It's Not Really A Date, but is sort of kinda (Boruto x Sarada)

Part 8

[19:43]

"Huuuuh... Phew, that was close." Boruto breathed a sigh of relief once certain they were a long way away from their male comrades and from his family. Having barely just begun their 'date', he could really do without explaining this situation to his parents or their friends, or any other awkward scenarios thrown their way. "You're telling me..." Sarada agreed. Then turned to look at him suspiciously. "Hold on... I thought you could tell if one of your Shadow-Clones was close by... (she whisper-shouted with the 'subtle' hint of accusation)...? You could have given us some kind of warning!", "Hey! The streets look different with all the stalls and fanfare! And I can't help it if I get distracted." Boruto rebuffed defensively.

Sarada "Pffted" in exasperation but quickly turned away when she realised him staring at her, fighting against her face heating up. Boruto soon realised he had been staring at her face and also quickly turned away, likewise fighting a blush. It was true he was finding it hard not to be distracted by all the glitz and glamour, even as the girl beside him was the most glorious sight of all. But that wasn't the only thing weighing on his mind.

So far she'd won him a box of candies at a Target-Shoot stall and a decent-sized Kurama plushie at a 'Test-Your-Strength' stand. Even with holding back her Chakra-infused strength behind the hammer, she still managed to knock the bell into the stratosphere. Not that he was jealous of her inherent strength or visual prowess or anything (really), although he could have done without covering the repairs to the stand rapidly draining his wallet.

Boruto really wanted tonight to be an especially special night for Sarada too, and for that he convinced himself he needed to win something for her. Maybe it was his underlying chivalrous nature (or more likely just his slightly competitive streak). But after watching her demonstrate how perfect and cool she is, he had to find a way to demonstrate his own worth to her. To prove to her, and to himself, that he IS worthy of her. That, just maybe, he was someone she could entrust her future upon. And ultimately, trust with her heart.

He HAD to win something for Sarada. Anything. He just had too.

Sarada noticed the serious frown on Boruto's face. "Hey. Don't be a Gloomy-Gus. We're here to have fun remember!" she gave him a 'gentle' nudge and a sympathetic smile, bowling him over. "There's still more game and food stalls to try. How's about you try your hand at the Goldfish Net Tank over there?"

Boruto promptly picked himself up from the ground and looked ahead to the stall Sarada indicated. Dusting himself down he considered the game ahead, and found himself suddenly feeling a swell of confidence. It was just a goldfish catch game. Easy. No way he could lose right?...... Maybe.... No.. Yes! Yes, he would win something! He WOULD win something for her!!

Boldly he marched forward.

And crashed into something solid...

"MY POTATO CHIPS!!!!"

Or someone.

"BORU-BOTORU!" Sarada corrected herself quickly. The currently ginger-haired lad in question winced upon landing on his side the second time in 1 minute before looking up. And saw a familiar orange-haired, dark-skinned and somewhat portly kunoichi staring down sadly at a half-emptied bag of potato chips. Then glaring back at him angrily with one uncovered eye.

"Hey! Watch where you're going! I was really looking forward to those chips you jerk!!" Chocho Akimitchi of Team 10 snapped irritably at him. Her 'Girl Squad' around her meanwhile looked apprehensive. "Please Chocho, don't start any fights! I'm sure it was an accident, it could have happened to anyone. Really!" one of her companions Namida Suzumeno of Team 15 implored the fiery dark-skinned girl. "Yeah Girl, Namida's right! Accidents happen. And they're just chips. There's plenty more grub we can grab elsewhere tonight. Just Chill!" Namida's comrade also of Team 15 and her friend Wasabi agreed while eyeing her chubby friend, slightly fearful of another food-related rampage. Then the groups elected-Den Mother spoke soothingly. "They're both right and you know it. Please Chocho. We came out tonight to share some quality girl-time with each other..." Even as Sumire Kakei (A.K.A. 'Class Rep') sounded gentle and comforting, there was no mistaking the 'guilt-tripping' at work. Since her new duties in the Scientific Ninja Weapons Team took up most of her time these days, what time she COULD spend with her old friends and former fellows of Team 15 (as well as her replacement in that team and her surprising newer friend) was beyond value. Chocho sideways glanced the long-purple-haired kunoichi a moment, letting her food-fury dim just a little as the original purpose of their 'Girls' Night Out' at the Cross-Cultural Festival (and a little guilt) finally sunk in. The diminutive Summoned-Beast Nue sitting on Sumire's shoulder looked as apprehensive as (most of) the girls around them. But sniffed suspiciously in the direction of the ginger-haired lad.

"I can't see why so much fuss about some potato chips? You're surrounded by delicacies from so many other Lands and yet you choose to gorge yourself on that revolting deep-fried trash." a certain long-auburn-ponytailed samurai with piercing pink eyes said unapologetically in a snippy tone. "Uhhh, says the girl whose culinary palette is restricted to Fries and Thunder Burgers." Chocho retorted defiantly, feeling the food-fury rise once more. "Yes there's many fine dishes on show, but Potato Chips are a whole other Culinary Genre!! And this sweet cinnamon roast pork flavour brand doesn't just appear on the shelves of your every day convenience store any time of the year you know!!" Tsubaki Kurogane currently of Team 15 looked away sniffily. "And is it any wonder Chocho-san, why those revolting chips are not widely available during the year?" Chocho glared, redirecting her annoyance at the Samurai girl. "You know your trouble Tsubaki!! You have NO taste for fine cuisine!!!!!"

Sarada intervened hoping to avoid a blown out confrontation. "Please don't fight. It really was our fault. I really am sorry Choooooooooooooooooo-y-yo....girl." she corrected herself, having forgotten for a moment that she and Boruto were still in disguise. The chubby kunoichi gave her a quizzical glance with one uncovered eye. "Uhhh......What did you just call me??" Sarada endeavoured to keep a straight face even as it felt like she was sweating buckets. "I... Ummm... I just said... Yo... Yeah, yo! Just Coz' we're new here. Getting to know the people of Konohagakure and its customs...... Y'know." She felt her face heat up with embarrassment at the use of Boruto's catchphrase which she had so often scolded him for, but there was no escaping the situation she'd stumbled into.

"Umm, I'm Glass. This is Renka. From the Land of Botoru-I mean, I'm Botoru and we're from Renka Glass-I mean..." Sarada fumbled over her words as panic set in and the situation became more dire. "We're visitors from the Land of Glass..." Boruto stood up from the ground and stepped in to her rescue. "We came here with her dad. He's a glass merchant looking to sell off his wares here at the Festival, and maybe if things sell well tonight he might be able work a deal with the 7th Hokage to set up shop here permanently." As grateful as Sarada was for Boruto's aid, she feared his fabricated story was swiftly getting out of hand. Wasabi looked thoughtful at this statement. "So, her dad already has a working arrangement with Lord 7th? Is it that old closed-down antique shop on Main Street he has in mind?", "Yeah, that's the one! Right opposite Ms. Te-I mean... That lady's shop. A tool's shop or something. That's what I heard. Heheheh..... Hum...." Boruto tried to rectify himself after remembering mid-speech that he was a stranger who didn't know who Ms. Tenten is.

Sarada promptly decided it was her turn to salvage the situation before things spiralled further out of control.  "Ummm, yeah, so.. We're gonna go see the rest of the Festival now. Thanks for being understanding and all. Bye!" She took hold of the disguised Boruto's arm and swiftly lead him away from the 'Girl Troupe', who intently watched them leave. "Okay, see ya around. Have fun on your date!" Wasabi called after them with a cheeky grin, making the two disguised Shinobi cringe upon their exit.

"Wasabi!! You shouldn't make assumptions like that. You don't know they're on a date." Namida reproved her friend with a slight frown. "C'mon Nams', they were totally on a date but don't want others to know about it. You could see it written on their faces!" Wasabi responded with a carefree chuckle. Tsubaki looked to her with an unreadable expression. "I suppose you would be the expert on keeping one's feelings for another hidden Wasabi-san. WOULDN'T YOU AGREE IWABE-SAN!?!?"

Wasabi yelped and looked in the distance to her left in the direction of Tsubaki's gaze. Only to realise she'd been duped and glare back at the samurai with the ghost of a smirk on her face. Namida held a hand over her own mouth to suppress a fit of giggles. And Wasabi fumed. Sumire lingered a moment in the black-haired girl and ginger-haired lad's wake, unable to explain the sudden strange sense of longing. Nue still on her shoulder nuzzled against her cheek affectionately.

"Sumire-san? Are you coming?"

The long-purple-haired girl snapped back to reality and looked back in the direction of Tsubaki's summon. "Uh, yeah. Coming girls. Chocho...." It was then Sumire noticed the chubby Shinobi herself looking somewhat spaced out. Little knowing she was drawing upon the same conclusion.

'Those faces...... They couldn't be.........'

"Chocho??...", "Yeah! Coming!!" the dark-skinned kunoichi called aloud before turning back to follow after her squad.

None of them in the streets below aware of the onlooker on the roof tops, with their own hidden agenda.