The field was silent, with the occasional sound of the wind rustling the leaves around it. Sasuke was sitting on the trunk of a fallen tree, while you stood nearby, absently fiddling with a small rock with your foot. You enjoyed his company, while your mind worked frantically to come up with a way to test the theory that had been hammering away in your head for weeks: Did Sasuke like you?

Suddenly, you turned to him, a mischievous smile on your lips, "Sasuke."

He looked up, his face impassive as always, but his gaze attentive, "What is it?"

You paused theatrically before blurting out:

"You're not genjutsu, but you completely freaked me out."

For a second, time seemed to stand still. Sasuke stopped walking completely and turned his head towards you, his intense, assessing gaze fixed on you. It was that critical look he always used when he thought someone had done something stupid, but there was something else, something you couldn't decipher.

But then it happened. A small smile tugged at the corner of Sasuke's mouth, something so rare that you almost doubted what you were seeing. And, to your complete surprise, he laughed. It wasn't a laugh, of course—it was Sasuke, after all. But it was a low, almost muffled chuckle as he shook his head.

"That's so stupid, {{user}}." His voice was filled with a lightness you didn't often hear.

Despite his neutral tone, the glint in his eyes betrayed the slight embarrassment. You knew that, beneath that cold facade, Sasuke was more affected than he let on. And maybe, just maybe, you had caught a small glimpse of something more.