The cover is a scene taken from the anime and uploaded from Ranker.com.
After a multitude of conflicts, Boruto Uzumaki begins re-evaluating his direction in life. Specifically his complex feelings towards a certain fellow Leaf Shinobi. And he decide...
If you can't come to the Festival, I'll bring the Festival to you x
"Ichiraku Ramen: 5 Great Nations Cross-Cultural Festival Style Limited Edition!"
Boruto repressed the urge to yelp in shock before his brain registered the familiar voice, and its direction. Slowly looking up, Sarada hung there upside down. Her feet gripping the outside wall above his window with Chakra-control and her hands holding two bags of Takeaway Ichiraku Ramen. And a bright smile gracing her fair features.
.........
"Itadakimasu!"
A short while later, the two young Ninja sat on the Uzumaki household rooftop slurping up styrofoam bowls of Ichiraku Ramen while they waited for the fireworks display to officially end the '5 Great Nations Cross-Cultural Festival'. Otherwise just being in the moment of quiet as they watched the night sky.
Boruto sighed.
"Sarada......... I'm sorry I got you into trouble with your mom." he said solemnly, secretly weighing up Sakura's private words to himself. "Yeah..... And I'm sorry you got in trouble with Your mom and with Lord 7th, because of me....." Sarada answered solemnly, secretly weighing her own word exchange with her mother, and how disappointed the Hokage would probably be with both of them now if he knew.
A moment's silence.
"Still... (Boruto continued, a little more cheerfully now)... I honestly really enjoyed my night out with you.. Right up until.... You know....." he deviated from his usual catchphrase given the seriousness of that incident. "Yeah... (she answered earnestly)... I know... and, yeah... (she perked up slightly)... honestly, even in spite of everything, I've really never had more fun in my life than that night. I guess one thing I can always count on with you is never a dull moment..." And a charmed smile crossed her fair face. All too soon though becoming a small sad frown.
"....but..."
A pit in Boruto's stomach sank as he looked to the side of her face, because of course there had to be a 'but'. Sarada sighed. "...We may be trained from a young age to fight the battles of adults... But in terms of connecting with other people.. we're still just kids. And if I'm honest with myself, I don't think I really understand what.. Love.. is?? What I'm saying is, right now...... I'm not sure I'm............... what a girlfriend is supposed to be...."
She turned and locked eyes with Boruto, only for a second as he quickly looked down to the ground below.
Of course after everything that had happened, or probably even before that, he must have been crazy to think it could have ever worked out between them. And his heart felt the heaviest it ever had.
Then he sucked in a breath and held his head high, looking up to the night sky and mentally shaking himself. After all, he'd made Ms. Sakura a promise. And most importantly he'd made Sarada a promise too. To respect his bespectacled friend's wishes and, if indeed as it seemed, she still wanted to be his friend, to continue to support her. As her Teammate, subordinate, and her friend. And as an aide to the future Hokage!
And if that was enough for her, then that would be good enough for him.... It had to be.
"Well..... Thanks for being honest with me, y'know..." he said, looking up to the night sky with a genuine (slightly forced) smile. "...And don't worry 'bout stuff. I've still got your back. As your Teammate and as your friend. And as the blade of the Future Hokage! Like I said, that's My Nindo. My Ninja Wa-"
Boruto's words died in his throat as he felt a pair of warm wet lips press against his cheek. And felt his whole face heat up like Fire-Style, while the rest of his body was frozen solid!
Sarada pulled away from the peck and looked herself to the ground below, barely able to contain her own blush at the audacity of what she'd just done. "...But... You know... Maybe when we're adults for real... (she began shyly)... Perhaps we could.. maybe........... try the whole dating thing... for real, too....?"
Before Boruto's brain could unscramble itself to give an answer, the fireworks display promptly lit up the sky as if on cue.
As the after glow of a myriad of colours painted the townscape around them and beyond, a still frozen Boruto wracked his brain for a suitable response to Sarada's last statement (and the kiss). It wasn't precisely what he was hoping for, but neither was it the worst case scenario!
This possible future, desperate and vain to believe in as it was, was something worth fighting for! And waiting for! Something to continue resisting Momoshiki's influence and the schemes of Code for! Something to risk even facing her dad's (and even his mom's) fury for! A future worth believing in!
Try as he might, Boruto's brain couldn't find words for the foolish desperate hope he now felt, or the fool grin that now spread across his face as he looked up at the vibrant enchanting sky. Neither were any necessary as he felt the gentle weight of Sarada's head rest against his shoulder.
.........
In the distance, a shadowy figure espied a certain two on that rooftop. A Takeaway bag for two Thunder Burger meals held securely in hand. Not that he needed to eat, but that the moments they shared meals together were beyond value. Yet as he watched Sarada Uchiha snuggled against Boruto Uzumaki's shoulder, it became clear that this meal was one they could not share together.
It felt strange, and for a moment.. Mitsuki wondered if this is what it feels like to be what people called 'The Third Wheel'. For a moment.. it felt.... lonely......
... But only for a moment....
If his two closest friends had found that connection, then he was happy for them. And he would continue to support them as their teammate and their friend, and perhaps in years to come, bear witness to how that connection might just blossom into something more.
As for right now, he'd have to find someone else to share all this food with. And so Mitsuki turned around and walked off in the direction of his apartment under a night sky abundant in colour and vitality.
'Maybe Mikazuki will be there? I wonder if he likes beef patties?' Mitsuki thought to himself concerning his fickle-minded feline friend. A small smile gracing his lips.
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A/N: Just an image from the anime uploaded from a Google-search. Thanks for reading my story!!
