Sasuke slouched in his seat, the monotony of the class weighing heavily on him, when his gaze drifted to the door. There, just outside the classroom, stood Ichika, her face lit up with a mischievous smile. It was obvious she wanted him to come out. With a resigned sigh, he lifted his hand, earning the teacher's attention with a glance.
"Yes, Uchiha-kun?"
"May I go to the washroom?"
"You may."
Sasuke stood up and made his way out of the room, with Ichika trailing closely behind until she finally matched his pace.
"Sasu-kun, how lovely of you to join me for a stroll!" Ichika teased, a playful glint in her eyes. Sasuke's expression darkened slightly.
"Why are you skipping?"
Ichika, fully aware that lying would get her nowhere and that Sasuke had caught her once more, playfully nudged him.
"Class was a total snooze!" Ichika said, tilting her head to the side.
Sasuke grunted. "You're the last person who should be wandering the halls just because you found class boring."
"Oh, come on! Be nicer."
Sasuke remained silent in response. "What's so boring about it anyway? English can be fun."
"I don't get it! It's all so tedious. Why do we have to slog through some ancient ass novel?" Ichika whined dramatically.
Sasuke merely shrugged. "You should go back to class."
Ichika, determined not to go, halted abruptly and faced Sasuke, her arms playfully clasped behind her. "Nopesies!"
With a weary sigh, Sasuke relented. "Alright, I'll walk with you. 15 minutes, tops."
"Deal!" Ichika chirped, resuming her cheerful skipping.
Sasuke couldn't help but lightly smile at her playful spirit.
As she skipped through the hallway, Sasuke trailed behind her, taking his time. She glanced back at him, urging him to catch up. Just as she pivoted to move forward, she collided with a boy surrounded by his friends. He looked down at her as she picked herself up.
"Hey, it's Ichika," announced Natsu, the group's leader.
"Check out how hot she is," chimed in a boy from the back.
"Totally, she's mega fine," another member added.
Ichika bowed her head, a wave of anxiety washing over her as she attempted to apologize. Her shirt was only partially buttoned, leaving a hint of her chest exposed, which caught the attention of the boys, getting them excited.
Just then, Sasuke arrived on the scene, his eyes not widening at the unfolding drama.
"What's going on, Ichika?" he asked, noticing Natsu and his crew looking at them. Ichika stammered, struggling to articulate her discomfort, her unease palpable. Sasuke shifted his gaze from her to Natsu, sensing the tension.
"Hey, Ichika, so this is your new toy, huh?" Natsu taunted, casting a sly glance at Sasuke. "Ichika's a real catch; she'll definitely please you. After all, she only goes for guys she finds cute."
Ichika stood frozen, her eyes darting nervously toward the group of boys.
"Check out how her top barely contains her curves. She's totally into you, man," one boy teased with a smirk.
Natsu chimed in, "Hey Ichika, once you're done with him, why not come hang out with us?~" His grin was mischievous, hinting at something more.
"K, that's enough from you," Sasuke interjected, his tone steady.
"What did you just say?" Natsu shot back.
"...Be quiet. Ichika, we should head back to class. I'll walk you there," Sasuke said, taking her hand and guiding her away.
"Wait a second!" Natsu barked.
"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?" Natsu's anger was palpable, his frustration growing.
Sasuke glanced over his shoulder. "Hm? I don't even know you." Sasuke said, a ruthless grin forming on his face.
"Is this a joke to you?" Natsu exclaimed, sprinting toward Sasuke with determination.
Sasuke, anticipating the move, released Ichika's wrist and braced himself.
"Better step back, Ichika," he advised, and she quickly moved away.
With a burst of speed, Natsu lunged at Sasuke, aiming a punch that Sasuke skillfully evaded.
Sasuke scowled, "That was ass." With a swift motion, he drove his fist into Natsu's face, sending him flying across the hallway until he collided with a locker, the impact echoing through the air. Sasuke approached, his gaze fixed on Natsu's defeated form, slumped and vulnerable. The other boys, witnessing the scene, charged in, eager to join the fray, oblivious to the impending disaster.
One of them launched a kick aimed at Sasuke's head from behind, but Sasuke was quick, sidestepping the attack and yanking the boy's leg, slamming him hard against the locker. Without missing a beat, he pivoted and charged at the remaining two lackeys, dispatching them with a chop to the neck, leaving no room for retaliation.
A student was hurrying past the scene when Sasuke shot a chilling glare in their direction. "You there."
The girl froze, as if she had been caught red-handed with her hand in the cookie jar, slowly turning her head to meet his gaze.
"Get these fools to the nurse's office. You can say whatever you want—whether you blame me or not is of no concern to me," Sasuke instructed, turning back to Ichika and taking her hand once more.
But before he moved on, he delivered a menacing warning to Natsu and his crew. "If you think about spreading more nonsense about Ichika, better not let me find out, because I won't let it slide."
"Let's go," he said to Ichika, his demeanor shifting back to indifference as he held her hand. The walk to her classroom was enveloped in silence. Ichika couldn't help but steal glances at Sasuke, her cheeks flushing each time she caught sight of his striking profile. Finally, she decided to shatter the quiet.
"Um, thank you, Sasu-kun. Those guys have been making me feel so uncomfortable since my first day here," Ichika admitted, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Not a problem, Ichika. But honestly, I think you should consider dressing a bit more modestly. You'd look even more beautiful, believe me," Sasuke replied, his gentle smile causing her already flushed face to deepen in color.
"Okay, I'll definitely think more about my outfits from now on," Ichika said, glancing away. "He's so attractive when he smiles like that", she mused.
"I'm heading to my class now. I'll see you after school," Ichika said as she stepped into the classroom.
"Bye." Sasuke smiled.
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After school, Ichika found herself walking out of the school gates, her thoughts scattered between the classwork she needed to catch up on and Sasuke's unexpected kindness. She was so lost in thought that she almost didn't notice Sasuke waiting near the entrance, his posture relaxed but his eyes scanning the crowd for her.
"I thought you'd be running off to hang out with your friends," Sasuke said with a slight smirk when he caught sight of her. His tone was teasing, but there was something more behind it.
Ichika smiled, feeling her heart flutter at the sight of him. "Not today," she replied, her voice quieter than usual. "I wanted to talk to you, actually."
His eyes softened slightly as he raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What about?"
She took a deep breath, feeling the nervous energy swirling in her chest. "I've been thinking about what you said earlier... about dressing modestly." She hesitated. "I didn't realize I might be making people uncomfortable."
Sasuke's expression didn't change, but his gaze lingered on her a little longer than usual. "It's not about making others uncomfortable," he said quietly. "It's just… sometimes the way people look at you isn't fair. I just want to make sure you're comfortable with yourself."
Ichika blinked, surprised by his honesty. It felt like a window had opened into a part of him she hadn't seen before.
"Thanks," she murmured, stepping a little closer. The air around them felt charged, like everything was on the brink of something more.
Sasuke's gaze softened, and he took a small step forward, closing the distance between them. "You know, you don't have to change for anyone. But you should be proud of who you are."
She was so close to him now, the world outside the two of them fading away. "I… I like that you care," she whispered, her heart beating faster with each passing second.
Sasuke looked down at her, his lips curving into a small smile. "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't."
The quiet between them stretched, and for a moment, neither of them moved. It was as if the universe itself was holding its breath.