SASUINO DAY 5: "I've never heard you laugh before."
Ino blames her sensitivity for making her uneasy at a time like this.
She has always been a social butterfly, an extrovert capable of befriending anyone and everyone. She even became acquainted with Neji, the aloof cousin of Hinata, and Gaara, Naruto's other best friend from another country.
So it bothers her that there's someone she can't befriend, and that person just happens to be her lab partner. Why did their lab teacher, Deidera, pair her, a chatterbox, with the least talkative guy in their class?!
She feels as if she did something wrong to him. With his gaze fixed on her face and his eyes following her every move, it's as if he's waiting for her to make a wrong move. He doesn't even speak unless she talks to him, and she'd be lucky to hear more than a one-word reply.
Ino lightly pushes the microscope towards his direction. "Your turn."
She's sure she got the answer right, but Sasuke might have had a different answer. She looks back as she waits for his verdict and catches Sakura's gaze. Sakura pointed towards Sasuke with her lips and smiled at her to cheer her up.
Sakura knows that she feels like Sasuke dislikes her. Or worse, he hates her! But Sakura and Naruto have told her a bunch of times that he doesn't, and didn't the conversation just make everything confusing?
"I don't think Sasuke hates you. He would've told you upfront if he did."
Which she quickly countered with, "But he hasn't warmed up to me like he did with you guys."
"It takes years before he warms up to someone. Remember Karin?" Naruto chuckled. "She was close to tears most of the time 'cause he just ignored her!"
"If you ask me, I'd say that Sasuke has a soft spot for you, right Naruto?" Sakura wiggles her brows at her.
"Yes! I can't explain it, but it's just in his actions, ye know? He doesn't tolerate your presence like he does with other people. It's like he's okay with having you around!"
So he doesn't hate her, but why is he-why is he like this?!
"Next question." Her train of thought was interrupted when he gently pushed the microscope towards her and then proceeded to jot down their answer on the worksheet.
Sasuke inches closer to her to take a look at what she's doing.
He's too close!
She tries her best to ignore his proximity. She needs to start getting her shit together and stop acting so flustered around him!
Her eyes snapped up immediately when she heard a rich laugh come from the guy beside her. Her eyes widened in shock.
Sasuke's lips quirk at the sight of her adorably doing her best.
"Did you just laugh?"
He shrugged, playing it cool. "I guess."
"I've never heard you laughed before." she says, amazed. "Ever. I didn't even know you were capable of laughing.'
He rolls his eyes, but he doesn't look annoyed; he only looks amused. "I can, I just don't find a lot of things funny like that idiot." He gestures towards his best friend in a carefree manner.
Her jaw dropped. Does that mean he found something funny while looking at her earlier? Did she look stupid? "Then why did you laugh just now?"
"Why don't you find out?" he says with a lopsided smile, enjoying her reaction.
The bell rang before she could answer. Their teacher told them they'd continue the worksheet another day. Ino hurries off to go to Sakura and practically drags her to their table in the cafeteria. Once seated, she quickly relays what happened.
"I can't believe he laughed!" Naruto, who tagged along with them, exclaimed while winding his arms around her. "I can't believe you made him laugh!"
"Weren't you listening?" She hisses. "He was making fun of me! I bet I look stupid. That's why he laughed."
"I don't think so." Sakura says, smiling as if she had figured something out.
"Ino," Naruto says her name in a sing-song manner. "The point is, he never laughs around people he doesn't like or just other people in general."
Against her will, she blushed. Does that mean he doesn't hate her as she thought? Maybe he sees her as his friend?
"Isn't that a good thing, Pig?" Sakura nudges her side. "That just means Sasuke likes you."