Summary: It’s new years, which means the start of a new year, but also the start of a blossoming relationship.
Rating: K.
Prompt: SSM 2020 Day 26: something sweet
A/N: I thought this chapter fits well to the prompt, so I’m dedicating this chapter for SSMonth day 26!
New Years Eve. A day full of festivities as families gather together and celebrate the arrival of a new year, new beginning.
The office is empty since most of the staff has gone back to their hometowns to be with their families.
8:00PM.
Sakura glances at the clock on the wall before letting out a heavy sigh. Of all places she could be, she decides to spend her whole New Years Eve at the office doing some pesky paper work. She did promise her parents she is going to go home on New Years Day. She just doesn’t want a pile of work to be waiting for her when she comes back from her short needed vacation.
“It’s okay it’ll all be worth it.” She says to herself. Stacks of paper adorn the table in the conference room. Having the whole office for herself means having a larger workspace compared to the usual 8x8 cubicle space-even though that’s already considered spacious compared to other offices.
Without a time to waste, she begins scribbling down notes, stacking paper on top of paper, putting them into folders before setting them aside on the corner of the table.
She’s too engrossed in her task that she doesn’t notice Sasuke walking pass the half opaque half transparent glass wall that covers the conference room. Sasuke stops in his tracks before knocking on the door and peaking inside.
“Sakura?”
“Oh! Sasuke-kun! I didn’t see- wait why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at home?”
“Got bored.”
“Ah...” There’s a moment of silence, only because Sakura’s contemplating on whether or not she should say this,
“Umm well... Do you wanna keep me company? I could use someone to keep me from being bored.” She gives him a smile. Sasuke doesn’t say a word but pushes the door open, allowing him to step inside and take a seat right next to her. She swears she can feel her cheeks getting redder, and prays Sasuke doesn’t see it.
“What are these?”
“Oh I’m just organizing some meeting notes from last week, and wrapping up some documents from last week’s photoshoot. I figured if I finish them earlier, then I won’t have to worry about them after I come back from my vacation.” Sakura answers as she flips pages of paper.
“Hn.” She lets a few moments pass with just noises of paper rustling around filling up the room.
“Well what about you? Aren’t you going to go see your family?” Am I being too nosy again? Sakura thinks to herself. But she dared herself to ask the question anyway.
“They’re busy.”
“Oh I see. I guess the dorm can be a bit lonely when you’re there by yourself.” Sasuke doesn’t answer. Sakura ponders whether it was something okay for her to say. She quickly steers the conversation away.
“Hey can you help me pass that folder over there?” Sakura asks while pointing to a folder just in front of Sasuke, not too far from her but nonetheless she would have to scooch over in order to get it.
Sasuke grabs the folder and hands it to her, accidentally brushing over her hand in the process.
“Thanks.” A few moments pass more, and Sakura’s mind becomes more and more focused at finishing the task in front of her. Meanwhile, Sasuke stands up and walks out of the room. She watches his back as he exits and makes a turn towards the elevator.
Her shoulders deflate, thinking, Did he feel uncomfortable being around me?
A part of her feels relieved now that Sasuke is gone, she can actually focus on her task, but a part of her wishes he would still be here. After spending so much time with him at work, she’s gotten used to his presence and even though he doesn’t say much, it’s not half as bad.
“Oh well..” She continues to put papers in separate folders and tucking them away in that corner she’s dedicated.
A few minutes later, Sasuke comes back to the room, this time with two bottles of coffee in his hand. He places one in front of her and holds the other one for himself.
“Thank you.” Sakura can’t help but form a smile. She grabs the bottle. It’s so warm. She takes a few sips and relishes in the warmth spreading through her. Part of it is probably from the beverage, but she would agree that most of it is from his thoughtful gesture.
Sasuke settles back into his previous spot and scrolls through his phone.
She continues to do her work, while Sasuke just sits there, minding her own space but still close enough so that she can feel his presence. To her, it feels.. calming. Hours pass by and she doesn’t even know when she laid her head on her arms, thinking that she would only take a five minute break when she would actually pass out from the drowsiness.
The next time she opens her eyes, the office is brightly lit by the morning sun.
“What time is it?” She glances at the clock. “WHAT?! IT’S 8AM?! How long was I out?” She straightens her back and feels a piece of cloth drop from her shoulders. Confused, she grabs onto it. I don’t remember ever having a blanket with me...
Unbeknownst to her, Sasuke had draped a blanket on top of her. And boy he had to go to other rooms to find a blanket warm enough.
She glances the room and finds that all the papers have been stacked together in front of her. One stack of paper filled with costume ideas, one stack of folders, and another stack of other documents to file.
Did I do this?
On the side, she sees a bottle of coffee, this time still full, with a sticky note on it that says,
Happy new year, Sakura.
She smiles as bright as the morning sun, what a good way to start the year.
Summary: Sasuke and Sakura finally solidifies their relationship.
Rating: K+
Shikamaru hears a knock on the door and turns around.
“Come in.” The door swings open and an Uchiha Sasuke peers through the door.
“Hey, do you have a minute?”
“For sure. Have a seat.” Shikamaru gestures towards the couches in the middle of the room. They both take a seat right across from each other. “What's up?”
“First of all, I wanna thank you.” Shikamaru chuckles. There’s a lot of things he can thank him for, Sasuke would have to be a little more specific, Shikamaru thinks.
“For what?”
“For getting Sakura to work here again.” Sasuke unconsciously fiddles with his fingers out of nervousness.
“Ah.. Well she was way too valuable for our company to lose.”
“And also.. thank you.. For everything.” Shikamaru quirks an eyebrow at him. The way Sasuke speaks, his tone and overall demeanor are putting Shikamaru on edge. It is as if he is saying goodbye. He tries to shake the thought.
“Of course, Sasuke. Is everything okay? Why does this sound like a goodbye?”
“Hn, rest assured, it’s not. I just feel like I owe you a lot.” Shikamaru silently lets out a relieved sigh and sinks back in his couch.
“Hey, I’m always here for you guys.”
“Aa.” Being there with them since even before they debuted, Sasuke has lost track of the many times they owe each other. Having suffered together, they have developed a bond far stronger than mere business partners. Sasuke sincerely thinks Shikamaru as his own brother, someone he can rely on, someone he trusts. Time after time he always manages to prove his loyalty, even though they might have different agendas sometimes.
“Well then how are things going with you guys?”
“It’s been good.” Sasuke smiles and Shikamaru notes the relief and calmness surrounding him. He can clearly tell Sasuke is in a state of peace. Shikamaru genuinely smiles.
They let a few moments pass between them before Sasuke speaks again.
“Actually what I’m here for…“ Shikamaru can already guess what this is about. “I’m gonna continue dating Sakura.” Sasuke shifts his gaze to meet Shikamaru’s, fire burning behind those onyx. He sits up straight, showing his resolve.
Shikamaru merely chuckles and smiles.
“All right.” Sasuke’s eyes widen in surprise. He was expecting some sort of disapproval or dissatisfaction, but no matter how much he searches Shikamaru’s expression, he finds nothing of the sort.
“You’re okay with that?” Shikamaru nods. “What made you change your mind?” He just has to be sure.
“I know your life hasn’t been easy. And I realized that by her leaving, it actually hurt you more. All I want is for you to be happy, and if being with her means that much to you, then yeah, okay.” Sasuke can’t believe what he is hearing.
“I-..” No words seem to come out of Sasuke’s mouth. Now, he is truly in his debt forever.
“Of course, the risks of it affecting your career is still out there. And not to mention what would happen if you guys get caught. I’m still serious about everything I said before.”
“Well I’m sure we can figure something out.” Sasuke says in a softer tone, half joking but each word carrying some weight.
“We’ll have to write up some rules first.” Shikamaru leans forward, lacing his hands together and resting his elbows on his knees in that serious way he always does whenever he is trying to brainstorm.
“Whatever you say.” Sasuke lifts his hands up in a surrendering manner as they both laugh. “I’ll let Sakura know.” They both get up from their seats and head towards the door. Sasuke gives him a bow and Shikamaru gives him a pat in the back as he exits his office.
Sasuke walks down the hallway, turning to the corner and meets an anticipating Sakura.
“So? How did it go?” Sakura leans forward, eager to hear about everything he talked about.
“Hn.” Without saying a word, he merely grabs her hand in his and intertwines their fingers together. Sasuke notices the faint blush that manages to creep to her cheeks. He still can’t believe the effect he has on her even after all this time.
They head to the elevator, hands bound together without any care in the world. To them, their office is their fortress. Or so they thought. As the elevator doors open, they step inside and press the button to the basement.
Sasuke rubs his thumb over her knuckles and looks at her. Sakura tries to read his feelings, his thoughts. She can only assume that the talk went well, judging by how much he is glowing. The way his mouth curves up in a gentle smile that she’s only seen him make for her. She wonders how she can be so lucky in this lifetime.
Unexpectedly, the elevator doors open on the fifth floor. People start to flood in, prompting them to let each other’s hands go in an instant. They try to make the most blank expression in an attempt to hide their flustered faces.
As soon as the elevator gets to the ground floor, the rest of the people step outside, leaving them both alone in there again. They let out a sigh of relief.
“We need to lay out some rules.” Sakura speaks after a moment or two. Amused, Sasuke merely chuckles.
“Hn. Shikamaru said the same thing.” When the elevator reaches the basement, the door opens to reveal the parking lot before they step outside.
“We still need to be careful about being seen together. I guess I still don’t feel comfortable for us to show any form of PDA in the office.” Sakura voices her concerns, and in their minds, they both know they have the same thoughts.
“Aa.” Sasuke nods in agreement. “Meet up later to talk more?”
“Okay.” Sakura smiles. Sasuke looks over and spots the car he and his driver usually drive. Before heading towards it, he leans forward, placing a peck on her cheek. Sakura is taken aback by the sudden gesture and seems to be thrown off guard, although she does not try to hide her blush.
Sasuke smiles at her adoringly. How did he get so lucky to be able to meet this girl?
When he first met her all those years ago, he never would have thought this is where he would be, standing in front of her with his heart in his hand, freely giving it for her safekeeping. Even though his entire life is exposed for the world to see, he has never felt this vulnerable emotionally. Sometimes Sasuke wonders whether she really knows how much of an effect she has on him. How much control she has over him. A mere touch from her would send electricity down his spine, leaving him wanting for more.
She has seen him grow up, from that naïve trainee that joined the company years back to the matured young man that is him now. Of all the women in the world, he seems to find comfort in her, and that bewilders her. He can literally have any woman, but he chose her. Her mind seems to always be at awe every time she thinks about it. Without her realizing, she seems to fall for him more each day.
The road is never going to be easy for them, and they both know that. They both have anticipated that. But it does not mean they are not going to try, because they both know that whatever they have is worth it.
Being an idol does not mean they are no longer humans. It does not mean they are gods and goddesses that separates them from everyone else. It does not mean they do not need love like any other person. At the end of the day, they are like any one of us; someone who is trying to live life to the fullest, with some company along the way, and isn’t that everyone’s right?
.
.
Epilogue
Sasuke steps outside the black car parked in the alleyway next to Sakura’s apartment building. Wearing a black hat, a mask, and a black hoodie, he realizes people might actually mistake him for a burglar.
Without trying to draw any attention, he enters the building and ascends the stairs to the second floor. He walks through the hallway and spots her apartment number. He knocks a few times before the door swings open a few seconds afterwards.
Sasuke does not look back as he enters the apartment, closing the door and locking it behind him with a click.
“Were you followed?” Sakura asks nervously.
“I don’t think so.” Sasuke takes off his shoes before taking off the mask, allowing him to breathe better.
“Good.” Sakura does not even wait before she lunges herself at him and swings her arms around his neck. She places a kiss on his lips. “I’ve been waiting to do that all day.”
Sasuke chuckles and holds her hips as he lifts her up. She easily swings her legs around his torso. He smiles before he places his lips back on hers, savoring in the way their lips fit each other so well. They clumsily walk towards her bedroom. Sasuke gently drops her on the mattress as they finally relish on this privacy they rarely get to have. Now all they have to do, is follow their hearts.
.
.
.
end.
<--Chapter 14
A/N: To all the readers who have been reading and following along this series, thank you so much! It feels somewhat bittersweet that this series has finally come to an end. This is my first multichaptered work, so I know it still needs improvement. But I’m so thankful for those lovely comments and feedback. Thank you! Any feedback is always welcome! I hope to write more work after this, so until next time!
Summary: The group finally kicks off their tour, and Sakura and Sasuke’s interactions have never been this awkward.
Rating: K.
It is only a few weeks before they kick off their first tour date. Stress levels are building up higher than before. Despite his intention, Sasuke can’t stop thinking back to his little encounter with Sakura the other day. He can still vividly remember her face, the words she said to him.
Shikamaru has just finished a meeting with the creative board and the head stylists as they all exit the conference room. Sasuke just happens to pass by when he notices Ino, Hinata, and Karin murmuring among themselves as they exit.
“Do you think Sakura will agree?” Sasuke’s eyes perk up at the mention of her name.
“I don’t know but she has to.. At this point we could use all the help we can get!” What is this? What is Sakura supposed to agree to? Shikamaru notices how Sasuke stops in his footsteps and moves to greet him.
“Sasuke.” Shikamaru motions him to enter the room. Sasuke gives him a nod before entering and closing the door behind him.
“I want to let you know first. You know how swamped we are right now, right?” He nods. Sasuke notices the bags underneath his eyes that mirror his own. He can’t possibly miss the mess that has been going on around the office. Understaffed is just one word to describe it. To be fair, they never expected their company to skyrocket in the past year alone. Being from a small company, there is only so many you can hire. But now that their scale is getting bigger, that means their performance venues are getting bigger, and they will eventually need to hire more help.
“We’ve decided to rehire Sakura for this tour.” Sasuke’s eyes widen in surprise. Not because of how outrageous the idea sounds, but because of all people, he never would have thought Shikamaru to be the one to propose the idea. After all, based on their last interaction at the office, Shikamaru’s words had pretty much influenced Sakura’s decision to quit. But now here he is, trying to get her back to the company. Honestly, Sasuke is delighted at the news. If Sasuke alone could not convince her to come back, maybe a more formal invitation will.
.
.
Sakura sits on the chair across from Shikamaru. The background jazz music fills the space, tuning out the indistinct conversations around them. Sakura fiddles with her straw as she shifts her gaze between the beverage in front of her and the folder lying on the table.
“Please give it another thought. We really need the help. You’re one of the most senior staff members, and we simply don’t have enough time to recruit a lot of new people.” Sakura takes a sip of her drink.
“When do I have to decide?” Shikamaru leans back in his chair.
“I’ll give you two days. Should be more than enough.” Sakura gives it one last glance before sighing and grabbing the folder.
“I’ll contact you with my decision.”
Sakura tucks the folder in her tote bag, bows to Shikamaru and exits the café. She walks back to her apartment, mind heavy with thoughts. To some this might be a straightforward answer, but to her, this concerns too many things that she can’t carelessly decide on the spot. Heck this will only make her resignation look like a joke. The reason she resigned in the first place was to draw the line between her and Sasuke’s relationship. Coming back to work for them, to work for him, would mean that all of that effort to stay away from Sasuke will be in vain. It is a different story if they both no longer have feelings for each other. But just from their little encounter at the park the other day, they both know that is far from the reality that they both still care about each other. Perhaps too much to maintain a professional relationship. If she were to come back, there is no guarantee that they can keep their relationship under wraps. The risk of being exposed and ruining each other’s lives are still up on the table.
Sakura comes to a stop at the red light.
But then, she can’t be so selfish as to turn her back on them. Like what Shikamaru said, they need the help. And being one of the senior staff members for their group, it’ll take years for someone to be able to replace her, and they both know time is not a luxury they have right now. She cannot stop thinking about her coworkers, Ino, Hinata, and Karin, how they were the ones who must have stepped in her place to fill her void. She cannot imagine the amount of stress that must have given them. She secretly feels guilty for her decision that a tiny part of her is starting to regret it.
Meeting Sasuke the other day was not just a coincidence. It was destiny. She had to see him one last time to be sure. One thing she is sure of is that her feelings for Sasuke will not go away. Not then, not now. No matter how hard she tries to not think about him, her heart cannot lie. She will always love him. Now she has been given the perfect opportunity, or excuse?, to come back. They need her. How can she turn her back on them?
She takes out her phone and dials Shikamaru.
“Hello?”
“Shikamaru-san.”
“Hn. That was faster than I thought.” Sakura smiles.
“Yes. I’ve given it some thought, and-“
.
.
Ino sits in her cubicle, chin in her hand as she browses through some pictures and concept ideas. She scribbles down some notes, making a relatively long to do list for her and her make up team. Letting out a tired sigh, she runs her hand over her face, deciding to get up to the vending machine and fetch a nice cold brew. Nothing like a good ol’ cup of coffee to wake her up.
Just as she gets up from her chair, she notices a figure standing a few feet away. She focuses her gaze and immediate recognizes her old coworker, and friend.
“Sakura!”
“Hi there.” Sakura giggles, spreading her arms.
“You-“ Ino runs up towards her, embracing her in a tight hug. “I can’t believe you’re here forehead! It’s been so long!”
“Sorry it took me so long.” Ino pulls back to look at her.
“So, does that mean you’re working here again?” Sakura gives a reassuring nod, and Ino has a sudden urge to hug her again.
“Yes! Oh my god I have so many things to tell you!” Ino swings her arm around her friend’s shoulder.
“Me too. I guess I haven’t been entirely open about myself.” Ino is no idiot. Even though Sakura hasn’t told her about Sasuke, she was able to figure things out rather quickly. She just does not know all the details.
“How about you buy me some coffee and we can catch up?”
“Sounds good to me.”
.
.
Huffs and puffs of air fill the room as the music comes to an end. The four men immediate plop to the ground in exhaustion.
“Hey, we did great! Don’t you guys think so? We’ve never been more in sync.” Naruto comments, pride evident in his voice.
“Well yeah, we’ve been busting our butts for months, we better be good!” Kiba comments, making Naruto chuckle.
“Looks like I caught you all in the right time.” A female voice enters the room, prompting them all to sit and turn their heads to the source. Their eyes widen when they see a certain someone peeking through the door with a bag of snacks.
“Sakura-chan!” Naruto gets up, as if all his strength has been replenished and pulls her into an embrace. “You’re back!”
Kiba and Suigetsu join him, giving her side hugs.
“We’ve missed you lots!”
“You mean my snacks?” Sakura eyes Kiba.
“Nonsense! Of course we miss you.” Sasuke stands in the middle of the room, observing their interaction. His heart is beating at two hundred beats per minute, unsure if it is from their dance practice or from her.
Sakura hands the delicacies to the members, happy at how quick they dismantle the packaging and devour their contents. Sasuke slowly walks towards her, eyes never leaving her form as he takes in the sight in front of him. She is here. She is finally back. Is it for good? That is the only question that remains.
Sakura gives him a warm smile as he approaches her, keeping himself at an arm’s length.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“You’re back.”
“Hm yeah.. Shikamaru did a pretty good job convincing me.” He needs to remember to repay him somehow.
“So you’re staying right?”
“For now.” That’s a good enough answer for him. For once, he can finally be around her again.
“Hey Sasuke, if you’re not having any we’re gonna finish all of this.” Suigetsu chimes in. Sasuke gives her one last smile before heading towards the members.
“Leave some for me, will ya.” He ruffles Suigetsu’s hair before he sticks his hand in the bag, ruffling around a bit and taking out an onigiri.
Compared to their other practices, nothing can top off today’s.
.
.
The following days seem more vivid for Sasuke compared to other days. He does not know why but his mood has been greatly lifted, although his members seem to know what caused it, or who. The way his face would light up, the way he walks into the room with his shoulders broad, and his confidence apparent, only a blind man cannot see the effect Sakura’s return has caused him.
Trying to get back into her groove again, Ino informs Sakura on the latest changes. Reading meeting notes after notes, and going over sketches after sketches, Sakura is determined to get back to her professional self again. She is not going to let herself fall behind just because she was absent for a few months.
Occasionally bumping into Sasuke in the office, they only manage to spare a brief hello, how’s it going, and see you later. Still seemingly flustered around each other, they try to avoid any unnecessary physical touch. Of course, it is nearly impossible when Sakura is in charge of dressing up Sasuke.
Both crave for more, yet a tiny voice keeps holding them back. The pent up frustration somehow lingers in the air. All he wants is to just grab her cheeks and pull her into a kiss. All she wants is to run her hands all over him, to finally let herself love him fully. All they want is to just be in each other’s arms, to fully let themselves love. Knowing better that that will not do them any good, especially in the media’s eyes, they bury their urges deep down.
Days quickly turn to weeks, and before they know it, they are leaving for their tour tomorrow. They have one last meeting before they end the day early, giving everyone a good night’s rest to prepare for their departure.
One by one, the rest of the staff leave the building. Sakura is cleaning up her desk when Naruto walks up to her cubicle, leaning over the partition.
“It’s nice to have you back.”
“It’s good to be back.”
“You know, Sasuke seems to be in a much better mood lately.”
“Oh yeah? That’s good to hear.” She does notice how much he’s been smiling lately. Just his overall aura seems more.. cheerful. And her eyes would linger at him for too long, admiring how much happiness suits on him.
“You know it’s probably because of you, right?”
“I’m sure he’s just excited because the tour is nearing.”
“You know that’s not all.”
“I know.” She pauses. “But I’m not here to get back together with him. At least.. Not now.” She can’t seem to stop speaking when it comes to Naruto. He has that effect on people; he just makes people so comfortable.
“But you do want to get back with him?” Naruto eyes her, looking for some sort of confirmation.
“Well.. someday I guess? I don’t know Naruto. You guys don’t get the luxury of dating like normal people once you become famous. And I don’t want to be a burden for Sasuke, or cause his fame to plummet.” All of Sakura’s words have truth in them. All except for one thing.
“Believe me, you’ve never been a burden to him.” Sakura looks up to him, and sees fire burning in his gaze. She seems to wonder how Naruto can be so sure about that.
“How do you know?”
“I just know.” Sakura cannot deny the butterflies that are beginning to fly in her stomach.
.
.
The beginning is always the hardest part. Being that this is their first tour, things are bound to go wrong, and they just have to roll past it.
Running frantically across the room, Sakura grabs some tissue to dab Sasuke’s sweat away. The members have just finished their first set and are off to change for the second set. With just a ten minute intervention in between, they are being chased by the clock. She quickly gets Sasuke off his navy blue shirt and into another shirt with beaded accents on the collar and cuffs. Sasuke buttons it up while she dabs some more powder on him, fixing his make up.
“Great, all set!” After muttering a quick “Thanks.”, Sasuke speed walks out of the room and into the stage elevator.
They are all running on autopilot as they let their bodies go through each song just like how they practiced. With a few bumping ins into people, and a few shoutings here in there backstage, they somehow manage to finish their first day cleanly.
The fans’ loud cheering can be heard from outside the venue, and nothing feels more refreshing than knowing how months of preparation, rehearsals, and meetings are starting to pay off.
Days go by as they move from one city to the other, and one country to the other, meeting fans from all over the world. Their energy never dwindles as they keep getting more strength from their fans.
But of course, just as they think the tour is going fine, a disaster happens. Suigetsu limps off the stage, arms swung around his bodyguard and leaning his body on him. During one of their final songs, he seems to have lost his footing and twisted his ankle. Withstanding through the pain and still managing to end the concert beautifully, all the adrenaline finally runs out as he feels a pulsating pain from his ankle.
They quickly summon the doctor to take a look at him. Suigetsu lies on the floor, panting as sweat streams down his face and neck. He winces when the doctor tries to lift his foot. The doctor wraps some ice packs around his ankle, and rests it on a pillow.
“I’m afraid you twisted your ankle. You need to take it easy for the remaining tour. And that means, no dancing. In fact, I don’t think you should perform at all.”
“What?!” Suigetsu abruptly props himself up by his elbows. There is no way he is going to miss out on a performance, not when they are at their final leg of the tour. “There’s no way I’m gonna miss out on a performance!”
“Suigetsu, don’t be ridiculous. You won’t be able to perform at all if you insist on dancing during the rest of the tour.” Shikamaru places his hand on his shoulder, trying to reason with him. Suigetsu looks over to the side, clearly frustrated with the whole situation.
Luckily, they are able to come up with a solution for him to still be on stage, as long as he does not dance. During their performance the following day, they let him sit on a stool in the middle of the stage while the rest of the members dance in front of him. His condition clearly bothers him. Nevertheless, he tries to put on a smile and sings through his parts. The members would sometimes dance around him, making him laugh. All the fans still give their all, cheering throughout the entire show, screaming his and their names.
.
.
The drive back to the hotel is quiet. The four members lean back on their car seat, looking over the window. Their minds keep replaying their performance, each taking mental notes of individual things for them to improve. They talk over some parts of their performance where Kiba’s tempo was slightly off beat, where Sasuke kept brushing over Suigetsu, where there was a part where Naruto sang off key.
Letting out a sigh, the members’ mood seems to be defeated as the car ride grows silent.
“But hey we did great too! I mean the fans loved us!” Naruto tries to cheer everyone up. Despite it being their first tour, they have to admit that they’ve been doing great so far, and Naruto is trying to make sure they all know that.
“Come on, we just have to practice harder and do a better job for the rest of the tour.”
“Easy for you to say, I can’t even dance with you guys!” Suigetsu flails his arms around in frustration. The members do not say a word as they all understand the pain of not being able to perform when it is their whole life! Suigetsu is just glad it is only temporary.
“Hey, you’ll still be with us on stage! You just have to focus on getting yourself healed. The faster you heal, the faster you can perform again.” Kiba gives him a reassuring smile, and slowly, Suigetsu’s mood is beginning to be lifted.
“Yeah you’re right. Thanks guys.” If it were not for each other, who knows how quick they would give up.
As they arrive at their hotel, the only thing on their mind is a nice hot shower and a good night’s sleep. Sasuke shuts the door to Suigetsu’s hotel room and begins to head over to his own room when he notices Sakura walking towards him. He can only assume she is walking over to her room, which he believes to be the one next to Suigetsu’s.
“Hi!” Sakura stops to greet him.
“Hey.”
“Have you eaten yet?”
“Aa. We ordered room service earlier.”
“Ah great!” Sakura fiddles with her thumb. She cannot believe how awkward she is with Sasuke. She just wishes she can start being herself around him again, whenever that will be.
“You were really great today!” Sakura glances over to him, a tint of blush painted over her cheeks.
“Thank you.” Sasuke looks at her, and he has to fight off a blush. He curses himself for not being able to say more, but he can only manage to say, “Thanks for helping us today.”
“Of course.” Sakura beams up. When did things go so awkward between them? He wants nothing more than to be around her comfortably. He thinks it must be from the stress. He supposes he can ask her to come over to his room. Some privacy might be better. That way, they can talk freely without being heard by anyone in the hallway. But is it the right thing to do? He still has not talked to her again about this, them. Would it confuse her even more? When he is lost in thought, Sakura speaks.
“I think I’m gonna hit the hay. Good night Sasuke-kun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Aa. Good night.” Sakura walks pass him and enters her room.
Tch. His heart aches for her, for her presence, for her love. Oh, how much he misses her.
She closes the door behind her and leans on the door, letting out a heavy sigh. Her heart aches every time she sees him. Oh, how much she misses him.
Summary: Being an idol means sacrificing your privacy. As Sasuke and Sakura’s relationship growing stronger, it means more chances of getting caught. Someone has to warn them of the dangers.
Rating: K.
Shikamaru must admit that his suspicion of the two is growing. He’s not gonna lie when he says he notices how close those two are. The other staff members might not notice it, but being around them for so long, you start to pick up things. The way they look at each other, the way their fingers ever so slightly brush against each other, the way they linger close to each other, the way they always find each other whenever they’re in the same room.
As their manager, it’s his job to manage the group and the members’ well-beings. But it’s also to make sure that nothing goes wrong with the group synergy. He hates being the bad guy, but there are consequences of idols dating. Being under the spotlight almost 24/7 robs them from any privacy they would have had. The people they hangout with, the people they hate, the people they’re dating, will all be made known to the whole world whether they like it or not.
He decides he might have to confront one of them if their relationship progresses into something further. A few weeks ago he decided to keep things lowkey and not bring anything up. But now that he’s noticed how much closer they’ve gotten, he makes up his mind to have a talk with Sasuke.
.
.
“Hey everyone.” He enters the dance studio. The members have just finished rehearsal and are collapsed on the floor in exhaustion. They all greeted him half-heartedly. One by one, each member steps outside to head to the showers. Shikamaru places his hand on Sasuke’s shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
“A word?” Sasuke eyes him before turning his full attention to him. “You know how being an idol is not easy. You practically sacrificed living a normal life and your privacy the moment you choose to take this path. As an idol, every move you make, every choice you make will have consequences.” Sasuke raises an eyebrow. He’s aware of all those things the moment he decides to sign that contract with them. He doesn’t exactly know where this conversation is heading but he listens anyway.
Shikamaru sighs in defeat, almost painfully.
“I know about you and Sakura.” Sasuke’s eyes widen considerably. Of course, Shikamaru, their manager, of all people would have noticed them. He curses under his breath.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone. But you have to be more careful.” Sasuke looks down, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. “You know what would happen if word goes out you’re dating someone, let alone a staff in our own company.”
Silence.
“Look, I don’t want to tell you not to keep dating her, but think about what this will do for your and Sakura’s career.” Sasuke turns to look at him, not quite sure what he means.
“If people found out you and Sakura are dating, she’ll be fired. People will talk about her and I can imagine they won’t be saying nice things.” He’s right. Sasuke finally comes to a realization. Why hadn't I seen it that way?
Sasuke knows how celebrities get treated when they’re involved in a dating scandal. But if the relationship revolves around a celebrity dating a non-celebrity, he can imagine the responses would be even worse. People would be even more curious, heck some crazies out there might even start stalking them!
Shikamaru sighs and almost feels bad for him.
“Just, maybe try to keep your distance and not alert suspicion.”
Having been told all that, Sasuke’s mind is jumbled up.
What am I gonna do? Should I tell Sakura?
He has to admit, Shikamaru has a point, but it still doesn’t mean he’s going to just avoid Sakura from now on. If anything that would look more suspicious. He decides to be more discreet.
.
.
Sasuke didn’t not think things were going to get worse from that point, but it just did. Naruto suddenly bursts out of his bedroom and hollers.
“Sasuke! Yo have you seen this?!” Panic is written all over Naruto’s face, making Sasuke anxious. “There’s a dating scandal about you!”
“What?” Sasuke snatches the phone from his hand and reads the article, word by word.
K-4’s Sasuke with A Secret Girlfriend?
What kind of nonsense is this? Sasuke scrolls down to look at a blurry picture taken at night. He notices the picture was taken recently after they did a music broadcast. They were all heading to their vans, and Sasuke remembers walking together with Sakura to their van. He carefully examines the picture and the woman standing next to him does have similar features to Sakura. He’s almost certain that’s when it was.
Shit.
A ball of worry and anxiety settles in his stomach. This is not looking good at all. Neither for him nor Sakura.
Shikamaru’s right.
He’s going to have to talk to Sakura about this. But what will he say? That they should just keep things professional between them? That he feels nothing for her? That he doesn’t hope to develop a more long-term relationship between them? He’d be lying straight to her face if he said any of that.
He can’t deny his growing feelings for her. Being around her so often has made him accustomed to it. He can’t imagine what it would feel like if he were to completely detach himself of her presence.
But then his selfish side begins to appear. A tiny voice he’s been trying to suppress ever since he had that talk with Shikamaru begins to resurface.
He’s been working so hard, training so hard since he was 17 to be where he’s at right now. Countless hours of rehearsals, lessons, have brought him where he is. If all of that were to be taken away from him, then all of his efforts will turn to nothing. There’s still so many things he wants to do. Not to mention, he doesn't want to ruin Sakura’s career.
Is he really willing to sacrifice his career for this woman? Is Sakura ready to accept the burn that might come once people learn about their relationship? Will he regret it? Is this a logical choice?
If distancing himself from Sakura is the sacrifice he has to make to achieve his (and her) goals, then he’ll have no choice.
Summary: They both finally talk about their relationship and Sasuke is ready to accept his feelings.
Rating: K+
“Thank you everyone!” Hands clasped together, the members make a final bow before waving goodbye to their fans and exiting the stage. As they pass by the security guards and staff members, they all give a warm smile, patting them on their shoulders and giving them a “Good job!” or “Great work!”.
Their hearts never felt this light. Their bodies might be sore, but it is a good kind of soreness. It feels gratifying. They may be physically drained, but emotionally fulfilled.
“Great job everyone!” Claps and cheers ring through the backstage area. They just finished their last performance of the tour. They all feel mixed emotions, somewhat feeling bittersweet. Relief, joy, and pride dominates their mind mixed with sadness, frustration, and regret. Just as they are happy that they finally finished the tour, they can never be one hundred percent satisfied with their performance. There are so many places to improve. Suigetsu still beats himself up for his injury. But they keep reassuring one another that this is just the beginning. Even though their first tour might not be the most perfect, it only means there are more room for improvement.
Exiting the venue in a few vans, the members roll down the window as they greet some fans who are still waiting outside the venue. Their cheers boom through the air. The members wave through their car window, feeling bubbly.
“Wow that was amazing! The crowd tonight was killing it!” Naruto exclaims with excitement.
“I know, right? So this is why people go on tours.” Kiba agrees, leaning on his car seat. They all finally let out a breath they didn’t know they were holding.
“How’s the foot?” Sasuke asks Suigetsu. A couple days have passed since his injury, and no matter how fast he heals, he’s still human after all.
“It feels a lot better now that I can finally relax.” They let a few moments pass by with just silence between them.
“So, after party?” Kiba chimes in with a sarcastic manner, eliciting a laugh from all of them.
“Are you crazy? I’m beat man! I’m just gonna order some room service and sleep.” As excited as Naruto sounds, he’s pretty much drained. They all are. Sasuke can imagine himself relaxing under the nice hot shower. He looks to the view outside the window as his mind wanders off to a certain someone.
He wasn’t able to get much alone time with her after the concert, especially with everyone so busy cleaning up. The members practically dragged him out of the venue so they could get to the hotel as quickly as possible.
I should probably see her tonight, he thinks.
.
.
“Itadakimasu!” In a flash they all dig into their meals, thank Kami their food was delivered in a jiff. All the tension and stress are finally being stripped off as they let themselves relax in Sasuke’s hotel room, contrary to Sasuke’s idea.
“Now that the tour’s over, I think we deserve some time off.” Suigetsu comments. Certainly, their company is crazy if they expect them to start working again in the next couple of days.
“Ugh a short vacation would be nice.” Naruto sinks back in his chair after devouring a whole plate of steak and two pastas.
“Sasuke, now that Sakura’s back, any developments?” Kiba leans closer to him, giving him a mischievous look. Kiba always has a knack in getting Sasuke to talk.
“I don't know.” Sasuke sets down his utensils. “It’s been… awkward.”
“We know.” Kiba comments as he laughs. Surely, they are not blind. “I think you just have to be forward with her.” Sasuke looks over to the rest of them and they all nod in agreement.
Letting out a long sigh, he sinks further back in his chair.
.
.
Sakura opens her door and peers to the hallway, scanning for any signs of life. Seeing that it is clear, she steps outside and heads towards Sasuke’s room.
Things were really hectic back at the venue, and she barely had any chance to talk to him. Before she knew it, he was already being dragged back to the hotel. Sighing in defeat, she figures this is her only chance to talk to him in private.
They all have the rest of the evening off, so she gathers all her courage to take this opportunity to finally have a talk. No more beating around the bush. The least she can say is a job well done and a congratulations on the successful tour. At least that’s what she has planned.
Nervousness is still holding onto her as she keeps pacing back and forth in front of his door. Thank goodness no one is there to see her, otherwise they will probably find her weird.
She inhales and exhales a few times before finally gathering up her courage and stepping in front of the door, hand lifted to knock. Before she can even land her fist, the door swings open and comes out a certain Uzumaki.
Sakura’s eyes widen in shock as she steps back a few steps.
“Hey Sakura-chan.” Naruto closes the door behind him.
“Hey Naruto.” She clasps her hands behind her back out of nervousness, as if she has been caught doing something illegal.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh nothing, just on my way back to my room.” Sakura quickly turns towards her room, realizing what a terribly excuse that is when it’s so obvious she is there to talk to Sasuke.
“Hey Sakura-chan?” Naruto softly calls her and steps towards her. She turns around to see him. He places a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m glad you came back.” Expecting him to call out her lie, she is left there standing in shock. Her heart melts at his gesture. It feels good to be appreciated. She will forever be grateful for him.
She returns his smile with one that is just as soft.
“Don’t worry they’ll be done in a minute.” Naruto winks and Sakura swears her face just got a few shades darker. Yep he caught me.
She gives him an awkward laugh before he walks pass her towards his room. As if on cue, the rest of the members walk out of Sasuke’s room, greeting her in the hallway.
“Oh hey Sakura.”
“Have a good night.” Sakura greets them out of politeness, giving them a tiny bow. As soon as they all enter their rooms, Sakura walks up to Sasuke’s door and gathers all the courage she can muster to knock on his door.
“Who is it?” She hears Sasuke speak.
“It’s me.” Her voice is soft but loud enough for him to hear, because he immediately opens the door.
“Hey.” She notices how his eyes widen, perhaps her presence there is that surprising.
“Can I come in?” Sasuke steps to the side, allowing her in before closing the door with a click.
“You guys were really great on stage!”
“Thanks.” He notes the way she tries to avert her gaze. This can’t be the only reason she’s here, Sasuke thinks.
She takes a seat on the edge of his bed and readies her heart. They both let silence fill the gaps as they prepare themselves.
“Sakura-”
“Wait, can I go first?” She holds up her hand, and Sasuke nods before she continues. “I know these past few weeks had been… well, tense and awkward.” Sasuke lowly chuckles.
“I just feel really confused. I know you wanted to end things between us, but I keep getting mixed signals from you. Back when we met at the river…“ Sasuke’s mind drifts back to that coincidental meeting. “You said you missed me?”
Oh he certainly did, and still does.
“Aa.”
“Well what does that mean? Do you just miss seeing me around?” Sasuke opens his mouth to answer, but Sakura raises her hand again.
“Wait no don’t answer that yet.” She lets out a sigh and squares her shoulders. “You know I still like you, right? I don’t think I’ll ever get over it as long as I’m constantly around you. But I need to know if you feel the same way, because honestly Sasuke-kun, I can’t read you at all!” She throws her hands in frustration.
Sakura has been trying to read him for weeks, but Sasuke is doing a very good job guarding himself, putting up a wall between them. Just when she thinks he doesn’t like her anymore, his gaze would linger on hers longer, and he would stand next to her in a room filled with people. Could she call it false hope? Perhaps.
“All this time I’ve been convincing myself that that’s just how you are. That you’re nice to everyone. A part of me really hopes that you still have feelings for me. But a part of me is trying to throw away that hope.” She lowers her head and he can see her spirits sinking. He notices how she continues to fiddle with her fingers and Sasuke is just begging for her to finish already and let him speak.
“Cus honestly, I don’t think I can keep working here like this. I’m just tired. I don't think our relationship could ever work.”
“Sakura.” This time, she lets him continue. He takes a step closer to her, still putting themselves at an arm’s length. “I’m sorry I put you in this position. I was foolish to think our relationship doesn’t matter. It was selfish of me to put my career first.” She looks up to him, eyes glistening with tears and pent up emotions that Sasuke knows she hasn’t let out yet.
“I understand where you’re coming from, though. Being an idol is tough. I get that, so I respect your decision.”
“No. Don’t respect my decision. Cause I don’t want to lose you.” He takes another step closer, causing their knees to bump into each other. He kneels down in front of her, taking her hands in his.
“I’m sorry I’ve hurt you. I regret saying all of those things to you. When you were gone, I realized that all this success will mean nothing if I don't have anyone to celebrate it with.” He gives her hands a squeeze and Sakura feels a tug in her heart. Slowly, she can feel her heart melting from his words.
“I’m sorry.” Sakura lowers her head again and this time, he feels droplets of warm tears on his palm. She’s crying. He doesn’t try to stop her, but lets the tears flow, carrying her sadness.
“Don’t be sorry. Please. I know we have a connection, and I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to lose you.” Sasuke has met so many people. Reporters, staff members, producers, directors, actors, actresses, and fellow singers. But he has never felt a connection with any of them, until Sakura. Being with her at this moment, as they both expose their vulnerabilities in front of each other, Sasuke realizes he is ready to accept his feelings. He is ready to accept the way things are with her.
“Sakura. I still like you. I want us to work.” Sakura lifts her head to meet his gaze, and she feels overwhelmed with the sincerity and intensity behind his eyes. They drill through her, tugging her heart strings. At that moment, her heart feels so much lighter, she feels a sense of warmth spreading through her body.
Impulsively, she launches herself to him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in the nook of his neck. Her tears no longer carry sadness. His hands find sanctuary around her form, pulling her closer. He lets her warmth engulf him, soothe him.
After a few moments or so, she pulls back as they stare into each other, emeralds meeting obsidians. His hands travel to her cheeks, wiping away the tears. He pulls her close, his lips meeting hers in a soft kiss. How he has longed for this feeling. For the feeling of her lips on his. How he has longed for her. Now that she’s finally here with him, physically and emotionally, he’s never felt this whole.
They let their lips move in unison. Sasuke slowly carries her further onto the bed, laying on top of her. For now, the whole world seems to melt around them, leaving them in their own world.
Their moment seems to be disturbed when he hears a slight knock and some shuffling from outside, accompanied by light whispering. He grunts in frustration before he stands up and moves to the door, leaving an amused Sakura.
He almost angrily opens the door and glares at whoever is outside making all that noise. True to his suspicions, he finds the other three members, almost losing their balance from eavesdropping.
“What?”
“So… How did it go?” Naruto winks at him, only to be met by a door to his face. They all smirk before the door opens just slightly to reveal half of Sasuke’s face.
“It went well.” For a second Naruto swears he sees Sasuke smile before he closes the door again. Patting each other on their backs, they all smile victoriously, obviously happy for their teammate as they walk away, giving the two love birds some privacy.
Sasuke lets out a sigh as he goes back to continue their previous activity. Sakura has gone her way to move under the covers, claiming one side of the bed. He instinctively slides in beside her, scootching closer to her.
“What was that about?” Sakura chuckles. Sasuke merely shrugs his shoulders, grabbing her chin and pulling her into another kiss. She smiles under his lips as her hands start to roam under his shirt, feeling the toned muscles underneath, causing him to stifle a groan.
“Not tonight. Too tired.” Sakura smiles and retracts her hand. She lets her hand rest on his torso as he snakes his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. He lets his head rest on top of hers, feeling the way her finger trace lazy circles on his chest.
They don’t say a word, but let each other’s presence soothe them. As sleep finally catches up to him, Sasuke thinks this will be the best sleep he’ll ever have.
.
.
.
to be continued.
A/N: I have one more chapter for this story! stay tuned ;)
Summary: The beach is a mysterious place. It has the power to bring people together, to provide understanding towards each other, and oneself. And it sure brought Sasuke and Sakura closer.
Rating: K.
Prompt: SSM 2020 Day 31′s free prompt
A/N: I’m particularly fond of this chapter, because I feel like Sasuke and Sakura have always had a special bond, and I want to highlight it in this chapter. They enjoy each other’s presence, without even trying. This is dedicated for the last day of 2020 Sasusaku month.
Spring.
A comeback is in the making, which also means everyone will be busy in the next couple of months. K-4 is scheduled for an overseas photoshoot and another music video shoot. More exactly, in the warm paradise, Jeju Island.
Despite the high amount of stress, everyone is more than excited to go on their first overseas trip together. Nonetheless, with the amount of preparation that needs to be done, Sakura is constantly on the phone with a couple of designers or being in meetings with the creative director. They are determined to make this next album even more successful than the previous one, and that means making sure everything is in perfection.
Landing in Jeju, the team is greeted by the warm but cool breeze. The sun is just almost set and the sky is painted in a beautiful pink and orange hue. The drive to the hotel seems long, perhaps due to the fatigue from the flight, despite it being a short one.
According to their schedule, the photoshoot should last two days, and the music video shoot for three. The first four days is so busy that all Sakura could think about is work work work. Helping the team set up, taking care of the outfits, and making minor adjustments along the way sure made Sakura weary.
On the last day, they are able to end all activities around 5PM, and everyone gets some free time on the island before they have to go back home to Tokyo.
“Hey Sakura! Karin, Tenten, Hinata and I are thinking of grabbing dinner together. Wanna join us?” Ino offers.
“Thanks, but you guys go ahead, I could use some me-time to destress.”
“If you say so! Let us know if you change your mind.”
Being around so many people can be draining for Sakura, and she is thinking of doing something more in line with taking a leisure walk around the beach.
It’s the middle of April, yet the air still feels cool and refreshing. The breeze carries the scent of the sea, almost therapeutically.
The beach just across from their hotel attracts Sakura’s attention. No people? Perfect! She walks pass some trees and bushes and finds an empty spot, or so she thought. She spots a silhouette up ahead. Looks like someone sitting on a beach towel. Sakura recognizes the form and approaches them slowly.
“Sasuke-kun?” Sasuke turns his head to greet her. By the looks of it, Sasuke is probably here for the same reason.
“Mind if I sit here?” Sasuke nudges his chin for her to take a seat on a towel right next to him. She stretches her legs and buries her toes in the cool sand. She lets a few moments pass before speaking.
“Isn’t it so peaceful here?”
“Aa.” Knowing the members, Kiba and Naruto must be off celebrating with some karaoke and food. Suigetsu, being the water lover he is, must be off swimming either in the luxurious hotel swimming pool or in the ocean. From the amount of stuff around her, it’s more likely that Suigetsu is having a night swim in the ocean, with Sasuke accompanying him.
“Are you cold?” Of course, she’s always taking care of him.
Sasuke shakes his head.
“Wow, it’s been a hectic couple of days. I can’t wait to soak in a tub of hot water with a glass of wine.” Sakura sighs.
“You guys did a great job! As always, us stylists don’t even have to do a lot of work, you guys already did half of it with your guys’ looks.” She lets out a playful giggle.
“Hn.” Even though it’s dark, with only the moon shining down on them, she’s sure she can see him smirk.
“It’s sad that we have to go back to Tokyo first thing in the morning. It’d be nice to enjoy our time in this island and just relax.”
Sasuke hums in agreement. They stay silent for a while before Sakura gets up and dusts the sand from her pants and legs.
“Well, I should get going. I don’t wanna take too much of your precious time alone. I know how tiring it could be around so many people for so long. Good ni-”
“You can stay...” he pauses “If you want.”
Sakura stares at him in surprise. That’s the last thing she expects that would come out of his mouth. After all, they’re just coworkers. Right?
She smiles and settles herself back on her previous spot and enjoys the sound of waves crashing. She tilts her head up to look at the stars that adorn the night sky and the cool night wind that caresses her cheeks. She feels so at peace.
She relishes in his presence. Even when there’s just silence between them, she can still feel them connecting with each other. She can also tell Sasuke is not bothered by her. In fact, she thinks to herself that maybe, just maybe, Sasuke also enjoys her around. Or maybe it’s because he’s used to having her around. She has been around them even before they debuted.
She lets her fatigue and tranquility take over her when she suddenly leans over on Sasuke’s shoulder. It catches him off guard. He turns to see that Sakura had dozed off.
“Sa-” he plans on saying something but decided not to. He can tell she must have been exhausted, so he just lets her rest her head on his shoulder, and shifts his weight so that his hand is supporting her back. Sasuke could feel as if time is slowing down between them. She watches her even breathing. She looks so peaceful, and if anything, he feels the moment between them is almost too romantic, way too romantic for two coworkers. He can’t help but feel a blush creep to the tips of his ears.
The moment is brief because not long after, Suigetsu comes out of the water and heads over to Sasuke.
“Oh? Sakura? What’s she doing here?” Sasuke doesn’t answer but motions his finger to his mouth to hush the silver-haired man.
Suigetsu crouches to get his towel and dry himself off before Sakura wakes up from her “nap”. She shoots herself away from Sasuke, shocked by how close they were.
“Sasuke-kun! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to doze off like that! Oh Suigetsu! I see you’re back from your swim. I’m gonna…. go head back to the hotel. You guys have fun! See you all tomorrow!” She dashes and doesn’t even bother to look back to see Sasuke’s startled look.
“Stupid Sakura stupid! How could you fall asleep like that in front of him?! Again!!” Her cheeks are flushed red as she keeps on muttering to herself.
Although she can’t deny that warmth inside her chest when she relishes the feeling of being by his side. That was the closest she’s ever gotten to him, outside of work. She doesn’t know if she is dreaming but she could’ve sworn she felt a connection back then. It was a similar feeling like the one she had felt back on New Years Eve when they were alone together at the office.
She feels light on her feet, all giddy.
Unbeknownst to her, Shikamaru had been watching all along.
Walking around the coastline, he saw two people sitting on the sand, leaning against each other. He didn’t realize who they were until he saw someone run off, then he was sure that the one who ran was Sakura. He glanced at the other person and recognized their silhouette. Sasuke. He does notice that those two are close, but now his suspicion grows. He’ll be sure to keep a closer eye on them from now on.
Summary: Being in charge as Sasuke’s stylist sure is challenging, when you have to pretend you’re only focusing on your job and not caring whether he would spare a glance once or twice.
Rating: K
*A/N: In honor of 2020 Sasusaku Month, I’ve decided to dedicate this chapter to Sasusaku Month Day 8, prompt: “Let’s Play Pretend”.
As early as it may be, K4 has to go on with their next schedule. Being famous comes with many perks but time is what they lack of. Frequently being called for commercial shoots, press interviews, magazine photo shoots, they are constantly moving from one place to another, every seven days of the week. Of course Shikamaru can allow one, two or more free days.
But today is not one of those days. The car ride to the photo shoot seems to drag on forever as their minds are wandering, venturing the fields, through the morning mist as the horizon moves pass them.
The one-hour ride finally comes to an end and the four of them step out of the car, followed by the staff members and of course, Shikamaru the manager.
They’re going to do a drink’s commercial shoot, and Sakura has to admit, this is one of those shoots that she will enjoy.
The boys are all settled in a chair, in front of a mirror, already changed into the appointed attires. Make up kits, hairbrushes, and all other equipments sit on the large table in front of them.
“Good morning.” Sakura greets Sasuke as she approaches him. They don’t usually talk much, but he will always have the courtesy to greet her with a nod whenever they meet or part.
“Morning.” Sasuke chimes back. She gives a warm smile as she picks up the hair brush and begins to tidy up his hair while putting on some hairspray.
The summer heat can be quite a bother and since this is a drink’s commercial, shooting it in summer time seems to be the perfect time.
It only takes thirty minutes for Sakura to fix his hair, and put some make up on him. He even lets her fix his collar.
“Thank you.” He would always give thanks to her whenever she’s done her work. She can’t help but fluster a bit.
“You’re welcome.”
Camera flashes rain through the spacious garden as the group poses in front of the camera., each holding a bottle of the advertised beverage.
Sakura can’t help but think how gorgeous those boys look. But all the while they are being photographed, her eyes keep lingering on Sasuke. His attire a loose grey cotton shirt with sleeves that run to his elbows with the first three buttons unbuttoned, making it easy to see that toned chest of his, not to mention how the loose khaki pants seem to adorn his features even more. His dark raven hair has been styled–by her–in such a way so the ends stand up just a bit while the bangs covered the side of his face.
Sakura wonders how a person can be so attractive.
Twenty minutes into the photoshoot, the boys take a break to recover from the warm summer atmosphere. Sakura holds up a cloth to wipe Sasuke’s sweat away. She dabs the cloth on his nose, cheeks, forehead, and neck. She pays attention at how his sweat makes him glisten underneath the fluorescent light, how his eyes pick up everything that’s happening around them, so calculated, so perceptive.
“Thank you.” He says it again, every time.
“Don’t mention it.” She returns with a smile before he returns to the set.
The human heart is a strange organ. It seems to be running on its own power, a rebel of the brain’s commands because she doesn’t know how or why–or maybe she does know why–but her heart’s beating at 120 beats per minute–which in fact is fast for a normal person.
What is this feeling? She asks herself. She has no idea what her own heart is telling her.
Little does she know, she might’ve developed a crush for this famous singer.
Why? He’s handsome, caring, kind, gentle.
She lists off the reasons in her head, all the way her eyes never leaving his form as the camera flashes several times. But will this end well? After all they’re working under the same company, and you know what people say about office romance.
