Chou Chou stares blankly at the dancing newlyweds as she munches on a large serving of the sweet wedding cake. It was delicious, no doubt, but right now, her mind was focused on something else entirely: Shikadai tying the knot before her was a hard pill to swallow. She wouldnât have minded had it been Boruto or Sarada, or Boruto and Sarada, but Shikadai? His engagement, and wedding soon after, had come as a complete surprise to her. What next? Would Inojin throw a surprise wedding, too?
Chou Chou snorts at the idea. It was impossible; itâs not like he had anyone⊠but then again, thatâs what sheâd thought about Shikadai, too. Most likely because she had only focused on the women around them, and had completely overlooked the possibility that one or the other, or even both of her team mates, might have interest in men as well. What if Inojin had a boyfriend, too?
Finishing her cake, Chou Chou chuckles at the idea. No way. Shikadai was a genius, so if heâd purposely avoided letting her know about Ryogi, it was no wonder he succeeded, but Inojin was different; the blond wouldnât be able to hide something like this from her the way Shikadai had. But if he did have a boyfriend, who could that even be? Denki seemed to have zero interest in these kinds of things, Metal was still mourning that one girl from the land of water who died years ago and would likely not look at anyone with such eyes for a long time, Iwabe had finally asked Wasabi out last year⊠that ruled out Team 5. Boruto had a thing for Sarada, everyone knew that, and Kawaki spent so little time in the village these days that there was no way him and Inojin would have time for anything together⊠how about Mitsuki, then?
No, it couldnât be. Those two got along of course, but they never even attempted to hang out together if their friends werenât there as well. They were friends, but not really close. Chou Chou knew all this, yet somehow the possibility, however small, made her uncomfortable for some reason. It shouldnât, for they were both great guys, if not equally annoying at times in their own weird ways. Somehow the possibility of Inojin being with Mitsuki just irritated her to no end for no clear reason.
âArenât you going to dance, Chou Chou?â
Speak of the devil and he shall appear, Chou Chou mused as she turned to look at Mitsuki. Having always been a direct person, she decided that she could just as well continue on that path and ask what was on her mind: âAre you and Inojin involved?â
âI donât think I understand the question.â
âAs in, are you two dating?â Chou Chou clarified. She knew most people, herself too, she had to admit, would get flustered or angry for such a question, but with Mitsuki-
âNoâ he said easily right away, seeming a little amused âWhy do you ask?â
âShikadai had a boyfriend I didnât know about, so I was wondering if that was the case with Inojin, too. You were one of the options that came to mind, and since you happened to be there, I had no reason to not ask.â
âI seeâ Mitsuki replies. Then he stays silent, but doesnât avert his gaze from Chou Chou. She knows that look; itâs the one he tends to give her when heâs about to say something he thinks she may not like âIf Inojin and I were involved, would that bother you?â
She knew it. Otherwise, she wouldnât mind answering, but since she didnât know why it would bother her, she wanted to keep the information to herself. If she admitted it, Mitsuki would probably make a follow up question of âwhy.â So, she kept quiet.
âIâll take the silence as a yesâ Mitsuki says after a while, and Chou Chou glares âWhy?â
She knew it, but she definitely wouldnât admit that she didnât even know it herself. She stayed silent, frowning at her now empty plate in front of her. Eating the cake wouldâve been a good distraction right about now.
âI have two theoriesâ Mitsuki says as Chou Chou once again leaves him without an answer. The woman looks at him, undeniably curious about what the man might have in mind.
âI think the fact that Shikadai is already married while you yourself arenât even in a relationship is making you self-conscious. When you consider the possibility that Inojin might do the same as well eventually, you get even more worried. It makes you question your self-worth.â
âŠThat was actually spot on, but it didnât answer the question of why the specific idea of Inojin in a relationship with Mitsuki of all people bothered her more than the idea of Inojin in a relationship in general.
âAnd the other theory?â
Mitsuki smiled in that annoying way of his strangers wouldnât categorize as a smirk but which Chou Chou knew to definitely be one.
âYouâd be jealous because you have feelings for one of us. The romantic kind of feelingsâ Mitsuki says. Itâs not like Chou Chou had needed the clarification, she caught on before it was added and Mitsuki knew she would, but it made her reddening face go even redder, so it was worth it.
âI do not!â Chou Chou yelled, getting a few curious looks, but thankfully, the music covered enough of the shout that their friends missed it.
âWhy so loud? Itâs just a theoryâ Mitsuki says, tilting his head with the same smile still present âDid I perhaps hit a nerve?â
âLIKE HELL YOU DID!â Chou Chou yells, louder this time. And it just happened to be the exact time when the song in play ended, causing her yell to ring through the space loud and clear, turning all eyes to her. Face reddening, Chou Chou rushes out of the room. That was embarrassing. Normally, she didnât mind attention, but she mustnât steal spotlight on Shikadaiâs big day.
Chou Chou spent quite a while on her own, lost in her thoughts, stubbornly trying to think of anything else than what Mitsuki said, but with not much luck. But itâs not like that could be true; Inojin was like a brother to her, which would mean that if Mitsukiâs theory had some truth in it, sheâd have-
âNope, no wayâ she says to herself, shaking her head âNever!â
She almost jumps at the sudden question that Inojin makes when he rounds the corner. Angry, she hisses at him: âDonât do that!â
âDo what?â Inojin asks, but doesnât wait for an answer âYou need to go back to the hall; the bouquet toss is about to happen. Shikadai lost to his husband in rock-paper-scissors, so he has to do it, and heâs annoyed by it. If you, who insisted that a wedding needs a bouquet toss and pretty much forced him to include it, miss it, heâs gonna be pissed.â
Oh yeah, she did demand that. Guess she had to go.
When she reached the hall, the other girls were already prepared. Sarada was there, along with Sumire and her team, Himawari and several others, even that Yodo -girl from Shikadaiâs cousinâs team. Out of all of them, Wasabi looked to be the one most fired up.
Well, Chou Chou decided, she wouldnât lose. She got ready, right at the front of the group with Wasabi and, surprisingly, Himawari.
Shikadai, looking rather grumpy for the first time today, walked to his position with the bouquet in his hands, muttering âwhat a drag.â He turned his back to them and threw the bouquet in their direction. Chou Chou saw Wasabi make a cat like jump, but sheâd get there first. With her family technique, she made her arm huge and swung it past the brunette, catching the flowers right before the other woman.
âThatâs cheating!â Wasabi screeched when she landed.
âYou used your ninja techniques, too!â Inojin defended his friend before Chou Chou herself could âSo stop being a sore loser!â
To Chou Chouâs delight and to the blond best manâs relief, the cat woman did stop. Chou Chou admired the bouquet together with the other women, and didnât put it down even when she went to get snacks. She was eating a muffin, the bouquet on her lap, when Ryogi announced that he would now throw the garter, and Chou Chou wondered if he would get it from the place, it was usually gotten from and how he would do it if that was the case since Shikadai, naturally, wasnât wearing a dress, but it turned out that the Nara heir had it wrapped around his arm. And thatâs where Ryogi took it from, simply with his hands. How dull.
Ryogi backed away, ready to throw the cloth at the group of men, mostly young ones, plus the older one of Shikadaiâs uncles and few of their teachers, Boruto mustâve somehow tricked Konohamaru-sensei in to the crowd, or perhaps it was Lord Seventhâs doing, who were still unmarried. She saw Boruto and Iwabe at the very front, eager to get the cloth, while Inojin was physically holding Shinki in place by the back of his suit jacket so that he wouldnât escape the tradition. It made Chou Chou snort.
Ryogi made the throw, and Boruto and Iwabe jump up, ready to get the cloth. Iwabe jumps just a little higher, it seems like heâll get it, but just as his fingers are about to brush against it, a hand reaches from above his head and snatches the garment. A hand that reached it all the way from the back of the crowd, so there was only one person it could be, Chou Chou knows as her eyes follow the long arm to its owner. Mitsuki is grinning, a smile more innocent than his usual one, pulling his hand back. Chou Chou is surprised, having not known that the man had interest in this sort of thing. It makes her wonder if Mitsuki would have attempted to catch it anyway, or if he did it simply because sheâd caught the bouquet. The later would make sense; heâd been a bit in to her for years already after all.
Their eyes meet, and Mitsukiâs smile changes in to that slightly smug smirk again, but it turns to a look of confusion when Chou Chou actually smiles back at him.
Finishing her cupcake, the woman decides that she would give him a chance and ask him out, since he clearly didnât have the courage to do it himself even after all these years.
But the tab would be on him.
A.N: I knew I wouldnât come up with anything for MitsuChou wedding, I love the ship but have hard time imagining them as adults, so I decided to write about them in someone elseâs wedding. The first idea was that of Karin and Suigetsu, but then I wondered why would Chou Chou be there, so I settled on Shikadaiâs wedding instead. Briefly, I also considered a BoruSara wedding, but that felt less interesting, so shogi boys it is!
