Lovestruck || borusara

XXIV.

Sarada sat alone at the oak conference table, her anxious knee bouncing nonstop. She was so nervous that she got to the layout meeting way too early. They would be reviewing her issue in a matter of minutes, and she wasn't sure if her fragile heart could endure the expected criticism.

In the top corner of her notebook, Sarada doodled a few little, scribbly storm clouds, trying to distract her mind and pass the time. She hated the way even the bolts of lightning reminded her of him.

While drafting her new cover story and going through the editing process over the past week, all she did was think about her feelings for Boruto. And his feelings (or lack thereof) for her. An anxious feeling knotted in her stomach as Sarada wondered what he'll think when he finally reads her article.

If he reads her article.

She sighed at the thought. Surely he would read it, right?

Her doubtful musings were interrupted as her colleagues began filing into the conference room and claiming their seats. She schooled her features into a smile, hoping it didn't look too forced.

Karin took her seat at the head of the table and a moment later the cover of that week's issue flashed up on the big projector screen. All eyes in the room looked at the handsome portrait of Boruto with the words "Lovestruck by Bolt" printed boldly beside him.

It wasn't the first time Sarada had seen the cover, but she could feel her heart rate accelerating in nervous anticipation as Karin asked for last-minute comments on her cover story. She braced herself for the judgment or snickers from her colleagues, but they never came.

She was praised for the non-traditional angle of her article, her thoughtful writing style, and the overarching narrative. Even so, Sarada exhaled a sigh of relief when they finally moved on and it was like any other layout meeting.

A soft squeeze on her arm had Sarada turning to the side. With all her anxiety consuming her thoughts, she hadn't noticed Mitsuki was sitting beside her. "I hope he likes it," he whispered, offering her a soft smile.

"Me too."

When the meeting concluded, the usual chatter picked up between her colleagues. A few of them wished her congratulations on getting through her first cover story as they stepped out of the conference room. But even with their approval, Sarada lingered in her chair, watching as Karin packed up.

Once they were the only two left in the room, she pushed herself up to stand. Her boss glanced up at her, observing her obvious hesitation.

"Do you really think my article was okay?" Sarada asked sheepishly, searching for one last confirmation.

"I certainly wouldn't put it in my magazine if it wasn't good," Karin affirmed. She straightened up a stack of papers before returning her gaze to Sarada's. "But are you okay? I realize now why it took you so long to produce the other article if this is how you felt... I apologize if you felt I pushed you in that direction."

"No, no, it's alright," Sarada replied with a shake of her head. "I think I wasn't being honest with myself for some time, but I should've vocalized that I was uncomfortable much sooner, that was my fault."

Karin nodded as she pushed up her glasses. "So, have you scheduled your meeting with Tsunade Senju at The Times?"

"Oh," Sarada mumbled as squeezed her notebook tighter to her chest. "I didn't think she'd be interested in an article like this. I imagine she was expecting something more..." she trailed off, unsure of what Tsunade actually even expected of her cover story.

"Well, maybe just reach out to her when you get back from Kumo. She told me she would keep an eye out for your article and she's always true to her word."