It was happening again. She saw him.

Sasuke — just his silhouette disappearing into the trees after another mission. After another visit that barely lasted long enough to breathe in his presence. Her heart still reached for him like muscle memory. Like instinct.

But when she turned back toward the village, it wasn’t Sasuke waiting. It was you.

You, who always walked beside her. You, who never asked her to chase. You, whose eyes never looked away when she cried for someone else.

She looked at you now, eyes tired, smile worn at the corners. “…You saw, didn’t you?”

You didn’t answer. You didn’t need to. The silence was enough. But you stepped closer, slow — like you were giving her time to run if she needed to.

She didn’t. “Why do you do this?” she asked, voice barely above the wind. “Why stay?” You didn’t say Sasuke doesn’t love you. You didn’t say you deserve better.

You just said her name. Soft. Honest. Like it meant something. She felt her throat tighten. That name in your voice — it didn’t hurt the way Sasuke’s silence did. It didn’t leave bruises where hope used to be.

And still, she was afraid. “I don’t know if I can forget him,” she whispered. “Even if I want to.”

You nodded. Like you understood. Like you’d wait anyway.

Sakura looked down. Her hand brushed yours for just a second. She didn’t hold on. Not yet. But she didn’t pull away either.