I'm sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer : Boruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto.
The Ball
Eida placed a book next to Sarada, who was sitting on the bed. She recognized the book she had lent Eida. Chocho had given it to her for her birthday, assuring her she would love it. It was a story of impossible love where everyone tried to separate the main characters because they did not belong to the same world. There were several volumes in this saga. Usually, Sarada was not a fan of this kind of story, unlike Chocho. And even though she would never admit it, this saga was her guilty pleasure. When Eida came to her home and found this book in her library, she wanted to borrow it. Since she thought she was under her power, Sarada could not refuse. She knew she would end up regretting it.
"Did you like it ?" Sarada asked.
Still, she wondered what Eida had thought of it. She nodded.
"I particularly liked the part about the masquerade ball."
The masquerade ball was the moment in which the two protagonists met and fell in love without knowing each other's identities. It was a favorite scene of many fans, including Sarada. And apparently, Eida was no exception. Sarada could not help thinking that Eida was not so different from the others.
"It made me want to organize my own masquerade ball."
Sarada opened her eyes wide. She had expected anything but this.
"Are you sure ? A masquerade ball isn't ordinary."
She did not know anyone who organized this kind of ball, not even Chocho, despite her reputation for throwing the best parties. Eida sat down beside her, picked up a pillow, and hugged it close.
"I've never been to a party, even though I'm always invited. I know I wouldn't be able to enjoy it if all the attention were on me. I thought things might be different at a masquerade ball. And maybe Kawaki would agree to come."
Sarada looked at her with compassion. It could not be easy to be the center of attention and receive everyone's love without knowing whether it was real or merely a result of her power, one she could not control. Even though Eida had caused Omnipotence and could be dangerous, Sarada could not help but feel sorry for her.
"Okay, I'll help you."
"Thank you, Sarada."
Sarada forced a smile, knowing she would regret lending her that book.
~00~
Boruto could not help smiling when Sarada told him about her day with Eida. They were outside Konoha in an old abandoned cabin, a place they had discovered a few years ago after returning from a mission. Konohamaru, Mitsuki, and Kawaki did not know about it, making it the perfect spot for them to meet in secret. Whether it was for a few minutes or a few hours, they always looked forward to these moments. Boruto reached for the book Sarada had tried to hide in her bag. He flipped through a few pages, reading a passage before smirking.
"I didn't know you liked this kind of book."
Sarada snatched the book from his hands and blushed to the core.
"Chocho gave it to me. It would have been rude to refuse."
She put the book in her bag and placed it as far away from Boruto as possible. There was no way she was going to let him read any more of it. She was already embarrassed enough.
"I could have done without helping Eida organize her ball. But then she would have understood that her power didn't work on me."
"And you're also helping her because you have a good heart."
"It's true that I felt sorry for her when she explained why she wanted to organize the ball."
She sighed loudly.
"I wish you could be there. This party would be more bearable."
"I wish I could go too. Just to see if the theme you chose was the one in your book."
"Stop making fun of me !"
She punched him in the arm, and Boruto gave a slight smile. Sarada knew she would have to return to the village soon, but she did not want to leave him. The time they spent together felt like he was becoming himself again, like they were simply Boruto and Sarada once more, just like before. She sighed again. More than anything, she wished he could come to the party with her.
~00~
Sarada put on her mask and entered the room Eida had found for the ball. The owner had fallen under her spell and let her use the room for free for the party. She looked around. Eida wanted to create something sophisticated and elegant, like the masquerade ball scene in the book. And she had succeeded. The decorations were splendid.
Sarada made her way through the crowd of guests and positioned herself where she could take in the entire room. She had no desire to be there, she had only come because Eida wanted her to. Besides, seeing all those masked figures gave her an eerie feeling.
She looked at Eida. She did not seem to be having fun either. Despite her mask, everyone recognized her and looked at her adoringly. Furthermore, Kawaki had refused to come. Nothing was going the way she had wanted. All that for this, Sarada thought. If only Boruto were here.
She suddenly sensed a presence behind her. Closing her eyes, she immediately recognized him. His warmth, his chakra, she would know him anywhere. A tremor ran through her as his hand brushed against hers.
"You've outdone yourself for this ball," Boruto whispered in her ear.
Sarada turned to him. Even though she was happy he was there, she was worried.
"Boruto, what are you doing here ? It's dangerous if someone recognizes you."
"With this outfit, it's safe. And I know Kawaki isn't here."
He wore a black suit with a matching mask that concealed nearly his entire face, his blond hair slicked back. Sarada bit her lip nervously.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Most of the time."
She smiled, taking his hand and guiding him away while discreetly checking that no one was watching. She led him to the back of the room and slipped through the slightly open door, which led to the backyard. Sarada closed it behind them, yet the faint sounds of music from inside still reached their ears. Boruto could see that she was still worried.
"I can leave if you want."
Sarada grasped his jacket sleeve, and Boruto did not dare move.
"Stay, please. I'm glad you're here."
She stepped closer, nestling against him. Boruto wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly.
"Do you want to dance ?"
Sarada smiled and nodded. Boruto took her hand gently, and together they swayed slowly to the music. It was the first time they had ever danced together. His heart pounded in his chest, he hoped she would not notice. For the first time in a long time, he felt truly happy. He knew he could not stay until the end of the party, but right now, all he wanted was to keep dancing with Sarada in his arms.
The end