There was not a hint of surprise to hear that Naruto had done most of the talking on Sakura’s squad. Even before being assigned to it, that guy was as loud and rambunctious as they come. Keeping her sanity must have been challenging. But, then again, Naruto always knew how to bring out something in people that they never knew they had. Sakura would know that better than anyone. After all, without his shouting during her match against Ino, the Yamanaka would have taken the victory decisively rather than let it end up a tie. 

Then there was Sasuke. Cool-headed, quiet, the obvious loner-type that didn’t seem to desire much of anything other than a good fight. The exact opposite of himself. He knew that picturing himself as Sasuke would pose as a challenge, but he had to try. After all, Sasuke was the one who Ino had set her sights on for the longest time. Sakura, too. To compete with a guy like that, he had to determine the best qualities of the Uchiha and mimic what he could. Maybe Ino would better acknowledge him as a guy worth looking at fondly.

Sakura felt differently. Unable to see him as Sasuke – and he couldn’t blame her, not at all – she touched on her inexperience by referencing romance novels, a loosely accurate source of what women could want from men. He found himself nodding with her assessment of starting things as natural as they could. He knew he could never really be Sasuke Uchiha. That meant that he had to find what worked best for him and him alone, and used that to set himself apart from that guy. 

[color=fdc68a][b]“Makes sense,”[/b][/color] he agreed. [color=fdc68a][b]“Ino seldom takes no for an answer. She’ll be especially critical on me, too.”[/b][/color] Ino’s hardness was from a place of good. She wanted the best for Sakura in all things even if they were rivals. Before the conversation could go on, a waitress arrived to take their orders. Hardly glancing at the menu at all since they were seated, he agreed to have what Sakura ordered and handed his menu off to the waitress. As his hand settled back onto the table, Sakura’s fingers moved in to lace with his. He glanced down, but said nothing of it. [color=fdc68a][i]‘She’s good at this.’[/i][/color] He would note, finding that Sakura’s natural potential as a girlfriend was far superior to his own as a boyfriend. 

His ‘girlfriend’ went on to talk about her idea of what having a partner meant. Naturally he agreed with her, nodding once again at her assessment. The simple things were sometimes enough. [color=fdc68a][b]“That sounds perfect.” [/b][/color]

Then she returned his earlier request. She couldn’t pretend he was Sasuke, but he could try and pretend this was Ino he was talking to. Rather than discredit her by imagining the beautiful blond was staring across at him, he kept Sakura’s image just the same, but altered his attitude. [color=fdc68a][b]“If you were Ino? Okay…”[/b][/color] he said, pausing to consider the options at his disposal. [color=fdc68a][b]“I’m not much good for thrills, but I find that I’ve become a good listener. Maybe that’s because I don’t always have a lot to say. I guess I would start by asking her about her work in the hospital and show some real interest in the work she’s putting in to become stronger.”[/b][/color]

He saw her focus shift to their hands and found an opening. He parted them only to bring his palm beneath her own while his thumb stroked her from wrist to knuckle repeatedly. [color=fdc68a][b]“But just asking wouldn’t be enough,”[/b][/color] Shikamaru started again, giving Sakura’s hand a firm squeeze. [color=fdc68a][b]“The physicality of affection matters, too. Unless I have other plans that day, I’d offer to walk her there and ask her if she’d want to go out for lunch with me. Or I’d surprise her with a small lunch I made around her lunchtime. And when it was close to her time to leave, I’d come again and walk her home. I’d hold her hand, even find it in me to smile a little more, just so she knows that it’s because I’m with her.”[/b][/color]

It sounded so easy when it was put like that. Ino herself rarely made things easy for him. There would be parts of their relationship that nothing could prepare him for. He had to be ready for anything. [color=fdc68a][b]“We’ll start small. Since we’re both new to an actual relationship, Ino wouldn’t think we’re experts at everything. You can expect her to make suggestions for you. That’s just how she is.”[/b][/color] He released her hand and allowed his fingers to skid along hers before leaning back in his seat, smiling with unease. [color=fdc68a][b]“You didn’t have to do any of this for me. What exactly made you change your mind?”[/b][/color]