Footsteps came near. She tensed, glancing at the intruder. There was a all too familiar presence, Out of the forest stepped Naruto arm draped around a boys shoulders, battered, but grinning.
"Naruto…" She ran up to him checking for serious wounds.
"Hey Sakura, you haven't already forgotten who Sasuke was have you?" Naruto panted, his smile stretching even wider.
Her hand froze. Slowly she glanced up at the boy who was currently supporting her teammate. He was standing there somewhat awkwardly, but he was truly, truly there.
From her kneeling position, she felt something wet running down her cheeks. She realized with a soft start that they were her own tears. She shook her head violently; her mind was tricking her again…but the boy remained, hands in pockets, looking very much real.
"Sasuke-kun…?" She tentatively whispered, afraid he would disappear again, that she was still living in her mind.
He grinned.
"Hey Sakura…"
Once there was a girl…and she discovered reality wasn't so bad after all.