The university courtyard was crowded during lunch break. Students clustered around food stalls, bags slung over shoulders, laughter echoing between shady trees. The air was warm, bright, alive.

Sasuke stood at the vending machine, waiting for his drink to clatter down. Naruto approached from behind and bumped shoulders with him — on purpose.

“You’re late,” Sasuke muttered, eyes fixed on the machine.

Naruto grinned. “I wanted to see someone before coming.”

Sasuke didn’t look up. “Who?”

Naruto leaned in just a little closer, voice playful. “You.”

Sasuke straightened immediately, scoffing. “Idiot.”

But his cheeks turned red.

Naruto laughed under his breath and tugged lightly at Sasuke’s sleeve — a tiny gesture, casual to everyone else, but ridiculously intimate to them. “Hey, Senpai…”

Sasuke glanced around. Too many people. Too much noise. He stepped back half a pace. “What is it now?”

Naruto pointed at his own cheek, exaggeratedly wiping something imaginary. “Look,” he said innocently, “I’ve got something on my cheek.”

Sasuke frowned. “No, you don’t.”

Naruto pointed again, dramatic. “Are you sure? I think something’s missing.”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. “Naruto. Don’t start.”

Naruto kept staring at him, cheek still pointed, lips tugging up in a teasing smirk. “You know… that thing.” He tilted his head. “The thing someone special gives. Right here.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened. He glanced around again — couples sitting on benches, seniors eating by the stairs, freshmen rushing past. Too many witnesses. Too many eyes.

“No,” Sasuke whispered sharply. “We’re in public.”

Naruto leaned closer, not touching him but definitely invading his personal space. “It’s just the cheek.”

“That’s worse!” Sasuke hissed.

Naruto pretended to pout. “But I’ve been good today…”

Sasuke stared at him, baffled. “Since when?”

“Since now,” Naruto said brightly.

Sasuke looked away, jaw tight, his face burning. He grabbed his drink from the vending machine and took a step to leave — but Naruto gently caught his wrist, stopping him. Naruto lowered his voice, serious but soft. “I’m not forcing you. I just wanted to see if you’d think about it.”

Sasuke exhaled — and something in his expression softened, barely. He checked the courtyard again. No one seemed to be watching them. He stepped closer, so close Naruto could feel his breath on his ear. In the smallest whisper. “Turn around. Quick.”

Naruto blinked, shocked. “Seriously?”

Sasuke glared. “Before I change my mind.”

Naruto immediately turned, facing away from the crowd. Sasuke took a breath — one, two, three — and then leaned in, pale fingertips brushing Naruto’s shoulder lightly for balance. A very quick, feather-light kiss on Naruto’s cheek.

Naruto froze, stunned, smiling like an idiot.

Sasuke immediately pulled back, pretending nothing happened, expression neutral but ears flaming.