Disclaimer: NARUTO and its characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi. I also don't own any real life brands mentioned in the story.

Coming Home To You

by yunotsuki

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Chapter 3

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I arrive around twenty minutes earlier than promised time.

To be honest, I'm usually one of those people who barely arrive on time—my father used to lecture me about this when I was still living with my parents back then. However, after I moved out I thought I would be freely living my life the way I like, but Temari gladly took the role replacing my father.

Unfortunately.

Anyway, so on the odd times when I arrive much earlier like I did today, it means that I'm feeling quite nervous.

Or more precisely… very, very nervous.

I mean my career is currently at stake here. I don't know—can I still work at Futaba Hoikuen? Or do I have to leave and lose my career in this field forever?

All depends on this woman whom I'm going to meet soon.

After receiving the e-mail from Kurenai-sensei, I casually sent back a message that was mainly about me agreeing to meet Haruno-san. Kurenai-sensei replied by telling me Haruno-san's e-mail address and that I had to contact her myself for details.

Without worrying much, I immediately sent Haruno-san an email and, to make my long story short, we decided to meet at 2 PM in a cafe near Kiri University where she is currently studying.

Even though today is Sunday, I find it surprising that the cafe isn't packed with visitors—or perhaps it's because Sunday is basically a holiday for university students as well so no one normally comes here today... or is it? To be honest, I don't really know much.

Including the one I'm currently sitting on, there are only 3 occupied tables out of the 9 tables inside this rather small cafe. I only see three staffs working in the hall; a waiter, a cashier, and a barista.

There's also a flat-screen TV hanging on a ceiling not that far in front of me, currently playing a music video from a popular masked DJ from the West and becoming the background music for the visitors. I'm not really into electronic music much but the beat is pretty catchy on the ear... what is this song called again? Maybe I should google it up.

I was typing on my phone when I heard the doorbell tinkling and someone called my name.

"Good afternoon, Yamanaka-sensei, have you been waiting long?"

"Haruno-san!" I quickly glance at the time on my phone screen. It's still about fifteen minutes before two—so turns out Haruno-san is the type of person who comes earlier than the appointed time. Good thing I arrived even earlier than her then.

Today is starting good so far.

I stand up from my seat to welcome her. "No, no, I just arrived here myself, maybe around 5 minutes ago. Please take a seat, Haruno-san."

Both of us sit facing each other. She calls the staff immediately soon after, without looking at the menu first. Seems like she often comes and spends some time here then. I hear her ordering a creamy mocha and strawberry muffins before turning to her face to me.

"Have you ordered something?" she asks with a smile.

I nod my head a bit faster to my liking. "Yes, I did." I answer, pointing to the red smoothie I have ordered before.

After the staff left us with only her order, Haruno-san looks again at me. "I'm treating you today so if there's any other you'd like to order, please don't hesitate to call the staff."

I admit I'm quite taken a back at that. "Oh no, you don't need to. I'll pay my own by myself."

"No, no, please let me do it. It's all on me and I insist. I have taken some of your weekends to meet me here after all."

Well, it has become harder for me to refuse anymore at this point. "Alright then. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it." I put on a smile. Is this a good sign for me?

Maaaybe.

Not willing to let our conversation stopping, I remember how Haruno-san seems to be a regular customer here. "I have to admit I'm impressed by your choice of place. I think this cafe is cozy, calm, and comfortable enough to hang out with friends. Do you come here often?"

She nods, "whenever I feel bored eating in the campus cafeteria, I usually come to have lunch here. Their lunch set is pretty good and their desserts are the best. Normally this place is packed around lunch time on the weekdays, however on the weekends it becomes a wonderful place to hang out."

"Is that so? Do you normally go to campus on Sundays?"

"No, not at all. I dedicate my weekends especially for my daughter, so I don't have lectures and any lab activities on Saturdays and Sundays, unless I have a special appointment like this for example. On that occasion, I usually leave Sarada to my neighbor."

Oh! Is this the neighbor whom Sarada considers as her father then?

"How is Sarada?" I ask again.

"She is fine as usual. She talks a lot about you, Yamanaka-sensei."

"She does? What did she say?"

"She said Sensei is beautiful," Haruno-san answers with a smile, getting me to redden—not because of her pretty smile, come on, but because Sarada said I am beautiful!

"Oh, and I think Sarada is also sweet. Please tell her that." I say, scratching the back of my neck which actually doesn't feel itchy at all.

The woman in front of me then nods. "I've said this a few times before but I feel very grateful to you and Tenten-sensei for taking care of Sarada until late. Especially to you, Yamanaka-sensei, because Sarada talks about you the most. Seems like you two have become quite close already, despite the fact that it's only been three weeks since Sarada first joined the hoikuen."

"Well, that's already part of my job, but to be honest I never actually mind having to accompany Sarada until you come pick her up. Rather I'm happy we could become close. I think, she's a really talented child."

"My daughter is indeed one."

The smile on Haruno Sakura's face while saying that is the smile while I often see; the same smile on the face of many parents watching their children competing at the annual undoukai (sports event). Even though their children lose the match, they will still feel proud of them for putting all their efforts to do their best, no matter how young the children are.

I am always amazed whenever I see those smiles, thinking if I am ever lucky enough to have a child of my own, will I have the same smile as they do?

My train of thoughts are interrupted when the staff comes carrying all of Haruno-san's orders. She is right though; the muffins look so soft and tasty with those large pieces of strawberry on top. Now I feel like I want to order the same muffin too.

Then, I tell Haruno-san just that.

"The muffins here are indeed very yummy. You won't regret ever trying them."

Not to mention, it's free too lol.

Our conversation comes to a pause when Haruno-san slowly sips her creamy mocha. Her emerald green eyes are fixed on the urban scenery behind the large window next to us. I was about to find out what has caught her attention outside but instead my eyes catch a gem hiding behind the long sleeve of her cream blouse.

Is it just me or do I really see a Rolex there? The one that exceeds one million yen in price?

I can't really see it clearly because most of it is covered by the clothes but I don't think I see it wrong... those silver and gold colors... and those diamonds behind the glass... I'm definitely not wrong here! After all my eyes have always been quick to spot incredibly expensive items such as Rolex watches. The more unaffordable the item is, the quicker my eyes will catch it.

I think I've mentioned this before, but the Haruno family is indeed blessed with wealth. But then again, just being able to get her child into Futaba Hoikuen means that you must have loads of money. Futaba Hoikuen is a privately run nursery school providing care for babies and early education for young children with the best system, facilities, and teachers. Of course, as a result, it comes with an expensive fee as well.

They also pay their teachers and caregivers with a fantastic salary—that's why I pray so much that I won't be fired from Futaba Hoikuen just because of that student report incident. That's also why I never mind working long hours for 5 days, from the early morning until late at night, spending my energy taking care of those (sometimes) uncontrollable three-year-olds.

Besides, you think from where do I get all the money to come watch a lot of The Falcons' live concerts regularly, even as far as to go abroad, and collect almost all of Sai The Falcons' merchandises, and even attend Sai's fan-meeting event, which is one of those with the most expensive tickets, twice?

Your normal hoikuen teachers will not be able to afford all of those things, but it doens't apply to Futaba Hoikuen's teachers like me. Like please I'm very much feeling satisfied with my current workplace and I would like it to remain that way as long as possible, if not forever.

Thinking about that reminds of the reason why I come here and meet Haruno-san in the first place—doesn't she want to discuss about Sarada's weekly report? The one that I messed up?

But then why do the topics we have talked so far is nowhere near that one? Why do we feel like a pair of old friends who haven't seen each other in a long time?

"Um, Haruno-san," I start nervously, "I'm sorry if I sound presumptuous, but the main reason why you asked to meet me personally, isn't it because of Sarada's weekly report I wrote yesterday?"

Her green eyes then focus back on me and she nods. I gulp nervously.

"About that..." she begins slowly, "I don't know why you wriote stuffs like that for Sarada's report... did my daughter say something to you?"

Did Sarada say something to me? As far as I can recall, she just said that she often sees her 'Papa' at home.

"Umm, well, so this is actually about a drawing Sarada did the other day. I gave the children a theme of 'family' to draw about and she actually did pretty well—okay maybe a little bit excessive... she drew too many things but that's actually the cute side of hers—ah, that's not the point here. I mean, it's just that, she drew a figure which she referred to as her 'Papa', but I remember you once told me that you are a single mother, so I thought that the figure Sarada called her Papa was—"

"—my boyfriend, you mean?" she cuts my words and it makes me realize that I've basically been doing nothing but rambling almost without a break.

I nod. I feel embarrassed. "Yes, basically that. I'm really sorry if it turns out wrong and if I said too much."

She sighs.

"I told you before that as the parent of the child whom you're taking care of in the hoikuen, I'll always be feeling grateful to you, but our interactions will be limited to just that; a parent and her daughter's teacher. We don't know anything about each other and we barely even talk like this for long until today. So, how could you write something as if implying that we both knew each other pretty well?"

I lower my face. It is true. I've realized that soon after I uploaded the damned report on the internet. "I'm so sorry... it's my fault. I was acting unprofessional at that time."

But then the staff from before once again returns to our table with my muffins. It looks as delicious as Haruno-san's, but right now, I've lost much of my appetite. I don't feel like eating those muffins anymore. However, I have no choice but to finish them as after all Haruno-san is going to be paying for everything.

After the staff left, I see Haruno-san smiling at me.

"I'm glad Yamanaka-sensei acknowledges the issuet," she says. "I forgive you this time."

"But, are you going to report about this to Kurenai-sensei? This is the first time I've ever made a mistake like I did. Believe me."

"Please take it easy. I won't say anything to Kurenai-sensei. I mean I could have just told her everything and made a complaint without meeting you like this first, but I didn't, so you don't have to worry about it. I told her beforehand that I arranged this meeting merely as a gratitude to you being my daughter's main teacher."

After hearing that, my body, which I didn't realize has been so tense, instantly becomes relaxed. It is as if a heavy burden has just been lifted from my back until everything suddenly feels light. "I thought... I would be fired..." I mutter softly.

"Pardon me?"

"Ah no, no, I just muttered to myself." I laugh while scratching the back of my neck again.

The woman in front of me also chuckles softly before she begins to eat her muffins. At that moment, I come to realize that she hadn't touched her muffins at all before and, instead, had waited until my own arrived. What a thoughtful woman she is. I immediately grab my muffin and take a bite. It's just as she said—it tastes so wonderful! The texture is soft on my tongue and the strawberries are surprisingly sweet. My appetite has returned back for sure.

On top of that, I'm so glad that the problem has finally been solved and our conversation turns out well in the end. I feel also relieved that she would be willing to forgive my own carelessness.

One thing has caught my attention though. I knew I was wrong for selfishly assuming things about people I barely know, but I think she also has never confirmed whether what I wrote in that report is completely false or not.

Neither she agrees nor denies anything.

Now I've become pretty curious, but I don't dare let it out of me. I don't want to make her uncomfortable by asking private questions when we are not that close. Not yet, at least. We've talked quite a lot today besides the report thing so I guess it's safe to assume that we are now friends.

Are we really, though? Am I allowed to call her my friend? She is soft yet also firm at the same time, kinda scary to be honest. But I am sure Temari will like her as friends as well if both of them ever have a chance to meet.

And I still want to find out about that 'Papa' Sarada told me that time...

All of a sudden my ears catch a familiar tune. I turn my eyes on the TV's screen at the other end and turns out it's currently airing The Falcon's newest music video, This Feeling.

"That's right, they dropped this music video yesterday on their Youtube."

"Huh?"

I just remembered I'm not exactly alone here. "No, I mean, that TV over there is airing The Falcon's newest single... do you know about The Falcons? The currently most popular Konoha-based boyband among the youths?"

Haruno-san turns her back to stare at the TV behind her. "Oh... yeah I know."

"They released this new single around three weeks ago, but the music video was just released yesterday. It's called This Feeling. I think the song's atmosphere is kind of similar to their old hit, Girls Like You, so perhaps they might have been trying to repeat the success of that song."

Haruno-san then looks at me and smiles. "Um, is Yamanaka-sensei a fan of The Falcons?"

"Haha, yeah, you can say that I'm a Falconer—that's what their fans are called," I answer, a little bit shy. "What about you, Haruno-san?"

"Oh, I often hear their songs on the radio. I like them, but I'm not exactly what you'd call their fans... just casual."

"Is that so? Too bad I was having hopes I could get to meet another fellow Falconer. All this time I've spent my fangirling time only with my best friend—she's also a Falconer like me. It's just that while she's a fan of Hyuuga Neji, I'm more of a Shimura Sai's fan, hahaha."

"Too bad indeed..."

"But please do tell me if someday you change your mind and become a Falconer, will you? We can all fangirl together later on. I won't even mind if you also become Sai The Falcon's fan. In fact I will gladly show you my own collection of Sai merchs!"

I really have no shame. But this is just so that I can become close friends with her. The quickest and easiest way is, of course, if we both have the same interests. Besides, it'd also be great if I can get another person to stan The Falcons like how I did Temari. The more the merrier, isn't that what people say these days?

"Or Uchiha Sasuke? I think half of the Falconers are his fans. He's also set to play in a movie that will be released at the end of this year. If you're into watching movies, perhaps you can also become his fan, right? Hahaha."

I see Haruno-san who keeps on her smile. Perhaps she's trying to figure out how to respond to my rambling. Well, that usually happens when a non-fan meets a hardcore fangirl. Nothing unusual. Besides I've never hid the fact that I'm really a fangirl. There are so many Falconers like me out there after all so there's nothing supposedly odd about it.

"Sorry if I sound too enthusiastic about it, Haruno-san," I say chuckling.

"Nothing to worry. It's also interesting after all."

"But, I'm actually serious about you becoming Sai's, Sasuke's, or the other member's fan so we can go hang out or go see their live concerts together for example. Right, I just remembered something! This Golden Week at the beginning of May, they will have a show tour in Kiri... eh, but wait, I think the tickets should have all been sold out by this time if you want to buy, after all Golden Week starts next week, too bad..."

"Hahaha! You're really an interesting person, Sensei!" That woman laughs again. Then she takes a glance at the watch on her wrist—as I thought that's indeed Rolex! As expected of my sharp eyes when it comes to expensive stuffs. "It's already this late..." she says then, "I suppose I have to get going right now. I want to do some grocery shopping first before I get home, because I don't want to come home too late. Sorry for that, Yamanaka-sensei."

"I think I'm going home as well. By the way, do you have any instagram accounts?"

"I don't have either instagram, twitter, or such things. I'm not really into that kind of stuffs."

Huh? Dear me, I can't find anything that way then... "What about Line? You do line at least, right?"

"Well... I do have line..."

"Can I ask for yours then?"

Haruno-san nods. I quickly grab my iPhone and open my line application as well as look for the QR code scan feature. She shows me her own QR code and after I scan it, an account called 'Haruno Sakura' appears on my screen.

"I'll add you and text you later so please add me back. By the way, thank you for all of these, Haruno-san."

"Don't mention it. So I'm going first, alright? Also I'm treating you today as I said before."

"Yeah, thank you so much again for that." I stand up as soon as she does.

"See you tomorrow at hoikuen, Yamanaka-sensei."

"See you, Haruno-san."

I watch her walk towards the cashier and pay for all of our orders. When she finishes, she waves her hand at my direction while walking out of the cafe.

I sit back and finish my own muffin that's only half-finished because I kept talking much when I was with Haruno-san earlier. I take a glance at my iPhone's screen and stare at Haruno-san's line account on it. Her profile picture is her together with Sarada. They're both wearing similar yukata with cherry blossom trees at the background. Seems like they were doing hanami at that time.

Seeing both of their face side by side like this, it's even more glaring to me that Sarada's physical appearances must take after her father. Both mother and daughter don't really look alike after all, at least physically. Haruno-san has a soft pink hair and emerald green eyes while Sarada have them all black. Wait, but if I zoom in like this, they both have the same eye shape. Their expressions also more or less look the same. One thing for sure is that both mother and daughter look so pretty.

Now I get even more curious about Sarada's biological father, also about the 'papa' whom Sarada referred to that day. I didn't obtain any useful information at all from Haruno-san earlier. Well, it's not my place to ask after all in the first place. At least not yet. I have to get closer to her to get the permission to answer all of these questions.

Then I send Haruno-san some line chats.

Yamanaka Ino: Thank you for today. Also for the treat!
Yamanaka Ino: Maybe we can hang out again later when we both have time. I'll be the one treating you next time.
Yamanaka Ino: You can also ask Sarada so us three can go somewhere together.
Yamanaka Ino: Btw, can I call you Sakura?

Such my bad habit sending continuous chats like these. I hope Haruno-san won't mind. It's hard to change what has become your habit after all.

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To be continued

A/N: Line is a chatting app that is widely used in Japan. Hanami is a Japanese traditional custom of "flower viewing", although basically only refers to cherry blossom viewing. Also, according to Ino, next week in this story is a Golden Week. In Japan, Golden Week (GW) is a period from the end of April to the first week of May containing a number of Japanese national holidays (April 29th and May 3rd-5th) plus the weekends. Then what's going to happen on GW? The answer is, Ino plans to watch a live concert.