Thought it was You Shikamaru. (Shikaino Shikamaru x ino)

Chapter 47: Conversations in the Shadows

Shikamaru walked through the streets of Konoha, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The sunlight streamed down, but he felt nothing but the weight of his earlier confrontation with Ino. He had thought their relationship was on solid ground, and yet, in a few moments, everything had shifted. As he walked, he absentmindedly scratched the back of his head, trying to make sense of it all.

He needed to talk to someone, to sort through the chaos swirling in his mind. Just ahead, he spotted Choji sitting on a bench, munching on a bag of chips. The sight brought a small, fleeting smile to Shikamaru's face. Choji always had a way of grounding him, especially when things got complicated.

"Hey, Choji," Shikamaru called, walking over to his friend.

"Hey, Shikamaru! What's up?" Choji replied, looking up with a mouthful of chips.

Shikamaru took a seat next to him, running a hand through his hair. "You got a minute? I could use some advice."

"Of course! What's going on?" Choji asked, sensing the seriousness in Shikamaru's tone. He swallowed his food and set the bag aside, giving Shikamaru his full attention.

"It's about Ino," Shikamaru said, the name causing a familiar pang in his chest. "We... had a fight."

"A fight? You and Ino?" Choji raised his eyebrows in surprise. "But you two seemed so happy together! What happened?"

"I messed up," Shikamaru admitted, feeling a wave of frustration wash over him. "We were talking about that night we... you know, and I thought everything was fine. Then she said she regretted it, and I just... reacted."

Choji's expression softened with understanding. "You mean the night you guys... um, had sex?"

"Yeah," Shikamaru said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I never thought we'd be in this situation. We've always had a good thing going, and I didn't expect it to turn into... this."

Choji nodded slowly. "It sounds like it was really unexpected for both of you. But you know Ino, right? She probably didn't mean it the way it came out. You guys just need to talk it out."

"I thought so too," Shikamaru replied, rubbing his temples. "But when I confronted her, it felt like she was pulling away. I told her maybe I regretted it too, and now she's probably just as confused as I am."

"Shikamaru, don't say that," Choji urged, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Ino cares about you a lot. I know she doesn't want to lose you. You're her first real boyfriend, and this is all new territory for her."

"I know," Shikamaru sighed, his frustration mixing with a twinge of guilt. "I shouldn't have let my emotions take over like that. It just feels like everything is slipping through my fingers."

"Maybe give her some space, then," Choji suggested. "Sometimes stepping back helps people figure things out. You don't want to push her away further, do you?"

"Yeah, I get that," Shikamaru said, his voice low. "I just... I don't want her to think I'm ashamed of her or what we did. It's just complicated."

"It is complicated, but that doesn't mean you can't work through it," Choji replied. "Just be patient, Shikamaru. Ino will come around. You two just need to sort out your feelings."

Shikamaru nodded, the weight of Choji's words settling in his mind. "You're right. I can't rush this. I just need to keep my distance for now and let her have the space she needs."

"Exactly! Just focus on your training for a bit, clear your head," Choji encouraged. "And when the time feels right, you can reach out to her. Just don't give up, okay?"

"Yeah, I won't," Shikamaru promised, feeling a flicker of determination ignite within him. "Thanks, Choji. I really needed to talk to you about this."