The whole drive to the restaurant, Lee was hyper vigilant about his phone being in his back pocket. Now that he had Sakura's number in it, he would take extra care to check it more often and making sure he had it on him. More often than not, Lee left his phone at home much to the annoyance of Tenten and Neji.

But that was nothing compared to having Sakura next to him. He kept the windows down so that he could see her pink hair billowing in the breeze out of the corner of his eye. The smell of her floral perfume permeated his senses.

What's more was that she looked happy to be by his side. She didn't even seem to care that he had an old, busted up car. It used to belong to Guy Sensei. Despite being old and busted, Guy had said the car never failed him before. Lee wasn't one to turn down a gift either.

He was even more excited that they were going to spend more time outside of the apartment complex. If he wasn't so focused on the road, he would have crashed the car by now. Sakura's presence was near distracting. It wasn't the first time she was in his car but instead of driving to go see a street fight, they were going to a nice dinner instead.

"We are here!" Lee announced as he pulled into the parking space. Sakura unbuckled her seatbelt and made a moveme to open the car door. Lee held his hand out to stop her. "Do not move!" He got out the car and raced around to open the door for her, complimented with a bow in an exaggerated fashion.

Sakura dipped her head with smile and exited out. Lee closed the door for her and raced back around to lock the car. All because he didn't have one of those keys with a button.

Together they walked to the front door and of course, Lee held it open for her. "After you," he said with a smile."

"Thank you, Mister Lee," Sakura responded with regal air. She held her chin up like a royal. "You are too kind."

Even if she was playing around, Lee certainly wasn't. "Anything for you," he mustered. It took a lot for him to not refer to her affectionately. This wasn't a date after all. Miss Haruno was just a good friend of his. She didn't want to be anything more and he would be okay with that. As long as she was happy, he could be happy.

Could he?

Lee dispelled the thought as they were led to their seats.

"Welcome back!" Greeted a waitress. "I see you've got some company this time." She started to lead them to their table.

Sakura glanced up at Lee. "You're a regular?"

Lee nodded. "It is my favorite place. Most of the time I come here alone. But other times it is just me and Guy Sensei," he explained. "Neji cannot handle the slightest bit of spice so he does not come with me. Very rarely does Tenten come with me."

He pulled out Sakura's chair for her once the waitress laid out the menus for them and left. "But that is enough about me," said Lee, noting that fake candles than usual placed at their table. He looked at Sakura. "It feels like you know so much about me. But I want to know about you."

"Oh, uh..." Sakura shifted forward in her seat to get closer to the table. "What's there to know really?" She laughed awkwardly.

"Anything," Lee pressed on, "no matter how small."

"My favorite color is red," Sakura smiled awkwardly.

"Noted."

Sakura snorted a laugh. "You don't have to take everything I say so seriously."

Lee eyed her in confusion. "Is red not your favorite color then?"

"Oh no— it is. It's just that you're very..." Sakura looked to the ceiling, as if she'd find the right words to say there. "Chivalrous? Yeah that's it."

"Guy Sensei taught me to always treat others with kindness and respect, especially women." It may have been old fashioned, but Guy never did him wrong with the advice. "And you, Miss Haruno has earned my respect and adoration."

"Adoration?" Sakura echoed.

"Ah—"

They stared at each other, red in the face.

The waitress returned with a pen and notepad. "Are you two ready to order?"

ˏˋ ˎˊ

Dinner went without a hitch. Sakura quite enjoyed chatting with Lee. She told him about school and about Ino and even her favorite Professor, Tsunade.

"I see. Your Tsunade inspires you to do well and achieve your dreams. Just like my Guy Sensei," Lee beamed.

"Yeah... I guess you're right." It never occurred to Sakura before, but it was true. Lee and Guy were certainly eccentric, but Sakura understood the strong bond between a student and teacher.

Once Lee had paid for their meals, Sakura looked optimistic. "So, where to now?" She had assumed that they were going straight home, but it couldn't hurt to ask. She didn't want their 'totally-not-a-date' date to end. She'd have to be alone in her apartment and study, missing their talks.

Of course, they could spend time together in either of their places. The thought made her cheeks turn pink. It wasn't like she hadn't spent significant time in his apartment before. But both of those times were concerning his stitching. It would be different. What would they even do?

Thankfully, Lee had something planned. "I was hoping that we could go take a walk in the park."

"I'd like that actually."

By the time they made it to the park, the evening light was traded for sparkling stars in the sky. Lampposts turned on to light up their path. They walked side by side, tantalizingly close. Every so often their arms would brush against one another.

"Miss Haruno?" Lee spoke up suddenly.

She looked up at him. "Yes?"

"You spoke of your friend Miss Yamanaka, but I am curious about the one I met the other night."

Sakura averted her gaze. "You must mean Sasuke."

Lee dipped his head.

"We've been friends since we were twelve. Us two and my other friend Naruto. The three of us would go everywhere together. Went to the same schools, even graduated together. After that we went our separate ways," Sakura gave a sigh. It was hard drudging up those old memories. "I still keep in contact with Naruto. He's currently trying not to flunk out of the police academy. Sasuke... Well that was the first time I've spoken to him in a while. He wanted to study abroad to be a prosecutor. For some reason he stopped talking to all of us."

"Has he spoken to you again?" Lee asked.

Sakura shook her head. "I think about calling him but I wouldn't even know what to say. I don't know why he didn't just ask me for my address, instead getting it from Naruto—" She stopped. "I'm rambling, sorry."

"That is of no inconvenience to me." Lee chuckled. "You put up with my rambling."

She bumped him playfully. "That is true. You do talk a lot."

Lee slumped his shoulders and frowned.

"Oh, no wait!" Sakura waved her hands frantically. "I didn't mean it as a bad thing! I think it's kinda cute—" Her hands flew to her mouth now, covering it.

Lee was shaking from where he stood. She never seen a brighter shade of red on someone before.

Sakura experimentally poked his arm. Bare, she was reminded. She couldn't feel it through her sweater before. They didn't have to be covered up after her touch either. "Lee...?"

"C-cute?"

She broke him.

The sweet street fighter from across the hall.

She broke him. Of all things.

"Miss Haruno!" He blurted out, startling her. "Please be my girlfriend! I will protect you with my life!"

Before Sakura could even give a response, Lee's phone rang. She snapped her mouth shut.

He was inclined to ignore it, but he knew how upset his friends got at him for not answering. It had to be important. Lee dug into his back pocket and pulled out his phone. It was Neji.

"Hello?"

"Lee, where are you now?" Neji sounded urgent.

"I am at the park," Lee answered.

"I'm coming to pick you up right now."

Lee furrowed his brows together while Sakura looked on in concern. "What is going on, Neji?" Lee asked.

"It's Tenten," he supplied. "You know how I took her in to get looked after? I took her to my family, I didn't know what else to do. Now they don't want to release her."

"What? Why?" Lee felt his heart drop.

"They're using her as a hostage to get me to join back up."

"Whatever it takes Neji, we will get her back."

"Thank you, Lee."

"You are my brother, Neji," Lee stated. He was gripping his phone tightly. "And Tenten is my sister. You know I will always be there for you."

Neji hung up.

Lee placed his phone back into his pocket, swapping them for his car keys. "Sakura," he said, "I need you to do something important for me."