Chapter 5- Two Friends, One Feeling…

The next day, in the Ninja Academy, Shikamaru still wasn't in school… He still had the high fever, and now, a heartache as well…

"So, Ino! How'd the babysitting go?"

"It… It was okay, I guess, Choji."

"Okay? But seeing that look on your face, it looks more like the opposite of okay…

…did the two of you have a fight?"

"D-don't mind me, Choji! I'll be fine! In fact, I'll come back this afternoon to watch him again."

"Oh, I see."

"See ya later!"

Then, Ino ran. Suddenly, Sakura got in the way…

"Are you alright, Ino?" she asked.

"Sa-Sakura!"

"From here, it looks like you cried all your tears out last night. Tell me everything, please. I want to help you."

"It's none of your business!"

"You see? That's probably the reason why the two of you fought yesterday."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Ino asked.

"You're too shy to express your feelings and to be more open with other people." Sakura explained, "You had the chance to tell him yesterday, but you turned it down. If you told him about how you feel, the two of you never would've fought like you did."

"What! How… How do you know all about this, Sakura?"

"Well, you see…" Sakura blushed, "Yesterday, when Lee and I were going on a date, he had to use the men's room and told me to meet him at the Ichiraku instead! While I was on my way there, I passed by Shikamaru's house and heard the two of you arguing…

And trust me… It wasn't very pretty."

"Oh… You heard us… But, how did you know about my feelings for Shikamaru?"

"Huh?" Sakura answered, "Well, it's quite obvious, really. Knowing he hasn't gone to school for quite a while, you've been acting sad and quiet… It's obviously because you miss him, Ino."

Ino sighed, "I see. But what if I did tell him? Would I be happy about it?"

"What do you mean? Of course you would!" Sakura replied, "Why wouldn't you be?"

"I'm… I'm afraid… What if Shikamaru's fallen for someone else?"

"Huh? Then, sadly, you'd just have to let him go…"

Ino gasped and hugged herself tight. "No." she whispered.

Then, Sakura smiled at her and said, "But don't worry! I'm pretty sure he feels the same way about you, Ino! Naruto once told me he thought you were kinda cute! He told Naruto how nice Shikamaru thought you were!"

"He… he said that?"

"Yup!"

Then, with a smile, Sakura patted her friend's shoulder and answered, "Be strong and have fait