The elevator door opened with a ding and Itachi stepped out. He walked purposefully toward the conference room, a file in his hand. He was clad in his signature black suit, complete with a black tie and a crisp white shirt—a combination he reserved for important meetings. His sleek, dark hair was slicked back and cascaded into a ponytail. Upon reaching the conference room door, he casually unbuttoned the front of his coat and entered.
His father occupied the prominent seat at the end of the expansive table, accompanied by a few other board members. All eyes turned towards Itachi as he bowed and approached the table. Placing the file in front of his father, he met the intense gazes of those present.
"These are the numbers for the last quarter, as you requested," Itachi stated.
His father opened the file, scrutinizing the information enclosed. After a moment's inspection, he passed the file to the others at the table, each taking turns to review the contents.
"These numbers are far below what we expected," one of the board members remarked with a disappointed tone.
Itachi remained composed, hiding a flicker of emotion that briefly crossed his eyes. "Yes I am aware, and I have some strategies outlined to address the challenges we faced in the previous quarter. We can implement them to improve the upcoming performance."
The room fell into a contemplative silence as the board members exchanged glances, absorbing Itachi's assurance. His father, still studying the report, finally looked up, fixing his gaze on Itachi.
"Itachi," one of the board members, Mr. Inoue spoke up, "to be very blunt, we had high hopes when you joined the corporate. I'm afraid we don't have a lot of room for experimentation."
Itachi narrowed his eyes. "What are you implying?"
He glanced at his father, hoping for a sign of support, but the stoic expression provided no solace.
"This is your last chance, son," Mr. Inoue continued with a stern gaze, "if these numbers don't improve, we will bring someone else to replace you."
Itachi's jaw tightened at the warning. The room hung in a charged silence, the weight of expectations pressing down on his shoulders.
"I understand," he said, standing up, his movements deliberate and purposeful. His face betrayed no emotion as he closed the button of his coat, bowed and left.
Itachi exited the conference room and navigated through the quiet hallways of the corporate headquarters. His mind was a whirlwind of contemplation. He was not accustomed to failures.
Once he stepped into his office, his took off his coat and loosened the tie. His thoughts racing through the strategies he had formulated. He took a moment to gaze out of the window, the cityscape below reflecting the relentless pace of corporate life.
He then turned towards his desk and opened the drawer to grab his car keys. His spotted a small velvet box beside it and his eyes softened. He picked up the box, opened it and stared at the ring with a round-cut diamond at its center. Encircled by smaller, intricately set diamonds, the focal gem sparkled like a luminous star in the night sky
Itachi had bought this ring for Sakura months ago, waiting the right chance to propose. But he never got one. Now that he knew his actions in the coming weeks would be scrutinized and ever decision judged by the board, he had to table his plans to settle down with Sakura. For now.
Closing the box, he placed it back in the drawer and grabbed his keys. He left his office, the door closing silently behind him. Duty called, and Itachi couldn't afford distractions.
The bowling alley bustled with activity, resonating with the distinctive clatter of pins and bathed in the vibrant glow of neon lights as Sasuke launched a ball, sending it rolling down the lane for a clean strike.
Still savoring the relief from his recent breakup with Karin, Sasuke let out a contented sigh, and Naruto, sensing the shift in his friend's mood, offered a hearty pat on the back.
"Look at you all smiling and happy. Sakura did you a solid by helping you with the break-up," Naruto said.
Sasuke's half-smile turned into a full-blown grin. "Yeah, she did. Thanks to her, I'm free."
"I'm happy for ya! Speaking of Sakura, when are you going to do something about your feelings for her?" Naruto inquired.
Sasuke sighed. "I don't know. Right now, I just want to get to know her better, see where it goes."
"Well, don't take too long," Naruto advised, launching a ball down the polished surface. It collided with the pins with a satisfying clattering and clinking.
"Strike! Believe it!" Naruto whooped and turned to Sasuke.
"She could be married soon, ya know," Naruto reminded him, "you have the chance until Itachi pops the question."
Sasuke furrowed his brows. He hadn't thought about that. Sakura had been dating Itachi for well over a year, yet there was no ring on her finger. Their relationship seemed stable albeit stagnant. But, he knew his brother was no fool. He would want to tie a knot with Sakura soon enough. And when that happened, what would Sasuke be left with? A broken heart.
Naruto's words lingered in Sasuke's mind. If he wanted a future with Sakura, he needed to act now. Unable to resist the impulse, he pulled out his phone to text Sakura, only to find a message from her already waiting.
"Hey, what are doing right now?"
His lips curled into a side smile, quickly smothered. His thumb hovered over the screen as he glanced at Naruto playing another round. He replied, "Nothing."
Sakura's prompt response appeared on the screen. "Great! Me neither. Can I come over?"
Sasuke couldn't believe what he was reading. Was she seriously asking to come to his place?
"Why?" he replied, realizing a few seconds later that this was not the way to text a woman he was interested in. He pursed his lips in frustration.
"I will tell you when I get there. I am on my way right now."
Sasuke jumped off his seat, realizing he needed to get back home before Sakura arrived. Naruto had just launched another ball and whooped in triumph after scoring another clean strike.
"Beat that, bastard!" He gloated, only to turn around and face an empty chair. He blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
Sasuke reached his apartment after speeding through the traffic. He entered and took an appraising look around. He liked to keep his place clean and well-kept, so there wasn't anything to fix. Satisfied, he dropped his jacket on the chair. Before he could do anything else, there was a knock at the door.
He ran a quick hand through his hair and opened the door to find Sakura standing there, dressed in jeans and a black blouse. Her pink hair cascaded gracefully over her shoulders. She wore a necklace with emerald stone that dipped below her collarbone. Sasuke consciously redirected his gaze to her face, resisting the urge to glance further down.
"Hey," Sakura said, smiling. However, her smile faded as she looked Sasuke up and down. "Were you going somewhere?"
"No," Sasuke quickly said, "why do you ask?"
"You're wearing bowling shoes," Sakura pointed out, nodding towards his footwear.
"Oh," Sasuke mused, running a hand over his jaw, "uh-
"Never mind," Sakura interjected, "it's good that you're ready. Let's get going."
"Going where?" Sasuke asked, confused.
"To the bar," Sakura declared casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "to help you get a girlfriend."
"I don't need a girlfriend," Sasuke said bluntly, "in case you missed, I just got rid of one."
"Yes, I know," Sakura rolled her eyes, "I was there. But we can't have you stay alone and single too long. What would happen if another unhinged woman got her hands on you?"
"I can handle myself," Sasuke said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Sure you can," Sakura patted his arm. Then she grabbed it and urged him to move. "Come on, I promise you you will have fun doing this."
Sasuke held back a laugh and allowed her to drag him. Unbeknownst to her, he was already having fun.
Once they reached the bar, Sakura led them to a table at a far right corner where they had the entire view of the place.
"We will keep a lookout for the perfect candidate," Sakura said, scanning the room as if she were on a mission.
Sasuke leaned back in his chair, amused by Sakura's determination. "I don't need anyone right now, Sakura. I'm enjoying being single."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, "Enjoying being single, or just avoiding the hassle of emotions?"
Sasuke smirked, "Maybe a bit of both."
Sakura shook her head, "Well, let's just see if we can find someone who'll change your mind. Trust me, it'll be fun!"
Sasuke's eyes softened as he gazed at Sakura, who was all animated and excitedly searching around the bar. His gaze traced over the shape of emerald eyes, down her rosy pink cheeks and over the curve of her lips. As she craned her neck to expand her search radius, Sasuke found himself appreciating the graceful line of her neck, the temptation to lean in and press his lips to the soft skin of her nape lingering in his thoughts.
His imagination painted a vivid picture of the two of them, lost in the warmth of the moment. He envisioned himself gently grazing her skin with his lips, savoring the delicate sensation until he reached the spot just behind her ear, a place reserved for whispered secrets and intimate gestures.
Sasuke blinked and shook himself out of the daydream. He needed to get himself together. He refocused on the task at hand, attempting to push aside the unexpected surge of emotions that had momentarily taken hold.
"So, what kind of a girl are you looking for me?" Sasuke asked, trying to appear casual.
"You know, someone pretty but not crazy," Sakura turned her head back to her and replied.
Sasuke flashed a smirk, leaning back in his chair with a hint of playful confidence. "Pretty but not crazy, huh? Well, that narrows it down to about... one percent of the population."
Sakura shot him a playful glare, her eyes narrowing. "I'm serious, Sasuke. You need someone who can keep up with your... intense personality."
"Intense?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I thought 'mysterious' was the word you were looking for."
Sakura laughed. "Mysterious, intense, brooding – call it what you want. You need someone who can handle the whole package."
Sasuke scoffed, "And do you have someone in mind who fits this impossible criteria?"
Sakura grinned mischievously, "Well, I might have a few candidates in mind. But we need to observe and assess. It's all about finding the perfect match, you know?"
Waiter arrived with their drinks and they settled in a comfortable silence. Sakura's eyes, however, were actively scanning the room, and she suddenly leaned in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"There she is," Sakura whispered, nodding toward a girl sitting at the bar. "What do you think? Potential candidate?"
Sasuke followed her gaze and observed the girl discreetly. She was very pretty, had an easy smile, was engaged in conversation with friends, and seemed lively and approachable.
"She looks nice," Sakura urged, her eyes widening with encouragement. "Go on, Sasuke, give it a shot!"
Sasuke hesitated, searching for an excuse. "I don't know. She's not really my type."
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Come on, don't be like that. Just talk to her. It's harmless."
Sasuke sighed. Sakura wasn't going to let this go easy, so he decided to humor her.
"Fine," Sasuke relented, standing up.
"Good luck," Sakura whispered as he left their table and walked toward the girl who was now standing alone at the bar.
Sakura saw Sasuke approach the girl. His back was toward her so she couldn't make out what he said to her, but suddenly girl got very angry and dumped her entire drink on Sasuke's head. Then she left, muttering angrily to herself.
Sakura sat there, absolutely shocked as Sasuke made his way back to her, running a hand through his wet hair.
"What happened?" Sakura asked as she handed over some paper towels to him.
"She wasn't interested," Sasuke said, shrugging.
"Clearly," Sakura said flatly, "what did you say to her that made her so angry?"
"I might have mentioned that she reminded me of my grandma, and I always loved my grandma's fashion sense."
Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief. "You did not just say that to her!"
Sasuke nodded, feigning innocence. "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I was trying to be charming, you know?"
Sakura burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "Charming? Sasuke, that's just...wow. I can't believe you said that!"
Sasuke sighed, "Yeah, I'm not the best at this whole flirting thing, am I?"
Sakura wiped away tears of laughter, "Definitely not, but you've just made this the most entertaining night ever." Sasuke couldn't help but smile at that. Making the woman, who had consumed his thoughts for the past year laugh like that filled him with a sense of pride.
Sakura continued with her efforts. After making Sasuke talk to a woman for the tenth time, she groaned as Sasuke came back with yet another rejection.
"What did you say this time?" Sakura asked gravely.
"I asked her if she was a natural blonde," Sasuke said, smirking inwardly.
"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed, "You can't just ask someone that." Then she raised her hands in surrender. "I give up. You clearly don't want to be with someone new."
"That's what I've been telling you," Sasuke said, easing back in his seat and crossing his arms over his chest, looking utterly unbothered.
Sakura rolled her eyes, realizing the futility of her matchmaking efforts. "Fine, Mr. Independent. You win."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Does that mean no more interrogations about my love life?"
Sakura chuckled, "You wish. I'm just giving you a break from my impeccable matchmaking skills. Besides, maybe you'll find someone on your own, in some less unconventional way."
Sasuke smirked, "Well, if it happens, it happens."
They continued their conversation, the atmosphere lightened and Sasuke felt the genuine warmth of Sakura's friendship. A subtle connection seemed to be growing between them, even if Sakura didn't seem to notice it.
As Sakura chatted animatedly, Sasuke couldn't help but wonder about the timing of their meeting. If he had crossed paths with her before Itachi did, would they be together? Would she be harboring the same feelings for him as he did for her?
The question lingered in the air, unspoken, as they enjoyed each other's company and losing the track of time. Eventually, the night wore on, and the bar began to empty out.
"Oh my!" Sakura exclaimed, looking at her watch and standing up, "we've been sitting here for hours. I told Itachi I would be home by dinner." She grabbed her purse and pulled out her phone
"He must be worried that I'm stuck at the hospital or something," she said, typing a quick text on her phone. Sasuke stood up as well.
"Don't worry, you still have time to make to dinner."
Sakura looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you, Sasuke. Even though we didn't achieve our objective, I had a really good time."
Sasuke nodded as Sakura bade goodbye and left. His eyes followed her until she exited the bar. He sighed and pulled out his phone. There were multiple missed calls and texts from Naruto. He only read the last one that said,
"I'm going to kill you."
Sasuke chuckled and pocketed the phone, a lingering sense of amusement tugging at his lips. He grabbed his jacket and strolled out of the bar, greeted by the refreshing coolness of the night air. He scanned the nearly empty street.
He walked towards his car with a certain lightness to his steps. He climbed into his car, still wearing a faint smile. As he drove away, the memory of the evening played in his mind like a pleasant melody.
Upon entering Itachi's apartment, Sakura was immediately met with an unexpected shroud of darkness. Surprised, she navigated through the dimly lit space and made her way towards the bedroom, where she noticed a faint glow emanating from beneath the door. Upon opening it, she discovered Itachi seated on a chair. The only source of light in the room was a dimly lit lamp positioned beside him. With his arms resting on his knees, Itachi sat in deep contemplation.
"Hey," Sakura said softly, walking towards him, "what's wrong?"
Itachi looked up at Sakura as she approached him. He forced a smile.
"Hey. You're back."
"Yeah. Sorry I'm late. Please," Sakura said, concern etched on her face, "tell me what's wrong. Why are you sitting in the dark?"
Itachi shrugged nonchalantly. "No reason. I was waiting for you. Come here," he murmured, reaching for Sakura's arm. She gracefully slid onto his lap, placing a hand on his face, not entirely convinced.
"Did something happen at work?" she asked, attempting to discern the source of his distress.
"No," Itachi smiled assuredly, "nothing I can't handle anyway."
"You sure?" Sakura inquired once more, her gentle touch stroking his cheek. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
Itachi wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "Well, there is something you can do for me," he murmured suggestively.
Sakura grinned and pressed her lips on his. Her hands wrapped around his neck and into his hair, pulling him closer. Soon they were unbuttoning each others clothes and got lost in the heat of passion. When morning arrived and Sakura woke up to an empty bed, she realized they hadn't spoken much about their day. While they were always kind to each other, they rarely opened up to each other. She wondered if this was how relationships were supposed to be. Or if she was missing out on something deeper.