"Really? Way is my first game, so I don't actually know what my APM is."

"It isn't as important in Way as it is in some other games."

Sakura side–eyed him and asked, "what's your APM?"

Sasuke-senpai shrugged, "I started playing games before APM stood for action per minute, so I have no idea what it is either."

Her competitive urge rose in response. I wonder what it's like to fight somebody who has been playing for so long, APM isn't important. "Can we PVP?"

"After dinner," Just as Sasuke-senpai replied, the office doorbell rang, and he went to pick up their delivery.

In her eagerness to get to gaming, they ate their dinners quickly and quietly. This time, the silence was more companionable and less itchy. She couldn't help sneaking glances at how elegantly Sasuke-senpai ate. Then again, Uchiha-senpai could sneeze, and I would think he's hot. She tried to be subtle about staring at him, but from the number of times their eyes met over their bowls of ramen, she didn't think she was succeeding.

Sasuke-senpai tidied up while she made herself comfortable at an auxiliary desk, getting ready to take him on.

"Ready?" Sasuke quirked an eyebrow at her.

"I was born ready," Sakura replied, fiery determination in her eyes.

_(:3 」∠)_

"I was so not ready," Sakura moaned. She slumped back in her chair, dejected. " Not one fight! I can't believe I haven't won a single match against you! I should have the advantage since I'm a taijutsu main!"

"I'm not stupid enough to use genjutsu against a taijutsu main as strong as you are," a small smile curved Sasuke's lips as he closed the lid of his laptop. "I also have a level advantage."

Seeing his movements, Sakura stuck out a finger for him to stop and asked, "Best 9 out of 17?"

"It's already late outside. Some other time. I'll take you back to your dorms instead."

Sakura started and realised he was right; the sun, which had been setting during dinner, was long gone, and night was truly settled in. The Internet café in the front of the building was probably lit up brightly, but Sasuke's office faced the parking lot out back, towards the residential neighbourhood. Only the solitary flicker of streetlights dotted the darkness, casting long, eerie shadows on the pavement.

"Thank you then," Sakura agreed, without the same bashfulness she'd felt getting a ride to his office. Somehow, in the consecutive beatdowns, she'd been barely able to accept that her idol was also Meister. It was probably somewhere around the fourth fight, when she'd made him lose his composure and swear very loudly. Still lost that match, though.

They continued discussing buildcraft as she packed up her things and followed him down the the elevator, but just before she got on the back of his bike, she casually complained, "I don't think I've ever lost eight in a row like that. You could've let me win once, you know."

"I have too much respect for you as a competitor to let you win," Uchiha-senpai replied. The long shadows cast by the streetlamps barely let her see the tiny smirk on his face. Then he added, "Besides, I want to show off in front of my girlfriend."

GIRLFRIEND?!

Sakura's brain blew up at the casual comment. What in the - Are we - Did he - What?! Girlfriend?! Did THE Uchiha-senpai just call me his girlfriend?! Am I dating-dating THE Uchiha-senpai? Is this dating?

A gentle poke on her forehead suddenly jolted her back to reality, and all of a sudden she was looking straight into his eyes. But they weren't the cool indifference she'd learned to expect from Uchiha-senpai. Even in this low light, she could see the concern, cautiousness, and even the slight uncertainty in his expression. I can do that. She could make him look like that, just by hesitating.

"Can't I?" Sasuke-senpai asked quietly.

He's not just Uchiha-senpai. She realised once more. He's also Meister. And... there's something there. Something I want to explore. Some risks are worth taking, right?

So she took a deep breath, and took that risk. Trying to look casual, she patted him gently on the shoulder and said, "If you really want to, Boyfriend."

( ^ ___ ^ )

AN: It's official! They're official! Muahaahaha

The sun must be rising in the west because here I am again, less than a week after the last chapter. I'm cautiously optimistic about Nano, lol. Hah, I hope you all enjoyed the study date :) How many times did you squee this chapter? I hope it was many because there were many times while I was writing it that I squeed. This chapter was a bit harder to write, partially because I realized I have to go back and fix a couple of things, and also, Sasuke is unnaturally verbose here. We're calling it uh second date nerves lol. And for everyone that was expecting a kiss here... muahaha it's a slow burn, how else do I earn my slow burn creds if I don't make progress as excruciatingly slow as possible? Heh. Anyways, thanks for stopping by, and as always, comments, reviews, kudos, favourites, bookmarks, and slowly smoldering tea lights always make my day. See you soon!