Hinata's POV

I'm all set. I'm wearing clothes that I think is comfortable. We're going to practice at a house, right? I don't think I need to dress like I'm going to a party or anything. It's just a practice for a play. But of course, it's color-coordinated. I'm wearing a large purple t-shirt over my white knee-low leggings. I also put on my purple and white polka-dotted slip-ons. How about my hair? I just combed it neatly. Not bad, I think.

I looked at the time. It's already 8:30 am. It would take me about fifteen minutes to get to the convenience store. I was never late at things like this. I'm good at that. Well, better early than late, right? Plus, there's that yummy cinnamon roll I really like to buy there. My sweet cinnamon roll, here I come!

From my room, I went down our stairs. Neji-nii-san and me passed by each other. When I reached the end of the stairs, he called after me.

"Hinata-sama!"

I turned around and looked at him. He's at the top of the staircase. "Yes?" I asked. What would it be that he needs?

"Where are you going?" he asked. He looked at me with his quite stern Hyuuga eyes he got from Uncle Hizashi. I forgot. Neji-nii-san is kind of… protective of me and Hanabi-chan. He's more of an older brother than a cousin. Not that I'm complaining. I meant it as a good thing.

"We have practice for our play at the Hitachiin residence," I answered.

"Hn. Take care. Call me when you're in trouble but don't hesitate to kick their butts if they're going to do something wrong with you," he said. Kick their butts? Do something wrong? I don't think they'll ever do that. They're my friends. And… their mischievous acts don't get to the extent that I have to fight them.

"I will," I smiled and went on my way.

Hmmm… I had told Chichiyou that we have practice today. Maybe I should tell him that I'll be leaving? Wait… he's in his office and he dislikes being disturbed. I think I should just tell a maid to let him know…

I saw a maid passing by; carrying books which I presume is for Chichiyou's bookshelf in his study. She's uh… Mika-san, I think? Great! Nice timing.

"Mika-san!" I called for her. She turned around, still carrying five or six hardbound books on her arms.

"Yes, young mistress?" she asked, tilting her head. I really don't actually like being called 'young mistress'. But when I told a maid to just call me 'Hinata-san', father overheard it and annoyingly gave me a five-minute lecture on why I should be proud being called 'mistress' and show superiority above others. I understood his sermon but I just can't apply it in real life.

"Would you please tell Chichiyou that I'm going to our school play practice when he's available?" I requested.

She nodded. "I will, young mistress." Then she went on her way.

I walked towards the main door. Sitting on a high wooden stool at the kitchen counter, Hanabi was eating parfait with chocolate chips at the bottom, followed by chopped strawberries, kiwi, gelatine, bite-sized brownies, chopped bananas and a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with candy sprinkles and two wafer sticks. It made my mouth water. I want some too… Arghhh! Hinata! It'll take you an hour before you could finish a large parfait like that! Stop looking at it before Hanabi notices!

"Where are you going, onee-chan?" she asked, still with her pearl eyes fixated on every teaspoon-full of sweets she places in her mouth.

"Practice…"

"With your new rich-kid classmates?" she asked, still not looking at me.

I nodded.

Now she looked at me with an eyebrow raised. Ummm… Why is she looking at me like that? Is there something wrong? She looked at me from head to toe. Suddenly, I felt like I've done something wrong with my clothing in her eyes.

"Wearing that?" she asked sarcastically. Uh-oh… I forgot Hanabi is "in" with the fashion trends… including lolita and cosplay fashion…

"Uh-huh." I nodded, looking away from her intimidating stare.

She shook her head disappointedly. Uhhh… "Great. My sister has a great fashion sense," she remarked sarcastically. Ouch. I felt those words pierce through my heart. Oh, the drama queen-ing me… How out-of-character. Blame the author, okay?

But seriously, what's wrong with my clothes?

Okay… I'll explain. "B-But I think this is fine… We're just going to prac – "

"It's NOT okay. We're going to your room and change. NOW," she commanded with much authority, cutting me off.

"O-Okay…" I said softly, looking down.

She got off the stool and placed her unfinished parfait in the fridge then walked ahead of me, going to my room. I followed.

Somehow, I feel… kind of jealous of Hanabi. Not only that she's Chichiyou's favourite daughter, she has large leadership ability, smart, talented, outgoing, friendly, and one of those "it-girls." Compared to me, she's like my polar opposite. I'm shy. I hate the spotlight. I don't make friends easily. Comparing her to the thirteen-year-old me, she's physically stronger than I am. If only I grew up like her…

We reached my lavender-themed room. She went straight to my walk-in closet and I followed. She browsed through my… one-pieces? She's going to make me wear a dress? After a few minutes of picking, she took a lavender above-the-knee tunic with a hoodie.

Holding it by its hanger, she faced me. "Shirt off," she commanded.

I'm not really shy around Hanabi. She's my sister, one of the first people I could trust. I took off my large shirt and put on the tunic. I looked at my reflection on the mirror. It's fitted on the top part especially on my stomach part and went straight down with the skirt part. It's... pretty though I'm not used to these clothes. I could really trust my sister. She's really good at these things.

She nodded approvingly. She went to the part where my shoes are located and started to pick which one I should wear.

"Uhhh… Could I just wear some comfortable flats…?" I requested. I'm just going to walk to the meeting place. I don't want to bother Kou-san on a Saturday.

She nodded. "Rubber shoes and heels don't really match nicely with that kind of tunic."

She took a pair of flats with a rubber-shoes-looking design. You know? It has holes for its laces and the laces pass through the holes and at the top, they form ribbons. She gave it to me and I put it on, replacing my polka-dot flats.

"Okay… now for the accessories…" she mumbled then went to the necklaces. She opened its drawer and took out a white ribbon necklace with a long string, so it would reach just below my chest. I placed it around my neck obediently.

Then she took a white headband with a white ribbon and placed it on my head. I looked at the mirror. What the…?

She nodded. "You're good to go."

"O-Okay…" I said hesitatingly.

"Don't worry. It's cute," she remarked reassuringly with a small grin. "Wait, is that auburn-haired guy one of your classmates who you'd practice with?" she inquired.

I nodded. I think she meant Hikaru-kun or Kaoru-kun.

She smirked. "Remember that you would practice and not flirt."

Flirt? What? "What do you mean?"

"Oh, never mind. Just go already if you're going to walk. You don't have enough time left."

Huh? I looked at the clock located by the door.

It's 8:50.

Oh shoot.

"Y-Yeah! I'm going!" I said, panicking, and took my small bag and practically ran downstairs.

"Sorry for taking time for your clothes!" Hanabi's voice shouted.

"No problem!" I answered.

I zoomed out of the door and almost ran towards the convenience store.

I had never been late. My lame fashion sense is the one to blame for my possible lateness.

Great.


Yay! Chapter 12!
Please read! Sorry for the shortness! This is what I had managed to do with my hectic schedules… hehehe…
Thankies! More Reviews = Earlier updates. :3

Sincerely yours,
Eru-chii