"Everyone, listen, listen!" Sakura came bounding up to Ino and the rest of their friends, her face shining. Ino looked curiously at Sakura, as did Akari, who stood beside her.

Sakura raised her arms happily. "I have a boy I like now!"

Ino smiled indulgently at her friend. With Sakura and the rest of them chasing after boys all the time now, it was to be expected.

"Who do you think it is?" Sakura continued, gazing expectantly at everyone.

"Don't tell us it's Sasuke-kun," Ume teased, folding her arms across her chest.

Sakura's face fell. "H-how did you know?"

Ino started. Akari seemed to notice, because she tapped her on the shoulder. Ino merely shrugged when Akari whispered urgently to her. "Hey Ino, but isn't that the guy that you like?"

"Just because he's my friend doesn't mean I have to like him," Ino whispered back, annoyed.

Akari tilted her head and giggled madly. "He's your friend? Aw, isn't that cute!"

Ino glared at her, but Akari just flipped her hair, waving it off. "There's nothing wrong with that, it's just that you have competition."

Ino nearly choked. She was about to reply when she heard Haruko say to Sakura. "Isn't it obvious? Sasuke-kun is the most popular guy."

Was he? Ino furrowed her brow in confusion. But then…that did explain why girls were attracted to him like fleas. Every time she talked to him, someone would interrupt their conversation. Sometimes it was Ami, and sometimes it was Akari and her friends. And Sakura. She was always there, too.

"What? Really…?" Sakura mumbled, blushing slightly.

"Hey, Ino," Akari said. "Sakura had become a lot more cheerful, don't you think?"

"She's just acting tough," she snapped, her thoughts still whirring madly. Yes…she was a lot more cheerful. Ino's face hardened when she heard Sakura asking what she should do, because a lot of girls liked Sasuke. A lot of girls like Sasuke…!

-:-

"Hey, Ino-chan!"

"Sakura…!" Ino replied automatically.

"I heard Sasuke likes girls with long hair!" she exclaimed, tugging at her pink locks with an air of superiority.

"Oh, really?" Ino said, trying to sound interested, but failing miserably. Did Sakura really think she cared...?!

"Yeah…" Sakura's tone changed, sounding slightly annoyed. Ino looked up. She had never heard Sakura using that tone of voice before.

"What is it, Sakura?"

"Oh, nothing," she mumbled, turning away.

Why was Sakura acting like this? Ino gazed wearily at her retreating back. She had thought they could hang out together once in a while, like they used to. And everything seemed like it was working out. They were best friends, right? But ever since Sakura announced that she liked Sasuke, she seemed to want to spend her days chasing after him than picking flowers. As Ino wasn't interested in the least – partially because she didn't want to and partially because she knew Sasuke would think she was a maniac – she refrained from joining Sakura and her friends on their pursuit. Since Sakura spent almost all her time doing this, the time they spent together was limited, almost nonexistent. They were slowly drifting apart, and there was nothing Ino could do to stop it.

Even worse, she seemed to be suspicious of Ino. Ever since Sakura saw her talking to Sasuke when he was training, Ino could see that the looks she gave her had changed. There was always a glint of doubt, some underlying jealousy in those brilliant green eyes. She had caught Sakura on more than one occasion looking at her, with a fierce expression that she reserved for competitors for Sasuke's love.