Work Text:
It all started on a Friday night where Sakura worked another 12 hour shift in the hospital. She skipped her lunch, only ate toast for breakfast and took a food pill throughout the day. She was getting used to it. Friday was a busy day for her.
Climbing up to the hospital ladder became easier for Sakura after the war. She's been requested a lot from Jounins, even those who are allergic to hospital and treatment. It wasn't long after she started to treat ANBUs as well, she felt honored, knowing that ever since, Tsunade herself and sometimes Shizune were the only ones allowed to tend to ANBUs.
She spent most of her time in the hospital, only taking C and B-Rank missions twice a month just to make sure she isn't getting rusty. Even though the Hokage himself insisted that "not taking any missions for hospital duties doesn't make you any less of a Konoichi", she just couldn't accept that. She feels the need to maintain her shape, Kami knows how strong a Konoichi she's grown over the years.
She made her way to the Hokage tower to bring some paper works for the Rokudaime. It was one of her duties to deliver report list every week. It should've been Shizune, but Sakura thought that it would be fitting if it's her. Shizune was still, up to this day, too occupied from Tsunade.
One cup of coffee on her hand, and an envelope on the other. Thank Kami the hospital was just a 4 mins walk to the Hokage tower.
She entered the dim room, without knocking, knowing that Kakashi would still be in his office during these hours.
"Hokage-sama, here's the report for this week,"
"Mah Sakura-chan, drop the honorifics, we've been through this" he answered without looking, signing some papers on his desk. He wasn't surprised by her entrance, knowing that at an hour like this, only Sakura and Shikamaru would know he's still here.
"It just doesn't feel right calling you just 'Kakashi'. We've been through this," she said teasingly and handing him the cup of coffee she brought.
"Thank you, Sakura-chan. It's 8pm, you know you can just drop these off on Monday morning," he's looking at her now and sees the exhaustion in her eyes with bags under them.
"Well, what's the purpose of it being called a Weekly Report if I gave it to you at the start of the week?"
"Fair. Thanks for the coffee by the way. Have you eaten dinner yet?"
"Not even lunch," she answered with a sigh.
"It isn't a crime to have lunch breaks during shifts, Sakura" he said while giving her a worried look. "How about we grab dinner before heading home?
And that's how the Friday Dinners started. They would eat at Ichiraku, the new burger stall, and sometimes when Kakashi's feeling generous, he would bring her to a decent restaurant. They both never saw it as a date however. It kinda just became a ritual between them. They would talk about the hospital, recent interesting missions (even classified once, Kakashi has always trusted that Sakura was never the type to tattle), and even just how their week went.
It wasn't long after those Friday Dinners became Friday Dinners at Kakashi's. It just so happens that he had an abundant number of leftovers from the dinner with the other Kage's. He suggested to just eat with her at his apartment, and take some with her to fill some space in her fridge. "I'll never say no to free food,"
It was the following week when it was her this time to suggest to stay at his apartment. They would just buy some takeout’s and spend their time in the comfiness of his couch. She also discovered that during weekends, Kakashi would summon his ninken, and would spend some time with them through Friday to Sunday. Oh, she enjoyed her time with Pakkun.
That week was followed by another, and another, and another. One time she even fell asleep on the couch, waking up at 4am panicking, feeling embarrassed. Kakashi insisted she would just stay the night. It was too easy for her not to refuse.
At this point, they didn't have to ask each other anymore. It became automatic, involuntary. Sakura would sometimes bring groceries on a random Sunday night, stocks for the coming Friday.
Kakashi would even check up on Sakura on a Wednesday, bringing her snacks, he knows how toxic her Wednesdays can be due to the lack of staff the hospital is suffering from right now. Those Wednesdays became constant, as well.
Sakura couldn't be more thankful. They both couldn't be more thankful for the set up they have right now. They would do anything, and nothing together, and that's okay. It's comfortable. They would talk about anything and everything. Well except for one thing.
////
Kakashi just couldn't bring himself to ask about Sasuke. He doesn't quite know the right questions to ask about him.
'How is Sasuke?', she already knows that he knows how he's doing, he's the Rokudaime for crying out loud. Sasuke sends reports through a crow every now and then for him to read.
'How are things going between you and Sasuke?' Now that's poking nose into a business that's not his. It feels like interfering. Yeah, no, that's not the right question.
'So.. how are your feelings about Sasuke these days?' As much as he wants to ask this, out of curiosity (at least that's what he wants to believe), he just couldn't. It's wrong, it's too personal. So he just waited for her to bring it up herself. 6 months in, she still hasn't even muttered his name. He wonders why.
That curiosity didn't last long as he watched Sasuke enter his office at 5pm on a Friday. He came back after eight months of being away on his mission. This has been typical Sasuke for four years now, ever since the war ended, he would leave the village, come back after 6-8 months, stay at the village for a week at most, then leave again.
After greetings, general and specific questions about the mission, Kakashi decided to make some small talk.
"How have you been Sasuke?"
"I'm doing good. Still the same, I guess." He simply answered. Wearing that same poker face he has ever since. "How's Naruto?" he decided to ask.
"He's away on a mission right now. He'll be back in three days, I think." Kakashi replied.
"And Sakura?" Ahh there it is. Kakashi doesn't know if he should be thankful for Sasuke asking that. That simple question from him somehow is giving tiny bits of answers for the curiosities that are eating him up the past weeks.
“She’s at the hospital right now. She’ll be off at 8pm.” He almost regretted saying that. He doesn’t really know why he provided unnecessary information about Sakura’s day.
“I have some small wounds that needed to be treated. I’ll look for her and maybe catch up with her.” Kakashi doesn’t know where that sharp sting in his chest came from when he said those last words. At least he doesn’t want to know. “Thanks Kakashi, I’ll be off now. I might stay a little longer this time around.”
“No problem, Sasuke. Take a break,” with a simple nod as a reply. Well, I guess that answers my questions.
Guess I’ll be taking an early off tonight.
////
Three weeks went by with Kakashi taking an early off on Fridays. Technically, it wasn't an early off. His duties were usually done at 5-6pm, he just finds reasons here and there to stay at work until 8pm, 'coincidentally' at the same time as Sakura's off. But this time he chose not to find those reasons at all. He would purposely turn the lights off at 6pm, and leave a note posted on the door writing "bring reports on monday morning to shikamaru. im usually late during mondays. - K"
It wasn't Kakashi's intention to avoid her at all costs. Really. It wasn't. It's just him giving her space. But space for what exactly? He wasn't sure himself. It frustrated him, not spending time with Sakura. Not knowing how her week went, not knowing how things going between the two of her nurses, Mirai and Izuko's toxic relationship, not knowing how her mother's small business in the district has been doing, not knowing if her new "hair growth serum", that by the way, costed her a penny, effective.
It frustrated him that he misses her. Because he shouldn't be feeling this way, should he? Kami was he feeling stupid.
He was sitting on the edge of the couch, with his beloved Icha Icha Paradise on his hand. He made himself comfortable, deciding to just read his way through the evening while drinking tea. Three paragraphs in and he realized not a word is actually sinking. He's way too distracted to read right now on a freaking Friday, he should be with Sakura right now goddamnit!
Her scent still lingers in his space. He even found few strands of pink hair on the other side of the couch. What can she be doing right now? She might be out with her friends. Or maybe she's also at home, reading her favorite novel. Or maybe, maybe she's out with Sasu-
His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of footsteps nearing his door. He was shock to see a pink-haired woman entered his door, with a pissed look on her face.
"What the hell, Kakashi?" she spat, with one had on her hips.
Kakashi dropped the book and looked at her with a questioning look. "Sakura, what's the matter?"
"What's the matter with YOU, Kakashi? You've been avoiding me for three weeks now!" she answered. Her tone went higher than before.
"I-uh.. I.." he mumbled, his eyes dropping on the floor. Clearly looking for answers.
"What is it? Did I do something? Did I say something wrong?" This time he looked at her. Her eyes changed. Her eyes looked confused, worried, angry, sad, all at the same time. He felt a pang of guilt in his chest.
"No, Sakura. You didn't do anything. It's just.." he quickly answered, standing up this time. He took a few steps closer to her but making sure he kept a safe distance. "It's just that Sasuke is here.."
Her eyes widened upon hearing him. "What do you mean by that Kakashi? What does Sasuke have anything to do with this?"
"I don't know, really.." he simply answered. It was an honest answer though. He really didn't know.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Sakura gasped. "Oh my God, Kakashi, do you think I'm still in love with him?!" She asked, with an angry tone.
"I really don't know, Sakura."
"Do you still think of me as a child, Kakashi-sensei? Do you think I'm still the same old 12, heck, make it 15-year old girl who's pining over Sasuke?!"
Now Kakashi's panicking on the inside. He didn't prepare for this kind of confrontation. He didn't know how to answer her. He couldn't find the right words to say to keep her from spiraling out of control.
“No, please don’t think like that.”
"Does this mean nothing to you? You know, whatever this is.." she asked. Her voiced lowered this time. She didn't look him in the eye, feeling a bit embarrassed for the sudden question.
"No, of course not. This means something to me.." he answered.
"You could've asked, you know. About Sasuke." she said calmly. Somehow, things died down inside her head.
"Well, I was waiting for you to mention him or something. I couldn't bring myself to ask you about it, I feel like it's too personal." he replied truthfully, meeting her eyes.
"Too personal? Really? I told you my first kiss was Genma, and that I embarrassingly enjoyed it, and you think that's too personal?" they both chuckled. The energy seemed lighten, finally.
Kakashi let out a sigh and took a few steps to close the distance between them. He slowly brings his arms around her, hugging her loosely. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I was stupid for avoiding you for no reason." he said softly.
It took Sakura by surprise, but hugged him back nonetheless. She missed him. His scent, his energy, his voice. "Yes, you are stupid, Kakashi. Please don't ever do that again."
"I won't. I like this, Sakura. Whatever this is." He said, breaking the hug to look into her eyes.
"Date me, Sakura. Officially."