March 28th, 2021
Tonight's the night, does Naruto know? It's a very special day to celebrate! While she thought the last prank was funny, and she will NOT apologize, Naruto did seem incredibly annoyed with her that time. "I mean Naruto can take a joke, right?" Whatever... she was determined to be friendly and not get on his nerves this time. Maybe explain why she put a dildo on his door. At the very least gauge his attitude. After all, while she may be an annoyance, she never truly sets out to harm individuals.
As Sakura leaves her apartment, she looks out into a quiet empty space. White, with only a few doors down. Naruto and Sakura's rooms are pretty spaced out from the rest of the attendants there. It's a long hall, but the other apartment goers are on the opposite end near the exit. And in between the great distance, a janitor's closet with the laundry room directly across. And to the left of the closet is the landlord's office. There is an infirmary space across from the office, but it's rarely open. She believes people only end up in there when the landlord calls for help. Not completely sure...
Sakura really didn't venture out often. The landlady's nice... Just don't talk back to her. She sees a lot of her future in that woman. Pretty long hair, sharp and authoritative businesswoman, and commands respect with the click of her heels as she enters the room. Ms. Senju has a degree in nursing, but she started in the real estate business because her grandfather owned a lot of houses that he did nothing with. She later sold two of the biggest properties in her family to get enough money to fix up other properties. She has enough money to do more with other buildings.
The gist of what Sakura gathered was that she was holding off spending too much money due to paperwork, time constraints, and her love of gambling. And while they both share common ground, it's easy for Sakura to point out more similarities between Ms. Senju and another fiery, hot tempered blonde.
Speak of the devil, we see the top of Naruto's head bobbing up and down some at the exit, slowly making its way up the stairs into the hallway. And suddenly, Sakura is reminded that she spent so much time reminiscing that she has yet to lock the door. So, she turned around, did so, and turned back front to see his miserable form already halfway to his door.
"Hey, Naruto!"
Naruto didn't even look at her. It was like he was in a trance. Like he was trying to ignore her. But this isn't another one of her jokes. She decided that today she would reach out to extend an invitation; the original one probably long forgotten. And it would be a good time to attempt friendliness. He continued to walk until he made it to his door. And Sakura was getting ready to stop him.
This was important, it's not like he hasn't tried to brush past her before. How can she convey that this was important?
"Naruto! WAIT PLEASE!"
He still won't respond, but it's even clearer now that he's ignoring her. Like her calls and her voice makes him a fair increment paler each time he hears it. But Sakura is never one to give up! Maybe he's having a bad day. She has snacks in her apartment, she was gonna have a party. And if something's bothering him, she can be the shoulder to cry on. Suddenly maternal instincts kick in. This seems a lot more gruesome in comparison to how he's treated her previously.
"NARUTO!"
She reaches to grab his arm. But before she can, he turns his head to look at her. And she winces; her eyes grow huge. His eyes were bloodshot, his face was about as pale as the rest of his body. As if the soul was not only ripped from him, but viciously beaten inside him before it left. Signs that he'd been crying; like he'd been alone. He was waiting if she had anything to say. And then that dreadful, yet familiar, uncomfortable silence came. But this wasn't awkward. This was just more dark, more cold than usual.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Her eyes pleading, begging for more than this. She clearly wanted to help, but as close as they were now, he felt too far away. And in his eyes, he was searching for something too. Searching for a reason, a reason to pay her any mind. Almost like he was looking at an alarm clock, going off way too early. Is he trying to find solace in the noise? It was a genuine expression of "WHY BOTHER!" that was plain to see. He's contemplating what's next. She finally reaches out, and put's her hand on his shoulder. And her face full of obvious worry and care.
"Naruto?"
"..."
It broke him, it shattered him to ignore her right now. It shattered him to be alone right now. And hearing her question him earnestly at this time, he looked fully devastated. Like he was about to cry. Unfortunately, he refused to stay in that hallway, he unlocked the door quicker than he ever has. It was as if he was escaping some type of hell. And the most damning thing, all the misery, the pain, the excruciating sadness quickly transformed into an even scarier entity. As he turned around to shut the door, his face looked pinched, like he was about to cry, but out of complete frustration. The face he showed her, was a contorted face full of many things. Disgust... Anguish... Suffering... Pain... The most negative energy imaginable, all wrapped up in the bluntest message of all written everywhere in his demeanor topped of with the nastiest glare... HATE! And without even a word, or a simple goodbye, he managed to start moving the door to a close.
"But wait! It's... my..."
*SHLAAAAAM*
No sound, just the really loud bang, and the uncomfortable silence of loneliness. And the tears start rolling. She starts to walk to her apartment wondering, 'why do I ever bother with anyone?' She feels that maybe she inconveniences him everyone once and a while, but she didn't deserve that of all things. She'll remember this. She doesn't feel like that for no reason. And this display of anger is absolutely unforgivable. This might just be the start of her own ignoring policy. Eventually they'll be cordial, but this won't end in friendship. EVER.
