Hints
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters
A/N
This is a special story, and that is why I will be putting this one early, sort of an extra. Review on your thoughts and ideas about the point this story tries to make.
Also, don't think I'm being stereotypical, I actually had this discussion with other girls, and it was them who said that they were subtle and the like :)
"A question."
They looked at him, confused. Shikamaru didn't ask questions unless is was sarcastic or a part of his plan.
"Yes?" Ino asked.
"You girls and your subtle hints, is that really necessary?"
Tenten looked at him. "Where is this coming from?"
Kiba slapped him in the back. "What, someone been hinting at you?"
He looked at his friend strangely, then casually shifted the hand off of him. "Hardly, I'm just saying that with the festival being a few months away, I can hear you girls gossiping about how to approach this and that. Kind of troublesome really."
Chouji laughed. "He is sort of right, Ino."
Sakura then decided to cut in. "Well, how else do you expect us to get your attention about it? By us telling you straight up?"
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way," Neji answered.
"Exactly!" Temari said. "You of all people would know that, Lazy-ass."
"Yeah well, I'm just saying that there's a reason you girls don't have dates yet, apart from you obvious pairs like Naruto, Hinata and Neji, Tenten."
Tenten giggled. "Is someone upset that he doesn't have a date?"
Sakura laughed too. "Maybe he's just so unsure if someone in particular has given him any hints at all."
Temari shifted uncomfortably, without Shikamaru's knowing.
"Anyway, I'm just asking if there's a line between subtle hints, and straight up with girls asking the guys?"
Kiba looked around at the other guys. "He's got a point. Some of us are quite bad with these things. Take this idiot here," he said while flicking the back of Naruto's head.
"Yes well, everyone knew about Hinata but him," They all laughed, with Hinata blushing.
The girls then looked at each other. "A line between the two, is there such a thing?"
"Or, you guys could just take a hint," Temari answered.
"See here's the thing," Chouji began. "We aren't always too sure about it, and well, subtlety ain't one of our strong points."
"At the same time," Shino finally decided to join in, "Many guys don't like the idea of not doing the asking."
"So, are you saying less subtlety on the hints, Shino?" Sakura asked him.
Kiba and Shino both nodded to that.
"Easier said than done, boys," Ino commented. "This stuff isn't so easy for us either."
Shikamaru sighed. "So really, we have nothing."
A few of them laughed. "Nothing at all."
"So until we get an answer, what happens?"
Temari moved to get closer to him. "You and the other guys can get a hint, that's what."
Shikamaru looked at Kiba, who gave him an '-told-you-so look, then turned back to Temari and smiled.
"Yeah, it's troublesome, but I guess we could start with that."
End.