Archive of Our Own

Before Valentine’s Day, Haruno Sakura had genuinely believed that this year would finally be different.
Looking back on it now, she wanted to crawl into a hole and never come back out.

The memory remained painfully vivid despite all her efforts to forget it. She could still remember the warm orange glow of the setting sun filtering through the corridor windows, the nervous sweat on her palms, and the small box of handmade chocolates she had spent nearly an entire week preparing. She had rehearsed that confession countless times in front of the mirror, changing her words every single day because none of them sounded perfect enough. In hindsight, she should have realized that no amount of preparation could save her from humiliation.

Uchiha Sasuke had looked at the chocolates in her hands, then at her. And sighed. Not surprise nor anger. Not even confusion. Just a long, tired sigh.

“Haruno,” he had begun, sounding more exhausted than anything else, “I honestly thought you would have given up by now. It’s been years.”

At the time, Sakura had felt her smile freeze on her face. “…What do you mean?”

Sasuke had remained silent for a moment before speaking again, his expression as unreadable as ever. “You don’t know anything about me. You like an image you’ve created in your head and keep chasing after it because it’s familiar. Frankly, it’s becomingannoying.”

Annoying.

Such a simple word, and it had stung more than a direct rejection.

“I have a girlfriend now,” he had continued calmly, almost as though he were discussing the weather. “So stop wasting your feelings on me.”
As if fate itself had decided to mock her, a girl had appeared at the end of the corridor at precisely that moment. She was pretty, elegant, and smiling softly as she called Sasuke’s name. Sakura remembered standing there like an idiot, clutching her chocolates while the two of them walked away together, leaving her alone in the empty corridor.

How embarrassing, utterly pathetic. The chocolates had tasted terrible when she ate them herself that night.

Nearly three weeks had passed since then, yet the universe seemed determined to ensure she never forgot her humiliation. Valentine’s Day was approaching, and with it came a horrifying amount of pink. The school had somehow transformed into a battlefield for romance overnight. Heart-shaped decorations hung from classroom windows, girls whispered excitedly over recipes and gift ideas, and every other conversation she overheard seemed to involve confessions, dates, or chocolates. It was honestly impressive. She had never realized there were so many couples in this school until they all collectively decided to emerge from hiding every February.
With a long, suffering groan, Sakura allowed her forehead to fall onto her desk. The impact was light, more dramatic than painful, but it still earned her a look from Yamanaka Ino, who was currently flipping through a fashion magazine with the kind of leisurely expression that only made Sakura more bitter.

“You’ve been acting like a widow since this morning Forehead,” Ino remarked without looking up. “At first I thought someone had died, but apparently you’re just heartbroken again.”

Sakura slowly lifted her head and looked at her friend with all the misery of a tragic heroine. “Do you know how many couples I passed on the way to school today? Fourteen, Ino. Fourteen!! It wasn’t even eight in the morning. I genuinely think they’re multiplying. Ugh!!”
Ino finally lowered her magazine and blinked, one eyebrow raised “That’s actually impressive. Did you count them?”

“Of course I counted them!!”

“Why?”

“Because they kept appearing!” The blond beauty rolled her eyes at her best friend, unamused at the dramatic girl beside her.

“…Forehead.”

“I’m serious! I turned one corner and there was a couple. I went downstairs and there was another couple. Even the convenience store near the station had a couple!! I couldn’t escape.” Said Sakura while suddenly bolted upright, her eyes wide as if she’d just witnessed pigs taking flight.

Ino stared at her for several seconds before sighing deeply. “You know, I was going to comfort you, but now I’m mostly just concerned.”

“You are a terrible friend.”

She rolled her eyes again “No, I’m a realistic friend. And realistically speaking, you’ve been miserable for weeks. It’s time to move on from Uchiha Sasuke.”

At that, Sakura’s expression immediately soured. She slumped further onto her desk, cheek pressed against the cool surface as she stared out the window. “I have moved on.”

“You glared at his girlfriend yesterday.”

“I did not.” Sakura mumbled.

“You absolutely did. Poor girl looked terrified.”

“That’s because she was holding his hand.”

“…Sakura.”

“And smiling.”

“…Sakura.” Ino just stares at Sakura.

Sakura groaned and covered her face with both hands, she knew Ino was right but she simply just can’t accept it yet “I know, alright? I know I’m being pathetic. It’s not even about him anymore.”

The teasing expression on Ino’s face softened slightly. She set her magazine aside and leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. “Then what is it?”

For a moment, Sakura did not answer. Because honestly, she wasn’t entirely sure. Or she was, and simply didn’t want to admit it.

“…Everyone has someone,” she finally muttered quietly. “You have Sai. Naruto somehow managed to get himself a girlfriend, which still doesn’t make any sense to me. Even Sasuke has someone now.”

“Are you implying Naruto is undesirable?”

“That’s not what I meant!!” Sakura defended, voice suddenly raised alarming.

“Because if he hears that—”

“Inoooo”

Her friend chuckled softly before her expression became gentler. Sakura looked away again, her gaze drifting toward the classroom window.

It sounded stupid when put into words. It wasn’t that she desperately needed a boyfriend or that she was still in love with Sasuke. She was simply… lonely.

Every day after school, everyone went somewhere with someone. Ino had dates. Other classmates had plans with friends or family. Couples exchanged gifts and walked home together while Sakura returned to an apartment so large and quiet that sometimes she forgot another person had ever existed there at all.

Her parents loved her.

She knew that.

They called often, sent gifts from overseas and never forgot birthdays or important occasions. But business always came first, and their jobs required them to travel constantly. The apartment they rented for her was beautiful, spacious and decorated exactly the way she liked, with soft pink walls and white furniture that looked as though it belonged in a magazine. Yet no amount of pretty decorations could fill empty rooms.
There were evenings when she would return home, open the door and instinctively call out a greeting before remembering there was nobody there to answer.
Those moments always hurt the most.

Ino’s voice softened considerably. “Forehead..”

“I’m fine.” She forced a smile onto her face. “Really. I think Valentine’s Day is just making me emotional.”

“You say that, but your expression is saying something completely different.”

Before Sakura could answer, a sudden commotion from outside the classroom caught everyone’s attention. Several third-years had entered, carrying stacks of papers and decorations while looking utterly exhausted. Walking among them was none other than Akasuna Sasori.
As student council president, Sasori naturally stood out.
Perhaps it was because of his appearance or it was because of his reputation. Or perhaps it was simply because he always looked as though the entire world annoyed him.

His red hair immediately caught the eye, contrasting sharply with his pale skin and perpetually unimpressed expression. Several girls in the classroom visibly straightened in their seats. Sasori was popular, even rated as one of the most handsome guy in school no less. In Sakura’s eyes, Sasori is a demon in disguise. Sure he was attractive but why did god have to give that demon the look of an angel? Sakura narrowed her eyes. Scoffed loudly. Unfortunately, Sasori noticed. Even more unfortunately, he smirked. Smirked!!

“Haruno,” he greeted smoothly after approaching their desks. “You look particularly miserable today. Did your grades finally catch up to your delusions?”
Sakura felt a vein pop "Good morning to you too, President.”

“I’m simply concerned.” He said with fake concerns in his voice. Eyes smile while watching her expressions “No, you’re not.” She huffed. “No, I’m really not.” Sakura choked, eyeing in his disbelief. Ino made a choking sound beside her.

Sasori shifted the documents beneath his arm, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “You should try smiling occasionally. People might mistake you for a ghost wandering the school halls in search of lost love.”

“…You did not just say that.”

“I did.”

“You are unbelievable!!”

“And yet consistently correct.” Sasori just calmly replied her while looking for the right document.

Sakura only stared at him in disbelief. “Do you wake up every morning and decide to make everyone around you suffer, or does it come naturally?”

“Hm.” Sasori appeared to genuinely consider the question. “A little of both.”

“You’re horrible.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“You enjoy this, don’t you?”

“Immensely.”

The worst part was that he looked completely serious. Ino had long since given up pretending not to laugh. Sakura crossed her arms and glared at him. “Don’t you have student council duties to attend to? Why are you here bothering innocent underclassmen?”

“Innocent?” Sasori repeated, sounding almost amused. “Interesting choice of words. Last week you nearly started an argument because the cultural festival posters were printed in the wrong shade of pink.”

“They were ugly.”

“They were pink.”

“They were salmon.”

“There is hardly a difference.”

“There is a huge difference!”

“Terrifying.”

“You—”

“President!” One of the third-years looked seconds away from collapse. “We still have paperwork.”

Sasori clicked his tongue softly, seemingly disappointed that his entertainment was ending. Before leaving, he looked at Sakura once more.

“You should go home early today.”

Sakura blinked.

“…What?”
“You’ve been staying late all week.”

“And how would you know that?”

“You keep leaving after me.”

“…Are you… stalking me?”

Sasori looked offended.

“Haruno, please. Lower your opinion of yourself.”

“Ino, hold me back.” her eyes flashed with a sharp, murderous glint.

“I’m not even touching you.”

The corners of Sasori’s lips lifted, clearly satisfied with her reaction. “Try not to look so miserable. Valentine’s Day only lasts one day. I’m sure you’ll survive.”

“…I hate you.”

“So you say every week.”

And then he left. Sakura continued staring at the door long after he disappeared.

“…He is genuinely insufferable.”

Ino hummed.

“And?”

“And what?”

“You smiled.”

“I did not.”

“You absolutely did.”

“I was smiling because he left!”

“If you say so.”

Sakura decided not to dignify that with a response. That evening, she returned home just as she always did. The moment she opened the apartment door, silence greeted her.

For a brief moment, she simply stood there in the entrance, staring at the dark interior before quietly closing the door behind her.

Her phone vibrated.

Mom: Sorry sweetheart, we’ll probably stay in Paris for another month. Don’t forget to eat properly. We bought you another gift. Love you.

Sakura stared at the message then smiled softly.

Sakura: It’s okay. Have fun. Love you too.

After sending the message, she remained standing there for several more seconds. The apartment suddenly felt particularly quiet tonight. Perhaps Ino was right, Valentine’s Day was simply making her emotional.
After showering and changing into her pajamas, Sakura threw herself onto her enormous pink-and-white bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. The city lights outside illuminated her room faintly while distant laughter drifted through the open window.

Everyone seemed to have someone to come home to, hangout or spend their time with. Sakura rolled onto her side and hugged her pillow.

“…I don’t want another one-sided love anymore.”

The words escaped quietly into the empty room. For several moments, nothing happened, her phone lit up unexpectedly. Frowning, Sakura reached for it and found unfamiliar website had appeared on her screen.

“Do you seek true love? Do you wish for destiny to find you? Every wish can be granted.” Below those words was an address. Sakura stared at it for a long time, weighing her options: whether to play the fool or be a realist. “…This is obviously a scam.”

Yet she didn’t close it. Instead, she continued staring. Outside, laughter echoed faintly from the streets below. Inside, the apartment remained painfully silent.
For the first time in a long while, the loneliness in her chest felt almost unbearable. Sakura looked down at the address once more.

“…But what if?”

The question lingered quietly in the empty room. A tiny spark of hope stirred within her heart. It was ridiculous. But perhaps…perhaps miracles did exist. She only hope silently. Clicking into the address.

Sakura spent the entire next day questioning her own sanity.

Several times during class, she had nearly convinced herself to forget about the website altogether. It was obviously fake. Every red flag imaginable was practically waving in front of her face. The address itself was strange, the website had somehow appeared on her phone without any explanation, and no normal person would willingly visit some mysterious location that promised to grant wishes.

Unfortunately, Sakura was apparently not a normal person.

Or perhaps loneliness simply made people stupid.
The thought lingered in her mind throughout the day, refusing to leave no matter how much she tried to ignore it. Even during student council duties, while organizing documents and listening to Sasori criticize everyone’s efficiency, her thoughts continuously drifted back toward the glowing words on her phone.

Do you seek true love?

It was ridiculous.

But she definitely doesn't want to look at couples anymore. “What if it’s real?” The question was dangerous. Because once it appeared, it became impossible to ignore.
By the time school ended, Sakura realized with growing horror that she had already memorized the address. Which was why she now found herself standing in front of a narrow alley she had never noticed before. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

This part of the city looked strangely forgotten. The busy streets behind her seemed impossibly far away, their noise gradually fading into silence. Old buildings lined the alley, their walls worn by time, vines creeping over cracked bricks as if nature itself had begun reclaiming the area.

Has this place always existed?

Sakura was fairly certain she had never seen it before.
A cold breeze brushed against her skin. She swallowed. Maybe she should leave. Yes. That sounded reasonable. There was still enough time to turn around, buy herself some cake and pretend none of this had ever happened.
Her feet remained firmly planted. Sakura frowned at herself. This was absurd. Why was she even here?
Because she was lonely? Because Valentine’s Day was approaching? Because some stupid website had promised her true love? “Oh my god… Am I really doing this right now?”

She lowered her gaze. Perhaps Sasuke had been right, that she really was foolish, believing things easily then shattered hope herself.

Her grip on her bag tightened.

Slowly, Sakura exhaled “I can do this. Obviously it’s nothing that scary… Maybe it looks more normal in there”. Before she could even question herself again, she took a step forward. The alley seemed longer than it should have been. The further she walked, the quieter everything became. Even the air felt different. As though the entire world had suddenly fallen asleep.

The buildings gradually disappeared, replaced by older structures. The path beneath her feet became uneven, cracks spreading across the stone as weeds pushed through them. At some point, Sakura realized she could no longer hear the city at all.

A shiver ran down her spine.

This was definitely the wrong decision. She should leave. Immediately.

Before she could turn back and pretend this place doesn't exist and yesterday was just a weird dream— faint light appeared ahead.

At the end of the path stood a small house. Or perhaps “shop” was not the correct word.

The building looked ancient. The wooden sign hanging above the entrance was faded beyond recognition, while strange plants surrounded the exterior walls. Several wind chimes swayed gently despite the absence of any breeze, producing soft sounds that echoed unnaturally in the silence.

The windows were dark with no sign of customers or life. The place looked abandoned.

A strange feeling settled in Sakura’s stomach.
This was the type of location people discovered in horror movies right before something terrible happened.

Her survival instincts were practically screaming at her. She should go home. Instead, she found herself staring at the door. Because despite everything—it somehow felt as though the building had been waiting for her. It was a ridiculous thought but somehow she could not shake it
After several moments, Sakura slowly climbed the small steps leading toward the entrance. The wooden floor creaked beneath her shoes. Her hand hovered before the door.

Cold.

Her heart had begun beating rapidly. Gulp. This was stupid. She was seventeen years old for god sake! Not five, magic did not exist. And wishes certainly did not come true!

Sakura took a deep breath, she was still nervous and definitely not ready for anything behind that door. Maybe a killer luring innocent girls like her here? Or some trick from kids. All sorts of dramatic expressions appear on her face. Gathering every ounce of courage she possessed, she gently pushed the door open. The bell above the entrance rang softly. And the door slowly closed behind her.

By itself.

Sakura froze.

The interior of the shop was much larger than it had appeared from the outside. The air carried a strange scent, something sweet yet earthy, like dried flowers and old books left untouched for years. Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, filled with glass bottles containing unknown herbs, crystals of various colors, and objects Sakura could not even begin to identify. The lighting was dim, provided only by several candles burning quietly in the corners of the room, causing shadows to dance along the walls in a way that made her increasingly uneasy. Everything about this place felt wrong. Too quiet. Too still. As though she had stepped into an entirely different world.

Sakura swallowed nervously and instinctively glanced toward the door behind her. It was still there. Good. She could still leave. She absolutely should leave. In fact, she was just about to turn around and pretend none of this had happened when a soft chuckle suddenly echoed through the room.

“You finally came.”

“Ekkk!!!” Sakura nearly jumped out of her skin. There was a woman sitting behind the counter. She could have sworn nobody had been there a moment ago!

The woman looked young, yet somehow impossibly old at the same time. Long dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes seemed to glimmer strangely beneath the candlelight, carrying an unsettling sense of amusement that immediately made Sakura feel as though she were being thoroughly seen through.

Her survival instincts screamed loudly. Every horror movie she had ever watched suddenly flashed through her mind. This was how people died.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you!” Sakura blurted out immediately, bowing so quickly she nearly lost her balance. “I think I came to the wrong place, so I’ll just—”

“You came because you wished for love.”

Sakura froze.

“…Excuse me?”

The woman merely smiled. A knowing smile. ‘Oh, that was creepy…’

“I wonder,” she mused softly, resting her cheek against her hand, “how many humans have sat where you are standing now, asking for the exact same thing?”

A cold shiver ran down Sakura’s spine. She had never omentioned why she came here.

“…How did you know that?” The woman ignored the question entirely. “You are lonely.” Sakura’s fingers tightened around the strap of her bag nervously. “You are tired of one-sided feelings. Tired of returning to an empty home. Tired of watching everyone around you receive the love and attention you secretly desire for yourself.”

“Uh…That’s creepy.”

The woman laughed. Actually laughed! Sakura felt offended, frowning. She did not risk her life come here to get laughed at. “There’s no need to look so frightened. Human desires are not particularly difficult to understand.” Easy for her to say. Sakura suddenly wanted to leave even more. Unfortunately, her feet remained rooted to the floor. The woman’s expression softened slightly as she studied her. “You wish to be loved.”

The statement was simple. Yet hearing it aloud made something in Sakura’s chest tighten unexpectedly. She lowered her gaze.

“…I don’t think that’s strange.”

“It is not.”

“I know I sound desperate.”

“You do.”

“…”

“…You really don’t sugarcoat things.” Another amused smile appeared on the woman’s face.

Sakura let out a defeated sigh and looked around the strange shop once more. Now that she was actually here, everything felt ridiculous. What had she even been expecting? A love charm? A magical potion? The whole situation was absurd. This is ridiculous. She should've stayed home and finished her assignments night now. Instead, she let her desperation lead her into this weird place, with a weird lady.

Maybe the weirdness is affecting her. She found herself wanted hope, “…I don’t want another one-sided love anymore.” The words escaped quietly, truthfully. The woman remained silent.

Sakura stared down at her shoes. “I don’t need someone perfect. I don’t care if he’s handsome or popular or anything like that. I just…” She hesitated, suddenly feeling embarrassed by her own thoughts. “I just don’t want to be alone anymore.”

The room became quiet. Even the candle flames seemed to still. For several long moments, the woman simply looked at her. Then she smiled. This time, however, the smile was different.

Amused.

Almost pitying.

“…Very well.”

Sakura blinked.

“What?”

“You desire true love.” The woman slowly rose from her seat, her long sleeves brushing softly against the floor. “A simple wish. One that countless humans before you have sought.”

“…You’re serious?”

“I can grant it.”

“…You’re actually serious.”

Sakura thinks this woman is crazy now, suddenly felt the urge to run away fast. The woman merely watched her with those strange, unreadable eyes. “Every wish has a price.”

‘There we go. Of course everything in life doesn't came for free’

“…What kind of price?”

The woman hummed softly, her expression becoming increasingly mysterious. “Nothing you cannot pay.”
That answer somehow made everything worse.

“What does that even mean?” This woman was creeping her out, surely she wont ask for her soul or her limbs right?

“Do you accept?”

This was insane. She had walked into some strange abandoned shop, met an even stranger woman and was now discussing the possibility of magical wishes as though this were perfectly normal. Her parents would probably disown her if they found out. Ino would laugh at her for the rest of her life. Sasori would never let her live it down til the day she die.

The thought made her hesitate. Maybe she should accept to see what can happen, nothing could really go wrong beside disappointment, right?

“…I accept.”

The woman’s smile widened. Again it gave her goosebumps.She feel somehow unsettling about this situation.

“Very well.”

For the first time since entering the shop, genuine nervousness began to creep into Sakura’s chest.

“…That’s it?” Sakura asked, confusion written all on her face.

“That is all.”

“Shouldn’t I like…sign something?”

“No”

“Read instructions?”

“No.”

“Drink a potion?”

“No.”

“This feels suspicious.” Sakura frowned, eyeing the woman suspiciously. The woman only looked annoyed, a oa slightest amusement dancing in her eyes. A strange feeling suddenly settled over Sakura.

“…Wait” she had the sudden urge to ask another question. Several questions. Unfortunately, before Sakura could say a single word—

The woman’s smile deepened.

“Return home and never come back.Your wish shall come true.”

“Wait, hold on a sec—”

The room suddenly spun. Sakura’s eyes widened. An invisible force struck her gently, yet irresistibly, and before she could even react, the entire world blurred around her. The last thing she saw was the woman’s smile before darkness took over.

When Sakura opened her eyes again, she was lying in her giant pink-and-white bed. Sunlight streamed softly through the curtains. Her room looked exactly the same. No mysterious shop. No candles. No weird woman with weird smiles.

For several moments, she simply stared blankly at the ceiling. Then slowly sat up.

“…Did I dream all of that?”

The room remained silent, unable to answer her question. A moment later, Sakura buried her face in her hands.
‘Oh god. She had finally lost her mind’

Sakura spent the entire morning convincing herself that the previous night had simply been an exceptionally strange dream. Honestly, it had to be. The alternative was far too ridiculous to consider seriously. There was no such thing as magic, witches did not exist, and no sane person would willingly believe that a mysterious woman hidden inside an abandoned shop could grant wishes. By the time classes ended, she had almost managed to laugh at herself for ever taking it seriously. Almost. Unfortunately, student council duties had dragged on much longer than expected, and by the time she finally left school, she was far too exhausted to think properly. Valentine’s preparations had turned the entire campus upside down, leaving everyone overworked and irritable. Even Sasori had looked slightly more annoyed than usual, which was saying something.

The evening air was cold when Sakura finally arrived at her apartment building. The streets were still lively despite the late hour, illuminated by warm shop lights and decorated with heart-shaped ornaments that seemed determined to remind her of her single status. Several couples passed by laughing softly among themselves, and Sakura quickly looked away before she could start feeling bitter again. She climbed the steps toward the entrance of the building, already thinking about taking a hot shower, when something unusual caught her attention. A cardboard box sat quietly beside the stairs, partially covered by an old blanket. She frowned immediately. It certainly had not been there this morning.

At first, she intended to ignore it. People forgot things all the time, and she was far too tired to involve herself in someone else’s business. Then the blanket moved. A soft, weak meow followed shortly after, causing Sakura to stop in her tracks. Her expression softened almost instantly. Slowly crouching down, she carefully lifted the corner of the blanket and found herself staring into a pair of beautiful golden eyes.

The cat was gorgeous. In a unique way… Sakura really loves cats but haven't have time to do research about them (not that her parents won’t agree to let her keep a pet) so she didn’t know if this cat's appearance is normal or not. Its fur was a deep reddish color, soft-looking despite appearing slightly messy, and it was curled tightly inside the box as though trying to preserve warmth. It looked exhausted. Perhaps even sick. Sakura immediately felt her heart ache at the sight.

“Who would leave you here?” she murmured softly, instinctively reaching out before stopping midway.

The cat simply stared at her. There was something strangely familiar about its expression.

Its eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a look of mild annoyance that felt absurdly human. Sakura blinked once, then twice. She suddenly felt as though she were being judged.

The feeling became stronger the longer she looked. The unimpressed expression. The faint irritation. The way it seemed mildly offended by her existence. Her eyebrows slowly furrowed.

“You kind of look like Sasori.”

The red cat froze

Sakura frowned slightly. Did she imagine it? Can a cat really understand what she was saying? Then, very slowly, the cat looked away. She stared at it in disbelief.

“Okay, that’s creepy…” A silence followed, Sakura suddenly chuckled, “But there is no way he can become a cat right now, I just saw him at the meeting.”

There was absolutely no reason why a random cat should remind her of Akasuna Sasori. Yet the more she looked at it, the more similarities she noticed. The expression alone was enough. If the cat suddenly started insulting her grades, she genuinely thought she might scream.

Despite herself, Sakura felt a smile tugging at her lips. It was ridiculous. Yet, she found the little creature strangely adorable. Unfortunately, the closer she looked, the more obvious its condition became. The cat looked tired, its fur felt cold beneath her fingers when she cautiously touched it, and despite trying to appear intimidating, it was still sitting helplessly inside a cardboard box in the middle of winter.

Her expression softened once again “I can’t leave you here” the cat immediately narrowed its eyes.

“I’m serious,” Sakura continued quietly. “It’s freezing outside, and you look exhausted. I know we just met, but I can’t just walk away and pretend I didn’t see you.” The cat continued staring at her for several moments before slowly closing its eyes, almost as though it had accepted defeat. Sakura’s heart melted instantly. “…You’re actually really cute.” One golden eye immediately reopened. She nearly laughed.

Carefully, she slipped her hands beneath the blanket and lifted the cat into her arms. The first thing she noticed was its warmth. The second was its weight.

“…You’re heavier than I expected.” The cat looked offended. “I’m sorry! That wasn’t an insult.” The expression became even more offended.

Unable to help herself, Sakura laughed out loud for the first time in this week. The sound surprised even her. The loneliness that had been weighing heavily on her chest these past few days suddenly seemed a little lighter. Holding the warm bundle of fur against her, she realized that the apartment waiting for her upstairs no longer seemed quite as empty as before.

“Come on then little guy” she murmured, adjusting her hold on the cat before standing up. “I suppose I can’t leave you cute little thing out here.”

The cat looked at her for a long moment before slowly closing its eyes once more. This time, it did not resist. And for the first time in a very long while, Sakura found herself returning home with someone waiting in her arms.

Sakura stepped into the apartment and gently closed the door behind her, instinctively lowering her voice despite living alone.

“We’re home little guy.”

The words slipped out naturally. She paused then looked down at the cat in her arms “That sounded embarrassing..” The cat stared at her with the same unimpressed expression as before. Sakura narrowed her eyes. “You really do look like him.”

The cat blinked once as if it understand every words she spits out.

Now, that she had noticed it, she could not unsee it anymore. The reddish fur was obviously different, but the eyes, the perpetually annoyed expression, and the way it seemed to silently judge everything around it reminded her far too much of Akasuna Sasori. It was honestly a little unsettling.

The cat, meanwhile, seemed equally dissatisfied. Its golden eyes slowly scanned her apartment. The pink curtains. The white furniture. The flower-shaped cushions. The large rabbit plushie occupying nearly half of the couch.

“…Don’t look at my apartment like that.” Sakura frowned, obviously offended at the cat's judging gaze “…I know what you’re thinking. And no, it does not look like a little girl’s room.”

The cat continued staring.

“You’re definitely judging me”.A soft huff escaped her as she carefully placed the cat onto the couch. It immediately sat upright, looking much more alert now, though it still appeared tired. Its gaze followed her as she moved around the kitchen, searching through cabinets.
“I don’t have cat food and wasn’t exactly expecting to adopt a cat today”. She admitted after a moment.

Adopt.

The word made her pause. She glanced toward the couch. The cat was still there. Watching her closely. A small smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

“Well, you can stay for tonight, at least.”

The cat blinked.

“I mean, I can’t exactly throw you back outside. It’s cold and you look exhausted…Besides, this place is too quiet anyway.”

The words escaped more softly than she intended. For a moment, Sakura simply stood there. The apartment had always been quiet. She had gotten used to it years ago. Or at least she thought she had. Yet recently, she found herself lingering outside her door for a few extra seconds before entering, mentally preparing for the silence waiting on the other side.

Some days were worse than others. Especially during times like this.

Valentine’s Day.

Couples everywhere. Everyone is making plans. Everyone has someone waiting for them.

Sakura let out a small sigh and filled a bowl with water before carrying it toward the couch.

“I sound ridiculous talking to a cat.”

The cat’s ears twitched. A laugh almost escaped her.

“Still, I guess you don’t mind listening.”

She placed the bowl down and sat beside it, leaving enough distance not to scare it. The cat remained cautious. But it did not move away. That alone felt like progress. For several moments, silence settled between them. Strangely enough, it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Sakura rested her chin on her knees.

“My parents travel a lot,” she found herself saying quietly. “They’re good parents, really. They call me all the time and always bring gifts whenever they come back. They’re just… busy.” Her fingers lightly played with the sleeve of her sweater.

The cat looked at her and Sakura found herself smiling at it faintly. She lowered her gaze “I know I should be used to it by now. But sometimes I still wish someone was here.”

The room became quiet once again.

Outside, distant laughter drifted from the streets below. Inside, only the ticking of the clock could be heard. Then something soft brushed against her hand.

Sakura blinked.

The cat had moved closer. Not much but enough for its tail to lightly touch her fingers. As though it had done so accidentally.

She stared.

The cat immediately moved its gaze away.

“Are you comforting me?” She giggled, poking its tail to tease. “You are, aren’t you?”

The cat looked even more offended. A laugh escaped her lips “You’re so cute.”

One golden eye slowly turned toward her.

“Thank you.”

Sakura smiled. She wasn’t entirely sure what she was thanking it for. Perhaps for listening, for appearing at her doorstep. Or perhaps simply because, tonight, opening the apartment door had not felt quite as quiet as usual.
The cat stared at her for several seconds before slowly lowering itself onto the couch. Still close enough for its tail to remain touching her hand. Sakura’s smile softened “…You can stay as long as you want”.The cat closed its eyes, the apartment seemed a little warmer tonight.

For the next few days, Sakura’s apartment slowly changed.

It started with small things.

Every morning, she would wake up and immediately look around the room, searching for a patch of reddish fur. Sometimes the cat would be sitting by the window, basking in the morning sunlight with half-lidded eyes. Other times, she would find it sleeping at the foot of her bed, tail lazily flicking when it noticed she was awake. On one particularly unfortunate morning, she opened her eyes only to find the cat sitting beside her pillow, staring directly at her face.

She nearly rolled off the bed.

“My god..did you watch me sleep?!”

The cat only blinked.

“You’ve been doing this for who knows how long, haven’t you?”

Another blink.

Sakura pouted, narrowed her eyes before gently poking its forehead. “Creepy.”

He looked deeply offended. The incident somehow ended with her laughing and the cat turning its back toward her in protest.

Bath time proved to be another memorable experience. After several days, Sakura finally decided that the cat needed a proper bath. The moment she picked up the towel, however, he immediately became suspicious. By the time she managed to bring it into the bathroom, she looked as though she had fought for her life.

“You’re being dramatic.”

The cat hissed, threaten to bite her if she come too close.
Sakura huffed “You were literally sleeping in a cardboard box.”

More glaring.

Eventually, the battle ended with a very grumpy red cat sitting in warm water while Sakura carefully washed its fur. Her sleeves were rolled up, pink pajamas slightly damp, and her hair tied into a messy bun that kept coming loose.

“Your fur is actually really pretty.”

The cat froze.

“And so soft too.”

Sakura smiled before gently scratching beneath its chin. “You’re cute.” The cat looked as though it had just suffered the greatest humiliation of its life. Afterward, she spent nearly twenty minutes drying its fur, only to end up staring at the fluffy result in complete amazement.

“…Oh no.”

The cat looked at her suspiciously.

“You’re even cuter now!”

The expression of pure offense on its face made her laugh until her stomach hurt.

Naturally, the photos began shortly afterward. At first, she only took one picture while he was sleeping.

Then another.

Then ten more.

Soon her phone became filled with photographs of a certain red cat glaring at the camera, sleeping under sunlight, sitting beside her textbooks, or looking personally offended whenever she dressed it with a tiny ribbon for “just one picture.”

One evening, she pulled it into her lap and held her phone up.

“Look here.”

The cat immediately tried to escape.

“No, stay still.”

It looked horrified. Sakura laughed softly and gently pressed her cheek against its fluffy fur before taking several selfies.

The pictures turned out surprisingly adorable. One became her wallpaper immediately.

“Look at us. We actually look cute together”. The cat looked as though it regretted every decision leading to this moment.

Sleeping arrangements also changed over time.
At first, the cat slept on the couch. Then one particularly cold night, Sakura found it curled tightly into itself, trying to stay warm. Her heart melted instantly. Without hesitation, she carefully picked it up and carried it into bed. The next morning, she woke up to find a warm bundle of fur sleeping against her stomach. For several seconds, she simply stared. Then she laughed, her expression softened into something almost ridiculously gentle.

“So you trust me now?”

The cat remained asleep. Very carefully, she reached over and took another picture. From then on, sleeping separately somehow became impossible. Sometimes it would sleep beside her pillow, other times beside her arm. On especially cold nights, she would wake up to find it curled against her side, warm and soft beneath the blankets.

Little by little, Sakura also developed strange habits.

“I’m home.”

The words naturally left her lips whenever she returned from school. A few moments later, the sound of soft paws would echo through the apartment before the cat appeared from somewhere inside.

“Look what Ino gave me today.”
Or—
“I’m so tired.”
Or—
“What should we eat tonight?”

She talked while cooking, while studying, and while lying lazily on the couch after long days at school.
The cat never answered. Because no cat could talk, so it simply listened.

Sometimes it would sit nearby while she did homework. Sometimes it would quietly follow her from room to room, pretending it had merely happened to be going in the same direction.

The apartment remained just as quiet as before. Only now, the silence no longer felt quite so empty.
One evening, Sakura was lying on the couch, absentmindedly running her fingers through the cat’s soft fur when she suddenly paused.

“Have I become dependent on you?” Sakura suddenly asked the little red cat, staring at it for several long seconds before laughing softly.
“This is bad, I actually look forward to coming
home now.”
The cat became unusually still. Sakura lowered her gaze and gently scratched behind one of its ears.

“I don’t feel lonely anymore.” The words slipped out quietly. The room fell silent. After a moment, the cat slowly moved closer and settled beside her leg.

Sakura blinked.

Then smiled. Her fingers gently continued stroking its fur.

“Thank you.”

The cat closed its eyes. Neither of them noticed how natural the moment had become. Neither of them realized that somewhere between shared meals, warm evenings, and countless photographs, the empty apartment had slowly begun to feel like home.

The moment Sakura opened the apartment door, her expression immediately brightened.

“I’m home!”

Soft footsteps echoed from inside the apartment before the familiar red cat appeared around the corner. The sight alone was enough to make Sakura smile.

“There you are!” She immediately crouched down and opened her arms. The cat stopped. Clearly reconsidering all of its life choices. Unfortunately, Sakura was faster “There you are,” she laughed softly, scooping him into her arms. “Did you wait for me?” The cat looked away “Aww.” Sakura rubbed her cheek against the top of his fluffy head.

The cat stiffened.

“You smell nice.”

More stiffening.

Then she gently pressed a kiss onto his forehead. The cat froze completely.

Sakura blinked.

“Why are you making that face?”

The cat looked horrified.

She laughed and carried him toward the couch, still hugging him against her chest. Over the past week, she had become embarrassingly attached. Coming home no longer felt lonely when there was always a fluffy red cat waiting for her.

Settling onto the couch, Sakura placed him on her lap and began absentmindedly stroking his fur.

“School was boring today, Sasori still isn’t back.” Sakura puffed her cheeks slightly. “It’s been over a week now, everyone keeps talking about him.” She gently scratched beneath his chin, smiling when he unconsciously leaned into it. “Even Deidara looks worried.”

A pause.

“It’s so weird.”

Her fingers slowed.

“I thought it’d be nice if he disappeared for a while.” She laughed softly. “No more annoying comments. No more criticizing my work.” Sakura smiled “…But school is kind of quiet now.” She lightly poked one of his ears. The cat only stares at her like it's questioning her.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying I miss him.”
The cat stared.

“Okay , stop looking at me like that.”

More staring.

Sakura huffed before pulling him closer and burying her face into his soft fur.

“You’re such a bully.”

The cat looked offended. A laugh escaped her.
“I just got used to arguing with him, that’s all.” She absentmindedly rubbed her nose against the top of his head again. “Student council meetings are boring now. Nobody complains about my decorations anymore.”
The cat remained unusually quiet. Sakura gently scratched behind his ears.

“I hope he’s okay though. When he comes back, I’ll yell at him for worrying everyone.” She looked down at the cat in her lap in fondness.

“And then I’ll probably argue with him again.”

The cat seemed to relax slightly. Sakura smiled and kissed his forehead once more.

“Though if you keep being this cute, I might start liking cats more than people.”

The cat froze.

“…Actually…” A mischievous smile slowly appeared on her face. “You kind of remind me of him.” Golden eyes widened slightly. “The same grumpy face. The same judgmental stare.And secretly soft too.”

The cat scoffed.

Sakura burst into laughter and hugged him again, choking him while the cat struggled like it was being threatened “You’re so adorable!!”

The cat appeared to be questioning every decision that had led him here.

Unfortunately for him, Sakura only found his reactions cuter. She happily buried her face into his fur once more, completely unaware that the red cat in her arms had become utterly motionless.

Because if Sasori had still been human…his face would probably be bright red by now.

A few more days passed, and Sasori still did not return.

At first, Sakura had tried not to think too much about it. People got sick. Family emergencies happened. Perhaps he simply needed time away from school. Yet as the days slowly passed and his seat remained empty, an uncomfortable feeling gradually settled in her chest.

The rumors around school only grew worse. Some students whispered that he had transferred, while others insisted he must have been seriously ill. Even the student council room felt strangely different. Too quiet. Too empty.

It was ridiculous.

She should be enjoying the peace.

No more sarcastic comments whenever she made a mistake. No more petty arguments during meetings. No more irritatingly handsome face looking at her as though she had personally offended him simply by existing.

Then why did everything feel so… wrong?

By the time she returned to her apartment that evening, her mood had noticeably worsened. She barely had enough energy to remove her shoes before a familiar weight brushed against her legs.

The red cat had already come to greet her.

Normally, the sight would immediately make her smile. She would scoop him into her arms, rub her cheek against his fur, and complain about her day while he silently tolerated her affection.

Today, however, she simply stood there.

Golden eyes stared up at her.

“What if something happened to him?”

The words slipped out quietly.

The cat immediately stilled.

Sakura slowly crouched down before picking him up, absentmindedly burying her fingers in his soft fur as she walked toward the couch.

“I mean… he wouldn’t disappear like this.”

She let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the cushions, allowing the cat to settle comfortably in her lap.

“He is annoying and mean and acts like he’s better than everyone else…” A small smile unconsciously appeared on her face. “But he’s responsible.”

Her fingers gently brushed through his fur.

“He always finishes his work. He never leaves things unfinished.”

The apartment became quiet. Sakura lowered her gaze.

“I even got used to seeing him around. Not that I like him or anything…But it’s kinda fun arguing with him, it would be dull if everything is life is easy right?”

Sakura laughed at that. The confession surprised even herself.

She had become so accustomed to his presence that his absence now felt strangely noticeable. Her eyes would unconsciously search for him during meetings, and every time she walked past the student council room, she found herself expecting to hear his voice.

It was strange.

Embarrassing, even.

“Maybe I miss arguing with him.” She pouted.

The cat remained unusually still.

A small laugh escaped her.

“Actually, I think I really do.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Sakura froze.

Slowly, she looked down.

The cat was staring at her.

Very intently.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Golden eyes continued watching her.

For some reason, an odd feeling suddenly crept up her spine.

Sakura frowned.

“You really are weird.”

The cat blinked once. She narrowed her eyes.

“No, seriously.”

Something about him had always been strange. From the very beginning. He was too smart. Too expressive. Too understanding. Can cats even understand human language?? He even reacted whenever she talked about school, about Naruto and Ino, and especially—

Her thoughts suddenly halted.

Especially whenever she mentioned Sasori.

Her fingers slowly stopped moving.

“Wait…”

The cat immediately became alert. A strange silence filled the room. Sakura slowly lowered him slightly, her eyes remaining fixed on him.

Golden eyes.

Red fur.

A perpetually unimpressed expression.

The habit of silently listening to her rambling every evening.

The strange feeling that he understood everything she said.

The way he seemed embarrassed during their bath.

The way he looked horrified whenever she kissed his forehead.

The way he always reacted whenever she talked about—“…No.” Her face slowly paled. The cat looked nervous. “…No way.”Her mind suddenly replayed everything.

The witch. The wish. The price.

‘Very well. Return and never come back. Your wish will come true.’

A cold shiver ran through her body.

Slowly, almost mechanically, Sakura looked down at the cat again. The cat looked away.

Her eyes widened.

“No.”

The cat suddenly found the opposite wall incredibly interesting.

“…No, that’s impossible.”

Because that would mean—The cat slowly flattened his ears.

A terrible, terrible silence.

“Sasori?”

Nothing happened.

“Sasori?”

The cat remained perfectly still. Sakura stared at him. The cat refused to look back.

“…If you’re actually him…”Her voice sounded strangely weak“…nod.”For several long moments, nothing happened.Then—The cat nodded.

Sakura stopped breathing.

Her entire mind became blank. She looked at him. Then at the wall. Then back at him. The cat looked deeply uncomfortable.

“YOU’RE SASORI?! AKASUNA SASORI?!”

The cat winced. Sakura nearly fell off the couch, her expression horrified.

“No!” She pointed at him with a trembling finger, eyes twitching. Sakura refuse to believe that guy is her adorable little cat. “No, absolutely not! This cannot be happening!” The cat only looks more guilty, its ears already dropped

“You slept in my bed!”

“…”

“I carried you around!”

More silence.

“I kissed your forehead!”

The cat slowly closed his eyes.

“I TOOK SELFIES WITH YOU!”

He looked as though he wished to disappear. Sakura buried her face in her hands.

“Oh my god…”

Her face had become completely red at this point.

“Oh god.”

This was horrible. This was humiliating. This was—A laugh suddenly escaped her. Because the situation was simply too ridiculous. A witch had granted her wish. The price had somehow turned her rival into a cat. Said rival had spent nearly two weeks living in her apartment. And she had unknowingly spoiled him every single day.

Slowly, Sakura lowered her hands.

The cat looked up cautiously. For a few moments, they simply stared at one another. Then her expression gradually softened.

“So you’ve been with me this whole time.”

Golden eyes blinked.

The memory of countless evenings suddenly surfaced in her mind. The cat waiting by the door whenever she returned home. Sleeping beside her every night. Quietly listening to all her worries and complaints.

Her cheeks slowly warmed.

“…You heard everything, didn’t you?”

The cat looked away.

“…Including all the embarrassing things I said.”

More silence.

“…Including me saying I missed him.” Sakura suddenly feel her apartment very hot. Even if it’s snowing outside. The cat suddenly looked even more uncomfortable. Sakura only stared at him.

Then a smile slowly spread across her face.

“…Sasori.” No response. “…Look at me.”

Nothing.

“You’re blushing, aren’t you?”

The cat looked horrified. Sakura finally burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she leaned back against the couch. Because somehow—

Akasuna Sasori being secretly embarrassed while trapped in the body of a cat might have been the funniest thing she had ever witnessed.

Three days before Valentine’s Day, Sasori came to the deeply troubling realization that he had become used to living here.

The realization alone was horrifying.

He was currently lying on Sakura’s lap while she absentmindedly brushed his fur, one leg tucked beneath herself on the couch as she lazily scrolled through her phone. The apartment was warm, the television hummed softly in the background, and outside the windows, the winter sky had already begun to darken.

This should not feel normal.

And yet, somehow, it did.

“Nothing again,” Sakura sighed softly, putting her phone down beside her. “Every website says curses aren’t real. Very helpful.” she mumbled sarcastically.

Her fingers never stopped moving through his fur.
Sasori closed his eyes. Not because he enjoyed it. Absolutely not. The brushing was merely… tolerable. Unfortunately, Sakura notice and immediately smiled.
“You’re sleepy again.” She tease. He opened one eye to glance at her.
“You always look so comfortable whenever I brush you, must like it alot huh?.” A finger gently scratched beneath his chin.

"So cute.” Sakura giggled.

Sasori closed his eyes again. He had long since learned that arguing with this girl was pointless. As a cat.

The first few days after his identity had been revealed had been terrible. Sakura had turned red every few minutes, repeatedly remembered embarrassing incidents, and spent an entire evening hiding beneath a blanket after recalling how many times she had kissed his forehead.
Now, however, she had adapted alarmingly quickly.

Too quickly for him to believe.

She still greeted him every evening with a bright smile. She still carried him around whenever she pleased. She still rubbed her cheek against his head and belly whenever she was in a good mood.

And the worst part?

He had gradually stopped resisting.

“Don’t worry. We’ll figure something out.” Sakura’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. Comforting him. Her hand slowed slightly.

“There has to be a way to reverse this.” Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, lost in thought. Sasori couldn't deny that whenever Sakura concentrated on something, her eyebrows would furrow, and she would occasionally mumble to herself or pout. He found her cute, annoyingly talkative, yes, but very cute.

Silence settled between them again. Then she smiled faintly.

“But, even if we don’t find it immediately, that’s okay too.”
Sasori opened his eyes and stare at her as if trying to say ‘Are you joking right now?’

Sakura giggled, staring down at him, her expression softer than usual.

“To be honest, I’ve gotten used to having you here. And you are not insufferable when you're a cat”

The room suddenly became very quiet. A few snowflakes drifted past the windows.

Sakura laughed softly to herself.

“It’s so weird.” Her fingers gently brushed through his fur again. “A few weeks ago, I thought I was going to spend Valentine’s Day alone again.” She rested her cheek against the couch and smiled sheepishly. “Now I come home every day looking forward to seeing a grumpy red cat.”

Sasori stared at her.

“I’m not lonely anymore, am I? I guess what I need is someone to spend time with, not a boyfriend.” Slowly, she turned to look at the ceiling, lost in thoughts. There was a small satisfied smile on her face.

The words were spoken so casually that they struck him far more deeply than they should have.

She had said it with a smile. As though she did not realize how much weight those words carried. How deeply it affected him. As though she had already accepted his presence as something natural.

Something important.

“Honestly, you’ve spoiled me.” A small laugh escaped her lips. “I even smile whenever I open the door now.” As if to prove her point, Sakura suddenly leaned down and gently rubbed her cheek against the top of his head. The familiar gesture that he is familiar enough not to freeze.

“There you are,” she murmured softly, almost unconsciously. “I missed you”. Very slowly, Sasori looked up.

Sakura blinked

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Why? Because she had just said something absurd. Because she looked entirely too happy and he suddenly found himself unable to look away.

Sakura laughed softly before pressing a gentle kiss onto his forehead.

“There, you’ve been quiet all evening.” Sasori stopped functioning. Another soft stroke through his fur.

“Are you…worried too?” The warmth of her lap, the quiet apartment, the soft expression on her face—Everything suddenly felt dangerous. Because he had become used to it.

To her.

To hearing her footsteps every evening. To her talking endlessly about her day. To sleeping beside her. To these small moments that should have been insignificant.
And perhaps that was the most troubling part of all. Because if the curse disappeared tomorrow…he would lose this. He would no longer be waiting for her at the door. No longer hear her laugh this freely. No longer be able to stay this close to her. The thought left an unpleasant feeling in his chest.

“Sasori?”

Her voice was gentle. He slowly looked up. Sakura was smiling again. A soft, warm smile that had become frighteningly familiar.

“You know…” She gently scratched behind his ears. “Things probably won’t go back to normal after this.”

His eyes widened slightly. She looked down at him, her smile becoming smaller.

“I don’t think I want them to.”

Silence filled the room. Outside, snow continued falling quietly. Inside, neither of them moved. Then Sakura laughed softly, almost shyly. “Living with you has been nice, honesty.” Her fingers slowly resumed brushing his fur. “Too nice.” Sasori simply stared at her.

At the soft expression in her eyes.

At the warmth in her smile.

At the girl who no longer looked lonely whenever she returned home.

Something in his chest tightened. Then—

rrrrr…

Sakura blinked.

Sasori froze, his ears dropped.

Sakura smirked, eyes looking at him with amusement “Did you just purr?”

No…

“You did!”

Absolutely not! Akasuna Sasori did not purr!

rrrrr… He purred again, unconsciously. Sasori was horrified, he could not control himself and that was the most humiliating moment in his life.

Her smile became brighter.

“Oh my god, you actually can purr. That’s so adorable!”
Sasori immediately looked away, ashamed. Sakura immediately burst out laughing.

Soon she was laughing so hard she had to wipe the corners of her eyes. And despite the overwhelming humiliation…Sasori found himself unable to stop watching her smile.

Valentine’s Day arrived much more quietly than either of them expected.

Nothing happened.

No mysterious signs appeared overnight, no strange sensation signaled the end of the curse, and no miraculous answer suddenly presented itself to them. The morning looked exactly the same as every other morning they had spent together. Snow continued falling softly outside the windows, the apartment remained pleasantly warm, and Sakura sat cross-legged on the couch with Sasori resting comfortably in her lap.

The scattered books and papers on the table looked almost pitiful now.

They had searched everywhere. Every website, every urban legend, every obscure forum discussing magic and curses had led nowhere. They had even spent an entire afternoon trying to find the mysterious shop again, only to discover an empty alley as though the place had never existed at all.

A small sigh escaped Sakura.

“…I guess that’s it.” Her fingers slowly combed through his reddish fur. “We really couldn’t find anything.” The words sounded calm enough, but her expression said otherwise.
Sasori looked up at her quietly.

There were dark circles beneath her eyes. She had barely slept these past few days. At first, he had assumed she was worried because he would remain a cat forever. Then he had realized she was worried for him. As if being trapped with her was some terrible fate.

Idiot. He thought.

Sakura lowered her gaze and smiled faintly. “You know…” Her fingers gradually slowed. “I think I’m a terrible person.”

Golden eyes blinked at her.

“I made a selfish wish because I was lonely, jealous of other people's love and now…” She laughed softly, though there was something bitter in it. “You might stay like this forever because of me.”

The room fell quiet. Her hand gently rested atop his head. “You had your own life.School, friends, and future.You were doing perfectly fine before all of this.”

She looked down at him. Something in her eyes saddened him.

“And now you’re stuck here,” The smile gradually became fragile “with me.”

Sasori stared at her like she just said the most stupid thing he ever heard. Then he slowly closed his eyes.

Idiot.

From the very beginning, she had misunderstood everything. Even before the curse, he had never disliked her. Maybe even more than like. She was loud, stubborn, and had a terrible habit of arguing with him over meaningless things, but she was also the girl who stayed late after council meetings to help organize documents, the girl who smiled too brightly whenever someone praised her, and the girl who cared so much about others—even him, that she would rather blame herself than imagine someone choosing to stay.

He had noticed her long ago. Long before she ever realized. He simply…had never thought about it too deeply. Because admitting things like that was not his thing.

“I really am selfish.” Sakura laughed quietly. “I don’t want you to stay a cat forever.” Her fingers lightly scratched behind his ears.“But…”

She hesitated“…I don’t want you to leave either.” Words left her mouth quietly, if he was not this close to her, he would've thought she was sighing.

Snow slowly drifted outside.

“See? Terrible person.”

A soft kiss landed atop his head.

“I’m sorry…for all of this”

Something inside Sasori’s chest tightened painfully.
She is an idiot. Why was she apologizing? The apartment had not been terrible. The evenings had not been terrible. Coming home and hearing her voice had not been terrible. For the first time in a long while, he had actually looked forward to returning somewhere.

To someone.

His gaze slowly lifted. Sakura was smiling. But her eyes looked far away from reality.

“If you become human again…” Her voice softened. “I hope you’ll still visit me sometimes.” A small laugh escaped her.

“Though you’ll probably be relieved to finally escape me.”
She was ridiculous. As if he would.

A few moments later, Sakura finally stood. She looked reluctant. Adjusting her bag, she crouched in front of him one last time.

“I should go now." Her fingers gently smoothed his fur. “I’ll come home quickly so wait for me okay?I promise it won’t be long. Even God knows you hate waiting.”

She chuckled. A bright, familiar smile embraced her beautiful face. The words slipped out naturally. As though she had already become used to having someone waiting. As though she had already decided this place was his home.

Sasori simply looked at her.

At the girl who had unknowingly occupied far too much of his thoughts.

Sakura left. The apartment door softly closed softly, leaving the silence in the apartment.

For several moments, nothing happened. A warmth suddenly spread through his body. At first it was faint. Then stronger. Light flooded his vision. By the time the sensation disappeared, Akasuna Sasori found himself sitting on the floor.

Human again.

He stared at his hands. So the curse had ended, maybe it achieved something out of this situation, he didn't know and didn't care enough.

A long silence followed.

His gaze slowly moved around the apartment. Her blanket still remained on the couch. The mug she drank yesterday still sat on the coffee table. A small photograph had been left carelessly beside her books.

It was one of their selfies.

Sakura was smiling brightly, cheek pressed against his fluffy head while he looked mildly offended.
Another picture lay underneath.

Then another.

An entire collection.

His ears gradually turned red.

“…Unbelievable.” Yet his fingers carefully touched one of the photographs. The apartment suddenly felt quiet. Without her voice, her laughter. Without someone absentmindedly talking while preparing dinner.

His gaze slowly lowered.

“Tch. Idiot.” She really thought he had been trapped here. As though these weeks had only been a burden.

A small sigh escaped him.

Somewhere along the way, he had begun waiting for the sound of the apartment door opening. Waiting for her footsteps, for her smile.

He was always waiting for her. Because long before he became a cat, Haruno Sakura had already become someone special in his heart. He had simply been too dense to realize it.

A helpless laugh escaped him.

“I’m an idiot too.”

His gaze drifted toward the entrance. Wait for me. The words echoed softly in his mind. A small smile appeared on his face.

By the time Sakura returned home, the sky had already darkened and the snow had begun falling more heavily, tiny white flakes clinging to her scarf and hair as she climbed the stairs to her apartment. She stood in front of the door for a few seconds longer than usual, staring at the small bag of treats in her hand before letting out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh. She had bought them without even thinking. Halfway through paying, she had suddenly remembered that there was no longer a red cat waiting for her at home.

Slowly, she unlocked the door.

“I’m home.”

The words slipped out instinctively.

Silence greeted her.

No soft footsteps approached the entrance. No familiar golden eyes lazily stared at her from the couch. The apartment looked exactly the same as it always had, yet for some reason, it felt strangely unfamiliar tonight. The warmth she had become so used to was gone, leaving only a quiet stillness that seemed to stretch endlessly through every corner of the room.

Her smile gradually faded.

Of course. He had become human again. This was a good thing. This was what she had wanted. Right? Then why did it hurt so much?

Sakura slowly removed her shoes and stepped inside, her gaze unconsciously wandering around the apartment. The blanket she had used that morning was still carelessly draped over the couch, several books remained scattered across the coffee table, and one of their countless photographs had somehow slipped from between the pages of a magazine.

She picked it up.

In the picture, she was smiling so brightly that her eyes had nearly disappeared, her cheek pressed against fluffy red fur while the cat in her arms looked thoroughly offended by his circumstances.

A small laugh escaped her.

“You really became human again, Sasori”

Her thumb gently brushed over the photograph. She should be relieved. She really should.

For days, she had been worried about him remaining trapped forever, about him losing his future because of her selfish wish. She had imagined him missing school, slowly drifting apart from his friends, perhaps even growing to resent her one day for taking his normal life away from him.

Yet now that the curse had finally ended, she discovered another selfish part of herself.

Because she missed him.

Terribly.

The apartment had once been merely quiet, but tonight it felt empty. There was nobody sleeping on her pillow, nobody silently following her into the kitchen, nobody waiting by the door every evening. They had all been such small things, so ordinary that she had never paid much attention to them while they were happening, yet somehow those little moments had quietly become part of her everyday life.

And now they were gone.

Sakura slowly sat down on the couch, clutching the photograph against her chest. Sighing loudly.

“I really am horrible.”

A soft laugh escaped her lips, though this one sounded much weaker.

She had wished for true love because she was lonely. Then she wished for him to become human again because she did not want to trap him. And now that he was finally free, she found herself wishing he had stayed just a little longer.

How selfish. She was selfish, her parents told her it was her bad trait. But this time, she silently wished her selfishness could be granted. Because she missed him, missed so much that it started to hurt her heart.
Her gaze slowly lowered.

She wondered if he had gone home already. If he was with his friends right now, laughing and catching up after almost 3 weeks. She found herself wondering if he was happy now that he turned back to human again.
A strange ache spread through her chest.

Because for the first time since this whole ridiculous situation began, she realized that she did not want to return to her old, lonely life.

She did not want to eat dinner alone anymore. Did not want to come home to an empty apartment. Did not want to smile at anybody in particular when opening the door.
At some point, she had become used to having someone wait for her. And perhaps even more frighteningly, she had begun waiting for him too.

A few tears suddenly blurred her vision.

Sakura blinked in surprise.

“Gosh, why am I so emotional."

One warm droplet slid down her cheek. Then another. A small, shaky laugh escaped her.

“This is so embarrassing. Lucky he is not here so rub it at my face.” the simply thought make her smile. She hurriedly wiped at her eyes, but more tears simply replaced them.

How ridiculous. He had only been gone for a few hours. Yet the apartment already felt unbearably lonely.

“I hope you’re happy.” Her voice came out softly. The photograph trembled slightly in her hands. “I hope you don’t hate me.” Another tear slipped down. Her smile became fragile. “Please remember me.”

The room remained silent.

Snow continued falling quietly outside the windows.
Sakura lowered her head “Because I don’t think I can forget you anymore.”

The confession slipped out before she could stop it. A soft knock suddenly echoed through the apartment.

She froze.

For a moment, she thought she had imagined it. Then another knock followed. Her heart immediately began beating faster. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she stood up and walked toward the entrance.

By the time she reached the door, her fingers had begun trembling. Taking a small breath, Sakura slowly opened it. And forgot how to breathe.

Sasori stood there, his handsome face immediately softened. And oddly, he heart keep jumping.

Snow rested lightly in his beautiful auburn hair and on the shoulders of his dark coat, his golden brown eyes quietly watching her with an expression she could not quite understand.

For several seconds, neither of them moved. Then his gaze slowly lowered to her reddened eyes. To the tears she had failed to wipe away.

A faint crease appeared between his brows.

“Why are you crying?”

A watery laugh immediately escaped her “Whose fault do you think this is?” Her voice trembled despite her attempt to smile “I came home and you were gone.” Another tear slipped down her cheek “You idiot.”

For a moment, Sasori simply stared at her,his eyes holding that fondness that she had never seen before.
Because suddenly, standing beneath the warm light spilling from her apartment, looking at the girl crying because she thought he had left…he finally understood.
The reason he had been unable to walk away. The reason the apartment had felt so unbearably quiet.

The reason he had spent nearly half an hour standing outside her door, trying to gather enough courage to knock. Because somewhere along the way, Haruno Sakura had quietly become the place he wanted to return to. She had become his home.

Akasuna Sasori returning to school became the biggest topic of discussion before first period had even started. The moment he walked through the gates, whispers immediately followed him through the hallways. Several students openly stared while others lowered their voices, curious about where exactly he had disappeared to for nearly three weeks.

Even the whole Akatsuki were curious.

By lunchtime, the entire Akatsuki group had already given up trying to get answers out of Sasori.

The whole morning had been strange enough.
He had returned after nearly three weeks as though nothing had happened, accepted everyone’s concern with unusual patience, checked his phone more times than anyone had ever seen him do before, and seemed oddly distracted throughout his classes. It was subtle enough that most people would not notice, but to those who had known him for years, the difference was almost unsettling.

Even now, as they entered the crowded cafeteria together, Deidara was still eyeing him suspiciously.

Then Sasori stopped. The others instinctively followed his line of sight.

Near the windows sat Sakura.

She was talking with Naruto and Ino, one hand absentmindedly stirring her drink while occasionally smiling at whatever ridiculous story Naruto was telling. A few tables away sat Sasuke and his girlfriend, the latter looking particularly pleased with herself as she remained close to him.

At that exact moment, Sakura happened to look up. The change in her expression was immediate.

Her entire face brightened like the sun.

A smile appeared on her lips, warm and familiar, carrying none of the hesitation or awkwardness one would expect.
And before anyone could process it—Sasori was already walking. Straight toward her.

Deidara blinked.

Kisame blinked.

Even Konan looked mildly surprised.

Because there was something strangely natural about the entire thing, as though this was a routine neither of them had to think about.

Sakura had already risen from her seat by the time he reached her. The smile on her face only deepened as she looked up at him.

Then Sakura’s expression softened even further, almost amused, as though she had already guessed exactly what he wanted. She reached up first, gently fixing his collar before brushing a few strands of hair away from his face.
The gesture was casual. Comfortable. Far too intimate. The cafeteria gradually became quieter.

Naruto’s mouth slowly fell open.

Ino stared.

Several nearby students had begun whispering. Sasuke’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Meanwhile, Sasori simply stood there, looking at Sakura with an expression so soft that several members of Akatsuki looked mildly disturbed.

Then he leaned down.

And pressing a soft kiss on her lips. As though this was not the first time. As though he had done this many times before. Sakura merely blinked once before smiling helplessly and returning the kiss just as naturally.

The entire cafeteria froze. For several long seconds, nobody moved.

Then chaos erupted.

Naruto nearly knocked over his chair. Ino looked moments away from screaming. Students immediately began whispering among themselves, some openly staring while others looked as though they had just witnessed something impossible. Some even said Sakura drugged Sasori to make him like her. And some stated back Sasori probably have an amnesia.

Deidara looked personally betrayed.

Kisame appeared utterly confused.

Hidan looked delighted by the sudden drama.

Even Konan needed several moments to process what she had just seen.

Because Akasuna Sasori—

Akasuna Sasori—had just walked into the cafeteria and kissed someone in public. And not just anyone.

Haruno Sakura.

The girl he supposedly argued with during every student council meeting. The girl everyone assumed he merely tolerated.

A few tables away, Sasuke’s girlfriend looked genuinely stunned. Sasuke himself had also stopped eating entirely, his eyes wide like they were about to pop out of his skull fixed on the pair near the windows.

Meanwhile, completely oblivious to the collective crisis they had caused, Sakura looked up at Sasori with obvious amusement, her expression carrying the same helpless fondness one would have for a spoiled cat demanding attention. Whatever she quietly said made the tips of his ears turn slightly red. That somehow made everything even worse. Because Akasuna Sasori looked—happy. Relaxed. Soft. As though standing beside her was the most natural thing in the world.

The sight was so unbelievable that several people genuinely wondered whether the three-week disappearance had somehow altered his personality.

Around them, whispers only grew louder.

Yet neither Sakura nor Sasori seemed to care. Sakura’s smile remained warm as she lightly adjusted his collar one last time, while Sasori looked at her with that same softened expression.

The atmosphere around them felt strangely complete, as though a missing piece had finally returned to its proper place.

Deidara slowly covered his face. The entire morning suddenly made sense. The phone. The distraction. The strange smiles. The unusual patience. Everything.

“…I can’t believe this, un.” he muttered weakly.

Beside him, Konan simply sighed before a small smile appeared on her face. Because despite everyone’s shock—they looked good together.