Sasori watched Hatsue's cheeks redden with embarrassment when the shopkeeper teased the girl about being young couple with him. He watched her look at him in absurdity, eyes in merriment in silent communication 'can you believe them?' Believe… in what? Believe in what exactly, Hatsue? In- In romance? The very notion had Sasori dismissed in his head.

The medical-nin shook her head, bumping her shoulders at him, gesturing to the direction of walking to Komushi's house.

Hatsue promised him that she wouldn't let the teasing get to her. Why is it something to be embarrassed about? Why? Why? Why?

Sasori halts, the sand dunes shift underneath his sandals as he watches his longtime friend walk forward, and her shadow elongates to join his on the sand. But Hatsue, he noticed how she stopped holding his hand.

Hatsue, do you remember when you cried at Komushi's kitchen? He never would have thought that another person's sob could reverberate to one's soul. 'One days' had ceased for him the moment he figured that one day his parents coming home, is an impossible feat. So how did you do it? How did you get him to promise you of leaving Suna one day? For promises have better chances of being true when one wholeheartedly believes it. Huh. Is he- catching your stupidity? (You're not stupid, Hatsue. At least, it doesn't seem so to others, don't worry, he'll keep it a secret.)

It's because they are growing older, isn't it? Why it stopped. The handholding. Hatsue should hug him when she sees him. The little kango-hei told Komushi to get her 'whatever' but Sasori knows she likes black sage tea. So he hands it to her and then she sipped a little, beaming,

"This tastes great. What is it?"

"Are you stupid?" He muttered with a deadpanned look. "It's the usual."

And it was Komushi's guffaws had breaking Hatsue's stare with Sasori. The puppetmaker arrives at the conclusion that all he had to do was to stop her and him from growing old.

AN:

This short chapter is for anyone missing Sasori's thoughts. It was me. I was the one who's missing Sasori's thoughts.

To Serene Kumquat

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To AnImEfAN506

Hello! Thank you for the review. Yay, you love Hatsue! You too, hoping you have the rest of your year to be safe and great!