Hidden in the heart | Borusara

Chapter 3: Unspoken Truths

As the sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows over the village, the group finally decided to leave Thunder Burger. They stepped out into the cooling air, the sounds of Konoha's evening bustle surrounding them. The day had been lighthearted, full of laughter and shared stories, but now a gentle quiet settled over the friends as they walked into the dusk.

Sarada’s eyes caught sight of a familiar figure walking toward them from the marketplace. It was Sumire, her long lavender hair swaying with each step, a soft smile on her face as she approached. Sarada waved, and Sumire returned the gesture, her smile widening as she drew nearer.

"Hey, Sumire!" Sarada greeted warmly, stepping forward to close the distance between them. "How’ve you been?"

"Hey, Sarada," Sumire responded with a gentle nod. Her gaze briefly shifted to the others, offering polite greetings to everyone, including Boruto. Her expression softened even more when she saw him, though she quickly masked it, her eyes returning to Sarada.

The group exchanged pleasantries, catching up with Sumire for a moment. The boys, still energized from their earlier conversation, lingered a few feet away, lost in their own world as they talked animatedly about their latest missions and plans for the week ahead.

Sarada, Chocho, and Sumire gravitated toward a public bench just outside the burger joint. The wooden seat was worn from years of use, but it provided a comfortable spot to relax and chat. The three girls settled down, the evening breeze rustling through the trees above them.

"So, how’s everything going, Sumire?" Sarada asked, genuinely curious about her friend’s life outside of their usual shinobi duties.

Sumire smiled, though there was a slight hesitation before she answered. "It’s been good. Just the usual—missions, training, and keeping up with schoolwork. What about you two?"

"Same here," Sarada replied, her tone easy, though her thoughts were still somewhat distracted. She couldn’t quite shake the odd sensation she’d been feeling all afternoon, a fluttering in her chest that seemed to intensify whenever Boruto was around.

Chocho, never one to miss an opportunity for some girl talk, leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright, enough about missions and schoolwork. Let’s talk about something more interesting." She paused dramatically, glancing between Sarada and Sumire with a sly grin. "Like boys."

Sarada blinked, taken off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. "Boys?"

"Yeah, boys," Chocho repeated, her tone playful. "So, do either of you have a crush on anyone? Come on, spill the tea."

Sarada’s mind went blank for a moment, her thoughts scrambling to catch up. A crush? Did she have a crush on someone? The idea felt foreign, almost absurd. But then, unbidden, an image of Boruto flashed through her mind—his bright smile, the way he effortlessly commanded attention, how his presence seemed to make her heart race for reasons she couldn’t understand.

"No," Sarada said quickly, perhaps too quickly. She shook her head, hoping to dismiss the idea before it could take root. "I don’t have a crush on anyone."

Chocho raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Really? Are you sure, Sarada? You’ve been acting a little... different today."

Sarada felt a prick of unease, her composure wavering under Chocho’s scrutiny. "I’m sure," she insisted, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "I don’t have a crush on anyone."

Chocho shrugged, letting the topic slide, though her expression suggested she wasn’t entirely convinced. She turned her attention to Sumire, who had been quietly observing the exchange.

"What about you, Sumire?" Chocho asked, her tone light, but with a hint of curiosity. "Anyone special in your life?"

Sumire’s cheeks flushed slightly, a pink hue coloring her usually calm demeanor. She hesitated for just a moment before shaking her head. "No, I don’t have a crush," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. But there was something in her tone, something unspoken, that made Sarada glance at her friend with newfound interest.

The conversation shifted to other topics, lighter and more casual, but Sarada couldn’t stop replaying it in her mind. The fluttering in her chest returned, more insistent now, as if her heart was trying to tell her something she wasn’t ready to hear.

As the evening deepened, the group decided it was time to head home. The boys were the first to leave, their voices fading into the distance as they walked together, their laughter echoing down the street. Sarada, Sumire, and Chocho followed shortly after, making their way through the familiar paths of the village.

Sumire and Sarada ended up walking side by side, Chocho having gone in a different direction toward her house. The silence between them was comfortable at first, but it didn’t last long.

"Hey, Sarada," Sumire began, her voice hesitant, almost shy. "Can I ask you something?"

Sarada glanced at her, curiosity piqued by Sumire’s tone. "Sure, what is it?"

Sumire bit her lip, her cheeks still slightly pink. She seemed to be gathering her thoughts, trying to find the right words. "Back at the burger place... when Chocho asked if you had a crush on anyone... do you like Boruto-kun?"

Sarada stopped in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat as she turned to look at Sumire. The question caught her completely off guard, and she felt her face heat up in response. "N-no," she stammered, her voice betraying the confusion she felt. "Definitely not. Why would you think that?"

Sumire seemed to relax slightly at Sarada’s response, her shoulders easing as she smiled—a small, relieved smile. "Oh, I was just wondering. You two seem really close, that’s all."

Sarada’s mind raced. Why did Sumire care if she liked Boruto? And why did the thought of Sumire thinking she might like him make her feel so flustered? She tried to push the feelings away, but they only grew stronger, swirling in her chest and making it hard to focus.

"Why did you ask?" Sarada asked, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

Sumire glanced away, her blush deepening as she fiddled with the hem of her sleeve. "Well... because I think I’m interested in Boruto-kun," she admitted, her words barely above a whisper.

Sarada felt the world tilt slightly, her breath catching in her throat. Sumire—sweet, kind Sumire—had feelings for Boruto? The revelation sent a strange, uncomfortable sensation through her, one she didn’t quite understand. Why did it bother her so much? Boruto was handsome, attractive, and kind-hearted; it was perfectly normal for someone to like him. And yet...

"I see," Sarada managed to say, though her voice sounded distant even to her own ears. "That’s... that’s great, Sumire."

Sumire smiled again, more confidently this time. "Thanks, Sarada. I just thought I should tell you since we’re friends. But I hope it doesn’t make things awkward between us."

"No, of course not," Sarada replied quickly, forcing a smile. "We’re friends. It’s fine."

But as they continued walking, that strange feeling in Sarada’s stomach refused to go away. It lingered, twisting and churning, until she couldn’t ignore it any longer. What was wrong with her? Why did the thought of Sumire liking Boruto make her feel so uneasy? And why did Boruto’s presence affect her so much?

Later that night, as Sarada lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling of her darkened room, the questions continued to haunt her. She replayed the events of the day over and over in her mind, trying to make sense of her feelings. But the more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

She didn’t know what was happening to her, why her heart seemed to betray her every time Boruto was near. All she knew was that something had changed—something she wasn’t ready to face. And as sleep finally claimed her, that strange, unsettling feeling was the last thing she felt, lingering in the back of her mind like a whisper of something more.

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