Surfs Up / SasuSaku

Take Your Place

The inevitable had finally occurred. Not only was she eagerly anticipating the competition, but the excruciating pain radiating from her ankle down her entire leg was a clear indication that participating was out of the question. The thought of winning now seemed unattainable.

As Sakura groaned in pain during the drive to the hospital, she couldn't help but feel another pang of disappointment. She realized that she wouldn't be able to complete her rounds at the hospital as part of her internship. The combination of her injury and the competition made everything seem impossible.

"This just had to happen..." Sakura muttered, gripping her ankle tightly. Sasuke kept his eyes on the road but could sense her frustration.

"You'll be fine. We're almost there," he reassured her.

No, she knew she wouldn't be fine at all.

"You don't understand, Sasuke. I honestly think something is broken or badly sprained," Sakura continued, her voice filled with frustration. "Even if it's not, I won't be able to perform well in the competition. I'm fucked for good."

Sasuke looked over at Sakura and sighed. He didn't know what to do in this situation other than offer comfort. As he ran his hand through his hair, his main priority was getting her to the hospital.

Sakura's pain intensified during the drive, and her hopes for the competition started to fade. The realization that she wouldn't be able to participate and have a chance at winning weighed heavily on her. It felt like all her hard work and dreams were about to crumble.

She had been so stubborn, ignoring Sasuke's advice. She knew she should have listened.

"We're almost there, okay? Let's wait and see what the doctor says. Tsunade should be on call in the emergency room, right? Hopefully, they'll see you soon, especially if you mention that you intern there," Sasuke added, trying to offer some reassurance.

Pulling into the parking lot, Sasuke swiftly got out of the driver's seat and opened the passenger door. Gently wrapping his arm around Sakura's waist, he lifted her up, causing her to let out a small cry.

"What are you doing?" Sakura exclaimed, hiding her embarrassed face with her hands.

Sasuke smirked as he kicked the car door closed with his foot. "What do you think? I'm helping you get inside," he replied, his tone playful, aiming to alleviate the tension and distract her from the discomfort.

Sakura leaned into him, relying on his strength and stability. The weight of her disappointment still lingered, but Sasuke's presence provided some comfort.

Inside the emergency room, Sakura checked in and informed the staff of her relationship with Tsunade, hoping to expedite the process. The wait felt agonizingly long, with each passing minute amplifying her anxiety and uncertainty about her injury and the upcoming competition.

Finally, Tsunade appeared before them. "Sakura, I heard you were coming in. What's the matter?" Her calm and reassuring demeanor instantly put Sakura at ease, even in her state of distress.

Sakura sighed as she looked at Sasuke before redirecting her gaze to Tsunade. "Well, this happened," she gestured towards her ankle. "I did the most idiotic thing anyone could ever do. I stood on a stool while trying to reach something on my top shelf, and I fell. I'm not sure if it's broken or sprained."

Tsunade examined Sakura's ankle, her hands carefully assessing the extent of the injury. "Well, you definitely caused some damage here... I don't think it's broken, but it is badly injured. It could be a fractured ankle. I'll run some tests to confirm."