- Sasuke, my man, you look even grumpier than usual today! Naruto exclaimed, grinning mischievously as he nudged his stoic friend with an elbow. Sasuke, ever the picture of composure, simply rolled his eyes in response, his expression a perfect blend of annoyance and amusement.- You seem like you got yourself something last night, otherwise, I don't understand your suffocating energy, Sasuke declared, placing his cheek on his palm, seemingly bored.Beside them, Hinata Hyuga sat quietly, blushing hard, her gaze fixed on her notebook as she diligently took notes. She smiled softly at Naruto's annoyed and silly face, her admiration for him evident in the gentle curve of her lips. They've been secretly dating - at least that's what they think.- At least I got some, Naruto mocked him in silence, starting to take notes from Shikamaru's laptop as he didn't get the chance to attend to the class.As the morning sun cast its warm embrace over the coffee shop, the students settled into their routines, their laughter echoing through while buying either a coffee or croissant or others just accompany their friends.Looking around at his friends, Sasuke wondered at the moment when it would all end and he would never see them again. With four months left, he will survive - he should survive.And so, as the phone rang to signal that he received a message, he picked it up and rolled his eyes at the message.Karin: Where are you Sasuke-kun? I bought some lunch to enjoy together.Karin: I bet you'll love it. ♥He couldn't wait for it to end already."She's not leaving you alone, isn't she?" Naruto said sipping from his cup of tea. "You should have seen her face when she saw you touching Sakura-chan. Her head was about to explode!""Oh, I wish I'd seen that," Ino said as she approached with Neji, dropping a kiss on Shikamaru's forehead."Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched into a small smile.Sasuke didn't respond, his gaze turning back to the window. The autumn leaves swirled outside, a fleeting reminder of how quickly everything was changing. He sighed internally and looked out of the window.Sasuke's eyes lingered on the leaves outside, their vibrant reds and oranges a stark contrast to the monotony he felt. He wasn't sure why, but his thoughts kept drifting to yesterday's gym class, to that fleeting moment when Sakura had nearly fallen and his instinct to steady her."Sasuke, are you even listening?" Ino's voice cut through his thoughts.He turned back to see her staring at him, hands on her hips.
"What now?" he asked, his tone indifferent.
"You're zoning out like crazy," Ino said, sliding into the chair next to Shikamaru. "What's up? Don't tell me you're finally starting to feel human emotions."Naruto snorted, nearly choking on his tea, while Hinata shot him a concerned glance. Sasuke didn't take the bait, instead raising an eyebrow at Ino."Maybe he's just tired of Karin breathing down his neck," Neji said with a smirk, earning chuckles from the group."Ignore them," Shikamaru muttered, scrolling through his laptop. "They're just bored. Let's get through the day without too much drama."The door to the coffee shop swung open, and a wave of brisk autumn air swept through the room. Sakura entered, her presence commanding attention without effort. She was dressed in her usual sharp style: black boots, jeans, and a red oversized hoodie she always seemed to favor. Her pink hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, a few strands framing her face. She looked truly exhausted.Naruto's face lit up. "Sakura-chan! Over here!"She nodded in acknowledgment, grabbed a coffee from the counter with her name on it, and made her way to the group."Morning," she greeted, sliding into an empty chair.Sasuke's eyes flickered to her for just a moment before returning to the window."You missed the best part of the conversation," Ino teased. "We were talking about how Karin's going to have an aneurysm if Sasuke even looks at you again."Sakura raised an eyebrow but didn't dignify the comment with a response. Instead, she took a sip of her coffee and turned to Hinata. "How's your morning been?"Hinata smiled, grateful for the change in topic. "It's been nice. Naruto-kun and I—""Hinata!" Naruto cut in quickly, his voice rising in alarm as he waved his hands"So you got some." Sakura stated with a smile.The laughter at the table grew louder, Naruto sputtering with indignation."Sakura-chan! Don't twist her words like that!" he protested, his face turning a deep shade of red.
"You make it too easy," Sakura replied with a smirk, taking another sip of her coffee.Hinata, still blushing furiously, whispered, "You shouldn't tease him like that..." though her tone lacked any real scolding."I'm just keeping things interesting," Sakura said lightly, leaning back in her chair. "It's too early in the morning for everyone to be so uptight."Shikamaru sighed dramatically, resting his chin on his palm. "Troublesome as always, but she's not wrong. You do tend to walk into these things, Naruto.""Not you too, Shikamaru!" Naruto groaned, throwing his hands in the air.Ino, fully enjoying the banter, leaned closer to Sakura. "I love it when you stir the pot. Keeps everyone on their toes," she said, flashing a grin.Sasuke, silent as ever, observed the exchange from the corner of his eye. Sakura's rare burst of amusement hadn't gone unnoticed. There was something effortless about the way she fit into the group yet kept a certain distance, like she was both part of their world and apart from it.As the chatter continued, Sakura caught Sasuke's gaze for the briefest moment. He looked away almost immediately, his expression unreadable, but she raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued.Naruto, oblivious to the subtle moment, leaned forward on the table. "Alright, enough about me. What's everyone's plans after class today?""Study," Neji said simply, earning a collective groan from the group."Party," Ino declared with a flick of her hair, grinning at Shikamaru, who merely shrugged as if to say, What else is new?Sakura remained quiet, her eyes shifting to the window. "I've got some things to take care of," she said finally, her tone casual."IS THERE A BOY?" Ino practically shouted, her voice echoing across the café. Heads turned in their direction, earning a few curious glances from nearby tables.Sakura rolled her eyes, unfazed by the outburst. "No, Ino. There's no boy.""But your face says otherwise," Ino teased, leaning in with an exaggerated grin. "You've been acting all mysterious lately. Spill it!"She read me wrong again. Tsk, Ino idiot."There's nothing to spill," Sakura replied coolly, her smirk never faltering. This was fun for her. "Not everything has to involve romance, you know."Naruto, always quick to join in, grinned mischievously. "Oh, come on, Sakura-chan! Even I'm curious now. Who's the lucky guy?""Maybe she's just not telling you because you'd ruin it," Shikamaru muttered lazily, earning a chuckle from Neji."Exactly," Sakura said, pointing at Shikamaru. "Though there's no 'it' to ruin."Ino narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're being too calm about this. That's even weirder."Hinata, ever the peacemaker, smiled gently. "Maybe Sakura-chan just has something personal to take care of. It doesn't always have to be about boys, Ino.""Thank you, Hinata," Sakura said, sending her a rare, genuine smile making Hinata blush.Ino crossed her arms, pouting dramatically. "Fine, keep your secrets. But I will find out eventually!""Good luck with that," Sakura shot back, standing up and grabbing her bag. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a class to get to."As Sakura walked away, Ino watched her with a mix of feelings."She's hiding something. I just know it."
————————————————The hospital's sterile scent and the sound of footsteps on linoleum floors were nothing new to Sakura. She'd worked at the facility for a few months now, and each day felt like a blend of chaos and routine. Her shift today had been filled with checkups, administrative work, and the usual hospital drama.Fuck, this day is truly tiring. I haven't even eaten until now.As she walked down the hallway, clipboard in hand reading some analysis, her eyes narrowed slightly when she spotted a familiar figure near the reception desk. Sasuke Uchiha stood stiffly, his expression as unreadable as ever. But today, there was something different about him—his usually sharp features were tense, and there was a slight change to his posture.Sakura walked up to him, and he immediately turned his gaze toward her."Haruno," he greeted her with a nod.
"Sasuke," she replied, folding her arms across her chest, her voice calm but with a subtle edge. "What are you doing here?"He gestured to the woman sitting quietly in the waiting area. She was older, with long dark hair and striking features that resembled Sasuke's. She looked serene but pale, a faint frown on her face."She wasn't feeling well," Sasuke said quietly. "I brought her in for a check-up."Sakura's eyes softened at the sight of the woman but remained professional. "I'll take care of the paperwork. Please, stay with her. I'll get the doctor soon."Sasuke gave her a nod, and Sakura turned to handle the logistics. The older woman caught her eye, and there was a brief moment of recognition, though it wasn't enough to trigger any memory for either of them.Sakura returned shortly, her clipboard now empty, and handed it to Sasuke. "She's scheduled for a consultation. It'll be about an hour. I'll check in to see if you need anything."Sasuke glanced up at her for a second, as if considering saying something more, but he simply gave a small nod."Thanks," he muttered, though the words seemed somewhat foreign to him.Sakura gave him a curt smile and nodded in return. "No problem. Take a seat. The doctor will be with her soon."As Sakura walked away, she noticed Mikoto Uchiha's eyes following her. There was something about the way she looked at Sakura that felt familiar, but not in the way she expected. The older woman's expression shifted slightly—there was a hint of recognition, but nothing more. Mikoto's face relaxed back into its composed expression, and she turned her attention to Sasuke."Is she your girlfriend?" Mikoto asked, her tone casual but laced with curiosity, as her gaze followed Sakura's retreating figure."No," Sasuke replied immediately, his voice steady but dismissive. "She's just a friend from college."Mikoto's lips curved into a soft smile as she turned her attention back to her son. "I like her. She seems nice," she said thoughtfully, her voice carrying a warmth that made Sasuke glance at her.He raised an eyebrow, unsure why his mother's opinion on Sakura mattered in the slightest. "She's not exactly the 'friendly' type," Sasuke muttered, almost to himself, recalling Sakura's sharp remarks and her aloof demeanor around most people."Sometimes, it's the ones who don't try to impress everyone who leave the strongest impressions," Mikoto said quietly, a knowing look in her eyes.Sasuke frowned, unsure how to respond. Instead, he let out a noncommittal hum, his gaze drifting back toward where Sakura had disappeared down the hallway."She reminds me of someone," Mikoto added after a pause, her voice softer now, almost wistful."Who?" Sasuke asked, his curiosity piqued despite himself.Mikoto simply smiled again and shook her head. "It's nothing. Let's focus on my appointment."Sasuke studied her for a moment, sensing there was more to her words than she let on. But, as always, his mother's calm demeanor didn't give much away.Later that afternoon, Sakura found herself walking briskly through the hospital's main corridor, juggling a clipboard in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. She'd been up late finalizing a case study for her internship and was running on fumes.As she turned a corner, deep in thought, she nearly collided with Sasuke."Watch it," he said curtly, stepping to the side."Excuse me," Sakura replied, equally sharp, not even looking up."Still as charming as ever," Sasuke muttered under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear.Sakura stopped mid-stride, turning to face him, her green eyes narrowing. She didn't expect hearing him talk that much."Did you say something, Uchiha?"
He smirked, leaning casually against the wall. "I said you're still your delightful self."She rolled her eyes and made to walk past him, muttering something about "wasting time on pointless conversations," when a sudden commotion erupted behind her. A cart loaded with medical supplies was barreling down the hallway, its handler struggling to keep it under control."Move!" someone shouted.Before Sakura could react, Sasuke's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her sharply against him and out of harm's way. The cart zipped past, narrowly missing her. For a moment, everything stilled. Sakura found herself pressed against Sasuke, his hand firm around her arm, his body acting as a shield between her and the huge metal box that was about to hit her. She looked wide into his eyes as he looked at the man that just passed them."Careful," he murmured, his voice low and close to her ear.Sakura blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected proximity. She quickly stepped back, brushing herself off."I was fine. You didn't have to do that," she said, her tone defensive, though her cheeks betrayed her with a faint blush.
"You're welcome," Sasuke said dryly, crossing his arms."I didn't ask for your help."And God how she hated it because it was the second time when he did that!"And yet, here you are. In one piece," he replied, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.Sakura glared at him, refusing to let him have the last word. "Don't expect me to thank you.""I wouldn't dream of it."With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her head held high, even as her heart raced. Behind her, Sasuke watched her go, his smirk fading into something more contemplative."Tch. Stubborn," he muttered to himself before heading in the opposite direction.From a nearby bench, Mikoto sat with a soft smile, having observed the entire interaction. She rested her chin on her hand, her dark eyes twinkling with amusement."Yes," she murmured to herself, tilting her head slightly as she watched Sakura disappear around the corner. "I like her a lot more now."A nurse passed by, giving Mikoto a polite smile as she brought her some tea. Mikoto accepted it with a small nod, her thoughts still lingering on the feisty young woman who had just stood toe-to-toe with her son."She's not afraid of him," Mikoto thought, sipping her tea. "That's exactly what he needs."Her gaze drifted back to Sasuke's retreating figure. He was walking slower than usual, a slight furrow in his brow."Oh, Sasuke," Mikoto said softly to herself, a touch of mischief in her voice. "You have no idea what you're in for."