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Naruto knows when he opens his eyes that today’s the day.
Technically, he thinks, he might even know it before his eyes open – there’s something about the quality of the light, something that’s warmer and brighter and more a butter yellow than it ever manages to be in winter or even early spring, and it’s sprawled across his cheek and neck, and he knows.
Today, he is absolutely spending the entire day outside.
Naruto doesn’t have any exams today, and Sasuke only has one, and it’s not until afternoon, so Naruto can absolutely keep him outside studying with him before and after – it’s perfect.
He rockets out of bed, rushing to the closet, only to stub his toe on the stack of books beside Sasuke’s bed because of course Naruto had to pry them out of his hands to get him to sleep at all last night, despite knowing he’s going to ace his exams. He smothers his curse in his palm because if he’s going to pull this off, Sasuke needs to wake up to Naruto and Naruto only.
He’s gonna succeed by virtue of Sasuke mostly still being asleep when Naruto drags him outside, and failing that, Naruto’s gotta have some insurance.
He dresses quickly, throwing on a pair of basketball shorts and what’s probably Sasuke’s t-shirt, setting aside a similar outfit for Sasuke (with the inclusion of a light hoodie because somehow that asshole always manages to get cold, even when Naruto’s sweating through his clothes) and then turning to the books.
The books are the insurance and therefore one of the most important parts of this plan.
Naruto grabs his own study materials haphazardly, shoving them almost at random into his backpack, but Sasuke’s things he packs meticulously, making sure every book, paper, notebook, and pen related to any exams he has in the next two days are carefully and safely stowed.
On top of them, he shoves a blanket, which serves two purposes: one, it’ll be something for Sasuke to put his books on without them getting wet, in case the grass is still dewy, and two, it hides the books.
It hides the books so that if Sasuke does resist, he can’t just grab them out. He’ll have to look, and Naruto won’t give him time. Not today.
It’s the first day that spring finally feels like it’s creeping into summer, and Naruto’s excited and happy and filled to the brim with a love that feels too big for his body, and he and Sasuke are going to spend it in the perfect late spring sunrise if it kills him, damnit.
At the last minute, he fills both of their water bottles and grabs a couple of granola bars and his wallet so he can lure Sasuke out with coffee if all else fails. The campus shop should be opening soon, so – yeah. This should work.
Naruto shoves his feet into his tennis shoes and pounces.
“Sasuke!” he says way too loudly, not quite a shout because he doesn’t wanna wake up Kiba and Shino on the other side of the wall, but definitely loud enough that –
“What the fuck?!” Sasuke startles awake, eyes wide and alarmed, and – oops.
“Sorry, sorry,” he laughs, kissing the fear off of his face. “I’m just excited! Everything’s fine! Don’t you feel it?! Sasuke, it’s practically summer – we’re going outside today. Come on!”
“I – Naruto, it’s still early,” Sasuke complains, palming at Naruto’s face in a half-hearted attempt to push him away that just makes Naruto grin and kiss at his palm. “Let me sleep… Actually, no, I have to study…”
“Study outside!” Naruto pleads, pulling at his hands. “Please! Come on, it’s gonna be so nice out today, and if we don’t hurry, all the freshmen are gonna take the good spots!”
Sasuke snorts. “We’re freshmen, moron.”
“That’s my point!” Naruto tugs again, standing up and pulling hard enough that Sasuke has to go with him or put actual effort into resisting, and he’s tired, so –
Yup, up he gets, and Naruto beams victoriously. “Okay, okay, I got some clothes for you, you big baby, since you’re probably gonna think it’s cold even though it’s definitely not, and I got all our stuff packed, so you just gotta put these on, and –”
Sasuke yawns, stepping into the clothes Naruto offers. He rolls his eyes at the hoodie but takes it anyways. “I should stay in.”
“Should’ve fallen in love with someone else then,” Naruto tells him, “because you’re definitely coming outside with me today. Come on, let’s go!”
Sasuke rubs tiredly at his eyes even as he puts on the shoes Naruto’s kicked at him. “Caffeine,” he mumbles.
“I gotcha covered, promise,” Naruto says, swinging the backpack over his shoulder and reaching out to intertwine their fingers. “Let’s go, let’s go!”
Campus is buzzing only softly when they finally reach Naruto’s destination – a sun-warm lawn in the center, lightly shaded with a handful of trees and a few benches nearer the sidewalks. He drags Sasuke to one corner that leaves them with a fairly flat area and is closest to the coffee shop and pulls out the blanket with a flourish.
Sasuke blinks at him, obviously much more awake than he was back in the apartment, and raises an eyebrow. “How much did you plan this out?”
“Enough!” Naruto pats the blanket. “Here, all your shit’s in the big part of the backpack – I’m gonna go grab us some coffee and muffins, yeah?”
“Naruto –”
Naruto leans over and kisses him. “Don’t you feel it?” he asks, whispering the words against his lips. “Summer’s coming, Sasuke, and I fucking love it, and I love you.”
Sasuke melts against him. “I love you too, you damn idiot.”
Naruto breaks away with a laugh. “Yeah, yeah, put on your damn hoodie, and I’ll be back soon.”
Sasuke smiles at him, sleepy but happy, and Naruto feels like he’ll burst. “Fine, Uzumaki. But we’re going to study today.”
“Would I lie to you?” Naruto slaps a hand over his chest, overdramatic and laughing. “Me? The love of your life? The one and only –”
Sasuke kicks him firmly in the shin, and Naruto spirals giddy over to the coffee shop where the barista studies anxiously behind the counter.
He closes his eyes, feels the sun on his skin, and smiles.
It’s gonna be a damn good day.