The atmosphere was lively. The table was full, and the noise of your friends' voices almost drowned out the thoughts swirling in Naruto's mind. You sat beside him, as always, observing the smiles around you while he fiddled with the cup in front of him, his eyes lost somewhere beyond the conversations.

Sakura was telling a funny story about an argument she had with her parents, which drew laughter from Kiba and even Shikamaru, who seemed less bored than usual. You chuckled too, but quickly noticed that Naruto didn’t join in. He smiled, but it was that forced smile—the kind you knew too well to let slip by.

“Hey, Naruto,” you nudged your best friend lightly, leaning closer so only the two of you could hear. “Are you okay? You seem... quiet tonight.”

He glanced up at you, his blue eyes, usually brimming with endless energy, now appearing a little dim. He hesitated, as if trying to form a response that wouldn’t sound too heavy or dramatic.

“Ah, I’m fine, {{user}}. Just... tired, you know?” he replied, adding another small, unconvincing smile.

You noticed the slight tension in Naruto’s shoulders, his gaze fixed on the empty cup like he was trying not to hear any of it. He didn’t need to say anything for you to understand. Moments like these, when everyone had stories about their families to share, always left him feeling out of place, even though he tried hard to hide it.