It's Not Really A Date, but is sort of kinda (Boruto x Sarada)

Part 6

And the more he thought of it, the more he realised how precious his own connections with the people in his life are to him. Especially with those two.

"Well well, a perfect score. Nicely done young man." the stall vendor remarked. "Please, feel free to choose your prize. Anything you like from the top rail." Iwabee stopped scowling enough to consider the line-up of prizes hanging from the rail. Mainly absurdly large Ninja-animal plushies, and among them some more note-worthy homages to the Legendary Tailed-Beasts. The hatted-Shinobi's gaze lingered a moment over the plushie form of the late Kurama, the infamous Nine-Tailed Fox with which Konohagakure (and more intimately its current Hokage) had the most complicated and ultimately the most bittersweet history. Then his gaze fell just to its right.

"I think I'll go wiiiiiith..... Matatabi!"

"The Two-Tails? Excellent choice sir. You sure know your Tailed-Beast Lore if I do say so." the vendor commended as he turned to untie the selected plushie from its fastening.

Mitsuki looked from the stuffed toy to Iwabee with a pleasantly curious expression, whilst Denki offered a quizzical expression. "Really Iwabee? Matatabi? I thought for sure you'd go for the Kurama plushie, given the Fox's connection with Lord 7th?" Iwabee sideways glanced his captain nonchalantly (while waiting for the toy with open arms like a little kid). "Hey, Kurama's great in his own way. But cats are like Lords of the Earth. I can't help but admire their majesty, you know."

"And maybe a certain someone who's also into cats?" Shikadai added teasingly, making Iwabee scowl again. "Someone whose night would be made by a certain someone giving a certain plushie as a gift to her?" The hatted-Ninja's scowl became a look of outrage, and he clung to the recently-acquired cuddly toy defensively. "If you're talkin' 'bout Wasabi Heck no! Seriously, all that girl does is pick fights with me and drive me nuts!!"

"Now who said I was talking about Wasabi?" Shikadai said slyly making Iwabee glare and Inojin offer a 'For Real?' look. "C'mon Iwabee. Everybody knows girls only pick on guys when they secretly like them. Just like guys only obsess over getting beat by girls when they really like the girl back.", "Oh yeah! That logic flies Yamanaka!!" Iwabee fiercely debated his position, hugging his prize all the tighter. "Then I guess by that reasoning you like that Hoeke guy after he beat you in the last Chunin Exam!!"

"Well I admit I dig he can pull off mysterious-Kakashi-Sensei vibe." Inojin responded with an impressed grin and a finger to his chin, neither pointing out the flaws in Iwabee's logic nor confirming or denying his implications. "But then again maybe she sees things different to how I do. HEY WASABI-SAN! DO YOU LIKE IWABEE OR NOT?!?!"

The named-hatted-Ninja yelped and looked over his shoulder in a fluster, only to realise he'd been duped and glared back seethingly at the Team 10 boys who burst out laughing at him. "I hate you guys so much." he quietly fumed while Denki looked apologetic and Metal was looking intently past him. "Wait! Where did you see Wasabi-san Inojin-kun? Is that her by that concession stall? No, wait. That is a man." the Taijutsu Apprentice enquired, having failed to recognise the deception. Denki sweat-dropped.

Again, Mitsuki quietly contemplated his personal observations of past interactions between Team 5's Iwabee Yuino and Team 15's Wasabi Izuno. On the surface the two appeared to be bitter rivals. But then...

As part of the artificial human's understanding of human connection, he had over the course of time gained an awareness of the concept of 'love', or put another way.... 'romance'. At times he would notice certain pairs of people, both civilians and Shinobi, exhibiting a unique sort of closeness that seems to apply specifically between those two (usually). A closeness that, in most cases, seems to bring the expression of happiness to the involved parties. Mitsuki wondered what that felt like.

In truth, though he was interested in the concept in general, Mitsuki had never considered himself in that sort of scenario. If he had to put a label on it, he supposed he would consider himself 'aromantic'. Still....

He knew the peace and prosperity of Konohagakure and its people were precious to him, enough that he would gladly die for them all. And yet for those few people in his life, it was that and so much more. It was also wanting to spend all the time he could with them. To enjoy life with them. And to see them smile. Wanting them above all else to be happy. If this indeed was a reasonable definition of 'love', then perhaps.... he did love.... him.

He for whom Mitsuki was assigned since the beginning to observe and bear witness to his fruition as one of the most remarkable Shinobi in Konohagakure, if not the entire world! He with whom Mitsuki shared so much in the relative short time they'd known each other. He who once fought against all odds to rescue him, furthermore assuring him there was "only one Mitsuki". And for whom Mitsuki fought for, wept for, and smiled for in his embrace.

Yes. Mitsuki loved Boruto Uzumaki...

.......

But if his generalised understanding of the concept of 'love' applied, then perhaps he also loved his Captain and other Teammate, and his friend, Sarada Uchiha.... He wanted both of them to be happy.

And it was one of Mitsuki's other most astute observations that both Boruto and Sarada seemed genuinely happiest (even if they themselves were the only ones not to see it), whenever they were....

"HEY GUYS!"

"BORUTO!?"

"BORUTO-KUN?!?"

"UHH!?! LORD 7TH!!! SIR!!!"