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Chapter 25
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Semester's End
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There would always be times when you would lose control and you have to re-assess where you were and what you could do at one point.
I should be glad I had received a total score of 67.00 as my overall grade in the last semester of school. I did not fail any of my subjects but I hardly passed a few. My thesis barely made it. I should be relieved, but my mind could not stay still. I kept thinking about different things as I stared at my grade sheet.
"We did it! We're so gonna graduate, Sakura-baka!" Ino cheered as she rushed toward me and started shaking my shoulders with joy. The rest of the class were too busy checking their scores.
"Yeah, I know! You're making me dizzy, Ino-pig!"
Ino let go of me and twirled around like a delusional ballerina. "Oh, I can't wait to start working by mid-year! I'll be earning my own money and nobody can stop me from buying anything I want. And I can go to places and—"
I tuned out the rest of the words she was saying as I stared blankly back down my scores in every subject. I was trying not to look bothered for a couple of days now, but I could not help and be quiet as I pondered about the opportunity I just received. I was rather envious of Ino and some of my classmates. They were gathered together and were comparing scores and chatting about their plans spiritedly. They knew where they would be heading and what they wanted to do after graduation.
I was not certain about mine.
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I was ecstatic when I found out I won the children's story writing contest. For the first time, I was honestly proud of myself. It was a childhood dream come true. I had always wanted to create my own story and let people read it. The prize money would also come in handy for me after I graduate. It was not that big but it would be helpful.
But my emotions went from ecstatic to confused and bothered after a few days.
I had not told anyone about it yet. I kept it with me for days and I tried not to show what I was feeling inside as I continued with my everyday routine: I attended the last remaining classes before graduation, I went out with the girls, I was with Naruto's and Sasuke's side during the last days of meet ups with Kakashi, I submitted all the needed files for the yearbook before the end of the semester.
I had fourteen days to give my reply to Kanji & Ink Studio after I received the letter. I was running out of days to think. I needed to talk to someone. That was why I went through the woods towards a river one morning, where I know I would be finding Sarutobi fishing.
It was a ten-minute walk through the woods before I heard the running water from a stream. I arrived at the riverbank and saw Sarutobi sitting on a big stone in an Indian sit. He was wearing a pair of brown shorts and floral blouse, a white fisherman hat and an old bamboo fishing rod was on his grip. One of his knees was bouncing a little as he sat there, beating with the music he was humming to himself peacefully. A bucket and a small can of worms rested on the rock next to him.
We kept telling him to stay home until he gets completely better but it was no use. He never listens. I gave up trying to keep him there.
He knew I was there but he did not turn around when I approached and sat beside him. It was a clear, sunny day. I could hear bugs buzzing around us and the water was sparkling. The rock I was sitting was warm under me. I imitated his sitting and got a glimpse of his empty bucket. He still continued to hum a song with his eyes closed.
"Are you sure you know how to fish?" I asked.
He stopped his humming, his eyes still closed. "I caught a three-foot marlin when I was fourteen and that was my first time fishing."
"Yeah, but who knows where exactly that was."
"It's easier to catch a fish in a river or a lake. I'll slap it on your face if I'd get a big one." He grunted.
I smiled at myself and watched the glittering stream in front of us for a moment. I took a small stone and threw it into the water.
"Troubled, I presume?" Sarutobi said.
I nodded as I took another stone and rolled it between my fingers. "Yeah…"
"I should've known you wouldn't be coming out here just to see me fish." he spoke disinterestedly.
"No, I wouldn't." I admitted. "You know you're the only one I can talk to when it comes to life problems."
"Lass, you want to see how I've managed with life problems? Well, look where it got me."
"You're one of the top commanders of Mortis Guild." I said.
"So. Then what? Your parents barely even know me. I don't have many memories with my family. It's something I cannot undo." He said. "I've been thinking a lot these past coupla' days since I got out of that suffocating hospital, and I don't think you should be listening to my words at all."
"I know. Everyone has their own choices and it's not perfect. You made mistakes and I'd be making my own eventually." I said. I threw the stone to the river again with a plopping sound. "The thing is…"
I told him about the job offer I had received from Hokkaido. I told him how I joined the contest and what my plans would be if I would accept it. I told him about my options and what I thought about signing up with the guild. I was torn between my previous dreams and my new ones.
Ever since I was young, I had thought about becoming a writer or a novelist. That path seemed to have suddenly opened up for me again after my entry submission. And then, there was this another dream of becoming a rogue for Mortis Guild. This was the unexpected one. I had only realized about it this past year when I was enrolled in Konoha Academy. Everything happened so fast. And the dream that I had always wanted when I was a child suddenly altered. My choices and paths had grown wider and it was turning perplex. I had trouble sleeping these past few nights.
"Stop worrying about the future." Sarutobi said after listening. As if he had a choice.
"Well, the future would be affected by the choices I'd be making in the present." I said.
He pulled out the string of the bamboo fishing rod from the water. After seeing the worm he had hooked was gone (for the second time since I came), he swore and stirred the string back to him.
"Trust your instincts, then." He told me as he took another squirming worm and placed it around the hook.
"I'm not good with that sort."
"You know I can't tell you what do with your absurd life." He said as he braced the rod and whipped forward the hook back into the water. "Listen, you have to be fully committed if you want to enter the guild. You can't just go back and forth with the training once you're there. They can easily eliminate you, especially if you're still showing no sign of a bloodline and you have no excellent skill to boot. And not to mention the high risk of you getting killed on the job. There's a lot of things you'd be giving up if you'd get in. The name 'Mortis' means 'of death', and it's kind of the sign of what situation you'd be putting yourself into. Being in the underworld business is like playing with death."
"You're making it sound like as if it's certain I'm going to die there." I muttered.
"Well, your duties will get ahead of everything in your life. Family, friends, your pain-in-the-ass boyfriend—they're going to be put aside during hard times. And your life will always be on the line. I'm not saying this to scare your bony butt off, but hundreds of rogues die on duty. It's the truth and I just want you to know what you'll be getting yourself into."
"Those're some words coming from a rogue who's currently fishing in a warm day." I said, trying to sound unworried. "And you're the one who introduced me to the org, remember?"
"I was just worried about you. But I knew you'd have the chance to choose in the end. After that messy incident last christmas, it got me thinking again if it's the right path for you." He murmured. "I'll be retiring soon, anyway."
We were hushed for minute and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of nature around us.
"I guess I'm also worried about the efforts you've given me would just go to waste." I said quietly after a moment of silence.
"You shouldn't be worrying about that at all, you brat."
The string from his fishing rod in the water moved and gave a small tug. Sarutobi felt it and attentively started pulling it back. The movement from the other end was getting more aggressive and he stood up on the rock to yank it towards us.
"This feels like a big one. A really big, big one." He said with a sudden excitement in his eyes.
"You're gonna break your back." I told him as I stood up and tried to help him pull it.
There were splashes of water and a two-feet fish wiggled out the water for a brief second, its silver scales glinting against the sunlight, before diving back in as it tried to struggle free.
"Holy—did you see that? Did you see the size of that thing? Hoho—I'll be needing the grill tonight!" he snorted.
We were tugging back and forth as he tried to reel in the fish closer and closer. But the closer it gets, the more forceful it was becoming to swim away. We were at the edge of the rocks.
There was a sudden forceful yank and the string snapped, throwing us off balance and we stumbled onto the riverbank. I saw the fish swam away, hastily disappearing from sight.
Sarutobi rubbed his back as I tried to help him up. He snapped the rod into two with his knee and threw it at the river, still screaming obscenities.
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There were times when I really wanted to say it to Sasuke.
There were moments when I saw him around the school and I wanted to pull him aside and just tell him about my plans. Although I doubt he would totally care, but still…
He was happy in the days that came. I could tell it by the way he acted even he did not want nor mean to show it. He was still busy with the org but he was more at ease with his friends and with me. I saw him laughing at Naruto's idiotic jokes. They were not causing any trouble with some other gang, either. I caught him staring at me a few times and when our eyes met his face simply softened and he turned away.
I knew he was expecting me to apply for the guild right after graduation. I was having a hard time finding the right moment to bring it up. He just looked so goddamn contented.
I nearly succeeded one time, but was interrupted by a school writer who was trying to get some more profile info about him for the graduation book. Sasuke was already at the verge of saying some condemnations along the lines of "You can stick your pen right up your a—" but the writer was too persistent and I just simply slid away like a chicken.
I told Ino, Hinata and Ten Ten about it one afternoon after class, as we hung out near a port, watching the sea and small ships at the horizon. Each of us holding a paper cup of chilled juice. Our arms resting on the waist-high metal railings before us as we sip in peace.
"The guild's going to conduct exams for newbies by May and I'm planning to apply." Ino said lazily. Her chin resting on her forearm as we stared at the seaport.
"Me, too." said Ten Ten.
"I'm planning to apply on a food shop." Hinata mumbled.
Ino's head turned to her. "You're not going to try out for the guild?"
Hinata shook her head. "Perhaps not. At least not for now. I really want to try to bake and see where I can go with it."
"But you're good at being a student rogue. Don't you want to give it a shot, too? I mean, you can juggle both work."
"That's going to be difficult. Being a rogue is a twenty-four seven job. I'd like to concentrate on one field for now. And as of the moment, I really want to learn more about baking." Hinata smiled shyly.
I fumbled with my fingers as I hold the cup of orange juice. My elbows resting on the railings. "I was planning the same thing."
"And what about you?" Ino's head turned to me, her eyes being suspicious.
"I got a job offer in Obihiro. It's from a publishing studio." I said.
"What? So soon?" Ino looked like she wanted to throw her drink at me.
"I won this little contest and was offered a job. I didn't expect it at all."
"So you took it? When're you going to start, Sakura-chan?" Hinata asked eagerly.
I turned my eyes back to the horizon and watched the blue sea. Several birds were gliding on top of the boats and ships from afar.
"I'm going to accept it."
"So does that mean we're not going to see each other much after graduation?" Ino said in a disappointed tone.
"Maybe not just as often as we used to." I said.
"I can't believe you're just going back to your silly little hometown." Ino really looked like she was going to throw me her cup. "What about all the efforts you've done? I mean, entering the org wasn't really a ride in the park. You practically got your ass kicked. You're just going to waste all that?"
"It's not like I regret any of it." I tried to keep a straight face. What she said hit my chest like an arrow. I completely understood what she was saying and I was convincing myself that I would have no regrets.
Ino sighed out. "And didn't I tell you that I'd be seducing Sasuke-kun at the very moment you let your guard down?"
"Well, we're young. We can try different careers at this point." Ten Ten said, shrugging her shoulders.
"You're a journalism grad too, Ino. Don't you want to try that field even once?" I asked.
"Writing is more like a hobby. I enrolled in Konoha to get into Mortis Org. That's all there ever is." Ino said as she looked back at the view of the sea, her lips pursed in that snobbish manner of hers.
And then graduation day came…
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The open grounds of Ame Institute were packed with people: instructors, staff, students and families. The prominent colors of red filled one side, and blue on the other. Each student was given a haori, either red or blue, depending on which school they were from, to serve as the graduating class' robes on that graduation day. Not all schools in the country actually had this kind of stint.
I heard the explosions of fireworks on the blue sky above us. My mother was adjusting my fiery red robes and I was feeling a bit giddy from all the people around us.
"You've done it, hon." she beamed, adjusting the collar. "Now, don't move too much or your hair and make up will be destroyed. It took me an hour to make you look this pretty."
My hair was long enough to be tied into a small bun with several hairpins keeping the strands from popping out. My father was behind her, fidgeting with a camera. Every student was busy with their families: taking photos here and there, exchanging congratulatory words, embracing, crying, arguing.
By the time the ceremony started, all students were lined up orderly as Jiraiya and Tsunade gave their respective speeches. It was actually odd having to share one ceremony with another school, but we had been going in Ame Institute for quite some time now that it was no surprise at all.
As Jiraiya stood at the elevated plane and spoke on the microphone, I turned my head to the other side of the field. The blue haoris of the Ame students swayed lightly with the wind. They were fewer than us, but still a handful. I spotted Sasori's flaming red hair and tried to check what he was doing. He was listening to Jiraiya silently and unmoving like the rest. He saw me staring at him and the corner of his lips pulled up in a smile and gave a slight nod.
I looked back ahead. I was used to seeing Naruto's blonde head and Sasuke's spiky hair before me, but that day they were both at the back of the line. We were assembled in alphabetical order.
One by one, each class representative per level was called by the school heads to accept the diplomas on behalf of their classes. Shikamaru was the one who walked up and received our diplomas, which were rolled into a crimson scroll. I was used to seeing him looking bored most days, but that day he looked refined as he marched up and acepted the scrolls with a formal bow.
After the last class representative took the remaining diplomas, gave his bow and stepped down the plane, the packs of students applauded vivaciously and threw the robes in the air in a clamour.
"Omedetou, Sakura-chan!" It was Rock Lee's firm arms that caught me the moment I turned around. He hugged me tight.
"Omedetou, Lee!" I said gleefully as he let me go.
"I wish you good luck and I'll be looking forward to see you this summer, okay?" He gave me a big, sparkling smile.
His joyful spirit was so hard to put down. I just lied. "Okay, Lee, you too!"
I could tell he wanted to say something more but was interrupted by Kiba and Naruto who jumped on him, both screaming. "OMEDETOU, BUSHY BROWS!"
I was laughing when I saw Sasuke several meters away, being surrounded by a bunch of girls congratulating him. He was actually being smothered.
Kakashi, Gai, and Kurenai were congratulating and shaking hands with all the students. Both Kakashi and Gai were wearing suits and Kurenai was in a light blue dress. Kakashi locked his arm around Naruto's neck and pulled him under his armpit as he twisted his knuckles on top of his blonde head, making Naruto squirm in pain.
"You finally made it, you buffoon!" he yelled at him playfully.
When it was my turn, Kakashi stood straight and shook my hand. His eye immediately turning into that familiar line as he smiled. "Congratulations, Haruno! You know, you're the only newbie in the class that has actually graduated. I'm really proud of you, kid."
"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei."
"I'll be looking forward to work with you in the guild some time."
"Yeah, well… about that. I…" I stammered. I could not even look at him straight. He was the one who taught me the most aside from Sarutobi. The guilt was hard to miss.
He blinked at me, perhaps seeing the expression on my face unexpectedly changing. And then, he put his hands in his pockets. He looked at me in a manner as if he understood what was in my head. It was as if he promptly knew what situation I was in.
"S'okay. You don't have to explain." He said gently. He patted my shoulder. "Well, good luck on your future endeavors, kid."
I had the feeling that he went through something like this in his younger years.
After the ceremony, my family and I shared lunch together at a yakiniku bistro. And after that, I met some of my batchmates in a karaoke bar. Sasuke, Naruto, Ino, Hinata, Ten Ten, Chouji, and Lee were all there. It was Naruto, Ino, and Chouji who sang mostly all afternoon, dedicating each obnoxious song to one of us. The gang wanted to celebrate before the summer would kick in and before we would be busy looking for jobs.
We spent hours in the karaoke bar, with one room all for us the whole afternoon. I tried singing some songs with Ino. Sasuke was mostly sitting on the couch, drinking with Lee, who was having hiccups by the time we were done.
At six thirty, we were heading back home and were passing by a water channel. There was a park nearby and several benches stood at the sidewalk. The sky was now painted in orange and soft pink. There were not much people hanging out there today.
We were still carrying our folded haoris for the ceremony. Naruto, Lee, and Chouji were still even wearing theirs. My tied hair was now a mess and the make up I wore that morning had dissolved by then.
Chouji and Naruto were walking side by side, one arm dangling around the other. They would throw rocks into the river at some point while they talk and laugh at each other. I could not comprehend their slurring words anymore. All the girls looked sober, maybe except Ino, who was wobbling a bit as she strode. Hinata kept a hand around her elbow to keep her close. All the singing and dancing and laughing were exhausting.
It had been a busy day and it was finally coming to an end.
"Today's our day! We're no longer students!" Chouji was still exclaiming, hitting his fist up in the air.
"Cheers to that!" Naruto waived his fist in the air too, then put both his arms around Chouji and a red-faced Rock Lee, whose large eyes were starting to droop.
"No more test papers, no more homework, no more uniforms—" Lee was mumbling.
Ino, Hinata and Ten Ten were striding behind Naruto and the others. Sasuke stood back to let the others passed by and waited for me. He placed himself next to me and kept up with my slower pace.
He was the only guy in the group that was still acting straight despite the number of beers he chugged down. His folded haori hung on one side of his shoulders. He was wearing a black collared blouse which sleeves were folded right up to his elbows and was left partly untucked from his pants.
"I don't think I can hear properly anymore." I muttered. He just grinned.
We walked in a slower pace silently at the side of the canal for a minute. The others were a good distance ahead of us and were well out of earshot. The setting sun was reflecting against the shiny surface of the water.
As the seconds ticked by, I could feel myself getting a bit tensed. It was not unusual for me to feel somewhat edgy whenever I'm with him, but that afternoon seemed different.
"What're you doing this weekend?" he asked casually.
"I'm not yet sure." I answered.
"What kind of an answer is that?" His tone felt like he either wanted to laugh at me or wanted to slap my head.
I looked at Ino and the others. The girls were too busy arguing with Naruto and Chouji to notice us for now. I could hear Ino's loud voice at that point. Although I spotted Rock Lee turing his head to check on Sasuke and me as if we might do something fishy. Even so, they were approaching the end of the street and would be turning to the corner any minute and vanish from view.
"I might be packing up and heading back to Hokkaido then." I said.
"Going on a summer break?"
"No."
"Don't go then." He simply stated. "I was thinking of yanking you to Mount Fuji during the weekend. I don't think you've ever been there even if you've been living in the damn country for two decades."
He sure does love going up the mountains and killing me in the process.
I was sure many girls would love to hear that brash invitation of his. I would love to see Mount Fuji for the first time in my dull life. I remembered the time I had with him in Hakuba. I would not mind spending more time with him, but that was not the path I needed to make.
We continued to walk as I uttered. "Listen, I need to tell you something."
He looked at me curiously, his pace still matching mine.
"I got a job offer in Obihiro. It's from one of the best publishing studios they have there." I said. "I've accepted it and will be starting this April."
"What?" His eyebrows furrowed.
"I got a job as a writer in that town you've been cursing since I got here." I tried to keep the mood light. "I'll be leaving this weekend. I'll be staying there for quite some time, I assume."
I did not notice at first that he had stopped walking and remained frozen a few feet behind me. I halted and turned back to him. He was not saying anything and was just watching me with that stony face of his. I had to remind myself not to get all caught up with his attractive face. He really looked good under the sunset sky. It softened his boyish features.
"I won this little contest, you see. And if I'd do good, I might be able to get something published." I clarified. "It's not something that big, but it's a good opportunity to climb my way up in the field. The position's urgent so I won't be staying here during the summer. We still have our old tiny house there so it wouldn't be too difficult moving back there and—"
"What about the underworld?" Sasuke spoke in a sudden icy voice, not moving from his spot.
We were left alone there. The others had gone ahead. I didn't think they even noticed us yet.
"It's on hold for now." I answered.
His face immediately looked pissed. He turned his head to the side and glowered at the canal.
"Look," I sighed, straightening up. "I've been wanting to get into the publishing industry for years. Now, an opprotunity unexpectedly presented itself and I'm taking it. I like the underworld field as much as any other rogue student, but unlike you, it was something that came out of nowhere for me. I would like to take my chances on the studio for now. I'd like to see where I could go with it."
"And all that training, hard work—where you nearly got your ass slain—all that diligence crap was for nothing?" He said in a hard tone, his eyes piercing back at me.
His easygoing mood suddenly vanquished.
"I don't regret any of it. I'm not completely turning my back on the underworld biz, it's just I want to try another field for now while I still can." I stated calmly.
He shook his head. "You won't be able to come back here that easily once you immerse yourself there."
"It's not like Obihiro is at the other side of the world. We're still in the same country, if you haven't realized."
"Tell me, when're you coming back here after you leave?"
It took me a couple of seconds to respond. I shrugged. "I don't know. It depends. In three months, I presume?"
He laughed coldly, mocking me.
"You can come visit me, anyway." I said lightly.
He became soundless again and looked away. I had the feeling he wanted to say something to me.
"Well… considering the rate I'm going with the guild, that might be impossible." He mumbled.
"What d'you mean?"
"They've asked me to train in the United Kingdom base." He said quietly. I knew, from the manner of how he was speaking, that he had not told anyone about this yet. "Since the demi-humans are spreading, the guild has opened several bases overseas. The training will be starting on Thursday so I was supposed to leave tomorrow."
"Did they." I whispered.
Like the rest of the top student rogues in the academy, Sasuke has a job position already waiting for him in the guild even before he reached the senior class. His path was fixed on that, other than his duties in their business empire and his hobby of creating customized automotives with Naruto.
"I turned it down." he said.
"You don't like the job?" I asked.
"I want to serve in the main base here. I told Iruka to give me other tasks." He gazed back at me. "I actually wanted to spend time with you."
It felt like I was cracking like a glass inside. I stared at the ground between us.
"I didn't really give it much thought… That you'd think much that way and…" Was all I could murmur.
He chuckled humorlessly, looking up at the pinkish sky. "I guess I should've taken it, right?"
I wanted to comfort him. I did not want him to feel alone. But I knew it would not make any difference. All I was able to do at that moment was look down.
"Sasuke…" I began to say.
"I get it. Don't worry. Why would you spend a long time here if you can get what you want there, right?"
"I told you. I'll be coming back here whenever I—"
"Tell you what." He spoke firmly. "I'll get back that little overseas offer and you go your way, alright? That way we wouldn't be both stuck here and we wouldn't both have a hard time forgetting one another."
"I never said anything about that." I was becoming angry.
I suddenly remembered Ino and the others. I glanced ahead of the street and they were out of sight.
"Let's just talk this over tomorrow, Sasuke."
I grabbed his hand but he did not move.
"I'm in love with you, you know…" he said softly out of the blue.
Then, he smirked. God, how I would miss that insanely tempting face.
The wind was getting colder now. I could feel the hairs on my skin standing up.
"Sasuke, I—"
"But I'll be taking the task overseas so I can stop this insanity right now." He said, his face showing no sign of emotion now.
Sometimes I could not understand him at all. He was unpredictable. He has these inner conflicts that were too deep and complex. I wished he could just tell me all that he was thinking.
I felt like crying and I tried to control it.
"It's not like I'm leaving for good, Sasuke. My hometown's just one ride away. One long ride from the train, that is." I said, trying to find the slightest humor I could think of.
"Come to think of it, it wouldn't pretty much work out between us in the long run, right?" His cold voice was there. "We have two different worlds. We want too different things. Even if we'd see each other from time to time, eventually one would grow indifferent from the other."
I felt my lips slightly trembled. The first tear got out of my eye and ran down my cheek. And here I kept telling myself that I would not be shedding tears for a boy.
"You're telling it like you're saying goodbye." I said angrily, my fists clenching.
"I guess I am." He murmured. He stepped a foot closer to me, our foreheads almost touching. "I'll admit just once, right now… that I feel strong emotions for you. Sometimes it freaks the hell out of me 'cause I can't predict my actions towards you."
Before, he would have touched me by now at this close range. But that afternoon, he kept his hands off me like there was a thin invisible barrier between us.
"I was mad earlier that you've decided on something and accepted a job somewhere so quickly without even having second thoughts. But come to think of it, maybe this is better for everyone. Didn't I tell you before that not everyone lasts in our world?"
I felt, once again, the feeling when I first entered the academy. I felt so little and useless. Sasuke has this talent of making me feel like a queen and a slave at one point and another.
"I graduated and passed the org, didn't I? Even with all the bullying and shit you've done." I said through clenched teeth, my eyes getting a bit blurry from another tear. "I stood by my decisions then. And now, I'll stand by this choice."
He smirked in a snobbish attitude. "Yeah, you will. That's what attracted me to you in the first place."
I didn't know if I wanted to embrace him or punch him on the face.
He stood back. "I'll walk you home."
I did not budge. "You don't have to."
"And I can't take you home now, too?"
I did not answer anymore and just scowled at him. The idea of spending another minute like this was bothersome.
"I can go home by myself. Let's just talk tomorrow." I insisted.
"Why d'you people always live like there's tomorrow?" he said. He paused for a moment as if thinking of something again. He did not say anything for a long moment. His eyes were like onyx glinting against the mellow light. His reserved stare for me…
Then he spoke faintly. "I guess this would be our last encounter, won't it?"
He reached me in two strides. He held both sides of my face and kissed me hard. I could not breathe as he pressed his tender lips roughly against mine. I felt him breathing out against me for a short second. And then he was at a distance in a blink, letting me go as fast as he seized me.
"I was actually impressed that you've come this far as a newbie." He gave me one last look before turning around to move down the street. "But now… you're just like the rest."
He said it unfeelingly.
No good lucks or well wishes. He was never really good at those things.
He turned around and walked away, leaving me there. I could only see his back as he moved away, getting smaller and smaller from where I was standing, unmoving. His back, which I usually stare at during class when he and his friends sat at the middle rows.
That was the last time I saw Uchiha Sasuke.
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