Boruto stood in the locker room, readjusting his pads before slipping on his home game jersey. He stared blankly into his empty locker, trying to puzzle together why he was feeling so… so bleh.

He was usually so energized before a big game, standing on the locker room benches and hyping up his teammates.

But he just didn't have it in him tonight.

He didn't want to believe it was because of Sarada. Refusing the jersey he offered her was just the latest in a long list of ways he felt rejected by her.

The difference between the way she acted and what she said didn't seem to ever match up. She was always so quick to deny having any feelings for him, that he was starting to feel crazy. Was he really just imagining it? Reading into her actions when they didn't mean anything?

But the real question was: did he want her to like him as more than just some fuckbuddy? And if so, then what does that say about the way he feels about her?

As their coach called them to attention, Boruto decided he just needed to push all those feelings down and focus on the present. They needed this win and his team was counting on him to be playing his best.


It was only five minutes into the game before Boruto realized the Kumo players were targeting him specifically. He seemed to have at least two guys defending him at any given moment, both of which were not shy about roughing him up.

It wasn't that uncommon for opponents to keep an eye on Boruto, what with him being one of the team's highest-scoring players, but it was usually much more subtle. The Kumo players were all over him, roughly bumping into him and taunting him.

But Boruto just grit his teeth and took it. The shoving and the trash-talk was nothing he couldn't handle.

It seemed, however, that news of Boruto's figure skating spread to Kumo Uni because their players were not holding back. Every elbow thrown, every shoulder slammed against his was accompanied by an emasculating insult about him figure skating or some homophobic slur.

Nobody important to him, not his team or his family, was bothered by his figure skating, so he really shouldn't let it phase him, and yet Boruto could feel himself tensing with each cruel taunt.

Blue eyes flickered to the scoreboard, they were down by two, but there was hardly anything he could do with these defenders hanging on him.

He took deep breaths, trying to remain focused on the game. They were intentionally provoking him and he couldn't let them get under his skin.

"Maybe your whole team should switch to figure skating, 'cause you guys can't play hockey for shit!"

Where's the puck?

"Yeah, you should've been practicing instead of dancing around on the ice like a fucking queer!"

No one was going to pass to him with the way he was being guarded.

"Why don't you do a little twirl for us?! Fucking pretty boy!"

Their constant snickering was grating on his nerves. Boruto knew he needed to get out from under these chumps, but they're on him like glue.

"Yeah Uzumaki, why don't you show us your gay little tricks? Or do you need to put on your sparkly dress first?!"

Ignore them.

Focus on the game.

"I wonder how the great Naruto Uzumaki feels about having a faggot son like you!"

Boruto felt his eye twitch at the mention of his father's name.

Focus on the game.

"I bet he's pulling his hair out wondering how he raised such a fucking disappointment!"

His teeth clenched.

Focus.

"Are you sure you want to switch sports, Uzumaki?! What are you going to do when you can't hide in your father's shadow?!"

That was the last straw before Boruto snapped.

He threw a heavy punch and clocked the Kumo player beside him right in his stupid, cackling mouth. His other fist followed after with just as much fury. Players from both teams were quick to jump into the fray. It was a blur of gloves flying and punches swinging.

Boruto was deaf to the cacophony of the crowd screaming and whistles screeching. All the frustration he had let fester, not just from the Kumo players' taunts but from that day, from his life recently, poured into one uninspired thought: "I'll feel better if I beat the shit out of this guy".

Their minor scuffle quickly devolved into rolling around on the ice in an all-out brawl. The fans were on their feet hollering as the referees tried to pry opposing players off of each other.

Eventually, Boruto found himself squirming in Shikadai's iron hold. "Fucking chill, Boruto! Calm down!"

His breath was labored and his face throbbed. His knuckles were bloody and battered, the adrenaline was the only thing keeping the pain at bay. His coach looked pissed as he yelled at the referees, but there was no salvaging the situation.

Everyone saw Boruto throw the first punch, and so he was ejected from the game.


A miserable looking Boruto sat on a padded medical table in a back office of the stadium as the team's trainer scribbled some notes on her clipboard. "I don't think anything is broken, but I recommend you get an x-ray just to be safe."

With a tired sigh, Boruto nodded. His ribs were sore and his face was a wreck, but thankfully the pain meds were starting to kick in.

"For your eye," the trainer said as she handed him an ice pack. "Feel free to hang out in here as long as you need, okay?"

"Thanks," he mumbled, wondering if she would mind if he hid in there for the rest of his stupid fucking life. The trainer walked out the door but gasped when she accidentally bumped into someone.

"Is he allowed any visitors?!"

Boruto recognized that sweet voice right away, and a moment later Sumire popped her head into the room.

He actually wasn't that surprised she had made it all the way back there. With all her time spent at the university's stadium, she was familiar with most of the staff, who he was sure were all too happy to let her in.

"Aww, Boruto!" Sumire cooed upon seeing his injuries. She rushed over, taking the ice pack from his bandaged hand. "Allow me."

"Thanks," he whispered and managed a small smile. Sumire stood between his spread legs. One hand gingerly held the ice pack to his bruised eye, while the other rested on his thigh.

"What happened out there?" she asked gently. "I've never seen you get that worked up."

"I don't know," Boruto grumbled, his uncovered eye gazing down at the floor. "It was stupid. I'm honestly embarrassed about the whole thing."

"I'm sure what you're feeling isn't stupid and it's okay to let it out… just... preferably not with violence," Sumire said with a light laugh.

Boruto chuckled as he looked back up to meet her gaze and finally noticed what she was wearing. "You're wearing my jersey?"

"What do you mean? Of course, I am," she looked up at him through dark lashes. "You're my most favorite player."

"You're favorite, huh?" A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "But there are so many guys on the team who are so good."

"Well, maybe you're my favorite because hockey ability isn't my only criteria."

"Wait, so you're saying I'm not the best on the team?!" he asked with mock offense and Sumire giggled.

"I'm sure you already know I think you're the best on the team. I see how hard you work and how much everybody looks up to you."

Blue eyes widened, genuinely surprised to hear her say that. "But what are your other criteria?"

Okay, so maybe he was fishing, but Sumire was always so quick to fluff his ego that he just couldn't resist.

"Well, you're so so sweet and funny… and not to mention totally gorgeous," Sumire mumbled before she bit her lip and scrunched her face like she could hardly believe she said that out loud.

Boruto observed her adorably shy expression as his heart swelled with her sincere compliments.

"Are you sure I can hold on to such praise after the beating I took tonight," he teased. "I mean I could end up terribly ugly and disfigured."

Sumire slowly lowered the ice pack she held against his face. Her gentle touch traced over his injuries, a blackened eye and a cut on his brow that the trainer already stitched up.

As the soft movement of her fingertips explored his face beyond his injuries, Boruto leaned into her touch, watching as her violet gaze shifted from observation to appreciation.

"I don't think that could ever happen."

"Why are you always so good to me?" he whispered. Her attention moved from tracing over his lips up to his deep blue eyes.

"Is that even a real question, Boruto?" Sumire asked with a soft laugh. Her hand cradled his cheek with a soothingly warm gentleness that had him inching closer. "It's because I like you... I've always liked you, I like you so much… so much it's probably stupid."

No, what was stupid was the way Boruto leaned forward and pressed his lips against Sumire's, but he just couldn't help himself.

Each tender caress of her lips expressed a devotion he so desperately craved. His hands found purchase on her waist and pulled her closer.

Why didn't he ever make Sumire his girlfriend?

She was so into him, she even said so herself. She was always so supportive, being there at his games and practices, cheering him on win or lose (and there were definitely girls who suddenly weren't interested in hockey anymore when they lost).

What was stopping him?

Sumire was constantly validating him and flattering him that he couldn't help but want to be around her, so why couldn't he just say he reciprocated her feelings?

Whether or not his brain was willing to acknowledge it, he knew in his heart it was because of Sarada.

It wasn't really a great revelation to have while kissing someone else, but after the absolute shit day Boruto had, he let himself indulge in a selfish moment. Let himself get washed up in Sumire's gentle affections and forget that the girl he really wanted constantly rejected the idea of having feelings for him.

Her vanilla lip gloss tasted like cupcakes, a seemingly perfect complement to Sumire's sweetness. The soft sighs she exhaled against his lips had his mind foggy. Her tongue shyly slipped against his as he palmed her perky ass.

The sound of someone clearing their throat tore Boruto out of his daze. He jerked his head toward the door to find Sarada, dark eyes wide with shock.

And as if to make matters worse, she was with his mom.

Probably the worst combination of people to walk in on him feeling someone up. Boruto had never felt more awkward in his life.

Internally, he begged himself to wake up from this nightmare.

Sumire was blushing, also incredibly flustered, albeit for different reasons. "Hi Mrs. Uzumaki… Sarada."

"Hi Sumire," Hinata replied, generously pretending like she didn't see anything. "How's our guy doing?"

Sarada however just stood there glaring at Boruto. It seemed her surprise had morphed into anger.

Boruto stared back, frozen and unsure what to say. His hands fell from Sumire's body as she took a timid step away from him.

Sarada could see that he was beaten up and yet all she wanted was to punch him in his stupid face.

She swallowed the harsh lump in her throat as a mixture of unwanted feelings churned in her gut and muttered, "looks like you guys have things taken care of here, so I'll just… I'll go."

"Sarada!" Boruto called frantically, jumping up from his seat. "Wait! It's not what you think!"

But she was already out the door.

He deflated with a sigh and ran a hand over his face only to wince when he remembered he was bruised.

"Then what is it?" a heartbroken whisper asked.

His eyes widened as he jerked his head in Sumire's direction. She stood there with her hands clutched against her chest, tears welling up in her violet eyes. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"I try so hard to get you to notice me... to like me... when is it ever going to be enough?"

"Sumire…" he said sadly, but she choked a sob as she ran out of the room.

"Shit..." Boruto mumbled as he fell back onto his seat and caught his head in his hands.

He was seriously an asshole. How did he manage to hurt two girls in a matter of fifteen seconds?

He relaxed a little when he felt his mother's comforting presence beside him. "It'll be okay," she whispered, as she patted his back with a soothing touch.

He peeked at her with conflicted blue eyes. "Why'd you have to make me so handsome?"

Hinata softly laughed and pulled him into a warm hug.


A/N: Ahh! I can't wait to hear your reactions to this chapter! Leave me a comment below and let me know if you also head-canon that Boruto is a mama's boy lol

also, I've been working super hard to update frequently for you guys, but I'm going to be taking a little break for the holidays. So don't fret, I still have several chapters planned out for this fic! Did I pick this chapter for a break specifically to torture you? maybe... lol.