The school cafeteria like the usual was filled with students. And unlike middle and high school canteens, students here don't have any specific groups of people with each group having their assigned spots on the tables. One of the many changes in college that appealed to Naruto. He doesn't like people being divided.

He was already seated at the very far side when he saw Sakura approaching. When their eyes met, a wide smile instantly came into sight but it didn't last long because right there walking beside Sakura was a tall and good-looking guy who kept looking at her with full of admiration while she was saying something that seemed to be of importance. They parted ways a moment later.

"I'm sorry I'm a little late," Sakura said as she sat across from Naruto. With a little frown, the pink haired girl added, "What's wrong?"

The question was directed towards the gloomy demeanor. She could swear he was smiling like a dog before she arrived at where he was seated.

Then a smile, a fake one. She knows it's fake for it doesn't carry the same positive energy it had during the previous times. Not that Sakura cared about the smile, it's just that it's so infectious, she couldn't miss the happiness that can be felt from the person.

"Won't your boyfriend get mad that we're sitting together?"

What? Three seconds passed and it dawned on her. Ohhh!

"That lost puppy? Please!" she said indignantly. "I don't have a boyfriend."

It was such a big relief to Naruto and it showed in his now real smile. But Sakura don't have the time to look at his expression for she was already turning a textbook she carried with her on a certain page.

"Don't we need to be next to each other so you can explain things easier?"

It was an innocent question. Without any other meaning to it but what was being asked.

Ignoring him, Sakura said, "I need my phone, I have important notes on there." She didn't even so much as look at his direction.

Naruto immediately obliged and gave her the phone that he took care of really carefully.

She was taking her time on her phone while the boy just stared at her with a little blush on his cheeks. "Did you look at my photos?" The question was quite accusing.

"No, I swear." That exact moment Naruto's stomach grumbled.

Closing the book, she gave the phone back to him. "Let's eat first."

Without a word, the girl stood to get her food at the counter area, leaving all her things behind. Looks like she trusts Naruto enough. After all, she surmised that he's a harmless person.

On the other hand, Naruto took out his bento and waited for her so they can start eating.

Sakura took a glance at what he's eating only once. She didn't say anything, not even a tinge of pity on her expression. They ate in a companionable silence, only the little noises coming from other students around them can be heard.

It turns out the book she was looking at a moment ago had nothing to do with their project. It was for a different subject. Naruto didnt even know it was a Statistics textbook. She is the most studious person her has ever met. Or maybe he just was never around book smart people in his previous academic years.

"So we can only choose a topic from the first chapter," Sakura said as she pointed her index finger on the early parts of the Table of Contents of her Chemistry textbook at the center of their table. It was facing the direction where they both could read the words. "Which is good cause at least we're not on the complicated parts yet."

The boy scratched his head. That's not complicated to her? Even the most basic of all science is hard for Naruto to grasp.

"Do you have any background in any of these?"

He gave her a sheepish grin. Her response was another sigh. How did he pass high school? Sakura is obviously tired of Naruto. Why did she have to be left with him as a partner? She's not good at dealing with slow learning people and she might dislike him but she doesn't want to be extremely rude to him or anyone for that matter.

But there's no helping it. She guessed she just have to work harder because it seemed eighty percent of the effort is going to come from her here. "Let's just choose this one," she said finally as she pointed at the words 'Atomic Structure'. "This should be easy enough."

Naruto can't help but feel sorry and it showed in his smile that gives the impression of sadness which she noticed. His smiles are so expressive.

"You're a working student correct?" Sakura asked.

"Yes, I am."

"I'm gonna explain this to you the fastest way I can right now since it looks like it's your only free time for the rest of the day," he nodded in agreement. "But I need you to think of acceptable possible titles. At least three. And we'll choose the best from yours and mine on our next meeting."

"Okay," he said. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

Of course it's a good plan to him. More than good matter-of-factly. This means they will have more meetings like this in the future. The idea made his heart skip a beat.

Sakura was so sure she said Wednesday is their next meeting. She was standing under one of the many trees inside the campus just a few steps away from the gates.

Why is he taking so long? Her watch says it's 8am. Which means she's been standing there for thirty minutes now.

The benches near aren't clean. Sitting was not an option especially that she's wearing a white skirt but her legs were getting numb. Her head was also starting to hurt from looking at the students entering hoping one of them is the blonde idiot.

She was about to leave and just move the meeting some other day before the deadline but she heard his annoying voice calling her.

"Why are you late?" she said accusingly. "I tried to call you three times," her hands went to her hips. "Fyi, not everyone have no school today like you. I have a class in an hour."

The beads of sweat that formed on Naruto's face from running is doubling because of Sakura's demeanor. She looked scary.

"I can explain."

"Later," she said as she started to walk. "Follow me."

The annex library was relatively smaller and definitely a lot nearer from the entrance than the main library. There weren't much students inside either. Naruto noticed how few the bookshelves are too. There were enough tables and chairs all situated at the center of the room. When Sakura sat at one of them, he followed suit.

After some choosing, they finally settled with a title. Which obviously was Sakura's. Naruto's were not decent enough. The girl thought the other day that maybe she could just rephrase whatever he will come up with but his ideas are just not there.

Without fuss, they also decided that Sakura will be the one to write their introduction. She asked him some ideas he wanted to be added into what she will write and wrote them down on her notes. His points weren't much but this is supposed to be a joint effort. Otherwise, she could've just asked Mr. Sarutobi to let her project be an individual one.

"Explain," the pink-haired girl said after she placed her things inside her bag. When Naruto gave her a quizzical look, she continued, "Explain yourself earlier."

"Ohh, yeah! I came from work and had to run home so I can at least take a quick shower," he revealed shyly. Looking her in the eye, albeit the embarrassment, he meant to apologize, "I'm really really sorry if I made you wait. It was really inconsiderate of me."

It took a few seconds for Sakura to take in what she just heard. And then she spoke, "I'm sorry, work?" He could see the confusion in her eyes. There isn't any irritation in them anymore. "What do you do this early?"

"I carry newly delivered vegetables at the local farmer's market to each store owners I have contract with," his whiskered face made a proud expression.

Frowning, the teenage girl asked, "What time do you start?"

"4 am. So I'm really really sorry for getting late. I didn't-"

"No," she interjected quietly. "I-I'm... I don't know what to say."

Sakura was lost for words. Thinking about how she lashed out at him earlier made her so sorry. How many job does this boy have? No, he's not a boy. He probably hasn't been in a long while. He must've been working at a young age. That's also probably why his skin is so tanned and he looks a little buffed for a teenager. The girl meant to ask where his parents are but her class is in two minutes. I'll ask him some other time.

It seemed that some other time was two days later.

Eating happily at one corner of the cafeteria was the boy. He was wearing a black t-shirt with a faded fictional character print.

Carrying her food-filled tray, Sakura treaded to Naruto's direction. Without any sort of greetings, she sat across from him. The blonde-boy almost choked on his rice when she materialized.

"H-hey Sakura," he stuttered.

There was no response. To Naruto's surprise, the girl placed a whole piece of pork tonkatsu in his bento box. His eyes went wide as soon as the scrumptious crispy meat landed beside his dried fish.

"That'll add flavor to your food," she denoted as she looked him in the eye. And then for the first time, she smiled at him. A happy and friendly smile. Naruto felt those butterflies in his stomach again.

"Thank you Sakura," he was almost teary eyed.

"Do you work at the farmer's market every morning?"

The question surprised the boy. She has completely dropped her haughty treatment towards him. "No, I just come there whenever I'm being called. Very seldom, almost only once a month," he answered while chewing.

Sakura took a bite of tempura. "What do your parents say about all these?"

He stopped chewing. There was a pregnant pause.

"I don't have parents."

Shock was an understatement. Even the girl ceased eating. She now felt worse than yesterday. "I'm so-"

Lightly, he cut her off before he receive another pity. "Hey, it's fine. Being an orphan made me who I am."

In his early life, pity was the only thing people give to him. It was only until sir Iruka and his high school best friend came that he actually received help and support.

They continued eating in silence. It wasn't awkward, they just had a silent agreement not to talk any more in fear of offending the other.