
"Nonsense. There is no war."
And he carried on, slipping off his black shoes, ignoring the crowd.
The other half crowded around Haruno, who was at the foot of the stairs.
Sakura smiled with sweet sarcasm.
"What stepsibling? What war? Oh… What did I miss?"
He scowled heavily, darkly at the curious students who bravely walked up to him and inquired. "There is no war." He repeated and cursed the person who perpetuated the gossip. "Now, scram."
She raised a brow at the students surrounding her. "I don't know what you're talking about." She lied with a sweet smile, which belied her murderous intent of kicking something hard.
Sasuke felt a headache coming on. "Excuse me. Can you get the hell out of my way?"
Sakura felt the veins throb on her temples, threatening to explode. "May I pass?" Ino had told her to always maintain poise and keep her temper repressed. Another detention and she's going to be kick out of Soccer Team.
The bell rang.
Students hurried to their respective homerooms.
Uchiha exhaled.
Haruno twitched.
Both continued up to their classroom and accidentally, they met at the second floor landing.
Sasuke's face remained carefully blank. While, Sakura frowned, jaw set.
To spite her, he raised a brow at her, clearly provoking her. But to his surprise, her face transformed into a mask of indifference, instead of rising to his bait and screaming her head off.
Hn.
Sasuke spun around and began to walk to their classroom. Sakura followed, a considerable distance between them. Their pace was even, not slow, not fast. The distance remained, not increasing, but not decreasing.
Monday went quietly.
-
-
III.
TO: Kenji-kun
FROM: Mikoto
SUBJECT: silent treatment
This bothers me, Kenji-kun. Sakura has been awfully quiet. She's not quiet, is she? Or she's just quiet toward me and Sasuke-kun? She's not even looking at me.
Or at Sasuke-kun.
Is this normal?
TO: Mikoto
FROM: Kenji-kun
SUBJECT: Re: silent treatment
It's not normal. It bothers me as well. Sakura-chan will normally scream and talk non-stop and if she has a problem with us, she will not hesitate to say it. But the past week was… quiet. Are you nervous? I am. This is silence is suspicious. It's like the calm before the storm.
TO: Kenji-kun
FROM: Mikoto
SUBJECT: a hurricane is coming?
What should we do? Maybe we're just overanalyzing her silence.
TO: Mikoto
FROM: Kenji-kun
SUBJECT: Yes
Usually, she would belt out a Pavarotti (with a very awkward Italian and gibberish) and I have to tell her to stop because the house felt like it would collapse anytime. She punches the piano with her little fists and I have to stop her because it's antique and it's very expensive and I inherited it from my great-great-grandfather (whom she calls Super Dad). She sings very badly, you know. Makes my eardrums shrivel… but I liked her voice.
And I miss it terribly.
-
-
IV.
Tuesday came and the school was greeted with Yamanaka's Golden Voice.
-alright! Culture Festival is next week! Student Council President Sasori requests a meeting with Class Representatives today after class in Student Council Room, 4th floor, which means — you get your ass up Shikamaru and attend it!-
Shikamaru blinked. Behind him, Sakura giggled behind her hand.
-anyways, let's wish our Basketball Club a lot of luck this inter-high competition since Naruto is there to make a stupid scene, trip and fall with his big feet-
"THAT'S NOT TRUE! I AM GREAT AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT BUT YOU!" Naruto yelled up to the speakers.
-and didn't you know… transferee student, Uchiha Sasuke— yes, yes— him, the popular step-brother of Haruno-dear who, allow me to reiterate, recently cleaned the third year rooms as a detention for raping and mutilating the soccer field, is a member of a band! How posh is that?!! A rocker brother!-
"…idiot." Sasuke grunted, looking at Naruto who pretended busy with his notebook.
"…pig." Sakura sneered.
-I TOLD YOU, NO GOSSIPING IN PA SYSTEM YAMANAKA- Principal Tsunade's voice filled the school's PA system.
-oh no, oh noooo, it's not gossiping, it's spreading vital information…-
-GET OUT!-
-but I have something else to announce-
-GET OUT!-
"…that's enlightening." Iruka-sensei drawled with, as usual, sarcasm which didn't have any slightest effect, whipping out his attendance sheet. "Attendance! Stay in your seat, Akasaka! And you, Hajimaru!" After nine names, Yamanaka Ino arrived, smiling, waving like beauty queen. After attendance, there was Japanese with Iruka-sensei
(super easy that made Shikamaru sleep and drool on his desk)
and after that was —bloody, Naruto said— Mathematics with Kakashi-sensei who gave them exercise pamphlets to answer. No one's writing anything, except for Sakura and, surprisingly, Shikamaru who was awake for it. Sasuke wasn't having troubles, for aside from music, he was well-versed in numbers. But if Sasuke was good in addition and other complex calculation, Naruto was the perfect opposite. In the end, being compassionate despite of her apparent violent tendencies, Sakura let Naruto copy her answers.
After Mathematics, there was morning break, and English with Kurenai-sensei. Today's lesson, however, was difficult. She asked them to compose a letter written in English. There were few of them who managed, many didn't.
(But Kurenai-sensei, I wrote in this letter: "stay beautiful as always, Kurenai…sen— Miss-u Kurenai," Hagetaka said passionately which earned him a beautiful scowl
and a minus.)
-
-
V.
At lunch, Naruto joined Sasuke.
"Eh? You chose Biology Club?"
Sasuke shrugged one shoulder as an answer.
"But why?! You should have chosen a cooler club!" Naruto exclaimed, opening the plastic lid of his lunch, a pork instant ramen. "You should have tried soccer or basketball! You play acceptable basketball so we'll accept you. And cool clubs attract girls!"
Sourly, Sasuke raised a brow. "I don't want to attract girls."
Naruto looked up to make a face. "Jackass. You're already popular with girls."
Sasuke gave a quick, rare grin.
It didn't impress Naruto. "Argh! Fine! Feed the turtle, feed the fish, feed the plankton, feed spongebob and starfish and squid and krabbs and—"
"Cut frogs."
Naruto gawked, a noodle hanging from his lip. With a loud slurp, the noodle disappeared on his mouth, "yeah, that one. Kill yourself with boredom."
Dismissing the blonde's point (if there was a point), Sasuke shrugged and said, "The best thing was, I won't be able to see your stupid face all the time," which earned him a kick in the shin under the table.
"Anyway," Naruto intoned curiously, irritation forgotten, "I thought you're joking when you told me that you joined a band. But I remembered that you don't know even know what a joke is."
Sasuke wanted to hit the blonde but chose to finish his meal first.
"You are the last person I'd expect to join a band. You're goddamned quiet all the time, except when you're verbally abusing me." Naruto enunciated when the dark-haired boy arched a brow as though disagreeing, "And you don't like the attention."
The idiot had a point, Sasuke agreed. He never liked attention, resented it, as a matter of fact. In his previous school, he was frequently attacked by fangirls who always took pictures of him. Some went overboard by stalking him. With his Super Sharp Glare, he managed to keep them at bay, but sometimes, it wasn't enough. He had to run for his life (and innocence, as well), to duck out of their touch. He became obsessed with security and refused to give personal information even when asked by teachers, especially home and mobile numbers. He heard from his mother that Itachi suffered the same harassment, though, not in violent extremes (because the man, despite his good looks, is a psycho who hanged out with a fish man and an art is a bang man).
"You're a parasitic moron and you deserved to be abused." He said flatly, "and I want to kill time because I can't kill you. Not yet." The blond opened his mouth but Sasuke continued, "As for the attention, we're underground."
"So… how was Love Love Disco Hall," Naruto lowered his voice at the name, "where the horniest rich brats go to get pissed, get wasted and get laid?" Sasuke looked half-amused at Naruto's worldly words, refusing to answer. The blonde grinned, leaning closer, prodding Sasuke's arm with his chopsticks. "You do get pissed, get wasted and get laid, right?"
The dark-haired boy swatted the chopsticks away, "I told you before, didn't I? I'm not like you."
Naruto made a face, leaning back. "Hah! I like women, you bastard! Unlike you." Sasuke's eyebrow twitched but refused to comment. "Sakura-chan went there once and she was…" He shrugged carelessly, twirling his chopstick. "Hmm, dunno, unaffected. I mean, people are horny there—" Sasuke grunted which Naruto ignored, "and drugged and sex is like…" The blonde shuddered, a mental image rising up in front of his mind, "Whatever!"
"I'm surprised her brain didn't explode." Said Sasuke dryly.
"She's got strong bones and a strong skull." Naruto emptied his cup. "She's used to it, anyway. Because someday, she'll get to manage that horny place! Now isn't it amazing? My best friend running a horny club!"
Sasuke looked up, curious, not interested. Yes, merely curious. Not interested."What do you mean, she'll manage it someday?"
"Didn't you know Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan are cousins? Unbelievable, right?"
He didn't answer.
Naruto threw the empty cup and chopsticks into a trash can behind Sasuke.
"Dattebayo! Love Love Disco Hall is part of Azalea properties, which means, Sakura-chan will someday inherit it and run it! It was her mother's property— Kakashi-sensei was Sakura-chan's mother's nephew, got it? His mom and dad died in a car crash, I guess— not sure! And Sakura-chan's mom adopted Kakashi-sensei and—"
Sasuke frowned, slightly uncomfortable with the sensitivity of the information.
"—and they grew up together. Kakashi-sensei changed her nappies, washed her, fed her, you know— the things mother do to their children. Well, aren't you going to ask where her mother was all this time?"
Sakura told him, distractedly, that her mother was—
"…dead.
She died because of me."
Wearing a blank expression, he intoned, "I'm not interested."
A frown darkened Naruto's face,
"And that's what will make her hate you the most."
-
-
VI.
At soccer practice, Shinozaki Yuki, a girl with very clear and snowy skin, grinned at Sakura. "So… you have a hot brother?"
Sakura snorted but didn't reply. She made cool soccer tricks with the instep of her right foot, watching the bounce of the soccer ball.
"And you're in a war?" Ikusawa Sayo, an honor student, added. The soccer ball rose higher. Seeing this, Tenten wisely stepped back.
"Uchiha's so cool… and silent and sturdy and sexy…" Hasunoue Kairi dreamily murmured.
Sakura twitched, however, remained quiet, although the soccer ball bounced higher.
"…and his skin! And his pretty, pretty eyes! Ohhh… and he's a musician!" Hasunoue continued, her eyes sparkling, clasping her hands together. "A rockstar brother! Gosh… His voice must be like an angel's!"
Harukaze frowned, "Shut up, Kairi."
"But… But Harukaze-sempai! Have you seen Uchiha-kun?"
The Captain raised a brow. Everyone had seen him of course, that quiet boy.
"He's prettier than you!"
-
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VII.
TO: Okasan
FROM: Sasuke
SUBJECT: (none)
You should be worried.
The quiet ones are the most dangerous ones.
TO: Sasuke
FROM: Okasan
SUBJECT: Re: (none)
You are quiet. And you are dangerous.
TO: Okasan
FROM: Sasuke
SUBJECT: Re: (none)
I am always quiet.
But not this girl.
Be alert.
She's planning something.
TO: Sasuke
FROM: Okasan
SUBJECT: Re: (none)
What are you trying to say? Sakura would not do anything murderous. Anyway, Itachi-kun told me to tell you to write more often. I think he misses you.
TO: Okasan
FROM: Sasuke
SUBJECT: Re: (none)
I don't miss him
TO: Sasuke
FROM: Okasan
SUBJECT: Re: (none)
That's cruel! WRITE TO HIM
…
…
TO: Sakura
FROM: Ino
SUBJECT: silent treatment, forehead alien? NO YOU ARE NOT QUIET SO VERY NOT
I heard from Hinata who was told by Naruto that you've been very, very, very quiet. Wow, you're actually behaving yourself? That's so grown up. Congratulations! But I don't trust this gimmick of yours. You're up to something, aren't you? I know you like I know my purple nail polish. I know you like I know my Romeo and Juliet paperback, I know you like I the way I hate my periodic table of elements, life, universe and solar system and everything that's in it. So, stop acting! You're going to kill Sasuke-kun and his mother, right?
You can tell me the details. And I believe that a chainsaw is a perfect murder weapon!
…
Sakura: back off, Ino pig. You told me to adjust, right? I am adjusting. Quietly.
…
RAMENISMYAPHRODISIAC invites you to join conference
pinkandfurious refuses the invitation
…
You have an instant message from: NARUTO
Naruto: Sakura-chan!
BUZZ!
Naruto: hey you!
BUZZ!
BUZZ!
BUZZ!
Sakura: what?
…
TO: Lee
FROM: Ten-ten
SUBJECT: 32nd Annual Martial Arts Competition
Sorry, Lee, but no thanks. I am not going to participate with you and him in the three-man group competition.
TO: Ten-ten
FROM: Lee
SUBJECT: A YOUTHFUL YOUTHFULLNESS OF YOUTH LET'S AWAKEN!
But… WHY???????? We are such a youthful youthfulness youth of three! We will prevail! The power of OUR YOUTHFUL DREAM WILL PREVAIL! You and Neji-kun are vital to our success! Go youthfulness youthful youth!
TO: Sakura
FROM: Ino
SUBJECT: You bad, bad actress and DO NOT BREAK MY SUNSHINE
You can't fool me! I know you're up to something! Your cuteness and pink hair will not fool Sasuke-kun! Whatever it is you're planning, I advise you to drop it. Now.
…
Naruto: have you talk to them?
Sakura: oh shut up. I'll tell you when I do!
…
TO: Ino
FROM: Sakura
SUBJECT: I'm not planning ANYTHING!!!!
I don't trust my mouth to stay civil right now. So to avoid conflicts, I chose to stay quiet and express my unexpressed emotions by sleeping, reading, dreaming and voodoo.
Happy now?
TO: Sakura
FROM: Ino
SUBJECT: HAPPY, GIDDY, OH JOY IS ME!
Wow… that's superb. That's some improvement, forehead girl. But I know you. You won't stay quiet for a long time. You'll explode and it's not going to be colorful and glittery. But there's Naruto to absorb the impact. So, hit him with your punchline and due to his crazy devotion to you, he'll laugh for you. I just hope, in the end of this soap opera, you'll be normal and as a normal person you claimed to be, you will stop trying to hog the spotlight, you will stop assuming that the world revolves around you since it clearly isn't and will never ever be, you will stop running away, you will stop being selfish, jealous, insecure and crazy, you will stop controlling everything— your father's life, the world, the solar system, the clouds, the freaking world.
Stop.
Turn around.
Smile and live happily ever after with your father, stepmother and hot stepbrother.
…
You have an instant message from: SAKURA
Sakura: why is everyone calling him hot brother? WITH italicization!
-
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VIII.
Thursday came.
"So, still alive?" Kakashi said, tall and lanky.
Sasuke ground his molars, scowling up to his Math teacher.
"I hope she goes easy on you."
Sasuke's scowl deepened. As if he'll go down that easy. After all… he's well-equipped with M16, bazooka, machine gun, light sabers and… why am I talking inside my head?
He went back to class.
"You're quiet." Zabuza commented, eyes critical.
Sakura's nose flared, her delicate face in a heavy scowl.
"I hope you won't die." He snorted, turning to bully other player.
Sakura kicked the ball hard. She missed Tenten's face by an inch.
Friday went quietly.
-
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IX.
Wednesday came and went without drama, action and suspense. The Step Sibling Silent Cold War remained an interesting rumor, evident by sporadic appearances of curious students in classroom I-C, hoping to catch a word of progress. But, disappointingly, the two protagonists remained quiet, with no hopes of explosions of emotions, curses or Bankai and Rasengan and Chidori or Superhuman Strength.
Class I-C remained normal.
Similarly, Friday came quietly. Students became bored with the lack of progress (they wanted a big explosion, a duel or a flood of tears where Uchiha will wipe Haruno's tears and they will kiss and make up). However, Uchiha remained an interesting sight to ogle at (and he was so, so, so, so cool because he's antisocial, he's quiet, he's handsome and he's a rocker, a musician, or whatever and being a cool, antisocial, quiet, handsome musician is so charismatic). They directed their energies in putting up the banners and posters for the Cultural Festival.
In the second floor hallway, Karin of the Newspaper Club stalked the Student Council President Sasori. Patiently, the red-haired Third year stopped and waited for the aspiring reporter to ask her questions.
"So," Karin fluttered her lashes. Suigetsu, the photographer snapped pictures beside her. "This is your last Culture Festival, Mr. President. Any surprise?" After Cultural Festival, there was Inter-high, Christmas, New Year and Graduation.
The President shrugged, "None."
Karin pouted. "Booooo-ring."
-click-
-click-
-click-
The final bell rang.
-
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X.
On Fridays, Shikamaru walks Ino home.
"Bye, Forehead."
"Bye, pig." Sakura turned to Hinata who smiled.
"I have to stay for the Student Council meeting." The shy girl bit her lip anxiously, avoiding Ten-ten's gaze. "Neji-niisan—" Sakura saw Tenten twitched minutely, "will walk me home." With that, Hinata bowed and shuffled back to where she came from.
"What about you, Temari?"
The older girl winked, "I have a date, Sa-chan!"
Sakura arched a brow and automatically turned to Tenten who shook her head. "I have to see Lee— it's not like that, Temari!— it's about the Martial Arts competition we annually participate in. But I'm not going to join this year in Team Category. I wanna go alone."
"Alright."
"Where's Naruto? It's your Weekly Ramen Special Getaway Boombastic Night." Tenten asked while Temari's cellphone went off.
"Ah, he's coming." Sakura watched Temari laughed and flirted with her caller. She mouthed a 'see you tomorrow' before leaving the two girls. "Ne, why aren't you going to participate in Team Category?"
Tenten snorted. "Have you forgotten?" Sakura offered a confused look. "I was with Lee and him."
Sakura blinked, comprehension dawned on her face. "I see." She smiled knowingly. "Still brooding about what happened in Junior High, eh?"
Tenten considerably paled. "What are you talking about?"
The pink-haired girl waved her hand. "Ah, never mind. Bye."
-
-
XI.
On Fridays, Sasuke goes to band practice.
"Sasuke-kun, go out with me!"
"NO! WITH ME!"
"No! With me, Sasuke-kun! WITH ME!"
"ME!"
"ME!"
"MEEEE!"
As the girls bickered among themselves, quietly, Sasuke left.
By chance, they met at the front of the school.
Sasuke stopped.
Sakura stopped.
Their eyes met.
And a weird silence engulfed them, enveloped them, captured them.
Dark, intense eyes.
Green, wide eyes.
It felt like the world had stopped. As if… the world had stopped for them, and those few minutes were created for them. Colors blurred, mixed and created new colors. Sounds shut down, the world was still, a strange stillness, a strange calmness like falling water, except that the water never touched the ground, but still falling and flowing
(does it
make sense?)
and not touching the ground. Like a voice that reached out to you but never reaching, not heard no matter how loud it screamed. Then there colors that blurred and not fading but blurring and were still there, green colors mixing with pink, but is still green and is still pink, and there was blue and there was black, and there was pink and there was green
(does it
make sense?)
and they mixed and separated and broke, so brilliant, in rough brushstrokes, in watercolors, in oils, in pastels, monochromatic, broken and whole, black and white, alive and dead…and they burst and keep bursting, realigning, dissecting and converging again—
This silence.
So sad, so beautiful, so fragile, so transient, like cherry blossoms.
Colors of sadness, colors of beauty, colors of fragility, colors of fleeting moments, colors of cherry blossoms…
He… can feel her breathe.
Green filled his vision, and Sasuke realized he was looking into deep greens of her eyes. The brightest, like twin neon bulbs, that charmed and allured the observer but at the same time, eluded the prying eyes, but still watching, still looking. At you. At everything. Pretending to be strong when weak, pretending to be weak when strong. Wary, imperious— and hurt, alone, find me, catch me, forgive me, don't leave me—
"WATCH OUT!"
Green eyes blinked.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, darkened.
At the same time, Sakura turned her face to the direction of the warning. Easily, Sasuke caught the speeding baseball before it hit Sakura's face. The girl staggered back in surprise with a gasp.
"Gomen!" The thrower waved a hand. "Haruno! Uchiha!"
"Hn." Sasuke threw back the ball.
"Whoa! A curve!"
Sasuke looked back to Sakura with a deadpan expression. Sakura swallowed, and then glared, but it lacked the usual animosity. There was a crack in her usual stiff façade. Tiny, but present. Her mouth opened but she shut it instead, and continued glaring.
"Giving me silent treatment, huh?" intoned Sasuke, raising a brow. Sakura responded with a heavier glare and narrower eyes.
Humorlessly, Sasuke smirked.
"Whatever you're up to, I won't let you succeed—" his lashes lowered, he added, "little sister."
Sakura twitched, and Sasuke humored himself by watching her eyebrows moved, a vein pounded on her small temple. Obviously, it was hard for her to control her temper, being used to expressing them without care for other people's feelings. He turned to leave, but paused in his mid-turn, contemplative and looked at her from the corner of his eye.
"I won't let you hurt my mother."
Sasuke saw how her eyes widened, and for a moment, he thought she's going to cry.
(and the colors became dull
and gray
and muted and… faded…
fading)
He… can feel her breathe.
Softly, softly, softly…
Strangely, he felt something very heavy settling at the pit of his stomach. Uncomfortably, Sasuke shifted, for once, at lost for words.
"Sakura-chan!"
A welcomed distraction and interruption.
Uchiha glanced over his shoulder and saw Naruto. "Sorry I'm late Saku— HUH? What happened here? Are you okay, Sakura-chan?" The girl looked pale, her eyes dull green.
"No."
Naruto bristled. "WHAT HAPPENED?" and then, he turned to Sasuke who stared back with a bemused expression. "WHAT DID YOU DO SASUKE-TEME?" a frown twisted Sasuke's face.
"I—"
"My stomach," Sakura's thin voice interrupted the boys' banter. Her eyelashes lowered, hiding her eyes. "My stomach… it hurts."
Naruto raised a brow, "do you need—"
"No, no." Her small hand grabbed Naruto's. Sasuke's gaze dropped to their linked hands, and he noted how small her hand was against his Naruto's. "I'll skip ramen tonight. It felt like… somebody punched my stomach."
"You're having stomach cramps?"
"Uh-huh." Sakura nodded, dropping his hand.
"I'll take you home," Naruto volunteered, to which Sakura declined, shaking her head.
"No, don't bother. Go hang out with Kiba or Akamaru. I'm fine."
"But…" Blue eyes searched. "Hey, you." Sasuke raised a brow, meeting Naruto's probing gaze. "You're her brother. Take her home."
"No." Sakura snapped, and then shot Sasuke a glare, who shrugged one shoulder. "I have feet. I don't need him."
"I have rehearsals." Sasuke grunted, matching Sakura's coldness. "I don't have time for her."
Naruto sweat dropped. "But…"
"See you tomorrow."
"Hn. Idiot."
With a confused frown, the blonde boy watched his friends go in opposite direction.
-
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THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU XD