In class, you often faded into the background, a silent observer while the girls swooned over Sasuke and the air crackled with the playful rivalry between him and Naruto.

You were the outlier, the one who caught Sasuke's attention. He appreciated that you didn’t fawn over him at the slightest gesture, unlike everyone else.

While he dedicated himself to relentless training and honing his skills, there was a flicker of desire in him to engage with you, to break the silence that hung between you. Yet, you were always too absorbed in your own rigorous routines to notice his longing.

Then, one day, he decided to intervene, halting you mid-lap on the field.

“Thirsty?” Sasuke asked, offering you a bottle of water, his other hand casually tucked into his pocket.