The birds chirped, the air cool but not cold, and the sun glimmered off of the morning dew on the leaves. Meanwhile, Iruka sat in Sakura’s office gripping the cushion of the chair, covered in a sheen of sweat with dark circles under his eyes and an unfocused stare. The pain was rarely this bad, but lately there had been more bad pain days than good ones.
He was sent home early from his shift at the missions desk the day before and had to lie and say he thought he came down with flu. It still took a lot of convincing to get himself to yet another doctor’s office, but Sakura was a good person and the head medic at the hospital. If there was anyone he could trust with this it would be her.
Iruka flashed her a weak smile, the last efforts of a man whose mask had been worn threadbare. “Good morning, Sakura.”