(Author's note: The point of view (POV) always shifted between the author's POV and Sakura's POV only, so don't get confused since I wanted to make the story flow naturally).
The next day, as the rivalry between Sasori and Sasuke continued to simmer, Sasori discreetly extended an invitation to Sakura to join him in his open-roofed car, a one-way journey from school and back again. Sakura agreed, not out of any genuine interest in Sasori, but because she couldn't resist the opportunity to channel her "inner Grace Kelly." As the engine roared to life, Sasori, sporting black sunglasses, playfully mouthed the engine's roar and shot a flirtatious smirk in Sakura's direction.
Sakura, with a playful glint in her eye, couldn't help but roll her eyes at Sasori's antics. She stood up on her seat and melodramatically let out a shout, "Whoo-hoo! Living life in the fast lane, Sasori-san!"
Suigetsu, who happened to be walking alongside Sasuke after their photography club session, was utterly bewildered by the sight of Sakura in a fancy open-roofed car with Sasori. He couldn't resist poking fun at the situation."Sakura was standing there and yelling like a lunatic!"
Sasuke seethed with fury, his jealousy boiling over, but before he could make a move to stop the car, Sasori deftly turned the steering wheel, causing the car to spin around, leaving both Sasuke and Suigetsu coughing amidst the thick, black exhaust smoke. Sasuke's frustration knew no bounds.
Sasuke snapped angrily, "Damn it! That pretentious prick!"
His gaze remained locked on them as they departed, his lips pouting and his brow furrowed, his fists clenched in readiness for a confrontation.
Inside the car, Sakura, still recovering from her melodramatic outburst, suddenly settled back into her seat and asked Sasori to lend her his satin brown scarf and black sunglasses. Sasori complied, handing over his accessories with a teasing smile.
Sakura, with a hint of embarrassment, remarked, "I'm going for that classic movie star look."
She draped the scarf around her like a veil and donned the sunglasses. However, her attempt at sophistication was short-lived as the wind promptly snatched her scarf away, leaving her hair in a disheveled mess. Sasori couldn't contain his laughter and stepped on the gas pedal, speeding up even further.
Sasori commented between laughs, "Well, you've got the drama part down, Sakura-chan!"
As Sakura desperately tried to salvage her hair, Sasuke's jealousy only intensified.
When the car eventually came to a halt in front of the school entrance, Sakura and Sasori were taken aback to find Sasuke still waiting there, his arms crossed, looking ready to confront Sasori. Sasuke's shock was palpable as he noticed Sakura's hair resembling a wild mane, and he winced. In a polite gesture, Sasori stifled his laughter, not wanting to offend Sakura.
Sasori instead teased Sakura, "Sakura-chan, maybe we should fix your hair first."
Curious about their reactions, Sakura glanced at the rearview camera and muttered under her breath as she saw her undoubtedly messy hair.
Sakura cursed softly to herself, "Fuck. I look like I just wrestled a tornado."
...
Over the weekend, the photography club organized another outdoor excursion, this time for a photography expedition at Lake Chuzenji. Sasuke reluctantly watched as Sakura ended up in the same group as Sasori, all thanks to a bet he had lost—courtesy of Karin, who had orchestrated a blind lottery. As Sasuke sat in the canoe with Karin, he couldn't help but glance over at the other canoe where Sakura and Sasori were engaged in an unexpectedly theatrical exchange. Sasori, with a mischievous glint in his eye, decided to showcase his flair for the dramatic. He cleared his throat and began reciting Shakespearean poetry with theatrical gestures.
Sasori, with an exaggerated flourish, began to recite, "To be or not to be, that is the question..."
Sakura, caught off guard by the sudden dramatic turn, showed a puzzled glance before playing along. She furrowed her brows, feigning deep contemplation, and asked, "Hmm, Sasori-san, are we contemplating the meaning of life in the middle of a lake?"
Sasori, with a smirk, continued his dramatic recitation, "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune..."
Sakura, with an equally dramatic tone, joined in, "Or to take arms against a sea of troubles and, by opposing, end them?"
Their witty repartee continued, drawing amused glances from their fellow club members. Sasuke, though seething with jealousy, couldn't help but be impressed by Sakura's quick wit and Sasori's dramatic delivery. He clenched his paddle a bit tighter, determined not to let his emotions get the best of him.
Sasori, in a daring move, made a cheeky leap into the lake, fully clothed, and humorously grabbed Sakura's hand, pulling her into the water with him. Sakura laughed heartily, but she couldn't help but notice Sasuke's serious, even annoyed, expression as he continued to watch them.
Karin decided to fan the flames, commenting with a sly grin, "So childish."
Sasuke, rowing the canoe with unwavering determination, couldn't tear his eyes away from Sasori and Sakura, "Yes."
Sakura yelled to Sasuke, "Hey, Sasuke-kun, want to join in on the fun?"
Sasuke replied sternly, his irritation evident, "Absolutely not."
Karin, sensing an opportunity to stoke Sasuke's jealousy, scolded Sakura, "You know, Sakura, I heard a rumor that swimming in the lake fully clothed is against the rules."
Sasori couldn't resist chiming in with a witty retort, "Rules are made to be broken, especially with a partner in crime, right Sakura-chan?"
Slightly irritated, Sakura swam to the nearby lakeshore and shivered as she stepped out of the water.
Sakura, teeth chattering, complained, "Brrr, it's freezing. I need something to warm me up."
Sasuke couldn't tear his eyes away from Sakura as she emerged from the lake, her clothes soaked and clinging to her figure. While he was still grappling with his jealousy and frustration, an unexpected wave of concern washed over him. He couldn't help but worry about her well-being, even if he was determined not to show it. He then proceeded to shore his canoe, which was protested by Karin, and walked to the lakeshore to approach Sakura.
Karin, still in the canoe, called out to him, her voice tinged with annoyance,"Sasuke, what are you doing? We're in the middle of the lake!"
Ignoring Karin's protests, Sasuke continued his approach, his gaze locked on Sakura, who stood there with a mischievous yet appreciative smile. When he reached her, he couldn't hide the subtle concern in his voice.
Sasuke, trying to mask his concern with a hint of irritation, called out to Sakura, "You should be more careful, Sakura. You might catch a cold like this."
Karin and Sasori exchanged surprised glances. Sasuke's unexpected display of concern had them both momentarily taken aback. It seemed that his emotions were getting the better of him.
Sakura, a playful twinkle in her eye, couldn't resist teasing Sasuke despite her damp and chilly state. She took a step closer to him, her soaked clothes dripping water onto the ground, and flashed a mischievous smile.
Sakura, her voice dripping with faux innocence, replied, "Oh, Sasuke-kun, are you worried about me?"
Karin, watching this exchange with a growing sense of jealousy, muttered under her breath to Sasori, "Looks like someone's getting a taste of their own medicine."
Sasori, who had been the master of playful banter so far, found himself momentarily at a loss for words. It seemed that the tables had turned, and Sasuke, unintentionally, was showing Sakura a side of himself that she hadn't seen before.
Sasuke, realizing that he might have let his guard down a bit too much, quickly regained his composure and looked away, his cheeks tinted with the faintest hint of pink.
Sasuke, grumbling to himself, mumbled, "Just be careful, that's all."
Sakura couldn't help but smile at Sasuke's unexpected concern. She knew that beneath his tough exterior, there was a side of him that cared for her. It was a small but significant step in their complicated relationship, and it left both Karin and Sasori wondering what Sasuke's next move would be.
...
As the school day continued, Sasori's persistence in pursuing Sakura didn't waver. He continued to find excuses to be near her, offering unsolicited photography advice and complimenting her with an intensity that bordered on obsession. Sakura, though flattered by his attention, was growing increasingly uncomfortable with Sasori's advances.
During lunch break, as Sakura sat with her friends at their usual table, Sasori sauntered over, his camera hanging casually from his shoulder. He flashed a smug smile and addressed her, "Sakura, have you ever considered doing a photoshoot with me? I have some incredible ideas that would showcase your beauty."
Sakura exchanged a glance with TenTen and Akari, her friends in photography club, who raised their eyebrows in concern. She decided to be direct. "Sasori-san, I appreciate your interest, but I'm not interested in a photoshoot at the moment. I'm here to enjoy lunch with my friends."
Sasori's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Of course, Sakura. Lunch sounds wonderful. We can discuss it later." He found a seat nearby, keeping a watchful eye on her.
Karin, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, seized the opportunity to stir the pot further. She leaned in towards Sasuke, who was sitting next to Sakura, and whispered, "Looks like Sasori doesn't take 'no' for an answer, huh? He's really persistent."
Sasuke's grip on his chopsticks tightened. He glanced at Sakura, who was engaged in conversation with her friends, and replied through gritted teeth, "It's annoying."
Karin grinned victoriously, pleased to see that her tactics were working. "Well, I guess some people just can't resist Sakura's charm."
The tension between Sasuke and Sasori continued to escalate throughout the day. In photography class, Sasori positioned himself close to Sakura once again, offering his assistance with camera settings. This time, he brushed his fingers against hers as he adjusted the aperture, causing Sakura to blush and step away.
Sasuke, who had been observing the interaction from a distance, had had enough. He approached them and firmly stated, "Sakura, I think we should work together on this task. You don't need Sasori's help."
Sakura, relieved for the intervention, nodded in agreement. "You're right, Sasuke. Let's do this together."
Sasori, realizing he was being edged out, tried to save face with a suave smile. "If you ever change your mind, I'm here to help."
Karin, not one to back down, decided to add fuel to the fire. "Oh, Sasuke, you're so lucky to have such a devoted girlfriend. Sasori seems quite taken with her."
Sasuke shot Karin a warning look, but his possessiveness was evident as he pulled Sakura closer to him. "She's mine," he stated firmly.
- To Be Continued -