Sendicard
patreon
Chapter 34 - Melody of Hearts Pt 3
🕑 Added 2024-05-14 19:47:58 +0000 UTCPoor Ino...
If only she was in a romance fic instead of this.
Enjoy Sunday's chapter on Tuesday! Woo!
Sakura struggles with ethics!
----------------------------------------------------------------
“I don’t get why you’re so happy…” Sakura whispers to herself, trying not to let Ino hear her lest she invoke some kind of ephemeral wrath. She’s never seen Ino this excited about anything.
Her blonde bestie is dancing around her room, darting from place to place in a frenzy that Sakura can barely understand let alone contribute to. This outfit, that outfit, she’s seen her friend in seven different dresses, six different tuxedos - she’s not even sure why the girlie girl has those - and what can only be described as the elegance of a goddess given form around a human girl. Specifically a very fluffy goddess, maybe just a big animal, whatever the case it’s the fluffiest white dress she’s ever seen and she can’t help but twitch when she realizes it sparkles.
Ino’s humming a strange tune while moving in and out of outfits like Sakura’s not even here. She has the decency to look away when in the ‘out of’ section of that, but it doesn’t stop her from questioning why it’s necessary in the first place. “You’ve looked good in everything so far.” Sakura says. “You look good in things, why’s it matter this much?”
“You would say that if I was dressed as a beggar on the street, dirty cheeks and moldy gloves and all.” Ino calls back from her closet where she appears to be questioning if she should dress up in a costume and forgo fashion entirely.
Sakura can’t help but imagine the pair of them, going full on movie, train jumping, hobo beggars with hats that look like bites have been taken out of them and boots that are falling off. “That’s fair, I think you’d look amazing like that.” Somehow, she can’t help but imagine how Ino’s hair would manage to loop right around to looking great, smattered in a bit of dirt and mood lighting. She sighs to herself, Ino can look good in anything but she can’t even shop for clothes without getting insulted.
Of the two of them, one of them is definitely bringing down the theatrics, she just hopes her ability doesn’t penalize her for it.
“Exactly my point.” Ino comes out, dressed as an anime character.
Which one, Sakura’s not sure, but she’s pretty sure normal girls don’t carry tiaras and wands and those are definitely wings.
"You look good in that too.” Sakura says.
“That’s, my, point!” Every word Ino swings the plastic wand at her, the thing making a squeaky noise revealing it’s some pet toy. “I need real feedback Sakura, you can’t be the only one dressed up!”
“I can go home and get a basic outfit if that’s the problem…” Sakura trails.
“You’re missing the point, difficult girl.” Ino groans at her, disappearing back into her closet.
This went on for two hours.
-----------------------------------------------
Lazing about on Ino’s bed eating snacks - Ino’s mom arrived with them about thirty minutes ago - and listening to Ino grumble over this outfit or that, Sakura can’t help but contemplate the meaning of life… Specifically the meaning of this.
Why is Ino so happy? Did she really, really want to go to the festival but didn’t want to go alone? Sakura hadn’t even heard of this festival until this morning but it would be reasonable for Ino to find out about it earlier.
Or, maybe she’s excited to spend time with her friend after so long? They haven’t hung out since the Academy, it has been some serious time. The last time the two of them even spoke was at the shut-down of the fanclub, and so much has changed since then Sakura can’t even fathom how to bridge the gap in what Ino knew about her and what she should know as her best friend.
Should she tell her about the game? No, probably not, she’ll think she’s mocking her or worry she’s crazy. Maybe once she has better proof. Ino would lose it on her if she injured herself to nap away the injury to prove a point, so it’s just not a viable option.
Ino normally hangs out on her bed while she plays a game two to three times a week, and drags her out to eat someplace at least once. It’s normally with money Ino stole from the register of their shop. ‘They don’t pay me, so I pay myself’ she’d always say. They clearly didn’t care, there is no way she was sneaking that around them, she probably just didn’t take enough to matter and they figured it was better than formally discussing pay for her efforts.
The way Sakura saw it, her friend was probably getting a bad deal for her work, because she was trying to be careful, and her parents knew that so they didn’t catch her. Either way, it was funny, and Sakura enjoyed being treated.
“I think I can pay for once.” Sakura says, knowing damn well that’s not going to fly. She can be subtle!
“Don’t be silly.” Ino shoots her a gentle glare, the first glance in her direction in almost an hour. “My first date? Daddy’s gonna pay for the whole thing.”
She’s really taking this whole date thing seriously. She figured Ino would understand her intentions but now, she’s getting the feeling she’s about to be on an actual date with her best friend. If her bestie felt this much about spending time with her, why haven’t they spent any time together? Has it been her fault? Did she say something wrong?
Maybe she insulted her without realizing it back when her charm was worse, Ino has always been a bit sensitive.
Or… Holy crap, did the thousand affection reward already apply to her? Did it proc on asking?
Oh no, that’s going to be so awkward! She’ll have to do what she can to look out for her best friend tonight, to ensure she doesn’t do anything she’d regret. Then… maybe lay off for a while, until the score is lowered to a natural level again. Ino definitely wouldn’t have romantic feelings for her normally…
Right?
But what if she would?
What if the score hasn’t applied at all, and by trying to protect her she’d be trampling on her feelings instead of acknowledging them?
It’s an absurd concept but, Sakura can’t help but think about how they’ve never been normal friends. What if Ino’s got a crush on her, and she’s been the dummy protagonist in a really bad game?
“... No.” Sakura decides to herself, quietly, shaking her head.
Even she’s not that dumb, she’d notice if that was the case.
Ino’s just being overly enthusiastic about this festival, and is possibly under attack by magic feelings unethically shot into her via a gaming system event she didn’t ask for and hella doesn’t want.
“Are you almost ready?” Sakura asks.
“We’re not even at the part where we redo your make-up!” Ino shouts from her closet.
“Ugh…” She can’t help but accept that this is probably how Kakashi feels when she’s doing something crazy and weird.
-----------------------------------------------
Sakura had planned ahead and shown up at Ino’s house very early. In part, this was so that she could go ask someone else if Ino had turned her down, but the biggest reason was that she knew the getting ready process for Ino was going to take a very long time. Her friend’s always been eccentric in different ways, and while she’ll admit she probably didn’t spend enough time on this, Ino’s far exceeded the other side of the problem.
So finally having her out of the house and looking good in the very first dress the girl had put on, well that’s just normal Ino. It’s a combo dress, red as flowers as Ino had put it, and very similar to Sakura’s own. Ino had taken the flower from Sakura’s hair and put it in a vase, so, without it they really do match something fierce.
Sakura isn’t sure why, but something about them going to a festival together in a pairing outfit has her smiling like a loon. She can’t help but notice that Ino can’t look at her directly, and that her bestie’s eyes dart away every single time she tries. “Come on, we’re going to be late.” Sakura’s eyes roll at the pace they’ve been wandering around. A part of her knows it’s for her benefit, Ino’s giving her more time to get used to the damned high heels, but her patience ran out an hour and a half ago. She takes Ino’s soft hand in her own, leans against the girl to ensure she’s balanced enough to be dragged, and takes off. If she focuses her chakra on the heel and treats this like tree climbing, it’s almost like it’s not the dumbest, cruelest device ever made!
“Wait-Sakura!” Her protest is quickly lost in the wind as the two of them begin the world’s easiest game of tag, already touching each-other kind of defeats the purpose but if it gets them to the festival on time so she doesn’t lose all that damned charm, she’s pretty okay with that.
Besides, it’s not all about her, Ino seems really excited for this festival, why else would she be so over the moon every time the reality of the date hits her all over again?
She’d be a terrible friend if she didn’t push her to be on time for something she’s that excited about.
“I don’t know how you’re doing that!” Ino scolds, “you fell on your face just walking earlier, how are you running?!” Something feels wrong, and that feeling leads Sakura to turn back just in time to see her pull taking Ino off her feet.
She reacts on instinct, footwork shifting on a dime. She raises the hand Ino’s already holding so that she has a balance in the air, and intercepts her friend’s face with her soft dress-covered chest. Her free hand wraps around and holds the small of Ino’s back, to hold her steady and provide support. She can’t help but look down at her before the blonde beauty can properly stand again.
Ino’s hands rest against her chest, and her gaze lifts to meet Sakura’s own. Her face has the most elegant rosy infection, spreading at an alarming rate that makes Sakura twist her face just a little to get a better look and maybe get some first aid insight.
Ino does something weird with this position - only even functional because she’s not fully on her feet since they’re basically the same height - her eyes fill with shimmer, before she lifts her face, grips Sakura’s firm shoulders with both hands, and easily forgotten about and chapped lips touch expertly cared for and glossily sparkling red ones.
‘Those thousand points definitely hit already’ is all Sakura can think, as her best friend of six years kisses her in the middle of a crowded street dressed in a matching outfit. ‘Am I a bad friend? How do I even make up for this?’
Comments
Dopplerdee
Oh Sakura, this is a real fear for her and the event isnt making it better...
Damon Fitzgerald
While this is very funny I am getting a bit worried about Ino's feelings. She is really into Sakura. I hope everything doesn't go too badly over the next few chapters.
