Chapter Text
July 14th. Today is a day that all lazy people loathe. First day of school. Well, to some, it’s exciting, but Sasuke treats it like any other day. It’s his first day of high school. There’s not much learning today, mostly just socializing. He managed to attract some people into introducing themselves to him, but he’s not exactly the best at social interactions, so he wouldn’t say they’re his friends. Not bad, but not good either. Regardless of that, he’s nowhere near lonely. He has two best friends, Naruto and Sakura. They’re loud, a bit annoying sometimes, but Sasuke loved them dearly. They’re like family.
Speaking of family, Sasuke does have one, obviously. His dad is luxury property developer and global hospitality owner, his mom owns a cozy bakery, and his older brother in college.
His father is stern, broody, looks intimidating, yet there’s no denying he has a soft spot for his family. He loves his wife, proud of Itachi, cherish Sasuke. Sasuke wouldn’t trade him for anything else in the world, that goes for everyone in his family—oh, his best friends, too!
Being the one closer to his mother, Sasuke grew up a bit femininely. He looks like his mom (Itachi does, too), took over Mikoto’s soft demeanor, even her baking and cooking skills are passed down to Sasuke. Though it’s not exactly Sasuke’s most prized possessions, he cherishes it.
Sasuke has soft, pale skin and dark hair that contrast with it, his onyx eyes being an extra charm. Many people admire him, boys and girls alike. It’s not like he has interests on anyone yet. He’s not anti romantic, just never really felt those butterflies in his stomach.
It’s his first day, and there’s already a few texts from people he doesn’t remember talking to. Just some ‘Hey, you’re Sasuke, right?’ and them introducing themselves a bit too warmly, that alike. Everyone knows where most of it would lead to. Sasuke just gave short responses.
Long story short, the bell rang and it was finally time to go home. It was another normal day for Sasuke, despite it being the first day of school. He chose to walk home today, his house is fifteen minutes away from school anyway, seven if he took a shortcut.
Being tired for a walk too long, he decided to take the shortcut instead, through a narrow alley. Usually there’s no one there, but, of course, there’s no ‘just normal’ day in this world. In the alleyway, there’s a bunch of edgy-wannabe teens smoking. They’re still in school uniform, Sasuke’s eyes recognized the logo on their chest. Konoha High’s logo. His school.
Oh, he’s so fucked.
Those kids are probably some type of crazy punks, they’d definitely beat him up just for breathing. Sasuke’s first instinct is to back away. They’re literally staring at him like a fugly, starved dinosaur looking at prey!
That’s when he locked eyes with one of his upperclassmen. Neji Hyuuga. They went to the same middle school, they worked together for some competition a couple years back, so they’re a bit close. Sasuke’s look in his eyes silently said ‘I’m not looking for trouble, I swear! I won’t report you guys to the teacher’.
His eyes are full of hope that Neji would get those big guys to not beat him up. His mind chanting ‘Please be on my side, please, please, please, oh, God’.
Neji himself wasn’t smoking, but he looked like he’s friends with these guys. After a short moment of pure silence and tension, he spoke up, “This black-haired boy is my friend,” he said. The black-haired boy in question being Sasuke.
The broody dudes finally stop undressing him with their eyes. Sasuke let out a soft sigh of relief. After three seconds of him being mind-blank, he decided to at least say something to Neji.
”Uhm… Hi, Neji,” he greeted awkwardly. He forced a soft smile to his face.
Despite being a bit awkward, a part of Sasuke was glad to see Neji again. Not just because he saved him, but… Wait, why? Sasuke doesn’t know either.
“Hello,” Neji greeted back with the same level of awkwardness. He haven’t seen Sasuke in a year. He didn’t even know Sasuke’s a part of Konoha High now, they haven’t bumped into each other until now. “Going home?”
Sasuke nodded, a bit relaxed now. “Yes. Uhm, my family are probably waiting at home. I’ll go now. Bye bye,” he answered. He offered a smile to Neji—a genuine one this time—and then walked away.
After Sasuke’s nowhere in sight, Neji’s friends started letting out playful whistles just to tease him. Some small ‘Oooh’ could be heard.
”Your crush?”
”That’s a boy?”
”You actually have friends other than us?”
Neji facepalmed at his friends’ never-ending questions.
Sasuke, on the other hand, was sprinting like some kid chasing his kite that he accidentally let go of once Neji and his group was out of sight. He only began walking normally again when his house was near. He’s not about to let his family see him running like he’s getting chased by a ghost—well, they’re probably not home yet.
No one is home at this time of the day. Sasuke just unlocked the door, get in, take his shoes off, and practically jump to his bed. He buried his face into the soft pillow, thinking about what just happened.
Neji’s friends with punks now? That’s a bit unexpected. Does he smoke? He’s not smoking that time.
A part of Sasuke hoped that their days together would go smoothly… if they ended up being friends again.
Neji was the cool, barely talking guy who had girls all over him—maybe boys too? Sasuke genuinely couldn’t care less, at least that’s how he feels in middle school. Having people crushing on them and two best friends that are loud and quite obnoxious are some things they have in common.
Sasuke had flashbacks of him and Neji in middle school. They were entering some art and academic competition representing their school, different subjects. Neji entered the debate branch, Sasuke did art. Regardless of that, they somehow grew close during that time. Maybe because Neji would go to the art room—where Sasuke’s practicing—to study since he finds girls sneaking peeks of him at the library annoying.
It all started when Sasuke initiated a small conversation, a little chit chat, because the atmosphere feels awkward.
—
Leaf Middle School, art room.
Eight grader Sasuke (13 years old), ninth grader Neji (14 years old)
Sasuke put his brush down. Silently staring at his landscape painting before he turns to the older student studying quietly behind him.
“You’re entering the competition, too? What subject?” he asked softly, still a bit shy and awkward.
Neji raised his head from the book. “Debate,” he gave a short answer.
Sasuke gave a polite smile. “I do art,” he said. still trying to continue the chitchat between them.
”I can see that.”
“My name is Sasuke, by the way. Nice to meet you,” he said warmly.
”Neji.”
—
Sasuke has a love-hate relationship with that memory. On the bright side, the awkward, middle-school him actually managed to get a friend. On the other side, he was a bit annoying, randomly starting a conversation like that. Luckily the chat flows well.
He wanted to tell Naruto and Sakura about it, but, knowing them, they’d probably tease him. So he didn’t. For now.
He desperately wanted to tell someone about it, but who? Definitely not his parents, not Itachi, not Shisui, not his online friends from discord. They’d all suspect him of having a crush on Neji.
So annoying!
In his moment of crisis, he heard a knock on the door. Oh, Itachi!
Itachi, Sasuke’s older brother who spoils him rotten. Sasuke had always been fond of Itachi, in a brotherly way—it goes both ways. But Itachi might be a little bit too fond, all his friends call him a bro-con, but at the end of the day, he never cared. He’d kill for Sasuke.
Sasuke answered the door with a smile. “Welcome home,” he greeted, “How was your class—wait, aren’t you supposed to be at your dorm or something?”
Itachi chuckled. “I can’t visit my own house?” he asked sarcastically.
Sasuke pouted and let out a groan. “I didn’t mean it like that. You didn’t even text or anything. If you did, I could’ve told you to buy me some onigiri on the way…”
“Actually…” Itachi pulled out a small plastic bag full of onigiri. Sasuke’s eyes immediately light up. He dragged Itachi inside faster than Itachi could say that did bought some rice balls.
“Thanks!”
—
The next morning, Fugaku decided to drive his youngest son to school. Just because he can. It’s not like Sasuke minded, after that meeting with smoking kids, he’d rather wait near the school gate to be picked up than walk.
The new classroom still feels unfamiliar. Sasuke misses his old classmates. Well, most of his old classmates continue their education here, too, but they probably got assigned to a different class. Luckily, Sasuke’s still classmates with Naruto and Sakura. They’re inseparable.
First period today is P.E. Sasuke’s worst enemy. Not because he finds it extremely hard or anything, it’s just that every single P.E teacher he met was really freaky. He just hopes that this new one isn’t a nuisance.
Five minutes into exercising, Sasuke’s hopes were crushed. The teacher isn’t a freak or anything, no. But that man is weird. He has thick eyebrows, a bowl cut, and tanned skin. Always yelling about youth, energy, and that alike. He’s full of energy, Sasuke’s not sure about the ‘youth’ part. Sasuke can’t even remember the teacher’s name, it’s ‘Guy’ or something.
P.E goes on until third period. Now it’s lunchtime. Naruto and Sakura saved a seat for Sasuke as he went to buy some Pocari Sweat for the three of them.
He was paying to the cafeteria lady when he felt someone’s eyes staring at him. He raises his, looking to the right.
Neji. Again.
Sasuke smiled, he didn’t mind bumping into an old friend. “Hello, Neji-senpai—“
“Just call me Neji. I’m not that much older,” the brunette cuts him off. “You like Pocari Sweat that much?” he asked. Neji pointed to the three bottles of Pocari in Sasuke’s hand.
Sasuke’s mind fogs for one second. “Huh? These? Oh, it’s for me and my friends. I really like them, though. I just had P.E, so it’s the best time to drink it,” he explained.
”Oh.” Neji calmly grabs a bottle of Pocari from the fridge. “If it’s that good, I guess I can try it.”
Sasuke’s bright smile appeared again. “It’s great,” he assured. “Oh, I should probably go back to my friends’ table. They’re waiting for me.”
”See you later.”
”Bye bye!”
Sasuke walked to his spot calmly. He set the drinks on the table and he sits beside Sakura. “What took you so long?” the beautiful girl with pink hair asked.
”I ran into an old friend,” Sasuke explained vaguely.
It’s he had flipped a light switch. A sinister, teasing look appeared on Naruto and Sakura’s faces. They both lean forward against him.
“Ooh. An old friend, huh?”
”Just a friend?”
Sasuke frowned, he groaned before answering. “Yes, just a friend. Quit it, you two.”
His best friends laughed, but they did quit it… after a few more teasing remarks. They ate lunch together, occasionally pausing to yap, Sasuke mostly listens.
Fourth period, well, more like free period. The teachers were having a meeting. Students are all over the place. Some are in the canteen, some hang out with their friends on the stairs, some stayed in the classroom, and many more. Sasuke decided to explore the school a little bit. He’d to do it together with his friends, but Naruto’s sleeping in class, and Sakura is having a gossip session with her girlies, so went alone instead.
He walked through the halls, checking out each room. When walked past the art room, he can’t keep his eyes off the paintings. He ended up bumping into someone and falling to the floor.
”Ouch…” he grumbled as he rubbed his lower back that hit the ground. He looked up, and, guess what? It’s always the brunette with charming violet eyes.
Neji offered him a hand, which Sasuke took. “Sorry… and, thanks for helping me get up,” he said.
Neji just shrugged it off. “No problem. You should watch where you’re going, though. What are you doing here anyway?”
”Exploring,” Sasuke replied with an awkward giggle. “Uhm, care to show me around? Where’s the best place here?”
“The library. I’m going there myself. You want to join?” Neji offered.
Sasuke nodded. Most school libraries are comfy, after all. Maybe he could find an interesting book while he’s at it. The two began walking to the library. Sasuke relaxes a bit, not feeling as awkward anymore.
When they’re in the library, Sasuke sat next to the older student. Neji’s calmly reading a book about debate. It’s not exactly Sasuke’s cup of tea, he prefers novels, mangas, and art theories books. Well, everyone has their own preferences. Sasuke just grabbed a random novel titled ‘Miracles of the Namiya General Store’ by Keigo Higashino. He had seen it online, it has good ratings. And so, they began reading peacefully.
The teachers’ meeting was so long, they finished a few books while waiting for the bell. They didn’t even realize how much time had passed. The bell reminded them of reality.
”Sorry about my friends yesterday. They might look like punks, but they’d be nice to people they respect,” Neji said. “Come, I’ll drive you home.”
”Huh? There’s no need to—“
”It’s alright. We’re friends, no need to act so awkward around me. I used to take you places anyway.”
Neji swore he saw a hint of pink on Sasuke’s cheeks. The raven-haired boy nodded shyly. “I’ll grab my bag first…” he replied.
Ah, they used to be so close! They act so distant now, just because of that one year of not talking…
After Sasuke grabbed his backpack, he went straight to the school parking lot. Neji was waiting there, leaning against a black Audi A4. Sasuke isn’t that much into cars, but he’s pretty sure it’s one of the a-bit-pricey car. His dad owns one of these.
“Your car is nice,” he complimented.
“I know. Now, get in.”
—
“You still remember the way to my house?”
“Mhm.”
”Ah, you have a good memory.”
”Tell me something I don’t know.”
”Why are you so sassy all of the sudden?”
”I’ve always talk like this. Have you forgotten that much about me this past year?” Neji teased. They finally get to act like friends they were before.
”I guess you’re right…”
Maybe they really could be close again.