The outdoor cafe buzzed with chatter as students filled the tables. Sasuke sat with Naruto and Shikamaru, his expression unreadable as his gaze occasionally flicked to Sakura and Ino seated a few tables away.
"What's with her?" Naruto asked, shoveling a mouthful of food.
"Who?" Shikamaru drawled, barely glancing up from his book.
"Sakura," Naruto replied, his voice tinged with concern. "She's been all weird and quiet today."
"She's always like that," Sasuke muttered, his tone clipped. But his dark eyes lingered on the faint scratches on her hand as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"No, idiot, she's not," Naruto retorted, rolling his eyes. "You don't know shit about her. She's the one always smiling and acting fine. Lately, she's all serious and stuff. It's weird."
Sasuke didn't respond, his attention still fixed on the way Sakura stirred her coffee with deliberate slowness.
Across the cafe, Ino leaned forward, lowering her voice.
"Are we really not going to talk about it? I would love to gossip," she whispered conspiratorially.
Sakura sighed, her spoon clinking softly against the edge of her cup. "It's not worth gossiping about."
"Not worth gossiping about?" Ino hissed, her blue eyes narrowing. "You saved Karin's life last night. And you called Sasuke of all people? That's juicy as hell."
Sakura's jaw tightened, her voice measured but firm. "He's her boyfriend, isn't it obvious I'd call someone close that we both know?"
Ino threw up her hands in exasperation. "You are way too nice, Forehead. I can't believe that bitch."
Before Sakura could respond, a flash of red hair caught her eye. Karin strutted past their table, her head held high and her usual air of superiority firmly in place. She stopped abruptly, turning to face Sakura with a sharp glare.
"Haruno," Karin said, her voice clipped. "We need to talk."
Sakura arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Do we?"
Karin leaned in, her voice lowering to a hiss. "I don't know what game you're playing, but stay out of my business."
Sakura chuckled, the sound humorless. She leaned back in her chair, meeting Karin's glare with a bored expression. "Your 'business' almost got you killed last night. Maybe you should stay out of my way."
Karin's cheeks flushed with anger, but she straightened her posture defiantly. "Your way just happened to be there—"
"My way happened to save your life," Sakura cut in, her voice razor-sharp. "So stop bitching and boring me with your nonsense." She sipped her coffee, her tone casual but biting. "You're welcome, by the way."
Karin's mouth opened and closed, words failing her for once. Her expression twisted into one of frustration. "This isn't over."
"Of course not," Sakura replied smoothly, her eyes half-lidded with disinterest.
Without another word, Karin spun on her heel and stalked off, her head held high despite the sting of the exchange.
Ino stared after her, wide-eyed, before turning back to Sakura with a smirk. "Well, that was highly entertaining."
Sakura shook her head, finishing the last sip of her coffee. "I'll just get to class. I'll see you there, I know you want to get all lovey dovey with your bastard."
—-
As Sakura turned the corner toward class, a firm grip caught her arm and yanked her backward. She barely had time to react before her back hit the wall, the cool surface pressing into her shoulder blades. She flinched, her wide green eyes snapping up to meet his.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Sasuke asked, his voice low and edged with frustration.
"About what?" Sakura shot back, her tone sharp, refusing to look away.
"Last night."
Her breath hitched for the briefest moment, but she quickly masked it, her lips curving into a tight, humorless smile. "Because it's none of your business."
His frown deepened, his dark eyes narrowing with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. "You called me," he said, his voice growing quieter but somehow sharper. "Made it my business."
Sakura's jaw clenched. She straightened her posture, glaring at him. "Don't flatter yourself, Uchiha. I called the first person who'd actually show up for her, and you did, didn't you?"
Sasuke stepped closer, his towering presence making the hallway feel narrower. The space between them disappeared, and she could feel the faint heat radiating from him.
He didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze roved over her face like he was seeing her for the first time, lingering on her eyes, her slightly parted lips, the faint flush on her cheeks. The tension between them buzzed like electricity.
Her breath hitched again as his hand moved, fingers grazing the curve of her neck. His touch was so light it sent shivers down her spine, and he paused where her pulse thrummed rapidly under his fingertips.
"Your heart's racing," he murmured, his voice just above a whisper.
She swallowed hard, her fists clenching at her sides as her body betrayed her.
His lips quirked into the faintest smirk, and he leaned in closer, his breath brushing her ear. "I still have an effect on you, Haruno."
Her composure cracked, her eyes flashing with both anger and something she couldn't quite place. As Sakura stepped to the side, trying to break free from the moment, she felt his hand on her wrist, stopping her mid-step. She glanced down and saw his fingers gently brushing over the scratches on her hand.
Sasuke's dark eyes softened for a brief moment as he traced the lines on her skin, his touch surprisingly tender.
"Stop hurting yourself like an idiot," he muttered, his voice low and edged with something resembling concern, though it was buried under layers of indifference.
Sakura froze, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected contact. Her pulse raced, not from fear, but from something else entirely. She jerked her hand away, the brief, intimate moment slipping through her fingers like sand.
"I don't need your pity, Uchiha," she said, her voice hardening as she turned back to him, her eyes flashing. "It's none of your business."
Sasuke didn't say anything right away, his gaze flickering briefly to the scratches on her hand, then back to her eyes. His face remained unreadable, though the intensity in his gaze lingered like a shadow as she left.