Forgive the long AN, since it's been a while...again.

This is a very old thing that became unnecessarily long. Initially came from wanting to do the ice cream/popsicle trope, because I like subverted tropes. And preslash. And absolutely smitten!Naruto is my jam. I'm actually frustrated I lost the original doc for this on my old computer, so I can only hope this is even close to what I'd planned. Ironically, it kind of loosely takes place before the previous chapter—very loosely.

Don't know where the angst came from, although Sasuke isn't the only one with issues, and these here apparently are Naruto's issues.

(The one where Sasuke's already accepted his very far from platonic attraction to Naruto, and although Naruto still hasn't got the memo, eventually, he will get with the programme.)

...

"Yes, Naruto. This is exactly the kind of thing couples do."

...

So Easy (to Love You)

"We already established you think unpure thoughts about Sasuke, but it's not like that's the issue here, because, well, clearly, you still haven't put—"

"Oh, my—just...just shut up, Kiba—shut up, and stop talking!"

"I doubt that was ever much of an issue. I will say, however, that it's a point made. Honestly, at this juncture in your relationship, Naruto, as often as you two go out for lunch and dinner—"

"And breakfast, too. Sometimes breakfast, too."

"Should it count if they usually stay in?"

"Of course it should count, Shikamaru. Plus, Sasuke's still the only one Naruto will actually let sit on the ridiculously comfortable comfy chair, so, I mean, being subjected to all those cuddle sessions, you know..."

"That is true."

"And then we've had to witness Naruto's very, very sad attempts at flirting, now that we know what they are, especially with how often he'll go out of his way to spend time with Sasuke."

"Which most people would probably refer to as dating."

"Oh, yeah, that's the word I was looking for. Dating."

"We're not—"

"Just go ahead and get it off your chest, Naruto. Because with how obvious you are, the way you act around him, it's sickening to watch."

"Watching you knowingly continue to place yourself in this kind of predicament, it really is too much trouble."

"I didn't ask for this. Seriously. I don't remember asking for any of this."

"Eh, we're just calling the situation for what it is."

"Calling you out for still making excuses about why you haven't confessed yet, that is."

But, no, despite what Kiba and Shikamaru and everyone else seem to think, there's no reason for Naruto to confess to anything, because him and Sasuke, the two of them, no—no, they're not dating.

They're just...not.

Besides, Sasuke hasn't said anything about dating, and Naruto likes to think Sasuke's the kind of guy who'd say something about them dating, considering all the decidedly uncalled-for commentary in the form of opinions no one asked for that he makes about everything else Naruto does.

And just because they spend a lot of time together, doesn't mean they spend all their time together.

Never mind Shikamaru's supposed claim that he and Sasuke have somehow perfected the art of living together while living apart.

He doesn't spend that much time with Sasuke.

Just most of it.

Probably somewhere around eighty percent.

Or something like that.

Maybe even a little more on some days.

"As much as it pains me to agree with Kiba," Shikamaru teased him once, back when the thought of living with Sasuke was suddenly no longer so very far out of reach, "with all the time you and Sasuke do spend together, you may as well just give him a key."

(Because Shikamaru doesn't mind whenever Sasuke comes over to their shared apartment, sometimes even offers to stay behind to let Sasuke in, if Naruto's running a little late for one of his and Sasuke's drama nights, like that one night in particular.)

In that very same conversation, however, he admitted it was a little jarring to see someone like Naruto acting so indecisive.

"You're not an undeserving guy. Just stop being so quick to sell yourself short, all right."

"Shikamaru…"

But then Shikamaru went right back to teasing him, when Naruto brought up the fact that agreeing to share a place with Sasuke didn't automatically mean they were dating.

"Of course it doesn't have to mean you're dating. I never said it does. You are projecting, though."

Ever since their sort of guys' night out at that pokey little underground bar, when Naruto carried a passed-out Sasuke home, walking alongside Shikamaru and Kiba, the accidental confession he didn't mean to make drawn out of him, supposedly suffering from being the oversensitive boyfriend type because he wouldn't let anyone call Sasuke Himiko-bastard anymore, ultimately accused of being the kind of overly concerned boyfriend Sasuke didn't know he was trying too hard to be—ever since then, the two of them haven't stopped ragging on him about his feelings for Sasuke, very rarely missing a chance to point out that Sasuke is exactly his type, guy or not, just in less obvious ways.

Not to say Kenji hasn't gotten in a few words, too. Or that Suigetsu hasn't given him these very suspicious, knowing looks, whenever he calls Naruto Blondie, while referring to Sasuke as My Roomie, clearly getting a kick out of indirectly making fun of Naruto. Even Shino's made a few offhand remarks, and he doesn't even know them that well, so, really, this tendency to bring up whatever progress he isn't making with Sasuke, it's developed into a very highly unnecessary pastime at Naruto's expense.

Chouji's been the only considerate one, probably because he has such a soft spot for Sasuke—enough that he was the one who told Naruto about Sasuke's birthday—but he usually leaves Naruto to his own devices, hasn't openly teased him about his seeming inability to confess to Sasuke, having long ago accepted Naruto as Shikamaru's weird roommate, since, apparently, even after that incident in Green Hall, when Naruto all but landed face first in Sasuke's lap, the way Naruto supposedly keeps falling over himself around Sasuke still isn't the worst Chouji's seen.

"Well, the way I figure, even if Shikamaru told me I shouldn't interfere, and let this apparent thing between you two run its course, if the inevitable is already inevitable, then that just means it's only a matter of time, right?"

After Sasuke invited him to share a place together, though, as quickly as Naruto agreed to it on the spot, of course the teasing just got worse, and became this sort of open secret that seemingly only Sasuke wasn't told.

Apparently, thankfully, somehow, Sasuke still doesn't know, or at least it seems like Sasuke doesn't know, since it's not like that's something Naruto can just randomly bring up in conversation, despite all the strange sort of encouragement he's received through continuous teasing from nearly everyone else in their shared circle of close friends.

But he has his reasons for holding back, what he believes are very good reasons why someone as headstrong as he admittedly is still can't bring himself to admit to Sasuke how much he really does like him.

Because the way he feels for Sasuke…

The first person he ever fell for, the first person he really did believe he was going to spend the rest of his life with, she...

It started during his second year in high school, and he was only sixteen, so maybe he should've known better than to put himself out there like that, anyway, but they shared a lot of firsts with each other.

He truly thought she'd be it for him, that they'd eventually get married, that they'd one day have kids, become the kind of family he'd always wanted, but after that pregnancy scare, when their parents found out about them, it didn't take long for him to learn about all the things she'd say behind his back—how she really felt, the kinds of harsh things too quickly spread through rumours other girls in their class would whisper about him when they thought he wasn't listening, and sometimes even when he was.

She said his personality was too much, accused him of being too clingy and too emotional, especially for a guy, and especially at their age. The way she broke things off, before she just completely ignored him, that day she sent him a message, simply said she didn't want to see him anymore, told him he needed to grow up, before the next girl found his off-putting traits to be too overbearing.

As bad the experience was, it hadn't turned him entirely off dating. He's had a few casual relationships, alongside the occasional sex here and there, but nothing even close to like what he's come to have with Sasuke—the kind of relationship he wants with Sasuke.

Sasuke being a guy, sure, that's probably what's holding him back, too, because that threw him off a little at first.

For one, he's never been with another guy, and liking guys, that wasn't something he ever thought about before. So, maybe in that sense, it has a lot more to do with nerves, since he doesn't exactly trust himself when it comes to jumping into something like this, something still so new—never mind if Sasuke would even like him that way, too.

But he's also reached the point where he can imagine doing with Sasuke the kinds of intimate things that would make him blush, if he let his already overactive imagination get too carried away, the kinds of scenarios that would make his entire body burn red, make him too nervous to even think about looking at Sasuke sometimes, all but convinced Sasuke could somehow hear any lingering thoughts about him wanting to know if Sasuke would make the same kinds of cute expressions during—

And while he can both recognise and appreciate Sasuke's looks, attractive by most people's standards, especially with his more traditional features, having pale skin with dark hair and dark eyes, how much Sasuke really does remind him of the types of girls he's gone for in the past, even if Sasuke's a more aggressive kind of shy, Sasuke's still just...Sasuke.

As much as Sasuke likes to tease him, likes to call him a camera nerd, likes to threaten that he knows where Naruto keeps his baby, whenever he's feeling particularly embarrassed, or on the verge of giving into one of Naruto's ideas—more and more it's the way impossibly dark eyes will go soft when he calls Naruto a dork, soft like the sound of his voice, so very soft the way sometimes Sasuke will say his name, will look at him with this small, really gentle smile, even when Naruto doesn't mean to get carried away talking about photography, actually listens when Naruto gets caught up in something he's really passionate about, actually cares enough to remember what Naruto has to say, when other times people have said he talks too much, when plenty of times Naruto being himself had been enough to drive a lot of people away.

And despite how he and Sasuke met, how much Sasuke really didn't like him during most of their first year, despite all the initial bumps in a friendship Naruto even then believed was ultimately worth pursuing, pushing that much harder every time a standoffish Sasuke tried to pull away, all those times Sasuke complained about him making a scene in public and being such a brash and presumptuous guy, in the end, Sasuke's never once asked him to be someone else, never once suggested there was anything Naruto should do to be less of himself.

And that's what Naruto doesn't want to change.

That's what he's afraid of losing.

Although he doesn't regret being so persistent about making Sasuke his friend, in hindsight, maybe it was a little unfair of him, the way he chased after Sasuke, because of how quickly he found himself increasingly drawn to this crazy idea of wanting to receive that kind of simple recognition from someone outside his family, having such an easy, near unconditional acceptance from Sasuke that just is, that left him struggling against the seemingly sudden need to keep all of Sasuke's attention to himself, as they grew closer, how hard it hit him one day, the startling realisation that he didn't know how to let Sasuke go.

But to risk everything he already has to go after that kind relationship with Sasuke, so much more than any physical attraction he's come to terms with, the tiny little possibility that Sasuke wouldn't forever push him away, that even tinier possibility he'd get to spend the rest of his life waking up to someone who looks at him the way Sasuke does, that he'd get to spend the rest of his life waking up to Sasuke—he doesn't know if he wants to take that risk.

So, trying not to ruin what he has with Sasuke now, wanting to hold on to that, he thinks it's more than a good enough reason to keep his feelings to himself, despite Kiba's continued attempts to convince him that's not the case.

"Okay, so, let me get this straight," Kiba said, making a show of clearing his throat. "I mean, we already established that Sasuke willingly does your laundry, right? Even though he already knows you keep leaving your clothes at his place on purpose."

"I don't see where you're going with this."

"The same place your subconscious went when you thought it was a good idea to leave your Doraemon clock at the apartment Sasuke shares with Suigetsu."

"...I thought you finally stopped with the comedy act when we all decided you shouldn't give up on painting as a career."

"Not now, Naruto." Kiba shushed him, fanning his hand quickly in Naruto's general direction. "As the funny man, it's not your turn to talk, all right—but never mind the clock you used as an obvious placeholder for the ring you still haven't picked out to propose to him with yet."

Naruto blushed, pulling his chopsticks away from his mouth, nearly choking on the repurposed leftover takeout he bought to share with Sasuke the night before. "It wasn't a—"

Kiba gave Naruto a few hard slaps on the back, a little too eager with the force behind his hand. "No, listen—listen, on top of all the other weird, couple type things you and Sasuke already do together, even though you two don't actually live together, now we can add the fact that he's willing to cook for you, too?"

"What about it?"

Lowering his hand, Kiba lowered his gaze to the plate in front of Naruto. Blinking, he glanced at Naruto, then back to the plate, looking up again to stare Naruto down.

Naruto swallowed the rest of the food in his mouth, pointedly ignoring the heat he could still feel on his face.

"Not saying I'm the kind of guy looking to settle down so young or anything, but even I have to admit, hell, if I had someone like that, if I had what you have with Sasuke, seriously, man, I mean...

"What are you even waiting for at this point?"

"...helping me, Kiba. This isn't doing it."

As much as Kiba likes to play up the playboy character, as often as he calls himself a ladies' man, he's been surprisingly insightful when it comes to relationship type things, and doesn't mind letting Naruto unload from time to time.

Still, Naruto tries not to go to him too much. Not just because he doesn't want to bother him, but also because Kiba usually points out a lot of things about his relationship with Sasuke that are still hard for him to accept outside their current friendship.

Because it's more than just the time they spend together, how many times Naruto's lost count catching Sasuke falling asleep on his shoulder, recently getting away with placing an arm around Sasuke to bring him closer—how often they do end up sleeping next to each other, sharing Sasuke's spare futon, or lying beneath the same blanket while Sasuke makes himself too comfortable on Naruto's grey comfy chair.

And the whole laundry thing, that's sort of become their normal, too. So, yeah, he has a habit of leaving his clothes with Sasuke on purpose, but he doesn't think it's as big a deal as Kiba tries to make it seem.

It actually started off as an accident, those first few times during those nights he spent over at Sasuke's place, but then the fact Sasuke went ahead and washed those clothes, on Saturday mornings, that Sasuke will still wash and fold Naruto's laundry alongside his own (despite how many times he's gotten on Naruto for it)—that's just become another one of those things they just do.

On the other hand, maybe that's just him taking advantage of the situation, using it as a passive excuse to visit Sasuke, because maybe he really is that hopeless, looking for reasons to justify wanting to be near him, steadily becoming more selfish, finding all these parts of Sasuke he doesn't want anyone else to see, when they're alone, every time when he gets a chance to see Sasuke smile, the way just being with Sasuke makes him feel...

Sasuke cooking for him, actually, that is sort of new. He used to cook for himself more, used to make a lot of healthier stuff, a few simple meals here and there, before he started going out so much with Naruto.

More often lately, though, Sasuke's started trying to make use of the leftovers from the takeout they probably do eat too much of. He tries to cook from scratch, too, between classes and his new job at MOS Burger, at least once a week tries to find the time to make meals they can share, or meals Naruto can take for lunch on the rare occasion they aren't able to eat together.

He was a little shy about it at first, that very forceful brand of violent shy that only ever seems to apply whenever Sasuke decides to take his embarrassment out on him, but, eventually, as he got more comfortable around Naruto, he got more comfortable sharing that side of himself.

(Naruto did try to return the favour once, but, according to Sasuke, Naruto's not allowed to use Shikamaru's rice cooker anymore, because of that one time—one time—Naruto accidentally burned the rice, which somehow personally offended Sasuke, who then took it on himself to ban Naruto from ever using Shikamaru's rice cooker again.

"You managed to burn rice, Naruto. Rice. In a rice cooker.")

To be honest, Sasuke's not necessarily the best at cooking, or at least when it comes to the more experimental kinds of foods, the sort of highly questionable foods he often makes only Naruto try.

For a guy who doesn't even like sweets, he's surprisingly good with the handful of dessert recipes he does know, but then there are times when he likes his spicy foods a little too spicy, although there are also times when it's like there's just no flavour at all; and sometimes he tends to go a little overboard with anything that has to do with tomatoes, other times just plain stingy with meat dishes because of his preference for vegetables and fish, although too many times already has Naruto silently accused him of having absolutely no taste buds.

It's kind of a tossup, really, with a little bit of dread thrown in there every now and then, too, but watching Sasuke cook sometimes, how determined Sasuke gets, bottom teeth dragged near the corner of his lower lip, every time he has that concentrated, not quite constipated expression, during plating, how seriously he takes the look of the overall presentation, it really is cute.

Not that he'd ever say that out loud, but it's plays a part in why he still can't bring himself to say no, whenever Sasuke quietly demands he try something new, so Naruto just suffers in silence, forcing his poor body to brave the unpredictability that has become tasting Sasuke's food.

It's also why he wears the protection charm he all but had to beg Kiba for, had to put up with Kiba holding his stomach and wheezing due to entirely too much laughter ("Priceless, Naruto, oh, man—this is just priceless."), in exchange for letting Kiba come over even more often than he already does, just to hook up his Xbox to Naruto's large TV he'd give himself permission use, anyway.

But he just wants to do his best to be supportive, as supportive as Sasuke's been, all the little ways Sasuke tries to take care of him, even if Sasuke isn't so straightforward about it.

And, maybe even more than that, since he can already admit he's selfish about a lot of things when it comes to Sasuke, he can also admit he just really likes that rush of giddy emotion from knowing Sasuke does feel like he can rely on a clumsy guy like him, does trust him with so many parts of himself, that someone as finicky as Sasuke doesn't always mind when Naruto tries to take care of him, too.

Of course, Naruto has to be a little creative about it. He can't be too direct, because Sasuke still has a hard time accepting help from other people, so he compromises with the little things, like those blue storage cubes he bought, a place for Sasuke keep his stuff, including his ink and paint supplies, so he doesn't have to worry about travelling with so much when he comes over.

It usually involves food, though, since that's one of the few situations he's learned Sasuke doesn't necessarily mind Naruto's attempts to do things for him.

Aside from treating Sasuke to his favourite curry rice, he's already made a habit of stocking up on those seaweed rice crackers he keeps in his and Shikamaru's fridge, and way too many bottles of that flavoured yet disgustingly unsweetened tea Sasuke always seems to be drinking, almost as bad as all those weird ramune flavours Suigetsu likes.

("It's just tea, Naruto."

"But there's no sugar.")

He doesn't know why, but it just turned into another one of those things that they do. Something they began bonding over pretty early on, a routine that became regular between them, it happened after he finally started getting through to Sasuke, but while they were still getting to know each other on a first-name basis.

It probably began during their second term, the first time Sasuke offered to share his lunch, when Naruto forgot to bring his wallet.

Mumbling that Naruto would be the kind of forgetful guy who couldn't even take care of himself properly, Sasuke had looked away, while thrusting his store-bought bento toward Naruto, threatening to take it right back, when Naruto squinted at him and asked if the food was poisoned.

It was such a small gesture, but that was also the day Sasuke finally told him his name, the day Naruto began to stop thinking of him as the guy who nearly took him out with a shaman stick, began to think of him as more than just the guy formerly known as Himiko-bastard, the once menacing, tomato-faced rokurokubi with the impossibly dark eyes, because then Naruto eventually began to see him as Sasuke.

He began to see the nice guy Suigetsu initially claimed Sasuke to be, the Sasuke who doesn't hesitate to let Naruto finish whatever he won't eat, the Sasuke who lets Naruto convince him to try new foods, who doesn't say anything about waiting with Naruto in the long lines for Krispy Kreme.

At the same time, as territorial as Naruto knows he can be with his own food, especially when it comes to the really good ramen, for whatever reason, he's never had a problem sharing with Sasuke, either, even when they weren't as close as they are now.

(His little sisters are probably the only exception, but, even more so than their parents, he's always been the worst at spoiling them, with a defined history of bending over backwards, wanting to make them happy, years of too readily giving into their demands—although Ino's always been a little more demanding than Sakura, since she's a little too much like him for his personal comfort.

"But I like our favourite brand of instant been ramen, too, Naruto-nii, so you have to share with me, or I'll tell Mom on you, because you already said you'd share with me, and eating the last cup of our favourite brand of instant beef ramen on your own isn't sharing with me, you know.")

Still, it is a little surprising, how much sharing his food with Sasuke never really bothered him (or maybe that's just a consequence from having to deal with fighting off Kiba trying to freeload all the time), although considering how often Sasuke likes to help himself to picking at Naruto's food, instead of just getting his own, sometimes he worries if Sasuke's eating enough, because worrying about Sasuke is just something he does now, especially knowing how wrapped up Sasuke gets in his paintings or studying.

The disaster that was their first meeting aside, when Naruto somehow found himself stumbling right into Sasuke's path, nearly running late on the first day of classes, cutting across the campus greens early that morning, not meaning to startle the weird, dark-haired guy swinging around a shaman stick ("For the last time, stop calling it that, Naruto. You already know what it is. You're the one whose head broke my shinai.")—since then, they really have come a long way.

And yet, ever since then, somehow, the closer he gets to Sasuke, the more he starts to feel like he'll never be close enough.

On the surface, Sasuke doesn't come across as an approachable guy. And he isn't, because it really does take a lot to get close to him, but not in the way most people would probably think.

(It's hard enough for strangers trying to get Sasuke's attention, never mind the all pretty girls Naruto's seen attempt to flirt with Sasuke, so Naruto definitely had his work cut out for him back then, despite the amount of effort he put into trying to get Sasuke to acknowledge him, when Sasuke already couldn't stand him, all those times Sasuke went out of his way to ignore him.)

Apart from the usual, expected politeness, Sasuke just doesn't give most people the time of day. He's mostly indifferent, really. Unless it comes to his professors, especially Kakashi, and the small group of friends he had long before Naruto came into the picture; it just so happened that their social circles came to overlap, like with Chouji and Shikamaru.

And it's not that he thinks Sasuke actively tries to be anti-social, either. Or maybe not all the time, he should say, because it isn't like Sasuke's much of a social guy, anyway. Naruto knows that Sasuke has social skills. Depending on the situation, Sasuke can be ridiculously polite. It's just that he can also be really picky about when he chooses to.

He's still a nice person (nice to anyone not Naruto, apparently), but he also has that kind of single-minded focus when it comes to anything to do with school and his art. He's just the sort of guy who knows what he wants to do. When he has a goal, he's going to push himself to reach it, won't let himself be easily distracted, which sometimes means everything else falls to the wayside.

And, yeah, of course Naruto gets that. In so many ways can he relate, because he came to Tama with a dream. The way he feels the about photography, Sasuke's just as dedicated to ink painting and calligraphy, and that was something Naruto was immediately able to pick up, before he even knew Sasuke's name, when he kept referring to him as Himiko-bastard in his head.

After that first note he passed through Suigetsu, still firmly resolved to get Sasuke to accept his apology for the Green Hall incident, after receiving Sasuke's blatant refusal that also called Naruto's poor excuse for writing chicken scratch, despite all the written insults, Naruto couldn't help but notice Sasuke's handwriting.

He remembers being surprised by how nice he thought it was, how much it reminded him of his grandmother Mito he'd only met through photos, all the stories his mom told him about her side of the family, about what was left of the older traditions that were passed down only to her—and that someone with such an off-putting personality could write with strokes that somehow even made katakana look pretty, it was one of the very first things that initially drew him to Sasuke, when he started noticing the ink over Sasuke's hands, started wondering if Sasuke took calligraphy, which actually led to him suggesting Sasuke should, after he blurted out in an empty hallway that he liked Sasuke's handwriting, in a last-ditch attempt to keep Sasuke from walking away.

("All this time, that's why you've been following me. Because you like my handwriting?")

It makes him wonder sometimes, whether or not he and Sasuke would've met, if it hadn't been for that day Sasuke nearly took him out with a shaman stick, if that hadn't inspired him to come up with the name Himiko-bastard, a name that stuck to a face he wasn't able to forget, if he would've ever noticed Sasuke outside of those circumstances, because, otherwise, even with Tama being a small school, even though they do have mutual friends, and even if they still would've eventually crossed paths, the fact that they are in different tracks, honestly, Naruto doesn't think they'd have the kind of relationship they do now.

It's a sobering kind of thought. Sasuke's still his best friend, will always be his best friend, whether he'd return Naruto's feelings or not. And even though Sasuke still hasn't said it back or hasn't said anything against it, every time Naruto calls Sasuke his best friend, every time he tells other people, he means it. Even putting aside his romantic feelings, even if their relationship now is all it's ever meant to be, it's very hard to imagine being able to get through the past three years at Tama without someone like Sasuke in his life.

Someone who makes him feel like maybe his personality isn't too much, that maybe he isn't so overbearing, that everything he's been trying to remind himself, all the good things his parents have always told him, all the reasons his little sisters still look up to him, maybe those things really are true.

Because being so close to Sasuke, simply knowing he's become important to him, too, being able to have and share so many experiences with him, all quiet those moments held between them, the kind of bond they have, the kind of relationship that goes well beyond Sasuke just being his friend, for the first time in a long time, being with Sasuke, it makes him feel needed, actually makes him feel wante

What they have now, that's fine. It's not everything he wants, but it's everything he's going to do his best to keep. So, no, he's not making excuses. He just doesn't want to be the reason he pushes Sasuke away.

Because what if one day Sasuke decides he really is too much? What if Sasuke gets tired of Naruto being who he is? Too loud, too brash, the kind of person he can't help but be, but if he hasn't pushed Sasuke away by now, if he's actually going to be living with Sasuke soon, maybe, at least with the way things are, instead of trying to ruin it altogether, instead of trying to ask for something more, maybe what Sasuke's already given him, maybe that should be enough.

Besides, it's almost been a month since Sasuke brought up the idea of moving together, and they're still searching for a place, before their current leases are up. Hopefully, they can find something in their price range, somewhere not too close to the city, but also not too far away from campus, for daily commutes on the train.

Today will be their third appointment this week. The place they're supposed to be looking at later on this afternoon, it's an apartment Naruto found in Narita. It has a nice bathroom, and the living area is a pretty good selling point. Only possible downside is that it only has one bedroom, although it's generous enough to fit two small beds, alongside a couple pieces of furniture. However, what first attracted him was the kitchen.

Going by the photos he saw online, it's a sizeable kitchen for the price, a price it wouldn't make sense to pass up, well within their combined budget, especially for the location; it's bigger than the tiny kitchen Sasuke shares with Suigetsu, offers a lot more than the kitchen Naruto shares with Shikamaru, a cramped space that pretty much boils down to a small fridge, the smallest little microwave, and Shikamaru's rice cooker that stays on the too narrow counter.

Not that he'll tell Sasuke why he's hoping this place in Narita will work out, but it only makes sense that the kitchen should be one of the determining factors, since cooking is something Sasuke likes doing, and if encouraging him ultimately means Naruto putting his own life on the line more often, he can bear with it a little while longer.

That's what the protection charm is for, anyway.

It's supposed to be a bit of a surprise, though, too, so he's a little more excited about this apartment than the others; he made the appointment on short notice, having only found the new listing posted two days before, and was fortunately able to squeeze in a time that worked around both his and Sasuke's schedules.

Sasuke hasn't seen the photos yet, but he simply took Naruto's word for it, when Naruto said it was the kind of place he'd like.

He knows Sasuke more than well enough by now, and obviously Sasuke trusts him, if it was that simple for Sasuke to agree.

Being in Narita already puts the apartment in a good location, but it's also in a quiet neighbourhood, an area with mostly older people, that doesn't get too crowded, with not a lot of places to shop, but with really nice scenery.

That's why he's been looking forward to it, if only to see the look on Sasuke's face, because he's confident Sasuke will like it. If that is the case, though, a place like that, he just hopes they're actually able to get it.

They still have a few hours until the actual appointment, one more class until they have to catch the train. It's only a quarter 'til noon, still early in the day, earlier than their usual lunch, but they're also trying to leave campus as soon as possible, so they can make a day of it.

After seeing the apartment, if all goes well, they're going hang out in the city for a while, check out a few of the used camera shops, since Naruto's been saving up for another fixed lens, and he prefers to buy most of his equipment in person.

Sasuke's the same way, too, especially with his brushes. Those can get pretty expensive, and he's very particular about the ones he'll use, taking special care of the set that was passed down to him from his mom's side of the family.

("Have you ever been to the Kumano Brush Festival before?"

Sasuke lifted his head from Naruto's shoulder, looking up from the sketchbook opened over his lap. "I haven't."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"I just thought it seemed like something you might want to see, I guess."

"I've heard of it, but..."

"You should go, then," Naruto got out through a near jumble of sound, words said too hasty, probably a little too loud, although just as quickly, he added the Brush Festival to the growing list of places he did want to take Sasuke to see someday, fighting back the usual kind of impulse that would have him declare one day he really was going to do just that.

"I mean...I just think you'd like it."

Sasuke gave him a thoughtful look, gave a soft little hum, dark eyes slightly narrowed in consideration, before he lowered his head back against Naruto's shoulder, with his mechanical pencil still in hand, lightly tracing the shadows of stylised clouds, immediately picking up where he left off in his sketchbook.

"...maybe.")

For now, though, they're just having lunch, in between seemingly random streams of conversation, bouncing around ideas to get an early start preparing for their portfolios next year, a final portfolio that's required for all students to graduate.

He still doesn't know what he wants to do yet. Not that he doesn't have plenty time to decide, but it's already nearing the end of his third year, and he has been getting kind of antsy about putting together a body of work that would best showcase his the range of what he's able to do.

He's gotten some good feedback from Iruka, who keeps telling him not to rush, to take his time, and find ways to apply his strengths in less familiar areas, in order to push himself outside his normal boundaries. He's not so comfortable with portraits, so that's something he's been thinking of working on, maybe incorporating a short, black and white series, since he can't rely on cloudscapes forever.

He thought about asking Sasuke to be his subject again, not seriously, just to tease him, because he knows Sasuke doesn't like that kind of attention. But after having to do that sketchbook assignment for Genma's class, the first time he managed to get Sasuke in front of the camera, he's been itching to see Sasuke like that again, instead of having to imagine how it'd look to capture the way the light tends to hit Sasuke's face, all the small ways Sasuke really is expressive, what it'd be like to capture the really soft smiles that Sasuke sometimes gets shy about him Naruto see.

Coming up with reasons to convince Sasuke, though, it's still a work in a progress, because Sasuke's especially prickly about having his photo taken, and maybe, just maybe, Naruto's continued teasing about Sasuke being his muse, maybe that has something to do with it, too.

It's kind of funny how shy Sasuke gets about the most unexpected things. It's easy to see now that he knows what sort of reaction to look for, when Sasuke purses his lips, the way his cheeks get a little puffy, sometimes the slightest blush that barely colours his cheeks, before he turns to hide his face, sometimes hitting a widely grinning Naruto a little too forcefully in the process.

But none of that has to mean they're dating.

And if he's feeling especially giddy today, if this place in Narita is where he can actually see himself living with Sasuke, whether or not it's from the nerves that started to kick in this morning, his excitement from wanting to impress Sasuke, that doesn't have to mean anything, either.

They're just having their regular lunch. Nothing unusual about that at all.

And yet, in moments like these, sometimes, whenever he's out with Sasuke, when it's just the two of them sharing a comfortable silence, he starts to wonder if this really is the kind of thing couples do, because he can almost hear Shikamaru's voice in the back of his mind, can pretty much picture that all too knowing look on Shikamaru's face.

"Yes, Naruto. This is exactly the kind of thing couples do."

Other times, he can practically hear Kiba laughing, loud and obnoxious—in general, Kiba just being Kiba.

"I know me and Shikamaru like to tease you about moving too slow, but even considering your depressingly dried-up track record, shouldn't you be looking for a ring by now?"

Naruto's right eye began to twitch.

"Or does moving in together mean you've finally reached the stage where you're planning out your proposal?"

Alongside his usual, unimpressed glare as a response to Kiba's typical teasing, accordingly, Naruto threw at him the nearest hard object within reach.

A pen.

Not that it did anything to stop Kiba's laughter, actually ended up encouraging even more of it, but, going at this rate, Naruto really was going to run out of pens to use.

All that aside, okay, so, well, maybe today's lunch feels a little different from their regular lunches. And maybe that's why he was so determined to persuade Sasuke to try the new gelato shop that opened up last month; it's been a pretty popular spot, on the way to one of the more secluded parks Sasuke likes to go to, but the shop's normally not so busy around this time, and he really enjoys being able to convince Sasuke to try foods he usually wouldn't eat.

Honestly, though, as much as Sasuke already acts like an old man, he really is a kid when it comes to trying different types of things, ridiculously picky, despite the fact that most of the time he ends up liking whatever food Naruto suggests, anyway.

Sometimes, it kind of does feel like Naruto has to coax him into trying something new, truly is a wonder that he hasn't yet given into the occasional urge to physically feed Sasuke himself. Really, he'd think the guy was being forced to eat burnt natto. Almost every time, Sasuke either acts like his arm's being twisted behind him, or the food's somehow out to get him.

But then it's also become an opportunity to watch the really cute expressions Sasuke makes, the kind of expression he's making now, when his face scrunches just a little, like he can't decide if he wants to frown or not, so he just stares at the small paper cup of cucumber gelato held in his hand, lightly scraping the tip of his tiny plastic spoon against the rim.

In general, Sasuke just tends to eat slowly, though. He can be a little absent-minded about it, putting food on the backburner for whatever else he's doing, especially when he's struggling to get Kakashi to respond to his emails. It's distracted eating at best.

And yet, even when his mind isn't somewhere else, Sasuke tends to take his sweet time, anyway, taking what feels like ages to finish his food.

Seriously, the unreasonable amount of time it sometimes takes Sasuke to eat, how long he draws out the process, bit by bit, slowly tearing off a small piece of Naruto's half-sandwich he might've helped himself to, or those steamed vegetable buns from the canteen he really likes—and then taking entirely too much time taking apart those already small portions into smaller pieces it takes him seemingly forever and a day to chew.

It's annoying, that's what it is.

He won't say he's the most polite eater, or even the messiest one (never mind when Sasuke complains about him always slurping his ramen too loudly—like that's even a thing), but sometimes even he can't help but feel like a slob in comparison, like he eats both too fast and too much, because by the time Sasuke's finally started picking apart his second steamed bun, usually, Naruto's already done with his food it then feels he all but scarfed down.

Once upon a time, he used to think he ate pretty normally, finally outgrew all those bad habits his mom and dad used to get on him for, at least until he started sharing meals with Sasuke.

He wouldn't have given it a second thought before, but the average time it takes him to get through two egg and mayonnaise sandwiches, he really doesn't want to think it isn't that much.

Instead, he spares a glace towards his large, grey and orange backpack, to the open side mesh pocket holding a half-full travel bottle of Kewpie mayonnaise (the one Sasuke made a judgmental face at him for even buying, still does every time Naruto stocks up, because he claims there's a lingering smell from Naruto always using mayonnaise too much), making a mental reminder to buy more, before his gaze settles back on Sasuke, who still hasn't tried the gelato yet.

Sasuke's still looking at it, head down, just staring, like he's waiting for the gelato to actually jump out at him or something, so Naruto in turn continues to watch, giving a slow, encouraging nod, when Sasuke slowly begins to lift the plastic spoon from the cup.

And then, as Sasuke raises his head, bringing the spoon towards his mouth, dark eyes narrowed at the barely there, curved lump of pale green gelato—just when it looks like he's finally going to try it, he ends up licking around the spoon.

It's already such a small spoon, yet, instead of trying all of it at once, Sasuke gives the most ridiculously cautious lick around the tiny little plastic spoon, agonisingly slow, like he's just waiting not to like it, waiting to be disgusted, on principle alone, all but refusing to give Naruto's suggestion a chance.

Seriously, who in their right mind eats like that?

"...so?"

"...it's not..." Sasuke tilts his head to the side a little, gives a slight pause. "It's not...bad, I guess."

Which is as close as Sasuke will probably ever admit to liking it, but that suits Naruto just fine. He's going to call it a win, anyway, grinning, as he lets himself preen a bit, because he likes that he's gotten to know Sasuke so well; that's why Sasuke eventually ends up going along with most of his ideas, no matter how much he tries to pretend he won't otherwise.

"Told you you'd like it."

Sasuke snorts. "Don't sound so proud of yourself." He gives the spoon another lick, finishing the rest of the gelato, this time without acting like it's out to get him. "Here."

Naruto gives a half-shrug in response, the sheer gravity of the implications attached to that one single word not really registering, even as he watches Sasuke dip the same tiny little plastic spoon back into the cup, gathering a more generous scoop of the gelato, before Sasuke reaches across with his left hand, bringing the tiny little spoon towards Naruto's waiting mouth.

Meeting Sasuke halfway, he doesn't even question what he's doing, or the nagging feeling that he's somehow missing something. He just accepts the offer without thinking, like this is just another of those things they've already done over and over before, because now he kind of wants to try the gelato, too.

The texture's lighter than he expected, sort of airy, and it goes down pleasantly smooth, nearly dissolving in his mouth.

Being cucumber, it's already pretty mild, but the sweetness is subtle, not overpowering at all, with the smallest hint of mint. Although it's not sweet enough for him, it's still good, leaving a refreshing aftertaste on his tongue, the really mellow kind of flavour that goes especially well with the higher than usual humidity of the season, as it gets closer to the summer months.

By the time he starts to swallow, the spoon's already being carefully pulled away, just as he licks his lips, catching the small traces of gelato at the corner of his mouth.

It takes a few more seconds to catch up to him, but that nagging feeling, exactly what he was missing, it finally starts to sink in, the realisation coming too late, when he remembers they've never actually done anything like this before, the kind of thing couples do he never thought he'd be able to do with Sasuke any time soon, if ever.

It turns his body stiff, a thought that sends his mind reeling, sends his heart racing, hammering way too fast in his chest, the way he feels all the blood rush to his face, while his temperature keeps rising, a heat that feels like it's going to permanently colour his skin.

Because Sasuke, he...

That Sasuke could just...

But this is a moment, right?

He thinks they're having a moment.

No, no, they are definitely having a moment, because what Sasuke just did, that's the sort of thing couples do, isn't it?

The kind of thing he and Sasuke just happen to do that everybody keeps teasing him about?

That's what this kind of moment is.

Like that scene in the last Korean drama Sasuke made him watch, the one with the friend couple at the cafe, where the clumsy main character accidently spills her drink, and the guy she really likes offers to share his with her, so she won't have to waste her money on buying another one, because it turns out he secretly likes her, too.

And while they started with separate straws, the main character somehow gets their straws mixed up, causing them both to panic, when they realise they just shared an indirect kiss in public, and end up making a scene in the quiet cafe because of it.

And what just happened with Sasuke, doesn't that count as one, too?

Isn't that what it was, an indirect kiss?

And yet this is even worse than that, because they didn't just share a straw.

No, the spoon that originally touched Sasuke's lips, the spoon that was in Sasuke's mouth, Sasuke used that spoon to feed him.

Not quite sure how to function anymore, Naruto just continues to stare, still unable to move, barely able to think, because he's still trying to process the fact he just ate from the same spoon that went straight from Sasuke's mouth and right into his.

On the verge of spontaneous combustion, he almost worries about making a scene in public, except they're not in public. They're in the park, by themselves, because this is the kind of place they usually have lunch when the weather's really nice, because Sasuke's a private person, and would rather spend time with him when it's just the two of them alone, which Naruto's really, really come to appreciate—and how can Sasuke sit there unmoved and act like he didn't just suddenly throw Naruto spiralling into an emotional crisis he was nowhere near prepared for?

But Sasuke's not even paying any attention to him. Like nothing happened, he doesn't even seem to think twice about what he did. He just carries on with his life, carries on totally unbothered, legs tucked beneath him, somehow comfortable like that sitting on the grass, already back to leaning against Naruto's right shoulder, leaning into the arm Naruto felt bold enough to place around him.

Only because Naruto's gotten away with doing it a lot more lately, and Sasuke still hasn't said anything about it, so Naruto likes to tell himself it's for sake of his own comfort, since Sasuke usually ends up leaning against him, anyway, and at least like this, it keeps his arm from being squished between them.

Yet despite how many times he's already done this before, how easy it is to be comfortable like this, it's in this moment he becomes hyperaware of just how close together they're sitting, pressed up against one another, how very little of them actually isn't touching—seriously, how did he not notice any of this before?

Faint.

That's what he feels.

Like he actually might keel over.

Because that tiny little spoon Sasuke's still holding, the spoon earlier he was so very slowly licking around, the same spoon that was just in Naruto's mouth? Sasuke dips it back into the cup, scoops out a small mound of gelato this time just enough to fill the shallow bowl of the spoon, and then slides the spoon into his mouth, using his free hand to turn on the tablet lying in his lap, absently working to finish the rest of his gelato, while he taps open an email app from the home screen.

Although it's a bit of a blow to his already deflated ego, how inconsiderate Sasuke's being, not taking the very serious nature of the situation seriously, fortunately, Sasuke still hasn't caught on, completely unaware of the devastating effect simply sharing a spoon of cucumber gelato would have on him.

If he didn't know any better, for a second, he'd almost think Sasuke was doing it on purpose, making Naruto question all those times he almost slipped up getting a little too close, so many times he wanted to kiss Sasuke, too many times with the very near brush of his lips almost did, before someone unknowingly interrupted, or he suddenly remembered what he was doing, where he was, but there's no way Sasuke would ever—

A hand pulls him away from his thoughts, gently turning over his left arm, so Sasuke can read the watch on Naruto's wrist, despite the fact Sasuke has faster access to both his tablet and his phone.

But it's a familiar touch, enough to grab Naruto's attention, when he sits up a little, straightening his back somewhat stiff against the broad trunk of a tall tree, careful not to jostle Sasuke, when he looks down to make sure nothing's wrong.

"What is it?"

"Nothing." Sasuke shakes his head, carefully lowering Naruto's arm.

Naruto bites at corner of his lip, glancing at the time displayed on Sasuke's tablet. "Has it been that long already?"

"No, there's still time left before my next class. I'll probably be running a little late afterwards, though."

"Kakashi again?"

"...yeah." Sasuke sighs. "I'm still waiting to hear back from him about being approved for that proposal for independent study I submitted. But his flight only landed yesterday. I know he's probably tired."

With a small nod, Naruto gives a low hum in agreement. "That's right. He was at that mandatory seminar you said he kept complaining about not wanting to go to."

"Mm, it's not just another one of his excuses this time, so..."

"I can still come by to pick you up. It wouldn't take that long."

"It's not a big deal. It'll be more crowded on campus around that time, anyway. You don't have to wait for me."

Of course he doesn't have to wait for Sasuke. He doesn't have to do a lot of things for Sasuke.

He just wants to.

But that's not what he says. Actually, he doesn't say anything, can't when Sasuke all but sags against him, placing the now emptied paper cup next to his lunch bag, letting out another sigh.

Naruto frowns. "You sure?"

"It's fine. I'll just meet you at the station."

"If you're sure, then, uh, that's okay?"

"I didn't ask whether it was okay," Sasuke says, gaze still fixed on his tablet. "I just wanted to let you know."

"...oh."

Even though Sasuke isn't looking at him, Naruto still ducks his head, dark hair tickling his cheek, as he tries to hide another oncoming blush. Turning away, he helps himself to one of Sasuke's leftover steamed buns, all but stuffing his face to keep his mouth busy, too preoccupied chewing, to keep from blurting out three simple little words that were already on the tip of his tongue.

He waits for the moment to pass, for his embarrassment to fade.

After a few more seconds, he swallows, blinking once, twice, at the finger that pokes his cheek, Sasuke's head tilted back, Sasuke peering up at him with one of those really soft little smiles this time Naruto happens to get a chance to see.

"You're such a dork, Naruto."

"Yeah, well, then, I, um...I guess that's okay, too."