title: of games and shoujo manga
prompt: #4 - the games we play
summary: but this is neither a game nor a shoujo manga.
a/n: sorry this one is awfully short...
Naruto knows Sasuke—he's his best friend, and has been for a while. Naruto, of all people, should know Sasuke.
He knows that Sasuke's a bit on the constantly pissed off side, a little impatient sometimes, an incurable asshole. He doesn't usually watch his words when he talks, even with elders and those of higher authority, and he speaks frankly, honestly. He tends to come off as arrogant and dismissing and has the worst social skills he has ever seen.
Naruto knows this, so when there's the subtlest of changes in Sasuke's persona when he's around Sakura, he puffs his chest and proudly tells himself he's probably the first one who noticed. He takes note of how Sasuke's a little quieter around her, in a peaceful way, more observant and attentive. He's always quick to answer her when she calls for him, and his eyes never waver from her when she talks, when she laughs. His gaze barely even falters on the not-so-rare occasion that she yells at him, her voice biting and shrill.
Sometimes, Naruto notices, Sasuke's eyes linger on her lips, but when he mentions this to him, he earns himself a hard punch to the side and finds himself face-down on the sidewalk at Ichiraku's. When Naruto musters enough strength to dust himself off, though, he glimpses the redness burning at Sasuke's ears and thinks to himself that it was worth it. He pockets the tidbit of information, only sparing it to Hinata, whose eyes brighten upon hearing the news.
It's only natural, Hinata tells him, knowingly, Sakura-chan's so beautiful, after all.
Soon after, Naruto notices another change in his best friend. He watches as he slowly begins to close the distance between himself and their pink-haired teammate, just ever so slightly. Sometimes when they talk, he leans closer. When they walk together, he constantly seems as though he's contemplating on taking her hand. When she grows angry at him, he merely shakes his head, baring his palms to her, almost seeming as though he's moving in to pull her close.
But Sakura, on the other hand, barely seems to notice their friend's attempts, and instead evades his efforts at decreasing distance. She brushes him off, almost subconsciously, without thinking. Naruto wonders if she's doing it on purpose, if she's noticed Sasuke's feelings at all. It's not like her to let things go unseen.
"Say, Naruto, do you think Sakura hates me?" Sasuke asks one day, at Ichiraku's again, and Naruto spits out his ramen, nearly falling out of his chair.
He rearranges himself quickly and lifts a hand scratch his ear. "Why the hell would you think that?" he says, squinting at him.
Sasuke shrugs—almost helplessly, Naruto decides—and sighs. "Sometimes I just get that feeling that she does."
Naruto's eyes widen, and he vigorously attempts to shake the bad thoughts out of his friend.
He witnesses a third change in Sasuke following suit of their conversation. Sasuke becomes the one to brush Sakura off, giving her the silent treatment and half-assed answers in conversation.
Not long after, Sakura seeks out Naruto herself. "Naruto!" she calls one day, grabbing him by the arm. "What's up with Sasuke-kun? He's poutier recently, and I'm worried. I talked to Ino about it, but —"
Naruto runs a hand over his face before placing his hands squarely at her shoulders. "You two need to get it together," he says, articulating each word in turn.
"What?"
He gives her a shake. "You two need to get together," he says, amending his words. "Stop playing games, this isn't a damn shoujo manga."
"…Ino-pig told me the same thing…"