Sakura

I woke up with the sun invading my room, I felt a warmth on my face and I felt so good. Until I looked at the clock.

- Shit! - I shouted

I got up, sat on the bed and put my feet on the floor, it was freezing cold. Winter really was coming. I looked at the clock and it was seven o'clock in the morning. I went straight to the bathroom, staggering back and forth, I was still so sleepy. Another sleepless night, I looked in the mirror and forced myself to put a smile on my face, in fact that was far from being a bad day, at least that's what I expected. I took my shower and felt the warm water running down my body, what a wonderful feeling. I went back to my room, tried to cover my sleep face with a little makeup and changed into my uniform. I would thank heavens for the college to have a uniform, I'm not like Ino who chooses an outfit for every occasion.

While getting dressed I was thinking about how my last year in college was going to be, I've been melancholic lately and I can't even say why, I imagine it's the end of another cycle and let's say that this last one has been... Apathetic. In this second part of the year I start to do an internship and work in hospitals, I'm going to specialize in pediatrics, that's my passion. It seems like just yesterday that Ino and I took the medical entrance exams together. I remember until today how it was when we found out that we passed and the first time we entered through those gates. Speaking of Ino, you could hear the music from up here it was so loud. I love her high spirits, she always finds a way to cheer me up. Looks like Ino doesn't have a bad day, I just love the way she makes me feel.

I ran downstairs, it was already eight o'clock and my class starts in thirty minutes, I really got lost in my thoughts, this has been more recurrent with each passing day. I get immersed in my own brain, sometimes stuck in a memory and I end up forgetting to enjoy the present. I had to stop this. Live in the now, Sakura. We didn't live far from the college, because she was the one who paid for our stay until the end of the course, but I didn't want to be late, I'm a model student. I was hungry and I needed to get some coffee and Ino wouldn't let me go too far without eating something. We were like that, we took care of each other.

- Good morning darling! - said Ino when he saw me coming down the stairs with my backpack on my back and making coffee

- Morning, Ino - I replied in the same tone, trying to do my best - How are you today?

- What happened that you are in such a good mood? Lately you've been kind of down - she said and you could hear the concern in her voice

- Nothing much, I'm fine, that's all that matters now - she said trying to hide it - Isn't it? - I insisted

- Maybe... It fools me that I like it - he spoke in an ironic tone - I met you yesterday, right?! Come on, tell me what's going on - She said in a rather impatient tone

- I just dont know, it's our last year together at university, in this house where we spent almost six years, every day, I'm feeling melancholy - I felt my eyes a little teary - I will miss you, you are my best friend, you know this

Ino came running to hug me, she knew and felt how important our friendship is. I don't know what I'm going to do without her. I don't know how I'm going to manage without her, really. We had the perfect coexistence, and an impeccable tune. It felt like we were made to be together. I don't see myself living alone and I don't see myself away from her. But we have a year and soon it will be over. We like it or not. As it is, Ino is going to marry someone soon and I'll be here. I'm bad at relationships.

- Sakura, are you crazy?! We're not going to move away from each other, there's no remote possibility of that happening - she said trying to distract me - You know I'll never let go of you, I'm serius, trust me, this year will be different for both of us! - she commented excitedly -Let's enjoy!

- Yeah, you might be right - I said nodding my head too.

- Normally I do - we both laugh together

- Come on, we're already late, you know how boring the first period teacher is! - I said laughing

- Truth. Take this sweet tea, I made it for you - he said handing me the bottle

- That's why you're amazing! - he said looking at her - You know my taste is still that of a child

- I know - said Ino laughing at my face

- Funny, now let's go - he said laughing too

We left the house and got in the car. The light, cool autumn breeze touched my face like an old acquaintance. I felt nostalgic, I loved this weather. The streets were full of orange leaves, the sun touched my skin, leaving only a small amount of warmth. Ino started to drive faster. One of the moments when I didn't think about anything was the minutes until college where Ino and I were singing, as if there was nothing around us. It didn't take long for us to arrive, the college was a little close. She drives fast, she always loved doing that, she left me in front of the college and I said goodbye to her as she went to park the car. I faced that gate, sighed and entered with long and fast steps. I flung open the hallway door and bumped into someone – it smelled like aged wood and mint – I looked into those night-black eyes, and they sparkled. Half of his face covered by a black mask and his hair gray, almost white. There's only the two of us there. I had never seen that person in my life, is he real? It didn't look, felt like I was looking at a ghost. As if it could go through it and not touch it.

I was distracted for a second when I heard my cell beep, and it was gone. I had a strange feeling, I found myself lost in my thoughts again, still kind of shocked. I ran out to the classroom, went in and sat down in the first vacant chair I saw, today's class would be long. I needed to concentrate.

6 hours later...

It was already lunch time, I made an appointment with Ino to have lunch together. Soon the afternoon shift would begin. Especially today we had full-time class. Where she was? I was starting to get impatient. After more than twenty minutes waiting for her, she finally appeared, but her clothes were half open, crumpled, with messy hair and I was already thinking, who was she with this time? I watched her approach. I tried to hide my smile from her but she already knew what I was thinking. I watched her sit in the chair next to me – and she had a big smile on her face – I waited for the right moment to ask where she was.

- Where were you? - I say angrily - I've been waiting for almost half an hour

- Sakura, you won't believe it! - she got excited

- Maybe I don't believe it - I said.

- You know, I'm dating a boy from the arts course - she tried to speak while trying to control her own breathing

- And? - I say, I was starving - Tell me soon, I'm curious

- Ah... He's all good, literally, all I have to say is that I'm happy! And by heavens, what skillful hands that boy has - she said mischievously

- Ino, by the gods! We are in public! - I say embarrassed - Please speak lower, okay?

- Why? It's not like they didn't already know, you know how rumors run like rats around here! - he said laughing - And I'm not ashamed of that, I'm not doing anything wrong

- I'm glad you're satisfied both physically and emotionally - I say - But I dont like this kind of attention, so, please?

- Okay! But... Speaking of boys... - she stared at me - And you? After Naruto you never slept with anyone? - he said directly and making me spit out the soda

- N-no, I dont have time, and the last one its like years ago... I only did it with two other people and you know! And in one of them I was drunk! It doesn't count - I say awkwardly

- Of course it counts - she nudged me - Sex is sex, Sakura... One night stands or not

- I confess that I'm not the most experienced person in the world but I'm fine alone, thank you very much - I said drinking a little more

- At some point, you will need someone to... Satisfy you - she said and started to eat

Ino knew I wasn't that experienced, not as much as she was, the person I got the most physically involved with was Naruto, but that was just because we're best friends, and I was going through a bit of a rough patch, nothing more. I wanted to try certain things and he too, one thing led to another and we ended up having sex a few, many times. We were too young, we didn't think about the future. Besides, I love our friendship that has been cultivated since childhood, he has his life and I have mine. With college taking up ninety percent of my time and he's on an exchange abroad, I haven't seen him in months.

- Well, I've heard enough, that's why you wake up with this humor one day yes and another not - he said seriously - Tonight we're going to a party and you're not going to give me any excuses, do you hear me?

I just nodded, when Ino gets something into her head it's hard to get it out, I'm past the trying stage. I stopped arguing with her a while ago, for the sake of my sanity – I think to myself – the conversation continues for another twenty minutes, we finished eating and went to the next practical class, hoping that the day would pass as quickly as this lunch. I just wanted to get some rest before being dragged to a place with lots of booze and unfamiliar people.

Kakashi

Another sleepless night. How long will this go on? I got up, looked at the clock it was five o'clock in the morning, hell I can't take this anymore. If I can sleep for more that three hours for night that's a lot for me. This It's going to kill me someday. I'm so tired. The room was completely dark, I dragged myself to the bathroom, looked in the mirror and felt out of my mind, as if I were seeing myself in third person. What a strange feeling. It was like I looked back and felt sorry for the person I had become. I got in the shower, turned on the water and took a cold shower, taking all thoughts out of my head, I felt each cold drop running down my back, the shock of the cold water on my hot skin was the only thing that made me feel real, until when would this feeling last? Not much, I thought.

When I looked to the side, I realized I hadn't grabbed my towel. I got out of the shower naked, cold and wet. My apartment had little puddles of water and for a moment I thought why did I have such a big apartment? I felt alone once more. I took the towel from the closet and through the huge window of the room I could see the great Konoha in its still inactive state, it seemed to rest, without the daily movement of people, without the noise of cars and I breathed the immensity of this city. I wrapped the towel around my body, dried myself and went after my clothes, put them on and went downstairs to get some coffee.

Straight black coffee, for a moment I stopped to think how bitter adult life tastes. The older you are, the more bitter things become, coffee, cigarettes, drink. Even the people, I reminded myself. Everything is bitter, colorless. The days stop passing and the nights consume me. While enjoying my hot drink, I flipped through my favorite book, I have few pleasures in life and reading is one of them. When I looked at the clock I saw that it was half past seven, I lost myself in time rambling about everything but at the same time about nothing. And it wasn't the first time this had happened. But now I had to go to work. I got up, put my things away, took the car keys and left the house.

Some hours later...

Today the day was completely exhausting. I was in no mood for anything, I spent hours reading and signing a huge amount of paperwork, piles and piles of paper formed on my desk, I couldn't bear to read anything for today. One word would take me out of my minimal peace. That's when my head decided to take a sip of the purest peace it could offer me. Offers of small pleasant souvenirs. I ended up with the image of the lady who bumped into me earlier, she certainly doesn't know who I am, which in a way was a relief. It looked like she had seen a ghost. And for the first time in a long time, I felt happy being a nobody to a person. Gods, I even thought of the word happy. But it was when my eyes met her that I felt something other than "happy". They looked like large greenish constellations, the most beautiful shade of green I had the pleasure of ever seeing. Her hair was pink, strange, unusual. But stunning.

She was beautiful. As beautiful as a person could be. And I felt, I was surprised that I felt anything. I'm not much for noticing people, not that way at least, it's been a while since I caught myself looking at someone like that. I didn't know her name, didn't know who she was. Just that she was going to university, could she be a student or is it some new teacher? Though she looked too young to be a teacher. And now, like any obsession of mine I couldn't stop thinking about her, and what she did to me. Because nobody does anything to me, and just one person did it. At that moment it was strange and even inconceivable.

Everything was going well, I relaxed and got back to work. The hours passing by, more precisely now, seemed to run. And now I look forward to the end of the day. That way at least I could sleep, if only for a few hours, and dream. That is until I heard a rumbling noise, when Shikamaru knocked hard on my door and I told him to come in, I already knew he wanted something. He never comes here for nothing. He was my best friend, yeah I guess I can say this, he was eight years younger than me but his intelligence made him look like an older person, which is why we got along so well.

- Kakashi... - he said with that lazy way of his - Everything ok?

- Yes... - I sighed - And you? How are the classes going?

- Oh, you know, it sucks - he said diverting the intention of the conversation

- Shikamaru, you had to take things more seriously... - I said laughing - You started college in your teens and now, at twenty-seven, you're already a professor, of physics, I remember

- Huh... Thanks, I guess - he said ironically.

- Then start taking it more seriously - I warned.

- Okay, okay - he said agreeing with me - I'll try, okay?

- Okay - I replied and continued writing

- But, I'm not here to talk about that now - he sat in the armchair in front of me - Later, you and I, let's go for a walk - Shikamaru said, looked like he had just smoked - Drinks, girls and other things. .. And there's no point in refusing, I've already told the others that you're going - he said laughing

- I'm not going - I said without showing any reaction, that didn't cheer me up anymore and Shikamaru knew more than anyone that I wasn't a very sociable person and even so he insisted that I go everywhere with him

- Yes, you're going to leave this office, go drink and flirt with a nice girl - he said punctuating every thing he said - Besides, it's been a while since we went out together, give me a break too, ok?

- Okay, it's no use trying to convince you otherwise, is it? - I said yawning, when Shikamaru wants to, he creates a whole plan, several arguments, almost puts together a presentation just to convince me of what he wants - But I will go home early

- Excellent! Be ready at nine, I'll come by to pick you up - he said having fun with the situation

- Okay - I sighed once more that day... Atypical.

*This story is translated, sorry for any mistakes*