Title: Routine
Summary: Because falling in love can be as simple as placing an order in a coffee shop.
Pairings: Sasuke x Sakura
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Notes: I'm really sad to see this end. To all of you who read my story, THANK YOU.


It's second semester, and Sakura and I have been dating for about four months now. On her days off, she still comes into the quaint café where our story all started and spends her down time reading her favorite novel. I guess I mean that to say that things haven't changed too much, but when I look at her across the counter, chewing on her bottom lip as she struggles with her problem set, I know things have changed in all the ways that matter.

I love her.

No skepticism, hesitation, or second thoughts.

And sometimes, I think I should tell her, do some crazy-over-the-top romantic gesture Naruto thinks up to show her how I really feel, but then I think she already knows and it's not in my personality to do something dramatic anyway.

"Hey Sasuke," She looks up, smiling sweetly, knowing she caught me off-guard, before letting out a small chuckle. "Where do you want to go for dinner?"

"RAMEN!" My idiot roommate yells, bursting out of the backroom as if someone was asking for his opinion. I don't bother to point out that 'ramen' is not a place. "IT'S THE BEST. BELIEVE IT!"

Sakura just laughs at the blonde's antics.

But I don't. "We are not getting ramen," I grunt, "and you are not invited."

"Ah well you can at least bring me home some ramen!"

"Naruto," I sigh, "We brought back ramen for you last time." And the time before. And the time before that.

"So? You're just being mean, bastard!" Naruto chirps, clearly unaffected by my refusal, "Anyways, Sakura will bring me ramen, won't you Sakura?"

"Of course, Naruto," She says and turns to me expectantly, her eyes shining brilliantly, "Just this time… Please?"

I sigh. I can't say no to her. I lost that ability long ago.

Tch—annoying.

"Fine," I say and she immediately begins to grin, "but we're just going to pick it up after we get something else. I can't eat ramen again this week."

And with that, I make my way into the back room to get cleaned up for dinner. Naruto's closing up for me this evening, and I guess I should at least be grateful for that (I am—for everything).

'Til this day, I still don't know what it was about Sakura what caught my eye, what made me curious about the girl with such an ingrained routine and a love for the novel she reads over and over again, what caused me to ask her that first question. I'm just glad I did.

Naruto, though—he still insists that it's because she's the one, and maybe he's right.

Maybe the one does exist. Maybe there is one person for everyone and they're destined to be together and Sakura's that one for me.

But then again, maybe it doesn't matter. Because maybe it's foolish to waste your time questioning whether the one is the person you're with or if it's a person you met in a coffee shop or someone you'll meet in the future, as long as you're perfectly and incandescently happy.

I hear Naruto and Sakura laughing together, and when I peek through the door to the back room, I can't help but smile at how ordinary this scene is. My best friend and the girl I learned so much more about by not asking questions than by asking them.

I continue to smile.

I don't have to know how love works to know I'm in love.