Ino has been doing her job as well as managing the time at home and visiting her father. She got up at five in the morning to do her excise regime and then at seven she invested herself in kitchen to make food for herself and her mom. Then at nine in the morning she first visited her father to check up on his condition with the doctors and then give the Tiffin to her mother and start with work. After work she got very less time for herself and she spent that time cooking dinner for her mother which she delivered back to the hospital because her mother wanted to stay by her husband.
Her mother has been silent ever since her father was brought to the hospital. Ino understand that it was a shock to her brain to digest the fact that her beloved was fighting death. But, she was worried for her mother's health because she has become silent like the night. She didn't say anything to her or comment on her food that she usually did. Her mother just accepted the fact that she was getting her meal and she didn't care who it was that was providing her food or how it was made.
A very small part of her wanted to know how Shikaku was and so she even tried visiting him. But the day she stood at the door where Shikaku was kept, she saw Shikamaru and Temari giving each other the physical confirmation of being heard of each others sorrow. That scene made Ino sad for the fact that now her friend didn't need her to talk to him when in sorrow, he had someone special for him. So Ino just watched Shikaku from far away praying to God that he should be alright. The Nara elder was discharged soon after that incident and was taken home to rest a bit.
Sakura was also helping Ino with her state of mind and Ino was thankful for that help. Sakura timely feed her the reports on her father's state and also what will be the next course of action in his treatment. The Hokage herself was keeping and eye on Inoichi and his treatment. So Sakura assured Ino that her father was in good hands. That made Ino a little relieved.
Today after twelve days since the horrible news of her father, Ino was done with her today's task and she was just leaving the hospital premises when a soft chuckle was heard that made her look at the direction. Ino saw Temari and Shikamaru sitting in the corner most bench and were kissing each other.
Shikamaru continued to visit hospital even after his father was discharged because he felt the responsibility to check on Ino and her family. He was feeling bad for Ino and that made him think of every time he was ignorant of her. How cruel was he to think of her as a nuisance.
'he looks happy with her.' Ino thought. Shikamaru never smiled or laughed when he was with her. In fact he always was in a sour mood. It was a saddened happy fact that made her smile because she was so oblivious that he never liked seeing her. He must hate the sight of her to always frown when she used to be with him.
Ino felt her eyes water at the bitter sweet memory of them together and she sniffed a little. As she started to walk away. Shikamaru was the one to notice Ino. He distanced himself from Temari and stood up to walk towards Ino who was walking away to the hospital door. He knew Ino was having a really hard time and it was a miracle that she is so collected in such situation. He knew when she was younger, she used to cry and complain all the fucking time but, now here, the In walking away was taking every hit of life with a silent nod.
"Ino." Shikamaru stopped her by putting his hand in front of her. She ceased her steps and looked at him. He has grown up so matured in the three of them. Ino sometimes envied him for his wits and sense of responsibility but now she didn't want to be anything like him.
"He-Hey Shikamaru-" she said and looked at Temari which cause Ino to stop her words. Temari was pissed at being interrupted. She was throwing daggers at her.
"Ino, How are you? How's things turning out about Inoichi—" Ino looked at him and wished she didn't feel any hurt for Shikamaru for ignoring her. But she found that she couldn't forgive him.
