Shikamaru had a select few ideas about what Sakura could possibly be rushing back to him for, nearly crashing into him in the process. His first guess was that Tsunade needed him for a priority mission; it made sense that the Hokage learned something while she taught Sakura and Ino, and was in a rush to begin recruitment for it. The second guess was related to Ino; maybe there was some good news after all, something new to be learned about his teammates feelings about him. In a way, the second guess was the correct one. He was learning something new, just not related to Ino. 

Sakura had taken the initiative and would assume the role of his new girlfriend, but that knowledge was less surprising than discovering Ino was intrigued by it. 

[color=fff79a][b]“She actually—“[/b][/color] 

He was cut short by the call for their attention by none other than Ino herself. With very little time to find this new character, being Sakura’s new boyfriend, Shikamaru had begun to formulate a strategy. Ino was a very predictable adversary outside of actual combat; triggering her own wants and desires was the game plan, but it would require both Sakura and himself to play this carefully. Avoiding contradictions could be simple if they left together, and Ino didn’t dig too deeply into this budding relationship.

A tinge of crimson built on his cheeks when Ino scooted between Sakura and himself, entering in a proximity he would need to get used to. An ecstatic shimmer in her blue eyes was followed by a step forward and a spin on her heel. Obviously she approved. It wasn’t exactly the expression he was hoping to get, but it was a good start. 

Next came the questioning phase, with Sakura replying before a single letter could leave his lips. Not only did she have to make him sound like a good guy, she also had to know him better than Ino herself. Without the time to rehearse their roles the situation could go either way. For now, he could only put his faith in Sakura, quietly analyzing Sakura’s decision-making skills under pressure.

[color=fff79a][i]‘Me asking you out is smart. Bold.’[/i][/color] He thought to himself. Ino had little interest in shy men, and especially ones that didn’t go for what they wanted. She continued. [color=fff79a][i]‘A picnic… not too bad. Humble. Holding hands and staring at clouds does sound like me.’[/i][/color] 

Sakura decided that a kiss was the perfect end to their date. Again, a bold move… perhaps too bold, even for him. A small wince occurred by his right eye, one that Ino thankfully did not catch, before giving Sakura the best and most earnest smile he could manage. It wasn’t how he thought he’d end a date, and maybe that was just an implication of her desires more than his, but she had understood him well enough to not leave a doubt anywhere else in her story. His focus returned to Ino just as she gave her show of support for them both. 

Sakura beat him to the response once again before locking their hands together. Ideally that would be the end of it. Ino supported them, wanted the very best for them, but the curiosity of this new and sudden romance would be too much for her to just walk away from. There was too much she didn’t understand. Her best friend, now dating her teammate who was the least likely bachelor in the village, out of nowhere. That was the kind of thing you didn’t let go.

[color=bc8dbf][b]“So, what was the kiss like?”[/b][/color]

Sometimes he wished he was just plain wrong.

[color=fff79a][b]“Ino,”[/b][/color] He began, cutting in before Sakura could speak a word of it. She had done well so far, but it wasn’t his style to let a woman do all the talking for him. [color=fff79a][b]“Normally I would say that you’re digging too deep, but you’d just ask Sakura later anyway. Right?”[/b][/color]

[color=bc8dbf][b]“Bingo!”[/b][/color] Ino exclaimed with two sharp nods. 

[color=fff79a][i]‘Keeping private about it is only going to make her interest escalate, so I can’t just leave her with nothing…’[/i][/color] Shikamaru mused, sighing. [color=fff79a][b]“Well… at first I wasn’t sure if it was the right move to make, but I didn’t want to end the date on just a hug. The fact she even said yes to spending the time with me was fortunate. I wanted Sakura to see that I was willing to meet her more than halfway. I still remember the look on her face.” [/b][/color]

Ino leaned closer to the pair with widened eyes. [color=bc8dbf][b]“You totally went for it? No way!”[/b][/color] She cried, thrilled. [color=bc8dbf][b]“I didn’t think you had it in you!”[/b][/color]

[color=fff79a][b]“I didn’t either,“[/b][/color] Shikamaru admitted. He turned to the cherry blossom beside him, finding his smile again and putting it on display. [color=fff79a][b]“And apparently neither did you. You should’ve seen the look on your face. I almost pulled away, I thought I was going to scar you!”[/b][/color]

His hand in hers tensed, hoping that he had guessed correctly her surprise. Imagine him, moving in on her for a kiss. Unfathomable. How could she not be surprised in that pretend scenario? [color=fff79a][i]‘We keep this up and she’ll be trying to wrap her head around it all night.’[/i][/color]

[color=bc8dbf][b]“Kyaaaa!~”[/b][/color] Ino’s hands covered her cheeks, unable to contain the wide grin that appeared. [color=bc8dbf][b]“I can’t believe it, I just can’t! My little Sakura is growing up after all! I can’t wait to tell everyone else!”[/b][/color]

Shikamaru blinked. [color=fff79a][b]“What?”[/b][/color] 

[color=bc8dbf][b]“You don’t think I’m going to keep this all to myself, do you?”[/b][/color] Ino hugged herself with glee. [color=bc8dbf][b]“I’ve gotta say that I never would’ve thought it possible, but Shikamaru… you’ve really stepped up! I’m almost stunned into silence over here!”[/b][/color]

Her smile was blinding to him, and he lost any will he had to defuse her evident joy. It was by Sakura’s choice that she was now entrapped in the role of his girlfriend, and while he didn’t know if she wanted this getting out, she had to have known that Ino couldn’t possibly keep this all to herself for long.