Chapter 2: I'm Still Getting It Right
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Story Title: The Girl I Used to Know
Chapter Two: I'm still Getting it Right
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Sakura halted on her tracks abruptly, effectively stopping Sasuke as well.
"What?" Sasuke asked impatiently before he turned to her.
Sakura opened her dry mouth but no words apparently came out. She resembled a gapping gold fish for the next minute until she realized what Sasuke just said.
Who is she? WHO IS SHE? GOD, HE FREAKIN' DOESN'T KNOW US! AKAYA MIZAKI—THE GIRL WHOSE FACE IS IN ALL THE BILLBOARDS AND THEIR COMPANY'S FREAKING RESIDENT ENDORSER! WHAT THE HELL?
Sasuke smirked in amusement as numerous expressions crossed Sakura's face, along with shock, disbelief, and all else in between.
"Wha—? You mean you don't know her? But how is that possible? She's even more popular than our Prime Minister!" Sakura said, flailing her arms unconsciously. Her jade eyes met Sasuke's onyx ones and tried to harbor a reaction on her revelation. And she fought the urge to slap her large forehead upon failing to see any recognition on Sasuke's obsidian eyes. "You—you really, really don't know her? Seriously?" she squeaked in defeat.
The Uchiha shrugged indifferently and Sakura took this as a 'no'.
"Isn't she like your entertainment company's endorser and all? It's impossible you haven't heard of her," Sakura argued. This is her popularity at stake. Mizaki's popularity! Not that anyone had ever attested that...
Sasuke sighed and resumed his walking. "Well, I've seen her once."
Sakura froze from her spot. WHAT? "You—you did?"
"Once, on her contract signing, but that's not the point," he replied sluggishly. But upon noticing that Sakura wasn't following him at all, he turned to his pink-haired companion. He exhaled tiredly before adjusting the strap of his bag, contemplating whether he would express his thoughts for once. A sigh escaped from his lips. "What I meant earlier is that I don't know who she really is—the exact person she is, not the person she merely portrays, okay? She's nothing but a pure stranger to me," he explained, rushing his words while hoping at the same time that it would make sense to her.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked despite of herself, her brows furrowed in confusion. She began taking steps towards him until she reached his side.
Sasuke heaved a sigh again before he reverted his gaze to the empty hallway in front. "No offense to her fans but I think they don't know who their idol really is," Sasuke paused and began searching for the right words. He is now aware that Sakura is a fan just by her reaction, one wrong move and she might pounce on him and tear him apart. He already knew what the pop princess' fans could do, thanks to the earlier riot perpetuated by that dobe.
Well, that's it.
"Take Naruto for example. He'd been bugging me in my office since last summer by proclaiming how he is the number one fan of that pop star but he's entirely missing out the point. It's not about that girl's stage performances or interviews that really matters."
Sakura gulped delicately. She couldn't quite follow where Sasuke's going to.
"Then what really does?"
Sasuke tugged her wrist and began walking. If this had happened a few years ago, when she's still a self-proclaimed Uchiha fan girl, Sakura would've died out of sheer happiness. It's not every day that Sasuke initiates physical contact, but Sakura knew all too well the reason why this didn't bother him at all...
Yes, because we're friends with him now. Just friends, Inner Sakura scoffed. But we're not even so sure of that...
"What really matters is the person behind that girl's face. I'm pretty sure Naruto has no clue at all about that girl's life outside the stage—just like everyone else. Truly knowing a person involves being able to see through ones outside appearance and know them deep down." Sasuke paused and turned to her. "What do you think?"
We—well, Naruto doesn't know a thing about Mizaki's personal life, that's for sure, along with the whole Japanese population. "That makes sense…" Sakura trailed and let Sasuke's words pierce her understanding, taking small steps as Sasuke led the way. "If that's the case then you do know Akaya Mizaki as a pop superstar but you actually don't know her as a person. That's what you meant awhile ago, am I correct?"
And that means that no one really knew the other side of me.
Sasuke nodded, pretty much convinced of her deduction.
"How did you came up with all of these?" she asked softly, trying to discern the reason why he actually take things like this into consideration.
Sasuke shrugged. "If you've been living your life with all those scary fan girls trailing behind but had no real clue as to who you really are, you'll understand," he said monotonously, but Sakura was able to catch his effort of trying to lighten up the mood. "And it's always up to you to choose who among those people know you best by calling them your friends," Sasuke clarified.
Sakura nodded as realization hit her. "Y—you mean you're not considering me as a nosy fan girl anymore?" humouring him, tugging his arm just to tease him.
Sasuke rolled his eyes away from her. "I'm holding on to what you said back in fifth grade," Sasuke reminded her, his back facing her.
"Well that's good to hear…" Sakura mumbled as they reached the parking lot. Sasuke let go of her wrist and approached his car first, leaving her standing a few feet behind him. Sakura's eyes trailed towards Sasuke's back, overjoyed that she finally had Sasuke's acknowledgement. It took her seven years to do so but at least…
"Thank you, Sasuke-kun…"
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"Can I have the weekends off?"
Shizune almost fell from her seat, almost. "M—Mizaki-chan, what are you talking about?" she asked alarmingly.
Sakura scoffed and felt her temples. "Shizune-san, its still Sakura. I still have pink hair, see?" Sakura twirled a soft pink lock to prove her point. "I told you that Haruno Sakura is different from Mizaki. As long as Anko-san still hasn't done that marvelous trick for my transformation I still remain the ordinary, senior high student, okay?"
Shizune nodded tiredly before taking a look at her laptop, the one that contains the pop princess' entire schedule. They're currently on Mizaki's trailer, waiting for Anko, after which they would go to Fire Records to listen to some of the pop star's new songs. "But Sakura-chan, you have a photo shoot on Saturday morning, a mall tour in Kanda, an autograph signing in Yokohama, and at 7 PM a guest appearance at the Tokyo Convention. You can't also be free on Sunday because you have a commercial shoot and an interview," Shizune read, looking down at the pop star's hectic schedule hysterically.
"Can't you just, well, cancel them all?"
Shizune's face crumbled. "Oh no, Sakura-chan, that can't be! These were already laid out a year ago. We can't just cancel them all out!"
Sakura sighed and slumped on a couch resignedly. "I haven't had a day off since I started," she pointed out remorsefully.
"Of course! You are Japan's busiest teen, it's really hard to find a break," Shizune answered, pointing at the screen of her laptop.
"But you managed to squeeze in my studies," Sakura exclaimed, crossing her arms on her chest. "And that's eight hours, five times a week. That's a lot of time. What's a weekend day off? Besides, I never had the time to mingle with my friends."
"But your fans are your friends too. Isn't it great that you get to spend time with all the people supporting you since the beginning?" Shizune inquired, trying to talk Sakura into this.
Sakura rolled her eyes heavenward. What did Sasuke say about fans and friends again? "Hah! But fans and friends are completely different. Someone gladly pointed out to me that friends know you more," she explained proudly.
Shizune shook her head in despair. "But you really can't have this weekend, Sakura-chan. I'm sorry. Your schedule is carefully planned and crafted up until the next few months. We can't afford any rearrangement," Shizune mumbled, looking down at the schedule crossly.
"Then include a weekend rest for me somewhere on the next few months," Sakura simply said.
"That can't be! A lot of negotiations and considerations should be made for an event to even land a spot on your schedule. We can't just plop things like a weekend break in. Sakura-chan, you have to understand," Shizune pleaded. She groaned when Sakura didn't budge. Why is she even doing this anyway? Persuasion is the job of a manager! "Look… I know that you haven't had a break since the day you started—"
"Is that a yes?" Sakura interrupted, her eyes all-too-expecting.
Shizune furrowed her brows. "I didn't say that. But if you really want one then you should consult this to Tsunade-sama. If she affirms then I guess I'll do the rest…"
"Yay! I'm so excited!"
The secretary sighed tiredly before eying the bouncing teen, looking pretty much confident that she'll get her request. "But don't get your hopes up. Knowing Tsunade-sama, it would be very hard to do so," Shizune warned the teen.
Sakura smirked. "I've got it all covered up. Weekend vacation here I come!"
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Sakura's emerald orbs trailed lazily on her worn out rubber shoes inside her locker. She cringed at the sight of the pair before she pulled them out.
She had been an international endorser of branded shoes but gets none of the privileges unless she transforms back to her super star side.
—unless she's willing to get into another round of interrogation from her friends. The whole world knew that Haruno Sakura cannot even afford a new pair. Though it's quite arguable that the whole world doesn't really know Sakura, the argument is still intact. She needed to stick with that unless she's willing to leak her secret out.
"Hey, Sakura," Tenten greeted as she approached the pink-haired teen, tapping her shoulder congenially.
Sakura gave her a tight smile as a response before she slipped her leather shoes.
Tenten shook her head as she approached her locker, which was just beside Sakura's. For some unusual reason, she can tell that something's actually bothering her friend. The two had been friends since kindergarten and Tenten knew pretty much everything that goes around Sakura's head. She opened her locker as Sakura stretched her back, ready to place her leather shoes inside her locker.
"You look… tired," Tenten commented, peeking at a small mirror inside her own locker.
Sakura stiffened before she shrugged. "I just haven't got enough sleep," she replied with force cheeriness.
Hell yes we're tired! We've been up until 4 in the freaking morning for a stupid get together at the Imperial Palace for the Crown Prince's birthday celebration! Argh! Our manager should better keep her promise of a weekend vacation after this.
Sakura unconsciously bared her teeth angrily, slamming her locker door close.
Tenten giggled softly. "I've been here until six last night for detention but it seems like I had pretty much more rest that you did. Oh well… Because of this huge scratch on my arm," Tenten paused and pulled the sleeve of her uniform, revealing a bandaged upper arm. "I got away with all my house chores. For once I should thank Naruto for his lethal nails."
Sakura's eyes widened considerably. She reached out to pat the injury. "You got this from the cat fight yesterday? And from Naruto, of all people?"
Tenten tilted her head casually. "Yeah…" She slipped her shoes off and stuffed her socked foot on one of her rubber shoes. She got a pretty good smack on his face so they're just even. "It's his fault; he doesn't want to give in! I mean, seriously, that was the only time I actually asked something from him. Does it hurt to just let me have the amazing tarpaulin?"
Tenten sighed at the recollection of what happened yesterday as the two started walking towards their classroom. "And because of his selfishness, the whole class found out about the tarp, and before I knew it hundreds of filthy hands were already grabbing the poster from me. It's just feels so good that you weren't one of them."
"Sasuke-kun and I were hiding," Sakura pointed out.
Tenten smiled mischievously. "Taking advantage of the situation, huh?"
A blush crept on Sakura's face.
"Tenten, you knew what I told him, I mean, her in fifth grade four years ago," Sakura exclaimed, eying Tenten by the corner of her eyes.
The bun-haired teen shrugged before sighing. "Yeah, I know but…"
Sakura shook her head as they reached the corridor to their classroom. "It just feels so good when you know someone like him cares, even though only as a friend."
"Of course! Look at this!" Tenten halted from her tracks before she glanced at the corridor suspiciously. Sakura rolled her eyes before she stopped, too, fairly amused at Tenten's childish antics. Tenten continued dodging apprehensive glances on the hallway—looking much like a paranoid. Seeing that the area was clear, she pulled Sakura closer and urged her to look inside her bag.
Sakura looked down hesitantly. The last time Tenten did this was when she bought her pet tarantula for their 'show and tell' in grade school. That memory could've been very much okay until Tenten stuffed the bottle with the freaky spider inside Sakura's bag, only to find it escaped during lunch time. Sakura never opened that bag anymore.
"Look, Sasuke gave this to me!" Tenten whispered as she rummaged her bag.
A flash of something glossy appeared before Tenten pulled the entire thing out.
MUSIC NIGHT—TOKYO CONVENTION. 7PM, SATURDAY.
"A ticket?" Sakura blurted out unconsciously, recognizing the strip of hard paper on Tenten's hands. She let out a shaky breath she wasn't aware she was holding before she looked down on it vacantly.
Tenten gasped dramatically. "It's an upper box concert ticket for Mizaki's concert on Saturday!"
Sakura's eyes widened. Upper box? How did Tenten afford such? "W…wow…?" she murmured before she looked up to her friend's face. "Where did you get that? That's about 10000 yen!"
"Sssssshhhhh…" Tenten hissed before she pulled Sakura closer. "If you don't want a repeat of what happened yesterday then keep quiet!" Tenten brandished the ticket in front of Sakura and wagged it mischievously. "Sasuke gave this to me. I sneaked inside his office last night, looked for the tickets, got caught, but able to get away with it. And Sakura, I got two of them!" Tenten giggled as she hugged the tickets closer.
Sakura shot a skeptical brow up. "He did?"
"Yeah!"
Sakura shook her head. First he gave Naruto the tarp, and now the tickets?
That's when Tenten grabbed Sakura's shoulders, effectively surprising her. "Isn't this the most amazing thing about having someone like him as a friend? I mean, who would give out tickets like this? People are dying to have them, Sakura!"
Sakura shot her a knowing look. "I know. They're sold out three days after their release," she pointed out. Shizune announced that happily a week before to the whole staff. She then gasped inwardly, recognizing her slip. Sakura shouldn't know that. But seeing how excited Tenten is, her friend might probably brush such slip off as a mere response by a fellow Mizaki addict.
"And we were blessed to be one of those people! I can't wait!"
Sakura sighed before her eyes widened. "W—wait. We?" Sakura echoed.
"Yeah… Sasuke's secretary caught me last night while rummaging on his table. Good thing Sasuke was able to shoo her out. All I need to say to him was that I can't believe that he gave Naruto that tarp and all and tell him that I could forgive him if he could let me have a ticket for Saturday night. He was a bit hesitant but you know Sasuke. He gave in when I told him you're coming with me and that you'll love to see Mizaki live. Do you know that these tickets were actually his? I learned that he was always given tickets for all the concerts sponsored by their company but he chose to put them all in waste! It's a good thing I found them!"
"You told him I'm coming with you?"
"Yeah! I know this is unbelievable but believe it! We need to see that concert on Saturday, Sakura!" Tenten persuaded, shaking Sakura excitedly.
Shit, Inner Sakura cursed. "But I can't," Sakura snapped back, biting her lip.
Tenten blanched. "What are you talking about? You can't say you can't because I won't allow it! I promised Sasuke that I'll take you with me!"
Tenten, for god's sake! If you ever want to see Mizaki you need to let me go! Sakura shrugged and took a step back. "I've got work on weekends."
"Sakura, can you her yourself? This is a chance of a lifetime!"
"Take Naruto instead. Maybe both of you could learn how to share things after that," Sakura answered with a tone of finality.
"You can't be serious, Sakura!"
A snort was heard from behind as Tenten immediately slipped the tickets on her pocket. The two stiffened before looking towards the direction of the offending noise.
"Well if it isn't Haruno Sakura," a shrill voice proclaimed, steely gaze staring Sakura down.
Tenten's jaw fell. "I—Ino, is that you?" she asked with outmost disgust.
The blonde girl donned with the same uniform as them flipped her hair with an air of sophistication. "The one and only." Her sapphire eyes roamed on Sakura's figure before she gave out another snort. "Some things really never change. You still look as dorky as ever," Ino casually commented.
"What are you doing here?" Tenten hissed.
"What?" Ino smiled slyly before her gaze darkened. "I study here, of course. I got bored in my school in Paris." She placed her hands on her curvy hips before raising her chin up. "Too bad I wasn't able to make it on the first section like you did. I hope we could do some… catching up. It's been four years, is that right?" Ino fake mumbled before she snorted again.
Tenten scoffed before she glared at the mocking blonde.
"Or maybe we could have our lunch together sometime, like how we used to do back in grade school. That is until you backstabbed me," she accused pointedly to Sakura.
Tenten rolled her eyes in utter disbelief. "It was you who betrayed her," Tenten growled, suppressing a childhood memory where she and Sakura used to share with the blonde.
"Really?" Ino took delicate steps towards Sakura, who was surprisingly rooted from her spot. She swayed her hips gracefully in the process, with those dark blue eyes never leaving her prey. "This is my territory now, Sakura. I've let you have the past four years with him and now I'm here for my own share," she whispered conceitedly. "Better drop the 'friend' façade now or else I'll gladly do it for you—Sasuke would be very much disappointed to you if that happens."
Sakura tensed at the mention of Sasuke. "Is this about him again? You show up after leaving four years ago just for him?" Sakura looked up to meet her glare. "I told you this once, and I don't care if I get to repeat this all over again because this is the truth. I'm done with him. We're friends now—and that's how it'll always be."
"AAAAAHHH! It's the blonde witch from fifth grade!" Naruto interrupted as he zoomed towards Ino. Ino visibly cringed. "Oh my god, it's really you! I thought you just, vanished." Naruto flailed his arms in emphasis as he scrutinized Ino. "Teme, look, it's the girl you dumped back in grade school!" Naruto called out, pointing to Ino's direction. The rest of the students in the hall turned their heads in interest.
Ino's eyes widened before she smacked Naruto. "He so did not dump me!" she denied before she noticed Sasuke was just right behind her. "S—Sasuke-kun!" she squealed.
"What are you doing here?"
The blonde batted her lashes, aware of the attention given to her. "Well, I considered your Mom's request about going back and studying here. It's good to see you again," she replied sweetly.
Sakura's ears perked up. "Again?" she repeated.
Ino, pretty much sure that she can smell jealousy, shot Sakura a sympathetic look. "Haven't Sasuke-kun told you that we spent weeks in Paris last summer vacation?"
"Whoa," Tenten reacted as the eavesdropping crowd inched closer to the group.
Sasuke swallowed before he spared Sakura a glance.
"Is that true, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked neutrally, her eyes waiting for his confirmation.
"Hn."
"WHAT? After all the trouble I got myself into in fifth grade to keep her at bay now you're telling me that you've been secretly dating with the witch?" Naruto exclaimed. "In Paris? THE HELL!"
"Stop calling me that!" Ino yelled back, quite tired of the stupid name-calling.
"Naruto, stop it," Sakura warned softly and tugged the boy's sleeve. "C'mon, the bell's going to ring any minute now." Sakura looked towards Tenten's direction and the girl nodded. She gave her friend the barest of smiles before her gaze trailed towards Sasuke. "We'll see you later."
The trio turned their backs from Ino and Sasuke, turning to the door on their right.
"Well, Sasuke-kun, you haven't forgotten about the party tonight, right? My father and I will wai—"
RIIIIIIIING!
"Hey, Sasuke-kun!" Ino called out as Sasuke turned his back to her. "Hey, we'll be waiting okay?" she purred seductively from behind before she ran towards her classroom.
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"Well, he hasn't mentioned anything about it to us, that's for sure," Tenten said gingerly, turning towards Naruto. "You know something about this?"
Naruto shrugged. "I wouldn't act so surprised if I did, right?"
Sakura sighed as she looked down. "If he wants us to know about it then he would've told us—not let us hear it from someone else."
Something on Sakura's voice tells both of her friends that she is quite affected.
Of course, they knew better.
"Sakura-chan…" Naruto began but was rudely interrupted by Tenten, gesturing that Sasuke was approaching. The three scampered on their seats—Tenten pulled out a random book from her bag and Naruto turned to his seatmate on the right side and began blabbing. So much for not acting suspicious, Sakura thought. But as Sasuke's footsteps neared, Sakura felt the urge to panic. She bit her lip before she pulled her drawer, trying hard not to think about what happened awhile ago.
She eyed the contents of her drawer and as Sasuke approached his seat behind hers, she began rummaging on the stacks of papers in it.
"Hn."
Naruto tensed before he continued speaking. "—as I was saying, there's this man whose eyes were so red I'm beginning to doubt he has sore eyes—"
Sakura closed her drawer quietly with a paper in hand, cursing a minute later that the one she pulled out was blank.
"Sakura."
"What?"
Tenten leaned back on her chair, trying to catch something from the two's conversation.
Sakura opened her drawer again, finding it very much interesting to look at.
"About Ino I—"
Sakura cut him off. "Sasuke-kun."
Naruto stopped chatting and Tenten put her book down.
"You don't have to tell everything to us," Sakura assured, not turning towards him.
Sasuke began feeling that the day suddenly turned out just not right.
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"Shizune-san, why are we here?" Sakura inquired, seeing her trailer nearing a familiar-looking building.
Shizune turned to the pop star and smiled. "Mizaki-chan, the staff of the Fire Records arranged another victory party for your successful sophomore album and also in preparation for your third album launch this summer," she answered merrily. "They've never seen such a successful series of album launches since they started and they're so overwhelmed by your cooperation! Words aren't enough to describe this miraculous phenomenon!"
Mizaki furrowed her brows at Shizune's energetic attitude before she looked up to the towering building with a red crest—the recording company's emblem. Her gaze lingered to the place she owed her career to for the next minute before she sighed unknowingly.
"Have you ever been… betrayed?" she suddenly asked out of nowhere.
The secretary's head shot up immediately, confusion tainting her expression. "Pardon me?"
Mizaki shifted from her seat uneasily before she slouched her back tiredly. "If a friend… lies to you… what will you do?"
Shizune paused and contemplated, unable to determine the reason behind the random question. "Well… It depends on the damage done."
"If he kept something of great importance from you and from all the people concerned—is that enough for you to get mad?"
"I guess so."
Mizaki nodded slowly, feeling much better that her small anger to Sasuke was nothing but natural.
"Um… is this about hiding your 'other' identity from your friends?"
Mizaki gasped and Shizune hadn't missed the mortified expression of the pop princess.
"Mi—Mizaki-chan? Are you alight?"
Mizaki bit her lip and looked down, guilt washing down her whole body.
"Mizaki-chan? Look, try not to think about it, okay?" Shizune sat closer to the teen and soothed her hand. "Everyone has secrets. But secrets have reasons behind them. I believe they would understand…"
Mizaki felt her temples and groaned. The nerve… The nerve of her to feel mad when she had also been keeping secrets. Coming clean had never been this complicated.
"Just… just don't think about it now…" Shizune proposed, mentally taking note to never, ever stroke such sensitive issues again. "We—we're here already," she announced anxiously, looking down at Mizaki's messed up form. "D—do you want to stay here in the car a little longer? I can tell the receptionist to tell Tsunade-sama and the staff that you'll be late."
"No," Mizaki whispered. "I think we shouldn't let them wait."
"But Mizaki-chan…"
"I—I'm fine," she assured, but her eyes reflected something raw.
"But…"
Sakura replied a soft, "it's okay," before the door of the trailer opened, revealing a two-door entrance towards the lobby. The security personnel started lining up and upon their formation was set, a magnificent teen stepped out on the red carpet.
Shizune exhaled in relief upon seeing Mizaki's façade revert back on its usual glee. "Mizaki-chan, the gathering is on the eightieth floor," Shizune exclaimed professionally as the said pop star walked flawlessly, smiling timidly on some of the star struck employees.
Mizaki continued smiling gorgeously until the two reached the elevator. As the door closes, she dropped her act and sighed. An uncomfortable silence passed as the express elevator travelled up to the eightieth floor, with Mizaki looking miserable at each passing minute. The doors opened with a shrill 'ping' and revealed a marbled mini-lobby, with glass doors and high ceilings. "Are you sure you're okay?" Shizune asked but Mizaki just brushed it away.
"The staff is waiting," the receptionist announced as the two neared. Akaya Mizaki nodded and went in first, trying to act the usual, with an usherette by her side.
Shizune was about to follow in when the receptionist called her attention. "Shizune, wait, I've got news," the receptionist whispered and ushered her to come closer.
Shizune leaned and waited for the lady to spill her beans. "The big bosses are inside! Uchiha Mikoto and her son came. They're here as honorary guests for Mizaki-san."
"Really?" Shizune bellowed. She bit her lip and remembered a conversation with Tsunade about a commotion at Konoha High because of a stolen tarpaulin. "Please don't tell me she's with Uchiha Sasuke? Mizaki-chan would kill me!"
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Akaya Mizaki was greeted by applauding staffs, with one of the employees handing her a bouquet of white roses. She gasped as some of them cheered, trying to shake her hand. She realized then that the huge executive conference room was turned into a banquet hall, with well-arranged tables and a huge tarpaulin with her name on it hanging by the white board.
"Mizaki-chan, congratulations," Tsunade, her manager, finally exclaimed, emerging from the crowd.
The pop star smiled appreciatively, appearing like an angel with her white casual dress and flowers in hand.
"This is so much," she said, looking at the sea of smiling faces.
Tsunade smiled but Sakura missed the mischievous glint on her eyes. The teen began approaching the producers, thanking them from all of their support.
"We're thinking of a movie. The people are so eager for one," Tsunade heard one of the producers proposed.
Mizaki bowed her head in gratitude, and as she looked up, despite of the buzzing crowd in front of her, she noticed someone with a familiar spiky raven hair.
Tsunade smirked.
Mizaki's mouth felt dry and her stomach churned as she zeroed her eyes towards none other than Uchiha Sasuke, seated on the elevated table in front for special guests. He was, Sakura can tell (since Mizaki is supposed to be unaware of his existence), looking pretty bored. She saw him sigh and he pulled out something from his pocket. Mizaki took a step closer, trying to see what he was actually doing. He pulled out his mobile phone before Mizaki noticed something horrible.
—or someone horrible rather.
"Ino? What's that, girl doing here?" she exclaimed in gritted teeth, watching the blonde trying so hard to strike a conversation. She still can't believe on what Ino had told them all earlier. But judging by how Sasuke completely ignored her, it seemed like Sasuke hadn't had a great summer after all. She was about to laugh her heart out at that thought before she nearly jerked from her spot.
"Is there a problem?" Tsunade asked, seeing her singer's startled reaction.
"Uh…" Mizaki shook her head and felt her mobile phone vibrating. "Someone's calling me," she told her manager. "Can you hold on this for a minute?" Tsunade complied and Mizaki pulled out her phone from her left pocket. That's strange. Who would call her at this time? She gasped when she realized that the one that had been vibrating was her other phone, the one in her right pocket.
Sakura's phone.
She stuffed Mizaki's phone back and fished for her other phone. "I told Naruto not to call me during weeknights," she mumbled before she stared at the screen.
Calling… Sasuke-kun :)