The Halloween Festival lasted for two days in which students get to enjoy their free time after midterm exams with friends and classmates and try spooky booths and hang out with others. That's primarily the reason why they believe high school is the best stage of being a student. Right after the Halloween Festival comes another one that's been long-awaited by students.

"The Sports Festival," Iruka said. "That will take place a week from now."

Earlier this afternoon, the Basketball Club was called for a meeting and now everyone is sitting on the court with the club adviser standing in front while Sakura sat with the players listening to Iruka as he started to speak. The Coach on the other hand, is probably dozing off at the corner of the gym or reading something.

"But since we're part of a Sports Club, the Principal decided to give us a break during the two-day Sports Fes. So it's up to us whether we want to participate or not."

The murmurs of players can be heard afterwards and Sakura raise her hand when she thought of something that she wanted to ask the club adviser who nodded towards her, and everyone is looking at Sakura now.

"Sensei," she started. "If we're taking a break during the Sports Fes, does that mean we would just be at home since we aren't required to participate?"

"Yeah, manager is right," the Captain said, agreeing to Sakura as he looked back at the club and adviser. "Besides, the gyms will be used during the Sports Fes so we can't really practice."

"Well about that," Iruka started before he turned around and wrote something on the whiteboard that the players couldn't exactly see what he was writing. "We decided to take that break and.."

He turned back around to face the players before he stepped to the side, pointing on the whiteboard where he wrote a word that the players started to read.

"Go to Asakusa!" He exclaimed before the players erupted in cheers. Two days in Asakusa, away from the noise in the Central Tokyo is everything they needed now.

Besides, it's already autumn and one of the best places to go during this time is Asakusa and Kyoto since the dried orange leaves are everywhere. Not to mention, it's also getting significantly colder.

"We will be staying at a Villa near Otori Shrine since the Tori no Ichi Festival will be held there," Iruka said with a smile, seeing how the players seem to be way excited now.

This is, after all, the least he could do. Since he knew after Winter Break, the Nationals would start. They wouldn't be having any breaks after this and they couldn't afford to lose again. The Nationals where the best teams in Japan will compete to become the best of Japan. Only one team will get to be called Champion.

"Wait, Villa?" Naruto asked among all the murmurs and heads turn to him. "Sound pretty fancy. Whose Villa is it Sensei?"

Iruka sighed before pointing to the side and the players and Sakura followed where he is pointing until they saw their coach leaning on the wall busy reading a book.

"Coach?!"

Everyone asked in unison and Kakashi looked up before he blinked his eyes rapidly. "Eh? What is it?"

"Coach! You own a Villa?!" Naruto asked, his mouth hanging agape.

"What?! Coach you didn't tell us!" The Captain said.

"I didn't take him to be the one who would own a lavish house," the Vice Captain muttered. "I mean, he looks like a middle aged unemployed man living in a small Tokyo apartme–"

The Captain slapped the back of his head even before the Vice Captain could finish talking but Kakashi really didn't mind. For one, the Vice Captain isn't completely wrong about it.

"Ah, that Villa. My grandparents owned it," Kakashi said, pushing himself off the wall as he put his book behind his pocket and walked towards Iruka.

"But I have to warn you," he said with that low voice of his as he looked at the players. "That Villa is haunted."

Sakura could have sworn she heard a gulp, whoever it was, she almost rolled her eyes. Haunted? Although it's already November, the spooky season can still be felt together with the autumn breeze during the night. But Sakura isn't exactly scared of haunted places or urban legends. In fact, she's more scared of real people than ghosts that are conjured by the mind of other people. So she hopes everyone does too, the players wouldn't be scared of something like this, she thought. But when she looked around, Sakura saw how almost all the players seem to have their faces as white as paper sheets.

"Alright then!" Sakura said because it's getting too quiet as she clapped her hands to get their attentions before standing up. "I'll arrange everything this weekend. We will be staying there for two days and a night at the Villa, how does barbecue sounds?"

The players, from falling into silence earlier to suddenly being chaotic by hearing barbecue, Sakura nodded her head. She doesn't really need to hear a yes since everyone seem to agree.

"Alright, I will leave the Manager with the food while I arrange our transportation. That will be all for today," Iruka said before the players stood up and started to leave the gym.

While walking to the train station, Sakura realized how cold it was and unconsciously rubbed her hands before putting them to her lips and warming them up. Sasuke, who was walking beside her notice the gesture so once Sakura put her hands down, he took one of her hand in his, surprising Sakura.

"Sasuke-kun?" She said, looking down at their clasped hands before she looked up at Sasuke who was looking ahead.

"You seem cold."

"Not really," Sakura muttered lowly, lowering her head to hide her flushed face.

"Are you saying you don't want me to hold your hand then?"

"What?" Sakura suddenly asked, looking up at Sasuke. "No! I mean, well, it's fine."

Sakura missed it because she looked down after that, she misses the smallest upturn of Sasuke's lips. Not that she needed to see it, because right now, she could feel her heart beating so fast she might pass out if she were to see his smile, even if it's slight.

---

By Monday morning, while the students in Konoha Gakuen are enjoying the start of the Sports Festival, the Basketball Club is aboard the bus towards Asakusa, a one hour drive from Central Tokyo. Although Asakusa is part of Taito Ward, located north of Central Tokyo, the difference in the surrounding is evident. Asakusa is more traditional and less like the Central wards in Tokyo, which makes it one of the best tourist spot in the City.

Driving up the hill, the basketball club arrived at the foot of a mountain where the Villa is located. There is also an inn nearby and they saw the temple where the Tori No Ichi Festival will be held tomorrow night.

"Alright everyone, settle your belongings inside," Iruka said once the players started going out of the bus.

They all followed Kakashi who led them inside the Villa. The house is pretty huge and clean, although the silence of the surrounding is so different than the noise in Central Tokyo.

"There are five rooms upstairs and two downstairs. Iruka and I will have the room downstairs and the manager will have the other one while the rest of the guys will share the rooms upstairs," Kakashi said before he walked off.

Sakura really didn't mind staying alone in a room, besides she's used to being around these guys and she knew they won't do anything funny. So she headed towards the room but then suddenly stopped when Sasuke walked up to her.

"What is it Sasuke-kun?" She asked, looking up to him.

"Will you be fine staying alone in a room?"

"Eh? Of course I'll be fine," Sakura answered.

Sasuke averted his eyes and nodded. "If anything happens.." he trailed off before he shook his head and looked back at her. "Nevermind,"

Suddenly, Sakura couldn't help but chuckle as she realized why Sasuke is being like this. "Sasuke-kun, don't tell me, you believed what the Coach said."

"What?" He asked, frowning in confusion.

"That this Villa is haunted."

Maybe Sasuke did. But if anything, this Villa is located near a forest, so one can never tell if there are burglars around.

"What? Of course not. Just..if you can't sleep just tell me," he said, walking away after that and Sakura just shook her head with a smile.

That night, the basketball club were outside, setting up a campfire and the barbecue grill and under the moonlit night they enjoyed the food.

"The stars here are brighter than the stars in Central Tokyo," Sakura said when she settled on a seat next to Sasuke.

Sasuke just hummed in response, looking up to see that there were more stars than what he used to see in Central Tokyo, not that he is a fan of stargazing.

"Well isn't it nice, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked, still looking up.

"What is?"

"That wherever we go, the same stars are always watching us."

Sasuke thought about it, he never exactly thought about that before but now that she mentioned it, he agreed to her. That no matter how far they were apart, they will always be assured that they are under the same sky with the same stars watching them.

"Sakura," Sasuke called. He wanted to tell her now, he almost did, but he decided to wait until Nationals. So looking around to change the subject, Sasuke noticed the meat on her plate.

"You should eat that, it'll get cold," he said before he stood up and Sakura realized she hasn't taken a bite of the barbecue.

But she knew it wasn't what Sasuke was about to say, whatever it was, Sakura can just wait.

The night differs and by the time all the meat was gone, the basketball club went inside the Villa.

"Don't sleep there! Go to your rooms," Kakashi said when he noticed some of the guys were ready to pass out on the couch.

"Sasuke-kun, I'll go to my room now," Sakura said as she looked at Sasuke who nodded simply.

"Good night," she said, waving her hand before she proceeded to the room.

It's not that it's the first time Sakura slept in another house. She's always been fine sleeping in a new place and she can perfectly sleep. But that night, she lie there wide awake, just staring up the ceiling.

"Maybe it's all the meat I ate," she muttered, turning around the bed but she really couldn't sleep.

After a few minutes and Sakura felt like she wouldn't be able to sleep for another hour, she decided to get up. She forgot to fill her tumbler earlier so she decided to walk out of the room. The Villa is quite big so Sakura didn't find the kitchen right away. A few lamps of light is still on so the living room is dimly lit but the dining hall is a bit dark, with only the light from the moon seeping through the window as the only source of light.

Sakura suddenly yawn as she opened the fridge. The decrease in the temperature is making her a bit sleepy now as she took a pitcher of water and filled her tumbler.

The silence is almost deafening so Sakura started to hum a song as she filled her bottle. She was putting the pitcher back in the fridge when she felt a chill run down her spine and Sakura put her hand behind, rubbing the back of her neck.

"It's a bit cold," she muttered, frowning when she realized the windows are close but she suddenly felt that chill.

Dismissing the thought, Sakura straightened up and closed the fridge when she suddenly caught something from her peripheral vision and she gasped loudly, taking a step back when she suddenly hit something and Sakura spun around, ready to punch whoever the intruder was when she felt a hand grabbed her wrist and Sakura was ready to scream when she realized who it was.

"S-Sasuke-kun," she muttered, her heartbeat that was racing started to slow down and Sakura sighed as she felt her knees weakened and suddenly she buried her face on his chest.

"And here I thought you aren't afraid of ghosts," he said, before he felt Sakura pushed him lightly.

"No I'm not! I thought there was an intruder. How am I suppose to punch a ghost huh?" She said and Sasuke realized he did almost get punch.

"Why are you still here anyway?" Sasuke asked. It's past midnight now and Sakura is still up.

"Oh, I was thirsty," she answered and Sasuke nodded as he took a bottle inside the fridge as well.

"And I couldn't sleep," she said, this time, a bit silently as she looked down.

"Do you want me to stay with you?"

Sakura suddenly looked up, a bit surprised to hear him say that, but then again, he sounded nonchalant about it. Sasuke could see the look of hesitation in her eyes and she didn't answer right away, so he took a step forward.

"I won't do anything," he said and Sakura averted her eyes, her face starting to flush.

"What are you talking about Sasuke-kun?" She asked, still averting her eyes.

But then Sasuke suddenly held her chin and made her look at him before he leaned in to kiss her. Sakura felt her heart started to beat faster before it slowed down and she kissed him back.

"There," Sasuke said, leaning out as he straightened up. "I did it. So I won't do anything else. Let's go?"

Sakura nodded, she really couldn't say anything or she might stutter.

They were heading out the dining room, only taking a few steps when suddenly, they were startled by someone standing there.

"Sensei?!" Sakura said, a bit louder as she looked at Iruka who has his arms crossed.

"Sasuke go upstairs, manager you head to your room," he said, a bit firmly. He really couldn't help sounding like a teacher, especially since the two are still freshmen after all.

The two nodded and walked past him, while Iruka looked at their retreating figure. "Sasuke, upstairs," he said before shaking his head.

"Young soulmates nowadays," he muttered before he went to the dining hall when he was sure that Sasuke headed upstairs.

By the next day, everyone is busy for the Festival, even at morning, people started to crowd the Otori Shrine. Before the Basketball Club go back to Central Tokyo, they went to the Shrine to pray. That was also when they saw Wakamono High students praying there as well.

The two coaches had a nice chat with one another that the Coach of Wakamono almost didn't want to let go of Kakashi. While the two Captains from each schools exchanged a few remarks since Wakamono High will be competing in the Winter Cup that will be held soon.

Afterwards, they all went back to the crowded streets of Central Tokyo. Soon, the Winter Cup will be held and right after that is the Nationals. A few months from now and time will sure fly by faster than anyone could realize.