Chapter Text
Ino yawned as she walked through the empty streets of Konoha, a stray light or two the only way to know someone was home. Most of those lights belonged to the apartments of Konoha’s shinobi, the only citizens who were up at this god-forsaken hour.
She wouldn’t have been one of them if it wasn’t for her teammate suddenly deciding to ignore all the information they had ever been taught in the Academy about what plants to avoid in Fire Country.
She was so glad she wasn’t the one filling out the mission report because she did not have one kind word to say about one Sato Hideki.
She rounded the corner to her apartment, and in a sudden burst of adrenaline, and excitement at the thought of being home soon, she leapt onto the balconies of nearby apartments, easily navigating the way to the one she shared with Sakura.
The balcony to theirs opened off the kitchen, and she peeled the door open slowly to let herself inside. It was dark, the only light coming from somewhere in the living room, and even then, it was a dull one, the kind that came from a table lamp.
Sakura must have been waiting for her again.
She peeled her shoes off on the balcony, knowing better than to track them through the house lest she face Sakura’s wrath. Of the two of them Sakura was the one who was a stickler about clean living spaces, a byproduct Ino thought of being a mednin and being the organized person she was. Ino herself lived in chaos, and it showed in some of the spaces in their home such as her closet and desk and the half of the dresser that was hers.
Once she entered the kitchen, she took a look around and frowned.
It was filthy, a very odd sight.
It also annoyed Ino.
Sakura knew she was coming home from a mission; she knew what day today was. Leaving Ino to be greeted with a dirty kitchen was not just rude, it kind of hurt.
She stepped further in, grimacing at the ridiculous amount of flour staining one counter and bits of floorspace, frowning further at the number of dishes that littered the sink, spilling over to rest on the area near it too.
“Sakura?” She called out, making her way into the living room.
She stopped at the threshold; eyes wide.
There, on the coffee table serving as both a dining table and coffee table, she saw Sakura’s surprise.
On the table today was a cake, the words “Happy Birthday Ino” written on it in homemade frosting. A plate of cherry tomatoes sat nearby, artfully decorated with balsamic vinegar and mozzarella. And next to all of that, was a plate of omurice, a dish so very special to the both of them with many memories carried with it.
She peeked over at her girlfriend, fast asleep by the couch.
Sometimes, she thought, she was lucky to have Sakura.