Chapter Text
The day mirrored Naruto’s mood. He didn’t know why, but for some unknown reason, he felt radiant—just like the sun. But really, hadn’t he been described that way countless times before? Maybe it wasn’t all that surprising for others to see him like this, but Naruto preferred to believe in the romantic idea that he felt this way because good things were going to happen today. Or maybe it was just Hinata’s influence.
With his hair still damp from the shower and the zipper of his orange jacket half open, he turned the doorknob with one hand and adjusted his backpack on his shoulder with the other. He didn’t have class that morning, so he had plenty of time to go in search of a good cup of coffee—something different from what he usually prepared in a hurry at home.
The moment he opened his door, the door to 302 opened as well.
Naruto froze for a moment, and it was impossible not to widen his eyes slightly when he saw the figure emerging from the neighboring apartment.
Black hair framed an absurdly symmetrical face, sharp features as if they had been carefully sculpted, and—more impressive than anything else—eyes so dark they seemed to hold entire universes within them. He wore a black t-shirt and sweatpants, with headphones hanging around his neck.
Sasuke stopped too. They stared at each other. Neither said anything for a full second.
— "...So you really are real," Naruto said with a slightly nervous smile, his eyes scanning every detail of the other’s face as if he needed to confirm he was real.
Sasuke stared back at him for a moment. He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow with an amused expression.
— “I thought you’d be taller. Judging by the amount of noise.” He said in a low voice, sharp eyes glinting.
— “And you seemed friendlier through notes,” Naruto shot back, tilting his head with a radiant smile. — “But… I’ll admit it’s strange seeing you talk without needing to write.”
— “The feeling is mutual.” Sasuke passed by him slowly, but not without pausing for a second. — “Heading out?”
— “Yeah. I want to get coffee somewhere different.” Then he took the opportunity to try and find out more about the preferences of the mysteriously and unfairly handsome man. — “Any recommendations?”
Sasuke made a thoughtful face, as if considering every possible option, then took a deep breath before answering.
— “Actually, I’m going to a café now. It’s next to that pink bookstore. The owner seems to hate people, but the cake is good.”
He turned around and threw a glance over his shoulder.
— “I’m letting you come along this time, but don’t make a habit of following me.”
— “Rude.” Naruto muttered, but his smile remained. — “Relax, I’m not following you,” — he paused, — “but it’s important that you know coincidences happen, and I might just be going the same way.”
— “Coincidence. Sure.” Sasuke sighed, but he was already walking toward the elevator. One corner of his mouth twitched, as if holding back a smile.
And Naruto saw it.
Their footsteps mixed with the sound of passing cars as they walked side by side in silence, both a bit awkward, unsure of how to start a conversation. Naruto scratched his head, he wasn’t a shy person, so this felt unusual. He was the first to speak.
— “So… what is it you study again?”
— “Architecture.” Sasuke replied, still not looking at him.
Naruto thought for a moment. — “Yeah, that makes sense.”
That finally made Sasuke turn to him, raising an eyebrow.
— “I mean, you seem like the type of person who’d judge the angle of a wall.” Naruto smiled at him.
— “Speaking of which… your door,” he paused. Naruto looked at him curiously. “It’s kind of crooked.”
It wasn’t. The door looked perfectly normal, Sasuke knew that. But he enjoyed teasing the guy.
— “Is it?” Naruto looked down, frowning, then looked at Sasuke visibly confused.
Sasuke couldn’t hide his smile, and Naruto’s expression shifted into amusement.
— “It’s not!" Naruto said, feigning irritation. He shook his head. — “Lying bastard.” He muttered, walking ahead without looking back, but when he turned, he saw the man was already entering a small café. He quickly went back. — “Hey!”
Sasuke gave him a small, victorious smile before turning and heading to a table by the window. Naruto cursed him mentally for looking so indifferent.
The café was small and cozy, with a large window through which sunlight poured in gently, casting a golden hue over Sasuke’s dark hair in a way Naruto found hard to ignore. He pretended not to notice, focusing instead on picking the most over-the-top coffee on the menu—whipped cream, caramel, and sprinkles.
— “That has more sugar than coffee,” Sasuke commented, watching his cup being delivered.
— “That’s what makes everything better,” Naruto said with a grin. — “You should try it.”
Sasuke declined with a subtle gesture before sipping his plain espresso. — “I’d rather not die of diabetes in my twenties.”
Naruto pretended to be offended. — “You’re such an old soul trapped in a pretty body, you know?”
— “Pretty?” Sasuke raised an eyebrow, and Naruto blushed a little, unintentionally.
— “That was… a typo. Out loud.”
Sasuke chuckled, not a full laugh, but enough for Naruto to feel he was being tolerated with a certain fondness.
— “So… architecture,” Naruto changed the subject. — “Can I ask where the motivation to choose your major came from?”
Sasuke thought for a moment. — “I value order, planning, and precision.”
— “That answer was way too technical. I want emotional reasons, Mister Mysterious Sasuke Uchiha.”
Sasuke rolled his eyes. — “You’re more insistent in person. Not sure I like that.”
He went quiet for a second. — “I don’t know, it’s a complicated question. How about you tell me what you study and why.”
Naruto smiled. — “Psychology.”
— “As a patient?” Sasuke asked with fake innocence.
Now it was Naruto’s turn to roll his eyes, but he continued anyway.
— “Because… for me, what matters most are relationships. Psychology lets me connect with real people and help them.”
Sasuke gave him an impressed look. — “That was actually kind of beautiful.”
— “Also because… for a very noble reason,” Naruto added with dramatic flair, eyes gleaming with mock seriousness.
— “I found out psychologists get paid to listen to people’s problems. And look, I’ve been doing that for free since high school. Time to monetize my natural talent.”
Sasuke unexpectedly chuckled at that. — “Why did I expect something different?” he muttered to Naruto.
They stayed there a while, talking about everyday things. Time passed both slowly and quickly, until Sasuke checked the time.
— “I have to go. Class.”
Naruto tried to hide his disappointment, looking at his nearly empty cup. — “Already? You were just starting to seem likeable.”
— “There may be other opportunities.” Sasuke said, standing up and adjusting his backpack.
Naruto was about to ask what that meant when Sasuke turned around, took two steps, then stopped. Without looking back, he said:
— “If you want… next week, I can teach you how to make real coffee. And after that, maybe we play something. I’ve got a console at home.”
Naruto blinked a few times, surprised. He needed a moment to recover.
— “Was that… an invitation?”
— “That was… an idea.”
Sasuke glanced sideways, that same barely-there corner smile on his lips.
And then he left. Without waiting for an answer.
Naruto, alone in the bakery, stayed there holding his cup, watching the rain fall on the other side of the glass.
His belly still warm from the tea—and from something that definitely had nothing to do with tea.