Ino sat down with a small huff, watching Chouji out of the corner of her eyes. He was looking particularly content today, and for some reason, it was bugging her. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. "What's got you so happy?"
Chouji looked momentarily puzzled, but soon smiled widely and shrugged his shoulders. "Today is good."
She snorted. "Yes, since you showed up when you needed to for once. I swear, with the time I spend trying to find you and Shikamaru's lazy ass..." Ino trailed off suggestively.
Chouji was still grinning, though he looked and sounded more serious as he spoke. "I'm sorry, Ino-san. Shikamaru has a habit of forgetting things." Or not needing to remember them. Those words hung unspoken between the two teammates.
Ino's mind pondered, then circled around to something else Chouji hadn't said. "What about you? What's your excuse?" She raised her eyebrow, not quite curious, not quite disinterested.
The larger man laid the lid on his bento, turning to regard her. He seemed to be thinking about what he wanted to say - Ino wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. Finally, he made up his mind. "It makes me happy."
Ino deadpanned. "...What? My scouring Konoha for a sign of you and your lazy ass cohort makes you happy? Dear gods, Chouji, I know you appreciate food, but I didn't know you had the same appetite for petty annoyances!" Her indignation was rising.
Chouji rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "No! Ah, not like that, I mean, Ino-san." He flashed her a smile, then sobered up. "I meant it makes me happy..." he coughed. "That you look for me."
She narrowed her eyes. Was he pulling her leg? A strange warmth settled in her belly. "Don't be stupid - You boys would be utterly lost if it weren't for me. I can't trust anyone else to get you where you need to be!"
Chouji's cheeks reddened, and he stood, offering her his hand. "You have to help your father out with the shop today, don't you?"
She nodded, accepting his hand more out of distraction than an actual need. Ino ignored his blush, just as she ignored her own heated face. If there was one thing Yamanaka Ino did not do, it was blush. Especially not over Chouji. Even if it did make her feel the slightest bit... Happy.