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"Happy New Year!!!"
"Thank you for coming!!"
"Thank you!!"
"We love you!!!"
Sasuke and his group members shouted and waved to the crowds while the platform they were standing on descends.
It was their management's annual Countdown Concert, and this was his group's last performance for tonight. Finally.
When they were finally below the stage, Sasuke immediately started removing his costume, changing to his own clothes.
Naruto had turned to him.
"You're really going to run to NHK? We do have to show ourselves later when the actual countdown starts."
"Yeah, with everyone else in the management. They won't miss me." Sasuke just said, now donning on his jacket.
"Your fans will." Naruto muttered but didn't try to stop him. "Oh well, just tell Sakura-chan Happy New Year for me." He says instead.
"Maybe I'll get your standee and hold on to it during the countdown."
Sasuke just rolled his eyes.
"If you do that, then they'd really notice he's gone." Neji told Naruto, afraid the younger guy would actually do it. With him, stupidity was always a possibility.
"I'll go now." Sasuke announced.
The other members told him their greetings and waved him good bye.
Sasuke tried to be inconspicuous as he jogged to the parking lot, pulling his hoodie over his head, and wearing a mask. The management doesn't really require them to stay for the whole event, but he still didn't want him leaving early to be a big deal. If he was spotted going out, and was unfortunately also spotted where Sakura is at, it can get very annoying. There are already some rumors flying around about the two of them.
They were true, of course, and if it was up to Sasuke, he wouldn't keep their relationship a secret, but having their privacy was something convenient for both of them. No one can exactly tell them what to do about their relationship (whether positive or negative) if they didn't know it existed in the first place.
His drive to the broadcasting building was luckily quick, although he was sure he had already missed Sakura and her group's performance. But that was fine. They could just watch it together, along with his group's performance when they go home later.
Like when he going out of Tokyo Dome, he kept a lowkey profile as he entered the building. He used the route where he knew there were less people and soon enough, he was backstage.
Another artist was performing on the stage now. He looked at the clock to see that it was only about fifteen more minutes until it was officially 2022.
He started looking for her group. They didn't seem to be backstage anymore so he started walking towards the dressing rooms.
Before he could go out to the hallway though, he had bumped into someone familiar. Temari, Sakura's group leader.
He bowed in greeting and the older girl only smiled.
"She's waiting for you at our dressing room. Room 4." She just says. "Happy New Year."
"Thank you." Sasuke told her. "Happy New Year."
He reached the hallway, and started scurrying towards the room when he saw that no one else was there.
He looked at his watched again as he walked.
Five more minutes.
He reached the room, and knocked on the door.
Immediately, the door opened and he was finally face to face with Sakura.
She beamed the moment she was sure it was him.
"You made it!" She said, then stepped forward to hug him.
Sasuke chuckled, but quickly push both of them inside the room. It wouldn't do if someone saw them.
When they were safely inside, Sasuke pulled his hoodie down and removed his mask. He looked at Sakura, noticing she hasn't changed from her costume.
"You just finished your performance?" He asked.
"Yeah." She just say. "How was it on your end?"
"It's fine. Don't worry about it. The guys send you their greetings."
Sakura smiled.
"Wait," she says, then look at her watch. "Only a minute to go!" She said excitedly.
"Do you wanna go anywhere?" Sasuke asks her. Maybe they could go to a balcony. The fireworks from Tokyo Dome could probably still be seen from here.
But Sakura just shook her head. "Here is fine. I just wanted to spend the last minutes of 2021 and the first minutes of 2022 with you."
Sasuke smiled at her and nodded. That was what he wanted, too.
"You know, they say that whatever you are doing, or whoever you're with when the year change, is what you'll be doing or who you'll be with for the rest of the year." She shared.
"Why do you think I rushed here?" He just told her indulgently.
Sakura giggled.
"15 more seconds." Sasuke said, now looking at his watch.
"10," Sakura says.
"9," Sasuke adds. Then together they count backwards.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1—"
Without warning, Sasuke pulled Sakura to him and kissed her soundly on the mouth. The kissed lingered for a moment, then slowly they pulled away. Sasuke rested his forehead on hers.
And they smiled at each other. They could hear the noise from the studio but they paid it no mind. Their sole focus was on each other.
"Happy New Year." Sakura whispers.
Sasuke nodded, but instead of greeting her back, he says.
"I love you, Sakura." He caressed her cheek. "For this year again, yoroshiku."
Sakura smiles tenderly.
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." She tells him.