Time-Twisted Melody (Boruto - Twinkling Watermelon AU)

Chapter 25

Naruto POV

I had never felt this level of anger before, believe it. My vision blurred with red as I watched Sakura lean into Boruto, their faces dangerously close as if they were about to kiss. The scene hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of me.

I had trusted Boruto. When he told me he would make me "twinkle," I believed him. I put all my faith in him and in one fleeting moment, that trust shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Damn it!"

I cursed under my breath, my fists clenching so hard my knuckles turned white. The band room fell silent. Kiba, Choji, and Shino stared at me, their eyes wide with a mix of confusion and concern. Shikamaru, always the calm one, broke the tension with a question that cut right through the chaos in my mind.

"What are you going to do with Boruto? Are you going to kick him out of the band?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. I didn't know. The music festival was fast approaching, and we didn't have the luxury of time. Finding another guitarist with Boruto's skill set was impossible at this point. But how could I ignore the pain twisting in my chest, the sense of betrayal that gnawed at my insides?

'Could I really keep him in the band after what I just saw?'

Before I could even begin to form an answer, the band room door creaked open.

"...!" My heart skipped a beat as I turned to see who it was. Standing there, looking at me with those familiar green eyes filled with guilt, was Sakura.

She didn't need to say a word—her apologetic expression said it all.

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

As I walked down the street, the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement, Sakura's words echoed in my mind. She had told me she slipped, that she never meant to lean into Boruto like that. She never intended to turn our relationship upside down. She hoped I could find it in me to forgive him.

But could I? I didn't know what to believe anymore. The anger had burned so bright, but now it was fizzling out, leaving behind a cloud of doubt and confusion. Shikamaru's words added to the turmoil. He had pointed out that everything Boruto had done—starting the band, teaching me the guitar, helping me with my studies—it had all been for me. How could I stay mad at him, especially over something as trivial as a girl I had a crush on?

But even as I tried to convince myself, the uncertainty lingered.

Then, as if fate was playing some cruel joke, my eyes landed on a familiar figure across the street. It was her—the girl with those striking lavender eyes and dark hair. The girl I had helped... and hurt.

"It's that mute girl..." The thought slipped out before I could stop it, a pang of guilt hitting me.

In an instant, I forgot everything else. My feet moved on their own, and I dashed across the street, my heart pounding with a mix of regret and determination. I had to see her, to say something—anything.

"Hey, wait! I... uh..." I stumbled over my words, breathless as I called out to her. She didn't turn around, and for a second, I panicked. What if she didn't want to see me? What if she couldn't forgive me?

But then she stopped, and I closed the distance between us, my eyes scanning her for some sign of acknowledgment. My mind raced as I tried to find the right words, the right way to apologize, but how could I even begin when I didn't know her name?

That's when I noticed the small name tag pinned to her shirt.

"Hinata Hyuga," I whispered, the name feeling oddly significant as it rolled off my tongue.