disclaimer: if i owned naruto or kuroko no basket the storyline would probably fall apart in 5 seconds

word count: 784

It had been 4 years since Sakura started playing basketball with Sasuke. Well not really 'playing' playing! More just like.. observing? Well, when Sakura began playing basketball, it was extremely clumsy and bad. But you could've expected it, as Sakura never had a thing for sports. She liked things to do with her intelligence. It didn't stop her from trying though! She even remembered the time she got sad over being so.. crap at basketball.

Sakura was sitting quietly at the basketball courts. Instead of actively trying to play like she had been doing just recently, she sat observing everyone. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment.

"You alright Sakura?" asked a regular player.

She nodded with a false smile. "I'm just a bit tired today!"

Nobody else noticed the plastered smile on her face, and she was almost happy for it. For the rest of the day everyone had left her on the seat, to her own thoughts. Two years. It's been two year of trying to catch up to the quickly improving Sasuke, but alas, all of her efforts went to waste.

"I'm so bad at sports."

"Why can't I improve?"

"I need to try harder."

She shook her head, trying to erase the horrible thoughts in her head. They had been haunting her for a while now, especially those moments when Sasuke's back faced her as he ran ahead with the ball.

"Sakura."

Immediately, she snapped her head up to the calm voice. What was Sasuke doing in front of her?

"Your tactics are most improved out the two of us." He continued, almost casually.

Her mind blanked, and took a few moments to process the words. Her tactics? Was.. most.. improved? It clicked in her head. Sasuke.. he wanted to comfort her. Inwardly, she felt herself smile gratefully.

"Of course. I noticed it a while ago." And smirked.

After that event, Sakura stopped playing as often. Instead she took to watching basketball, learning the tactics and skills that happened in every game. She still wasn't exactly sure where she stood with basketball, but watching everyone play was enough for her. Whenever they played basketball at school, Sakura was never chosen first for teams (that was Sasuke), but Sasuke always chose her anyways, so the two of them were able to work together in a perfect harmony of intelligence and physical sports. Nobody noticed her quiet tactician side, as they all only saw her as the most intelligent grade-schooler.

"Sakura."

"Hm?"

Sasuke was sitting next to her, quietly reading a booklet on Teikou Middle School. His family had come over to her house this time for their weekly dinners. But Mikoto and Mebuki were still fussing over small details, so Sasuke, out of boredom, decided to flip through information on middle schools. (Though he had already decided to go to Teikou.)

"Why do you have a pamphlet on Teikou?"

Even if they were childhood friends, the two families didn't do everything together. Especially when it came to something important (like moving schools).

"Well, I'm going to Teikou of course!" Sakura replied cheerfully, as if it was the most natural decision in the world. "Oh.. did I not mention it?"

He stayed quiet and went back to reading. (but was probably thinking about her reply)

He spoke up again.

"Isn't Yosen High one of the schools with better education?"

Sakura smiled knowingly. "It's not like Teikou has bad education either! Plus, isn't their basketball team one of the best? Maybe I can be a manager or something!"

This time, he didn't need to think of a reply.

"I thought you liked education over basketball." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. As if he believed as a fact.

"Anything but leaving you alone, silly." She replied, her tone, this time surprisingly serious, despite the playful words.

It was always clear for Sakura on what her goal was. Without basketball, she wouldn't have been the same person. (Intelligent, hard working, supportive) Not surprisingly, the dream involved Sasuke as well. (afterall, basketball began from Sasuke) Most people couldn't understand why. They didn't understand why she would love basketball despite being such a smart person. She didn't mind. Her own secrets were her's to keep.

She quickly put on her cheerful mood again. "You should've seen my friends faces when I told them about it! Their hair nearly stood up like this!" She babbled on, acting out the scene from a week ago.

Sasuke watched meaningfully. Although it was a brief sentence, he understood what she meant from it. And if she was going to support him the whole way, then Sasuke would do the same. He'd never let her down.

this time i wrote from sakura's perspective. kinda. not really.

crappy ending, took so long, short update, i know.

im sorry

things i dont know:

the timeline of their age and events

which of the school even has good education

character development

I TRY

(fun hint: find references to the original naruto! comment in the review if you do)

(fun fun hint: try to spot the irony in the ending)