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He was startled after seeing the group of opera singers walk inside their room, his eyes yearn for the maiden in front of him, and he glances at his notes once in a while to make sure she wouldn’t notice that he was staring at her a little too much.
She’s having a conversation with a guy in their class, he couldn’t help but feel spiteful of him, for being close to her, hearing her beautiful voice, seeing her smile, and looking at her pretty face. Shikamaru wished it was him that she was talking to.
Kin Tsuchi
The black-haired lead singer from the opera club. After hearing her singing voice in one of their plays at school, he instantly had a crush on her. They shared the same subject which he always looked forward attending to, chemistry class.
Kin asked him if he could tutor her every Friday after class and he agreed to it instantly, Shikamaru thought there was something between him and Kin, a little spark that could grow into love, but he still wasn’t sure about it.
The way she smiles and looked at me, is it possible that she likes me too?
Plus, she personally chose me to tutor her in chemistry.
I just need something to confirm
Why do I feel that she’s making me jealous by talking to Dosu right now
Tch!
He slips away from his consciousness after thinking about her and the thing between them. Suddenly, a familiar voice breaks him from his daydreaming, a voice owned by the most troublesome woman he knows.
“Shikamaru! Are you listening? Hey!” the sandy blonde girl stomps the rolled newspaper to his head
“Ouch! Hey! Tch! What’s your problem woman!” he shrieked
“You’re daydreaming again, aren’t you?” she crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow at him
“Uhm…no. Why would you think that?” he responded while rubbing his head from where she stomps the newspaper.
“You’re drooling, look at you, what are you a kid? You’re lucky I didn’t take a pic of your face. If I did, it will go straight to the group chat” she laughed
“Can you just say what you want?” he groaned
“Alright, soooooo. I need your help” she sits on his table “Prof. Genma told me that you’re the only student who got the right answer in one of the physics equations” They share most of the subjects except for Physics where she thrives in her class.
“And?”
“And? Well duh, you need to tell me the answer” she said
“What if I told you, I don’t want to? You need to solve it yourself. That’s cheating”
She gasped “It is not! I mean, I didn’t ask the exact answer, I just need you to tell me how you solved it”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because…..If you did, I will be the top 1 in that class. I just need one more point to reach that. One more point Shikamaru” she sways her hands in the air while explaining it.
“That still wouldn’t benefit me” he leaned to his chair and closed his eyes “You can still be top 2 though if you failed to solve it”
She gripped his collar and pulled him “Look lazy ass! Are you going to tell me how you solved it or you’re going to walk back to your home crippled?”
“Get your hands off me woman!” they both struggle to get out of each other’s grip, well that’s usual for both of them. Suddenly, Shikamaru had a light bulb moment.
“Well, I can help you with that. I’ll give you the equation……if….” he said
“If???” she curiously asked
“If you’re going to pretend to be my girlfriend”
“And why the heck would I agree to that!?” she yelled
“Shhh! Shut up, they might hear you. Look…look…I just need to confirm something. So, I need this plan” he whispered while explaining.
Temari suddenly realized what he was trying to do “Ahhhhh…sooo, you’re trying to make Kin jealous, aren’t you?”
“No..well, I mean…sort of. I just need to confirm if she…” his voice becoming low “if she likes me too”
There’s a deafening silence after that, Temari still bargaining if she will agree to it or not. But she needs the answer to that physics equation.
“Alright” she said
“Alright?”
“Yeah…but you know what? you need to fix something in yourself” she said in her sassy tone
“What do you mean I need to fix something in myself?”
“Look at you. That’s probably the reason why Kin wouldn’t even date you”
He rubbed his nose and groaned after hearing that, Shikamaru knows how her mouth works. She could be so cruel and harsh with how she said the truth.
“I need to teach you first how to become a good boyfriend because I don’t want to walk around on this campus with a guy that has a lazy stance like yours”
“Alright, I know…I know…let’s just do whatever the hell we needed to do. I need to make her jealous or something”
“Oh-kayyy, let’s start the first session, shall we? Since tomorrow is Saturday, meet me in Dotonbori at 10 am. And don’t tell me that it’s too early, it’s not. You need to get your ass up and wake earlier than that”
He just nodded and agreed to whatever she said. He didn’t have a choice in the first place once her mouth starts working. Temari left his spot and waved him goodbye.
The next day, he woke up from his alarm, it was already 8 am. He could feel the sting in his eyes while trying to open them. It’s really impossible for Shikamaru to wake up this early, especially on a Saturday morning. He doesn’t have a choice but to get up. If he’s late, he’ll end up being a crippled meat laying in the streets of Osaka.
After having his breakfast, he walked outside and strolled his way to Dotonbori. Vibrant colors of red and yellow leaves start to fall on the ground, it’s the time of the year again, the bright colors of autumn wrapped around the big city. He rubs his hands to warm them, he could feel that the winter starts to take over. Gladly, he wears his sweater and long coat for today.
Shikamaru saw Temari waiting on the stairs of Dotonbori’s canal bridge. He glared at her angry gaze which stabs him sharply, he hasn’t even reached her location but her eyes feel like they could eat him alive.
“I told you to meet me here at 10 am, didn't I?” she said while crossing her arms
“Tch. I’m just 30 minutes late. Don’t be too troublesome” he pouted
“You failed at your first test, loverboy. You’re not punctual. A good boyfriend needs to be punctual on their dates. Do you want Kin to wait for your late ass? She’ll leave you in an instant if you do this to her”
“Yeah…Yeah…I’m not going to do it again. I know, I need to be punctual next time. Are you happy now?” he said while rubbing the back of his neck.
“I don’t know if I’m going to scold you more or pity you in your situation”
Here we go again. He groaned in his mind.
“Quick, show me how you hold a girl’s hand” she extended her hand to him
Shikamaru felt a sudden ick feeling after seeing her hand extending towards him. It was bizarre for him to hold this troublesome woman’s hand and in the middle of the freaking city. But he needs to do this, he needs to be with Kin.
He reached for her hand and grab it like he was holding a sword.
“What is that???” she shrieked
“What?” he groaned and furrowed his brows.
“You’re helpless” she shakes her head and rubbed her temples.
“What is wrong with this? This is holding hands woman!” his voice becomes louder as he raised their hands in front of their faces.
“This is not holding hands. Look Idiot, listen to me. I’m the expert here” she slides her hand a little and fills the gaps between his fingers, making their hands intertwined “Here, this is holding hands. It’s more intimate. What you did earlier is lame, it doesn’t feel intimate at all”
“You’re just picky” he rolled his eyes
“Listen, I’m helping you here. Are you going to follow me or not?” She spoke
“And I’m also helping you to be top 1 in your physics remember? You need my equation”
Temari rolled her eyes and give him a mocking smile. It’s really not her business to make him a good boyfriend, she can’t help but pity him. She knows Shikamaru a lot since they shared several subjects together at school and have the same group of friends.
He’s the laziest person she knows, a lot different from her personality who’s always motivated to win and wouldn’t say no to any challenges. When Shikamaru asked her to be his fake girlfriend just to make his crush jealous, she was surprised and felt sad for him at the same time. Temari thought that he was really that desperate just to be with Kin, which she finds funny. So, she agreed, plus she needs that physics equation so badly.
“Alright, fine. Whatever” She let go of his hand and raised her arms in a surrender position.
“Why are you doing this anyway?”
“Because I’m going to teach you how to be a good boyfriend. There’s no way you’re going to ask Kin to be her boyfriend, unprepared? Do you?” she buried both hands in her waist and raised an eyebrow at him.
Shikamaru realized that he needed it, she was right. He needs to be one of the best just to make sure that he could take care of Kin. So, he agrees to whatever she will say.
“Just let’s get started so we could go home early” he sighs
“Perfect! So the first thing on my how-to-be-a-good-boyfriend list is…..you need to be punctual which you failed. Congratulations”
He rolled his eyes while they both walked in the street of Dotonbori.
“Second, the holding hands which you slightly failed. Congratulations”
“Third, I need to teach you how to have a proper date with a girl. Because you seem to lack it. Come on, follow me”
Temari pulled his coat and walked to the city’s Ferris wheel where they paid for two tickets. She starts lecturing him about what should or should not do during a date which Shikamaru takes note of in his head. Somehow, she was making sense when it comes to dating. Temari was the type of girl who would only date someone if he was worth it, her standards were higher than the Ferris wheel they rode.
But everything makes sense in her lecture, she’s knowledgeable when it comes to dating. Like she was an expert on it, but she’s single so he’s kind of confused about it.
They went to Tombori river cruise where they availed a 20-minute-long cruise around the city. It was his first time seeing the city from this point of view, it was a relaxing ride, free from all the pressure and stress from schoolwork.
“So tell me, what’s her love language?” Temari asked him
“What’s a love language?”
She palmed her face “You don’t know what love language is? Okay, here. Every person has their own love language. It can be more than one. We have five love languages, Words of affirmation, Acts of service, Gifts, Quality time, and Physical touch…..so what is Kin in there?”
He stared at her while thinking about what Kin’s love language is. The gust of Osaka’s air touched their faces as they rode the river cruise ship. Temari’s blonde hair sways with the winds which looked nice with the aesthetic of the city’s color.
“I don’t want to guess; I honestly don’t know”
“Nevermind, that’s your homework next Friday when you tutor her. You need to know her love language”
They talked a lot about things during the cruise, about Kin, their school, their friends, her previous life in Tottori which intrigues him, and other random things. Shikamaru is the type of person who doesn’t usually initiate a conversation unless it piques his interest. And somehow, the way Temari talks really intrigues him
Her views are different from all the people he met, it’s fresh to have a conversation who could argue and agree at the same time. It’s probably because of her upbringing in Tottori?
They went to the market area of the city where they found a dango stand. It offers a customized build-your-own dango which Temari felt excited to try.
She turns her head around to him with wide eyes and opened mouth like she was surprised to see a build-your-own dango stand. It’s always been there every autumn.
He forgot that the siblings migrated to Osaka last winter and they haven’t experienced the autumn season here. Her place was more like a rural part of Japan, they even have their own desert. It’s rare for them to have these kinds of activities. Osaka is a more bright and busy city compare to Tottori, especially at night.
They seated inside and ordered a two-build-your-own dango. He stared at her wide smile while waiting for their dango to serve. Shikamaru can’t help but laugh at her, she looked like a kid in a candy store. It was a different Temari he was seeing, a lot different from what he always saw at school.
The dango arrived, it was not the usual skewered glutinous balls that they usually bought in the streets. It was three big glutinous balls sitting in a sugar syrup placed on a ceramic plate. They were given green tea to compliment its sweetness and different mini bowls with colored sugars in them.
It was called build-your-own dango because you can draw or create faces using colored sugar. She grabbed the red sugar and draw Gaara’s face in one, brown sugar for Kankuro, and black sugar for the man sitting beside her.
“Good lord. I created a masterpiece. Look, it’s you” she laughed “You looked like an ugly depressed pineapple…see?” Temari pointed to the sad big dango that has black sugar spikes in the head, its eyes were formed okay but it was a bit smudge due to syrup which made it look like it was crying with mascara.
Shikamaru sneak a quick look at the ugly depressed pineapple and felt offended by what she created. He already ate two dangos because he doesn’t really care about being artsy about it. He grabbed the last one and the yellow sugar to create two ponytails in its head and draw an angry brow using the black sugar. The brows were larger than they should be, emphasizing her angry personality.
“I don’t know what you created, that didn’t even look like me. I did it way too accurately than yours. See? It’s you”
Temari peeked at the ugly yellow angry dango and gasp at him. She was about to smack him but he immediately ate the yellow ugly dango on his plate.
“Why did you eat me!? Spit it out!” she grabbed his neck and shake it “Spit it!”
Shikamaru chewed it faster and swallowed it which made her more mad.
“Great! I was about to picture all of the dangos. Now you ate it! You’re helpless you know? Is this how you date a girl?”
“What? Tch! You don’t even look like one” he laughed
It’s very normal for them to have this kind of activity. The usual banter and bickering are always a part of their schedule like it was written on their to-do list every day.
After a whole day tour in Dotonbori, their How to be a good boyfriend session ended that day. They wave each other’s goodbye and walked back to their homes. They’ll meet again on Monday to execute their mission to make Kin jealous.
Temari walked on the path leading to their school building where red and yellow leaves were falling to the brick ground. There were benches on the side where students were sitting and doing their business.
Suddenly, she felt a warm hand intertwined with hers. It was Shikamaru.
“Am I doing it right?” he smiled at her
She was startled about seeing him holding her hand “Yeah” still stunned about what he did.
“Why are you so early?” she asked him, they both walked onto the school ground while holding hands.
He glanced to their left where the opera club members were sitting on one of the benches, Kin was staring at them with wide eyes.
“There. That’s the reason why” he said and Temari immediately peeked to her left to see the group of singers.
“Genius. You already made your first move”
“Ofcourse, I don’t want to waste my time” His arms moved to her shoulder and pulled her closer, he could see Kin starting to breathe profusely after doing that. Shikamaru could tell that what they were doing was kinda effective.
They did their fake girlfriend-boyfriend thing in their classes, in the cafeteria, in the library, and even in Kin’s opera play.
They hold hands, pretend to whisper in each other's ear, and share food like a cute couple. They felt a little cringy by doing that but they need to do it. Sometimes they fight in the middle of their pretentious act but every time Kin walked on their spot, they immediately shift to being a cringy cute couple again at school.
It’s Friday, so Temari decided to go to the library where Kin and Shikamaru have their usual tutoring session. She seated in front of them, it was far but good enough to signal him what to do. She gestures for him to seat close to her, put a little touch in her hand, and extends his arms to her shoulders in a lowkey way. She’s like a coach assisting her player to reach his goal.
She smiled at him and gave two thumbs up for a job well done. Shikamaru smiled at her, he must admit she was very helpful in this kind of thing.
Their mission ended for that week and Shikamaru demanded another How to be a good boyfriend session on Saturday, Temari agreed.
They meet again in Dotonbori, this time Shikamaru was earlier than before. Temari can’t help but feel impressed.
“Punctual. I see, you’re improving loverboy” Temari smiled at him.
“Should I receive some kind of award or something?” He smirked
“You’ll have your award when Kin gave her sweetest YES to you”
They walked and reached the area where they try to create origami in one of the stands in the market. Temari created a deer origami and Shikamaru made a weasel one, they exchanged their works with each other after that.
She lectures him again on what he should or should not do when dating a girl, and she corrects him every time she saw him being clueless and helpless in one area of it. Shikamaru always listen to her, he complained but he listened.
This time, Temari asked him what’s his ideal date since being in a relationship is a two-way thing and his opinion and what he likes really matter to make things work.
Shikamaru told her that he likes to just lay in the grass and watched the clouds while listening to his music. Temari mocks him about it but she agrees to do it. She wanted to know if it will really work to please a girl, or is it possible for a girl to enjoy this kind of date too?
They walked to his favorite spot near the city park. They lay on the ground filled with fallen leaves, Shikamaru didn’t mind the slight dirt of it. He was surprised that Temari laid beside him like she didn’t care about the dirt of it too.
“So, I thought you were going to play some music? You said you like watching the cloud while listening to your music" She said while looking at the clouds
“You sure? I don’t think you’re going to like my music”
“I told you not to assume things, didn’t I?”
He pouted and extend the other earbuds from his earphone. Temari grabbed it and listen to his music.
Apocalypse by Cigarette After Sex
“Autumn is beautiful” she said
“I thought you like spring?” he curiously asked
“I like Spring but Autumn is different. I love Autumn” She smiled while looking at the moving clouds, the relaxing tune of his music compliments the chill day that they were having.
I think Autumn is growing on me too. He said in his mind while glancing at her, Temari looked so calm in his point of view. He likes this calm version of Temari.
He pursed his lips “Act of service”
“What?”
“Her love language is Act of service” he said
“Oh..well, that’s easy. All you have to do is put an effort for her” Temari explained to him what he needed to do to please a person with this kind of love language.
Shikamaru listened to her intently, his eyes didn’t remove her side.
“If she needed something, do it for her. Bring her coffee, carry her bag, walk her to school then walk her back to her house. Cook for her, I think that’s sweet. Cook her favorite food”
“I think I can cook” he confidently said
“Really? You? Can cook something? I doubt it”
“Are you underestimating me?” he mocks her
“Hey, that’s my line!” She said while pointing her finger at him “Pssh, troublesome”
“And that’s my line woman”
They both laughed and left their spot. They walked on the grass ground filled with vibrant red- and yellow-colored leaves in the park.
Temari felt the sudden cold air that hit their spot, her arms unconsciously quivers and Shikamaru saw it.
“You didn’t bring your coat?”
Temari just wears her light purple sweater, she didn’t know autumn could be this cold. Its coldness was close to winter.
“Can I borrow your jacket for like 20 minutes? I just need to warm a little”
“But I’m cold too, I don’t think I could give it to you now” he said with his usual deadpan expression
“Wow, what a gentleman. You know what, you failed this one. I forgot to tell you that you should at least learn how to be a gentleman. You’re negative 100 over 10 that’s your score! Can you-----”
Before she continues her speech, Shikamaru interrupted her.
“Tch! Come here” he pulled her close to him and wrapped his jacket around her. They are both enfolded with one jacket, so both of them can feel its warmth.
Temari was left stunned by what he did. She closed her eyes while feeling his warmth, she needed this one to remove all of her quivers. Something inside her stomach keeps moving at that moment like there’s something alive inside, then a warm flush starts to crawl through her skin. She touched her cheeks, it was warm.
They’re in the middle of the park, hugging inside his jacket.
“Get a room you two! Will ya?” an old woman shouted at them which made them break from what they were doing.
“You youngsters!”
Shikamaru clears his throat and slides his hands inside his pockets while Temari fixes her sweater and hair.
“About cooking her favorite food. Uhm, let’s go to our house so I could show you how I cook?” he rubbed the back of his head
“Ye-yeah, sure”
They rode a train to Nara and went straight to his house. Temari stared that the interior of their house, it was old yet looked modern at the same time. Everything was organized, she expected it since his family was full of geniuses. His parents were not there, they were attending a reunion in Tokyo.
Shikamaru went to their kitchen to prepare all the ingredients he needed for cooking. Temari followed him and observed what he was about to do.
“So what’s her favorite food?” she asked
“I always saw her eating curry rice so I’ll try to make that one”
“You always saw? So you just assumed?” her face was visibly confused after hearing that
“I think she likes curry a lot” he said
“Tch! Don’t assume you, idiot. Ask her” she crossed her arms to her chest
“Can you just let me cook in peace?” he rubbed his temples and put the apron to his waist.
She clicks the back of her tongue and leaned her body on their kitchen door. Temari watched him cooking, she’s enjoying seeing him confused and serious while glancing at the “How to cook” browser on his phone and dicing the ingredients at the same time.
Temari walked towards the rice cooker, she initiated cooking the rice for them since it was already past lunch, and a cooking session in their mini activity was a perfect move for that time.
They both shared the curry he cooked and the rice that she steamed. Every time they’re together, they noticed how deep their conversation becomes. Sometimes, they felt awkward about how serious their conversation was so they always shift to banter and bickering, as per usual.
They are not used to having this kind of intimate moment, it felt bizarre for both of them. Their session ended that day and Shikamaru offered to walk with her back to her apartment. Since Kin’s love language is an act of service so he needs to practice it, that’s what he explained.
The next Monday, they meet outside of the school and hold each other’s hands as per usual. Their friends can’t help but feel suspicious about it. They have this group chat where everyone has a spill-me-some-tea session and some random conversation.
Shikamaru and Temari told their friends in their group chat that they were having a fake relationship just to make his crush jealous. They weren't even surprised about it, since they were fully aware that Shikamaru has a huge crush on Kin. And using Temari as a decoy would be a perfect move since they are both totally opposite people and them being a real couple is really impossible.
It’s the way they stare at each other that made their friends become a little too suspicious about their fake relationship, and the way they smiled at each other like it was only reserved for them.
They weren't sure if they should applaud them for their very realistic way of faking it, or if they were just really in love with each other at this point.
He walked Temari to her class which they didn’t share, Physics. Because....ofcourse, he wanted to practice how to please a person whose love language is an act of service. That's what he explained again. They waved each other’s goodbye and made a little playful banter before he left.
Shikamaru looked forward to attending his math, literature, and science class where he and Temari shared. So, he could tease and bully her freely.
Lunchtime was always reserved for both of them since Kin was always there. They always shared lunch together. Every after class, he walked her back to her apartment and it becomes their usual.
It’s Friday again, he needs to tutor Kin which he almost forgot so he stayed in one of the empty classrooms while waiting for her. Temari left the school early since she’ll have to prepare for their little vacation with her brothers and Baki on the weekend.
His phone vibrates from his pocket while reading his book. It was from Temari.
From: Temari
Do you think I need to cut my bangs? I think I need to fix it before our tour
[Insert Temari’s scrambled bangs while posing a selfie]
Shikamaru laughed louder than he should have after seeing her picture. Her blonde bangs were all over the place and her teal eyes stared at the camera.
He felt brave that time, so he forwarded her picture to their group chat.
[Shikamaru forwarded a picture from Temari]
[5 laughs, 4 hearts, 4 cry reactions]
Can you please help her, should she cut her bangs or not? This is an emergency.
PS: We’re serious
Shikamaru
Nah, man. You’re dead!
Kiba
I think you look youthful! Temari-chan
Rock Lee
YOU IDIOT! WHY DID YOU FORWARD MY PIC TO THIS GC!
I’M GOING TO CUT YOUR LEGS ON MONDAY!!!
[Insert GIF punching a bag]
Temari
Personally, I wouldn’t let that slide
Ino
Wow, he was brave for doing that.
Sakura
Ong, her bangs were a lot messier in person
Kankuro
RIP man, you will be missed
Naruto
[Insert a big thumbs-up emoji]
Gaara
Shikamaru laughed in his seat and pounds the table after doing that. He thought it was hilarious, Temari sent him a personal message full of death threats after forwarding her scrambled bangs in their group chat. He just replied with several GIFs full of Jerry mouse and Spongebob memes to bully her more.
Suddenly, someone called his name.
It was Kin, she was standing in front of the classroom door. Shikamaru forgot the time, they were supposed to have a tutoring session in the library but he was caught up in what he was doing earlier. Her eyes were red and moist while holding a couple of books to her chest.
“Shikamaru can we talk?” she asked while her eyes were in a verge of crying
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It’s Monday again, and Temari sits in one of the cubicles inside the girl’s restroom. A faint chuckle escaped her mouth every time she remembered the group chat conversation they had last Friday and an urge of bullying him back tingled her senses. She didn’t see him that morning, Temari thought he was probably afraid and hiding from her because of what he did.
She walked to the restroom sink and brush a light powdered blush to her cheeks and drops a few red tints on her lips. She smiled in front of the mirror and prepared herself to walk into her class.
Her eyes widened after seeing Shikamaru standing outside of the female restroom. Her smile becomes wider after seeing the dark pineapple head in front of her, she grabbed his necktie and pulled it close to her face.
“You idiot! You’re waiting for me, aren’t you?” she asked
Shikamaru was surprised after seeing her, his face slowly becoming pale. Before saying a word, he clears his throat, moistens his lips, and turns his head to the other side, removing his gaze away from her.
“No…I’m---I’m waiting for my girlfriend”
“Girlfriend?” she was confused, her hand slowly releasing his tie.
“Kin and I…..we’re together now” his breathing becomes shallow
“Oh” she flickers her eyes and looked at the ground “Congrats” her mouth moves like she wanted to say something but couldn’t spill a single word.
He grabbed the paper inside his pocket and hands it to her.
“Here’s the equation to the physics question. Uhm---I should have given it to you before”
She scratched her cheeks and stared at the paper that he was holding, she grabbed the tip of it lightly forcing herself to pull it from him.
Temari saw Kin in her periphery, she just walked out from one of the cubicles inside the girl’s restroom. Anytime soon, she will go outside and might see them talking. She thinks it’s inappropriate for her to see them together.
“Thanks” she grabbed the paper from his hand
Shikamaru’s fist gripped tightly after she removed the paper from his hand. Temari immediately turn around and walked to the path leading to her classroom.
After a few steps, she turns around and spoke.
“We finally got what we want, thanks Shikamaru” she waved the paper to the air
There was a foreign feeling that was stirring inside of him, he couldn’t describe it. He felt like he just lost something that he didn’t even have.
Why does it hurt when she called me by my first name?
Kin walked out from the girl’s restroom and wrapped her arm around his.
“Thanks for waiting for me here. Let’s go now? Hmm babe?” she said
Kin announced to everyone that they were together now, and a lot of the students congratulates and compliments them. Since Kin was famous in their school and Shikamaru was always at the top of each subject so his name was all over the place.
His friends were surprised as well, they were happy for Shikamaru, and they really did. A bunch of congratulatory stickers flooded their group chat after they found out that Kin and him were together now.
One congratulatory sticker caught his attention the most. A lot of questions start running through his mind after receiving this vibrant-colored congratulatory sticker covered in confetti from her. He wanted to convince himself that Temari was genuinely happy for them, but why would he think about what she thought?
His schedule was now filled with Kin’s time, he could really tell that he was doing a pretty great job being a good boyfriend. He walked her to school first thing in the morning, talk with her during chemistry class, have lunch with her, and walked her home after class. Like what he learned from Temari.
There was an urge inside of him on wanting to talk with Temari, he wanted to tell her about how good of a boyfriend he is now, that she should be proud of him, and how her teachings really work in these kinds of things. But how? She’s slowly slipping away from him. His schedule felt more empty than before, his usual banter and bickering with the troublesome woman he knows at school completely erased from his list.
Weeks passed, and his urges become stronger and stronger than before. All he could do now is to just stare at the blonde girl in front of him, she seems so near yet she feels so far. He’d willing to bargain anything just to have another conversation with her.
His two dark eyes stared at the fallen leaves outside the school window, he seated in one of the chairs inside of an empty classroom while waiting for her girlfriend to finish. They’re having their weekly practice for their opera play. He picked up the phone from his pocket and check his social media to entertain himself. He click on the stories that went up in his timeline, Naruto and Hinata were dating in a ramen shop, Ino and Sakura went shopping, Choji found a new brand of chips, and Lee got a new pair of barbels.
Then Temari’s story went up. His thumbs hesitated to click it, but after a few rubs on his phone screen, he clicked on the circle thing to view her story.
*Weasel stuffed toy* – skips –
*Red and orange dry leaves on the ground with her pair of boots* – skips-
*Gaara and Kankuro’s new coat* -skips-
Shikamaru smiled at every story that Temari have on her timeline.
*Dango in her hand in the middle of Dotonbori*
His thumb froze and stared at the picture longer than it should be. The sweet and glutinous ball starts to linger in his mouth, and a sudden craving for a dango invaded his senses. Shikamaru missed eating dango in Dotonbori, he wanted to ask Temari to walk with him again and eat dango there but he knows that’ll be an impossible thing to happen now. So, he messages his girlfriend instead.
To: Kin
Do you want to eat dango in Dotonbori?
From: Kin
Awee babe, you know I cannot eat sweets. It will ruin my voice. Are you going to Dotonbori? Can you get me some ginger tea or green tea, please? Thanks! Love u xxx
He smiled but his sad gaze focused on the screen that he was looking at. He grabbed his bag and walked to Dotonbori to get a ginger tea or green tea for her. It’s becoming normal for him now, doing whatever she said, putting effort just to please her, like he’s following a set of instruction to finish and called it a day.
Kin holds his hand and walked to the school hallway as per usual. Shikamaru was carrying her bag while they stroll their way leading to her classroom.
A sudden cold sensation starts to crawl through his skin after seeing a familiar blonde girl walking on the opposite side, it was Temari.
She gave the couple a warm and gentle smile. It was his first time again seeing her teal eyes and warm smile. A faint tint of red hues appeared on his cheeks and ears. He glides his fingers through his face, it’s warm.
How could a simple smile fluster him like that, when his girlfriend was literally beside him?
After walking Kin to her classroom, he headed to his first class where Temari and him shared, Math.
He seated at the back of the class while his eyes glanced at the blonde girl in front. His focus breaks when Professor Izumo entered their class with an announcement.
“Alright, someone is joining our class from now on. He’s a senior, a year higher than you all. I know, but he wasn’t able to get this subject last year when he transferred so he took it this year”
The classrooms start to fill with noise and murmurs after his announcement.
“You can come in now Sasori”
A red-haired man entered their classroom and walked in front.
Sasori, he’s one of the members of the famous Casanova group called Akatsuki. A lot of girls were drooling all over him because of his pretty face. He’s the president of the puppet club where Kankuro also is a member.
Shikamaru’s nose wrinkled and his upper lip pulled up after hearing all the girls shrieking when Sasori entered the classroom. Like he’s part of a boy band.
“Oh goshhh! I’m loving Math now!”
“He’s sooo cute!”
“How can a person look so feminine yet masculine at the same time”
“He should reject me now so I can move on”
He felt so cringy after hearing them saying that. In his eyes, he looked average.
“You already know him so I’m not going to introduce him anymore and we will get straight to our lecture” Professor Izumo said
Sasori just smiled at the class and all the girls starts to gasp a little louder.
“You can seat on the empty chairs Sasori, feel free to choose. There, you can seat beside Temari since both of you came from Tottori city. You can ask her anything about this class”
Sasori was seated beside Temari and he clings his bag to the chair. Shikamaru furrowed his eyes at the two, he didn't feel threatened at the moment. He knows Temari too well, her standards were so high no man can even reach them. And Sasori doesn’t even have a chance with her, that’s what he thought.
But every time they attended Math class, he couldn’t feel more wrong about his assumption. Sasori becomes closer and closer to her with every passing day. The way he gently pushed her fallen bangs behind her ear, carried her books before math class, leaned his face whenever he whispered something to her, and any other things that bothered him so much.
It’s Friday again, Shikamaru and Kin were in the library for their tutoring session. Tomorrow, he needs to walk her to their opera practice where he will wait again for 8 hours and go home after. He stared at her while she was writing the answer for their chemistry assignment.
This is what I want right?.........right?
He starts recalculating his decisions in life. Being with her felt more like a responsibility than being in a relationship. Maybe because the version of Kin that he created in his mind was far more different from real life.
“Why are you staring at me?” Kin said “I bet, you’re so in love with me you couldn’t even keep your eyes off of my pretty face, aren’t you?” she jokingly said
He just smiled at her
Suddenly, Temari and Sasori entered the library and were seated in front, a little too far from their seat but he could see them together.
Sasori pulled the chair and let Temari sit, like the perfect gentleman he is. Shikamaru clicked the back of his tongue and pulled up his upper lip after seeing that. He was tutoring his girlfriend but his attention was stuck on the blonde girl and red-haired boy in front.
There’s one thing that Temari did which made him grip his book a little too tighter.
Sasori leaned his face to her while Temari’s finger rubbed his cheeks like she was removing a speck of dirt. They both laughed after that.
He couldn’t shake what he was feeling at that moment anymore so he stood up and walked outside of the library. Kin called him but he seems too preoccupied with what was surging inside of him. She immediately grabbed her stuff and followed Shikamaru outside.
Days passed, and he starts to realize how he was so conflicted about his feelings. He seated again in one of the empty classrooms while waiting for Kin to finish her practice, as per usual.
His gloomy eyes stared at the window while the fallen leaves swayed with the wind. Every time he saw the red and orange leaves, he always remembers Temari. He pulled up the deer-shaped origami from his bag, which she made during their session in Dotonbori. Shikamaru always kept it inside his bag, like he was carrying a part of her in him.
Unexpectedly, a blonde cheerful whiskered man entered the classroom.
“Oh, Shikamaru? Why are you still here?” Naruto asked as he slowly walked his way to get the books from his seat
“I was—uhm. I was waiting for Kin”
“Oh, your girlfriend”
“---yeah” he smiled but his gloomy eyes stared anywhere other than the man in front of him.
“Alright, bye Shikamaru” he was about to leave but Shikamaru interrupted him
“Naruto!” He stood up from his seat and walked towards him “I know this sounds dumb but how did you find out that Hinata is the one that you really love?”
Naruto looked at him in pure confusion after asking that question.
“I mean, you liked Sakura before then now you---” he rubbed the back of his head “you realized that you loved Hinata”
“Oh, that’s an easy one” he rubbed his chin and cocked an eyebrow at him “Just kiss her”
“What?”
“Alright, hear me out. Kiss her so you could confirm if it’s true love. You see, there’s a kiss like it’s kinda plain or like a lame kiss, I mean there’s no emotion attached to it. But then, there’s this KISS, which is more different, more rare, more passionate. Something that you really enjoyed and cherished. You know what I mean Shikamaru?” he cupped his head like he was daydreaming while explaining.
There’s a silence after that, he takes note of it.
“That makes sense after you kissed Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata. You finally know who you really love”
“Don’t describe me like I’m a fucking whore, will ya!?”
“I’m not” he chuckled “That’s not what I meant. But thanks Naruto, I’ll take note of that”
“Alright, good luck with that kiss Shikamaru” Naruto teasingly said before he left the room.
After hours of waiting, he walked Kin back to her house that day. Naruto’s words start invading his mind, Shikamaru wanted to test it just to settle his conflicted feelings, because he’s still clueless about what’s happening to him.
They reached her door, Kin grabbed her bag from his shoulder and her books from his hands. Before she entered her home, Shikamaru pulled her arm and kissed her. Kin was visibly flustered all over after he did that, she giggled and whispered goodbye before entering their home.
Shikamaru was left frozen outside, her kiss felt empty and unfilled. His emotions become more and more confused and conflicted after their kiss.
Why I didn’t feel anything?
He was so consumed by his emotions after that, still thinking if what his heart really wants. After hours of thinking, he still couldn’t find the answer.
His fingers tapped the table in the library. The girl that was sitting beside him becomes more and more irritated in doing his repetitive manner, by making a clicking sound on their table.
“Babe! Can you stop that?” Kin said
Shikamaru suddenly stopped the tapping of his fingers and flip the notes in front of him.
“Oh, can you hand me the questionnaire for Monday’s activity?” his girlfriend asked
“Uhm—” he lifted the scattered papers on the table to find the questionnaire that she was looking for. It was not there “I think I left it in the classroom” he titled his head sideways
“You what?” she shrieked “Why are you like this lately? Huh? Are you really, okay? You seem dumber and dumber every day”
He sighs “I’ll just get it in the room”
“You should” she opened her notes forcefully from irritation.
Shikamaru walked back to his classroom and get the piece of paper under his desk. Kin was probably right, he’s not of himself lately. Still preoccupied with all the questions inside his head, he stumbled on someone at the classroom door.
“Ouch” she squealed
“Temari?” his eyes widened and all of the hazy things inside his head just evaporated to thin air after seeing her.
He saw that she was in pain after the impact they made on the door so he palmed her forehead “Are you alright?”
“You idiot! Are you even looking your way?”
Oh God, he missed her voice so much.
“I’m sorry” he rubbed the back of his head and a smirk starts to form on his lips “Why are you here?”
“I was about to get my stuff, I’m waiting for my brothers” she said while reaching for her stuff from her seat
“Oh, where are you going?” he tried to extend their conversation
“We’re going to eat dinner” she clings the bag on her shoulder and turns around to face him “Recommend me some restaurant so you could be useful”
He chuckled “Typical Temari”
“Or not. Bye”
“No---wait. Yakiniku….Yakiniku” he said while grabbing her arms to stop her.
“The barbeque grill restau?....Well, that sounds pretty amazing. Alright”
“You’ll love there” he said still his hand clinging on her arm.
She moved her gaze to the side “Uhm—how are you and Kin?”
That’s the last thing he wanted to discuss at the moment, he didn’t have a choice but to answer her.
“We’re….we’re okay. We’re good. I did follow your lectures” he smiled at her
“Good…good..you’re doing a great job loverboy. I’m happy for you” she smiled at him
“Are you?” he genuinely wanted to know what was on her mind
She was startled by his question so she just change their topic.
“Cause you’re doing a great job and I see that you’re taking care of her like a good boyfriend should be. I just know that she’s really happy about having you and, I’m actually proud of you idiot” She stuttered in every word she said
Shikamaru just gazed at her flickering teal eyes, her bangs that she frequently swayed to the side, her naturally glowed cheeks, and her moving lips.
Her lips
“And you know what, I really thought that you were not capable of doing these kinds of things but you did. So, that’s a good…thing. Being a good boyfriend is really a hard thing to do, I must say. And uhm, yeah I should have added that even if------”
He grabbed her jaw and kissed her. Their feet start to walk until Temari felt the cold whiteboard on her back. Her hands slowly pushed his chest, attempting to break the kiss. But Shikamaru felt it, so he grabbed both of her hands and pinned them to the whiteboard, restraining them while he deepens his kiss.
They both moaned under their breaths while their hands glided on each other’s skin. Her right hand reached the back of his neck and she starts caressing it. Shikamaru had no plan in breaking the kiss so he tighten his grip on her waist to make sure that Temari wouldn’t escape.
They both heard the group of student’s murmuring voices when they passed through their room, and both of them were startled after hearing the students. Temari pushed him away in resistance, she walked back to her chair and grabbed her stuff.
“Wait—Temari” Shikamaru walked towards her
She turned around and saw her red lipstick smudged on his lips and cheeks. She pulls the tissue from her bag and starts removing the stain from his face.
Shikamaru just stared at her lips while she cleans his face, he wanted to kiss her more so, he leaned again and gave her another kiss.
“Shikamaru! Stop!” she pushed him away again to break the kiss “You know what? Clean it yourself! Don’t ever go out of this room without cleaning my lipstick out of your face!” she pushed the tissue inside his hand
“Temari---I—”
“No! we’re not going to talk about what happened! We shouldn’t have done it. That’s---That’s wrong. Go back to your girlfriend, Shikamaru” she shoves his shoulder just to get passed through the door.
He found himself frozen to the ground again. Shikamaru finally found the kiss that Naruto told him about. He found it in Temari’s lips.
Memories of their kiss haunt him in the night. His fingers rubbed the lower part of his lips, he could still feel her soft lips lingering in him like it was imprinted there.
He texted Kin that night and invited her to meet and talk, he was planning to break their relationship the next day but she refused to meet. Kin felt that it was coming, from the way Shikamaru becomes hesitant with her day by day, it’s really possible that he will demand a break-up. But Kin didn’t want it, she became too dependent on him and it was really hard for her to accept what he wanted.
Shikamaru tried to approach Temari in the next few days but she was ignoring him, plus Sasori always block him whenever he attempts his moves. Kin was also ignoring him, fearing that he might say what she was afraid to hear.
Each day, he becomes more and more frustrated.
He texted Kin again so they could talk, and finally, she agreed. Shikamaru walked to the library and seated at their usual table where he always tutors Kin, that’s their meeting place. He practiced his speech so it will not be too upsetting to hear the words he wanted to say, to break up with Kin.
With each passing day, it becomes heavier to carry these things in his chest. He couldn’t lie to himself anymore; he needed this breakup. It was also unfair for Kin to love someone who doesn’t even love her back, she deserves someone who will give her the same love that she gives.
But she never came to their meet-up.
Shikamaru glanced at his watch once again to check the time, it was already 7 pm and she was still not there. He texted his co-opera singers and they told him that Kin was with them, having dinner. Disappointed, he stomps the table a little too loud which made the librarian glance at his seat.
Suddenly, he saw Temari and Sasori enter the library again. His gaze followed the two, the anger that was stirring inside of him earlier was doubled after seeing them together….again.
Sasori glanced at Shikamaru like he was mocking him.
What a jerk!
He clenched his jaw and stared at him with his dead eyes in return.
Sasori intertwined his hands with her while assisting Temari on her chair. He holds it in a delicate and passionate way.
Then he snapped. Shikamaru stood up from his seat and walked to their table. He grabbed Temari’s arm and slowly pulled her away from Sasori, breaking their intertwined hands.
“Can we talk?” he whispered in her ears
“Wait? Why are you----” Temari was confused after seeing him
“Don’t force a girl if she didn’t want to, Shikamaru” Sasori calmly said while grabbing Temari’s other arm.
“I’m not talking to you, so shut up!” his voice becomes louder from his anger
The librarian heard the commotion so she scolded the three.
“You there! The three of you! If you’re not going to keep your voice down you should leave this room now!”
Temari shakes her head at what she just witnessed, two whiny boys having their silly childish fight in front of her is not her favorite thing. She immediately walked out of the library after that, leaving them two on their spot.
Her pace was faster than usual, trying to escape from the earlier scene. She was looking for an empty classroom where she could stay to clear her mind, and she found one.
She sighs in relief after finding an empty classroom, when she was about to close the door someone blocked it. It was the man she wanted to see the least. He entered the room and locked the door forcefully.
“Shikamaru…you should go. We sho----”
Before she finished her sentence, he pinned her to the wall and placed both of his hands on her sides so she couldn’t escape.
Fears start to linger through her skin after seeing his dark angry eyes. For the first time, she was afraid of him. His eyes was was full of anger and pain. It never crossed her mind to see him this angry.
“Why are you ignoring me!?”
She didn’t respond, still thinking of the right words to say.
“You haven’t responded to any of my calls and text. Why are you ignoring me huh!?”
“Temari?”
She still didn’t answer, her gaze moved to anywhere other than the man in front of her.
His breath becomes shallow after receiving her silence from all the questions that have been running through his mind for the past week.
“Do you like him?” he breathlessly asked
“Temari!? Do you like him!?”
“Fuck! Answer me please!”
He becomes more frustrated by her silence.
“If he’s going to ask you to be his girl. Will you say yes? Huh?”
“Huh? Will you say yes!?”
“Answer me!”
She gripped her hands tightly; her ears were irritated from all of his questions.
“YES! Is that what you want to hear!?” she yelled
“Yes!??.....W--Why?” he stiffened while his voice began to shake after hearing that
Her chest starts to rise and fall while gasping for air “Why???? Because he’s the only person who shows interest in me. I didn’t have any other choice to choose from in the first place, and he was there….so yes. I would say yes” she looked at him intently.
His mouth moves like he wanted to say a lot of things but he couldn’t, his voice leaves him. He released his arms from the wall and buried them to his waist while gasping for air.
“You have a choice Temari. You just need to choose!”
“Who!?”
“ME!” his heart shouted the words that he’s been hiding, he couldn’t take it any longer anymore. Even him was surprised by his answer.
Shocked by his confession, she grabbed the head of the chair for support while the splurge of emotion inside takes over her.
“I’m so fucking afraid when I saw you smiling at him like that, like it was only for him. I’m so afraid Temari, I’m so fucking afraid” he shakes his head and rubbed his forehead.
“You’re selfish. Fucking selfish” she laughs like it was a mock
“What?”
“You’re selfish Shikamaru…….You cannot love two women at the same time. You always wanted to place everything in your hands and not accept the consequences of it”
She grabbed her stuff on the floor and walked towards the door but before she left, Shikamaru whispered something to her.
“I’m willing to drop everything just for you Temari”
She clenched her jaw and run towards outside, leaving Shikamaru with a sunken heart.
.
.
.
.
.
.
He sent her dozens of yellow flowers to Temari’s apartment after breaking up with Kin. She still ignored him at school.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
His eyes stared at his bedroom ceiling while he was about to record a voice message and send it to her.
How are you?
Did you receive the flowers?
I hope you did.
Yellow is your favorite right?
Like the color of Autumn.
I learned how to make Dango, it was easy (He laughed)
Do you want me to send you some? (He clears his throat)
I’ll be at Dotonbori tomorrow at 10, do you want to have a stroll with me?
I’ll wait at my favorite place, the one where we watched the clouds
I love you Temari, I really do
And if you feel the same way too
Meet me there
It’s okay if you did not
I’ll take it as a no and I’ll promise not to bother you anymore
I’m sorry if I’m been bugging you lately
Bye.
He pressed sent after recording his voice message and praying that she would open it, unlike the other messages that he sent to her.
.
.
.
.
.
His eyes stared at the moving clouds while laying in his favorite spot near Dotonbori. He placed his hands on the back of his head for support. Waiting and praying that she would come. He closed his eyes feeling the cold wind of autumn, it was colder than the last time they went there.
He could still remember the vanilla and lavender scent of her when they were both enfolded inside his jacket. Shikamaru smiled every time he remembered it.
Suddenly, he heard the cracking sound of leaves beside him and he immediately opened his eyes.
“I’m the top one in our physics class, where do you want to celebrate?” She saw Temari sitting beside him holding the piece of recognition letter from Professor Genma. She proudly displayed her smile at him, he felt proud of her achievement.
“Anywhere…anywhere you like” he stared at her like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Great so I haven’t tried the Yakiniku that you suggested. I’d like to try it”
“You’re here” he slowly said while he moved closer to her
“I’m here” she nodded
“So that means, you……you like me too?” he hesitated to ask
“I guess I am” her smile warms his heart
He leaned closer and placed a gentle kiss on her lips before they go to celebrate at yakiniku.