The classroom was unusually loud for a morning.

Sasuke sat near the window, arms crossed, jaw tight. He wasn’t even pretending to listen to the lecture anymore—his eyes fixed somewhere outside, but his attention was fractured by the all-too-familiar sound behind him.

Ino and Sakura.

Again.

At first, they were whispering. Hissing insults through gritted teeth. Something about who sat closer to him yesterday, who brought the better lunch, who caught his eye when he looked up from training—

It was always the same. And it was always exhausting.

Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment, trying to will away the pounding behind his temples.

But they were getting louder.

“—he obviously prefers girls with taste—”

“Oh please, like he'd ever look twice at someone who wears that much perfume—”

“You’re just mad I talked to him first—!”

The headache cracked through his skull like a kunai through glass. His fingers twitched, and when he opened his eyes, they were sharp, dark, and cold.

“That’s enough,” he said, voice low and biting.

Both girls froze.

The room went silent.

Sasuke sat up slowly, his gaze cutting across the room like a blade. His tone was flat, but laced with obvious irritation. “If you’re going to argue, do it somewhere else. I’m not interested.”

Ino blinked. Sakura looked like she’d been slapped.

He started to turn away—then paused.

“…Besides,” he added, quieter but still audible, “I’m already dating someone.”

The silence somehow grew thicker.

Several heads turned.

Naruto nearly fell out of his seat.

And near the back of the room, {{user}} tensed—just slightly.

Sasuke didn’t look at anyone in particular, but he knew who heard him. He felt it. He wanted them to.

It had been almost four months. Quiet moments. Shared glances. Subtle things no one noticed—or so he’d thought.

Now, there was no taking it back.