Based on the song by Avril Lavigne.

Summary: I have absolutely no idea.

"I'm beginning to regret treating the two of you to lunch," Asuma said nervously, watching Chouji shove down his 16th chicken wing.

"At least Ino isn't here, so it almost evens out," Shikamaru suggested.

Chouji gulped down a particularly large piece of chicken, then took a deep breath, looking over at Shikamaru. "Oh yeah, that reminds me...why isn't Ino here?"

"Who cares? She's been acting weird lately around us, anyway," Shikamaru replied, rolling his eyes. "I haven't seen her all day."

"Not around us, around you," Chouji retaliated. "You don't care that Ino isn't here? Our whole team is usually treated to a meal, not just me and you."

"Should I be around to hear this conversation?" Asuma interjected.

"It's fine, I'm done anyway," Shikamaru replied, glaring at Chouji as he stood up. "Thanks, Asuma-sensei, but I'm going to head home now. I've got chores to do."

"Wait up, I'm going with you," Chouji called after him, standing up so quickly that he nearly knocked the table over. The two boys left the restaurant together, scanning the crowded streets for their missing teammate. "Where do you think she is?" Chouji asked.

"Don't know," Shikamaru replied with a shrug, sticking his hands into his pockets. "What did you mean by 'Ino's just acting weird around you'?" he asked suddenly, looking over at Chouji curiously.

"I don't know," Chouji replied with a shrug, avoiding his eyes. "She just is. When it's only me and her, then she's fine. It's you that's making her act weird."

"Well, what the hell could I possibly be doing wrong?" Shikamaru asked. "I haven't done anything different since we all became teammates three years ago."

"It must be her," Chouji suggested. "Maybe she just wants to be weird around you all of a sudden, to freak you out or something. Who knows? Ino's a strange pers..." Chouji trailed off as a small smile formed on his face, and he pointed to a tall, brown-haired girl standing a few feet away with her back to them. "Hot girl, ten o'clock."

"Pervert, nine o'clock," Shikamaru replied dully, looking over at Chouji, who was standing to his left. "Why do you always do that?"

"Bad habit, you should know that by now," Chouji told him. "Should I go talk to her?"

"No," Shikamaru said in monotone. "Let's go find somewhere to sit down and relax."

"I thought you had chores to do?"

"I do, but I don't feel like walking all the way home right now."

"...alright."

They found a nearby bench and sat down, and Chouji continued his people-watching routine. "Oh, there's another one," he said, pointing to a black-haired girl standing just a few feet away. The girl saw Chouji pointing at her, and gave him a disgusted look before she walked away.

"People-watching again, Chouji?" came a familiar voice. Shikamaru didn't even bother to turn around, he'd had enough of Ino for one lifetime. One less look at her would do him good.

"Hey, Ino! We've been looking for...YOU! Holy cow!"

"What now?" Shikamaru asked, turning around to see what Chouji's problem was. He had to use every bit of willpower he had to keep his jaw from dropping.

"I decided to mix things up a little today. Like it?"

"Ino, I think that if that skirt was one millimeter shorter, it would have to be classified as underwear," Chouji said in awe. His expression suddenly hardened, and he glanced around them suspiciously. "Hurry up and change, before guys start ogling you!" He turned towards his best friend. "Right, Shikamaru?"

Unfortunately, Shikamaru was doing the very thing Chouji had warned Ino about. He shook his head quickly at the sound of his own name, wrenching his eyes away from a grinning Ino to look at Chouji warily. "What?"

"I said that I think Ino should change before guys start OGLING her," Chouji repeated. "Her skirt's too short, her shirt has no sleeves, and her makeup...well, that just needs to go, too." He turned back to Ino. "As your unofficial big brother, I demand you change."

"Oh, please, I'm staying in these clothes for the rest of the day. You know I look good," Ino argued. "Right, Shikamaru?"

"Mmmhmm," Shikamaru replied absentmindedly, focusing on not looking at Ino and wondering when the hell she had actually gotten pretty.

"Change, or I'll run you over with my Human Boulder technique," Chouji threatened.

Ino glared at him, looked at Shikamaru out of the corner of her eye, then sighed after a moment. "Fine. I guess I'll just head home, then."

Shikamaru's head snapped back up, and he looked from Ino to Chouji quickly. "Where are we going?"

"Nowhere. Ino's going home to change," Chouji said, looking at him like he'd grown a third eye. He looked back at Ino, and his eyes narrowed. "Right, Ino?"

"Right. Whatever." Ino crossed her arms and spun on her heel, humphing loudly when she was about five feet away from them. Shikamaru stared at her back as she retreated.

"Geez, we were definitely right," Chouji said with disbelief. "Ino sure is being...hey, where are you going?"

Shikamaru nearly tripped over his own feet trying to get up off the bench. "Hey, Ino!"

Chouji shook his head, sighing loudly.

Ino felt the corners of her mouth start to upturn, but she held back her smile as Shikamaru's footsteps got louder and louder. "Hey, wait up," came his voice as he reached her. She turned around, forcing her expression into a slightly angry one.

"What do you want now?" she asked grumpily. "Delivering a message from Chouji? I got it, I'm going to go change, and take off the makeup, and whatever else you guys want me to do..."

"No, I'm not delivering a message from Chouji," Shikamaru said with a glare. "I don't even want...I don't care whether you change or not." He rubbed the back of his head nervously as Ino put her hands on her hips. "I actually kind of think...you look kind of...pretty..." He trailed off, turning red, but recovered surprisingly quickly. "Pretty...decent, uh, you know, with the clothes and makeup and all." He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets again and giving her a pointed look. "Look, no offense, but I noticed your biceps look kind of weak. Maybe we should...you know, go training together...or something. That way you can get stronger."

"Like, without Chouji...?" Ino started, tilting her head to the side curiously.

"Yeah. Er...I mean, two against one wouldn't really be fair. It would be better with just two people."

"Chouji and I could always practice without you."

"Nah, I have to make sure it's done right. Chouji might screw the training up."

Ino eyed him carefully for a moment. "Friday at 8?"

"Uh...yeah. That's fine with me." Shikamaru let out a sigh of relief, taking a step backwards as Ino turned to walk away.

"See you later, I have to go change now," Ino said, giving him a small smile. "Chouji's orders."

"Yeah."

As Ino walked away, her small smile turned into a full-blown grin.

And Shikamaru wasted no time in properly watching her go. In fact, he was so busy staring, he didn't even notice Ino snatch ten dollars out of a frowning Sakura's hand. "Told ya."