It was an April afternoon, and clouds hung low over Konohagakure. Uchiha Sasuke looked up at the clouds and sighed. How carefree, up in the heavens...he thought. It was an old custom in his family for males of his age to appear with a date to the Spring Festival the following morning, or not appear at all. Not appearing at the Spring Festival was often frowned upon by many, however, so Sasuke would need a date. At a younger age, girls would flock to him, wanting an opportunity to go out with him.
At sixteen, however, and recently returned from Otogakure, the chances were slim. Even if there were those who still wanted to go out with him, they were forbidden by their families; he was not one of much honor, nowadays. It didn't matter much to him, however: Sasuke didn't want girls looking to brag that they got to go out with him. In his opinion, a date would not be a real date without someone you can really love. None of the fangirls loved him in the romantic sense of the word that he was thinking of.
A small droplet of water struck his forehead at that moment, and he looked up absentmindedly. Sasuke could feel a few more droplets hitting his casual shirt. He was about to walk back inside the Uchiha manor, when a shout startled him.
"Sasuke-kun!" Haruno Sakura ran up to him as the rain began to pour down.
"What is it this time?" Sasuke asked, supressing the urge to roll his eyes.
"I was on my way home when the rain began to pour, so I ran here, as it was the closest place around. Do you mind if I stay until the rain stops?" she asked over the rain.
"Whatever," he said, and the two walked into the manor.
"Arigato, Sasuke-kun." Sakura thanked him as they went through the doorway. "Sorry for the trouble." Sasuke responded with his signature "hn," and motioned for her to sit down at the table with him, and she did so.
"So...Do you have a date for the Spring Festival?" Sasuke asked.
"No...why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering. I thought Naruto and you were going together, that's all."
"He's going with Hinata, or so he tells me. Apparently he's proud of it, that's for sure." Sakura answered.
"Typical..." Sasuke sighed. He talked with her some more, about the political status of Konohagakure in particular, as she was the Hokage's student. Eventually, he began to think, Could she be the one? I suppose she could, if she still has feelings like from before.
