Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters.

A/N: Another dozen apologies! I've been really busy so my chapters take a while to materialize.
This one's a shorter chapter, and in a somewhat different format! I was hoping to take on a more… direct? approach of sorts, to put across everything more clearly and concisely instead of dragging on and on.

Review if you'd like to, and enjoy :)

At the End of the Corridor

Chapter 4

Monday

Issues with your parents?

I'm not really good with that kind of stuff though…

Sakura winced slightly as she read the note, promptly pulling it off the board. Who was this kid anyway? What with that polite tone and all. Sakura didn't think anyone in this school was that polite—but of course, it wasn't like Sakura knew more than what, five people in her school?

Judging from the way he or she spoke, Sakura decided that she should possibly use more of a milder tone in her next post-it. She certainly didn't want to scare off her new 'friend'. Especially if it was a girl. What if she was some delicate petal like Hinata who might suffer from mental trauma for the rest of her life or something after reading the note? Tossing this idea around in her head, the girl tucked the note away in her file and walked off.

Wednesday

That's okay. I just wanted to voice out my problems to someone. I don't have any siblings, so it's kind of hard for me to share my troubles with anyone.

My mom's been putting a lot of pressure on me 'cos the mid-year exams are just around the corner.

She'd been careful to leave out the 'strong bits' this time round. Sakura'd intentionally removed the details about being yelled at constantly and even having to skip meals because her mom wouldn't let her eat until she 'finished' preparing for her Chemistry mid-year paper that was to come soon. Who gave 300yen worth about what colour copper (II) sulfate was anyway?

Thursday

I don't have siblings either, so I understand. Your mom's probably concerned about your grades, that's all. And you're probably overreacting a bit.

This one got Sakura just a tad pissed off. Her? Overreacting? She wasn't even on her period! Sakura bit her lip in mild frustration. While she couldn't exactly blame the person for utterly failing to comprehend her miserable situation, he or she was being pretty straightforward with his/her thoughts. For one, Sakura was sure she wouldn't write something like that even if she felt that way. Wouldn't want to get on my new friend's bad side.
 Then a thought struck her. Maybe the correspondent was some waaay popular kid in school, with a truckload of worshippers and tons of friends. Maybe he or she was just talking to her as a means of passing time because he/she was suffering from a bad case of ennui on some idle Monday morning… while here Sakura was, pouring her heart and soul into this conversation.

…did this conversation really mean anything?

Wasn't she just being messed around with by someone? A stranger, no less?

Even if it was just a thought that struck her, it struck some pretty deep places—especially in her heart.

Friday

Sakura didn't write back.

Saturday

"I'm trying my best already, okay?" Sakura snapped.

Haruno Mebuki appeared startled for about a quarter of a second, but retorted with lightning speed, "If you were, then you wouldn't be mucking about with your food for half an hour!

"What do you think this is? Term break?! Listen up, Haruno Sakura, it's the MID-YEARS, MID-YEARS YOU HEAR ME!"

Why did her mom have to pick on everything? Why did she have to come and spark an argument for no good reason? Why couldn't she just leave her alone?

"I told you I already had dinner! You're the one who's trying to force food down my throat," Sakura could feel her voice escalating in anger, frustration, and years of pent-up emotions all surging forth like raging rapids.

"So don't—" She got up from her seat, sending the chair crashing to the ground.

"—BLAME IT ON ME!"

Her voice hit a crescendo.

Haruno Mebuki glared down at her daughter with eyes that bespoke fury on such intense a level that Sakura's strength almost shook. Almost.

It wasn't the first time they'd argued and fought, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

With fists clenched so tightly her fingernails were practically inviting blood out of her palms, Sakura gritted her teeth and stormed off, her heels producing defined 'thud' noises as they hit the ground with every rage-fueled step.

Once she reached her room, Sakura slammed the door shut and allowed the tears to flow.