Like a Dream || borusara

9.

"So after consulting with the rest of the faculty from the art department, this is the layout we settled on for the showcase," Sarada's professor announced. She instinctively held her breath as dark eyes surveyed the diagram projected onto the big screen.

Sarada inhaled a sharp gasp, spotting Uchiha labeled in a prime location, the center room, which was sure to be a high-traffic area during the showcase. It was exactly the kind of spot she was hoping for. She was so excited, she immediately whipped out her phone.

Sarada: AHHHHAJHSKK assignments for the showcase were just announced and I'm in a great spot! I'm even more excited than before!

Mom: Oh that's amazing, darling! Your dad and I are really looking forward to seeing your art!

Her heart clenched at the way her mother so easily mirrored her enthusiasm. Maybe Boruto was right, maybe her parents already were proud of her.

Even so, she really wanted to impress them with her artwork at the showcase. After visiting the kitsune shrine with Boruto the other day, she had a more clear vision for her pieces.

Wait...

Sarada's giddy smile faltered when it dawned on her that both her parents and Boruto would be at the showcase. The inevitable interaction begged the question, how should she introduce him? As her friend? Her boyfriend?

Gosh, she'll have to talk to him about that later.

Sarada had been fine with their lack of labels up to this point, but if she was being honest, she was warming up to the idea of him being her boyfriend. To her knowledge they were exclusively seeing each other, but at the same time, there was still so much she didn't know about him.

What would her friends think about Boruto being her boyfriend? Certainly, ChoCho would be supportive, but... her gaze drifted to Inojin beside her. His expression was less than thrilled and it only took a moment for her to puzzle together why.

Sarada's eyes flickered back over to the diagram on the screen, she hadn't bothered to even see who was around her, let alone where Inojin had been placed. His position is okay, not great but definitely not bad.

She didn't mean to grimace, but from his quiet scoff, he must have noticed. She could practically feel his salty demeanor as he packed up his belongings into his bookbag. Maybe she could try distracting him from his disappointment.

"Do you want to go grab a coffee with me?" Sarada asked, putting on a smile.

"I'm actually pretty busy, I don't think I'll have time," Inojin told her without even bothering to look up.

Between his quick dismissal and his sour expression, she couldn't help but think back to the question Boruto asked. Was Inojin jealous of her? Before Sarada didn't see a reason he would be, but now...

"No worries," she nodded as they walked out of the classroom together. Sarada figured they could have this conversation over coffee, but if he wasn't interested, she supposed she'd just throw out her question (though she could probably already guess from the weird glances they exchanged what his answer might be). "So, I'm curious, what'd you think of Boruto?"

"Who's Boruto?"

"What do you mean?" Sarada's brow furrowed, wondering if he was just giving her a hard time. "Boruto, he's the blonde guy who is literally always hanging around me!"

Inojin snorted a laugh. "I thought I was the blonde guy always hanging around you."

Did he not remember meeting him the other day?

Dark eyes blinked at her friend, trying to gauge if he was being sarcastic or if Inojin actually had no recollection of meeting Boruto. They did meet, didn't they?