Chapter 18
Naruto and I slurp our ramen down in almost perfect sync.
"Thanks for the food Teuchi-san!" We both say in unison.
"Haha, anytime." Teuchi replies. We both put money down on the counter and walk out.
"So what now?" Naruto asks, walking with his hands behind his head.
"Eh, I guess we could go see Lee-san?" I suggest. Naruto raises an eyebrow towards me.
"You've been seeing Bushy Brows a lot lately... ooooh is there something going on between you two ehh?" He asks, leaning his head close to mine, giving me that cheesy grin.
"... No." I reply.
"Sure~!" He drawls out.
"I mean it!" I exclaim.
"Ame-chan's in love with Bushy Brows~ Ame-chan's in love with Bushy Brows!" He chirps. I fold my arms, not impressed by his childish behaviour.
"Are you?" Ino questions, walking over. I sweatdrop and shake my hands really fast.
"No no no, he's just being childish, don't mind him." I exclaim. Ino gets a smirk and puts a finger on her shoulder. I blink.
"In that case... you must tell him!" She squeals.
"Huh? Tell who what?" I ask.
"Tell Lee-san that you're in love with him!" Ino says.
"N-"
"Setsuki!" Tenten exclaims from out of nowhere.
"GAH!" I jump.
"You like Lee?" She questions.
"I know! It's so surprising! I never saw it coming!" Ino exclaims.
"Awww you two would be so cute together!" Tenten squeals. I back off.
"Uhh guys I'm not..." I trail off.
"You're not confident enough to tell him?" Ino asks. "Ohh, don't worry, we can fix that!" Ino says, putting an arm around my shoulders and smiling happily at me. I lean my head away from her and face Naruto who was sniggering to himself. Tenten puts her arm around my shoulders standing on the other side of me.
"Come on, we'll go together! I'm sure it would really brighten his day to know this!" Tenten exclaims.
"Uhh I-I'm not actually-"
"It doesn't matter if you're sure or not, we'll support you!" Ino says.
They drag me away and I kept praying that we wouldn't find Lee because this is very awkward. However, things are against me today, and we found him strolling around a street beside Gai-sensei.
"There he is!" Ino squeals, gaining their attention. They push me over to them and stand right behind me.
Lee and Gai-sensei blink at us and stop walking. "Tenten, Setsuki-san? What's going on?" Lee asks.
"My thoughts exactly." Gai-sensei says.
"Oh, Gai-sensei will make this more weird." Tenten says. I sweatdrop.
"Me?" Gai-sensei asks.
"Come on~" Tenten chirps and pushes Gai-sensei away, leaving Ino standing behind me, trying to nudge me toward Lee. My fringe covers my eyes out of embarrassment. Lee tilts his head out of confusion..
"Hey, Setsuki, what's going on?" Sakura asks, walking over. I sink down lower.
"Sakura!" Ino exclaims, Lee's attention snaps straight to Sakura and I look up noticing his cheeks turn slightly pink. "Get over here!" Ino says, reaching out and grabbing Sakura's shirt then pulls her behind me.
"What's going on?" Sakura whispers.
"Setsuki's gonna confess." Ino whispers back. I so hoped Lee didn't hear that.
"Confess? To who Setsuki-san?" Lee inquires, his eyes slowly turning to me from Sakura. I tense up.
"O-oh nothing." I stutter. "Nothing at all.. heh heh.." I laugh nervously. I felt Ino punch my back gently, and it stirred up my stomach where Neji punched me yesterday. I put a hand on my stomach.
"Go on!" Ino hisses quietly in my ear.
"It is okay, I wont tell anyone! I promise!" Lee exclaims, giving me a thumbs up with his good hand.
"Yeah, tell him." Ino says, giving me a few winks. Sakura looks at Ino, then me, then at Lee like she's thinking.
"Um..." I begin.
"Hold on a minute." Sakura says, we all face her. "Setsuki, come with me~" She chirps, placing a hand on my shoulder then drags me away a few feet. I blink at her. "Do you really like Lee-san?" She asks with a smile.
"Uh, as a friend of course but I'm not in love with him." I answer.
"Ah, so Ino misinterpreted it.. again." Sakura says.
"It?" I ask.
"Well you see, when someone says they like another person, Ino thinks that it means they're in love with them." Sakura explains.
"But it wasn't Ino." I say.
"Huh?"
"It was Naruto. He asked me if there was anything between me and Lee-san and I said no, and he began singing that I was in love with him." I bluntly explain. Her expression becomes a frown. "Then Ino walked past and heard it and well.. you know."
"Yeah, I know... Gaargh! Naruto! How dare he be such an idiot!" Sakura shouts. "I'm gonna knock that knucklehead off! Cha!" She exclaims then marches off.
A few seconds later Ino grabs the collar of my shirt and drags me back over and stands me in front of Lee again.
"What is going on?" Lee inquires.. again.
"Setsuki, tell him, you'll feel better, trust me." Ino says, giving me a pat on the shoulder. I clear my throat.
"Lee-san.." I begin.
"Yes?" He replies. Ino got the biggest smile and I thought for a second then smile at Lee.
"How are you feeling today?" I ask.
"Oh, fine. And.. yourself?" He asks.
"I'm good." I reply.
"Hurry it up." Ino whispers. I step forward, away from her and toward Lee.
"Lee-san, there's something important I have to tell you." I say.
"Oh? What is it?"
"Well.." I begin.