I think this is the longest chapter I wrote yet~
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor thenovel where I took the ideas from.
Naruto yawned in his room. It's only 9.00pm but let's face it, school books can really beat sleeping pills in making people drowsy. "How am I suppose to remember all this?" He whined silently.
The exam for the semester is tomorrow. Naruto looked at a mirror beside him. His eyes were red and his hair looked like he had just been out of the jungle after he was lost for days. He probably wouldn't answer well tomorrow. He had already drunk 2 cups of coffee but it had no effect at all. He closed his book for a while and closed his eyes. "I need to rest..."
"Naruto." Minato called. "Phone."
Naruto took the phone on his bedside table. "Moshi moshi?" He said lazily and yawned.
"Wow, you sure are sleepy." Said the voice on the other line.
"Oh." Naruto yawned again. "It's you Hinata. What do you want?"
"Nothing much. How's your revision for the test?"
"It's a disaster." Naruto answered bluntly.
"Want me to help?" Hinata offered.
"Oh no. No. No! NO!" Naruto's eyes shot up. "I am done being tutored by you! I just need a little bit of rest."
Hinata laughed softly. "Certainly you would sleep if you do that."
"Maybe." He responded. "I already drank 2 cups of coffee but I'm still sleepy. You would think that I'm immune to it or something. Besides, how am I suppose to remember all that if I didn't get any sleep? My head will be dizzy."
She laughed again. "It can't be that bad. If you're tired, don't push yourself, Naruto-kun. Try washing your face if you're too sleepy."
"Kay. I'll try that."
"Actually, I called you to ask you to go to a place with me tomorrow." Hinata said. "Since exam is over, how about both of us go to the new restaurant near school?"
"Good idea!"
"I'll wait for you after school tomorrow then!" She said happily.
"Okay!" He said enthusiastically. "Say Hinata, how come you have time talking with me right now? Aren't you supposed to be studying?"
"Oh I finished that an hour ago." Hinata said proudly.
"What? An hour ago?" Naruto asked, bewildered. "How...?"
"Oh I have an excellent memory, Naruto-kun." She said simply. "Anyway, my brain is better than yours, you know." She laughed.
"What did you say? Choose your words carefully, girl." He fumed.
"No need to be angry, Naruto-kun." Hinata stifled a laugh. "That's a fact. You have a bad case of memory problems."
"I will prove to you that I can have good results too!" He challenged. "I'm gonna go study now!"
"Action speaks louder than words, Naruto-kun." Hinata said cheekily.
"Why you..." Then a something flicker in Naruto's mind and he paused. "Hey Hinata..."
"Yes...?" Hinata asked, confused.
"About my question the other day..." Naruto started.
Hinata felt her heartbeat thumping in the speed of lightning. "Well, you better go study now, Naruto-kun." She said hastily.
"But you didn't answer my..." But he was cut off by Hinata.
"Oops my mother is calling me. See you tomorrow, Naruto-kun." And just like that Hinata ended the phone call.
Naruto who was staring at the phone in his hand complained. "Sneaky girl." And he put back the phone. "Gotta study. Does she think she's the only one with a good brain? I can have one too if I try."
He looked at the book in front of him and sighed. He opened it reluctantly and studied...
Naruto woke up the next day and froze when he saw the clock. He overslept. Shit.
He took a 1 minute shower and put on his uniform. He sped to school while trying to fix his tie. He reached school right before the exam started and heaved a sigh of relief.
Kakashi-sensei distributed the test papers and when he put it on Naruto's table, the boy cringed. All the facts that were on his mind yesterday were lost to who knows where.
When Kakashi finished distributing the papers, he said, "All right. You may begin answering now and don't try to cheat coz' I'll know."
"Okay. Took a deep breath and don't panic." Naruto muttered to himself. "I must stay calm, only then will the facts come to me." He closed his eyes for a while to calm himself but when he opened them again, his mind was still blank.
2 hours later...
Naruto walked out of the class tiredly. He used all his stamina and mind power on the test just now. Sure he could answer some of the questions, but most of them were left blank.
Then he smiled, remembering Hinata's plan. He could ask Hinata the question again. He knew that it would probably true what Kana had told him by the way Hinata reacts after he opened up that subject, he was not too stupid as to not know to put two and two together, but really, he would like to hear it from Hinata herself.
Naruto ran to Hinata's class. His eyes wandered through everyone in the class but the one he was looking for was not there.
"Hey Kiba!" Naruto called to one of Hinata's classmates that he knew. "Have you seen Hinata?"
"Didn't you know, Naruto?" Kiba said. "Hinata was taken to the hospital last night. Genma-sensei said that she's in the ICU."
Naruto felt like he was just been stroke by lightning. He ran as fast as he could to the gate and stopped the first taxi that came into view.
All the way to the hospital, his heart was thumping faster than ever. Naruto sped in the hospital after he paid the driver. In front of the ICU room, he could see Hiashi was sitting with both his face in his hands. Naruto neared him and sat beside him, still panting.
"Hiashi-san..." He asked and gulped. "...how's Hinata?"
Hiashi lifted his face and looked at Naruto. "Hinata's heartbeat stopped this morning..."
Naruto felt as if he's body had gone numb when he heard that. He felt like he's dying. Yesterday, Hinata was still teasing him. Only yesterday, did he hear Hinata's tinkling laughter. Yesterday he was still able to hear her voice. But now...
Hiashi smiled in pain. "Don't worry, child. Her condition is stable now. She's currently sleeping." Naruto felt like jumping in joy when those words came out of Hiashi's lips.
"I'm a useless father!" Hiashi said miserably. "I could save other people's lives but I almost couldn't save my own daughter's. Weird, huh?"
Naruto tried to cheer the man beside him up. "You're not useless, Hiashi-san. You're a great doctor. Even Hinata wishes to be a doctor like you."
"Really?"
Naruto nodded. "Hiashi-san can I see Hinata?"
"You better wait until she woke up."
"But I want to see her now." Naruto said in a pleading tone.
Hiashi gave up. "Okay. You can go in."
Naruto entered the ICU room quietly. He could see Hinata through the glass wall, lying unconscious on a bed. He looked at the girl sadly. He touched the glass in front of him. He really wanted to touch her, to caress her, to hug her. He still remembered Hinata's teasing from yesterday. He couldn't believe that the same girl that teased him, is now fighting for her life behind that glass wall.
"Get well soon, Hinata." Naruto whispered. "If you'll get better soon, you can tease me all you want; I wouldn't even ask the question... I don't mind... just get well soon... please..."
As if she could hear Naruto's voice, Hinata's eyes fluttered open. Naruto's eyes were still on her.
Hinata looked at her surroundings, perplexed. The last thing she remembered was that she was talking on the phone with Naruto when her mother called her to help her with something, which was good since she didn't know what to say when he threw her that question, again. And then when she walked out of her room, her chest was hurting so much, like it was burned, and she couldn't remember anything after that.
"How long had I been here?" She asked herself. Hinata's eyes then met Naruto's. She laughed weakly. Judging by his uniform, she knew that Naruto didn't even went home yet.
"Hi." Hinata said softly. Naruto couldn't hear her of course, but he could read her lips. "Hi!" Naruto said and waved enthusiastically. Hinata smiled. She tried adjusting the bed's height so she could face him.
"You okay?" Naruto mouthed. Hinata nodded and smiled, yet again. She remembered the exam that they were supposed to take today and mouthed, "Test?"
Naruto was silent when Hinata asked that. Frankly, it wasn't something worth telling anyone about, but as to not disappoint Hinata, he had to lie. He grinned widely and gave her a 'thumbs up'.
Hinata smiled and mouthed, "Liar!" and she stuck out her tongue. Naruto laughed. It looks he would never ever get to lie to Hinata.
5 days later...
Hinata was packing her stuff at the hospital. Naruto knocked her door happily. Hinata can go home today. The doctors said it was a miracle that she healed so fast. Naruto couldn't care less. The important thing is that Hinata could go home and she's in the pink of health. Kinda. When he told her what the doctors said, Hinata just smiled.
"Maybe the time's not here yet..." She said calmly. Naruto just looked at her when she said that.
"Need my help?" He asked.
"No, thank you. I'm doing just fine." She said with a smile. "Takumi-san is going to be here any minute now. I want to wait for him in front of the hospital. That way he wouldn't have to got to parking lot. Besides, the sooner we're out of here, the better."
Naruto knew what she's feeling. "We better get going then." He lifted her bag.
"Eh, no! I can carry the bag on my own." Hinata said in alarm, trying to take back the bag from Naruto.
"Hey you just recovered you know." He caught her hand and looked at her eye-to-eye. "Hinata, you're a patient and I'm a visitor. I'm a boy and you're a girl. What would people say if they see you carrying the bag and I'm not helping?" Hinata was speechless. Naruto nodded his head. "I knew you couldn't defy that logic. Now come on." And with that they walked together to the hospital's entrance.
After waiting for 5 minutes, Takumi still didn't show up. "Hinata, I think we should go back inside for a while." Naruto said.
Hinata shook her head vigorously. "I don't want to go in there again!" She said stubbornly.
He looked at the raindrops that just descend. Luckily they were sheltered under the roof outside of the hospital. "But it's really cold out."
"Rest assure, Naruto-kun," She said, "Takumi-san will be here any minute."
Naruto gave up and he put the bag on the floor and took off the jacket he's wearing.
"Here." Naruto said. "Wear this before you catch a cold."
Hinata looked at the jacket. He was holding out the jacket. Hinata smiled inwardly. To think that a delinquent like Naruto would accept a gift from a girl like her. It's like a miracle.
She shook her head. "It's okay, Naruto-kun. You need the jacket too, right?"
He frowned. "But you need it more than I do." Naruto insisted.
"No, really..." Hinata protested. But Naruto ignored her and covered her upper body with the jacket. Okay, he already asked politely. Since she still didn't want to take it, what else is there to do, ne?
"Arigatou." Hinata muttered and held the jacket closer to her body. Naruto grinned. "Felt better than before, huh?" Hinata just blushed.
Not long after, Takumi came. Hinata asked him to take Naruto home first. When they were outside of his house, Naruto talked to Hinata through the window. "Take care of yourself, kay Hinata? Rest a lot." He said with concern.
Hinata gave him a warm smile and nodded. "I'll remember that. See you later, Naruto-kun."
Takumi continued driving towards the direction of Hyuuga Manor. Hinata looked at the jacket she's wearing. There was never a day when it was boring if Naruto's around. As soon as she reached home, her mother greeted her at the door.
"Hinata-chan!" Kana hugged her. She glanced at the jacket that her daughter was wearing. "Oh? What's this?"
"It's a friend's." Hinata blushed.
Kana's eyes glinted and she grinned. "A friend. Right."
Hinata looked at her mother. "What's with that tone?"
"Oh nothing, Hinata-chan. Nothing at all." Kana said playfully. She led Hinata to the dining room. "Do you want to change first, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata looked at the jacket fondly. Naruto's not here...but his jacket is...that will do.
"Maybe later, kaa-san. I want to eat first." She reasoned.
Kana smiled and went to the kitchen
Naruto walked to his father's room. He was really happy today since Hinata's now out of the hospital. But there's something that he must do. He knocked the door and went inside.
Minato was putting on his coat for an appointment with his business partner. "What is it, Naruto?" he asked.
"I want to give you something, dad." Naruto gave him a frame with a photo of them when they were shopping for Hinata's birthday gift. The shop assistant had helped him to capture it using Naruto's hand phone.
"I don't know how to thank you for your help the other day..." Naruto scratched his head, "So here."
"This is really great. Thanks Naruto." Minato smiled when he took it. "And for this, I'll give you something in return." He said and opened a drawer. Naruto stared when his father took out a pendant which had a green crystal as the locket.
"That is..."
"Yeap." Minato nodded. "It's the same pendant that you whined for and tried to choke off my neck when you were little."
Naruto laughed. "Sorry 'bout that, dad."
Minato shrugged. "Anyway here. Took great care of it, young man. It's in our family since forever."
Naruto took it and looked at it fondly. "Thanks, dad."
Minato ruffled his son's hair. "Well I would love to chat with you longer, Naruto, but I have an appointment."
"See ya, dad."
Minato smiled briefly and got out of the room.
The report cards would be given today. Naruto was feeling uneasy since morning. He was absolutely sure that his marks are down, down, down. Truth be told, he didn't want to disappoint Hinata and his father but at least he tried, right?
Kakashi walked in the class with a handful of report cards and postcards. He put those on his table and faced the class.
"Alright. Today you will get your report cards. But before I give them to you, I want to tell you something. I expect that all of you know that there's a new post office across the street, no? Well they gave us free postcards for the students, especially for you lot since it'll be your last year here." He placed some postcards at the front table of each row.
"I'm sure all of you will have a splendid holiday. So these postcards can be used to send to each other during that time. You five," Kakasi pointed his fingers at the kids that were at the front, "Passed the postcards to the back."
They did as they told. Naruto glanced at the purple postcard that was given to him and he put it in his bag.
"Now that that's done." Kakashi said. "It's time to have some fun with your report cards. I will call your names alphabetically, so be patient."
Naruto's heart beat rapidly when Kakashi called his name. Kakasi looked at the student in front of him and opened the report card.
"I don't know what to say." He sighed. From his teacher's facial expression, Naruto could almost predict what his marks are. "Your marks are still low... but I'm quite satisfied that you didn't failed even one subject."
"I passed for all subjects?" Naruto asked in disbelief.
"Yes." Kakashi smiled. "Glad to see that you're trying to improve your marks. It's good to know that you used the second chance that I gave you, Naruto. Just try harder for next semester. Here." Kakashi gave Naruto his report card and he analyzed it when he was at his desk. The highest mark he gained was in PE.
Naruto walked out of his class happily. Sure his marks ain't perfect but he really did tried and this made him proud of his result. He went to Hinata's class since Hinata said again and again that she would want to look at his report card. He popped his head inside. No Hinata.
"Sakura where's Hinata?" Naruto asked a pink haired girl who was stepping out of the class.
"Oh she's been called to the principal office." Sakura said and walked away.
Naruto panicked. "What for?" he monologue. Is it because her marks were not satisfactory? He ran to the principal's office and waited until Hinata came out.
"Hinata..." Naruto greeted. "Why were you called? Anything wrong with your marks?"
Hinata nodded slowly, her hand holding her report card weakly. Naruto tried to cheer her up. "It's okay, Hinata. There's still the next semester. You can try harder. Certainly your marks are not as low as mine, right?"
Hinata stopped abruptly and looked at him seriously. "How is your result?"
Naruto gave her the book. "I don't think it's that bad. I didn't failed even one subject. We could try harder together next semester, kay?"
Hinata's eyes scanned his marks thoroughly. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Can I take a look at your report card?"
Hinata shook her head.
"Give it to me! It can't be that bad."
The same response came from Hinata. Naruto couldn't stand it anymore so he snatched the book from her hand.
"Hey!" Hinata tried to grab the book but Naruto was quicker. He evaded her prying hands and opened the book. He was definitely surprised when he saw Hinata's marks. Naruto shook his head and look at her.
"Your marks are all 90% and above..."
"Yeah."
"So why were you called to the principal's office?" Naruto asked, completely bewildered.
Hinata laughed. "I was joking, Naruto-kun. The principal just wanted to congratulate me and give me a present for being the top student in our grade."
"No way! Top student?" He asked. "So... you lied to me."
Hinata nodded. "I can't believe I could deceive you. And it's my first time too." Hinata laughed.
Naruto cursed. "Damn."
"Don't be mad, Naruto-kun. I just want to tease you."
"Wait a minute. One thing I don't understand." Naruto said thoughtfully. "You didn't take the history paper right?"
"Have you ever heard of a follow-up test?"
"But your PE marks..." Naruto said, perplexed, "how did you get such high marks? You didn't even follow the class!"
"Gai-sensei said I should make a report about PE to get marks and so I did."
"Oh..." Naruto understood. "Hinata sure is a one of a kind student." He complimented inwardly. "Even when she's sick she could be at the top. I am way behind if compared to her."
The two walked to the school garden and sat on the bench.
"Did you get a postcard?" Hinata asked. "Mine's orange." She showed her postcard.
Naruto nodded and took out his postcard from his bag. Hinata looked at it longingly.
"I like purple..." She said.
"Then let's switch." Naruto took the postcard from Hinata's hands and gave her the purple one. "You can have mine."
"Thank you!" Hinata smiled softly. "So... where are you going to go this holiday? Meet your mother?"
"I don't know. I didn't plan anything yet."
"If you have decided, take the postcard and send to me. Write about everything that you do, okay?"
"Agreed!" Naruto said.
They were quiet for a while. Then, Hinata took a deep breath.
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata said suddenly, "there's something that I want to tell you..."
"What is it?" Naruto asked curiously.
Hinata took a deep breath again. "The day before yesterday... my father discussed with me. The doctors who are treating me proposed that I should go through a heart surgery."
"Why?" Naruto protested. "Are you not well now? You were out of the hospital last week because you had recovered, right?"
Hinata shook her head slowly. "Yesterday I went through another examination... the doctor said that I must be operated."
"That bad...?" Naruto asked quietly.
"I don't know." Hinata said. "The risks for this surgery are very high... My father didn't want me to go through it, but there's a chance that I could live healthily like everyone else if it's a success."
"Or you could die." Naruto said coldly.
Hinata nodded.
"Then don't!" Naruto pleaded. "At least you can live longer, right?"
Hinata looked at him straight in the eye. "I had agreed to be operated, Naruto-kun."
"Why?" Naruto glared. "You could die if the surgery failed, Hinata!"
"I know." Hinata responded. "But you have to remember that I could have a chance of living like a normal person. Like you and everyone else."
Tears started to fall on Naruto's face. His emotions were mixed between sad and angry. "My mother left me before and now you! I don't want this! I hate you, Hinata! I don't want to see your face ever again!"
Naruto stood up and ran away.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called. "Naruto-kun..." She whispered and tears started to fall down her cheeks as well.
R&R love~
