Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first song started to play.

Itachi took Sakura’s hand and started to guide her steps in the ongoing waltz.

“Itachi-kun...I’m saying this in advance. I’m very sorry if I’ll step on your toe...I know we practiced a lot for this slow dance, but I feel so nervous right now...I think, all the girls here are stabbing me with their eyes...”

“It’s okay. I won’t feel it since you’re light. If you actually want, you can stand on my feet throughout the whole dance.”

“I like that idea, but I’m not gonna be a freeloader haha!”

His grasp on her hand and waist were not too firm nor too lose. Just the right amount of touch that would make her feel at ease.

“I just realized that your hand is big,” she said as she got intrigued by how his hands surrounded one of her hands and her lower back. “Do all boys have this kind of hand size?”

“That’s something I can’t answer. Should I compare my hand with Sasuke’s?”

“You’ll creep him out. And...Itachi-kun?”

“Hn?”

“Thank you for being my partner for this prom...I actually didn’t expect you to accept my invitation.”

“What do you mean by the second one?”

“I mean, you know that I asked you this favor because I’m afraid to go to this prom alone...though I felt selfish despite the possibility of you already having someone in mind to bring along.”

“You’re right, I do have one in mind.”

“Oh.”

“You.”

Itachi searched for Sakura right after his graduation photoshoot with his parents and younger brother. He found her in their last high school room at the second floor of the school building.

She was looking at the cherry blossoms while her fingertips traced her desk unconsciously.

He knew very well that she did not sense him opening the door and entering the room. “Sakura.”

From the way he witnessed her back, her shoulder jerked up. “Oh! Itachi-kun!”

“Have you taken pictures with Aunt Mebuki and Uncle Kizashi?”

“Yup! They’re currently talking to Yamato-sensei about his recommendations for my college stuff.”

He walked toward her side. When he got a more vivid look of her face through the light from the window, his attention was directed to the few small patches of faint brown dots on her cheek.

Eight dots. One in the middle. By pairs the rest landed on her skin, and by sides they shaped like cherry blossom petal ends.

“Your freckles—”

“O-Oh. I never became friends with cosmetics ‘cause I’m too lazy to spend time on applying them haha! I wish I got Hinata-chan’s natural beauty, or Ino’s knack for makeups and fashion.”

“...Let me continue.”

“...S-Sorry for cutting you off...”

“Your freckles form a flower, and it’s amazing how they are still showing who you are. A cherry blossom.”

“Is...that so...”

“You always sat beside the window. Even the cherry blossom tree draws itself near you.”

“That’s my luck from draw lots! And, you always sat beside me haha!”

“That’s my luck from fate.”

“Ah...I-Itachi-kun, it’s our last day as classmates...”

“What about it? It’s not like it’s our last day of being friends, or our last time to see each other.”

“I heard many of our seniors before...that they kinda drifted apart from their classmates and friends after graduation. Could be from not seeing one another as they used to...”

“I can always visit your home or meet you up anywhere when we’re both available.”

“Easier said than done...”

“Don’t forget that we also end up having the same part-time jobs.”

“Still...”

“Are you scared of the days after the high school phase?”

“A bit...”

Itachi took out his phone. “Sakura.”

She answered as she watched him unlock his phone screen. It was the photo she took for him during their prom. “Umm, yes?”

He showed her his photo gallery filled with many selfies, groupies, and stolen shots of hers. “How can I forget my seatmate for three years, my colleague in all the part-time jobs I had for almost three years, my student council vice president for two years, my busmate in school trips in the day, my secret roommate in school trips at night, my only female friend in my one life, and my prom date for one special night?”

Her lips formed an “o” with the shock that came out from the fact that apart from the photos they had whenever his phone would be on her hands, he had all those candid moments. For the record, she never saw him using his device at all to take pictures or videos. In attempt to avoid being speechless, she randomly tapped on one photo he captured by himself and squeezed her eyes at it.

“I already got eye crinkles...”

He was about to respond when she made consecutive remarks in randomly chosen photos.

“I was slouching here...My uniform had so many crinkles here...I got my shirt tucked here, so it’s obvious that I ate too much...My skirt seemed to be shorter here because I had to put it up more to hide the stains around its waistline...I’m sitting unladylike here...My thighs are too fat on those tight socks...I shouldn’t wear short garments...Oh, this kind of pants don’t suit me...”

He badly wanted to turn off his phone to turn off her self-abasing, yet a part of him knew that it would not be that easy to put an end to her train of self-perception.

Itachi stood behind Sakura as she wrapped the hoodie she borrowed from him around her hip.

“Are you sure you’ll wear this?”

“Yeah...I didn’t notice that this swimming skirt exposes my lower back...,” she weakly answered while tying the long sleeves of the hoodie in her front body. “Next time, I’ll also not buy a crop top...”

He sighed and moved a bit to her side. He adjusted the tightness of the knot she made.

“Your beach attire is adorable. Your skirt is just fine. It’s not similarly showy as compared to what the other girls are wearing.”

“I don’t like my dimples on the back being visible...I should have worn a long sleeved bathing suit.”

“You still have my shirt at your house, right?”

“Which one? You have lent me many of your shirts. Mom and dad always joke about buying a separate cabinet for you haha!”

“All of them are loose on you anyway so next time, if you’ll go to a beach outing and you’re not confident with what you’ll wear, put on my shirt.”

“If someone who’s familiar with your shirts sees me, it’ll be an issue...”

“Am I the only person who has a black T-shirt? It’s not like those shirts are exclusive. I don’t care about the matters other people will think, nonetheless.”

“What do your shirts have to do with swimming attires in the beach...?”

“Your sense of fashion. Big shirt tucked in above knee-length skirt.”

She gave him an expressive positive look.

“I really love your brain.”

Nothing was new with Itachi and Sakura sitting together in the bus. They were on their way to the university dormitory – the new place they would stay at for most of their college life. It happened that they both got admitted to the same university, so their parents decided to let them live nearer their school.

She was drowsing with her head slightly falling every now and then. He had knowledge of how she was a heavy sleeper and at the same time, someone who could easily sleep anytime and anywhere when her back touches something comfortable.

He carefully spread his arm until her shoulder and squeezed her gently against his side. With his other hand, he gingerly guided her head to rest on his shoulder.

Itachi helped Sakura in unpacking her belongings and decorating her unit. Her room was just in front of his, making it more convenient for him to go back and forth to her when she called for assistance.

“It’s done! Thanks so much for helping me, Itachi-kun!”

“Your whole room has a touch of you.”

“My Mom made me bring all these stuff with flower designs...”

“Tell me if you want to buy new things. I can shop with you.”

“I thought you’re saving up for something?”

“I’m rather saving up for someone.”

Itachi did not let go of Sakura’s wrist until they reached the conference hall. It was the first official day of school, and all freshmen were mandated to attend the morning orientation.

“Itachi-kun...you can let go now...”

“Another creep might flirt with you.”

“He’s just asking for directions...and he might be our blockmate.”

“Then the more we should be vigilant, no?”

She could not conceal her giggle.

“You’re always a mother hen, aren’t you?”

“If someone dares to hit on you, I’ll be a cockpit rooster.”

“Come on, that’s like punching the moon from earth. I’m not as pretty as the college girls here.”

“You’re a college girl here.”

“The other girls.”

He removed his jacket and placed it above her shoulders. “There’s no other college girl for me.”

Before she could react to the warmth forming on her cheeks and heart, the PA system announced the entrance of the first year students from the Health and Medicine Department.

“Go now,” he patted her back.

As she timidly turned her back from him to join the walking crowd to the stage, he pulled out his phone and selected the camera app. He began capturing photos and videos of her – which he would share with her parents later as well.

More than that, he would choose one photo to set as his lock screen. Just like how it was for the past counting four years – whenever his phone was not within her reach, he would make a picture of her or them as his lock screen. And when it was time to meet her, he would choose a photo of his that was taken by her.

When Sakura was the one to stand in the middle of the stage, it was definitely him who knew that she was forcing to give a relaxed expression. He raised his arm to make her look at him – which she did. He showed her that he had his device on, and with his lifted hand, he pointed at the flower headwear he gifted her to wear for this day’s event.

When her fingertips touched the flower on the upper side of her head with an innocent look, probably asking herself internally why Itachi wanted her to touch the hair ornament from him, he instantly pressed the shutter button on his phone.

She really was the girl he was in love with.

Itachi taught Sakura how to properly and traditionally drink tea.

“I thought you’re more of a coffee person.”

“Says you whom I thought is more of a tea person haha!”

“I must say, I’m proud to guess correctly that you prefer sweet teas.”

“And I’m happy to guess right that you love strong and black coffee! I should get all your creamers next time.”

“I won’t mind. You can take Sasuke’s also if he’s with us. Just watch on your sugar level, please.”

“Isn’t that why you’re gonna be my personal doctor, future Dr. Uchiha?”

“My specialization is orthopedics, future Dr. Haruno. Not endocrinology.”

“I should start finding a friend from the endocrine field then haha!”

He took the joke seriously.

“Am I not enough as a best friend?”

She caught on his sudden shift on mood.

“Itachi-kun is too good as a best friend that I always rely on you...”

“Then keep relying on me. I’d love that.”

“You’re spoiling me more than my parents do...Do you also spoil Sasuke like this?”

“Maybe.”

She blew her cheeks. He chuckled.

“Finish your tea now, Sakura.”

“I want another cup though. You made such a good tea!”

He sighed.

“You sleep after this...one last cup, alright?”

She imitated his voice.

“Maybe.”

After an hour when he was sure that she was already voyaging in the dreamland, Itachi silently stood up from his seat and closed the curtains before turning on her lamp. She liked it that way – to have a little light on by her when she sleeps.

He returned the book he was reading to pass time beside the lamp on top of the small drawer.

“Itachi-kun...one more cup...”

He turned his head down to see a sleep-talking girl.

“Tsunade-sensei said that tea...is good to make me look young...”

He crouched down.

“Orochimaru-sensei said that tea...can make me live longer...”

He brushed her hair as weightless as a feather.

“Jiraiya-sensei said that tea...can make my boobs bigger...”

He frowned. That professor...

“Itachi-kun...do you also like girls with big boobs like Hinata-chan and Ino...?”

He frowned more. I never landed my eyes on your chest, Sakura. How would I know?

Itachi turned on his camera while video chatting with Sakura.

“How was your midterms earlier, Sakura?”

“I’m hopeful that I passed all of them, Itachi-kun...”

“You appear doubtful.”

“I never failed a test when you helped me reviewing for it!”

“I know that voice, Sakura.”

“...Well...”

“Would you like to talk in person? I’m just several steps away from you.”

“N-No need! It’s past midnight now, Itachi-kun...I’m troubling you more than I should...”

“It’s a weekend. We don’t have classes when we wake up for later.”

“Y-yeah...”

“Don’t yeah me, Sakura. You won’t make me sleep. Not when I feel that you’re bothered by something I don’t know.”

“You know me too well, Itachi-kun...”

“When you call me Itachi-kun a lot within a minute, it’s a red alert.”

“...I’m shy...”

“Your shyness will not enable me to get my good night sleep, Sakura.”

“F-Fine...Itachi-kun...?”

“Hn?”

“Do you think I’ll be able to find a part-time job around our campus?”

“...That’s what’s been disturbing you?”

“...Y-yes...”

“Of course, you can. What makes you think you can’t?”

“There might be too many competitors here...and...I’m apprehensive about how I’ll manage my time in work and school...”

“You did well in juggling with your job and academic duties before.”

“That’s high school...college is a different level...”

“You’re leveling up too, Sakura.”

“...I heard from Tenten that she got denied in a part-time job because she was too small and skinny...”

“Pardon?”

“And if you remember Sai from high school, he had this social media post about how he had been switching jobs ‘cause his employers keep getting customer feedback about his skin complexion...”

“Sakura, you’re not them. They’re not you.”

“I get it...but, that doesn’t mean I’ll—”

“I’ll work with you.”

Itachi watched Sakura cover her ears.

“Sakura.”

“...”

“Sakura.”

“......”

“Cherry Blossom.”

“.........”

He massaged his temple before removing her own hands from the sides of her head.

“What are you disappointed about?”

“I hate my voice on this mic...”

“Your voice sounds lively. It’s very suitable for this purpose.”

“The manager might not like how it turned out...”

“We can just call the order numbers out loud.”

“For five hours?”

“It’s not always a full-house.”

“...O-Okay, let’s try that instead...”

He plugged off the microphone before taking her hand to lead her to the service counter of the fast food chain they were currently employed.

After Itachi prepared the one medium Jolly Crispy fries, two Jolly spaghettis, and a small strawberry sundae, he placed the tray on Sakura’s side.

She inhaled, mustering the courage to voice out the order ticket number to be received by the customer.

“Order 143! Calling Order 143, your meal is ready!”

While he was preparing the next order, a happy smile formed on his lips.

He 143s her.

Itachi was surprised to see Sakura’s free meal not including a large box of fries.

“Where’s your fries?”

“O-Oh? I won’t be having them.”

He sat beside her in the pantry for the crews on break. “Are you really Sakura?”

“I-Itachi-kun!”

“No, seriously. We all know you never miss ordering fries. And I know that you always have it in combination with an ice cream or sundae because you dip it there instead of ketchup. And for the three weeks that we’re working here together, you always get fries and choco sundae.”

“I hate that you’re too observant...”

“I hate that you’re not telling me what’s wrong with you right now.”

She took a deep breath.

“During the physical checkup demo yesterday in class, I found out that I gained a lot of weight...”

“You don’t look like you did.”

“They went to my hip and thigh...not in my breasts...”

He almost choked out the pasta he was savoring.

Itachi zipped Sakura’s mascot costume at the back.

“Finally! It closed...”

“Twirlie suits you.”

“Are you expecting me to say that Popo looks good on you?”

“I’ll never be this mascot again.”

She found a chance to tease him.

“Popo Itachi!”

“Stop. Please.”

“What!? Popo Itachi is evolving!?”

“Sakura...”

“Congratulations! Popo Itachi evolved into Jollibee Itachi!”

“I will never dress that bee.”

“Jollibee is cute?”

“Cherry Blossom.”

“Sheesh...I’m just getting back at you for making me eat a lot of fries!”

“Because you forget to get them during break time.”

“I’m not getting them because I’m cutting my carbs! Now, look...I have a hard time putting on this Twirlie costume...”

“Your body looks fine, Sakura.”

“It doesn’t when I have to jump to fit into my jeans!”

“Then try wearing skirts?”

“Too showy...and my legs are like Chickenjoy drumsticks...”

He would reply, but their co-workers summoned them already to the Jollibee Event Room.

Itachi, as Popo, had a little contribution to the birthday party. He would only hand out the souvenirs and game prizes. Sometimes, when a kid or a parent asked him for photos, he would oblige. He was hiding his identity under a mascot anyway. Besides, it was part of the job.

Sakura, on the other hand, as Twirlie, was one of the main energizers. She would interact with the kids, join games, and even groove with the hosts and the guests when a fun song was played.

From her performance, the managers decided to make her host the succeeding kiddie parties instead of being a mascot. Much to Itachi’s relief, he was freed from the mascot selection when she convinced their superiors that he was more effective in the kitchen and serving duties than entertainment.

After seven months of having a part-time job, both Itachi and Sakura decided to resign due to the compiling readings from their medical courses. Overall, working in Jollibee with her was a good experience, especially when he discovered why she ventured to be a working college student.

“Itachi-kun! Happy special day to you!” she greeted as soon as she opened his unit’s door. She asked him to stay first in hers while she was doing some miracles in his dorm.

He saw a feast on the small dining table and the living room’s coffee table. Both were full of his favorite food and desserts. He gave her a shocked look yet still finding the time to make his brain function and question what laid on his sight.

“Is this why you took culinary courses despite being majoring in medicine?”

She nodded slowly.

“Is this why you have cuts on your fingers and blisters on your hands?”

She nodded embarrassingly.

“Is this...,” he did not continue. He closed the door and walked toward her direction.

“I-Itachi-kun...?”

He embraced her. In his imagination.

“Thank you very much, Cherry Blossom.”

Itachi bought two VIP tickets for the musical concert Sakura had been desiring to watch. She was a fan of classical music, and she loved listening to musical instruments.

This would be his Christmas gift for her.

And if the season of Yuletide would permit him, he would confess to her and officially ask her out.

Not as a friend for three years in high school and a best friend for three years in college, but as her boyfriend.

He could not believe that it has been six years since they have known each other. How was he able to endure that long?

To be honest, he could wait longer. However, it did not feel right that he would depend on time alone.

If it was time, then he had it all along with him.

He slipped one ticket in a white envelope that contained a handwritten letter from him. As much as he wanted to deliver it personally to her, he had a conference to attend to for four days, and right now, Sakura was attending her class.

And so he tried to slide the thin envelope through the narrow opening of her unit’s door. He sent a text message to her, informing her about it.

If only conveying his love to her was as easy as passing the envelope to her place, then he would be spared from the burden of being overly cautious around her.

It did not matter to him whether Sakura favored the traditional or modern way of courtship – or confession. All he was hoping for was for her to accept his love.

It was not the best in form yet, but he was not going to grow tired of developing it throughout their whole time.

To keep him in company during his travel, he set his phone’s display screen into the recently taken photo of theirs: Itachi holding a cup of coffee and Sakura holding a cookie with her one hand on V-sign. That moment was when they went to a medical mission, and the elderly prepared coffees and freshly baked cookies for all the volunteers.

Itachi loved everything about Sakura, even the fact that she was not wholly loving herself. That she had a hard time loving how she appeared and what she had for others to see in her.

Strangely, Itachi could not contact Sakura on her phone after the third day of the conference. He noticed that she was on her device, as per the availability symbol, yet she seemed not to notice his messages and phone calls.

It made him anxious. She was never once like that.

“Itachi-kun?”

Same way of addressing him, but not the same voice that he loved hearing.

“Yes, Izumi-san?”

“The next speaker is here. Let’s take our seats now.”

“I see. I’ll be there in a bit.”

When Izumi, his co-presenter in the research study they conducted and fortunately got accepted in the conference overseas, left the waiting room, he gave Sakura another call.

She did not have any class at that time, so why would she be not reachable?

When it had been two days straight that she seemed to be avoiding him, Itachi went back to their dormitory immediately. Instead of opening his unit’s door and tidy his belongings, he knocked on hers.

“Sakura?”

No response.

He tried to dial her.

No noise from inside. But there was a familiar ringtone coming from somewhere. He looked at the source of the sound, near the building’s staircase.

He just only saw a glimpse of pink hair ends until the corner wall hid the figure.

And so the chase began. Yet, she was so good in hiding.

He never saw her enter nor exit her unit.

He never saw her attend nor leave her classes.

He never saw her usual guarantee of having checked his text messages.

For almost two weeks, Itachi had been chasing Sakura – the thing is, he never caught her.

Not when he found from Izumi that Sakura herself gave her a ticket to a musical concert so she could spend time with him.

Not even when news reached him that Sakura fell on the stairs.

Itachi was grateful for finally catching a glimpse of her, but he was not sure if he would be thankful for the circumstance that made him come to her.

Apart from being anemic, she was diagnosed with extreme fatigue and intermittent flu. He could see how obvious she got thinner from the last time he saw her. It did not help that she was experiencing anorexia as well.

He never noticed it. He thought she was only kidding about how she was eating lesser – when she was flaunting how low her self-esteem was about her body.

He wanted to snatch all the pain she was suffering right now – mentally, emotionally, and physically – but he had an inkling that he himself was part of why she was like that.

He held one of her hands as he caressed her hair tenderly. The only noise he could hear was the air conditioner. His heart would not even beat loudly.

It was lamenting.

Sakura’s friends, Ino, Hinata, and Tenten visited a while back and shared with him that she had been in distress after the rumors about Izumi and Itachi being romantically associated. It also did not help that Izumi was behaving too overly close with him based on her social media posts and the way she answered the online and written interviews by the campus official media publication.

She was too insecure and felt that she was interfering on a blooming love from two wonderful persons that would undoubtedly create a great couple.

Despite herself being aware that those were not true. She received all the signs that Itachi held something special for her.

But both her mind and heart were weak.

Itachi inhaled sharply and cursed himself. His heart did feel heavy. What more of her heart?

“Mmm...”

“Sakura?”

She slowly opened her eyes and shifted her head to the side.

“I-Itachi-kun...”

“Sakura...”

Without giving her any warning, he kissed her forehead and never let go of her hand he had been enveloping around his.

“Itachi-kun...”

“Shh...just rest for now.”

“I’m sorry...”

“Why are you sorry?”

“I’m troubling you again...”

“You can trouble me anytime.”

“You should be with Izumi-san...”

“Sakura...”

“You two...look together. She’s the kind of girl you deserve...”

“Just because we look together doesn’t mean we’re compatible. I never once looked at her way.”

“Then you can now...,” she paused for a moment to survey the room and look for a clock. “It’s tonight, right...? The concert...I gave her the ticket.”

“That’s for you, not for her.”

“I...,” her voice trailed off as soon as tears poured out from her eyes. “I don’t deserve it, Itachi-kun...I don’t deserve you...”

He tried wiping away her sorrow. “I don’t know where you’re coming from, but I’m willing to dive into it. Tell me, Cherry Blossom. Tell me, so I can understand.”

“I’m not beautiful like her...”

“You’re the most beautiful girl I know. My Mother even said the same.”

“My face had freckles...it’s not smooth like hers...”

“I love the flower shape from your freckles. It’s very you.”

“My eye color is weird...green...”

“It’s very calming to me, Sakura. I love your eyes. It holds serenity.”

“My hair is not smooth and silky like hers...she also has a long hair...Sasuke said Uchihas prefer long hairs...”

“Did you see my cousins’ wives, Shizune-san and Rin-san? Obito and Shisui are Uchihas. Thus, what Sasuke said is false. And for what it’s worth,” he paused to kiss her forehead with a few hair bangs, “I love your hair more than anyone else’s. Pink hue, floral scent, and whatever hairstyle and headwear you have, it looks lovely on you.”

“Do you like short or long hair...?”

“Your hair. I’ve seen you with short, medium, and long length. Everything’s charming.”

“...I have belly fats...”

“That can be worked on, Sakura. Let’s call them baby fats.”

“...Everything I’m eating seems to go directly to my thighs and legs...”

“You have an appropriate body. You have a gorgeous figure. I won’t have you any other way, Sakura.”

She pursed her lips at him.

“Itachi-kun is a liar...”

His eyebrows knitted just like his heart when he heard that one single word.

“I never lied to you, Cherry Blossom...I don’t have the right timing for everything, but never in my entire yearning for you that I uttered a word of deception just to please you...”

“All men love big boobs...”

“This again...”

“Hinata-chan, Ino, Izumi-san, and the others have a big future—”

“Whoever said to you that all men love...that, he’s not a real man.”

“...Are you not really—”

“Sakura, do all women love big muscles?”

“Huh...? I don’t think so...”

“There you have it Besides, love is not measured by someone’s appearance. If you said that you prefer a muscular and a more masculine body...”

Sakura could imagine him going to the gym and doing weightlifting exercises. Nevertheless, she could not picture in her mind a muscular Itachi.

“Itachi-kun, I think I get you now...”

Sensing that she was trying to sit up, he supported her and sat beside her on the hospital bed. He extended his arm to hold her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m too late to make you get my point, and for me to get yours.”

She smiled at him and willingly pressed herself against him. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry...I know how you feel for me, but I keep...turning a blind eye to it...”

“If I’m able to open your eyes, I hope you’ll let me open your heart, Sakura.”

“You’ve opened it already for a long time...I just keep closing it...”

He cuddled her closer to him.

“No matter how many times you shut it down, I’ll just make it work again. Now that you know I’m always here for you, more than as your personal doctor, I won’t hold back anymore.” He took a moment to give her a genuine smile. “Cherry Blossom.”

“I wonder why me though, Itachi-kun...”

“I have no ifs and buts. I just love you. I love you as you are. The weak, the strong, the cute, the hardworking, the smart, the lively, the clumsy, the sleep-talker, the tea lover, the wholesome—all of you, Sakura.”

“You know that...I easily get insecure...”

“And you know that I easily sense if you do.” He planted another forehead kiss onto her. “I’ll never get tired of loving you, Sakura. I’ll never stop making you love yourself too. If you’ll allow me to help you.”

She nuzzled her cheek against his chest. “I think, even if I don’t allow you, you’ll find ways to do so.”

“Yes, because I want to help you love yourself.”

“...Itachi-kun, the love I have for you...it may not be as much as what you give me...”

“Who says it’s not that much? You’ve given me plenty of kindness since high school, Sakura. It all bloomed there.”

“Oh...?”

“The reason why I love you this much is because of how I’ve been seeing you give too much even if you have lesser than those who are capable to give. So for the wondergirl whose kindness doesn’t go unseen,” he took a brief pause to kiss one of her eyes, “I love you this big.” He also kissed the other one. “And this much.”

“You really spoil me a lot, future Dr. Uchiha...”

“I don’t mind if you spoil me a lot too, future Mrs. Uchiha.”

Itachi froze from what he just said. If Sakura’s face had been a tomato getting redder and redder from his affectionate skin ship and tiny kisses, his own face grew into a red, spicy, hot chili after his brain just registered that he called her like that.

Sakura could not suppress her laugh from how his stoic face was fighting the screaming blushes across his cheeks.

He hid his budding flushed expression by burying his face on the side of her neck.

She could feel the feverish temperature from him. “Your face is so warm, Itachi-kun! Haha! Don’t tell me, you’re catching my fever haha!”

He slightly lifted his head to peek at her. “I’ve been holding myself back for six years, Sakura...”

“And I’ve been rejecting your feelings for six years...”

He pressed his nose against her lower cheek.

“I’ll keep pursuing you then, whether you like it or not.”

She flicked his nose lightly.

“You’ll pursue my parents too haha!”

“That’s easy. Aunt Mebuki and Uncle Kizashi love me.”

“How about Aunt Mikoto and Uncle Fugaku? Are they...okay with this...?”

“Of course. Trust me, they care for you more than they care for their own sons.”

“How about Sasuke? He’s going to attend the same university, right?”

“He’ll be with me in the dorm. He’s long called you sister-in-law. I can’t believe you never heard him saying that when he refers to you in that way at home...”

“Really?”

“We’re actually all set. I can move in to your room tonight and marry you tomorrow if you want.”

“I-I-Itachi-kun...!”

His lips found their way on the side of her head.

“Do you feel any headache right now? We can’t go to the musical tonight, but we can watch its online stream. It’s part of the package from buying the VIP ticket.”

“I’m good. I just feel a bit hungry.”

“I’ll call for a delivery. What would you like to eat?”

“I can eat anything right now...Oh! How about you, have you eaten yet?”

“I can eat you right now.”

“Itachi-kun............”

They ordered from Jollibee and ate their meal while watching the livestream of the musical concert on his tablet.

Itachi was glad enough to see that Sakura was not holding back herself from eating what she wanted, especially her favorite fries that she always dipped in sundae. The concert lasted for almost three hours, and it was soon dinner time.

Since she was not yet fully recovered and would not be discharged until all her tests were cleared, she was advised to stay in the hospital until tomorrow.

“I don’t want to miss Tsunade-sensei’s lecture tomorrow...”

“You have a valid reason to be excused.”

“Missing a three-hour lecture feels like missing a month of class.”

“I’m free in the morning tomorrow. I can sit in.”

“Wouldn’t that be weird...or too surprising? Tsunade-sensei knows you’re done with that course, and my blockmates might cause unnecessary rumors again...”

“Being your boyfriend is not a rumor though? I might find it more profitable to make them disseminate the news of us being a couple throughout the campus.”

“You’re truly a sly weasel...”

“Because you’re a shy flower.”

Having a loss of words, she just pinched his cheek.

“Would you like some tea before you call it a night?”

“It’s too early to sleep—”

“As my patient, you should listen to your doctor.” He touched her forehead for temperature check. “Your fever is not yet cooling down.”

“...Hmph. Fine.”

He rose to his feet from the bed. “Sweet tea as always?”

“Is there one in the vendo?”

He opened his courier bag and showed her a small box of tea bags in his hands. “I’ll make it. They have a pantry near the nurse station.”

“You always have that with you...?”

“Yes. For you.”

“I won’t be surprised if you have a thermos bottle—”

She saw him putting out one.

“No one can claim the mother hen title from me.”

“I thought you signed up for being my lover, not my mother.”

“I’d sign up for all the professions you need in your life.”

Itachi groaned from the sunlight coming from their bedroom’s window grazing his eyelids. To escape from it, he veiled his face by pinning it against his wife’s nape covered by her long hair strands. He was hugging her from behind.

“Sakura...,” he mumbled, “Did you draw the curtains open?”

“I didn’t...,” she sleepily uttered inaudibly as she tightened the grip on his hands that enveloped her.

He would like to sleep more given that he had a graveyard shift last night. Not in the hospital though.

In taking care of their newborn daughter.

Speaking of the baby who resembled the gorgeous married-to-him lady he trapped in his arms, her morning cries signaled an emergency level alert.

“Itachi...love, she’s awake...,” Sakura’s voice implied that he attend to their wailing daughter in the crib.

Compared to the unholy hour that he called it a dawn, she had been deprived of proper sleep for quite some time now. He would not rob her the chance to regain her energy. It was a good thing that she was on a long work leave.

He kissed her cheek before he conditioned himself to sit up.

Just as his feet were about to land on the carpeted floor, the door banged open.

“Big bwo is coming, Chuchuji!”

A pink-haired toddler came in with a diaper in his tiny hand.

“Oh! Pa, yow awake fwom youw slumbew! Good mowning!”

Itachi’s drowsiness did not keep him from smiling brightly at their three-year-old-first born. He wore his slippers and went to carry him in his arms. “What a responsible brother you are, Hane.” He kissed the boy’s forehead. “Good morning.”

“I heawd Chuchuji bawl. Pee ow poop time.”

He carefully made him sit beside his dozing mother who turned her body to face their direction. She watched Itachi take the baby in his arms as she latched one arm on the boy’s tummy.

“Does our Hane know how to change Tsutsuji’s diaper?”

The little boy shook his head. “Nope! I’ll just give Ma and Pa the diapew to cleanse hew back to pwistineness!”

She giggled at their son’s zeal to minimize the steps they needed to do to clean his baby sister. She squished him to her side after she had sat and leaned her back on the pillow against the bed frame. She tidied her long hair by brushing them to one side of her front shoulder so as not to make it stick to their son’s eye. “Let’s give Papa and Tsutsuji a space.”

“Opewation cleaning of Chuchuji! Commence!”

Itachi gave his wife an incredulous look, eyes questioning her how come their little boy could not pronounce the letter “r” but could enunciate intricate vocabulary for his age.

She wanted to answer him directly – that it was due to all the books he had been reading for him as bedtime stories. One time, she even watched the two of them read a science book together as if Hane was his assistant in training for an upcoming surgery.

Anyway, she simply beamed at him while cuddling her tiny spirited replica.

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