A/N: Agh! Guys. I just realized I made a minor detail error that doesn't really matter, but definitely does. So lmao. I started Part II originally stating that it begins in August. This is not so. It's Spring semester lol so Part II actually begins in January. As such, the following changes have been made:

Sasuke's Bio Tools class is in Spring (Session 4 reference)

The narrative story begins in January; minor details from Part II, Ch. 1 and 2 (originally titled Aug & Sept) have been changed to reflect this

Okay! All is well! If these changes didn't affect you, don't worry about my little snafus :)

February – Week 2 (Part I)

Sasuke peeled out of his hat and gloves, hung them haphazardly in his locker, and cursed, "Dammit," before shimmying out of his pea coat and boots. He nearly tripped on his scarf, trying to put on his shoes for practice, undress, and dress all at once. To say he was in a rush would be an understatement.

He'd spent a little too much time at the Engineering library – one, conveniently, farthest away from the arena – and was running dangerously late. Kakashi, for as lax as he was, was surprisingly strict about punctuality.

Sasuke crouched down and tied his gym shoes roughly, ignoring the melted snow plopping onto the leather as best he could. As he jogged toward the locker room exit and toward the gym, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and cursed again. His nose and the tips of his ears were still red as Rudolph from the cold, and snow clung to his hair from the flurries blurring outside.

He looked like a fucking elf.

With no time to dethaw his translucent skin or melt his hair under a hand dryer, he would have to settle. It would have to be enough to just be mentally prepared for the impending teasing coming his way.

"Nice for you to join us, Sasuke," Kakashi drawled, looking back at him over his shoulder the second his sneakers squeaked onto the court. As predicted, snickers struggled to contain themselves on the bleachers. Sasuke grunted and settled into his usual spot, silencing the laughter with heated glares.

"Only 12 minutes late this time, teme."

"Aa."

He and Naruto completed their handshake, as they always had since first playing together all the way back in grade school, and he turned to attention after the elaborate display of brotherhood was completed.

The silver-haired, self-proclaimed "copy ninja" was pacing across the maple basketball flooring as he explained the latest play he'd designed. Design should be a term taken very lightly, however, as Kakashi didn't call himself a copy ninja for no reason. He was a pro at taking – ahem, borrowing – tried and true techniques, plays, and strategies from the icons of the sport, past and present. Sasuke specifically remembered his freshman or sophomore year when OTech tried banning the Hurricanes from using tape for review. They'd claimed that "KU's system was built on a garbage sewer of copycat plagiarism" and, though their accusations were not wrong, their attempts were futile.

Kakashi was going to get the play, tweak it to fit his players best, and then deliver it. No matter what. Tape or not.

"So, what we're aiming to do is take advantage of Lee's speed at the fast break. He's a big guy who he really puts on the burners and beats most other bigs no problem. Let's take advantage of that," he wheeled out a whiteboard and began drawing Xs and Os as the plan got increasingly detailed. Eventually, Sasuke found himself automatically doing the honors of passing out mini-boards and markers for the rest of his teammates to follow along with.

As far as the core group went, Sasuke had very few problems with his teammates.

At the one was Sai – Point Guard. He ran the paint. Period. He'd transferred to KU after taking a few years at a French art school, then made the team as a walk-on. Pure. Talent. Sasuke didn't care much for Neji, the swingman, but the feeling was truly mutual. They knew each other from intramural rivalries growing up, and the bitter tastes left in mouths after tossing championship trophies back and forth year after year never faded. It didn't help that Kakashi constantly made them battle for minutes.

Lee was fine enough. He did his job well, so Sasuke couldn't complain.

And then there was the molten ball of flesh sleeping with his eyes open also known as his best friend and the starting shooting guard. Naruto was undoubtedly the most natural leader of the group during gametime. Otherwise...not so much.

"Wake up, deadlast," Sasuke glared, elbowing Naruto not-so-subtly in the gut as he sat back down. Before Naruto got the chance to argue, the Uchiha shoved a whiteboard and marker into his chest. He nodded toward Kakashi's board, which was already half full. In between neat scribbles, trying to catch up, he told Naruto, "We've got no chance at making Madness if you're being an idiot."

Naruto grinned while taking the cap off his marker.

"Ne, teme, I remember not even two weeks ago you didn't even think we had a sh–"

"Shut up."

Sasuke's knee bounced increasingly faster and his entire body itched to push Naruto out of his own car window and floor it, leaving him in the street. It wasn't unusual for Naruto to offer the underclassmen (every. single. last. one.) rides to their dorms after practices, but Sasuke had somewhere to be. Or, more specifically, someone to talk to.

His eyes flickered to the digital lights on Naruto's dashboard clock.

7:58. Two minutes.

He had someone to talk to in two minutes. And this idiot was leaning halfway out his frigging window chatting it up with this freshman like they were best buds. Like. What? Naruto was only allowed to best buds with him.

Who was this guy?

Naruto's thumb jutted toward Sasuke from over his shoulder, a wide smile on his face. "Hey, Sasuke, do you know Konohamaru?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

Naruto chuckled, unperturbed.

"No," Sasuke seethed.

"That's crazy. He's probably gonna play 2 or–"

7:59.

Sasuke's fist tightened and his phone in his front pocket felt hot, like a lump of burning coal. He wondered what would happen if he just...didn't answer. He figured the service was voluntary – not that he wanted to leave his intern hanging, or anything, but explaining who he was talking to and then why he was talking to a girl, of all potential beings, would surely prove itself far too annoying to withstand.

"How's it going with Moegi, man?"

"Pretty good, pretty good. I really miss her; wish she could've come here."

"Man, you're lucky I'm here."

They threw their heads back in laughter, but Sasuke's temper imploded the instant the clock flicked to 8:00 pm. "We really have to go," he said through a forced, closed-mouth smile. When he was met with confused, open-mouthed stares, he groaned and unsnapped his seatbelt, growling as he slammed Naruto's stupidly orange Jeep door and stomped around to the freshman. He wrapped an arm around his shoulder and forcibly dragged him away and toward his dorm room entrance. "Give me your key card," he demanded, holding his hand out.

Konohamaru sneered, "Dude, what the–"

Sasuke's phone lit through the thin fabric of his tearaways and he held up a finger, effectively hushing Konohamaru. He picked it up and was immediately greeted by a noticeably cheerier chirp.

"Happy Tuesday, Uchiha-san. How are you doing today?"

Glaring, Sasuke mouthed give me your fuckin key, freshman.

"I'm fine," he growled, lips tight.

Konohamaru stuck out his tongue and stuffed up a middle finger, preparing to head back toward Naruto's car. Sasuke perched his phone against his cheek and swiftly caught Konohamaru by the wrist, quickly twisting his arm to his back and restraining him at the elbow.
"Man, what is your–"

"The key," Sasuke bit lowly, tightening his grip.

Konohamaru scoffed and relented, "Fine, dude. I'll go."

The Sarutobi backed away from the Uchiha with his hands raised in surrender, refusing to unlock eyes with him until he was certain Sasuke was done being aggro. Sasuke was fine with the little staring contest, and, in fact, dared Konohamaru to look away, even after he swiped into the dorm. A feminine voice in his ear stating the obvious (that he, actually, was not as "fine" as he claimed) distracted his attention and reminded him why he dragged Konohamaru through the snow in the first place.

Sasuke cleared his throat and white smoke exited his mouth from the cold he somehow avoided feeling previously. He stuffed his hands in his pockets before turning to head back to Naruto's car.

"I wonder why that is," she pressed.

The Uchiha climbed into Naruto's Jeep and shut the door behind him. Even though the blond had a million questions on his face, Sasuke pointed to his phone and continued, "Me too."

Naruto's hand hovered over his keys momentarily, shocked to silence at Sasuke, who avoided his gaze like the plague while he continued on the phone. Naruto bet he thought he was being slick, hiking up his coat collar and being all short with his answers. But nope. He saw him chewing on his little necklace; that was Sasuke's biggest tell of all.

He was no idiot, contrary to popular belief. Naruto knew a meaningful phone call when he heard one, and he definitely knew a nervous Sasuke when he saw one.

The only thing he had to figure out was why.

Struggling to contain his laughter, Naruto finally unfroze and turned his keys. He quickly shut off the radio before backing out and heading back to their apartment.