Sarada walked into the stadium wearing her Konoha University sweatshirt. It was a home game, so she blended in with much of the scarlet-clad crowd. Her seat was in the student section. Many of the faces around her looked vaguely familiar, but she ended up sitting toward the top row by herself, quietly absorbing her surroundings.

The marching band took up several rows, all wearing matching striped, long-sleeved shirts and cheering as loud as their neighboring students.

It wasn't the first time Sarada had seen an ice arena this full, but the energy in the room was so much different than any figure skating competition. Much more energetic, definitely more rowdy.

After she had a beer in hand, Sarada was actually having a good time (not that she'd admit that to Boruto). She found herself standing and cheering, copying what the rest of the crowd did even though she had no clue what was really going on.

Her dark eyes instinctively followed Boruto around the rink, he was almost always out there. It was such an interesting contrast watching him play such an aggressive sport when her recent and frequent interactions with him had showcased his more graceful side.

Sarada found herself swaying in time with the band music as it hyped up the crowd, yelling out the cheers everyone just seemed to know. Strangers in Konoha gear began chatting her up and giving her high fives with every successful play. The sense of camaraderie brought a smile to her face.

She knew her father played hockey in college, but he never made a concerted effort to get Sarada to like it and now she wondered why. Hockey was fun!


When Boruto and his teammates hopped back out on the ice for the start of the second period, he waved over to where he knew his mom and little sister were sitting, surprised to find his dad had joined them. Naruto shot him a big grin and a thumbs up.

Not that he would ever admit it out loud, but Boruto's heart started racing with excitement. He had been working so hard at practice and even giving extra time to private coaching sessions where Sasuke picked apart his every move. His teammates looked to him for leadership. He had really come into his own as a hockey player, and this was his chance to really show his dad.

The game wore on and the tied score wouldn't budge. Two to Two. If they didn't make a move quickly they would have to go into overtime. The fatigue of a long-fought game was starting to weigh on everyone, but the energy of the fans pushed them forward.

Boruto was skating fast across the rink toward the opponent's goal. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering loudly as Shikadai was struggling to maintain control of the puck.

With a tricky pass from Shikadai through the legs of one of the opposing team's defenders, Boruto found the puck right in front of him as the time on the clock continued to tick by.

Without a second thought, he hit the puck toward the goal with a furious slap of his hockey stick and watched with bated breath as it whirred past the goalie's shoulder and into the net.

"GOOOOALLL!" the announcer's voice boomed as the fans cheered with riotous applause. "That was a goal from Boruto Uzumaki, with the assist from Shikadai Nara. Konoha now leads by one with fifteen seconds on the clock!"

His teammates skated up to him, bumping him or slapping him on the back as they congratulated him. Boruto glanced over to where his family was sitting, secretly hoping to see the pride in his father's eyes.

But instead, he saw a small group of Naruto's own fans, crowding around him asking for an autograph or a selfie.

"He didn't even see," Boruto muttered under his breath as the last seconds of the play clock ran out.

The game ended, and his team had won thanks to him, but yet Boruto couldn't help the lingering disappointment in his heart. He plastered on a fake smile as the teams lined up, giving each player on the opposite team a high five and a "good game" in the name of sportsmanship.


Sarada stood outside the stadium's east wing next to a statue that Boruto insisted she meet him at to prove she had stayed the entire game as per his request. There were several small groups of people mingling and waiting in the same area, presumably for the players to come out.

The boys emerged from the locker room together and their waiting friends clapped and cheered for them as they approached. Sarada spotted Boruto, dressed in a Konoha hockey t-shirt and a black bomber jacket, his hands shoved in his pockets and uncharacteristic melancholy on his face.

The team won, shouldn't he be happy? Overjoyed? Taking all the credit like the pompous ass he was?

"Boruto!" she called, waving him over. She couldn't explain the relief she felt when his mouth curved up in a small smile.

"So you actually stayed the whole time?" he jest.

"Yeah, somehow I didn't die of boredom," Sarada replied. Boruto just grinned and shook his head like he knew she was lying.

"Why don't you come out with us and get another drink?"

"Another drink? Who says I've been drinking?"

"Oh c'mon Sarada, you're flushed. Either you've already started drinking... or maybe you just can't help blushing in the presence of Konoha hockey's very attractive star player?" he smirked, pointing to himself with both hands.

Sarada scoffed and swatted his hands down. "Okay, fine. I had a drink or two, are you happy?"

"I won't be happy until you have a drink with me," Boruto said. "I'll even use one of my requests for it."

Sarada grumbled and was about to ask why he even wanted her there when he clearly had his whole group of friends around him to celebrate their victory.

But then a girl with long violet hair came bouncing over, sporting a hockey jersey that hung loosely on her petite frame. "Boruto!" she beamed sweetly. "You were so amazing out there tonight!"

"It was only because I had you cheering for me," he cooed. A shy blush bloomed across the girl's cheeks as Boruto threw his arm around her shoulders and guided her in the direction everyone else seemed to be walking.

That's when Sarada noticed the girl's jersey had "Uzumaki" emblazoned on the back with Boruto's number. She rolled her eyes with an annoyed huff, she could hardly fathom that a flirt like Boruto had had a girlfriend this entire time.

"You coming, Sarada?!" Boruto called as he peeked over his shoulder at her. Sarada sighed, confused why she decided to follow.

They ended up at a shabby, little dive near the stadium that was frequented by many of the college students. Konoha University banners and autographed pictures of famous alum decorated the walls. It was loud, the sound of conversations competed with the music and the droning of sports announcers coming from one of the several televisions hanging in the corners of the room.

The entirety of the bar's patrons were decked out Konoha Uni gear, presumably all coming straight from the game. The violet-haired girl broke away to talk to someone else when they arrived and Sarada awkwardly followed Boruto as they meandered through the crowd toward the bar.

Most everyone greeted him, patting him on the back, or congratulating him on the team's victory. He clearly knew most everyone there, which made Sarada all the more confused as to why he requested her presence.

She took a seat on a barstool, while he remained standing, leaning up against the dark wood bartop. They were ordering their drinks when Iwabe, Boruto's teammate, stood up on a chair across the room.

"Aye! Can we give it up one more time for my man Boruto, coming in clutch with that game-winning goal?!" he cheered, lifting his drink in a toast. Everyone hooted and hollered as the attention in the bar turned to Boruto.

"Oh, man! You guys are too kind! It was a team effort!" He waved off their praise with false modesty. "Hey, ya know what?! Drinks are on me tonight!"

The bar erupted in even louder cheers at the promise of free alcohol.

Sarada, however, grabbed Boruto's arm in an iron grip. He turned to her with a questioning eyebrow raised. "What are you doing?! There's no way you can afford that!"

There were at least fifty people in the bar, even if everyone only drank beer it was sure to be a hefty tab. Completely unperturbed, Boruto smirked at her before whipping out a sleek black credit card. "Yeah, but my dad can."

Sarada's eyes bugged out. "Does he know you have that?!"

"Not yet, but once these charges hit, he'll have it canceled by the morning. It's a little game we play," he chuckled as the bartender slid two glasses in front of them. "It's really a shame he's gotten so quick on the uptake, though. One time it took him a few days to cancel the card." He took a sip of his beer and smiled at the memory. "Oof, that was one hell of a weekend."

"You're unbelievable," she scoffed.

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment," Sarada grumbled into her drink.

Boruto just chuckled to himself and sipped at his own drink. When suddenly he felt a pair of eyes on him. He looked to his side to find a brunette a few seats down the bar playing with her hair, a coquettish smile on her painted lips.

"Hey," he nodded toward her with a flirtatious smirk. "Can I get you a drink?"

Before he heard the brunette's response, Sarada hit him hard in the chest with the back of her hand. "What are you doing?!" she demanded in a harsh whisper. "What about your girlfriend?!"

He scrunched his face in confusion and whispered back, "I don't have a girlfriend."

"What do you mean? What about that girl with the purple hair who was wearing your jersey?!"

"Oh, Sumire?!" Boruto snorted humorously. "She's not my girlfriend."

Her eyes widened. "Then was all that mushy stuff after the game? Why are you leading her on if you don't even like her?"

"I don't not like her. I just…" he peeked over to discover the girl he was previously hitting on had walked away and sighed. "…like to keep my options open."

"Tch, you're a pig," Sarada scoffed before finishing her drink.

Boruto eyed her empty glass. "Can I get you a drink, Sarada?"

"Ugh, I need another drink to be able to tolerate your company."

"Oh really? I was starting to think you like hanging out with me," he said, his usual teasing grin returning to his lips.

"Well, you are sorely mistaken."

Boruto fought back a laugh as he made eye contact with the bartender, tapping on Sarada's glass in a silent request for a refill. "No one's making you be with me right now... yet here you are. Why do you think that is?"

Sarada straightened up in her seat, a little caught off guard by the observation. Dark eyes glanced around the bar. There were about a dozen other people she could probably hold a decent conversation with but for some unknown reason she chose to be alone with Boruto.

Her cheeks heated as she looked down at the new drink the bartender placed in front of her and dodged his question with her own. "You really are in love with yourself, aren't you?" she asked, embarrassment veiled in sass.

"A better question is: are you in love with me yet, Sarada?"

Yet. As if it was an inevitability or something.

What a cocky bastard.

She turned to glare at him, but he was much closer than she remembered. His arm rested on the bar in front of her, he wasn't even touching her, and yet she felt wrapped in his presence. Her heart started to beat faster when she found herself trapped in his deep blue gaze.

The room suddenly felt hotter. The sounds around them, the loud music, and other patrons' conversations seemed to dull.

Sarada swallowed nervously. Was… was he leaning closer?

Her gaze wandered down to his lips. Was he really about to…?

He seemed to have noticed where her attention had gone because the corner of his mouth curved up in an arrogant little smirk.

He was messing with her!

The realization was enough to snap Sarada out of the weird spell she was under. She jerked away, confused, and uncomfortable by what she might've let happen if she didn't come to her senses.

She picked up her drink and chugged it down in one go before slamming the glass back down onto the bar. "I'm bored of this conversation," she declared, before wiping her lips on the back of her hand. "I'm leaving. Tell your dad thanks for the drink."

Sarada hastily hopped off her barstool and made a beeline for the door. Boruto leaned back against the bar and watched her leave, blue eyes dancing with amusement.


A/N: thank you for reading! I hope you guys enjoyed this update! I love love LOVE reading your comments! I so appreciate all the kind words and encouragement! I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter!