Sakura was setting out the plates, Naruto helped her with the cutlery, and Sasuke slowly was taking the glasses off the shelf. Kakashi hasn't arrived yet.

The food was waiting in the kitchen until they finally got everything ready and could start serving it. Bowls with all sorts of salads, onigiri, chirashi and other dishes were in abundance.

"Sakura-chan, did you make ramen?" Naruto grinned, revealing white teeth.

"Just as you asked."

"You're wonderful!" he put his arms around Sakura's neck, squeezing a little too tightly.

She shook her head at Naruto's oh-so-familiar behavior, returning to setting the table. Ever since Sasuke returned from his journey of redemption three months ago, they had been taking turns coming to each other's house every two weeks and arranging dinners. They wanted to make up for the past two years.

"And anyway, how did you manage to cook so many dishes, Sakura-chan?" Naruto flinched when Sasuke set the glass down too hard on the countertop "I have trouble cooking one thing myself," he laughed.

"You know Naruto, cooking is not hard for everyone." Sakura felt them both send her meaningful glances, "Okay, I may not be the best cook, but I can do something! Especially since I have a little help."

Naruto opened his mouth, pulling down the eyebrows and measuring accusingly at his friend.

"Teme, you didn't want to help me!"

"It's difficult to help a person who has no skills like you, Dobe." Sasuke stated in his usual tone.

Naruto snarled as he ran out of words for his friend and turned to Sakura.

"And you Sakura-chan know very well that we were supposed to cook only by ourselves. Those were the rules we set."

"I know, I know, I just wanted to spend some time with my Sasuke…"

Silence.

What. She. Said.

Sakura tried to hide her face in the collar to hide her red cheeks when Naruto burst out laughing loudly until he squirmed while grabbing his stomach.

Sasuke was not hers, he had recently returned, she should not rush anything.

Embarrassed, she went to the kitchen to start taking the first dishes, though she would have been happiest to hole up in her room and never leave it again.

To her misfortune, Sasuke approached her and Sakura already thought she would notice a grimace of displeasure on his face.

He, however, said something completely different from what she had imagined.

"I don't mind." he took the salad bowl, "I even like it."