Tenten met Neji Hyūga when they were fourteen. Both entering high school for the first time and entering their Mentoring(1).
Five foot six with long black hair, Neji is definitely handsome with an air of mystery from his featureless eyes. Something is his invisible smiles and serious expression that Tenten finds distinctively attracted. She also meets Rock Lee, who quickly becomes her brother.
She doesn't believe it when they find they share the same English, History, and Science(2) classes as well. It takes two weeks before Tenten works up the courage to look past his cold, serious attitude to talk to him. Since then he became a reluctant third to Tenten and Lee, who also shared the same majority classes.
By the time they hit their second semester of the first year, Neji and Tenten were somewhat a couple without being an actual couple.
That label changes when Tenten gets her license. They both got their permits at the beginning of their sophomore year but Tenten was older, if only by a few months, and takes the test before him.
Surprise, Tenten picked him up in her foster mom's car, and they did had a hiking day to Hokage's Cave(3) the first weekend they could.
They took the Mokuton Trail, which runs about 8 miles one way on the mountain's east side. It starts in the Hall-of-the-Aspens picnic area and is picturesque as the hike pass several waterfalls. Tenten always loved pointing out the splattering of colors the wildflower brought.
It's in the shadows of the trees that Neji first kissed her. With as in shape they were, they still took a good break when they made it to Mito Falls. They sat on the rocks overlooking the scenic falls from a fairytale and talk to each other about everything. Speaking to each other came easily for them now, although Tenten feels that Neji would rather her to keep talking.
She stops talking after he's stopped his own inputs after a moment. Capping her water tumble and tucking it back into her pack, she asks if he's okay.
It wouldn't be the first time Neji has pushed himself too far without Tenten realizing it. That had been a scary moment.
"Nothing." He answers and moves in.
Tenten shot back at first. She doesn't like to think back at it now, it would have been one more, but at the time she's awkward, her heartrate skyrockets, and her palms start sweating.
Neji is determined and his fingers inch onto hers. It steadies her in ways that she can never understand.
Her brown eyes meet the same featureless ones that captured her the year before.
It's sweet and awkwardly until they find their rhythm together.
(1)-Freshman Mentoring is a class that my high school set up in my senior year. It worked as a replacement for the traditional homeroom. Each class had at least three seniors as mentors that would offer support in areas they may need. Sometimes we covered high school issues like bullying, study tips, of two take notes. They don't stay together after the first semester, but they were more than welcome to contact us if they needed anything. Some of my students still text me from time to time. Obviously, I'm changing the layout a bit to better fit the story.
(2)-I'm not aware of other places but in my school district you're required to take four years of English, two years of History, three years of science, and four years of math, in order to graduate. The last year of each is generally an elective like AP Literature/Language, Creative Writing, Modern War, Ancient History, Geology, Physiology, whatever math level you're at.
(3)-Hokage's Cave is based off of Timpangos Cave. While Timp opens in May, Hokage's opens in the March where visitors can explore the underground caves to discover the power of water and minerals.
Throwing this out there, I firmly believe Neji and Tenten were probably meant to be soulmates. In my mind, it makes sense because their theme songs despite the tempo difference.