距

Chapter Two

"Kakashi..." Before she could continue, he hugged her.

"It's okay."

...---...

Kakashi was always curious as to why his sister cared so much about Sakura.

Why she always babbled on and on about her each day,

Why she always seemed so happy around her,

Why she couldn't spend a single minute away from her.

But thirteen years later, he found out why.

...---...

Sakura was always popular.

Well, not when she was beat up by those elementary brats for her forehead and hair color. But when she beat down Aki and her followers with the stems of flowers, along with the aid of Ino (not me), she earned the fame from many awed students.

I was sick that day, so I couldn't make it to school and be the one that helped her, instead of Ino.

I regret being sick. If I hadn't stayed out in the cold longer a few days before that, then I wouldn't have been absent that day.

Why do I regret it so much?

It's not because I was jealous of Ino. Well, sure I was, but it was more than that.

Because the day after that, she ignored me. She didn't talk to me anymore. She spent her time with Ino, sitting at the popular table, eating applesauce with her new friends.

And I was alone. Again.

I knew why she stopped talking to me. If only I had been talkative, then I could have comforted her when she was feeling down. If only I had been there at school that day, then I could be there at the popular table with her.

I knew she was hurt when I didn't come to school that day. I knew she wanted me by her side, but I couldn't because of a stupid cold.

And now, I sit here, in an empty room, doing my homework alone, while Sakura is out there practicing volleyball because she's team captain and there's a game next Friday.

If only she were here, I inwardly dreaded. Or maybe I could go and watch her practice. Not creepy at all (Note the sarcasm).

But I would really wanna see her, pink hair flowing behind her, revealing her beautiful eyes--

Stop. Focus.

I sighed and returned to my work. Sakura was fifteen meters away from here, practicing at a field or whatever.

There would always be distance between us.