The day was pretty good all things considered.

She had to put a few customers in the coffee shop in their place but nothing she couldn't handle. For Sakura, this was all temporary. She was only working to make money until she could finish medical school. So if putting up with jerks was the price she had to pay for a better future, she would do it.

Sakura knew what she wanted to do with her life the day she witnessed the rescue of a life. A woman was choking, and it was bad enough for Aunt Tsunade to grab a pen and perform a tracheotomy. It was the most beautiful moment of the little girl's life. She couldn't explain why, but seeing that her aunt had erased all of her "patient's" fear and relieved the fear of her loved ones by saving her life was a sight she couldn't get enough of. She wanted to be a part of something, to help others. Seeing that expression of gratitude and relief when the person understood that they were no longer in danger. It may have been small, but it had shaped Sakura.

She had always been a hard worker.

The shop doorbell rang, signifying the arrival of a new customer. Instinctively, she looked up and saw a familiar pair of black eyes. It took all her willpower not to smile stupidly. The man approached the counter, a small smile on his face (god he was cute when he smiled like that).

"Hey, blossom. It's been a while."

"Shisui, hi. The usual, I presume?"

"Please."

She nodded with a smile and went to prepare his order. A Grande Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino. Shisui was a regular customer, but she was pretty sure she'd seen him hanging around her campus before. She didn't know if he was a student here or just visiting someone. But she had noticed that there was a girl by his side, maybe his girlfriend.

He was in the company of Uchiha Itachi, a medical student just like her. She remembered that the man wanted to be a neurosurgeon. He was serious, diligent, and very intelligent. He had a very cute brunette on his arm. Izumi was her name, if she remembered correctly. Despite Itachi's beauty, it was Shisui who caught her attention. She had never dared to hit on him or anything, but they had a good feeling. He knew that she was studying medicine and that she knew his cousin. She had a little crush on him. Ino had told her to go for it, that she needed to get laid, but Ino always thought she should have more fun and study less, sooo…

She preferred to be his friend for now, assuming he considered her as such. (That didn't stop her from fantasizing about what his lips would taste like after drinking his caramel frappuccino, though.)

•

•

The day continued at its usual pace, with the hum of the coffee machines and the steady flow of customers providing a comforting rhythm to Sakura's thoughts. She glanced at the clock; her shift was nearing its end. The idea of spending another evening poring over her textbooks at the campus library was both daunting and thrilling. Each chapter brought her closer to her dream, each study session was a step towards the future she had envisioned for herself since that fateful day with Aunt Tsunade.

Her thoughts drifted back to Shisui. His visits to the coffee shop were the highlights of her day, and their brief exchanges left her heart fluttering. He always had a way of making her feel seen, which was something she deeply appreciated amidst the often impersonal atmosphere of the café. Despite the unspoken tension, she valued their budding friendship.

The doorbell rang again, and Sakura looked up to see her manager, Kurenai, entering. "Hey, Sakura," she greeted warmly. "You can clock out now. I'll take over."

Sakura nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Kurenai-san," She removed her apron, hung it up, and grabbed her bag from the back room. As she exited the shop, the cool afternoon air embraced her, a welcome change from the warmth inside.

On her way to the library, she decided to take a detour through the campus park. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the landscape, and she found herself reflecting on the day. She wondered if Shisui ever thought about her as much as she thought about him. It was a silly thought, but it brought a smile to her face.

As she reached the park, she saw a familiar figure sitting on a bench, engrossed in a book. It was Itachi. He looked up as she approached, a polite smile forming on his lips.

"Sakura," he greeted. "On your way to the library?"

"Hi, Itachi. Yes, I am. Taking a short break before diving back into the books."

He nodded, closing his book. "Just don't overwork yourself."

Sakura laughed, sitting down beside him and allowing herself a moment before getting back to studying. "You should take your own advice!" Their lighthearted banter brought smiles to both their faces. Sakura liked Itachi; conversing with him was always enjoyable. He seemed to always have an opinion, and he expressed it with an eloquence that she found undeniably attractive—platonically, of course. As they chatted, she felt grateful for this brief escape from her studies. They talked about their classes, their professors, and their shared experiences in medical school.

Eventually, the topic shifted to Shisui. "You know, my cousin talks about you quite often," Itachi said casually, his eyes studying her reaction.

Sakura's heart skipped a beat. "Oh? What does he say?"

She hoped it would be something positive. Honestly, she would have to change cities if he saw her as just the crazy barista who knew his order a little too well. He didn't seem to think she was crazy, but she often recalled that French meme that said, "POV: you're talking to the crazy person on the bus to avoid getting killed." Maybe that was exactly what Shisui was doing. She snorted. She was being ridiculous.

Itachi chuckled, unaware of Sakura's thoughts. "He thinks you're incredibly dedicated. He admires your work ethic."

She blushed, feeling a mix of happiness and embarrassment. "That's nice to hear. I think highly of him too."

Itachi's smile grew. "You should tell him that sometime. He's not as perceptive as you might think."

They continued talking until the last rays of the sun faded from the sky, signaling the onset of evening. Realizing the time, Sakura stood up. "I should get going. I still have a lot to study."

He nodded. "Me too. Good luck with your studies."

"Thank you. You too."

As she walked towards the library, her mind buzzed with the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Shisui saw her as more than just the barista who made his favorite frappuccino. With renewed determination, she pushed open the library doors, ready to conquer another chapter in her medical textbook. Tomorrow was another day, and who knew what it might bring?

Shisui pushed open the door of the café, the familiar chime signaling his arrival. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sweet aroma of pastries. It had been two weeks since his last visit, and he hadn't realized how much he missed this place—how much he missed her.

He'd had a rough day. His law classes were particularly grueling, and the weight of his responsibilities felt heavier than usual. As he walked toward the counter, he couldn't help but think that seeing Sakura's smile might lift his spirits, though he wouldn't admit that to anyone, least of all himself.

His eyes scanned the room, instinctively searching for the familiar shock of pink hair. There she was, bustling behind the counter, her focused yet serene expression a balm to his frazzled nerves. He felt a tingle of anticipation as he approached her.

"Hey, you"

Sakura looked up, her eyes widening slightly in surprise before a warm smile spread across her face. "Hey yourself! Let me guess," she said, pretending to ponder with an amused glint in her eye, "A grande caramel ribbon crunch crème frappuccino?"

"You read my mind!," he replied, a smile tugging at his lips. Watching her prepare his drink, he felt a familiar flutter in his chest. He appreciated her kindness, and the way she always seemed to remember what he ordered.

While she worked, his thoughts wandered. He wondered how his life had become such a mess in such a short time. Shisui had never faced significant problems in his life; he was born into a good family, and although his parents had died when he was a child, he couldn't say he had been an unhappy kid. His grandfather, Kagami, had taken care of him, and even though there were moments when he felt a sense of loss—especially during Mother's and Father's Day at school when he had no one to give a gift to—he couldn't say he had lacked love. Of course, there had been times when he envied his cousins for having their parents around, but he remembered fondly how Aunt Mikoto had always doted on him. He was the third son, and while Uncle Fugaku was a bit stricter, he supposed that inviting him on a father-son road trip was his way of making him feel included in the family. He was grateful for that, but he never forgot his grandfather. Kagami was all he had known, so in a way, he was a father to him. After all, it was Kagami who had wiped his nose and put a Band-Aid on his knee when he fell off his bike at four years old.

He suddenly snapped back to the present when Sakura's soft voice reached his ears. She didn't seem to have noticed that he had zoned out. She offered him his drink, that same kind smile on her lips. Maybe that's what he needed after his crappy day: a friendly smile and his favorite drink served by his favorite barista. "Here you go, Mister Uchiha. One Grande Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino."

"Thanks, Miss Haruno," he said playfully, their fingers brushing briefly as he took the cup from her. The contact sent a small jolt through him, a reminder of the complicated emotions he was grappling with. He was drawn to her, no doubt, but his recent breakup and the tangled mess of his life made him wary of getting too close.

He found a seat by the window, where he could watch her while maintaining a semblance of nonchalance. As he sipped his drink, he thought about the conversations they'd had, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her dreams of becoming a doctor. She was so full of life and ambition, a stark contrast to the burdens he carried.

Shisui sighed, leaning back in his chair. The truth was, the idea of someone like Sakura becoming important to him was both thrilling and terrifying. He wasn't ready to dive into another relationship, not when his own life was still a puzzle he was trying to piece together. Yet, there was a part of him that didn't want to let go of the possibility that she could be someone significant in his future.

Their interactions were a delicate dance—flirting just enough to keep the connection alive, but never stepping beyond the boundaries they had unconsciously set. He wondered if she felt the same way, if she was as confused by their dynamic as he was.

When his drink was finished, he stood up, catching her eye once more. "See you around, Sakura."

"Take care, Shisui," she replied, her smile tinged with a hint of something he couldn't quite decipher.

As he left the café, he made his way back to his apartment, where he lived with Itachi. He was sure his roommate had his nose buried in his books. Generally, when Shisui came home, Itachi was always either sipping a cup of tea or studying. Sometimes he would be sitting on their balcony, quietly reading a book, although he did so a little less now that the weather was starting to cool down. Overall, Shisui couldn't complain about his little cousin. He was a discreet and tidy roommate—too tidy at times. He had never seen a room so well-organized. It reminded him of military barracks. Not that he knew what they looked like, but soldiers must be disciplined, so he assumed that keeping their living space clean was part of their training.

The walk gave him time to clear his mind. By the time he reached his place, he felt a little more grounded. Opening the door to their shared apartment, Shisui was greeted by the sight of Itachi at the kitchen table, surrounded by textbooks and notes. How surprising. He shook his head fondly. His cousin looked up, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Good evening, Shisui. How was your day?"

The Uchiha shrugged, setting his keys down on the counter. "It was fine. Stopped by the café and saw Sakura."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How is she?"

"She's good," he replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "Busy as always, but she seems happy."

Itachi nodded, closing one of his textbooks. "You know, she mentioned she hadn't seen you in a while. She was a bit worried about her 'favorite' customer." he said, recalling the earlier conversation from when he had gone to grab a coffee at her workplace.

Shisui chuckled softly, his heart warming at the thought. "Did she, now?"

Itachi leaned back in his chair, studying his older cousin thoughtfully. "She seems like a good person. Someone worth knowing better."

Shisui sighed, running a hand through his curly hair, surprised to find only the minimum of tangles. It wasn't uncommon for his dark mane to be a mess by the end of the day, and not for the best reasons. The most amusing ones: like a delicate, manicured hand tugging at his strands while his sinful mouth was nestled between the thighs of his latest fling. "I know. It's just… complicated. My last relationship didn't end well, and I don't want to drag her into my mess."

The dark haired man hummed in understanding. "Sometimes, the best things in life come when you least expect them. Maybe it's not about being ready, but about being open to the possibility."

Shisui nodded, his cousin's words resonating deeply. "Thanks, 'Tachi."

As they sat in companionable silence, Shisui felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe there was a future where he and Sakura could be more than just fleeting acquaintances. For now, he would take it one day at a time, cherishing their moments together and letting fate take care of the rest.

Likes are appreciated, comments even more so.

Have a good day/evening, depending on when you read this. May it be a sweet one. ^_^