title: high striker
prompt: #3 - carnival
summary: "i bet i can outdo you at this one, too, sasuke-kun!"

Moonlight glinted off the surface of the water filling the rectangular pool Sasuke kneeled in front of, and as he drew his small net through the water, he thought to himself that he had never seen Konoha so alive, despite it being nighttime. He watched the goldfish racing through the pool in front of him, as the village children chased each other and old friends chattered amongst their companions behind him.

Despite his aversion to places swarming with people, such as the festival Naruto conveniently arranged at the heart of the summer following the start of his term as Hokage, the blond had insisted some changes would be taking place in the village. Sasuke wrinkled his nose at the memory: Naruto had taken him by the arm, nudged his side, and preached to him for minutes on end how he would make it one of his priorities as Hokage to have his best friend "lighten up."

All his antics had led to a carnival-type festival, of all things. Sasuke tore his net through the water, pulled from his thoughts by Sakura's laugh beside him. She grabbed his shoulder and shook him slightly. "Sasuke-kun, you're scaring the fish!"

Sasuke exhaled, the portion of his bangs obscuring the rings of his rinnegan flying upward in a sort of dismissal wave. He glanced sideways at her, finally taking notice of the metal bowl in her left hand that was steadily filling up with goldfish she had caught. Sasuke wrinkled his nose in distaste at his own empty bowl. "Sakura," he intoned quietly.

"Hm?" She scooped two more goldfish into her bowl.

"How do you—how do you do that?"

Sakura laughed again and traded him her metal bowl for his empty one. "First of all, you need to be less—" she trailed off to squint her eyes and scowl in what Sasuke assumed was her best imitation of him. "Be gentle, or all the fish'll swim away, see? All you have to do is..."

Minutes later, Sasuke fell into step beside a grinning Sakura walking briskly ahead, swinging her arms at her sides as Sasuke was forced to carry the large plush dango, pink stuffed rabbit, and bag of goldfish she had won at previous games he had unfortunately failed at. The goldfish nearly flew out of his hand as Sakura pulled him to yet another game lining the street.

Before he could protest, Sakura plucked her winnings from his hold and pushed a large, red hammer into his hand. "High striker, high striker!" she chanted, hip checking him toward the strength tester whose lever he assumed he was meant to hit with the hammer. "I bet I can outdo you at this one too, Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, deciding not to rain on her parade by pointing out that he was at a slight disadvantage, with one arm and all. Minutes later, when Sakura shattered the high striker and sent its operator flying with a loud shout of 'shannaro—!' he decided that that had admittedly been the wrong choice.

She soon was parading down the street with Sasuke tagging close behind her, a new plush onigiri added to the collection he carried for her. With all the prizes shrouding his view, Sasuke barely noticed when they stopped at a crepe stand and she purchased two for the both of them. They took a seat at a bench, and Sasuke was finally able to put down the various prizes as Sakura handed him a crepe.

Sasuke watched as Sakura took a bite and waited for her to swallow. "You're really enjoying yourself today, Sakura."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Sakura asked, glancing at him. "You don't seem like you're having too much fun, though. I'll try to go easy on you next time—"

Sasuke leaned back in the bench, unable to hold back a laugh. "I am, I am, there's no need for that," he said, lifting a hand to tap the side of her head.

"Aah, this is great. It's great being together like this…" Sakura reached for his hand, and he let her. "I'm happy, Sasuke-kun."

"You are?"

"Mhm."

"…Me too."