summary It's too unfair.
A couple minutes before intermission began, she felt her phone buzz. The screen lit up with the picture of Itachi mid-pizza slice that he hated.
"Uchiha-sensei," she greeted him. Ignoring the way that Karin's eyebrows rose.
"I'm sorry if I creeped you out," he immediately said.
"Huh?"
Sakura ducked behind a pillar, trying to avoid Karin's prying eyes. And prying ears.
"I should have told you I was coming," Itachi clarified. Sakura blinked a few times.
"Oh, no, that's... well...why are you sorry?" she asked. She could hear a muffled conversation going on near him. Someone was arguing whether or not to buy one of the t-shirts being sold outside.
"I'm not sure. But I always got the sense that you didn't like us getting mixed up with this part of your life," he replied.
Sakura considered this for a long moment. And then Mangetsu squeezed her shoulder as he walked past, mouthing 'Gotta ask you something'. She nodded.
"Um... so... I gotta go-"
"I understand. Sorry fo-"
"Do you mind sticking around at the end?" she went on. There was a pause.
"Oh." She could almost imagine the way his eyes widened. As if he had expected her to ignore him when he'd come all this way to see her.
"I've got a meet and greet, but I'm free after. As long as your mother doesn't mind waiting for a bit," Sakura added. Finally, she heard Itachi chuckle.
"I'll try to convince her somehow," he replied.
Mangetsu eyed her as she jogged up to join him.
"Why're you smiling like that?" he demanded as he held his hands out in front of him.
"Because I'm happy to see you," she replied in the flattest voice possible. Mangetsu snorted, shaking his head.
"Suuuure," he retorted, drawing out the syllable. And then he nudged his hands toward her again.
"You know that part when we do that spin together? During the second half of the song?" Mangetsu asked. They laced their fingers together. And Sakura leaned back a little, half-miming the movement that he was talking about, her left hand resting on the back of his neck to help her balance.
"I just want to make sure that you're okay with that. I know that your knee's been a little wonky," he went on.
"I'll be okay. This bad boy's all taped up," Sakura assured him.
They both flinched when Haku sprang up beside them, his phone in his hand.
"I'm live on Instagram. Say hi," he demanded.
"Hi, Instagram," Mangetsu obediently replied.
"Bye, Instagram," Sakura said instead, turning her head away. Mangetsu pulled her upright when she tapped on his shoulder. Their hands disengaged.
"So here's Japan's hottest new pairs team. Haruno-senshu, what do you have to say for yourself?" Haku went on, shoving the camera in her face. Sakura let out a long breath. She pulled the phone from his hand and handed it off to Mangetsu. Mangetsu looked puzzled until Karin wandered over to cover the camera with her palm. Sakura seized Haku in a headlock, pinching fingers clamping onto his side. Haku howled in pain before he tried to bite her arm.
"Uh," was all Mangetsu could think to say.
"He'll be fine," Karin assured him, leaning an elbow on his shoulder.
Once the intermission ended, there was little time to goof around. The program was packed with solo and group performances. Several members of the audience burst into tears when Sakura went out alone, in the same maroon costume she had worn to the Olympics. She did her short program, feeling a little less limber and a little less steady than she had two years ago. But the rush of wind was exhilarating as she spun and carved her way across the ice.
She arched her back as she transitioned into an Ina Bauer. Itachi's mouth hung open a little as she glided past him.
There were a few other performances after that. The crowd screamed wildly as Karin, Suigetsu, and his partner did an intricate routine that involved ribbons. And there was open weeping when Haku did a routine to an orchestral piece. He even wore a gold crown on his head, as dramatic as always.
Her "pairs" routine with Mangetsu was met with applause. Of course they couldn't do any of the throws or crazy lifts that actual pairs skaters did. That took years of practice and a level of athleticism that they didn't have. And she wasn't really willing to crack her skull open for a performance like this. But skating with Mangetsu took her back to those old days. When she wore frosted eyeshadow and his suits were always a size too big for him at the banquets.
At the end of the night, all the skaters came out to greet the audience. They waved both their hands, bowing and blowing kisses to the crowd.
When Sakura glanced over her shoulder, she saw that Itachi was gone. His mother sat alone, hands clasped together and eyes sparkling as she clapped as hard as she could. Sakura couldn't help but wonder where he'd gone.
Holding hands with Karin and Haku, Sakura bowed with everyone else. She tried to scan the crowd to see if Itachi had moved, but he really had disappeared.
The meet and greet took place after the rest of the audience had left. Just the people who had paid extra sat in the very front, clutching their handmade signs. Sakura recognized a couple of the faces. They were the hardcore fans who had probably come to each of her performances. Spending all their money and free time to follow her. And when they saw the recognition in her eyes, these people usually broke into tears. Sakura hugged them, laughing as she rubbed their backs and took selfies with them.
When Sakura got to Itachi's mother, she couldn't help but smile. It was amazing how much he resembled her. The same almond-shaped eyes and narrow face. Sakura bowed deeply. Mikoto's eyes popped open.
"Uchiha Mikoto-san?" she asked.
"Oh my goodness!" Mikoto gasped. Sakura straightened.
"Oh my! I should be the one bowing! Thank you so much for the autograph. I don't know how Sasuke got it. I'm so sorry that you had to go to all that trouble," Mikoto babbled, squeezing Sakura's hands between hers. They were warm. The grip strong but not painful.
"Where's that son of mine? I can't believe he's missing out on this! He's the one that called asking me if I had an extra ticket," Mikoto went on, glancing around. Sakura suppressed a giggle, mashing her lips together as she nodded.
"I've always been such a fan. I know it seems silly, but I've always sort of thought of you as one of my children. And it might sound strange, but I'm so proud of you, Sakura-san," added Mikoto. Sakura's smile faded. Just for a moment. And Mikoto stopped talking as she saw the shift in Sakura's eyes.
Swallowing down a lump in her throat, Sakura smiled. She bowed her head again. Deeply.
"Thank you very much," she replied.
The meet and greet ended with reluctance. Sakura and Haku blew kisses, arms around each other's waists. And Haku didn't make fun of her when she sniffed a little against his shoulder.
Once the meeting had ended, everyone picked up their bags and gear.
"Let's get dinner! Shimizu's buying!" announced Suigetsu, one hand cupped around his mouth. Haku grimaced, but didn't protest. It looked like he had lost some sort of bet.
"Sorry. I've gotta run. I'll see you all tomorrow," Sakura replied, already inching toward the exit.
Karin tilted her head to one side. Grinning, Haku pulled her close to whisper in her ear. As Sakura ran out the doors, Karin and Haku were both laughing.
"You go, girl!" Karin called after her.
Sakura ignored them as the heavy metal doors banged shut behind her. She glanced down at her phone. She had messaged Itachi about where to wait, but he hadn't replied to her at all. To her dismay, the lobby was empty except for the few staff members cleaning up the table where they had sold t-shirts and posters. Sakura bowed to them as she walked past.
The meet and greet had taken a little longer than she had expected. And then the end-of-night meeting with the staff had gone on for several minutes. It was pretty late. She couldn't blame him if he had gone home with his mother already.
Sticking her hands in her back pockets, Sakura exited the stadium. And she nearly collided with Itachi.
"Woah!" they both said.
"It's cold outside! Why are you..."
She trailed off as he thrust a bouquet into her hands. Bright red and pink roses with sprays of little white flowers. The petals and wrapping were cold as her fingers closed around them. When she gaze up into Itachi's face, she saw that the tip of his nose was red. She reached for his hand. His fingers were just as cold as the flowers.
"Were you... Did you just get these?" she asked.
"I ran to three different flower shops until I found one that wasn't closed," he confessed. And then he rubbed the back of his neck. "I probably shouldn't have come empty-handed in the first place. I can't believe I missed the end. My mom said it was amazing," he added with a sigh.
Sakura felt the corners of her mouth go up. Her chest squeezing, almost painfully so as she was hit the realization again. Just how thoughtful, kind, and awkward he was. And how much she liked those things about him.
"Thank you," she whispered, gazing down at the flowers. Missing the way he stared at her when she did.
And then her chin jerked up.
"Your mother?" Sakura demanded.
"Oh. She said she was in the bathroom. I think she said she was fixing her makeup because she cried after meeting you," explained Itachi. Sakura bit her lower lip, trying not to smile at that. Itachi watched her expression.
"No, you can laugh. It's pretty funny," he assured her, chuckling a little.
She felt his thumb stroke across her knuckles as he spoke. They both froze. Clearing their throats and looking away, they pulled their hands apart. Itachi flexed his fingers nervously before sticking them in his pocket to grab his phone. He swiped his thumb across the screen.
"Oh. She's on her way out now," he read.
"Hang on. You've got an eyelash on your face," Sakura pointed out.
"Where?" Itachi swiped at the wrong cheek. Sakura gestured with her free hand. He bent down a little, eyes closing. She scratched her nail lightly under his right eye. After a couple tries, she pulled her finger away. His eyelash clinging to the tip of her nail.
"There we go," Sakura announced. Itachi's eyes opened just as she blew it away. And for a moment, all they could do was smile at each other. Not that anything was funny.
It just felt nice to stand there together.
"By the way, there's a really good izakaya not too far from here. You said your mother likes seafood, right?" she told him. Itachi leaned in a little closer as she pulled up the menu on the phone. They muttered the items together as she scrolled down the list. Sakura lifted her head when she heard the door open.
Mikoto stood there, her hands over her mouth. She burst into tears all over again.
"Oh! So Sasuke met you because Itachi already knew you from work!" Mikoto realized almost an hour later. They sat together at a low table. The glossy surface reflected Mikoto's face back as she leaned in toward Sakura. Itachi sat across his mother, skimming through the menu.
It had taken Mikoto several more minutes to calm down outside the stadium. And Sakura had escorted her back into the bathroom. Mikoto had apologized to her probably ten different times. But Sakura didn't mind. She held Mikoto's purse as the older woman washed her face and patted it dry with paper towels from the dispenser.
"Oh, I must look a mess," sighed Mikoto, dabbing at her nose.
"You look wonderful. Don't worry about a thing," Sakura assured her. And Sakura had linked her arm through hers as she led her out of the restroom.
"The sushi here is supposed to be very good," Itachi remarked to no one in particular. His phone sat on the table and he scrolled through it with one finger. He glanced back and forth between the screen.
"Mm... sayori should be in season right now. Hotate? Oh and maguro too," Sakura wracked her brain, trying to remember which fish would be freshest in March.
"Amaebi?" Itachi suggested, reading off the menu.
"Ooh, yes," Sakura agreed. Regular shrimp tasted good. But amaebi had a special sweetness to it that she loved.
When she glanced up, Mikoto was staring at her in sort of a daze. She blinked several times when she realized that Sakura was looking back at her. Her cheeks colored.
"What type of fish do you like, Oba-san?" asked Sakura.
After the waitress dropped off tea and took their orders, Sakura rubbed her knee a little under the table. Itachi followed the movement of her hand, forehead wrinkling.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah. Just... sometimes it gets a little achy if I don't get enough rest," Sakura admitted.
"That's..." Mikoto hesitated. Itachi and Sakura looked up at her. Sakura smiled encouragingly, eyebrows rising.
"Well, Haruno-san, you hurt your knee before the last Olympics. Is it from that?" Mikoto inquired. Sakura sighed.
"Yes. I had some great doctors, but... that's how injuries are. It doesn't just go back to how it was," admitted Sakura, giving her knee a couple of slaps.
"Mom was devastated when she found out you were hurt. She even went to a temple to pray for your recovery," Itachi recalled to Sakura, ignoring the way that Mikoto's eyes widened. She looked horrified, shooting furtive glances at Sakura. Sakura giggled.
"That's very sweet, Oba-san. Maybe I recovered so quickly thanks to you," Sakura said to Mikoto. Who gave her a sheepish smile in return.
The conversation grew less stilted as the evening went on. Sakura found her eyes drifting to the bouquet Itachi had bought her. It sat on top of her duffel bag, plastic crinkling and shining whenever the waitress breezed past it with more food or tea. One time, Itachi caught her staring at it. And the corner of his mouth pulled up before he turned his attention back to his mother's story.
"I'm so sorry for keeping you late. You must have missed your train because of me," Sakura suddenly realized as the waitress came to clear away their plates. Mikoto flapped a hand at her.
"We're staying with one of my nephews here in Osaka. Our train isn't until tomorrow," Mikoto told her, which put her at ease.
"Osaka? You have family here? I thought you said everyone lived in Koto," asked Sakura, turning to Itachi.
"My cousin, Shisui. He moved here last year for work," answered Itachi. And Mikoto's eyes sharpened a little.
"Is that the cousin who crashed a bike into a telephone pole or the one who dropped his phone into the ocean?" Sakura inquired.
"Both," Itachi sighed.
Mikoto's lips puckered, like she was about to say something, but sucked the words back into her mouth last-minute. All Itachi saw was a peculiar smile on her lips when he glanced at her.
When dinner ended, Sakura and Mikoto argued over the bill for a minute. When Sakura firmly insisted on paying, the strange smile returned to Mikoto's face. Itachi didn't understand when his mother gave him a proud look behind Sakura's back.
As they headed out into the night, Itachi flagged down a taxi. He opened the door for Mikoto. Sakura helped her inside, handing her her purse when she had settled into the seat. But before Itachi could get in too, Mikoto shut the door.
"Make sure Haruno-san gets back to her hotel safely, Itachi. A young lady shouldn't be walking around alone at night," Mikoto ordered, lowering the window.
"Oba-san, it's fine," Sakura tried to assure her. But Mikoto pretended not to hear her.
"Don't stay out too late, my son," Mikoto said before she ducked back in to say something to the driver. The taxi pulled away. Mikoto stuck her hand out the window to wave as the car grew smaller and smaller.
When Itachi looked back at Sakura, she had both her hands in her pockets as she rocked back and forth on her heels. She smiled at him.
"Shall we go?" she suggested.
Itachi laughed. "Yes."
The streets of Nishi-ku were just as well-lit and organized as Tokyo's. Even though it was so late, there were plenty of people out at night. Women carrying shopping bags. Friends carrying drinks and laughing at some inside joke. There were also couples too, holding hands or linking arms as they ambled down the walkway.
Sakura motioned for Itachi to follow as she began heading down the street.
As they drifted farther and farther from the busy part of the city, it grew quiet. Until, suddenly, she realized that it was just the two of them. Feet hitting the concrete in tandem. Her gear occasionally clinking inside of her duffel bag.
"Thanks for coming all the way to Osaka," she suddenly said.
"I almost couldn't. The tickets were all sold out by the time you told us," he replied. And then she saw his head tilt to one side.
"Did you do that on purpose?" he wondered. Not at all accusatory.
Sakura shook her head. They stopped at a red light, waiting for the sign to change.
"...No... just... I guess I've always been used to... doing things on my own? I mean... even when my parents were alive, they didn't know much about skating. So... like... I just... made choices and they went along. And... I dunno..." Sakura trailed off. She felt Itachi nudged her arm when the light changed. They crossed the street together.
It was a long time before Itachi spoke again.
"Can I tell you something?" he asked.
"Sure."
"That's pretty inconsiderate to the people around you."
She finally looked at him. At the half-smile softening his face and his words.
"I understand that you're used to being independent. But at least let us know what you're doing so that we can support you. I'm sure Inuzuka-san and Nara-sensei would have wanted to come too," he pointed out. She faced forward again. But she was still listening when he added, "They've been cheering for you since the beginning. Even if you couldn't see that."
"I know. I know they were," answered Sakura.
She would have been stupid not to know that. From all the phone calls and care packages, even a fool could have seen how much they loved her. How much they were thinking about her. Even when she had felt so far away from everyone, she had known.
They passed in front of a cafe that had closed for the night. The sign outside still glowed blue, buzzing faintly.
"I know they love me a lot. And I'm always grateful. But..." she broke off in the middle of her thought. Mouth tightening.
"But?" Itachi urged her.
She was quiet again. For another block. When they reached another red light, Sakura tucked her chin against her chest. "But the person they're cheering for is gone now. I'm just... me," she told him.
The light turned white. Before she could take another step, she felt Itachi's hand close around her wrist. She tilted her head to look at him.
"You didn't have any gold medals when they started cheering you on," he stated.
Sakura felt her chest tighten a little at the look on his face. And then, Itachi suddenly looked away, avoiding her eyes. She would have been a little hurt if she hadn't heard him mumble, "And you're still amazing. So stop talking about yourself like that."
Gnawing on her lower lip, Sakura turned her face away too. Her cheeks, her ears, even her chest felt a little hot. When Itachi finally released her wrist, her fingers grasped the edge of his sleeve instead. She could feel him staring at her, but she kept her gaze trained on the sidewalk.
She huffed out a big breath through her nostrils.
"... Can we hold hands?" she asked. She wanted to melt into the ground and die when he didn't answer. After several seconds, she felt his hand move. She released his sleeve. Before she could stuff her hand back into her pocket, she felt his fingers weave between hers.
"It's kind of cold. We should keep going," Itachi mumbled, avoiding her eyes as much as she avoided his.
"Yeah."
