The Five Nations Ninja Academy Gaara x Reader Naruto Modern School world

C21: Friends again?

        "Gaara?" Temari said with mouth wide open.


I didn't know what to do but I just hugged back very lightly.
"Not to be mean or anything... but why did you hug me?" I asked awkwardly.
"If Temari is your sister then I'm your brother," he said with his lips slightly lifted.
"If you say so," I said and backed off slowly.
"Uhh, here," I said as I took some envelopes from my backpack.
I gave one each to Gaara and Temari.
"What's this?" Temari asked.
"My birthday party on Friday, I gave them out last week but you two weren't there, here, give one to Kankuro," I said.
"Sure," Temari said.
"Thank you for the invitation," Gaara said.
"No problem..." I said
I went back to Neji, we went out the door.
"Bye! See ya tomorrow!" Temari shouted.
Gaara gave a rare smile and crossed his arms as we quickly walked off and I saw they closed the door. We walked to the route of my residence. However, Neji remained silent.
"Hey... Neji," I said, hoping for an answer.
"Hm?" he said.
"You're not bothered... are you?" I asked.
"Not at all," he said.
I frowned and stopped. He stopped as well.
"Neji, please, stop," I said as I looked at him.
"Stop?" he asked.
"I think that you're better than that, you're a wonderful gentleman who also has a place in my heart, but you gotta stop that behavior when a certain act has been made that you don't certainly like," I said.
"What are you trying to say?" he asked.
"What I'm trying to say is that you're my best friend and nothing will ever change that, I'm just giving others the same affection I act towards you," I said.
"But how can you do that to Gaara?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked. "Is there something wrong with him?"
"Not at all, it's just that everyone just judges based on his appearance, they find him fearful to look at, you don't seem to think the same," he said.
"Do you fear him?" I asked.
"No, I just wish to show sympathy but just don't know how I am supposed to do that," he replied.
"I was taught not judge based on their appearances or based on my own preconceptions, I didn't really get it but I tried it and that statement is certainly true," I said.
"Yes, I believe you're the only person who can show Gaara," he said.
"Just promise me something," I said.
"What is it?" he asked.

"Just stay true to your conviction, don't let others get in the way of it, if you truly want to help Gaara then I'll help you do it," I said. "Also one more thing, don't... be bothered when you know why I am doing it, okay?"

"I understand, I apologize," he said with his face relieves tension.
I smiled. He gestured his head to start walking again. We walked and conversed along the way and finally reached my home.
"See you again tomorrow, (y/n)," he said as he lifted his hand and touched my cheek.
"I've never met a woman that shines brighter than the sun," he said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Your cheeks are red," he said.
I hurriedly touched my cheeks and tried to hide it.
"I am flattered, thank you," I said softly, still covering my cheeks.
He grabbed my arm, trying to get my hands away from the coverage of my face.
"Don't cover your beautiful face, it's too unbearable not looking at it," he said as he grabbed both my arms.
He leaned closer and kissed my forehead.
"Hm, you're starting to act like Sasuke," I muttered.
He quickly removed his hands.
"I apologize, it's just my Goodnight gift for a... Wonderful sleep and dreams," I said.
"Sure it is," I chuckled.
"You're my best friend, after all, you can do whatever you desire to me as well," he said.
"Hm, is that how you define best friends?" I asked curiously.
"How do you define it?" he asked.
"I'll tell you when it's the right moment," I replied.
I quickly hugged him and pulled away.
"See you tomorrow!" I said.
"Indeed," he said and bowed.
"You don't have to bow before me, you know," I said.
"I am just accustomed to it," he said.
"Being best friends are also dropping formalities and showing your inner self, you know?" I asked.
"I see, well, good night then," he said and left.
The door just opened.
"Hello darling, who were you with?" mom asked.
"Oh, hey mom, I was just with Neji," I said.
"Is he your boyfriend?" she asked childishly.
"NO! He is just my best friend," I said.
"Hn, another word for that, I suppose," she said.
"You seemed to be in a good mood," I said.
"Come in," she said.
"Oh yeah," I said.
"Sasuke just came an hour ago and dropped some food for us," she said.
"That was nice of him," I said.
"He's a very fine gentleman, I couldn't ask for anymore for my daughter," she said.
"What do you mean by that? He's being overprotective much and well, basically I don't really find him a 'gentleman'" I said.
"How can you not, he's handsome, as skillful as you from what I heard and he's very thoughtful," she said.
I facepalmed.
"You like him?" I asked with one of my eyebrows lifted.
"I'm just trying to prove my point," she said.
"Hm, I understand he has the looks and all, but he doesn't match the character of my interest if you know what I mean," I said.
"What kind of man are you interested in then?" she asked.
"I just haven't found him yet," I said softly at the end.
"You will some day, just as how I found your father," she said.
"What was dad like?" I asked.
"Very much like Sasuke, but of course not very popular," she replied. "He saved me when nobody could,"
"He did? How?" I asked.
"It's quite late, I'll tell you next time, you have school tomorrow," she said.
"Aww, but promise to tell me okay?" I asked.
"Of course," she said.
"You seemed to have an attraction to Uchihas'," I said.
"It's just a mere coincidence that Sasuke is very much like your father, he just reminds me of him but anyways, get to your room," she said.
"Hm, sure," I said and went upstairs.

*The next day*
I went to school with Hinata, Hanabi, and Neji this time. Neji seemed to be so close to me, especially Hanabi, I tried to back off so that I could talk to Hinata but it didn't seem to work out. We reached school and went to our lockers. I took my stuff and closed my locker, today seemed to be quite an unusual day, I'm glad not much people are asking me any more questions and Sasuke usually wait for me here but not today, I guess I'm quite accustomed to it. Suddenly, Temari came by.
"Hey, (y/n)," she said.
"Hey Temari," I said.
"Let's walk to class," she said.
"Sure," I said.
We walked in the class seeing almost everyone present, except for Sasuke. I wonder where he is. We sat on our assigned seat.
"Hey, (y/n)," Neji said.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey, (y/n)-Chan!" Naruto exclaimed.
I looked back.
"Hey there, Naruto," I said.
It seems so different today without Sasuke... class started...

-Time Skip to lunch time-
We went to our lockers and grabbed our lunches. I saw Itachi pass by, I called on him.
"Hm?" he said.
"Where's Sasuke?" I asked.
"He's currently sick, but he'll probably be back by tomorrow," he replied.
Should I ask if I could help him out with my medical ninjutsu? He's a bit 'annoying' sometimes but he's still my friend after all.
"I see... can I visit him later? Maybe I could possibly heal him?" I asked.
"That's thoughtful of you, do you actually... like him?" he asked.
"Uhh... I actually don't, he's really cool to hang out with but I don't necessarily like him if that's what you mean," I said.
"I see, well, don't tell him but he doesn't necessarily like you either," he whispered.
"What do you mean? He's been acting lovey-dovey all week... maybe just this week... I just don't get it," I said.
"He truly admires you and the only reason why he's doing that is so that he could be close to you and possibly learn your techniques and Jutsu," he said.
"So... he's using me?" I asked.
"Not at all, he admires everything about you and he was very content that he finally found a worthy opponent," he said.
"A worthy opponent? What do you mean?" I asked.
"I think it's best if you ask him yourself," he said as dabbed two of his fingers on my forehead.
"Why do you always do that?" I asked touching my forehead.
He made a cheerful smile and left. That was weird, what does he mean by a worthy opponent? Suddenly, a girl with two black buns came by.
"Hey... can I talk to you for a second?" she said.
"Tenten, w-what's up?"
"I just would like to say I'm sorry about the whole incident," she said.
I smiled.
"I forgive you, I know you didn't really mean it, is it about Neji?" I asked.
She lowered her head guiltily.
"Hey, it's okay," I said as I reached to touch her shoulder.
"Wanna sit with me?" I asked.
Suddenly, she quickly placed her hands around my neck and leaned a little closer and embraced.
"You're an amazing friend, I didn't know what I was thinking, after all, that, yet you still forgave me," she said.
She was hugging a little too tight.
"It's fine but uh, just a little too tight," I said and she quickly removed her arms.
"Sorry about that," she said.
"Let's go, but first I need to find Hinata," I said.
As I walked passed that hallway, I spotted a few familiar faces... the girl with pink hair and emerald eyes and the one beside her, bright blonde hair and blue eyes. I walked to them.
"Hey, Sakura, Ino," I said.
"Hey... (y/n)," Ino said.
"Can we please put the whole Sasuke things aside and maybe be friends again?" I asked.
"No way," Sakura said.
Ino touched her shoulder with a different look in her eyes.
"Sakura, I know how you feel but this is (y/n), she's the same girl we know when we first met her," Ino said.
"But I heard you were dating Sasuke, I saw him hugging you and were always with him," Sasuke grunted.
"Sakura, I promise everything will make sense when I tell you everything that happened," I said.
Sakura looked at Ino, with her face feeling that they should give me a chance.
"Fine, I'll listen," she said.
I chuckled in relief.
"Let's go and eat,"
I saw Hinata pass by, heading towards us.
"Hey, (y/n), did I miss something?" Hinata asked.
"Come on, let's eat, we have some explaining to do," I said with a smile.