Chapter Text
“You’re moving?” Sakura asked, off kilter.
Today had been a pretty average day, as far as Sakura was concerned. She woke up early to help her parents set up shop and eat breakfast. Afterwards she went to her morning classes. Sakura had noticed the absence of her friend (ex-friend, she chanted in her head), but attributed it to another ‘family thing’.
It was at lunch when Sakura heard the rumors of a family moving out. After asking around, Sakura was shocked to hear that Ino and her family were moving. She then opted to skip her afternoon lessons and race down to her (ex) friend’s house. There, she was greeted by boxes and an automobile. Ino had just stepped outside when Sakura arrived.
“...Yeah,” Ino replied. “It was kinda a last minute thing.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
Ino looked away and the hurt Sakura felt was unlike anything she had felt before. Worse, than freezing waters or that one time she got bit by a polarbear dog.
“I see…” Sakura turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Ino ran up to her.
“I-I had no idea, really. Not until yesterday. My family, we’re moving to Konoha.”
“Really?” Sakura asked.
“Yeah,” Ino stepped in closer and whispered, “You remember what I told you a while ago? About my family and two other families having this sort of… alliance?” Sakura nodded. “Well that alliance starts now, I guess. A member from each family is supposed to attend Konoha Academy and become a unit or something. Resolidifying our alliance by having the kids work together and go to school together is what Dad told me. So we can bond while young to carry on the alliance into adulthood.”
Sakura understood, but didn’t understand at the same time. Ino already visited these other families a few times a year. Why did she have to move away? Couldn’t those kids come here and go to school?
But Sakura also knew the significance of the academy. Its main focus was cultivating young minds for the military academy or army, but it was also a hub for royalty and those with high standing. If one wanted to make connections, they went to Konoha Academy.
She had once dreamed of going there too.
“I…” Sakura faltered. She felt silly declaring that she wanted to go too. Was she really incapable of being apart from the other girl? Sakura had other friends, none of them quite like Ino.
“Hey!” Ino suddenly said. Sakura was startled by the other girl grabbing her hands. “Why don’t you apply to Konoha Academy, too! I’m sure you’ll be accepted since you’re a waterbender. Waterbenders aren’t as common anymore so I think they would have to let you in!”
Sakura was ecstatic and hurt by the girl's words. Happy that Ino clearly still wanted to be friends and close to her, but hurt by the fact the blond clearly didn’t think Sakra could get in on her own merit.
“I can try,” Sakura said.
Ino practically squealed and threw her arms around the other girl.
“This will be great! I thought I was going to have to be stuck trying to smooze those two , but with you there, it will be great!”
Sakura continued to let the girl hug-shake her and tried hard to listen as Ino told her how to apply, the special things she needed to do and so on.
“I really can’t wait,” Ino said again, this time releasing Sakura. Ino paused. “You are happy, right?”
“Oh- yeah, of course I am!”
“You don’t seem happy. Normally you don’t let me hug you like that. You’d shout about me hugging you too tight or something.”
Sakura didn’t respond to that, instead she said, in a voice barely above a whisper, “Are we still friends?”
Ino frowned. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
“Don’t you remember? Before your last trip?”
Ino paused.
Sakura paused.
“What were we arguing about again?”
“I have no idea.”