Just hearing the term ‘lovesick’ had brought some discomfort to Shikamaru, somewhere where Sakura’s eyes couldn’t see. He had known women were going to be challenging as he had grown older, but he did not expect it to hit him this hard, this soon. If you had told him months ago that he would start seeing Ino as more than just a childhood friend, a teammate, and a comrade, the fit of laughter that would follow might have scared you. It had little to do with Ino as a person; she was outgoing, considerate, and strong. Even back then he had known she’d be quite a catch as she got older. But to attract him? Him, of all people? That was something he couldn’t have expected.

Sakura’s hand on his shoulder had brought him ease, and he had offered her a smile in thanks. He tensed at her offering of knowledge, hoping there would be some light in this strange, foreboding tunnel he was about to travel into. Alas, Sakura had confirmed it: Ino saw him as the figure he already knew she would, nothing more than a brother. That meant trust and comfort, but there wasn’t room to come to him about more personal matters. Normally he’d be thankful. Normally he wouldn’t be thinking about a woman like this. Life was becoming more complicated by the day.

[color=fff79a][b]“I see. Can’t say I didn’t see that coming,”[/b][/color] Shikamaru said with a slight smile, his face etched with disappointment. Sakura continued, and his brow raised at her suggestion. Ino seeing him dating someone to help see him as a man? It was crazy enough to work. [color=fff79a][i]‘Ino wouldn’t admit it, but she seems like just the type of girl to be interested in something like that,’[/i][/color] the Nara thought to himself. [color=fff79a][i]‘Sakura might be on to something.’[/i][/color]

She withdrew her hand, prompting him to roll the arm in its socket before pocketing his hands and offering her a more genuine smile. This conversation was going places, but unfortunately Sakura had already arrived to the very place she needed to get to. And here he was, keeping her waiting with his nonsense. 

He gave her a small nod to her wink and watched her jog inside, turning to face at her back. [color=fff79a][b]“Thanks again, I owe you for this!”[/b][/color] he said, just before she disappeared inside and got to work. Turning on his heel, he had headed back the way he had come with her, thinking aloud. [color=fff79a][b]“Sakura’s not a bad strategist herself.” [/b][/color]

As helpful as Sakura’s advice was, it would ultimately be up to him to learn how to court a woman. Asking Asuma-Sensei would do no good, as he was out on a mission and would be gone for some time. His own father seemed the smartest option, but it was an option he didn’t want to explore until he had to. If he thought bringing up his dilemma to Sakura was hard, his father was going to be impossible. There were just some things he didn’t want to bring up, not even to his old man. 

So, Shikamaru turned to literature. The Hidden Leaf’s own bookstore housed creative works, but also guides that one would find useful in anything—home improvement, cook books, but most importantly relationships and the art of romance. He took a seat in the farthest corner of the store that he could, stack of relevant works in hand, and had begun to skim them to find information he could use. Some advice seemed sound, and some sounded far too hopeless to ever work in a real-life situation. Still, being completely naive to courting, he would take what he could stomach to apply to a real woman. When at last he had closed the final book, he noted that a handful of hours had already passed. 

[color=fff79a][i]‘3 already?’[/i][/color] He thought with mild surprise, returning his books and departing the bookstore emptyhanded. The irritating pinch of his stomach had kicked in right on time, reminding them that he hadn’t ate since breakfast. [color=fff79a][i]‘Guess I could go out and get something to eat in a bit,’[/i][/color] Shikamaru glanced up at the clouds while maneuvering himself back home. [color=fff79a][i]‘A fake girlfriend, huh? A little unorthodox for sure, but it’s the best way to get Ino to look on me as a man. But then, who would even go for me even to pretend? Hinata’s too shy, and Tenten doesn’t even look like she has time to worry about men. Who else?’[/i][/color]

Shikamaru’s attention fell forward again as the Nara compound came into view. What he wouldn’t give right now to be as carefree as the kids that occasionally ran by. [color=fff79a][i]‘Maybe… maybe—‘[/i][/color] a voice called out to him, and he turned around to see a familiar face hustling towards him. 

[color=fff79a][b]“Sakura?”[/b][/color]