Shikamaru lay sprawled on the grassy knoll, his gaze fixed on the endless parade of fluffy clouds drifting across the azure sky. "Troublesome," he muttered, his voice barely audible above the gentle rustling of leaves."Everything's so troublesome."
Beside him, Choji crunched contentedly on a family-sized bag of barbeque chips, his eyes half-closed in blissful culinary appreciation. "These are amazing, Shikamaru," he declared, his voice muffled by a mouthful of chips. "You should try some."
"Too much effort," Shikamaru sighed, waving a dismissive hand. "Besides, Ino wanted us to meet her at the flower shop. Why she couldn't just tell us on the way here is beyond me."
Choji shrugged, popping another chip into his mouth. "Maybe she's got a special flower for us," he suggested, his voice laced with innocent optimism. "Like, a super-rare, extra-delicious flower.
Shikamaru groaned.
_ _ _ _ _
The flower shop, a vibrant explosion of color and fragrance, was a stark contrast to the lazy serenity of the grassy knoll. Ino, her brow furrowed in concentration, was meticulously arranging a bouquet of lilies, her movements delicate and precise.
"These lilies are so… frustrating," she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "They just won't cooperate."
Her father, a kind-faced man with gentle eyes, chuckled. "Flowers have their own personalities, Ino," he said, patting her shoulder. "You just have to find the right way to talk to them."
Ino rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Right, like I'm supposed to whisper sweet nothings to a bunch of petals," she muttered.
Just then, Shikamaru and Choji shuffled into the shop, disrupting the quiet atmosphere.
"I want to sleep" Shikamaru grumbled, his gaze sweeping over the vibrant displays.
Choji, his nose twitching, sniffed the air appreciatively. "Wow, these smell amazing," he declared, his eyes wide with wonder. "Do you have any edible flowers, Ino?"
Ino sighed, her frustration momentarily forgotten. "No, Choji, they're not all edible," she said, gesturing towards the lilies. "These are the problem."
"What's wrong with them?" Choji asked, his eyes filled with innocent curiosity.
"They're for someone," Ino mumbled, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. "And I want them to be perfect."
Shikamaru, surprisingly, offered a thoughtful observation. "Troublesome emotions," he said, his gaze drifting towards the ceiling.
"They always complicate things."
Ino glared at him, but there was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.
"You wouldn't understand," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Choji, ever the supportive friend, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We're here for you, Ino," he said, his voice gentle. "Just tell us what's wrong."
Ino hesitated, then took a deep breath. "It's… it's for someone I admire," she confessed, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. "And I want them to know how I feel."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Obviously, Sasuke" he muttered, but then, surprisingly, offered a piece of surprisingly useful advice. "Just be yourself," he said, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. "That's usually the least troublesome option."
Choji nodded in agreement. "And maybe add some extra-pretty flowers," he suggested, his eyes twinkling. "Like, the ones that smell like barbeque chips."
Ino chuckled, her frustration melting away. "Thanks, guys," she said, a genuine smile gracing her lips. "You're actually being helpful for once."
The team spent the next hour helping Ino arrange the perfect bouquet, their contrasting personalities somehow blending into a surprisingly harmonious whole. By the time they left the flower shop, the air was filled with laughter and the sweet scent of lilies.
"Maybe flowers aren't so troublesome after all," Shikamaru muttered, as they strolled down the street.
"Especially the ones that smell like barbeque chips," Choji added, his eyes twinkling.
Ino, her cheeks still flushed, smiled. "Thanks, guys," she said, her voice laced with genuine gratitude. "You're the best team ever."