summary It's alright.
Kushina jolted a little when she heard knocking on the door. She nearly dropped the bowl she had been washing into the sink. Looking down at her gloved hands, she sighed.
"Naruto? Minato-kun?" she called. Silence answered her.
"NARUTO!" Kushina yelled.
There was a thud. Rattling the plates stacked inside the cabinet.
"Ma?" Naruto's voice groaned down the stairs.
"Go answer the door for me. I'm doing dishes," Kushina ordered.
And Naruto continued to moan his protest as he lumbered to the door. A yawn ripped through him as he opened it up. And his jaw cracked as he saw Sakura standing there.
Sakura smiled.
"Hey there, sleepyhead," she greeted him.
Naruto scrambled to flatten his hair. He rubbed at his eyes before he offered her a sheepish grin.
Sakura held up a cloth bag.
"Sarutobi-Jiisan dropped off some okra. It's way too much, so give it to Kushina-san for me," Sakura instructed. Naruto accepted it with both hands. And then he blinked at her backpack.
"Are you going somewhere, Nee-chan?" asked Naruto. He yawned, mouth opening wide.
"Yeah. Up to Sendai for some business," Sakura replied, adjusting the straps of her bag. Naruto's mouth hung open.
"EH? Are you taking the train up?" he asked.
Even the speeding Shinkansen took nearly 10 hours to travel that far north. Sakura could tell that the thought of sitting for half a day was torture for the jittery teenager. He could barely stand to sit still in class. She shook her head.
"I'm taking the train to the Fukukoa Airport. I would die if I had to sit in a train for long," she told him. Naruto frowned.
"Aw, man. There's this crazy popular ramen place that opened up somewhere in Sendai. Can't you take me with you?" he pleaded.
She reached out to muss his hair.
"Sorry. Already bought my tickets. Maybe next time?" she replied. Naruto's lower lip jutted out. Sakura couldn't help but laugh a little at that pathetic expression. She rubbed his hair a little harder until he batted her hand away.
"Anything you want? Besides ramen?" asked Sakura.
Naruto's eyes brightened a little at that. "Daifuku?"
"You got it, kiddo," she answered. And then she stuck her head into the house.
"KUSHINA-SAN!" Sakura called. There was a pause.
"Oh, Sakura-chan! Come inside! Did you eat breakfast yet?" Kushina yelled back. And Naruto stuck one finger in his ear, wondering, as usual, why they insisted on doing this every time.
"I have a train to catch. I'm heading up to Sendai for the weekend. Do you want anything?" Sakura requested.
"Sake!" Kushina promptly said.
"Okay!"
And then Sakura looked back at Naruto, who scowled, digging his finger into his ear. She smiled at him.
"Ittekimasu," she told him.
His frown melted. "...Itterasshai, Nee-chan."
Haku tackled her when he found her at the airport that night. He wrapped his arms around her, smothering her as he practically dangled off her. Sakura laughed, spinning around with him.
"Okay, okay. Hi. Hello," she said, tapping him on the back.
He released her, eyes glittering. He wore a mask over his mouth, elastic bands looping over his ears. There was a beanie crammed over his wet hair. He wore a faded black t-shirt over skinny jeans. His jade bracelet caught the light as he pulled his mask down. Teeth showing as he beamed.
"Is it okay for you to be up this late? Don't you have practice tomorrow morning?" she inquired.
Haku flapped his hand at her.
"Whatever. Coach can wait," he snorted. Like the thought of Kisame was a mosquito he was trying to bat away. Sakura smacked his hand. She wagged her finger in his face, suddenly stern.
"You won't win all gold with that attitude," Sakura warned him. Haku rolled his eyes, groaning. Hands linking behind her neck, he sagged.
"Ughhhh, you sound just like him," he griped. But then he stood up straight. He raised the mask back over his mouth, casting a look around the terminal.
"Did you eat yet?" he asked her.
"You have to watch your weight. No," Sakura snapped before he could even ask her. And then she thrust her backpack into his arms. Scowling, Haku put it on backwards, letting it rest against his chest and stomach.
"Go home," he growled.
"No," Sakura replied.
He stuck his tongue out at her.
Sakura slept on his sofa that night. She woke when she heard his alarm go off.
Despite his complaints, Haku was never late for training. That didn't stop him from grumbling like an old man as he got out of bed and shuffled around in his slippers.
She lay on her side, blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Each time the floorboards creaked, her eyes fluttered open. She glimpsed him brushing his teeth as he filled his water bottle. Pulling his shirt over his head, nearly tripping over his backpack. Sakura saw the round, purple marks on his back from cupping therapy. Haku paused in the doorway of his bedroom as he tied his hair back. The little ponytail jutted out at the top of his neck, like a bamboo shoot. He turned to her.
"I left a spare key for you on the counter," he told her.
Sakura closed her eyes.
"Thanks," she replied.
"Help yourself to whatever's in the fridge. But don't drink my coconut water," Haku went on.
"I don't-"
"-like coconut water, yeah, yeah," Haku finished for her as he remembered. They smiled at each other.
"Wanna join me later?" he offered, "I've got ballet in the afternoon, but I'll be at the rink most of the day otherwise."
Sakura rolled over onto her other side, pulling the blanket over her head. And Haku laughed again.
"Alright, I'll shut up. Drop by if you can," he then said. Sakura listened as his keys jangled together. The door clicked shut behind his footsteps.
Sakura went right back to sleep. Snuggled up at the perfect temperature on the sofa. She didn't wake again until after the sun had risen. She helped herself to the coffee he had left warming. Crunched through an apple as she scrolled through the news on her phone.
She put on a hat and sunglasses before she headed out of the apartment. Hands in the pockets of her joggers as she walked down the stairs. She hiked them up to her calves as she waited for the train. Bobbed her head to the music pouring in through her earbuds.
Sendai was a bustling city, even this early in the morning. Businessmen and women rushed back and forth in their black and blue suits. Briefcases swinging around and coffee splashing in their hands. High school students strolled at a more leisurely pace, the girls linking arms and the boys knocking into each other.
When Sakura stepped into the white building, the bell attached to the door jingled. The receptionist looked up, already smiling. And then her smile widened.
"Right on time. Go ahead, Haruno-san," she directed, gesturing down the hall. Sakura waved at her before she went on.
Physical therapy took about an hour and a half. The doctor's eyebrows went up as she examined Sakura's left knee.
"Everything looks good. But I'd take it a little easy with all the jumps, Haruno-san. Or at least make sure you're doing those stretches I taught you," she instructed as she lowered Sakura's foot. Sakura sat up, nodding.
The doctor shook her head as she shed her gloves. Dropped them into the trash can.
"No big injuries. You might have had a few more years in you, you know," she said, sounding a little wistful.
Sakura's smile was tight. It hurt her cheeks. She shook the doctor's hand, holding back all the things she could have said in return.
Against her best judgment, Sakura decided to head to the rink. She bought coffee. She tried her best not to slosh them around in the cardboard tray as she walked. And while the sign said that the rink was closed, she headed in anyway. Sneaking past the man sitting at the counter. With his eyes glued to his phone, he missed her completely.
Sakura stepped into the cold room. She raised her sunglasses, let them sit on top of her hat as she glanced around. It didn't take her long to find Haku and Kisame. And it wasn't just Kisame's blue hair.
It was the yelling.
"That's why! If I push it to the end, it'll get the 10% bonus," Haku snapped.
"You already have three quads in the program. You'll be too tired," Kisame snarled in return.
"I'm not a washed-up geezer like you. I can do it, old man!"
"You shitty little brat! Would you listen for once in your life?"
"Then how the hell am I supposed to get gold this year!"
"Maybe if you cleaned up your landings, you might stand a chance."
"I told you! It's all mental. I've got this without you nagging me!"
"Tell that to your straight silver streak last season! Not a single gold!"
Sakura leaned over the side of the rink. She reached out, touching the only iced coffee to the back of Haku's neck. He yelped, whirling around to face her. Teeth bared. But then his face went blank when Sakura grinned around the straw at him. She slurped down a mouthful of coffee before she spoke.
"Coach is right. Adding more jumps isn't going to help you if you can't stick the landings," she pointed out.
Kisame made a smug noise in the back of his throat as he folded his arms across his chest. When Sakura handed him a paper cup of hot coffee, he stepped off the ice to accept it. Haku followed him, still scowling.
Kisame opened the lid to stare down at the black coffee. He grunted his approval before he looked back at her.
"What're you doing up here? Aren't you supposed to be harvesting turnips or something?" Kisame asked.
Sakura, in the middle of handing Haku the other coffee, made a face.
"You know, just because it's out in the countryside doesn't mean there are only farmers living there," she sighed. Kisame eyed her over the rim of the cup as he took a sip. He lowered it.
"Yeah. You got the farmers' wives and their kids too," he retorted.
Sakura rolled her eyes. She turned her attention back to Haku. She fixed his bangs as he blew on his coffee to cool it.
"Anyway, you should probably listen to Coach on this one, kiddo," Sakura advised. He wrinkled his nose at her. Stuck his tongue out before he blew out a long sigh.
"...Fine," he grumbled.
After they had finished their coffee, Haku headed back onto the ice. Not before shoving his empty cup into Kisame's hands. He skated off to the opposite side, smirking. Kisame glowered.
"That little shit," he grumbled.
He then looked Sakura over.
"What're you doing here anyway?" asked Kisame.
His hair was going silver at the temples. His voice had grown a little rougher. He looked different from when he had first started coaching her. He had a bit of a belly now. Smiling, Sakura reached out to pat it. He glared at her. But she saw him suck his gut in. Just a bit.
"Had a last check-up on this old thang," she then said, pointing at her left knee.
Kisame's expression softened.
"Everything's okay?" he questioned.
During her last World Championships, she fell during one of the practice sessions. And while she was no stranger to falling, she had landed hard on her left knee. The pain hadn't gone away like it normally did. She had managed to keep the swelling under control by wrapping it and icing it. She had kept it a secret from Kisame and somehow managed to skate both her programs to win her fifth consecutive gold.
She had only told Kisame of her injury on the plane home. And of course he had nagged her without cease the entire ride. Haku falling asleep against her shoulder on her other side. Her knee throbbing steadily like a metronome.
After surgery and four months of physical therapy, she was back on the ice. She knew Kisame had been biting his nails during the Olympics. Anxious that her kneecap would somehow fly off in the middle of one of her routines. He had cried harder than she had when she had won gold. Tears running freely down his cheeks when they read out her scores. And Haku had tackled the both of them from behind, arms almost choking her as he hugged her.
Sakura smiled, flashing Kisame a thumbs up.
"It's perfect, just like me," she assured him.
Kisame grimaced. He reached out and gave her shoulder a light shove. And they both smiled a little.
Over Kisame's shoulder, she saw Haku whiz past. His left toe pick dug into the ice. She counted his rotations as he spun through the air. When he landed on his right foot, flecks of ice sprayed out in every direction. She flung her coffee into the trash can before she slammed both her hands down on the edge of the rink. Kisame read the fury in her eyes and turned to look at Haku.
"You under-rotated!" she accused.
Haku pivoted on his right skate. Put a hand on his hip.
"It wasn't that bad," Haku replied.
"You look like you're making kakigori! Let me just get you some mochi and syrup!" Sakura criticized, jabbing her finger in his direction. Haku skated up to the edge of the rink, grabbing it too.
"You and the old man nag too much! It's practice! I'll get it right next time!" he snarled.
"I take my free time to teach you and you still can't get the toe loop right! That's the easiest one!" Sakura went on.
"You can't even do a quad yourself! What're you bragging about?" Haku shot right back.
"I have shorter legs than you! Of course I can't! No wonder Coach is getting fat! He's probably drinking himself to sleep at night because all he has is stupid students like you left!" retorted Sakura, pointing at Kisame. Who simply sighed, sipping at his coffee before it went cold.
As they continued to bicker, Sakura grabbed the front of Haku's shirt. He grabbed her by the face, squeezing her cheeks together to make her lips bulge out. They eventually exploded into laughter, but not before Sakura dealt in a few good pinches. Wheezing, they leaned against the sides of the rink and looked at Kisame. Who simply eyed them.
"...I forgot how exhausting it is with you two in the same rink," was all he stated. His voice low and measured.
Sakura winked.
"I think you mean 'amazing'. Because I'm amazing," she corrected her. Laughing again when Haku groaned.
Sakura stayed for the rest of Haku's morning practice session. She let Kisame do most of the scolding, content to just watch Haku dance in circles and spirals. And when they began packing up to go get lunch, Sakura turned down their invitation.
Haku's eyes went wide. "We can go get dessert, too," he tried to bribe her. But then caught the dirty look Kisame shot him. "I mean, you can get dessert," Haku amended.
"Gotta head back. I've got work tomorrow," she told them.
Haku sulked as he watched Kisame muss Sakura's hair.
"Next time, come during a break. I'll buy you that drink," Kisame told her. Sakura nodded. When she turned to Haku, arms outstretched, he glared. Crossing his arms across his chest, he made a face at her.
"Come on, you brat," Sakura insisted.
Only then did Haku slowly make his way over to give her a hug.
"Don't look so sad. Win all gold and you'll see me soon," she promised him. And then she gave him a hard push to the chest, sending him gliding backwards into the rink. Sticking her tongue out when he gave her an exasperated smile.
The plane ride back down to Fukuoka was short. She managed to get through a few chapters of her latest audiobook before it touched down on the ground. And as she stood at the train station, she took her phone off airplane mode. When the screen lit up, she saw several notifications. Texts and private messages began pouring in. Notifications from both Instagram and Twitter also popped up.
Sakura tapped the icon to open up Instagram. She received a notification that Samui had tagged her in something. She pressed it.
It was a looping video of her standing outside the rink, yelling at Haku, gesturing with her hands. Kisame also barked something beside her, arms crossed. And although Haku's back was to the camera, Sakura knew that he had been yelling something back at them as he skated up to them. It had been taken from too far away to hear what any of them was yelling. And Samui's giggles drowned out what little might have been discernible.
The caption underneath read: We got a special visitor in Sendai today. Looks like someone is getting a lot of attention. Next time, come say hi to me too, sakura-haru. I'm jealous.
Sakura hadn't even looked at the other skaters on the opposite end of the rink. It made sense that Samui would be training there too. It was her home rink after all. She felt bad for not greeting her for all of one second. Until she scrolled down and saw all the comments:
OMG IS THAT HARUNO SAKURA? Queen!
Wow is she making a comeback? (ʘᗩʘ')
Where's she been? I MISSED HER SO MUCH COME BACK.
Is it just me or does she look like she got THICC
Is she going to be Shimizu Haku's coach from now on?! sdkfsjdkfs I can't
Taking a deep breath, she opened up Twitter. Where a skating news page had just retweeted the video and then speculated that she would be coaching Haku this upcoming season. Other accounts presented theories that grew more and more ridiculous as time went on. One speculated that she had retired because she was secretly pregnant. She rolled her eyes at that.
Sakura went to her settings and turned off all notifications for her social media apps. As she did this, she received several texts from Haku. At first, all she received were dozens of siren emojis. And then he began sending actual words.
OMG.
omg no.
Are you going to kill her?
Do you want me to tell her to take it down?
Sakura sighed as she typed back: No point. If anyone asks, you don't know who I am. I really don't want the media all up in my face right now.
There was a pause. And then Haku replied, Got it.
Sakura dropped her phone into her pocket. Where it promptly began vibrating. She read the name flashing across the screen. Saw the photo of the man with dark hair covering his left eye.
Sakura hesitated. And then she dragged her finger across the bottom of the screen.
"Hi, Senpai," she finally replied. And she heard him chuckle.
"Hey there, Sakura-san. Uh... guess you're in Sendai, huh?" he said. She had always liked that about Utakata. He at least didn't lie about obvious things. Of course he would have spotted the video. It was his job to stay up-to-date on these kinds of things.
Sakura let out a deep breath.
"Yeah, I was for a little bit. Not anymore," she replied.
There was a long pause. She could hear a keyboard clattering away in the background. A phone ringing. He was at work.
"…This is weird, right?" Utakata asked.
"It is," she agreed. She couldn't help but laugh, too.
"I kept telling myself I would check up on you after everything that happened. And then I looked at my calendar today and I was like 'crap, she's going to be mad at me'."
Sakura pressed her lips together. Smile fading.
"I'm not mad," she assured him. But it came out quieter than she had intended. So she said it again.
"I'm not mad."
She rolled her weight onto the balls of her feet. And then back, onto her heels. Rocking back and forth as she craned her neck. Looking for the train.
"I'm sorry about that, by the way. I really did mean to keep in touch," Utakata told her.
And then Sakura hesitated one more time. Before she asked: "...How's he doing?"
"We haven't talked much since he moved to St. Petersburg. But he seems pretty down. Well... not that he shouldn't be," Utakata fumbled with his words. Sakura smiled, even though she knew he wouldn't see it. She slipped her free hand into her pocket.
"I'm fine, Utakata-senpai. Don't worry about me so much," she told him.
"...You sure?" he asked.
"Yeah."
They exchanged a few more words. He made her promise to make time for him next time she was this close to Tokyo before he hung up.
Soon after, the train arrived. As Sakura settled into her seat by the window, she found herself scrolling through Instagram again. Not on Samui's post. Eventually people would lose interest. It would blow over quickly.
Instead, she found herself looking through her old photos. Perusing down the list, back years and years ago. Until she was wading through memories from three years ago.
Her thumb froze as she examined one of the posts. She was almost certain it was during the NHK Trophy, during one of the practice sessions. Maybe Karin had been the one to take it, since it was obviously a candid. Or maybe it was Haku.
She was wearing a white jacket with a Japanese flag sewn over her heart. Both her arms were up in the air, mouth wide open mid-laugh. And Kimimaro lay on the ice a little ways from her. Slumped over on his side. Laughing in that way he did when it was only the two of them. Silver hair spilling down his neck, eyes squinting shut.
She didn't remember what had made the both of them laugh so hard. It was probably nothing. But it was everything, too.
She considered deleting the photo. Finger hovering over the screen. Sighing, she set her phone down. She wondered if he remembered what had been so funny at the time. He probably did.
He always held onto things longer than she did.
End Part 2