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

Part 24

[23:32]

Boruto lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling. Following the events of the first night of the Cross-Cultural Festival, he had later realised his exertion from his standoff with Shojoji and that Shin-guy had caused the disappearance of the Shadow-Clone he'd left with his mother and Himawari, revealing the truth of his deception to them. He couldn't bring himself to tell them or his father afterwards what he was really doing that night, and understandably mom and dad were pretty steamed.

And so here he was now, grounded, missing the last night of the Festival he could have been enjoying with his family and friends. Even if that would have meant spending more time with.... Kawaki.

And worst of all, Sarada's night had surely been ruined too. And it was his fault! He wasn't sure how much Big Bro Konohamaru must have sussed for himself and spilled to his dad, but ultimately there was no hiding who they really were under their disguises to Ms. Sakura at the Leaf Medical Centre when he brought Sarada there, and hiding her mercury poisoning was not an option. As expected (desperately hoped) Sarada was treated in time, and as he would later learn so had all the others in Konohagakure affected by mercury-poisoning, and were expected to make full recoveries. But then came the hard part.

When Sakura confronted Boruto later on privately about what happened, he thought she'd be furious (and he might have been just a little bit terrified she might pummel his body into oblivion) upon learning of her daughter and daughter's Teammate on their latest escapade. Instead she listened patiently to his account, his developing feelings towards the ravenette girl since his near drowning, and long before that. And his hope that that night could have been a starting point for their budding relationship, and the foundation of his ongoing pledge to support her as the future Hokage.

When he'd finally finished his account, Sakura keeping surprisingly calm assured him that what they had discussed would stay between them. But did stress that he took time out to think long and hard about how deep his feelings truly were for Sarada, to consider how their relationship would work with the constant risks to both of them as Shinobi, and to one day (if those feelings were indeed true) come clean to their families and friends when they were ready. Sakura also stressed that, although past misdemeanours aside she didn't think he would ever deliberately take advantage of Sarada, to be trusted with her daughter's heart was something he'd have to earn over time by proving his worth.

And not just to both sets of parents, but to Sarada herself. And perhaps most poignantly to Boruto Himself! That including accepting her answer and respecting her wishes in the aftermath of their 'date'. Even if her answer WAS that they couldn't become a couple now. Otherwise, he was never worthy of her to begin with.

And right now, the weight of that possibility never felt more real or more heavy.

For after the way their 'date' ended. With him almost losing control to Momoshiki! With Sarada almost dying!! AND Boruto spilling everything to her mom!!! He wouldn't blame her if she never wanted another date with him, practice... or actual.

In fact, he wouldn't blame Sarada if she never wanted to see him again.

.....

Snikt!

Boruto was snapped out of his lamentations by the unmistakable sound of a Shuriekan embedding itself in his window frame. In barely two seconds he was on his feet and over to the wall, throwing the windows open. Looking to the street below he saw no sign of anyone for the street lamp lighting available. Then looking to his left he saw it was indeed a Shuriekan embedded in the window frame, with what looked like a small scroll attached?

Boruto removed the Shuriekan and disattached the scroll. Unravelling it and angling it towards the afterglow of the street lamps below, he could just make out the words