"I can eat by myself, Sakura." Sasuke released a sigh, eyes stern yet subtly pleading in front of his former teammate.
"With your amputated left arm and your sore right hand? Sure."
"Tch."
Sakura wasn't able to stop herself from rolling her eyes. "Oh, don't you tch, tch me, Sasuke-kun! I told you to take it easy on trainings! You've just fought in a war and just gotten out of the hospital for crying out loud!"
She got a point, Sasuke admitted. Yet at the back of his mind, the current predicament with her was more uncomfortable than not being able to eat on his own.
"Now, eat this, please."
Shutting his eyes, he finally complied and opened his mouth, which soon allowed him to taste the best Gyudon he has ever tasted since the demise of his mom. His eyes remained closed.
"There. You should've done that thirty minutes ago rather than whining that you could eat despite your current condition. You should lessen being stubborn, Sasuke-kun! Especially when I'm around."
"Why are you doing this?"
"W-what..."
"This, taking care of me."
Sakura glanced away and placed the spoon back on the bowl. "I-i'm the medic-nin assigned to you."
With a sigh, Sasuke opened his eyes and watched how Sakura fidgeted with the spoon in her hand. "You were the one who mentioned that I just got out of the hospital. Obviously." He looked around his apartment, wondering for the nth time this day how they ended up sitting on his couch after his time at the training grounds.
Sakura didn't meet his eyes. "Well, I just...I just wanted to check on you. See how you're doing."
"That's all?"
She tersely nodded, and Sasuke could see through her every subtle movement.
His bandaged hand reached to her face, startling the medic as he moved so that her gaze finally collided with his. "I don't think so."
"Sasuke-kun..."
"Just tell me why, Sakura."
Sakura bit her lip, opened her mouth, and then closed it again. She didn't want to be direct, but that was what Sasuke has been asking from her right now. So she blurted out, "Because I still love you. I care about you."
To her surprise, Sasuke's hand fell on his lap as a small smile appeared on his face. "That's all I need to hear."