Spotlight

Two weeks later

The media frenzy erupted like a wildfire the moment the intimate photograph of Sakura hit the tabloids. Rumors and speculations swirled, casting a shadow over her budding career as a choreographer and shaking the foundations of her secret relationship with Sasuke. Sasuke had always been careful, ensuring that his private life remained hidden away from the prying eyes of the press. But this scandal threatened to expose his relationship with Sakura, a secret they had both fiercely protected. The photo—the one he swore he deleted—had been put on full blast, marring her reputation. But how did this happen?

When the news first went public Sakura hid in her room in humiliation for a good two days straight, refusing to talk to anybody except for Ino who slept over to ensure she ate and bathed. During that time, Sasuke had never been so grateful to the blonde, not only for her help now, but for what she did for Sakura back then. His heart ached whenever he thought of that time in Sakura’s life and prayed that it would never reach that low again, but here he was.

Amidst the chaos, Sasuke was deeply worried about Sakura. He knew how hard she had worked to build her craft and the hours she put in just to make sure his comeback performance was perfect. He knew just how gratified and proud she felt after fans and critics agreed she was a new choreographer many companies would seek for her talent, and this unfounded scandal threatened to ruin everything she had strived for. But more than that, he was concerned about the emotional toll this could take on her. Yes, Sakura was strong and resilient and had been through a lot more than the average person, but deep in his heart, Sasuke’s worried. The large-scale of this scandal would be another level of overwhelming.

Yes, her budding career was important, but her mental health was his foremost concern. He had so much faith in her; She was tenacious, determined, spunky, and so much more. But he knew, better than anyone, that even the strongest of spirits could be chipped away, piece by piece, under pressure. He thought of the many entertainers who initially made a name for themselves in the industry, only to be chewed up and spit back out after a series of scandals, declining fanbase, and negative comments on their appearance. The spotlight could be as rewarding as it was harsh to anyone who stepped in it. Some people could withstand that, look past the bad and feel comforted by their fans. While others…

And now, only a few weeks after the pictures had been released to the public, a new one had leaked. Upon hearing about the news, Sasuke canceled rehearsal and immediately rushed to Sakura's side. She was holed up in her bedroom staring blankly at the controversial tabloid sprawled on her desk. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the room, but when Sakura looked up to see Sasuke in her doorway, her gaze softened.

"Sasuke," she murmured, the corners of her lips tugging into a weary smile. It was an attempt to reassure him, to let him know she was stronger than this. Yet, Sasuke could see the flicker of fear in her eyes, masked by a brave exterior.

"I'm here, Sakura," he assured her, taking her hands into his. Taking a deep breath, Sasuke led her away from the desk and to the edge of the bed, sitting close enough to share warmth but allowing her the space she might need.

The new photo of them leaving the women’s restroom at school together had exploded, extending the shadow of this scandal over Sasuke now as well. But unsurprisingly, the tabloids twisted the photos to villianize Sakura as corrupting the nation’s favorite idol. Tabloid always had a reputation for tearing women apart with ease while men seemed to get off a bit easier, though not by much.

"Sakura," he began, his voice soft against the harshness of the situation. "I... I'm sorry. I never wanted you to get hurt because of me."

Sakura turned to look at him, her green eyes illuminated by the soft light of the lamp at her bedside. "No, it's not your fault. I’m the one soiling your career," she tried to be convincing but her voice faltered. At this point, she didn’t care whose fault it was. She just wanted to know who did this, and why? Why now?

"No, it is, Sakura,” he was stern as if to persuade her. “This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been a prick in the beginning, or if I hadn't followed you into the bathroom.” Sasuke’s words were terse with anger. Anger for himself and his childishness that got Sakura into this mess in the first place. He took a breath to regain some composure. He didn't come here to make it about him.

“I shouldn’t have done the things I did and it’s my fault, and I swear I’m going to try to make this better." He pleaded for her understanding. She could yell at him, hate him- literally do anything except blame herself- and he wouldn’t mind.

She shook her head. "You don’t need to protect me, Sasuke. Your mom warned me of what could happen. I signed up for this life, and I’ll get through it.”

Sasuke watched as she put on a brave face, her eyes dim with sorrow but beneath, there still was a flicker of determination as endearing as it was heartbreaking. He admired her for so many reasons but her robust spirit was definitely at the top of his list. But underneath that steely exterior, he could see the quiver of unease, a trace of fear. He could see the toll this scandal was taking on her, and it worried him more than he'd like to admit.

He'd always known the cost of fame—its intrusive nature, the way it can twist and distort the simplest of things. He had accepted it as the price to pay for his passion, for his status as an idol. But seeing Sakura caught in the crossfire, bearing the brunt of a scandal she didn't deserve, a scandal he practically caused, was more painful than any backlash he himself had ever faced.

He found himself recalling the soft smiles she'd shared after a successful rehearsal, the way her eyes would light up with joy when a dance sequence clicked and came together. Now, those smiles seemed rare, those bright eyes clouded with worry. The stress was overshadowing her passion for her work, replacing the excitement of choreography with the dread of public scrutiny.

As much as he wanted to shield her from the onslaught, Sasuke knew his hands were tied. All he could do was stand by her side, offering his support. He resolved to be there for her, to offer a safe harbor amidst the storm. If she said she would get through this, he believed she would, and he would be there to watch it happen. Her determination made him feel slightly more at ease, giving him the courage to remain strong for both of them. For Sakura, he would weather this storm. For Sakura, he would fight. Because she was worth every battle, every struggle. Because to him, she was everything.

"Sakura," he tried to interject, but she placed a finger on his lips, silencing him.

"No, Sasuke. I knew the challenges of what this could bring. And I chose you anyway, because... because I love you."

Sasuke looked at her, his dark eyes filled with emotion. "And I love you too. That's why I can't stand to see you hurting because of me."

"We're in this together, remember?" Sakura replied, her voice steady. "It's not just about you or me. It's about us."

Sasuke nodded, gently squeezing her hand.

"We'll get through this, Sasuke," she assured him. "We'll handle this, just like we've handled everything else - together."

At that moment, Sasuke knew she was right. Despite the scandal, despite the chaos, they would face it all together. And somehow, that thought made everything seem a little bit more bearable.

Both Sakura and Sasuke had not seen or heard from Mrs. Uchiha since the breaking of her risque pictures and immediately assumed her silence meant her short-lived career was over. Today, over an unusually quiet breakfast, Naruto took her and Sasuke aside to let them know Mikoto wanted to speak with them. Sakura couldn’t even fathom the amount of damage control Mrs. Uchiha underwent because of their recklessness and felt it in her bones that this was the last time she would be stepping foot in this mansion. She could practically kiss her dreams, and Sasuke, goodbye.

As she ate her bagel in silence, she pondered how long it would take for her to pack her things. Absent-mindedly, her eyes met Temari’s who gave her a half-smile probably trying to cheer her up. Sakura gave one back and broke her gaze quickly. Lately, it had been hard for her to connect with her colleagues because she felt exposed and ashamed; There was no doubt everyone in the house had seen the pictures at least once. And even though everyone had been sharing their support, Sakura couldn’t help but feel like their eyes preyed upon her, curious about what was underneath. It was psychological, she knew that, which is why she tried to take their support and friendship at face value.

One pair of eyes specifically felt excruciatingly critical, but that might have been purely in her head as well.

After lunch, the pair ventured to his mother’s office upstairs. Sakura released a long breath and Sasuke gave a quick squeeze to her hand. I’m here, it said. And Sakura put on that brave face she wore so well.

They entered Mrs. Uchiha’s office and found her seated behind her desk, fingers woven in front of her face, with an inscrutable expression. She gestured for them to sit, which they did. They sat in an increasingly uncomfortable silence as Mrs. Uchiha closed her eyes in what Sakura thought was an attempt for her to organize her thoughts. The anticipation felt like it was squeezing the life from her, making her head feel foggy until she heard Mrs. Uchiha speak.

"Sakura, you've done an excellent job as Sasuke's choreographer," she began, her voice firm. "His performances have reached new heights, thanks to you."

Sasuke watched as Sakura nodded her thanks, a hint of a smile gracing her lips. He reached out, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze under the table and out of sight as they waited for the “but.” This is how things usually went, right? It started with praise and ended with bad news which overshadowed any sliver of accomplishment or pride previously mentioned. It cushioned anything but the impending impact.

"But," Mikoto continued, her gaze switched between Sasuke and Sakura who stiffened at her word.

Here we go, Sakura braced.

"Considering the recent scandal, I believe we need to change our approach. We need to do something… something bold."

Mrs. Uchiha loved a good scandal as much as the next person. As the CEO owner of a talent agency this seemed a completely backwards statement, but from her years of PR experience, she has learned the knack for steering media nightmare through any storm. The current scandal surrounding Sasuke and Sakura's relationship had hit them hard, but Mikoto remained unruffled. Maybe a tad disappointed, but calm nonetheless. She knew at this stage there was much she could say to make it worse, but why would she when it was her job to make it better? The embarrassment Sakura and Sasuke felt was enough and there was no use kicking them while they were down.

Both Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances, curiosity piqued.

"I think," Mikoto said slowly, carefully weighing each word, "That you should join Sasuke on stage during the upcoming tour."

Sasuke's eyebrows shot up in surprise while Sakura's mouth hung aghast. A sudden bout of rage erupted within the idol and his eyebrows crinkled together forcefully.

“What the hell are you thinking? She’ll be eaten alive out there!”

There wasn’t a way to say it gently now matter how he put it and even then he knew Sakura came to the same conclusion. Fans, or anti-fans, were ruthless- The media included. He already felt guilty, felt ashamed for his role in hurting Sakura and for his mom to even suggest putting her in harm's way on purpose ignited a fury inside him he didn’t know he had.

Mikoto held her hand up to Sasuke without a word, signaling for him to pause. She turned towards Sakura to garner her reaction.

Sakura blinked hard, mentally rummaging through the plethora of emotions she felt and trying to figure out what to say. Mostly, she was confused.

"Me? On stage? But Uchiha-san, I'm a choreographer, not a performer."

"I know," She said calmly. "But, showcasing unity amidst this scandal might just tip the narrative in our favor. The public enjoys a compelling story, and what better than seeing two talented individuals weathering a storm together, professionally and romantically."

Sasuke watched Sakura, searching her face for any thoughts that might surface on her features. Where was her head at? The idea of Sakura performing alongside him was unexpected, but after his mother’s explanation, he found himself understanding the proposition. It would certainly redirect the focus from the scandal to their commitment to each other as a real, genuine couple. But even while he understood this as a move to save their careers, there was no guarantee it would work and no guarantee it wouldn’t get worse. And for Sakura’s sake, he was ready to let it go.

Sasuke stood from his chair still holding Sakura’s hand. “There’s no need for that,” he said. “Because I quit.”

Mikoto sat back in her chair, watching this unfold as if she were expecting this to happen.

Sakura’s head snapped toward Sasuke and snatched her hand away, appalled. “What? No! You can’t throw away your dream, Sasuke!”

“And what about yours?” he replied hastily.

She bit her bottom lip, caught off guard by his suggestion. How could he even think of throwing away what he had built so far? And for her no less?

“I’m not going to let you throw everything away for me. You said we would do this together.” Abruptly, she turned toward Mrs. Uchiha, "Let's do it."

Mikoto smiled, her next words were gentle, yet filled with conviction. "I knew there was something about you, Sakura. You're not just a choreographer. You have the heart of a performer too. Just like your mom." She winked.

Sakura’s breath hitched in her throat, taken aback by her statement. She was right. Sakura knew she was more than capable of holding her own and if there was someone she needed to prove herself to, it was her mother and herself. Not her critics. She turned to Sasuke with a fiery gaze that dared him to challenge her decision. Sasuke only sighed and pulled her into his arms giving her a long, tight hug.

Mikoto smiled softly, taking in the sight before her, welcoming the new admiration she nurtured for Sakura not only as a professional, but as a person. It was clear she was the most important person in his life and that had to count for something.

“Oh, one more thing,” Mrs. Uchiha interrupted. “I hired an investigative team to figure out how this all leaked. We will be pressing charges.”

Sasuke nodded. Finally, something they agreed upon.

Logistics decided Sasuke’s tour would span a total of three days, in three major cities across Japan, including Sakura’s hometown. It was decided the tour would remain national until the PR team could gauge sales and fan response before deciding to book anything bigger. They had just three concert days to perform and implement their plan which meant they had to practice twice as hard to make sure it would be a performance nobody would forget.

While their single performance together seemed to be the most of their worries, in reality it was just a minor speck in the larger production of the concert. Sakura knew it was intricate but being behind the scenes now as a part of leadership, intricate was an understatement. Visuals, wardrobe, hair, makeup, backup dancers and more, were all cogs in a machine working together to create a seamless experience for the audience. In Sakura’s sector, a team of choreographers were needed in order to choreograph, teach, and perfect the routines with Sasuke and his dancers. With a full three weeks of practice under their belt, most of the production had been finalized aside from the dance.

This dance needed special care. Sakura was meticulous in her approach, considering every beat of the music, every nuanced movement, every emotion they needed to convey to the audience because everyone would be watching, judging. She crafted each sequence with thoughtful precision, aiming to create a dance that was a fusion of their individual styles and a reflection of their shared journey as a couple. Sakura pushed herself to the brink, often working late into the night perfecting the choreography she could without Sasuke present as he made final touches on other production items. She tirelessly rehearsed each step, each turn, each dip until her body ached with exhaustion. She dove into the rhythm, losing herself in the music, consumed by her desire to create a masterpiece. Her diligence was relentless, often foregoing breaks and meals, her sole focus on the dance routine that was slowly taking shape.

Sakura even enlisted Mrs. Uchiha’s help in her free time, asking her to watch what she had so far and welcome feedback. It was as much Mrs. Uchiha’s vision as it was Sakura’s. Plus, this was her plan- the true choreographer. Oftentimes, the feedback reflected the need for them to be bold in their interactions in order to show off their chemistry, their intimacy. That they shouldn’t just dance on a stage together, but actually react to one another’s body parts. And in order to do that they needed to be closer.

Once it had been finalized, Sasuke and Sakura spent countless hours rehearsing in private. Their body’s swayed and undulated passionately to the rhythm of the song. Sasuke’s arms wrapped around Sakura’s tiny waist as her hands snaked up his neck and into his dark, damp hair while they danced in unison. His breath fanned the side of her face until he planted kisses alongside her jaw making Sakura giggle. Not a part of the original choreography, but she would let it slide. It was these private moments with Sasuke wrapped in his arms which filled her with a happiness so gentle, so secure she felt she was dreaming. Despite their tumultuous beginning, Sakura swore she would do it all over again just to feel the same radiant, effortless love they shared together.

Finally, the night of the first show arrived. The stage lights were bright, the crowd was thundrous, and the tension was palpable. Sasuke, an experienced idol, seemed unphased, but for Sakura, stepping into the spotlight was an entirely new experience. Yes, she had danced with an audience growing up but a sold out stadium of 50,000+ people? Sakura went through the dance mentally on repeat just to keep her mind off of the crowd.

It was just moments before Sasuke went on and she had about an hour and a half before her own curtain time. It was Mrs. Uchiha’s idea to keep their duet until the last quarter of the show to allow the morale to build before they take the risk. While she understood the strategy, Sakura couldn’t help but find herself wishing to get it over with. Backstage, she nodded along with the backtrack playing in the stadium standing by as Sasuke’s makeup team finished the final touches. She caught his eye and the corner of his mouth ticked upward.

“Nervous?” He asked as he approached her, moving a stray unstyled strand of hair out of her face.

She made a scoffing sound, “Tch, me? Nervous?” she paused, “Is it that obvious?”

Sasuke chuckled just as the stage manager approached, asking him to get to his marker. He nodded but before leaving he inched closer to Sakura, his palm cupping her cheek. “You’ll do great.”

“We are gonna do great.”

He smiled now. “Right, we.” And before she knew it, he planted a soft kiss on her lips, he was gone, and the crowd was roaring.

Sakura watched his performance from backstage as she herself got ready with the aid of the glam squad who she learned to be very nice women. With the scandal looming above her head and her performance coming up, they took time to mention everything but, which calmed her nerves exponentially until it was her turn to join Sasuke on stage.

It was all a blur to her. She remembered being blinded by the shining lights until her eyes adjusted. Only then was she able to peer out into the sea of faces which went on forever. And when the music cued, they were spellbound by the music and one another, moving with an intensity and intimacy between a male idol and female dancer never before seen in the industry.

When the music faded out, Sasuke held Sakura in a dip as her long limbs extended gracefully above her head, their eye contact unbroken. At that moment the only thing either one of them could hear was their shallow breaths and heartbeats pounding in unison, hoping, praying, for a positive reaction.

As the lights dimmed, the large LCD screen behind them began to play a “behind the making” video, which was a cue for Sasuke’s dress change. Sasuke and Sakura’s posed bodies began slowly dropping beneath stage level with the use of a stage elevator. Once concealed from the audience, instead of leaving the lift right away he lingered with Sakura who peered at him with a worried glance. They listened closely. The crowd turned lukewarm, and their performance was met with whispers and sideways glances rather than applause after their set. Their unity, instead of being admired, was questioned and Sasuke could practically feel his girlfriend’s morale plummeting in front of him. She had hoped their honesty and dedication would resonate with the fans. Instead, it seemed to have alienated them further.

After the show, Sakura found herself alone in her dressing room, the weight of the fans' disapproval pressing heavy on her heart. She had been optimistic, believed in their ability to shift the narrative. But the reality of their situation was harder to swallow. Her mind darkened with narratives portrayed by the magazines and internet trolls. Was she doing more harm than good to Sasuke’s career? What kind of person would she be to hold onto Sasuke and let him go down in flames?

Sasuke found her in silence, her figure small under the harsh dressing room lights. He hated to see her like this, her spirit dampened, her enthusiasm faded.

"Sakura," he said softly, sitting beside her.

She remained silent, her gaze lost somewhere far away beyond the reflection in the mirror. Guilt crushed him.

He reached for her head, pulling her into the crook of his neck then craned down to kiss the top of her crown. “You did great out there, kitten. We still have time to change this around.”

Sakura only made a small sound in her throat acknowledging his statement, but all she could think about was how much time she had left with him.

By the third day of the concert, the weight of media and fan criticism hung heavy between the two of them, but they needed to hold it together for the final night. As they took their positions in each other’s arms waiting for the music to cue, Sasuke squeezed her waist just a tad bit tighter as if to remind her they were in this together. Her emerald eyes sparkled under the spotlight and her mouth quirked into a small smile as she gave a tiny nod. Then, the music began and they sunk into one another’s energy carried by the tune of Sasuke’s voice.

The number faded and they held the final pose waiting for the platform beneath their feet to lower as it did previous nights. The elevator mechanism must have malfunctioned, Sakura thought in a panic, internally wondering what was taking so long. She felt stranded, left exposed to whatever reaction was to come from the crowd. A corpse surrounded by vultures.

After a moment of silence, Sakura registered a mix of cheers and claps, later drowned out by obnoxious booing. Sasuke recognized panic setting in Sakura’s eyes and he let her up from the pose slowly then held her by the arm, asking if she was alright. Despite his presence it was like she couldn’t see him, that far away look in her eyes appearing again and Sasuke’s chest tightened with worry and the slight onset of alarm.
This was by far the most negative response they’ve garnered and the noise and negativity were deafening. He tried to redirect Sakura’s attention but her eyes were fixated on the first few rows of fans. She saw handmade signs disapproving of her involvement with Sasuke, calling her nasty names and some even displaying big, blown up prints of her pictures.

Suddenly, the room started spinning and her lungs felt as if they were collapsing on themselves, her veins pounding with the rush of blood and adrenaline. She could feel every sinew of her muscles twitching and waiting to flee. If she didn’t run now, the pressure would threaten to crush her.

In the midst of her turmoil, Sakura barely noticed Sasuke's hand gripping her tighter. His dark eyes were locked on hers, a wordless plea for her to give him a sign, any sign, that she was hearing him.

But something had finally snapped. A flood of emotions swept her beneath the surface leaving her fighting for whatever air she had left and she knew she was done. For her and for Sasuke’s sake, she was done.

Sakura began to retreat backwards, looking up at Sasuke with a sorrowful expression and tears shimmering in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice Sasuke could barely make out over the noise in the venue.

Sasuke shook his head incredulously, not understanding fully what she was sorry for. As she backed away slowly, his grip on her weakened until she was out of his reach. At this point, she turned and made for a full sprint down the main stage. Sasuke's voice rang out, loud and clear, cutting through the background video and noise of the crowd. "Sakura, wait!"

He followed after her at a full sprint, catching up to her quickly with his long strides. The video in the background had abruptly stopped, and a hush fell over the crowd as Sasuke took purchase of Sakura, holding her in a tight hug with her back to his chest. A droplet of water splashed his forearm and he knew she was crying despite her attempt to keep the sobs from wracking her body in his embrace. Tears began to gather in his own eyes but he fought to keep them from spilling over. Their expressions were raw and intense and blinding. It was only them in the whole room, Sasuke holding Sakura’s shaking body in a vice grip, terrified of losing her.

"Sakura," he said, his voice shaky and reverberating through the microphone floating next to his mouth. His hand came up quickly and moved it away. The crowd remained quiet with their eyes focused on them.

"Look at me," he spun her around so she was facing him but her head hung low, pink hair covering her face. “Look at me,” he repeated and tilted her chin upward with a gentle coaxing of his fingers. Her eyes were glassy and wet and so, so beautiful that it made him ache. In that moment, looking at her, he knew he would never truly be happy without her by his side. Music was once his muse, but that was when he was young, conceited, and selfish. Now, his muse was pink-haired with gleaming emerald eyes and a love so remarkable nothing could compare.

“I don't need anyone’s approval to love you and I don't need anyone's approval to be happy. I was unhappy for so many years until I met you.”

Sakura's heart pounded in her chest as she looked at him with wide eyes, her breath shallow. "Sasuke...?"

“This is not worth losing you, Sakura. I can live without fans, without fame, but I can’t live without you. I’d trade it all,” he inched closer to Sakura’s face, “For you.”

The crowd gasped, a ripple of surprise spreading through the arena. Clearly, moving the microphone didn’t mean their conversation would be completely private, just softened.

Sakura's eyes widened, her hand instinctively grabbing at his clothed chest which would’ve been a threatening gesture if not for the circumstances. "Sasuke, you can't-!"

"But I can," he interjected, his voice steady despite the gravity of his words. "Music, money, and fame were all I cared about before you. You've shown me what’s truly important in life and I’m truly grateful to be loved by you. So," his voice stooped to a whisper, “I can’t let you go.”

His confession echoed throughout the stadium, silence descending as the audience absorbed his words. He pressed his lips firmly against Sakura’s which initially showed hesitation before falling into the practiced motion with enthusiasm until they pulled away naturally.

"I love you," he said, his voice reaching every corner of the arena. Sakura blinked, sending tears cascading down her cheeks and filling her heart with love. Sasuke watched her with soft eyes as she nodded in agreement.

“I love you too, Sasuke.”

The silence that followed their confession was deafening. Then, slowly, applause began to ripple through the crowd as if it were contagious. It started as a few tentative claps, then grew, gaining momentum until it swelled into a wave of cheering and applause. The couple looked out into the crowd, reminded of their very public circumstance and looked around. They noticed fans wiping tears from their faces, passing around packets of tissues and exchanging hugs with their neighbor. Many of the once angry faces in the crowd shone with newfound respect and understanding, nasty remarks replaced by words of encouragement. Sakura took Sasuke’s hand in hers, gripping it tightly. He glanced over at her smiling face.

The three-day concert ended on a high note, their love story serving as a reminder that, regardless of status, creed, money, etc., we are all humans deserving of kindness, understanding and love. With that, the tabloids which ran Sakura’s photos and name through the mud issued multiple apologies and, with heavy strong-arming from Mrs. Uchiha’s legal team, revealed to them how they received the photos in the first place.

Karin, who had been revealed to be Sasuke’s fan, had stolen and distributed the photos from Sasuke’s camera and later went on to stalk their activity as a couple on her days off. When her actions came to light it was safe to say Sakura was not a bit surprised and shared a few choice words with Karin as she was quite literally kicked to the curb, along with her belongings and a defamation suit on her hands. The red-headed woman continued to feign innocence up until the very end while everyone knew her character and history of a jealous, delusional fan.

As for Sasuke and Sakura, now dubbed the nation's couple, after a well needed break from the pandemonium, were back at it honing in on their craft and enjoying their successes together. It was their love story, written in a mansion between a feisty, ambitious maid and a cold-hearted, conceited celebrity. It was their love story, amplified on stage under the glaring spotlight, solidified in front of thousands of fans. And it was only just the beginning.