Early update because I managed it. :P

Summer of 2009

Temari is trying to finish her homework frantically with one hand while in the other she is holding a fork with a piece of strawberry stuck on it.

Sakura is passing by her table and pauses. "Hey, need some help?"

For some reason, Temari is sitting alone during lunch. She looks up from her book and smiles sheepishly. "Er, yeah. Thanks. Could you just read this bit?"

Sakura takes the empty chair beside her. "You're just copying it out?"

Temari shrugs, eats her strawberry, and gestures with her pencil hand for Sakura to begin. Sakura has never copied someone else's homework in her life. But when she starts to read it to Temari, she feels the words are somehow too familiar. When she's on the fifth line, Sakura checks the nametag on the book.

Uchiha Itachi

This is the same homework that Itachi copied from Sakura before their first class began. And thinking of the devil, there's a scraping sound as Itachi pulls out another chair and drops down onto it.

"Hey, you done yet?" And then he realises that Sakura is holding his notebook. "Er, Haruno. So I just gave my book to Temari because she needed help. And I figured, Sakura is such a wonderful girl! She'll never mind it. Right?"

Sakura levels a look on him and he seems to cower a bit. Temari has taken this momentary lapse to stuff her face with more fruit.

Sakura doesn't bother responding to Itachi. She continues to dutifully read out the answers as Temari jots it down, word-by-word. They are done with fifteen minutes to spare. Temari packs her bag and then folds her hands on the table, props her chin on it, and stares between the two of them.

Itachi is shooting puppy-dog eyes at Sakura in a silent apology, which Sakura is trying to ignore by examining her hands instead.

And then Nara Shikamaru and Yamanaka Ino take the other two empty chairs at the table. Sakura suddenly realises that this is Itachi's group and she should probably leave them be. She is about to stand up when Itachi moves his chair closer to hers, drapes his arm on the back of her chair, and leans down to speak in her ear.

"Hey, I'm really sorry. I know you don't like it when someone copies your homework. But she really needed some help."

Sakura looks at her lap and nods, her fingers twisting together nervously. Everyone can see them right now. What is he thinking, sitting like that? But then again, they're friends, right? So this should be fine. Not a big deal.

"It's fine."

Itachi is still watching her. She can feel the heat of his gaze, and her heart stutters.

"She's your friend," Sakura continues, hoping to sound normal.

But then Itachi chuckles. "So are you."

"Right."

"Yo, Uchiha!" Nara Shikamaru calls for him, and Itachi finally looks away from her. But doesn't remove his arm. "Ask your girlfriend if she wants to join us after school."

Itachi tsks irritably. "Can you cut it out already? She's not my girlfriend."

Sakura wonders who is Itachi's so-called girlfriend, feels something break inside her, and exhales slowly.

"Hey, Haruno," Itachi turns to her once more. "We're planning to sneak into the teacher's breakroom after school. Wanna join?"

Sakura stares at him. He sounds absolutely serious, eyebrows raised, expectant face. When did she become his so-called girlfriend? Or maybe he just asked her because she is sitting beside him right now, and plans to ask his so-called girlfriend later. Despite not really being in the "mix of things", Sakura has heard the rumours. The rumours about how Itachi likes some girl from their batch, and how a few girls think that puberty is being extra kind to him. They're not wrong. It's the phase of their teenage years when Sakura is of the same height as Itachi, but knows that it won't last long. Aunt Guren was telling her how girls stop growing after a certain age, and how she'd have to be extra careful around boys.

Maybe she should politely ask Itachi to move away? But this just feels too nice.

And what in the name of all that is holy will they achieve by going into the breakroom?

"Er, no. Thanks."

Itachi sighs morosely, and Sakura almost feels bad for refusing to join yet again. Itachi has tried to convince her into their various shenanigans since the past year, which always ends up with her declining, Itachi and his friends being caught, punished, and the cycle repeating over and over again.

She doesn't understand why he keeps asking her.

Yamanaka Ino takes that moment to grab everyone's attention with the latest gossip about one of their seniors, Genma, who lost his virginity to a college girl.

"He's been bragging about it the whole day," Ino exclaims. "And he's been describing every detail to whoever will listen."

Itachi laughs loudly and the movement brushes his shoulders with Sakura's. "I know. He told me earlier in the bathroom."

Ino looks disgusted with him. "Do you have nothing better to do than listen to sex stories?"

Itachi isn't offended even one bit. Instead, he shoots back, amused, "Do you have nothing better to do than listen to sex stories? Besides, don't tell me girls don't gossip about this stuff."

Temari groans, holding her head in her hands. "Don't. Don't get there. Every time I enter the girls' bathroom, they're either discussing periods or sex or boys. I just can't."

Sakura's cheeks flush. She doesn't really have any friends yet except for Itachi. And the others that she talks to are conversations usually related to studies or exams or homework. Somehow, it feels embarrassingly awkward to be sitting here with Itachi and his friends and listening to them talk about it so openly. She actually got her periods two months ago, and her breasts have started to show. Which is why she's wearing the hot, stuffy school blazer inside the cafeteria during summer.

And Itachi is still sitting too close.

Why isn't the bell ringing?

Shikamaru is slumped over the table, and Sakura kind of wishes she could do the same because Itachi is now teasing Temari by asking her how many girls speak about him and all Temari does is smirk back, "Not the one you want to, I'm afraid."

Which shuts up Itachi instantly. Sakura really wants to know who this so-called girlfriend is. She should start paying more attention to the gossip around her. Or she could ask Itachi since they're friends, and isn't that the kind of stuff you're allowed to ask?

Just as she's gearing up, gathering whatever ounce of courage she can salvage, and opens her mouth to speak, trrriiiinngggggg!

Winter 2020 – Present Day

Sakura is incredibly nervous. She can't believe she said yes to this stupid idea. She can't meet Itachi. She just can't. It's been too long, and it's time to let the sleeping dogs sleep.

If Itachi starts to speak about the "good old days", she might overthrow the table.

One thing she knows for certain is that Itachi can be very persistent if he puts his mind to it. But what she doesn't understand is why. Why is he being persistent now? He was so distant and aloof with her that she chose environmental hazard over him, and after that, it's been a complete 180 turn.

The problem is – she's too excited to see him again. Normal excitement to meet your long lost friend? Sure. Too much excitement to meet the man you once loved? Not exactly advisable.

More so when Temari had told her two years ago how Itachi met the love of his life.

Sakura is worried that she might have to meet that woman, or even have Itachi speak reverently of her and the relationship that they share. No matter how much "moving on" Sakura does, she cannot have that conversation with him.

Naruto realises her agitation and tries to distract her by giving details about his date with Kiba, but when she only nods, he gives up and asks her what the matter is.

"I'm meeting someone today."

Naruto grins hesitantly. "On a date?"

Sakura's thoughts come to a screeching halt. It's not a date, right? No, of course, not. Itachi loves someone. He can't be on a date with her. Besides, even if he weren't in love with someone else, it still wouldn't have been a date.

"No … no. Not a date. Just probably an awkward meet-up with an old friend."

"You seem too worried, though."

Sakura shrugs. "We used to be good friends. Then things happened. I don't want to dig up anything, you know?"

Naruto nods in sympathy. "Yeah, I know what you mean. But it'll be okay. Besides, if things become too uncomfortable, you can just make up an excuse and leave. That is an option, you know?"

"Right. Of course. Yeah. I can just do that."

"Yeah," Naruto reassures her. "Now … about that date with Kiba's friend?"

Sakura laughs. She had completely forgotten about that. "I'm good. Thanks."

Naruto pouts slightly. "But Sakura! He sounds awesome! Kiba told me how he's a huge prankster, has some high-end job in a huge IT firm, and he recently had a bad break-up with his co-worker so he put up huge posters of him in really embarrassing moments on the main doors! Kiba said he wanted to make sure no one missed seeing them."

Sakura is confused. "Why would he put embarrassing posters of himself?"

Now, Naruto is confused. "No. Of his ex. Duh."

Then Sakura mulls over the sentence in her head again. "Wait … so his ex is a he?"

Naruto nods. "Yep. I mean, I'm not setting you up with a gay man. Of course, not. Kiba said he's bi."

Now it's Sakura's turn to nod. "Right. Okay. I'm good, Naruto."

Naruto complains for the rest of their lunch break by complimenting Kiba's friend to the point where Sakura wonders why he himself doesn't date the man.

Times seems to fly by and slow down at the same time and Sakura finds herself in the car after work, her phone clutched in her palm.

He could be busy. Or he might cancel meeting because it's such a terrible, terrible, terri-

Her phone rings.

Sakura jumps, almost drops it, and then stares at it for a few moments. It's not even Itachi calling. It's Sai.

"What?" Sakura snaps at him.

"Whoa," Sai laughs. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," she shrills. "Why are you calling?"

Sai sounds uncertain. "I wanted to know if you were free?"

She pauses. "I will call you right back."

After hanging up on Sai, Sakura manages to click on Itachi's contact name. She wonders if it's too early to change it to Giraffe again.

Itachi picks up immediately. "Hey, I was waiting for your call. I thought you stood me up."

Sakura giggles nervously. "No, no. I'm coming. Where are you, though?"

"Starbucks," he replies, and then there's a woman in the background asking Itachi if he wants to split a muffin. Itachi declines. "Sakura?"

"Yeah. I'll be there soon." She takes a brief pause, and Itachi seems to know to wait. So he does. "Listen, is Temari there, too? I want to make up for ditching her the last time."

"Nope," he replies. "It's just Konan and me."

She can't back away now. "Okay. See you in a bit."

"Alright."

Summer of 2010

Sakura is sitting with Temari and Ino on the bleachers while Ms Anko asks the boys to line up for their yearly physical education exams. She can see Itachi standing with Shikamaru and a bunch of other boys from their class on one side, waiting for their turn.

Ino has taken this opportunity to fill them in about Darui and Tayuya who were caught making out on the school grounds. The school is usually strict about sexual activities when it comes to its premises, which is why Sakura finds it surprising that they were let go with just a warning.

"Only because Mr. Asuma stepped in," Temari remarks. "Otherwise Sarutobi would have at least suspended them for two days."

"Yeah," Ino agrees. "Remember when we had the sex-ed class?"

"And Sarutobi was all flustered," Temari cackles. "Man, he needs to retire already."

"What do you think Sakura?" Ino turns to her with an expectant face.

Sakura startles. "Oh. I … Regarding what?"

Temari, who is sitting on Ino's other side, leans forward to smirk at Sakura. "You know you can stop staring at him."

Sakura flushes. "What? Who? I wasn't–! Why would I–!"

They both exchange a knowing look and snort. Sakura tries to ignore it as much as possible. She wasn't staring. At anyone. She was just watching because Ms Anko will call for the girls anytime now. And Sakura was just preparing for it. It's not as though she is terrible at sports or anything. But the whole class will be watching and – and –

It's not as though she has to prove anything to anyone, of course.

Ms Anko blows the whistle and Sakura immediately focuses on the woman. But all she does is instruct the boys who are done to sit at the bleachers so that they don't crowd too much. There's a shuffle as the students pile up and find empty seats.

Choujuro, Atsui, and Tomaru settle behind them. Ino grabs their attention to discuss the upcoming finals, and how they should create a schedule for their study group. Temari is pulled into another conversation by Zaji on the other side, which leaves Sakura to continue watching the boys.

When it's Itachi's turn, he isn't the best in class, but he's definitely well above average. Moreover, he shot up a good few inches over the last year. Sakura is very sure that he's going to end up being one of the tallest boys in school by the time they graduate. On the other hand, Shikamaru practically half-asses throughout the test and seems relieved when it's all done. Just as Itachi searches through the crowd and settles on her, someone taps on her shoulder from the back.

Sakura turns around. Choujuro is smiling nervously.

"Hey?"

"Hey, Haru – I mean, Sakura. How's it going?"

Sakura blinks. "Good?"

Choujuro nods as though that's a perfectly sufficient response. Then he scratches his hand nervously. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

Sakura blinks again. Choujuro and she have had, at the most, five conversations in this whole year. They were all about classes or homework or exams, naturally. They've never really talked about anything else at all, so Sakura wonders what this could be about. There's no reason to step aside only to discuss exams, right?

Regardless, he seems so nervous and she feels a little bad. Nodding and smiling comfortingly, she leads them both a little farther where there are no students within earshot.

"Is everything okay?"

Choujuro blushes deeply. "Yeah. Yes. Everything is fine." Then he pauses. "It's just. I was wondering. I mean, I know what you'll probably say. Because Itachi. But I figured there's no harm, you know? Just in case."

"Huh?"

"Ireallylikeyou," he says in a rush and then, as if it were humanly possible, blushes even deeper. "I just wanted to tell you that. But like I said, I know you and Itachi are like a thing and I really don't want to step on any toes here. And Itachi is a great guy. He's really helpful sometimes, and you and him will make a great pair. So forget I said anything, okay?"

Sakura stares at him. "Huh?"

Choujuro is staring back with wide eyes and he kind of becomes expectant when Sakura doesn't say anything for a full minute.

Finally, she exhales. "You've got it wrong. Itachi and I are not a thing. But … I'm sorry. I don't really feel the same about you. You're a good guy! Of course. It's just. I'm sorry."

Choujuro's face falls, before he visibly picks himself up and smiles. "Yeah, no. I get it. It's okay."

"Really?"

He nods vigorously. "Yes! I'll see you later, okay?"

He dashes away before she can respond. When she makes her way back to Ino and Temari, Itachi and Shikamaru have joined them. Itachi is frowning at her for some reason, and the moment she sits down beside him, he turns to her.

"What did he want?"

Sakura bites her lip. "Nothing."

"Spit it out, Haruno."

"Nothing," Sakura says more firmly. "He was asking me about homework."

"Really?"

"Yes."

He doesn't seem entirely convinced but lets it go. He asks for her phone and earphones, instead.

Sakura fishes it out of her bag and hands it to him. To her surprise, he passes one earpiece to her and puts the other one on. She doesn't have a large playlist, actually, and there's not much on her phone, either, that she's worried he'll snoop around. All he does is open the music application, scroll through her songs, and then Just a Dream by Nelly blasts through her ears.

Sakura enters Starbucks with Sai in tow.

"What am I doing here?" Sai hisses at her as she searches through the crowd for Itachi's table.

He's sitting near the back, and sure enough, there's a blue-haired woman with him. They're both on their phones, though, and Sakura wonders if it's because they're too bored with each other or too comfortable with each other.

"You're hanging out with me and I happen to be hanging out with another friend. What is so difficult to understand?"

Sai glares at her. "No. I wanted to hang out with you and you happen to be hanging out with your ex-lover who is possibly here with his current lover and you felt too awkward to come alone."

Sakura shrugs and starts to make her way. "Same thing."

"No, not really," Sai calls out, but then he's following her dutifully.

Itachi is wearing a long sleeved shirt under a sweater. His hair is in a messy bun, glasses perched on nose. Sakura greets them, introduces Sai, and then Itachi introduces the woman.

"This is Konan."

Konan beams at them.

Sakura opens her mouth, closes it, opens it again. Something is falling into place in her head. "I'm sorry but your name is very familiar."

Itachi interjects. "Yeah, you don't remember? From my college? I told you she was dating my roommate Yahiko."

Sakura's head clears and the world seems to be in focus again. "Yes! Right. It's so nice to meet you."

Turns out, Yahiko is in Sunagakure for further studies and Konan and he are still going strong. She is working as a graphic designer in a firm two blocks over, which is why she ended up hanging out with Itachi on a regular basis, too.

"Usually, there's more people, though," Konan tells her. "I mean, can you imagine spending every evening with this lunatic alone? I'll lose my mind!"

Sakura laughs politely.

"That's what you all say," Sai shakes his head, disappointed in them. "And the moment you need someone, we're the first ones you call. Don't deny that."

Itachi raises his hand in a high-five. "Amen."

Sakura raises one eyebrow at Sai. "Really? And who is the one pestering me day and night in return?"

Sai puts his hand over his heart. "Ouch."

Sakura rolls her eyes and exchanges a knowing look with Konan. Itachi gets to his feet, saying that he'll go place the order, and asks Sakura to come along.

Sai yells his order behind their backs.

Itachi pays the amount, and then casually asks, "So how long have you been dating him?"

Sakura's elbow slips from the counter. "Excuse me?"

Itachi purses his lips. "You and Sai?"

"Nope. No. Okay, really? Dude. No. We're not dating."

Itachi gives a slow nod, a smirk forming on his face. "Never?"

Sakura shudders at the thought. "No. Completely platonic, okay?"

He laughs softly. "Okay. So is there anyone else?"

Sakura shakes her head. "Nope. Not right now, I mean." They stare at the large menu board behind the counter for a few moments in complete silence. "You?"

Itachi shakes his head quickly, too. "Nope. Not right now, either."

"Right."

"Yeah."

Looks like the love of his life was not the love of his life, after all. Sakura is mostly just glad that she doesn't have to face that awkward situation. At least, for now.

They carry the orders back to the table where Sai and Konan are in a heated discussion over which muffin is better: blueberry or chocolate.

"How about a blueberry chocolate muffin?" Itachi suggests and winks at Sakura across the table. "Best of both worlds. Right, Sakura?"

Sakura chokes on her milkshake. Sai thumps her on the back. She can't believe –

That was one time. On a dare. In college. And he still hasn't let go of it. Besides, Kim was very nice about the whole thing.

"I think I like chocolate better, thanks," Sakura defends haughtily.

Itachi smirks wider. "Sure."

Sakura tries to direct the conversation elsewhere by asking Itachi how his brother is doing. Sasuke is only a year younger to them, and the last time Sakura had seen him, it was when she had driven to Itachi's college and found Sasuke instead in the dorm room.

Itachi grins warmly. "He's doing great. He has his own place now, too."

"Yeah? That's great. What is he up to, anyway?"

Apparently, he is now the Head of HR at a good firm in the city. And Itachi says it has fuelled him further into pranking a lot more than she was previously aware of.

"An HR who pranks at the office?" Sakura laughs. "That must be neat."

"Very," Itachi agrees heartily.

Overall, it's better than what she expected. Sai works as a sales executive in a small paper firm and bonds with Itachi over bosses who are assholes. Konan seems to be addicted to her phone, mostly because she is trying to catch Yahiko when they're both free, but Sakura manages to learn that Konan is quite a free-spirited soul.

As far as Itachi is concerned, Sakura thinks that she might be okay with meeting him again after all.

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