Please feel free to enjoy this fic the way you feel comfortable. I write out of my love for SasuSaku and I deliberately post them on a free platform. You don't OWE me any follows/favourites/reviews. I'm very thankful you even gave my fic a chance, I hope you enjoy it.

Note: To old readers who read this entire fic when I first published it, in case you missed my note, I'm re-posting this fic since I don't think the writing is good enough. I'm sorry for spamming your alerts with notifications when you've already read this story but it really bothers me. So, I'll be posting the twenty-five chapters and then I'll add an epilogue with baby Sarada. Take it as my apology.

Crowded places aren't where one would normally find me.

It makes me suffocate. It has happened several times. I'm standing in the middle of a crowd, suddenly I can't breathe properly and feel dizzy. And the next thing I know is that someone in the crowd is holding me, anxious faces of unknown people staring at me, everyone asking me if I'm okay, offering me cold water and a place to sit. Everyone's undivided attention focused towards me.

And here is the main issue.

I hate attention.

And I already get enough of it thanks to my pink hair. Well, I love my unique and pretty hair colour. But, I try my hardest to not give people any additional reason to gawk at me. Therefore, I avoid going to crowded places if I can help it.

Today, I couldn't.

I mean, I could if I really wanted to but I don't expect such an opportunity to come ever again in my whole life.

Today, Hatake Kakashi is coming to our college. Yes, the legendary tennis prodigy, that Hatake Kakashi. The person I've been admiring the most since I was seven, that Hatake Kakashi. The person I consider my hero, my god, my I-don't-know-what-else, that Hatake Kakashi. He's coming to my college and I will not let go of my once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch him in flesh even if I have to pay with my life for it.

Hence, here I am. In the middle of a huge crowd. Not exactly in the middle though. Since I was so excited, I actually skipped my classes and arrived here at 10 am. So, I'm among the lucky ones who got to sit in the front row. What I don't know is why on earth Ino skipped her classes to do exactly the same thing when she has zero interest in Kakashi. Or tennis in general.

Whatever, I'm getting impatient. It's 3:15 now, Kakashi is supposed to arrive at 4:00. Then he's expected to play a friendly match against the college's prevailing tennis champion, Uchiha Sasuke. And suddenly it occurs to me. He might be the reason Ino is here.

Ino is a huge admirer of Uchiha Sasuke. And that has more to do with his appearance than his talent for tennis.

"You all right, Forehead?"

I was so deep in my thoughts, I don't get her question.

"What do you mean?"

"You aren't suffocating, are you?"

Ah, about that.

I don't go around telling people about it, but she happened to find out because I once passed out while we were taking a train together. But I don't mind. Moreover, her knowing actually comes handy at times when she's prowling for a companion for her expedition of those crazy sales she's a huge fan of. I can simply blame it on the crowd and be excused.

"No, I'm fine. I'm not passing out before seeing Kakashi," I grin.

"Yes, yes, I know. You and your obsession with that old man. I'm here for Uchiha Sasuke," she gives a proud smile although I don't have any idea what she can possibly be so proud of.

"I guessed it."

"Makes sense. Even you know that not all nineteen year old girls are into men in their thirties," she teases me with a twisted smile.

"I'm not into him in that sense, Ino. You know that. I admire him, I respect him a lot, I'm crazy for him, but I don't get hot and heavy thinking about him like you might do when it comes to Uchiha Sasuke."

Ino was about to say something when suddenly the crowd comes to life. Everyone starts shouting and cheering and it takes me a few moments to figure out the exact scenario.

The legend himself, Uchiha Sasuke, has made his appearance on the court. Ino joins the crowd in their shouting. I sigh. I'm getting bored. I want to see Kakashi and no one else. But clearly most people don't feel the same.

I take a look around me. All these people, so excited to see him, the Uchiha Sasuke. Is he really that talented?

I've only seen him a few times in my seventeen months of college life. And it has always been accidental, always from a distance, and always lasting less than a second. Today I can observe him properly from my front row seat. And I decide to make good use of this opportunity since I have nothing better to do anyway.

I have to admit, he's good looking. But what strikes me is something else. There's this thing about him. His aura. Like I've only been watching him for ten minutes. But I can already say for sure that this guy is a mess.

Here's the thing about damaged people: they know their kin.

They might've been forever successful in guarding their secrets from the whole world. But present them in front of someone of their own species, and their little game of hide and seek will be over in an instant. It's not possible to find out all the details of course. But the cause hardly matters, since it's the effect that shows in the eyes.

And I can see it in the eyes of the famous Uchiha Sasuke. The very look I got so familiar with over my years of staring at the mirror.

Suddenly my chain of thoughts gets disrupted because the crowd goes gaga once again and as I look at the court I can see why.

Not Kakashi, but I know the person who has appeared on the court.

Uzumaki Naruto. The other tennis legend of this college. His rivalry with Uchiha Sasuke already being regarded as one of the greatests in the history of Konoha University. And although I've never watched either of them play, I know that KU is bustling with talented youngsters, no matter which field. So, to think that it was two first year students who made it to the final, they must be really good at this.

Last year I heard a lot about their epic five set battle in the final. And I've also heard rumors about how people are anticipating a repeat of that this year as well. And as I watch these two on court right in front of my eyes, I decide that this year, if it's the two of them again, I'd try to make time to watch the final.

But right now, all I want to see is Kakashi. I'm getting impatient. It's 4:10 already. Given how much he's revered around the globe, I had expected him to be on time, but why on earth is he late? My frustration is multiplying with every extra minute of waiting I'm having to go through. Ugggh!

Sasuke and Naruto go for a warm up. Except, a warm up is supposed to be more relaxed, more casual, and I can tell that these two are anything but casual. They're going at it like it's another final where only the winner takes the cup.

From the reaction of the crowd, I can tell that when it comes to fan girls, Sasuke definitely wins. I wonder why. Naruto is no less talented than Sasuke and he, too, is good looking in my opinion. Of course with different type of charms.

Whatever, I don't care. I decide to focus on the game.

Naruto hits a strong forehand sending the ball towards the side of the court where we are sitting, obviously hoping for a winner. But Sasuke, who was standing near the other sideline, refuses to give in and makes a run like his life depends on it. And he still misses by a whisker but fails to stop his motion. What was it called again? Something like moment of inertia I assume, screw physics classes!

And before I have enough time to register everything in my brain, he has reached the end of the court and has crossed the boundary of the gallery and has almost collided with me but thankfully he's able to stop himself before it comes to that.

The crowd goes insane, all the girls around us start shouting like crazy at the sight of their beloved Uchiha Sasuke.

And I'm looking at him. Completely taken aback, still trying to process it all, my heart hitting against my ribs so fast and so hard that it's almost hurting. But all I know at the moment is two jet black eyes. Staring right back at me. I can roughly figure that there's a guy of around six feet looming over my sitting form. But all I can focus on is those eyes. And for some reason, they refuse to leave mine.

A few seconds pass or maybe a few minutes for I have no idea, then he straightens up in front of me, his gaze turns let's say less -intruding for lack of better words, and he smirks a little.

"Excuse me," is his curt apology and the next thing I know is he's back on the court again. And that's when I realise I had been holding my breath throughout the course of this entire episode.

People around me start talking, unable to hide the excitement in their voices and Ino says something too. But all I can think about is those intense, dark eyes.

For the first time in three weeks since Kakashi's visit was announced, I'm too occupied to think about Kakashi.

When I'm on court, there's one absolute rule I never fail to abide by. Always focus my entire being on the point I'm playing.

It could be my match point. Winning it might mean that victory is finally mine. Or it could be my opponent's match point. Losing it might secure my failure. And the trick is to go for it with the same hunger in both the cases. No matter what the scoreboard is displaying, no matter whose name the spectators are shouting, no matter what's happening in the world around me, all I'm allowed to care about is the point.

A simple rule.

And I've always been pretty good at following this. So, when Naruto's forehand sends the ball towards the other sideline, I run for it with everything I've got. It's a reflex. I see a ball, I chase it.

But I miss anyway.

It happens. Doing your best doesn't necessarily ensure success. But you still have to try because not doing so definitely ensures failure. But today, by doing my best I find myself in a bizarre situation. Before I know it, I'm in the gallery, barely managing to prevent a collision with the person occupying the seat in front of me.

After recovering from the initial shock, I find it pretty amusing, I must say. I know what most of the girls are here for. I've grown up with fan girls drooling over me. And I've pretty much learnt to ignore them. But it really infuriates me when they come to my matches for the sole purpose of hitting on me. It's insulting. When I'm on court, I'm a tennis player. And I want people to see me as one.

But no, they have the audacity to appear here to ogle me because apparently stalking me on the campus isn't enough. Even now, I can feel the crowd around me going insane.

But there are these two wide eyes of the brightest shade of green staring at me. Completely startled, of course. Hell I myself am at my wit's end. But I know for sure that she isn't here to have sexual fantasies about me.

I don't know who she's here for. Me or Naruto or Kakashi, but the one thing I know for sure is that she's here for the sake of the game. This beautiful game that I've loved since I was a little kid.

This cancels out some of the bitterness I was feeling. It makes me somewhat happy. And I can't help a little smirk.

"Excuse me," I apologise to her and then go back to the court. To the game.

.

.

.

Hatake Kakashi is nothing like I expected him to be. He arrives forty minutes late, almost getting on my nerves. But there's nothing I can do about it. So, I find salvation in the fact that he at least arrives. Better late than never.

I admire him. Of course I do. He's one of the greatest talents this game has ever witnessed. The entire world accepts it without any question. So, getting to see him in person definitely excites me even though I don't show it much. And he also seems like a really considerate person. Seeing Naruto on the court, he insists that instead of playing one full match with me, he'd like to play a one set match with each of us.

Fair enough. To be honest, I prefer it better. For more than anyone, I am aware that when it comes to opportunities like this, Naruto deserves no less than me.

And he seems extremely easy-going. By the time we're about to start our one set match, I'm already starting to question whether he's taking this with any seriousness at all. I swear I've never faced an opponent who looked as less motivated as him. But as soon as the match starts, his attitude goes through a one hundred and eighty degree change. Finally granting me the feeling of playing against one of the best players in the world.

After winning against me 7-5, Kakashi goes for his second match without Naruto without taking a break. And I stay on the court, acting partly as a ball boy. But mostly, just enjoying the match.

And suddenly, my eyes fall upon her. Haruno Sakura from the Department of Arts. The girl with pink hair and green eyes I literally ran into earlier.

And I can finally understand why she's here today. For Kakashi. I can see it from the way her eyes follow his every movement. Full of admiration. And I see her wiping away tears with her sleeves.

She must be a really big fan of him.

.

.

.

When the announcement is made that the students can now come up ahead and ask for Kakashi's autograph, there instantly is a chaos.

I study the scenario across the table from my stool behind Kakashi. People jostling to get to him. Everyone needs his autograph regardless of how little they actually care about tennis or Kakashi. Because hey, he's one of the greatest players on planet earth and his autograph definitely is something they can show off later.

Then I see Sakura. Standing at the back, not managing to get into the battleground in front of her. Holding onto something that looks like a folder.

Poor girl. I know she truly admires him. She really deserves to get his autograph. But sadly, there's no law in the world to ensure that everyone gets what they deserve.

Why didn't the management do a better job? I bet even Kakashi is finding this bothersome. It's an utter mess. They should've made them wait in a queue or something. This is no way of asking someone for his autograph. I swear if it was me, I'd have just left. But like I said before, Kakashi is a considerate person and he bears with it while maintaining his politeness.

I watch Sakura. Clad in a light lavender coloured dress with long sleeves. Hair tied into a loose braid and an intimidated expression in her green eyes as she looks at the crowd in front of her. I don't know her in person, but I know who she is. First of all, that pink hair is one of its kind. So, once I had laid my eyes on her, there was no forgetting. And it's not like I made extra efforts to remember her name. But her name sounds like it exists to justify that unique colour of her hair. So, once I had heard it, I didn't forget that either. And she has her own fair share of fan boys.

For example, Naruto himself was quite smitten by her initially. Often blabbering about her. But then he kind of accepted his failure without ever really trying anything.

And an interesting fact about Sakura is: be it Naruto, be it Lee from the Martial Arts Department, be it any of her other fanboys, the stories they have to tell are always about her artistic achievements. Always. She just won this competition, someone just praised her artistic skills at a certain event, her art just got featured in this magazine, blah blah blah. When it comes to her personal life, the only major information they have to offer is that for whatever reason, she doesn't live in the students' dorm since she can regularly be seen coming to and leaving the campus.

She spends most of her time in her department, focusing on her art I suppose. She doesn't even come to the cafeteria regularly. And when she does, she's always with her small circle of friends, none of whom agree to leak any information about her. Whether it's because they too know nothing about her, or because they're too loyal as friends, I have no idea. But what I know is that the scarcity of her personal information in the market of her fan boys is not from lack of trying. And since she continues to remain such an enigmatic existence, she continues to be worshiped like some sort of a deity. Tragically out of everyone's reach.

I, however, am too busy living my own life. I don't have either the time or the intention of fantasising about any pink haired dream girl. I have my own goals in life to achieve.

So, this actually is my first time looking at her properly. Before, it has always been accidental glances. And I finally notice it. She does look pretty. But I give zero damn about good looks. So, the bottom-line is: I don't care. But I find it interesting that today I learnt something about Haruno Sakura, the person. That she's a fan of Hatake Kakashi. For now, this much is more than enough. There's no need to fuss over the fact that those green eyes of hers clearly tell stories of what I can address as a convoluted past.

Exactly like I had expected, the autograph session has to be cut short due to extreme disorder. And unfortunately, Sakura doesn't succeed in getting one. I see the sad look in her eyes when she leaves the place.

.

.

.

Kakashi talks casually, mainly to Naruto while we guide him through our department. It's after we're done and sitting in a locker room when Naruto asks him for an autograph. He complies. Seeing that, I do something I never could have imagined myself doing in a hundred years.

"May I get one as well?"

Kakashi looks at me. His facial expression can't be seen because of the mask that covers most of his face, but I can see the amused look in his eyes.

"I must admit that you didn't strike me as someone who'd ask for other people's autographs."

"I'm not," I reply immediately, "It's not for me, it's for... someone else," damn it, even I am getting surprised by the words coming out of my mouth.

Kakashi raises his one visible eyebrow, "And who might that be?"

Now, this is uncomfortable. Maybe it would've been better if I didn't do this. But I still continue, "A friend who couldn't reach you today because of the mayhem out there."

"I see."

I hadn't planned to ask for his autograph. So, I don't have anything prepared. I grab a copy of the promotional poster they used to announce his visit. Kakashi doesn't look like he minds.

"So, this someone else tried to get my autograph but couldn't manage to do so? I feel terribly sorry about that," Kakashi states as he reaches his arm towards the marker in Naruto's hand, "What's her name? I might as well add a small note."

I'm almost certain there's a mischievous undertone to his words. And... why did he assume it's a she? When I scowl at him, I find him staring at me with a look I can't really decipher. I hesitate for a second, but thinking rationally, there's no reason for that. So I answer him keeping my voice as unbothered as I can. "Haruno Sakura."

I swear I can almost hear the sound of Naruto's jaw dropping to the ground! I decide not to look anywhere near him. I keep my eyes fixed on Kakashi while maintaing a straight face.

"To Miss Haruno Sakura it is then, huh?"

This is hands down the most unnecessary deed I've ever done in my nineteen years of life.

Note: Here I am. Publishing the first chapter of my first ever fan fiction. Yesterday, after I woke up, as I was sitting in my room, still sleepy, with a mug of coffee in my hand and thinking about all the things that need to be done, I suddenly started to see everything in a different way. I don't know how to say it. Before I realised it, I was describing everything around me in my head. The way a writer does in a story. That's when it occurred to me that I can come up with a story where a character lives in a room similar to this. And when I thought about coming up with a story, my OTP immediately appeared in my head 'cause recently I've been reading SasuSaku fics a lot. I'm very new to the world of fan fiction and I've already fallen too deep into this pit. And I don't have any regret.

Anyway, if you happen to come across my story, I hope you enjoy it.

Love,

June ❤️