Time-Twisted Melody (Boruto - Twinkling Watermelon AU)

Chapter 36

Third Person POV

As Boruto and Sarada approached Sasuke's apartment, the air between them was thick and awkwardly tense. The memory of their heated kiss still lingered, an invisible barrier neither could easily break. They walked in uncomfortable silence, eyes darting everywhere except toward each other. Each footstep felt heavier than the last as the moment replayed in their minds, neither knowing how to bring it up—or if they even should.

Boruto's heart pounded louder the closer they got. He snuck a glance at Sarada, but she kept her gaze trained on the ground. His thoughts were a tangled mess.

'What was that kiss? What am I supposed to say now, ya know?' His mind raced, but no answer came.

Suddenly, both of them broke the silence at the exact same moment.

"Hey."

"Hey, ya know..."

Their voices overlapped, and they froze, staring at each other in surprise. It was the first time they'd looked each other in the eye since the kiss. The shock was written plainly across both their faces, the tension still palpable.

"You go first," they said in unison, again mirroring each other's words. Sarada began shifting awkwardly on her feet, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

"Shall I go first?" they spoke again at the same time, and the synchronized exchange finally reduced them to an awkward silence.

A brief moment passed before Boruto decided to take the plunge, his voice hesitant yet determined. "About earlier—"

"Let's pretend it never happened," Sarada cut him off sharply, her words surprising him.

"...!" His eyes grew wide, and he stopped in his tracks, staring at her. Her face was set in a firm, yet defensive expression, as if she was trying to convince both of them that this was the best way forward.

Before Boruto could respond, she hurried on, her tone light but strained. "Yes, I get it. This weather, the moist air, and... well, this romantic ambiance," she waved her hand vaguely toward the sky, "all these things provoked your dirty mind."

Boruto blinked, utterly taken aback. 'Dirty mind? What?' His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. He couldn't even begin to process what she had just said.

Sarada, misinterpreting his silence, smirked and gave his shoulder a light tap. "It's okay. I understand how hormonal teenagers can be."

Boruto stared at her in disbelief, struggling to wrap his head around her casual dismissal of the kiss. Her words were sharp, almost too sharp as if she was trying to shield herself from the real weight of what had just happened between them.

"Well, let's just pretend it never happened and keep some distance from each other," she added, her voice firm as she took a couple of steps back, raising her hand with her palm out, five fingers spread wide. "Always stay at least five meters away from me, okay?"

Boruto's jaw dropped slightly. 'Five meters? Seriously?' He wasn't having it. Without thinking, he stepped closer, erasing the distance she had just created.

"Why should I do that?" he asked, his voice low and challenging. His blue eyes searched hers, looking for some sign of what she was really feeling beneath that calm, teasing exterior.

Sarada faltered under his intense gaze. Her confidence wavered, and for the first time, she looked unsure. His words had hit too close to home, and her eyes widened slightly as she struggled to find a response.

"Of course... I... I can't say that I'm not partially responsible," she stuttered, her composure cracking as Boruto stepped even closer.

He could see through her walls—the barriers she was trying so hard to erect between them. And she knew it. The warmth from their kiss still lingered no matter how much she tried to brush it off with playful remarks.