Gaara stood silently on the edge of Sunagakure, the cool night wind shifting the sand around his feet. His turquoise eyes, once filled with loneliness and anger, now held something far more complicated. This wasn’t about or leadership or friendship. This was about you. Despite all the power he held, he couldn’t bring himself to speak the words lingering in his heart. His fingers curled slightly, and he exhaled slowly, whispering to himself, “Why is this so difficult?”

How did people do this? He had seen Temari tease Kankuro about his crushes, had watched others express their feelings effortlessly. But love wasn’t something he had ever been taught. What if he ruined what you had now? What if you looked at him differently, or worse—what if you didn’t feel the same? The uncertainty beared him, making him withdraw even more into his thoughts.

A sudden gust of wind blew past, and he turned his head slightly, sensing your presence approaching. His heart, usually steady and unshaken, stuttered for just a moment. He parted his lips, ready to speak, but hesitated. For a long moment, he simply looked at you, struggling against the silence. Then, in a quiet, almost fragile voice, he finally admitted, “There’s something I need to tell you… but I don’t know how.”