In the Ceaseless Snow

🌸Chapter 10🌸

"Ramen? Really?" Sakura crossed her arms as she walked up to the couple who stood in front of the mall's local ramen shop.

"Don't judge." Naruto looked at her, "it's actually got some of the best ramen I've ever had."

"Hey!" Hinata smiled as Sakura stood by them, "I'm so glad you came, Sakura.."

"It's no problem." Sakura looked in Naruto's direction, "it's nice to hang out with you guys again."

Naruto nodded, "Same."

Sakura smiled sheepishly, "sorry, my 'date' is running a little late. We agreed to just meet here, but I guess he had to make a pit stop."

"That's alright." Hinata shook her head, "don't worry about it. Do I know who it is?"

"I don't think so." Sakura checked her watch, "what an idiot... This is embarrassing."

"He must really be a laid-back guy, huh?" Naruto laughed.

Sakura shrugged, "I don't know if I'd call him that." She glanced over her shoulder towards the mall's entrance and let out a sigh, "and here he is now... About time."

Sasuke panted as if he'd been running before coming to a halt, "Sorry. I had to..." His voice trailed off when he caught sight of the couple, "s-seriously?"

"Whoa!" Naruto grinned, "it's Sasuke!"

"Sasuke?!" Hinata's eyes opened wide, "what the heck? What are you doing here?"

"Uh..." Sakura chuckled awkwardly, "you three know each other?"

"Y-yeah." Sasuke rubbed his forehead, "Naruto's a close friend of mine, Hinata's my cousin..."

"Yeah, you never told me he was gonna be here!" Naruto laughed, "geez, Sasuke! You're dating Sakura? What the heck do you see in him, Sakura?"

"Shut up!" Sasuke growled, "it's not like that! We're here as friends!"

"Man, Sakura." Hinata chuckled, "I had no idea you two knew each other."

"Yeah, well, it was just coincidence we bumped into each other not too long ago, actually." Sakura sighed, "let's just go in and eat already, yeah?"

"Don't have to ask me twice. I'm starving." Naruto rubbed his stomach as he led the group inside.

"You never told me this couple was Naruto and Hinata..." Sasuke whispered to Sakura, who swatted him away.

"Just shut up and enjoy yourself." Sakura felt the annoyance boil inside her as they found a table and placed their orders.

"So how long have you known each other?" Naruto giggled childishly, "it's kinda funny seeing you two together."

I feel like I've had this conversation before... Sakura chuckled weakly, "about a month or two now?"

"Wow, that long?" Hinata smiled, "you two are cute."

"It's not like that!" Sakura defended, "besides, I'm not really into nerds like him."

"Who are you calling a nerd?" Sasuke cleared his throat and gave her a side glance, "you're as much of a Menma nerd as I am."

"Menma?" Naruto looked at Sakura, "I didn't know you liked Menma."

"Crap... Look what you've done, Idiot!" Sakura glared at Sasuke, "now everyone's going to know."

"What's so bad about it? There's nothing embarrassing about it."

"Yeah, sure." Hinata gestured in Sasuke's direction, "except that this guy's totally obsessed with it."