B r o t h e r

•21•

Sakura and Sasuke ate in silence, letting the cool breeze pass by the calming atmosphere they had somehow created. Sakura had started to enjoy Sasuke's company a while back; he never forced a conversion and allowed her to have her moment of peace and quiet before they had to return to class. Sasuke could more or less say the same, knowing fully well that his friends were not the only reason he returned to the rooftop so often. However, even Sasuke Uchiha could not fight his own feelings. Now that Ino was single again, he wanted to go down and spend his lunch with her everyday. It was as if his fading feelings for her were revived after her breakup.

"Sakura, I've got something to do. I'll head out first." He said, standing up after putting his things away.

Sakura looked up, a bit confused. "Want me to come with you?" She asked, assuming he had to borrow a book from the school library or maybe print something.

"No, you continue eating. I'll see you next time." He gave her a small smile, as he usually does. Sakura watched as he left the rooftop, knowing exactly what he wanted to do now.

Sasuke always let Sakura come along with him when he had something to do at lunch, Sakura saw it as a way to step into society again and Sasuke just enjoyed the company. She wasn't that gullible either, if Sasuke didn't want her company it was most likely because he was going somewhere she would not like. Where else did Sakura not like going? Where her old friends were, of course. Not out of dislike anymore, but more so because it was always insanely awkward whenever they crossed paths.

Sakura sighed, putting away her own things. She knew this was going to happen; Sasuke truly had no reason to keep her around anymore. They no longer needed to appease Naruto, and he no longer had to watch Ino and Shikamaru be in love.

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Naruto was beyond confused when he saw his dark haired friend walking towards their group, considering today was his 'Sakura day' as he liked to call it. His confusion disappeared after Sasuke greeted everyone, and then immediately went to Ino's side. Naruto shook his head, he couldn't blame him after all. Sasuke was unaware of Sakura's feelings, and in his mind they simply had a mutual agreement to fake date for their own benefits. Sasuke might even end their agreement now that neither of them have anything to gain from it, and also so that he can make his move on Ino.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Sakura?" Hinata asked Sasuke, and Naruto could hear the slightest tenseness in her tone. He knew how much Hinata favoured his sister, it was only natural for her to immediately be a bit upset when seeing something that could hurt the pink haired girl's feelings. He faced Sasuke again, curious about what he would say.

"Ah actually, we decided to break up today." Sasuke said, scratching the back of his head and looking away.

"What?!?" The whole group exclaimed at once, and thus began the questioning.

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According to Sasuke, him and Sakura mutually decided to end things. They had both lost interest in one another, and chose to stay friends instead. Everyone was very comforting towards him, and he responded with a simple 'thank you' and 'I'm okay'. Naruto, on the other hand, immediately went to find his sister. Hinata had chosen to follow him, wanting to hear for herself Sakura's side of the story.

Once they got to the rooftop, it was quite easy to point out his sister, with her odd coloured hair popping out against the cloudy sky that day.

"Sakura!" Naruto called, him and his girlfriend running up to the bench she sat on.

"We heard from Sasuke, are you sure it was mutual? Are you okay? Should I punch him?" Naruto shot questions at her, only stopping when Hinata put her hand on his arm signalling him to stop.

"Uh, what?" Sakura asked, looking between the two with confusion written across her face.

"The breakup with Sasuke? Was it mutual?" Naruto asked again.

"Breakup?" Sakura asked, slowly piecing together what had probably happened.

"He didn't even ask you, did he?" Hinata asked, furrowing her eyebrows. Naruto shivered, almost as if he could feel the cold aura emitting from his girlfriend. She was extremely scary once she was mad.

"No, but it doesn't really matter. It was fake anyways." Sakura responded, but anyone could tell that she was anything but happy.

"Fake?" Hinata asked, but did not press any further after seeing Sakura look away.

"Fake or not, he should have talked to you about it." Naruto said, his voice low.

Hinata nodded in agreement, still not entirely sure what was happening. Regardless, she took a seat next to Sakura and offered her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.

That is when Sakura finally broke.

As if against her will, tears began to stream silently down her face. She stayed still, not even attempting to wipe them away. Hinata, startled at first, let go of the girl before immediately going back in for a hug.

"It's okay, sweet girl." Hinata said softly, rubbing her back.

Naruto, on the other hand, began to feel incredibly angry. Angrier than he'd ever been, in fact. He never could have imagined that Sasuke's feelings for Ino would cause him to be so dismissive of Sakura. Regardless of  if he knew about her feelings, Sasuke still claimed that the pink haired girl was his friend. He could have at least told her.

"I'll be back." He grumbled, turning towards the door.

Hinata would usually tell him to stop. Ask him to calm down, to think rationally.

But right now, as she held her crying friend in her arms, she wanted nothing more than to follow her boyfriend and punch Sasuke herself.

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