Like a Dream || borusara

3.

"If anyone wants a second opinion on your ideas for the showcase, you know where to find me," her art professor told them. "Class dismissed."

Sarada packed up her belongings as her classmates began chattering amongst themselves. Beside her, Inojin leaned over and asked, "So, have you decided what you're doing?"

"Well..." she hummed in response, unsure if she was ready to divulge the details yet.

Inojin was one of her best friends, but they also had a bit of a rivalry. With this showcase, in particular, their professor will be deciding where each artwork will be placed in the gallery. Sarada wanted to be featured prominently, meaning she hesitated to share any ideas and have others use them too.

"I'm still deciding between a few options," she fibbed as she slung her book bag over her shoulder.

Inojin smiled. "Me too."

The pair strolled out of class together discussing the direction they imagined their fellow students would take for their art, knowing some of them had a pretty established style.

"What medium were you thinking?" Sarada asked.

"I'll probably stick to oil paint. I assume you're doing the same?"

Her hand unconsciously touched her throat as she forced out a light chuckle. "I, uh, I've actually been straying away from oil paint lately. I'm thinking of trying something new. Maybe watercolor or charcoal or something."

It wasn't that she was scared. That would be silly.

But when she woke from her nightmare two days ago, her throat was sore. She had traded her cold brew for some soothing herbal tea which quickly helped remedy the problem. And though it was totally common to get a sore throat in the winter, Sarada just seemed to hesitate to reach for her oil paints.

"That'll be cool," Inojin replied. "Well, I have to head this way for my next class but I'll catch you later, okay?"

She nodded with a smile as Inojin walked toward the nearby building. Then without much thought, Sarada's feet began carrying her to her favorite coffee shop, her body seemingly demanding she consume more caffeine if she expected to keep functioning.

As she walked through campus, Sarada thought more about the showcase and the pieces she planned to put together. She reached into her bag to pull out her book about the folklore surrounding kitsune. Her fascination only deepened the more she read. Pages in her sketchbooks were quickly filling with drawings of nine-tailed foxes.

Sarada continued toward her destination as she dove back into her reading, figuring a fresh vanilla cold brew would perfectly complement her studies. Dark eyes scanned over the pages, losing herself in a tale about her new favorite mythical beast.

But suddenly a frightened gasp spilled from her lips as Sarada was yanked backward. Her back hit the broad chest of a man, just as a car zoomed by where she was about to step.

She ran her fingers through her bangs, taming the hair that whipped into her face with the gust of wind the car produced with its speed. Her heart hammered against her ribcage as she stared at the spot, realizing just how close she was to getting run over.

The hands of her hero seemed to linger on her hips, and his masculine scent seemed all too familiar. When Sarada turned around, she had a feeling she knew who it would be.

"I swear that book is a hazard to your health," Boruto joked the moment they locked eyes. His hands soon fell from her waist, but his soft smile remained.

Despite her frantic heartbeat, her lips couldn't help but mirror his expression. But then Sarada shook her head, realizing she was just standing there staring into his ocean blue eyes.