Sasuke and I entered the house and the aroma of cooked food hit us. Itachi already cooking dinner. "Welcome home." Itachi walked towards us as we took off our shoes.

"Why are your fists so bloody? Did you get into a fight again?" Itachi asked without any expression or reaction to the blood.

"He deserved it." Sasuke uttered as he walked past Itachi, heading straight to his bedroom. Itachi shook his head and proceeded back to the kitchen, "Dinner's almost ready, Naruto." He announced as he fried the remaining few pieces of fish.

I put my bag down before setting the dinner table while Itachi was still cooking. When he was about done, I entered the kitchen to help Itachi to bring the food to the dinner table. We sat down, waiting for Sasuke to join us.

We sat across from the table, impatiently awaiting for Sasuke's appearance. It was silent and it was starting to get awkward between Itachi and I..

"I'll go get him!" I rose from my chair, afraid that Itachi's food will get cold before we have a chance to dig in. I bolted up the stairs and into Sasuke's room. It was dimly lit, Sasuke had just stepped out of the shower again with a towel around his hips.

With only the bathroom light on, it casted perfect shadows and light against his toned body.

"I..Itachi and I are waiting for you.." I mumbled, my voice trails off as I awkwardly looked at anywhere else but him. He was silent as he got dressed with my back to him. I heard his footsteps coming closer to me so I assumed he was ready. I turned to head towards the door but before I could take my leave, he grabbed hold of my wrist.

I turned around and looked at him, confused by his actions. I could never know what Sasuke was thinking, he was always unpredictable. All he did was look at me, straight into my eyes.

His lips separated as if he wanted to speak, but he shook his head lightly before letting me go. He walked right past me, as if I didn't exist. At that moment, it felt like time slowed down. And somehow, my thoughts turned into words that slipped right through my lips.

"Thank you, Sasuke.. For always being there for me.." I barely muttered out, it was so soft I myself could barely hear it.
But somehow, he heard me.
He stopped right at the entrance of his room, just right behind me.
"Don't think too much about it. It was just a coincidence." He uttered in response, coldly and harshly. And just like that, he continued walking away from me further and further with each passing second. Before I knew it, I was alone in his room now.

Sasuke..
I was at a loss for words.

But eventually, I snapped out of it and joined the brothers for dinner. We were in the middle of chewing our food in complete silence and the absolute quietness was not distracting me from wondering to Sasuke's parting words.

Now the room was getting more tense and.. shall I say awkward. Why is it always getting awkward whenever I'm with the brothers? Be it one of them, or both of them.

"So.. are you guys going to tell me what happened?" Itachi finally broke up the intense atmosphere. Sasuke and I looked up from our plates to the oldest man in the room. We diverted our eyes to each other, unsure of what to tell him.

"A homeless guy tried to-"
"A homeless guy tried to pick pocket me." Sasuke boldly interrupted, using his feet to tap me from under the table. My eyes shot over to him from Itachi.

I played along, nodding to what Sasuke stated. Itachi eyed us with doubt before finally buying the story. "I'm surprised someone would try their luck with that intimidating face of yours."

Sasuke shrugged lazily as he continued finishing up his dinner, "Someone brainless." Itachi didn't pry anymore, seeing Sasuke's angered expression. The rest of the dinner along with the night was nothing but quietness.

As usual, Sasuke kept his distance from me. At home and in school.

Riiiiing! The bell rang, and for most students - indicating school was over. But for me, I had to remain in school for tuition lesson provided by the student council. I sighed as my classmates cheered while leaving the classroom.

I reluctantly packed up and dragged myself over to the class where the tuition was held. I slumped into my chair waiting for the tutor who was assigned to me the previous time. I caught glance of the student council president strolling into class.

I quickly diverted my gaze, pretending not to be aware of his arrival. He's probably going to call me a blockhead in front of everyone again!

I laid my head sideways onto the table, faking a yawn loudly and squeezing my eyes shut.
I could hear footsteps approaching.

Don't talk to me.
Don't talk to me.
Don't talk to me.

A hand ran through the locks of my hair and smacked me at the back of my head, "As lazy as always, Naruto." I jumped at his touch, not expecting him to make physical contact with me.

My eyes shot open as I almost bounced out of my seat. "Sai.. I was waiting for-"

"You couldn't start studying on your own while waiting?" The president shook his head, disagreeing with my excuse. He then calmly took a seat beside me, "Not to worry, I'll be your tutor from now on. Don't even dream about slacking off under my watch." He stated sternly as he pulled thick books out of his bag, slamming them onto the table we now shared.

What?!

Anyone but this jerk!
I had to control my jaw from hanging open. Why would the president tutor me?!
In fact, of all people why him?!

I tried to comfort myself rationally, at least it isn't Sasuke...

My eyes followed him as the younger Uchiha nonchalantly entered the classroom. His eyes appeared sluggish before he caught a glimpse of Sai and I. I almost could swear his expression grew with annoyance at the sight of us.

Of me.