While their group was waiting in line for ice cream, Boruto stood with his hands in his pockets behind Sarada, who was behind Inojin. He took slow, steady breaths trying to maintain a sense of calmness. So far, he was behaving himself. The line moved forward and suddenly they were at the counter picking flavors. Cho Cho, who was behind Boruto, nudged him in the back with her elbow. He gave a short glare, but then sighed. He knew what he needed to do to make amends while simultaneously regaining Sarada's attention.
Inojin reached for his wallet to pay when Boruto stepped up in front of them.
"I've got us three," he told the cashier.
"Sure thing," she replied, not even bothering to look up.
"Oh, thank you Boruto! But you didn't have to do that," said Sarada.
"No, I did," he replied. He looked off to the side to avoid eye contact, and a tinge of pink graced his cheeks. "I've been a jerk today. I don't know why, but I have and I want to apologize for it."
Inojin narrowed his eyes in suspicion and gave a slow, "Thanks?"
The cashier cleared her throat, "Here's your change, and three raffle tickets - one for each order. We're doing a drawing at the top of the next hour so don't lose them if you win a prize."
Boruto took the tickets and broke them apart, handing one to Inojin and Sarada each. "Oh, nice," he said.
Another worker behind the cashier handed them their orders with rapid and practiced precision and the three of them left the line to see if the Team 5 boys found a table, yet. Sarada turned to Boruto as they walked.
"Hey, you don't need to explain yourself," she said, "We all have days like that, but I appreciate your apology. That's very mature of you." She smiled and Boruto felt his chest swell. He barely even noticed Inojin's side eye.
"Over here!" Metal hollered over the crowd, his arms waving maniacally. The trio approached the table. "This is the best we could do, but there's another spot two tables down if you hurry and claim it!"
Boruto frowned. The table Team 5 sat at could squeeze five chairs around it, at best. Maybe he could ask Sarada if she wanted to sit with him at the other table, but before he could finish that thought, Denki opened his big mouth.
"Sarada! I think I made some progress with one of the movie codes, but it looks like it's double-encrypted and I'm not sure where to go from here." He smiled sheepishly, a paper napkin scrawled with mumbo jumbo laid on the table in front of him.
"Ooh, let me see!" Sarada immediately sat down next to the bespectacled boy, and while Boruto's attention was elsewhere Inojin swooped in and stole the last chair, which was conveniently next to Sarada. Before the blond could even open his mouth to make a comment, Cho Cho called out to him.
"Boruto, over here!" she called from the empty table Metal pointed out earlier.
Boruto spared one last glance at the back of Inojin's head and Sarada's profile - Sarada was so engrossed in Denki's napkin scribbles, and Inojin sure wasn't going to give him the time of day. He sighed and dragged an empty chair over to where the girls were sitting. The second his tush made contact with the seat, they sunk their teeth in him.
"What'd they say?"
"Did you apologize?"
"Did you confess?"
"Did you get rejected?"
Boruto pushed his back against the chair as far as he could.
"Woah, calm down! Yes, I apologized. Sarada seems to have accepted it, but Inojin's really trying my patience."
"Well, what did you expect?" said Cho Cho, "You're still a threat. I know my teammate, and he's not going to cave in so easily when he's still feeling out the situation."
"I don't think I like you referring to Sarada as the situation," muttered Boruto, blushing. Wasabi gave him a side glare.
"Good to know where your mind still is," she said. Boruto looked down toward the ground.
"How many times do I have to say it? I'm new to this! I've had less than a day to process these feelings, and while part of me wants to tear them apart, there's still another part of me that doesn't want to intrude on them because I still respect them as people."
"Respect," Wasabi glared at him, "That's real rich coming from you."
"Eh?! Say that again!" Boruto half-shouted. "If you like Inojin so much, why don't you go sit with him?!" A few people at the surrounding tables paused to stare at him.
"Pft, and miss this dumpster fire? Absolutely not." Wasabi grinned.
"Oh, knock it off, you two," interrupted Cho Cho.
"She's right, you guys," said Namida, "You need to focus now, more than ever, Boruto!"
"Or just lift some tips off Inojin."
"Wasabi!"
"What? I'm just saying what we're all thinking."
"That may be so," said Namida, "but-"
"Hey!" interrupted Boruto.
"-but we all agreed to help him after seeing how pitiful he looks-"
"HEY!"
"-more than once today so don't pretend you aren't invested in this."
"Ugh, fine!" said Wasabi.
"Great!" exclaimed Namida, "Now, Boruto, the sooner you tell Sarada how you feel, the sooner we can get closure!"
"We?"
"You! I mean you, haha." Namida rubbed the back of her head. Boruto frowned.
"Glad my teenage drama could keep you all entertained, today," he said.
"Now that you mention it, this is kind of like one of my soaps," said Cho Cho, "It's a classic love triangle, but seeing it play out in front of me in real time is almost tropey."
"So how does this triangle thingy usually play out?" asked Boruto.
"Oh, I don't know about that," laughed Cho Cho, "The more I think about it, the more I think this plot device should stay in fiction."
"Just tell me! Isn't there a saying that there's always a grain of truth in fiction? Or something like that?"
"He's got a point," said Namida, "Besides, it's probably the best source of information that we have right now."
"Eh, it's not like he has nowhere to go but up," said Wasabi.
Cho Cho put a finger on her chin and started flipping through the archives of all her TV show knowledge, past and present.
"Let's see…yes…I think I've got it. Boruto! You're the boy next door, literally. You work as a bicycle courier, and while the job isn't glamorous, the pay is good enough it allows you to afford the apartment next to your long-time crush, Sarada, who works as an executive at the wealthiest company in the Land of Fire. She could afford more expensive dwellings, but she likes the simplicity of her apartment and finds your company endearing. The two of you are friendly with each other, but you've never been more than neighbors."
"Uh, is this going anywhere?" asked Boruto. Cho Cho threw her hand up and continued.
"Shhh! Now, as I was saying, you've never been more than neighbors and you thought you were content with that. That is, until one day you pick up a delivery from the local florist and realize the address is the same as Sarada's! It's a large bouquet of roses! When you make the delivery you find out that they're from a new guy in her office, Inojin! She insists they're just a thank-you present, but suddenly you start seeing more and more of him at her apartment. Try as you might to brush it aside, the more you see them together, the more your repressed feelings start to surface. After running into Inojin one too many times, you finally decide to confess! You get dressed up, go to her apartment, and then you get on one knee and knock on the door!"
"And then what happens?!" Both Boruto and Namida exclaim. Cho Cho faltered and coughed.
"Oh, well, I'm actually still waiting for the new episode to come out, but the fact of the matter is that you need to put all your cards on the table. Tonight! As soon as possible! Don't let Sarada go home without telling her all of your feelings! This is your new mission. Can you do it?"
Boruto tried to drink in as much of this information as possible. If there was one thing he could do it was take a mission to completion. His chest fueled with renewed vigor and he slapped his palms on the table.
"Yes!" he exclaimed.
"Yes!" said Namida, "This is so exciting! Boruto, you have to get on your knees and sweep her off her feet. Your confession should have the entirety of her attention so it needs to be bold and straightforward. Try to get her alone or at least when Inojin isn't around so all she sees is you."
"Straightforward and bold is good," said Wasabi, "but make sure you let her know you're taking her feelings into account, as well, and that you will respect her decision."
Boruto simply nodded, mentally filing away all of his friends' tips.
The crackle of a speaker and a microphone temporarily caught everyone's attention.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Back at the boys' table…
Sarada and Denki had successfully deciphered their napkin code, which turned out to be a secret website link that they'd have to try the next time they were at a computer. Inojin had already finished his ice cream and inwardly giggled at Sarada's cute expression of triumph when she solved the last bit of code.
'Wait, cute? Oh, no…'
Inojin could feel himself spiraling. Before he could dwell any further on the thought, an amplified voice cleared its throat and the entirety of the outdoor plaza quieted down.
"May I have your attention, please! It's the top of the hour so everyone who made an ice cream purchase please pull out your raffle tickets! The winning number is 67! Will number 67 please make your way to the side of the register to claim your prize!"
"I won!" squealed Sarada waving her ticket in the air. She practically jumped out of her seat and ran toward the shop without so much as a glance back.
Inojin smiled after her, but then felt the weight of three pairs of eyes on his back. He hesitantly turned around and was met with just that.
"Ok, spill," said Iwabe.
"We need answers, and we need them now," said Denki.
"Hurry, before she gets back!" exclaimed Metal.
Inojin furrowed his brow.
"What are you talking about?" He said, his eyes flitting over the scribbled napkin. "You heard Sarada. We need to get on the computer, first, to verify if that's even a real website."
"Oh, don't worry," said Denki, "That's the first thing I'm going to do when I get home. But we were actually talking about what the heck is going on between you and Sarada. Are you two…you know…going out now, or what?" A light blush grazed his cheeks. Inojin groaned as he folded his arms across his chest and sunk further down into his chair.
"Not this, again," he mumbled, "Look, I'm going to tell you what I told Cho Cho, assuming you're up to speed with this ridiculous rumor. Sarada and I are not dating or doing anything else, for that matter." 'Someone please end my suffering!'
"Then why is Sarada sleeping over at your house?" asked Iwabe. Inojin sighed and leaned on his elbows.
"Her parents are out of town on extended missions. Her mom asked my mom to look after her until one of them got back. Totally normal. No funny business. End of story. Now can we please change the subject?"
"Isn't she too old for a babysitter?" said Iwabe.
"That's what I said!"
"But Boruto said he saw you two making out last night!" blurted Metal. Inojin felt his face heat up and he started sputtering.
"He is such a liar! We both went straight home after ordering our cards. Why would he say that? Is that why he's been on a roller coaster of mixed signals, today? Because he had a dream or some sort of hallucination that I'm shacking up with his teammate?"
"I didn't consider his imagination getting to him," said Denki, "he sounded genuinely hurt by the possibility that you two were together. Maybe he was just jealous and insecure."
"But you believed him, didn't you?" pouted Inojin. "I knew you all showing up at the theater wasn't just a coincidence. So, what, you rallied around him without even talking to me, first? Ouch."
"Well, when you put it like that…," said Denki, "I'm sorry. We weren't good friends to you, were we?" He and the rest of Team 5 hung their heads in shame. Inojin sighed.
"Don't worry about it," sighed Inojin, "Look, I get it. If I thought someone hurt Shikadai I'd throw down and ask questions later. Just promise me that if anything like this happens again you'll talk to me, first, instead of jumping to conclusions."
"You got it, friend!" said Metal. Inojin cleared his throat.
"So…"
"So?"
"So what now?"
"Well, if you and Sarada really have nothing going, you can step back and let her and Boruto try to work things out. Problem solved," said Denki.
Inojin knew that was the logical solution. To absolve himself of any responsibility for what happens next, he just has to step aside and let his two friends fuss over whatever complicated relationship they have. His earlier conversation with Cho Cho, however, still tugged at his brain, and there was one question he was surprised he desperately wanted an answer to. He took another deep breath and spoke.
"Do you know why she broke up with Boruto?"
Team 5 swapped uneasy glances with each other.
"No, we didn't want to pry," said Iwabe sheepishly, "But it must've been serious. He was almost sobbing with relief when we said we'd help him try to make things right with her, again."
Inojin straightened in his seat, coming to a conclusion.
"Then I'm not sure if I feel comfortable putting Sarada back in a situation she probably fought to get out of. I need more information." A mixture of shock and fear appeared on his friends' faces, and he backpedaled. "Woah, I didn't mean it to sound like that. I know Boruto wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt her, but what I'm saying is, based on what we know, Sarada broke up with him and my first instinct is to look out for her and make sure her boundaries are respected."
"Wow," said Iwabe, "The girls were right. You are long-term commitment material."
"What-?" began Inojin.
"Dear friend, you have fallen hopelessly victim to her charms," said Metal, "We salute you."
"Oh, my god, Metal. I've never wanted to punch someone in the face as much as I do right now." Inojin's fists were clenched in his lap. 'This is too many emotions for one person to have in one night!'
"Are you saying you wouldn't give her a chance if she asked?" said Iwabe.
Inojin's irritation was immediately replaced by embarrassment, and any attempt to get back to his original talking point was dead.
"I'm not saying...I wouldn't, but she'd never ask that of me, and I'm not going to take advantage of her current situation."
"But would you let her take advantage of you?" blurted Metal. Denki immediately slapped a hand over his teammate's mouth.
"Read the room, Metal!" he shout-whispered.
"But we're outside," Metal mumbled from behind his hand.
Inojin apparently took too long to respond because Iwabe cut in.
"Oh, my god, you're thinking about it aren't you?!"
"What?! No - no, I wasn't!" Inojin stammered, "Who-what-where did that come from?" He put a hand over his beating heart. "Is this what a stroke feels like? Am I dying?" He slipped off his jacket. "Is it just me or did it just get really hot out here?"
"Calm down, Inojin!"
"Calm, I'm calm. Yep, that's me, Mr. Cool-as-a-Cucumber. Haha! Ouch! Hey!" Inojin snapped out of his panic attack to nurse his reddened cheek, courtesy of Iwabe. He cleared his throat and regained his composure. "Um, thanks for that."
"I'm sorry," said Iwabe, "I shouldn't have teased you like that."
"You're forgiven," Inojin sighed, "If I'm being perfectly honest though, I didn't expect to react like that. First it was Cho Cho, then you guys, saying Sarada might be interested in me - it's really been messing with my head. All I've been thinking about since dinner is 'What if?'" Inojin finally felt his muscles relax and let his head roll back.
"We'll drop the subject," said Denki, "Right, Metal?"
Metal was silent.
"Metal?"
"Agreed," said Metal with a huff of resignation.
"Thanks, guys," said Inojin. An aura of normalcy had finally returned…at least it had until Sarada came trotting up to the table with a fresh ice cream cone and her raffle prize.
"I'm back!" she announced. All of the boys straightened up and stared at her like deer caught in headlights.
"Woah, why's everyone so serious? What'd I miss?"
Denki was the first to find his voice.
"Oh, just guy stuff, no biggie. Hey! What'd you win?" He changed the topic before Sarada tried to pry further. She smiled and held it up.
"I got more ice cream and a T-shirt with the shop's logo on it." She dropped the shirt in front of Inojin. "Mind folding that up and putting it in my pack?" she asked.
"Uh, sure," replied Inojin. Thankful to have something to do with his hands, he set to work doing as she asked. She turned around and he tucked the shirt into her waist pouch.
Some tables away, Boruto's jaw dropped. The girls beside him all shared a similar face.
"He's touching her butt," he said in disbelief, "in public."
"Haha, sure seems that way," Wasabi awkwardly laughed.
"I'm going to kill him," said Boruto. He was two seconds away from hopping out of his chair when Namida grabbed his hand.
"Don't you dare!" she scolded. "He's just touching her pack, not her butt!"
"He's still too close to her butt!" exclaimed Boruto, "Nobody gets that close to her butt, except me!"
"Hey, Romeo, do you want to try rephrasing that?" asked Cho Cho.
"Oh!" exclaimed Boruto, "I mean - you know what I meant!"
"I've never wanted to punch someone in the face as much as I do right now," muttered Wasabi.
"You want to go?!" shouted Boruto.
"Stop it!" pleaded Namida. With her hand still on Boruto's wrist she jerked it so he returned his attention to her. "You remember everything we talked about?" she asked.
"Yes," said Boruto.
"And you're going to confess to her, when?"
"Tonight."
"And you're not going to do what?"
"Make a scene." Boruto's head hung low as he quelled his irritation and tried to look at the bigger picture like the girls instructed him to do. They'd given him so much information and advice, though, it was all starting to jumble together.
"Exactly!" she exclaimed, and she let go of Boruto's wrist. "Go get her, champ! I've got an idea to get you some alone time with her, but you need to act fast. We'll try to keep everyone distracted long enough for you to get your answer." Namida hopped out of her chair, and the others followed suit. They walked over to Sarada's table and Wasabi was able to get in one more jab on the way there.
"I'm still rooting for Inojin."
Boruto glared at her, but otherwise kept his mouth shut. Namida jumped in front and took the lead.
"Hey, guys! We're all finished with our ice cream. It's getting a bit crowded here so I was thinking we could go down to the riverfront and watch the boats. There should be a stand where we can get sparklers and stuff, too!"
"Ooh, that sounds fun," said Sarada.
"I'm game," said Inojin, "No sense in keeping tables away from people who need them."
With everyone in agreement, their group began the trek to their next destination.
Namida subtly jabbed Wasabi in the side with her elbow. Wasabi sighed and whispered, "Fine, but only because we've come this far. When Boruto crashes and burns, I want front row seats." She then left Namida and jogged up to the front where she slapped the backs of both Iwabe's and Metal's heads before breaking into a full sprint. "Race you to the docks!" The two boys took the bait and chased after her.
Namida then slipped in beside Denki. "Never a dull moment with those three, huh?"
"Haha, you said it," he replied. The two of them started their own conversation and Namida picked up her pace just enough to try and put some distance between them and Boruto.
Cho Cho grabbed Inojin's shoulder and held him back. Sarada stopped to wait, but Cho Cho waved her off.
"You all go on ahead. I need to talk to Inojin real quick."
Sarada cocked her head to the side. "Oh, alright," she said, "See you in a bit!"
As the Uchiha walked away, Cho Cho cleared her throat to get Boruto's attention and used her face to point him in Sarada's direction.
"R-right," said Boruto, "We'll see you there."
"What are you doing?" asked Inojin.
"I'm holding you here while Boruto confesses to Sarada - properly this time, if he knows what's good for him," replied Cho Cho.
"What?!"
"You heard me. Now let's go spy on them, and don't you interfere!"
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
With Boruto and Sarada…
"Hey, Sarada, wait up!" cried Boruto. The girl in question stopped in her tracks and watched him weave through the crowd of people mingling throughout the town square.
"It's not my fault you're so slow," she teased. Sarada turned around to keep walking when he reached her, but was caught off guard when he grabbed her free hand. "Hey! What are you….doing?"
When Sarada turned around, Boruto was still holding her hand and kneeling before her on one knee.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
A/N: *Phew* Sorry this took so long! I had a bunch of stuff going on and piling up, and the writer's block hit hard. I have all the remaining chapters outlined, though, and will work diligently to get them out ASAP. Thank you for reading!