It's already been one week since I've secretly continued to watch over Uchiha-san, under his ord-I mean request to stay away from him.
"Hyuuga-san, how has Sasuke been so far?"
I fidgeted under her questioning yet curious look. The headmistress popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth. She offered me a piece as well. I declined as politely as I could. "W-Well, regarding Uchiha-san, he's d-doing fine."
She raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "Are you sure?" I nodded. She let out a sigh of relief and sat back in her chair with her head thrown back. "Thank goodness for that," she breathed "I can finally relax now." She stretched her arms and yawned. "That boy is the reason I can never get any sleep. What with being his doctor and all, it's troublesome to have a patient with suicidal tendencies." She smiled at me. "You're great, you know that?"
I blushed at her words. "N-No, I only-"
"But you really are, Hyuuga-san. Most people would have refused the job right away. I mean, no one in this day-and-age would want to babysit someone with a medical condition like his. It's mostly due to the responsibility they'd have to shoulder, y'know?"
But you practically forced me to! Of course, I said nothing and kept this to myself, nodding here and there every few seconds, missing bits of the one-sided conversation she was having with me. I was tired. I just wanted to go home.
"I hope you'll do me the favor and continue watching over him for me."
I nodded and forced a smile to make it look as natural as I could.
Upon returning home, I unlocked the door, opened it, and staggered my way inside. The room felt a bit warm, so I walked over to the window, sliding it open to let in the afternoon breeze. Content, I sighed. It felt good.
"Hm...what should I eat tonight?" I went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. There was left over miso soup and an unopened, cheap 12-piece pack of sushi. I closed the door and went over to the cabinets. I was always stocked with plenty of tea, so no worries there, but the second my eyes landed on the pack of sardines, I knew it was time to do some grocery shopping.
Grabbing my wallet, I headed outside.
"E-Excuse me, ojisan!" I called to the middle-aged man standing behind the counter with his back to me. He was busy cutting up fish and didn't turn around until I called out to him a second time. His eyes bulged instantly the moment he saw me. Wiping his hands on the front of his stained apron, he came forward, approaching me with a smile.
"Hello there, miss. What can I do for you?"
"Oh, u-um I was just wondering which fish is the ch-cheapest."
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Cheapest, huh? Well, this one here cost 500 yen."
"Ah, I-I'll take that one then." He grinned, leaning forward on the counter top.
"Tight budget?" he asked. I nodded. "If it's fine with you, miss, I don't mind giving you three of them, and all for the cost of only 600 yen."
My eyes widened in shock. "R-Really?"
"Sure," he winked. "It's not everyday that a girl as cute as you comes around. I usually get old ladies, not that I mind them of course, it's just nicer to see some youth around here." I blushed.
After cutting and wrapping my fish up for me, I payed the kind gentleman and politely bowed. "Th-Thank you, ojisan," I smiled.
He smiled in return. "Come again anytime, you're always welcome here." I waved goodbye before leaving.
"Itadakimasu." I picked up my pair of chopsticks and began eating. I had prepared fried fish, making sure that it was brown and crispy, and added a spicy, yet somewhat sour sauce on top of it. There was also the left over miso soup that I'd heated up, and some pickled yam on the side. It only took me a few minutes to devour the food before me. I was certainly hungrier than I thought I'd been.
Picking up the dishes, I went into the kitchen to properly wash and clean everything up. Afterwards, I headed for the bathroom to take a soak in the bathtub, despite how small and cramped it was for one person.
Changing into a white t-shirt and black shorts, I threw myself onto my bed, breathing in the sweet scent that my pillow carried due to my freshly washed hair. I turned on my side and sighed. I did not look forward to seeing Uchiha-san again.
"Err, if it's alright with you, would it...would it be okay to call you by your first name?" Inuzuka-kun looked at me sheepishly, his face flushed red. I couldn't help but blush in return. It felt really embarrassing for some reason, but I nodded anyways. He pumped a fist in the air, as if he'd just won the best prize ever. His eyes sparkling, he took my hands in his. "Since we're already on a first-name basis here anyways, you can just call me Kiba," he grinned.
"Ki..." he urged me to go on and say it. "Ki...Kiba...kun?"
Both our faces went red in that instant. I immediately excused myself from the classroom, much too embarrassed by the strange exchange we'd had between us just then. Class wouldn't start in another ten minutes.
With Uchiha-san sitting beside me only a few feet away, I chewed nervously on the tip of my mechanical pencil, wondering how I'd be able to follow him around again for the rest of the day. There was a possible chance that I could get caught by him this time and if such a thing were to happen, what would he do then? My face went blue in horror and I began feeling queasy.
Sensei set his planner down and announced to us that it was now lunchtime. Once he left the classroom, friends immediately pushed their desks together, pulling out their bentos. Uchiha-san stood up and left the classroom as well.
I looked around and quickly pulled out the usual three-tiered lunch box, setting it before Sakura, Ino, and Naruto-kun. As always, their faces held dissapointment when they realized that once again, I wouldn't be able to join them for lunch.
"Geez Hinata, what's with you?" Ino asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Do you really expect us to continue and enjoy your homemade lunch without you?" Sakura frowned, her eyes sad. "It's not fair, y'know? Considering that you cooked it and all too."
Naruto-kun pouted. For some reason, I could see fox ears on his head. "C'mon Hinata, eat with us!" he pleaded, his beautiful blue eyes sparkling. I had to stop myself from drooling mentally at him and shook my head, giving them my most apologetic look.
"I'm sorry everyone, but I really can't today." I glanced at the door, anxious to leave. It was Ino's turn to frown this time.
"This doesn't have anything to do with that new student, does it?" Sakura's reaction towards Ino's words made me realize that she had immediately figured it out. Her eyes turned into slits. I gulped.
"Hinata..." she began, but before she had the chance to finish, I made a beeline for the classroom door and ran out.
As usual, Uchiha-san sat where he always sat at for lunch-on the school rooftop.
I quietly snuck my way out the door, closing it with little force as possible so as to not make a sound. I hid behind the concrete wall to his left and watched as he ate a white bun in silence. The bun looked very tempting to eat.
It's not that I wanted to go about it this way, following him in secret like this, but it couldn't be helped. Uchiha-san had made it clear that he didn't want me near him, but I didn't exactly have a choice in the matter, especially when the request came from a woman of such high-standing. That, and the fact that I was a pushover.
Positioning myself to sit comfortably with my back against the wall, I drew in and hugged my legs, resting my chin atop my knees. My stomach growled in hunger. I was starving! I could've brought something to eat with me, but the chances of him hearing me chew and swallow were very high. I didn't want to blow my cover. I groaned, sad. It seemed I was going to have yet another big dinner again tonight.
As I wallowed in my despair, something soft and warm bounced off the top of my head. I looked down to see an unopened and plastic-wrapped bun. When I looked up, Uchiha-san passed right by me and muttered in an annoyed voice.
"I can hear you, stupid."