Naruto has two different jobs on Mondays, Wednesdays and the weekends. He has to work double time because the books and stuff for College of Engineering aren't cheap.

"How was first day of college?" Kiba, his co-worker and also the son of the owner of the pet shop he works at asked.

The boy just cringed. His reaction wasn't unwarranted, Kiba knew that Naruto isn't the most studious person out there. He himself isn't either, that's why he decided not to continue his studies. Managing one of the many pet shops his family owns is definitely more appealing.

"Hey, Naruto. You've been smiling for a good one and a half hour now," Kiba raised a brow suspiciously. "I thought school was painful?"

The question caught Naruto off guard. He didn't even realize he had been smiling. But he didn't want Kiba to know that there's a beautiful girl in his class to inspire him.

With a denying shake of his hands, he countered, "Well yeah, I don't like studying." His tone turned to a happy kind of sadness. "It's just that I'm glad I'm on my first step to make something of myself."

It wasn't a complete lie. He was indeed happy he's on his way to make his dreams come true.

A few more minutes and he should be going to Ichiraku's.

While Naruto was thinking about romance, Sakura's mind never drifted to the boy. She didn't even remember his name or face. Only flashes of his ridiculous smile in the recesses of her brain.

When her bus stopped at their district, she went straight ahead to her parents' house. Sakura doesn't have the heart to move yet when she's just fifteen minute drive away from the University.

No one was home. Mom's probably at the grocery store. She remembered seeing their pantry's food supply getting scarce. Dad as usual is busy with his schedule at the hospital. Picking up a carton of chocolate drink from their rather huge refrigerator that's running out of different types of drinks and fruits, she went on her way to her room.

Sakura's room is huge. There's a queen size bed in the middle of one side, a bedroom bench at the foot of it, and a television across from it. It was fully carpeted and very pink, a theme that hasn't changed since her infant years. She even has a walk in closet filled with clothes half of which she hasn't even worn - what can someone expect from an upper class family with only one child. But her favorite spot is the study table where she likes to read and learn things way ahead of her intellectual age.

He loves Mr. Teuchi's ramen. Very much still but working at Ichiraku's for three months now? Just the smell of the broth makes his stomach churn. Something he never thought could ever be possible. I need to find a different job. Not because he hates it there. Quite the opposite. It's just that he wants his obsession to Ichiraku ramen to resurface.

"Naruto," Mr. Teuchi's daughter Ayame called from the counter. From the busy kitchen, said boy sauntered to where the brown-haired woman was. "Get inside the office, I have something to tell you."

The office was pretty small, it could only accommodate four people at the same time.

"Dad and I have talked about this. But we have to remove you from the kitchen and I'm so sorry you won't get to have a say in this."

Naruto's face saddened. Wait, I know what I said awhile ago but I haven't found a new job to replace this one. He couldn't help but just utter, "But I need this job." Pleadingly, he continued, "Please! I'm in college now. I-"

With a shake of her hands, Ayame corrected, "Oh! No, sorry, you got it the wrong way. We're transferring you to delivery job."

Oh! He exclaimed in relief.

"Ryo, the delivery boy had to leave to a different city," the woman explained, "That's the reason I said you can't say no to our decision."

Naruto accepted it without hesitation. This is matter of factly is more favorable. Finally he doesn't have to be exposed to the aroma of the noodles and broth every single evening. He'd eventually miss his favorite ramen and in no time can reunite with his love for it.

After the last house, the blond teenager bid his goodbye to his co-workers at Ichiraku and headed to his apartment.

His place was decent. Or maybe not. It was small and not in its cleanest state. Clothes thrown haphazardly from the old torn leather couch to the bathroom floors, he doesn't even know which ones are clean or used. The kitchen sink was full of dirty dishes, the cockroaches are probably partying somewhere down the mountain of plates. His room, although not pristine is the only part that doesn't smell like an expired canned good.

No one can blame the boy. He never had anyone to discipline him. Naruto has always been by his own and never had any proper parent figure in his life. But for some reason, the boy learned to be mindful of his spendings. He grew up in an orphanage and through the help of his middle school teacher sir Iruka and his hard earned savings, he got his own place at the age of thirteen. But still he didn't know how to be hygienic in the very least.

"Sakura, sweetheart!" with a light knock, Sakura's mom called from the other side of her lavender bedroom door.

Dropping the pen on her table filled with opened textbooks, she answered her door a moment later. Her mom wasn't there. The call was simply her mom's way of telling her she's home and might use some hand to help her discharge the groceries. They always have a huge supply of groceries, especially snacks.

To Sakura's surprise, Dad was in the kitchen, chopping what looked to be onions, and it seemed he has already chopped other spices.

"We got home a while ago," her mom informed as she prepared the table for dinner.

Her stomach growled. She was so engrossed by her studying she didn't notice the sun has already set.

Dinner was composed of braised meat and potatoes, rice and deep fried fish. It's that day of the week she's allowed to indulge in chocolate cake. Of course she gladly wallowed in it. Sakura might've been born with a golden spoon in her mouth but that didn't stop her from being the simple young woman she is now, everything she wants in life is having sweets in that spoon.

Sakura was already warm underneath her thick blankets donned in her comfortable red pajamas listening to her iPod. Meanwhile Naruto is just about to eat his late dinner, too late the rice has gone cold already.

The following day, he saw her again.

Thanking her mom for driving her to school, Sakura exited a black sedan wearing the same style just like yesterday, only this time different colors but still complemented her hair and eyes. She must really like wearing skirt and sneakers. Plus she looked like she smells of fresh flowers, the boy thought she always looked clean and proper.

Naruto don't ever get jealous of people from the upper class. They can spend their money on trivial things for all they want, he's content with his happy life. But he definitely felt the distance between his and Sakura's worlds. Suddenly he didn't feel like getting near her. So he let her be if only for that single moment of realization.

The whole week passed. He learned that they don't have the same class any more than those two afternoon classes on Mondays. Nonetheless, the boy excitedly did his endless extra jobs that Sunday knowing that he's gonna see her pretty classmate again. He intended to sit beside her again, to maybe talk and be friends. Who said he got dissuaded by their luxurious shiny car?