Step 21 - Friendship
Friendship is a little bit like marriage. The right friends aren’t just by your side in good times, but also when your feelings are in the dumps. Real friends laugh and cry with you, sometimes they will try to give you advise or help when you need it. But sometimes friends can be really annoying too. They want to know everything down to the smallest detail. Yeah, sometimes they can even make you feel secondhand embarrassment for them and certainly not just once. But one thing is certain and that’s that one can be happy to have their friends, even on the days when you want to send them straight to hell. However, it’s also known that married couples bonds can get so strong, that they too become into dear friends, best friends. Actually, it is the secret as to how to have a happy marriage, but most people sadly don’t know that, or just simply ignore it. In conclusion, friendship is an important part of our lives.
The young woman hums in the middle of her colleagues in the elevator and keeps an eye on the floor display. Around every floor it stops and people push their way out until finally only she remains in the transporter. The weekend and the date are both over. The fruits of their prank should be evident today and cause trouble for the Kaseguchi. A soft "ping" sounds and the elevator stops on the top floor, letting her get out as soon as the door slides open. She briefly looks down the corridor on the right to the other two elevators, which are also busy at the moment. After all this is the time when everyone comes to work. Everyone, except for a certain red haired woman. The elevator behind her immediately closes and already goes down to take in the next load of employees.
Few of her colleagues in the department have already arrived before her. With a slight smile, she walks past the offices when her office colleague, who is now a good friend too, comes towards her. “Good morning!” It comes from the brunette in a good mood. "Good morning." The pink haired woman replies with a smile and stops in front of her in the hallway. "Why in such a good mood? It's Monday." Sakura then asks immediately and looks at her colleague, who is standing in front of her in a skinny jeans and a cute and at the same time noble top, over a blazer. Her hair tied into a simple ponytail. “It's the Monday. I came earlier, I was even the first today. After Sasuke, of course. Nobody comes earlier than him, except for ayame maybe, unless you sleep here." The brunette says and laughs. The elevator doors open quietly and the Haruno turns back to see who has come, only to be meet with a grey haired, middle aged man. "Good morning Mr. Hatake." She greets him with a smile as he walks past them. "Good morning." It also comes from Natsuki. "Good Morning. Mrs. Haruno, Ms. Hondo.“ He replies briefly and passes them both. With a slight smile, the pink haired woman starts moving and the Hondo turns to the direction from which she came. “By the way, pretty top. Where did you get that from?” The green eyed woman explores and throws another quick glance at the cream colored top. “Thank you, I bought that in Gotenba this weekend.” The blue eyed woman responds with a little smile.
“What is this crap? Who was that? Who is doing such nonsense?“ The two suddenly hear loud cursing from the open plan office. As if the two of them didn't know anything, they stop in front of his door and look inside at his desk. A little stunned but also angry, he looks at his table which is covered with cress. Some of their colleagues gather behind the two women and force them a little further into the office. The grey haired man meanwhile looks at all the others and then to the tables of his colleagues, before he notices the little trail of cress and goes to the Kaseguchi’s new seat, opens the drawer and then slams it close again even more furiously. With fast steps he goes back to his table, throws all the cotton wool with the cress together, only to let it all drop on her table. "Are you okay, Mr. Hatake?" Sakura then asks carefully, looking at him a little sorry. After all it was still her idea. Said man looks angrily at her before his gaze returns to normal and lets out a sigh. "Yes, thank you. After all you can't do anything for this nonsense. Where is ms. Kaseguchi?” He explains to her and tries to stay calm. "She’ll come an hour later today." Natsuki answers his question shortly, making him look at her in confusion. "Why is she coming later?" It bursts out of him again, but they all just shrug their shoulders. “Well, I'll take care of that later. Please go to your work now. It will take a while before the meeting starts.” He then instructs them and turns to his desk. Sakura and Natsuki, just as the rest turn away with an understanding nod and disappear into their own offices.
"She will get in so much trouble." Natsuki exclaims with a satisfied giggle and sinks into her seat. Grinning, Sakura nods and slips out of her jacket, which she also need in the morning. "Well, she deserves it." The brunette woman then comments and then looks out of the window. Sakura does the same after putting down her bag and hanging the jacket over her back. Thick clouds are clouding the sky, leaving no room for the sun to get through. No rain was predicted, but no sunshine either. The temperatures are also staying down, but going out with just a sweater should also be possible in the afternoon.
“So a scarf it is. The easiest way to cover a hickey.” Grinning, the brunette woman leans back in her armchair and clasps her hands behind her head, watching her colleague stare at her perplexed before her face turns red. "What do you mean?" Sakura tries to talk herself out of it immediately and sits down on her armchair, however, Natsuki knows better. The Hondo sits up properly again with that knowing smile of hers, while supporting herself with her elbows on the table. "Oh, nothing, nothing." She just utters with a giggle and reaches for her screen with her left hand. The green eyed woman smiles slightly in response and then bends down to start her computer. "I just read something. Somewhere." Natsuki suddenly explains and pulls out an object from behind her screen, looking at the cover to read the big letters. "Japan's dream couple as in love as on the first day!" Smiling, Natsuki turns the object to her colleague, who is still bent over to the right under the table and is looking for her smartphone from her handbag. The pink-haired girl laughs in amusement. “Where did you read tha-?” She slowly sits back up and falls silent when she sees the cover. She stares in shock at the picture chosen by the editor as the cover. The font in thick letters also catches her eye, which Natsuki had read out loud just now, but something else catches her attention. Exclusive: The Uchiha’s romantic date in the rain.
Sakura swallows in disbelief and then slowly reaches out her hand for the magazine, which gets passed to her from over the table, not reacting to her colleague who gets up to go around the two L-shaped table constellation and stand behind her. She is still staring at the magazine in shock. "It was one of the last. People would do anything to find out something about you two and your marriage!" The brunette explains with a smile. "Oh really?" The Haruno's voice just resembles a desperate squeak before she opens the magazine and flips through the article. When she sees the two full A4 pages, her eyes almost jump out at all the photos of her date. Tons of them surround the actual article in the middle of the two pages.
After a long time of silence, we got a "sign of life" from the dream couple of Japan. To all the conspiracy theorists out there; who have already doubted their marriage and said it won't last long and that they will get divorced as quickly as all the other celebrities. We are happy to disappoint you! Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha still love each other like on day one, as you can see from the pictures and how they just enjoy the togetherness and silence around them. Rightly so, because it's been a tough time for both of them in the last few weeks.
Mikoto Uchiha died of an illness a month ago, but Sasuke made a really good choice with Sakura and, above all, found a great woman for life. He can already laugh again and enjoy so many things, as we were able to determine from the date.
But the dream couple not only shows us that love helps over pain and grief, no, it also shows us that you don't always need nice weather and sunsets for a romantic date!
We discovered them on their date and are now reporting exclusively!
The dream couple from Japan redefines romantic dates: First some fun and exercise, instead of the usual cinema visit, Sasuke kidnapped his wife to mini golf. He has decided on a charming, small and very romantic mini golf course hidden right behind the tennis center. What should be so romantic about this place? The roof is made of a glass dome! On clear nights you can see the stars and the owner has also taken care of cloudy nights: chains of lights adorn the cross braces and give a special flair not only to the gray sky above but also to the whole hall. A nice secret tip for the unimaginative romantics among you. Tested by Sasuke and Sakura Uchiha.
We all know the saying: what loves itself teases itself. And that's right! We couldn't hear what was said, but a picture is worth a thousand words and Sakura hasn’t blushed shyly only once and the smile on Sasuke's lips said more than a thousand words! The teasing turned into tenderness afterwards. Little cuddles, even during the game: Sasuke didn't want to let go of his beloved wife when it was her turn, even when it was his turn and she moved to the side, he pulled her back to him, put his arms around her and only then made his blow! Japan's dream couple is just plain cute. This tenderness even turned into caresses! After the 18th hole that the two of them hit together in each other’s arm. (To the men: take an example!)
Then it happened. Sasuke made a hickey on the right side of her neck! As you can see clearly in the pictures, suddenly the stain is there!
After the sweet game on the mini golf course, the dream couple of Japan has gone back into the pouring rain. Under an umbrella, cuddled close together! Of course, a real date also includes a nice meal, and mr. Uchiha has not been spoiled for choice. He took his wife out, of course to a fancy place as it should be. Whereby “fancy place“ is totally understated and inappropriate here. He took her out to the most excellent establishment. You are right, if you think of this restaurant now! To Alessio! Exactly into the most famous, most renowned, prestigious Alessio. The best European in all of Japan! A salad from this restaurant alone is already a treat for the palate and costs a fortune!
In this restaurant, Sakura was immediately expected by a candlelight dinner, with the best food and the best wines, recommended by the Somali and chosen by her husband. The four-course menu, which makes your mouth water at the sight of it, was accompanied by amorous looks, entertaining and, it seems, a few serious topics and finally even hands were held! A date to melt away! If it were to be a love story, no eye would have stayed dry! But after dinner the date wasn't even over. As one of the last couples, they finally left the Alessio and decided to take a walk through the park despite the pouring rain. We wanted to treat them to a little togetherness and so waited at the parking lot. But apparently there was teasing again in the park, because Sakura Uchiha came running out laughing and her husband a few meters behind her. Arrived at the parking lot he dropped the umbrella and chased after her until he finally caught her and then it came to this romantic and passionate kiss.
As ordered, the moon also came out and gave the date a perfect romantic end!
Finally, briefly about Sakura's outfit. Who put this together? The designer or herself? The outfit is simply beautiful and suitable. The white dress with the flower pattern and the emerald green waistcoat with the wide belt. There is still something summery about it but at the same time with a warming vest for cooler nights. Of course, high heels would have gone with the dress, but it's also cute with the ballerinas and much more practical for a date. Girls, we can still learn and copy a lot from her!
We are curious how things will go on between the two of them. With so much love and passion, who knows? At least we wouldn't be surprised if little Uchiha babies were toddling through Tokyo soon. But the two are still young and newly married, they still have all the time in the world. We remain vigilant and look forward to more of Japan's dream couple!
"Oh my God!" The Haruno exclaims in disbelief and shock. "Then the lightning was from them!" "But this is so cute. I would love to be so in love too.” The brunette says with a dreamy look and looks at the pictures. How Sakura leans against Sasuke's chest on the golf course and looks at the stars, as she stands in this position and she laughs. Them in the rain, playing mini golf arm in arm, in the restaurant when they hold hands. Dozens of photos and of course not to forget the kiss in the rain. The reporters really didn't leave anything out, even a comparison before and after to show how clearly you can see the hickey. Even a larger shot of the spot on the neck. The green eyed woman drops her face into the pages of the magazine and hides in it in despair. Her very first time making out and they also took a picture of it! “I can’t believe they went so far... I feel like my privacy has been violated... all those moments between us, no longer just ours. I feel so naked. And what is this copying part supposed to mean?” Natsuki could see how unpleasant this makes her feel and although she found it cute, she kind of could understand what she was trying to say. “Being born and married into a rich family sure is hard, huh?” Sakura just sighs at her friends remark.
"Well, I would say that at least your worries about the date were unreasonable." Natsuki then tries to cheer her up with a smile and sinks back into her own seat. The pink haired woman looks up at her and then nods slightly, but not convinced. The brunette turns her gaze outside again. It is not worth starting work for an hour. Sakura sighs softly. Natsuki thinks that everything is fine. That she and Sasuke got married out of love and that they really do love each other, just like it’s portrayed in the magazine. But that's not the case. Her worries are not simply forgotten either. Sasuke was so nice and sweet on the date and put a lot of effort into it, but... "He was distant again on Saturday." She then mumbles and looks up from the magazine to her colleague, who is surprised and at the same time looks around at her in disbelief. "Why that?" She explores immediately. “I made him go to bed. He slept a lot and complained that he didn't like lying around in bed like a potato bag. I told him that he could come into the living room on the couch, but he didn't come down the whole day." Reports Sakura. "Maybe he just didn't want to get up?" The Hondo tries to draw conclusions. "But he also got his tablet out of his work bag in the office." The green eyed woman simply replies and sighs again. "Sometimes when I looked for him it also seemed to me as if he pretended to be asleep." Sakura continues a little worried. She notices that he is distancing himself from her, especially after the thing in the bathroom. It's more than obvious. “Maybe it's just because of his mother's death. You shouldn’t forget that it’s still only a month since she left." Natsuki tries to cheer her up. "Yeah, maybe..." Sakura nods with a smile and closes the topic for now. She should probably talk about it with her friends, Naruto, Itachi or even Fugaku.
Her gaze falls on the magazine in her hands. At first she can’t be really recognized on the pictures because her hair is already wet and doesn't seem so pink in the light and still it’s only a matter of time before Karin picks up this magazine. "Damn it!" The pink haired woman grumbles out loud and buries her face into the magazine again. "What’s wrong?" Natsuki immediately asks confused. “This magazine is wrong! In so many levels! Besides, Karin finally has to understand when she sees the pictures and reads my name!” Sakura grumbles and throws the magazine back to her colleague. “With that all the fun is over too. When Karin reads this, she will know that I am Sasuke's wife!" Sighing in annoyance, she falls back into her armchair. "And I already had such a brilliant plan to make her suffer some more!" An annoyed moan comes from Sakura’s lips. "This magazine is destroying everything." The green eyed woman complains with a growl, silencing when suddenly there is a knock on the door. "Yes?" She growls loudly and the door opens. "Hey. Um, Karin is coming.” A man in their age reports with a slight grin. "Oh! We don't want to miss out on the fun!” The brunette immediately exclaims excitedly, already getting up to follow him out of the office. Sakura too gets up, her mood a little lightened again, into the hallway and pretending to be the busy ones, like almost all other colleagues.
In a good mood and with a big smile on her face, the Kaseguchi struts down the hallway confidently and Sakura just thinks how that will be blown away in the next minute. Her handbag is dangling from one arm and she is holding a something like a thin book with the other. “She has the magazine with her!” Sighing hopelessly, the Haruno hides her face in her hands. Just for a moment, at least she doesn't want to miss the scene. For a moment, Karin seems to be amazed at the presence of almost all of her colleagues, but then she continues undeterred and enters her office. The colleagues immediately gather around the door.
"What's that supposed to mean?" The redhead exclaims when she sees her table filled with all the cress. Now Kakashi seems to have noticed her too, because he gets up with a serious expression and everyone can see his expression, which shows that you shouldn’t be joking around with him like that. He approaches her table and watches her as she sinks into her seat and opens the drawer with all the cress over her magazines. "No! No, no, no, no, no!" She suddenly repeats like a mantra and lifts all the magazines out of her drawer, hastily frees the notebooks from the cotton and the cress and then examines the pile to see whether the cress might have eaten in somewhere.
"Ms. Kaseguchi!" It comes sternly from the Hatake, who has been standing in front of her table for a few minutes now and is still being ignored. “What?!” She snaps irritated and looks up at him before realizing who has spoken to her. "Ouh!" A murmur goes through the crowd. “You said the right thing earlier: What's that supposed to mean?” He begins, “But I want you to explain to me. Why are you spreading cress all over my desk? Is it that you don't like the decisions I make? Do you seriously believe that this is the right way to do things?” The grey haired man crosses his arms angrily in front of his chest. “But, mr. Hatake! I didn’t do anything! That wasn’t me-“ The redhead tries but fails to defends herself, because his expression doesn’t waver even a bit. “Stop making excuses. I really have enough of you. You have hardly worked for the last week. You behave completely irresponsible towards your employees and why are you only coming now?" Kakashi immediately intervenes and stops her. “I wanted to make use of my time off…” Karin explains briefly and a little intimidated. "What kind of time compensation please? For that you need overtime and you don't have any. You usually are the first to come, but also the first to go. You storm out as soon as the clock hand reaches 4pm. Every day!” It comes in a loud tone from the head of the department. "In addition, you drink coffee all day long, boss around your colleagues who do more in one day than you do in weeks, take countless breaks and read these magazines when you should be working!" He leans on the table and taps on the stack of magazines. “I have enough now. You will rework the hour that you missed out on. Actually, you should rework the entire last week and seriously reconsider the way you work! Also, these magazines are herewith confiscated." Kakashi growls with a tone of finality, takes the new magazine from the table, puts it on the pile and takes them all. "No! Not the new magazine. I haven't even read it yet and it was the very last!” The redhead exclaims in desperation.
“Shut up now. The first thing you can do is go to the conference room!” The gray haired man instructs her sternly and then looks around at all the colleagues. “The show is over. Please all go to our meeting in the conference room.” His voice still sounds stern but he tries to be friendly towards his other colleagues, which everyone understands, so they all turn around in silence. A few go back to their offices for a moment and others head straight for the conference room. Kakashi himself walks towards Sasuke's office, the pile of magazines is his hands. "Seems like we'll have our fun for a little longer." The Haruno exclaims with a smile, as she and Natsuki head for their office to get their smartphones. "Yes." The brunette nods and steps through the door. “And I already know our next prank, but I need Takumi for that. Can you let him know?" Sakura looks pleadingly at her office colleague, while she grabs her smartphone and lets it disappear into her blazer pocket. "Why do you think he'll come when I write to him?" The brunette explores and walks back to the door. The green eyed woman follows her and together they leave the office again. “Your date went really well. When is the second?” She immediately asks a counter question. "He didn't ask me for a second one.” The Hondo just answers with a shake of her head. “Well, then he will definitely come when you write to him. He also needs the opportunity to ask you on a second date.” The pink haired woman explains confidently and they enter the meeting room on the same floor. Many of her colleagues are already present, Kakashi and Sasuke have also already arrived, the latter's gaze clearly on her. His gaze wanders to her scarf and a crooked smile forms on his lips. When Sakura realizes this, she automatically presses her hand on her chest area to protect her neck and cleavage from his eyes, even more than the scarf is already covering.
An amused smile pulls on his lips before he looks at the floor, shaking his head slightly and then looks back at his wife. It didn't surprise him that she is hiding the stains. Of course, a scarf is perfect for this, which is why he immediately thought back at the scene in the bathroom when he saw the beige scarf with a leopard print. He gave her five hickey marks, two are just a slight reddening because she interrupted him from his doings. Sasuke examines his wife's entire outfit briefly. She wears a light green shirt with the beige leopard scarf, which he identifies as one of the few shirts with longer sleeves that she has. Like a polo shirt, it has buttons over the chest and a thin ribbon is sewn into the hem at the end of the shirt, which can be tied into a bow on the left side. She is wearing a simple black blazer over it, her legs are covered with tight skinny jeans and underneath all that she wears ankle boots.
The clearing of a throat to his left makes him look up and at Kakashi. The grey haired man looks through the group present and seems to be counting them. "We can start, everyone is here." Said man explains briefly and Sasuke nods in response. "Good morning!" He raises his voice and silences those present with his dark tone. He catches the look of his wife, who looks at him a little worried and also surprised, as she immediately seems to have noticed his hoarse voice. Everyone's attention is on him as he raises his fist to his lips and clears his throat politely. “We called this meeting to announce a new design assignment. I know it's unusual because all the industrial designers are present." The Uchiha starts and glances briefly at his wife and her office colleague. “But this time we want to give everyone the same chance. The point is that we want to bring a new product onto the market. Something completely new. That's why you're all here. We need every idea we can get.” He explains and looks through the crowd of designers, a few sitting, while some are standing. His eyes move back to his wife, who is leaning over to her colleague. “Each and every one of you will draw their ideas down and give it to me by November 17th. With this project there are no limits and no specifications. There are only-“ Sasuke pauses when a second voice sounds in the room and interrupts him in his explanation. “Be quiet, Haruno!” The redhead hisses through the whole room. "Kaseguchi, be quiet!" Kakashi hisses back, using the same tone as her, just that his expression has more impact. "I just said the same thing to mrs. Haruno." She explains only briefly and looks at him innocently. "But compared to you she didn’t interrupt me, so be quiet." The Uchiha growls out, obviously pissed at her constant meddling and acting all innocent and looks at her with cold eyes, before turning back to everyone. The redhead falls silent after his cold words and glare and looks at the floor.
"There are only 2 points to consider." Sasuke then finally continues with relief when silence has returned in the room and holds two fingers up into the air. “It should be useful in the household and a child should be able to play and have fun with it. The idea behind it is to help a mother with a small child around the house. So a child should be able to play with it and at the same time be able to help with the chores.” A low murmur goes through the group. “After the drawings have been submitted, I want you to design a model for it. Those models will be examined and evaluated by everyone here present and a few others, by the time when we planned the next meeting for it. We plan to bring the product onto the market next year." The Uchiha continues and lets his hand disappear into his pocket again, while he notices how heat suddenly overcomes him again. A fever attack. But he tries to make sure that no one takes notice of it. “Today is October 20th. From now on you have exactly one month to draft it. We will set up another meeting for November 17th, in which I will explain the further process.” Sasuke explains and briefly glances at Kakashi to see if he might want to add anything. "Thank you for your time and I wish you all the best of luck with this project." With these words, the youngest Uchiha closes the meeting and after a last brief look at his wife, who looks at him worriedly, he turns away and leaves the conference room.
Sakura keeps looking silently after her husband, worried about his condition. "Let's go." Natsuki exclaims right next to her and pushes her slightly towards the door. Sakura does what she gets told and returns to the office with the brunette. "Have you already written to Takumi?" She inquires as they walk down the hall. The brunette only nods briefly because the pink haired woman asked her similar questions earlier. "Today is a beautiful day." The Haruno then sighs with pleasure, too thrilled with how Karin keeps getting folded together and put back into her place by their bosses. In the meanwhile she had just asked Natsuki a question, which Sasuke noticed and didn’t see as a hindrance anyway. That woman really is an embarrassment to her own self. “Well, the sun isn't shining, but it's not raining either. It's kind of something in between." The brunette replies matter of factly, making Sakura on her left laugh out loud. "I wasn't talking about the weather, Natsuki." She notes with a giggle, while the two enter their office. "So what was your brilliant idea?" The blue eyed woman explores when the office door is closed. "We will let Karin believe that Sasuke recently made a colleague put his number on the desk of one of our female colleagues, in order to meet her in secret." The pink haired woman begins to explain her perfect plan. "But Karin won’t believe that." The Hondo immediately replies doubtfully. "Not yet." Sakura winks knowingly at her. "And further? That wasn't all, was it?” Natsuki then asks, almost a little disappointed. "Tomorrow there will suddenly be a message from Sasuke on her table with a cell phone number." explains the green eyed woman. The Hondo's eyes widen in disbelief, while she keeps explaining. "But it won’t be Sasuke's number, it will be...” The Haruno holds up a card on which the name is clearly legible. Kakashi Hatake.
“I feel so sorry for him. You let him suffer so much because of her." The brunette notes pityingly. "I know, but using the number of another colleague would be useless and I will definitely not give her Sasuke’s number! He’s already overworking and sleeping restless enough. He doesn’t need her to burden him even further." Sakura has to smile after that. “Don’t worry, after that I will give her a little break. Maybe again in the first week of November or something. ”Natsuki nods slightly and then tidies everything on her desk. “And what do you need Takumi for?” She finally explores. "Karin probably knows our handwriting. The chances that she remembers others handwriting is quite small, but I don’t want to risk anything and so I need him to write me the message." The Haruno shrugs her shoulders and also clears out the work of the last week. "What do we have to do now?" The brunette then asks further, a little confused as what to do next. “The next time only Karin is around, we'll pretend you telling me that rumour. You supposedly heard it or something." The pink haired woman explains with a smile. “Okay, let’s do that!” The Hondo says happily. Sakura smiles slightly and then looks around. "I'll get myself some tea." She then utters briefly, hearing her college walk after her. "Wait, I will come with you. I'm still missing my morning coffee.“ Natsuki exclaims only to follow her out of the office and into the empty kitchen. Sakura examines the types of tea with a critical eye, while the blue eyed girl next to her already puts a teaspoon of sugar and some milk into her cup and mixes it with the black caffeine containing broth. "And how was your weekend otherwise?" Asks the Hondo and leans against the wall while Sakura fills the kettle with water and turns it on. “You mean while Sasuke slept? A bit boring. Nothing to do." Mumbles the Haruno and shrugs her shoulders. "But thanks to the magazine, everyone knows about our date." She grumbles briefly and stares at the kettle a bit angrily. After all it was supposed to be a special evening between them. Their first date ever. And now all of Tokyo knows in detail what happened. It’s so unfair. “They really can be such shameless stalkers, i kind of get how frustrating that must feel. But, who actually put your outfit together, if i may ask? That was really nice!" The blue eyed woman asks, trying to lift her mood up a little, while stirring her coffee. "I picked it out in a hurry that evening." The Haruno just replies sheepishly and then puts a teaspoon of sugar into her cup with the tea bag.
"Do you know what I heard? Allegedly Sasuke got someone to put his number with a small message on the table of one of our female colleagues desks, so that they can meet in secret.” The Hondo suddenly starts to explain out of the blue, making Sakura look sceptically at her, before she takes an unnoticeable glance at the kitchen door, in which she discovers the kaseguchi standing with her arrogant look. "Oh, come on. That’s nonsense. Sasuke doesn't do that! He and his wife just had that super romantic date that is mentioned in such high spirits in all the magazines. The reporters literally went all out and described their whole date in detail. Two whole pages just to describe what happened and that even with tons of pictures. There’s no way he would ever give his number to another woman.” The Haruno replies with a small grin that Karin cannot see. "Oh yes, I haven’t forgotten the hickey he gave her. That with the number is just what I heard from others.” Natsuki explains briefly, trying not to giggle at how Sakura tries to rub the article into Karin’s face, now that she won’t learn that she’s actually Sasuke’s wife. “Someone must have allowed themselves a prank on that woman. Sasuke isn’t that kind of man.” The green eyed girl continues with a smile and fills the water into her teacup. "Hondo. Haruno. Stop gossiping and get down to work.“ She immediately plays the boss again. "If I were to be you, which I’m glad I’m not, I would rather take care of myself instead of looking after everyone else all the time. I’m not the one who keeps getting in trouble for spacing out all the time." The pink haired woman says calmly and looks for a spoon from the drawer. "Shut up, Haruno! You got me in enough trouble already. I received a warning because of you and you were the one with the cress too. I know that!” The redhead growls out pissed at her. “I didn’t get you into anything. It’s not my fault that you can’t take work serious and have to middle into other peoples businesses that doesn’t have anything to do with you. That you got a warning isn’t my fault. I didn’t throw myself overboard, it was you who pushed me. Apart from that, complain to Sasuke. I told him not to send you any warnings, but he still did it.” The Haruno shrugs her shoulders and walks towards the door, followed by her colleague. “And that with the cress. Find yourself another scapegoat, after all you’re so good at that, even Sasuke and mr. Hatake know it. I have better things to do than play around, for example, work. I think you don't have too many enemies here in the office, do you?" Sakura smiles sweetly into her face, before she makes her way back to her office together with Natsuki.
"Then we would have done that too." The Haruno mumbles. "Damn, you really roasted her today. So much entertainment today, I can’t believe that it’s really Monday." The brunette says with a silent laugh as they enter the office. "Well. Then let's finally start work, otherwise it will be noon before we even started.” Sakura sighs and sinks into her armchair, puts down her cup of tea and picks up her pen. Natsuki giggles for a moment before she turns to work as well.
There is silence in the office. The two women do their work with concentration. While the brunette is working on the construction, which she is supposed to redesign on the computer, Sakura is drawing her design on paper. They both belong to Karin's group, but have received different assignments. Although the Kaseguchi cannot really be portrayed as a group leader. On the day of submission, she just collects the drawings and brings them to Sasuke's office and then fetches them again to distribute them to their owners. She no longer gets paid and no special appreciation for it. She just likes to act superior, when in fact, through her actions she puts herself into the lowest position. She’s such an embarrassment to herself.
After a while there is a soft knock on the door, breaking the silence between the two women. "Come in." The Hondo calls out quietly, while Sakura slowly wakes up from her concentration. The door opens and a blonde head appears in the crack. "Hello." Greets the blonde while going in through the gap and closes the door again. "Hello Naruto!" The pink haired woman smiles happily. "Hello Sakura. Hey Natsuki.” He says and nods at the brunette with a smile. "Hello." She replies, too. "You and Sasuke had a nice date, it seems." The Uzumaki grins immediately. "You have read the article." Sakura states and sinks back into her seat. “Who hasn't?” The blonde asks with a laugh. "Karin. A few hours ago Kakashi took the magazine from her and confiscated it." The Hondo throws in with an amused smile. Naruto laughs again at that. “The reporters are getting better and better. I still can’t believe they followed you on your date. Did you notice anything?“ The Uzumaki asks with interest. "Stalked. They practically stalked and talked in the magazine like we needed their permission for privacy. Just what the heck? But coming back to your question; not really. There was only a camera flash at mini golf, but I thought that someone from the others took a picture of their companion. Fortunately, they didn't follow us all the way home.“ Haruno shrugs her shoulders and then takes off the scarf and reveals her cleavage.
Natsuki stares at her neck in shock while Naruto takes out his smartphone and suddenly takes a picture of her. “What happened to you?” The brunette explores in disbelief. "Eh?" Confused Sakura looks at her colleague and then at her cleavage. A slight blush settles on her cheeks as she realizes why she had the scarf on. "Sasuke has found himself a new hobby." The Haruno mumbles and reaches for her cell phone somewhat overwhelmed, when it starts to vibrate. "Hello?" She answers the call. “Sakura Uchiha! You will have lunch break with Tenten, Hinata and me. Right now!“ She hears the angry voice of her best friend before she hangs up. They have seen the magazine. Sighing softly, Sakura looks at the watch and then takes her scarf, handbag, blazer and jacket and slips into them. "Then I have to go too." “Not before you delete that picture, Naruto. I had enough with the paparazzo’s already.” She exclaims, watching him salute and delete it, before leaving them behind. "Friends." The pink haired woman sighs out and rolls her eyes. Natsuki chuckles softly at that. "See you later." She watches as Sakura leaves the office.
Sighing softly, the Haruno types around on her smartphone before holding it to her ear and waiting for the other person to pick up the phone. "Hey. Ino, Tenten and Hinata are forcing me to have lunch. Want me to bring you something?" She raises her voice when the call is taken. “No thanks, I don't need anything. What do you mean, forced?“ She can hear the hoarse and confused voice of her husband.
Sasuke raises his eyebrow while he looks at his screen and waits for his wife to say something. “You've probably already read the magazine." The Haruno grumbles out and sighs. “Okay, see you later. "" Mhm. ", The Uchiha mumbles and then hangs up. "The magazine...” He then mumbles on and placed the smartphone on the table. Of course he knows what she was talking about. Kakashi brought it to him this morning with a bunch of others. The cover with the picture of Sakura and him had caught his eye. Who would have expected the Paparazzi to discover them on this small, hidden mini golf place? He himself only discovered the hall because he was looking for one and it was precisely this that was described in the reviews as a nice location for a date. He would never have believed even in his dreams that, of all things and on that evening, when he and Sakura are there on a date, that there would be reporters lurking around and wait that maybe some celebrities come around.
Sasuke sighs slightly and picks up his tablet. His fingers slide across the touchpad and finally open the folder and the game. He leans back in his armchair and makes himself comfortable, easily cuddling into it. His eyes are fixed on the tablet and the game, as his fingers slide across the screen. In the next moment the door is thrown open. Startled, the Uchiha drops his tablet, but then quickly catches it before it can fall off his legs and to the ground. Grumbling, he looks up and towards the door. "Hey. Tell me, what did you do to Sakura?” It comes a little stunned from the Uzumaki, who closes the door and approaches the table. Confused, the black haired man raises his eyebrows and immediately forgets that he just wanted to give his best friend a lecture about learning how to knock the door, even if it will be unnecessary because he will never learn. “What do you mean?” Sasuke explores, because he doesn't know what the blonde meant. "Have you ever looked at her?" Naruto continues, still stunned. The Uchiha watches his best friend gesticulating, but he still doesn't know exactly what he wants from him. Personally, he would not have noticed anything about Sakura, or is she just hiding something from him that the blonde has now seen? Maybe something is bothering her? Maybe his hard work lately and coming home late? While this is unlikely, it must be something else that is bothering her. “She looks like a hickey carpet!" Naruto exclaims still in disbelief, pulling him back to reality.
The Uchiha raises an eyebrow in disbelief before smiling in amusement. So that's what it's about. "What did Sakura say about that?" The black haired explores with a slight smile. “That this would be your new hobby!” The blonde is still pretty stunned by the discovery he just made. Sasuke laughs softly, yes, you could describe it that way. "Whats so funny about that? The way Sakura looks like is half a foreplay!” The Uzumaki says, who looks at him in complete disbelief. “Don’t tell me you two have!?!” He exclaims in shock, making the youngest Uchiha laugh. "No, no, we were on the floor in the bathroom and..." he wants to explain but is immediately interrupted by his best friend. “On the BATHROOM FLOOR?!” Stunned the Uzumaki puts his hands on his cheeks and stares at him. Another laugh of the Uchiha makes him look up and look at his friend in confusion. “Are you all right?” He asks skeptically, silencing his laughing friend. “Yes, actually. Why are you asking?” The black haired man replies, while he feels this unpleasant warmth rise again. “You laugh all the time. So you're either in love or sick. And you are certainly not in love. You don't act like you did back then.“ The Uzumaki supports himself on the table top and leans forward to his best friend.
"Nonsense. I'm not sick. I'm fine." Sasuke says coolly and pushes his friend away from him again. Is he really that easy to see through? On the date, Sakura also immediately knew that he had a fever. Naruto also notices it immediately, albeit from a different point of view. When did he open up to others like that? He's still so cold towards strangers, but he behaves differently towards his friends, doesn't he? Inwardly, he shakes his head and looks into the blue eyes of his best friend. "So. Back to the topic. Sakura and I lay on the bathroom floor after the date, because she wanted to blow dry my hair. I already gave her one on the date and the others just arose there between a few kisses. We had no foreplay or anything like that, just made out a little and I tickled her, that was it." Sasuke explains the situation and all the blue and purple discolorations on his wife's neck in an almost business-like manner. “Made out? You even made out? Okay, how do you even know how to do any of that? I didn't explain that to you at all." The blonde explores, watching his best friend sigh while rubbing softly over his own forehead. “Some things don't need to be explained. Do you remember how we noticed that after a while the skin discolours when you suck on it? We taught ourselves that when we were only kids.” Explains the black haired man, rolling his eyes briefly at his friends curiosity.
“Why are you so stunned about it?” The dark grey eyed man now notices. Embarrassed, the blonde laughs and scratches his cheek. "Well, it was just so surprising, seeing Sakura with all the hickeys and so." The Uzumaki notes. A crooked grin creeps onto Sasuke's lips. “You are really a mess. When do you ask Hinata for a second date?” He diverts the topic of conversation. A slight blush settles on the blond man's cheeks. "I actually planned to do it tonight.” The blue eyed man reports, a little embarrassed. “Unforcedly?” The Uchiha explores with an amused smile. Naruto nods slightly. "Well, some need to be forced to happiness." It then comes from the company owner. "Says the right person.” The blonde responds with a grin. Sasuke raises his eyebrow questioningly. “I wasn't forced. I did it voluntarily.“ It comes from him. "But you would never have thought of doing it yourself, choosing Sakura as your wife, that is." Naruto shrugs his shoulders and buries his hand in his right jeans pocket. "Firstly, you don’t know anything about us and therefore you can’t know how our future would have looked like even if they didn’t decide on engaging us, so your claim is already invalid. Secondly, at least I didn't have to be monitored to ask Sakura on a date." The black haired man smiles underhandedly. "I would watch out, she seems a bit of a control freak.” The blonde notes immediately. "No. Your inability to do the obvious on your own almost caused Sakura to end the date before it even started.” Sasuke growls.
"Hey. Hey.” Laughing embarrassed, the Uzumaki scratches the back of his head. For a moment the blonde is finally silent. His gaze lays on Sasuke and finally wanders further out of the window, where he stops briefly. “You two seem to be pretty attached to your first date.” “What do you mean?” Sasuke asks in confusion. “Just like you growled at me just now, Sakura was desperately complaining because your date was completely exposed to everyone, because of those paparazzo’s.” Surprised, Sasuke looks at his best friend. Sakura did? It takes him a moment, but then his lips pull into a gentle smile. Naruto takes notice of it, smiling as swell. “You know, Sakura is actually really lucky. I don't know why, but you have always been kind to her from the start. You even smile a lot when you are around her or when someone talks to you about her. At the beginning maybe very distant, but friendly nonetheless. I mean not only in public but also with us, where you didn't have to play the lovesick. She’s really lucky, because even with me, your best friend since childhood, you have rarely spoken so friendly. I often see only your cold side, but I think you have never talked to her like that, have you?" The Uzumaki asks. Sasuke looks at his best friend skeptically. "I think you should hurry up a bit with Hinata." He just remarks, before he continues. "You became my best friend because you didn’t stop annoying me. But do you even know how Sakura and I got to know each other?” He looks questioningly at his blond friend, who only briefly shakes his head. "I thought your mother got you two engaged?" He adds briefly. “Yes, but we already knew each other before. My mother noticed her because I once brought Sakura to someone’s company party. But we got to know each other much earlier.” The Uchiha smiles again gently, as he falls silent. The blonde looks attentively at him and waits for him to continue telling him until he realizes that he will not do that. “Are you seriously making a secret of this now? Really?" He explores offended. Grinning crookedly, Sasuke shrugs his shoulders and puts his tablet on the table. At least that he will leave a secret between him and her.
Naruto glances briefly at the desk before he raises an eyebrow in confusion and looks at his best friend skeptically. "A game? Do you have so little to work or are you just taking a break?” He asks, looking from the tablet at the piles of documents. "I wanted to take a break, but then you came and took all my spare time away.” Explains the Uchiha with a sigh. “But you've never taken breaks until now. Aren't you going home late then?” The Uzumaki continues to research. "That happens, especially when you keep me from working any longer." Mumbles the black haired man. "Okay, okay. I'm going already. Don't take too long and go home to Sakura." The blonde says shortly and leaves the office again. Sasuke sighs. He can't tell Naruto that that's exactly his goal; to get home as late as possible. But no later than 8pm. After that he packs up his things anyway and drives home, sits down in the office and continues to work. He deliberately tries to spend as little time as possible with Sakura. It's just... It's not like he's uncomfortable next to her or anything. It’s the opposite. But... He sighs again and leans back in his armchair. In such moments he misses his mother. She would know what to do or what to say. She always knew everything when he didn't. She was just there. He misses her every day, every hour. Sasuke's sad look falls on his hands.
Suddenly he feels cold, feeling goose bumps forming on his arms and legs. He gets up immediately and closes the tilted window behind him. He sighs annoyed. He doesn’t need that now. The whole time he has fever attacks again and again, but he never had that sudden feeling of cold to the extent that he is almost freezing. Lying in bed all weekend and sleeping didn't help much. On Friday it started with the sudden attacks of fever and those are not gone either, they come over him again and again, just like at the meeting. The runny nose is still there too, but at least he doesn't have to sneeze anymore, which he thinks is a relief. But apparently the rain on Friday wasn't so good for him after all. Especially this light exertion of running in the rain itself did his health a disservice. But whether that might be good for him or not, he hadn't even considered it at that moment but just did what he wanted and at that point it was easy; Capture Sakura.
Although this sleeping himself to health was not even possible for him. How so? As soon as he closes his eyes and falls asleep, these dreams haunt him again. The same dream over and over again in the most varied of facets. But it's always the same content. It may be that he sleeps, but this sleep is far from restful. Every day this tiredness plagues him because he sleeps so restlessly and every night he is plagued by nightmares. The youngest Uchiha doesn't really know why, but on some nights these nightmares suddenly disappear and he can sleep in peace without constantly rolling back and forth. All he knows is that in such moments a comfortable warmth envelopes him and makes him relax. Not only once did Sakura tell him that he kicked her awake.
Sasuke just hopes that he will soon be over this cold. You could almost say that he is suffering from it. As a boss, it is not that easy either. He can't just celebrate sick. Who is supposed to represent him? And without him, some work would come to a standstill. Sometimes he really hates this job, he'd rather want to be a simple employee like Sakura, then he would have more free time and the public wouldn't be interested in his personal life either. Once again he wonders; how does Itachi manage to have so much free time? Once when he came to his office, he had seriously played mini golf in his office, like it’s known from series and movies! How does his big brother do that? And then Naruto has the audacity to question him playing a little game on his tablet for five minutes. Sasuke has to snort at that thoughts. Friends.
Sighing, the black haired man rubs his upper arms before he picks up the receiver of the office phone and presses the button for his secretary, to whom he is immediately connected. "Please bring me some tea." He says briefly into the mic and hangs up again. Sullenly, he closes the game on his tablet and then picks up the first folder from the pile. He briefly gets an overview of the topic before opening the relevant and necessary documents on the computer and tablet. With a quiet sigh, he now fully opens the folder and reaches for the pen, since his hands always have something to do. Even if it doesn't seem so and he enjoys the peace and quiet, he always needs something to do and if he has nothing, it turns into a bobbing up and down of his leg. He can never sit or lie still, even when he’s so exhausted. Just lying in bed and recovering from it is simply impossible in this regard. In this point he is similar to Naruto. Perhaps it may also be due to the blonde and Ryosuke Haruno, who used to persuade him to do countless activities.
There is a soft knock on the door. "Come in.” He says, knowing that it's Ayame with his tea. The cold still envelops him, but he tries not to let it show, in hope that the tea will warm him up again and will not turn into a fever attack again. "Please have your tea, mr. Uchiha. Is there anything else I can do for you?” The woman inquires politely and smiles. "No thanks, Ayame." The black haired man says without looking up. When she stepped out of the door and closed it behind herself, he immediately puts his fingers on the warm cup and carefully lifts it to his lips to take a sip of it. He finally puts the steaming cup back on the small saucer and then looks for the box of cookies from his work bag that Sakura always prepares for him. He immediately takes one of the salty ones and bites into it. Holding the cookie in one hand, the youngest Uchiha now fully turns to his work and ignores the cold he is feeling.
