Chapter 295 Becoming Love Rivals Once Again
Fortunately, Haruko brought Sakura back in time, and Sakura's condition did not reach its worst point.
After receiving medical treatment, Haruno Sakura rested quietly in her hospital bed.
Thump thump thump—
"Please come in." Sakura Haruno sat up slightly to take a look.
Entering the room, I saw Yamanaka Ino holding a bouquet of flowers. Her bright features and smile made even the flowers pale in comparison to her beauty.
"Broad forehead, you get injured even on a mission, you're really getting worse and worse."
Her cherry-red lips parted slightly, but what she uttered were infuriating words.
Sakura Haruno's forehead veins bulged, and she almost couldn't maintain her smile.
"It's really kind of you to keep asking about me all the time."
"Don't flatter yourself." Yamanaka Ino haughtily tossed her side hair. "I heard that Haruko carried you back, so I came here specifically to comfort Haruko who was carrying such a heavy burden."
Sakura Haruno's hand, which was resting on the blanket, suddenly tightened, and she almost lost her temper and cursed.
She's very light, okay!
She doesn't dare to eat much for dinner in order to lose weight!
Sakura Haruno scoffed, glaring at her with a sharp look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Haruko was called away by Tsunade-senpai."
Unable to see Haruko, Yamanaka Ino sighed regretfully, then slowly walked to the bedside and placed fresh flowers in the vase on the cabinet.
As she arranged the flowers, she said, "You're already a Chunin, you should at least be careful."
Sensing the concern in her tone, Haruno Sakura was taken aback, and the arrogance around her completely dissipated.
"I would have been more careful even without you telling me," Sakura Haruno muttered reluctantly. "Thanks for coming to see me."
"You're welcome. It's because I'm kind-hearted."
Sakura Haruno: ...
The gentle sunlight streaming through the window, carried by a light breeze, filled the room.
The warm atmosphere reminded Sakura Haruno of the scene where Haruko Hayama carried her on her back, and... the familiar yet strange feelings she felt.
Thinking of this, a light pink blush rose to Sakura Haruno's face.
"Ino," Sakura Haruno hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously, "Do you still like Sasuke?"
Seemingly not expecting her to ask such a question, Yamanaka Ino tensed up and raised her voice in an attempt to cover it up.
"What kind of question is that? Of course I like it!"
Upon receiving her affirmative answer, Sakura Haruno seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Yamanaka Ino sensed something was wrong. Why would Haruno Sakura, who also liked Uchiha Sasuke, react like this?
A relaxed posture is like eliminating a potential rival in love...
Could it be...?
A possible answer began to sprout in her heart, and Yamanaka Ino almost slowed her breathing with tension.
She was afraid.
I'm afraid to hear this answer from Sakura Haruno.
In reality, Sakura Haruno was unaware of her own unease and continued talking to herself.
"I always thought that the person I liked was Sasuke, but Haruko once said that this feeling might just be admiration, not true love."
Yamanaka Ino spoke with difficulty, "You mean... you don't like Sasuke anymore?"
"Um!"
Sakura Haruno looked at her with delight, her nod of confirmation filled with the excitement and joy of a young girl recognizing her true feelings.
Her long pink hair fluttered in the wind, like a tree of cherry blossoms in full bloom in summer.
In Ino's slightly trembling pupils, Haruno Sakura's lips, opening and closing, were reflected.
"I understand my own heart now. Compared to Sasuke, Haruko shines brighter in my world. It's a feeling that makes my heart flutter even more!"
Her words were quite clear, and Yamanaka Ino couldn't pretend to be stupid even if she wanted to, let alone receive an answer that confirmed her own answer.
Ino Yamanaka forced a smile. "Hey, Sakura, you wouldn't happen to be..."
"So what if it is?"
Looking into Haruno Sakura's clear and open eyes, Yamanaka Ino suddenly felt a sense of utter embarrassment, as if she had nowhere to hide.
So, Yamanaka Ino slammed her flower-arranging hand on the cabinet and retorted strongly.
"What nonsense are you talking about? It's impossible no matter how you look at it!"
Her sudden outburst of intense emotion took Haruno Sakura by surprise.
After a long while, the ward was silent.
Her long, pale yellow hair completely blocked Sakura Haruno's gaze, which was trying to investigate her.
After all, she was once her best friend and her most familiar rival in love. Sakura Haruno vaguely sensed the truth from her attitude.
Sakura Haruno hesitated before asking, "Ino, are you also...?"
Provoked by her probing words, Yamanaka Ino lowered her head and shouted loudly.
"No matter how you look at it, Haruko will end up with a guy like Shikamaru or Naruto!"
The tone was so certain that it was unclear whether the speaker was confirming that Haruko Hayama would be with her classmates, or confirming something else entirely.
Seeing her reaction, Sakura Haruno felt a sinking feeling in her heart, and she was now certain of the answer.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips as Sakura Haruno looked at her fingers.
Actually... she had a premonition all along, didn't she?
Sakura Haruno took a deep breath and looked firmly at Ino Yamanaka.
"Ino, I know what I really want to do, and I won't run away from my heart."
The resolute voice made Yamanaka Ino unconsciously curl up her hands, which were resting on the cabinet.
Despite her usual confidence and generosity, she now lacked the courage of the crybaby she once was to admit her special feelings.
After a long silence, Yamanaka Ino asked in a low voice.
Even if you are rejected, ostracized, or disliked, will you still persevere?
Sakura Haruno smiled and asked her in return, "Do you think Haruko would be that kind of person?"
As her curled fingers loosened, Yamanaka Ino seemed to answer her, or perhaps remind herself, and murmured softly.
"……Won't."
Sakura Haruno resonated with the psychology of retreating and escaping, and she realized her subtle feelings for Haruko Hayama earlier than Ino Yamanaka.
Or rather, she never defined herself as Haruko Hayama's friend from the beginning.
At first, she was at a loss. She didn't know why she wanted to be more than just Haruko Hayama's friend, and she was also afraid of having such thoughts.
However, feelings don't lie.
She wanted to be closer to Haruko Hayama, and wanted to possess more of Haruko Hayama's warmth.
Seeing Yamanaka Ino's current unwillingness to accept things, Haruno Sakura seems to see her past self.
Perhaps she wanted to encourage her past self, or perhaps she wanted to help her arch-rival best friend.
Sakura Haruno resumed her usual energetic tone.
"So Ino, be brave, just like the you I once looked up to, boldly pursue your heart!"
The girl's sincere encouragement was perfectly carried on the gentle breeze, youthful and passionate.
Yamanaka Ino blinked rapidly, trying to hold back her tears. She quietly turned her head away, not wanting Haruno Sakura to see her vulnerability and emotion.
After calming down, Yamanaka Ino turned her head, her face still bearing a bright and sharp smile.
"What a pity, it seems we're going to be rivals for love again!"
Sakura Haruno smiled broadly, her eyes filled with determination.
"fair play!"
******
The list of recipients of gratitude as of July 25, 2024:
grateful--
For those regrets that can't be left behind, please give a like and two flowers.
Five flowers from the all-spirited beast that loves delicious dwarf melons.
A like and a flower from Muxue Shuyu
The red-ringed bird, your hindsight; Lin Laoji; Uchiha Grace; the flowers sent by the glass flower butterfly.
The following are names and titles of Chinese folklore: Yancheng Mountain Island's Alien Empera, Red Circle Bird, Uzumaki Rasengan, Mikhail, dkdk, Waiting for Qingzi's book to finish before running away, Ninety-Nine Moon Chants, Fang Jing who loves osmanthus and pickled cabbage, Babuzeer, Uchiha Yuexing, Sanhao Squirrel, Muxue Shuyu, Old Moon, Yaoyixin, Yi Suyuan, Yigu You Tai Du Wei, Scattered Soldiers on the Run, Meow Meow Meow, Please Eat Strawberries~, Ayu is really c, Falling into the Deep Sea sent with love x3
★★●, Damn it, the love-powered generator that has already been applied x2
One bite after another, Xia Youjie, Wu Ziyun, username 30239160, Royal Villa Unknown Green, You Win If You Don't Use Your Brain When Reading Novels, Sakurai Yuki, Bai Li herself, 707JK, Utzon's gift powered by love.
Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! Ino and Sakura send hearts (* * )*
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