Two artists |Araya x Inojin/Shikajin|

12

There was no uncomfortable silent between all of them. They were talking and telling multiple stories about their missions. Even Araya, who isn't really talkative, was participating in those conversations. He felt even more confident, when they raised a topic of the art, nature and problems connected with that. Meanwhile, Shikadai was watching them quietly, visibly bored. Seeing happiness and enthusiasm in Inojin's eyes, he realized that he has never seen it before, during their talks. He was upset.

"Shikadai! What is that face? Are you not feeling well? Why don't you join the conversation?" the blonde girl asked slightly worried.

"Leave him alone. He doesn't know, what we're talking about. Shikadai may looks so smart, but when it comes to art, feelings and those stuff, he's-"

"Dumb. Is that what you wanted to say?" He glared at the smaller boy, almost scaring him. "Clueless? You're right."

He could feel all eyes on him, but he didn't care. He was worse than Araya. He couldn't make Inojin smile in that way. He seemed to be happier with that guy and Shikadai couldn't stand that. But what should he do? He won't change his personality. 

It was getting late, when they took a stroll. There weren't many things they could do, so they just split up before the sky was dark. They promised to meet before they come back to the Konoha. Yamanaka was wearing Araya's coat but it still felt cold a little. Nights are really different there and he was struggling with adjusting to it. Despite that, he was in a good mood, unlike Shikadai, who just wanted to reach the house as soon as it was possible.

The Sunagakure wasn't that bad as Inojin expected. Despite the poor vegetation and climat, it was pretty nice. He also wasn't disappointed by the views, which were really great. In the Konoha he has never gotten chance to see sand hills and such a beautiful sky above them. Yodo told him that the views overe there are awesome and even better that all those things he has already saw. It sounded like a really romantic place to him. He really wanted to go there, but he couldn't convince Shikadai, who wasn't a keen on such activities. It was too boring and too troublesome for him. He perceived it like time waste. Nara wasn't into art and nature and he never really cared about these things. Of course, he found some things look great or not but it was all he had got to say. 

"Shikadai, please. You can't spend the rest of the week on doing nothing," the smaller boy pouted, while the other closed his eyes, trying to ignore him, but it wasn't so easy.

"You can go over there on your own by using the Super Beast Scroll. You don't need me," he said, yawning loudly. "I'd prefer to take a nap instead."

"Why are you like that? Why are you so lazy?" He frowned, facing the brunet, but he didn't care.

"Why are you so annoying?" he asked, opening one eye just to glance at him. "Why won't you ask Yodo? She would be really happy to accompany you."

"I-" Yamanaka bit his down lip, when his cheeks flushed a bit. He wanted to spend the rest of the day by his side and the idea of watching stars above them sounded nice. Just the two of them. "Why don't you want to spend time with me? Did I say something wrong? Or maybe I did something bad to you..." He seemed to be concerned.

"It's not like I don't want to spend time with you. I just feel like... Well, I don't have that sense of art like her or Araya, so I thought you may feel better with one of them." He stopped and looked right into his big eyes. The boy took a deep breath before speaking. "When you talk with them, you seem to be really interested in the conversation and so happy to share your opinion and passion with someone. You can't do it with me because I'm totally clueless, when it comes to those things you like. I want you to be happy and I realized you can't be really happy by my side. I'm wondering, why did you ask me to go with you, since I know you're getting mad whenever I say something about the art. It just doesn't work." He was staring at the other, who gave him a soft smile. Inojin approached him and grabbed his hand.