III. Before the Clock Strikes Twelve
In the future, time travel is an enterprise, a miraculous technology born out of the desperate human effort to trace the origins and undo a pandemic. Families paid for vacation packages to see the brontosaurus; scientists took samples of extinct species they surmised could survive the present time; people spent a fortune to see their dead loved ones. 'To benefit the whole' was the only rule. That is, no common folk apart from authorities may change the course of history, personal or that of the world.
The Hinata from the future arrived in Tokyo two years ago. And she had only one motive: make sure Hinata graduated as the top student.
Hinata's assignments that earned the best marks? Hers.
Hinata's highly graded projects? Her handicraft.
Hinata's thesis? Her brainchild.
Her starry-eyed self from the past initially refused it, called it cheating and lying. She told her they are one and the same - not cheating at all. And if ever this was possible, they owe it destiny.
Her past self ate the destiny perspective and glowed at the motivation. No one knew better how her mind worked than she did and spared Hinata the glum details. Prior to this, she had quit her supervisory job at a fast-fashion brand factory in Tokyo and spent all her life savings on a two-year vacation to Tokyo in the past.
She wagered it all for the moment Sasuke asks her to go with him to London.
This time, she prepared her visa requirements ahead of time, looked into the cost of living in London, and the salaries and benefits of the potential jobs she could qualify for. She came up with a financial plan for herself to follow for the next few years, taking future inflation into account until the year she knew Sasuke's brand took off.
This time, everything aligned.
And this time, they will be together.
Future Hinata smiled as she went over the details of her computations once again, admiring her spreadsheet work.
She clicked print and the printer hummed, taking its graceful time spitting out finished papers. She then secured her financial plan, list of job openings, her resume and application letters, and a few pages of notes in a brown envelope. She wrote a label on the back and carefully filed it next to Hinata's visa requirements.
Hands on her hips, she breathed out a satisfied sigh, years of despair seeming to have been lifted off her shoulders. She glanced at her translucent Chronos Lab Co. watch:
24:32:09
She pressed her lips.
Tomorrow, she will be sent back.
She crossed her fingers, suddenly anxious if she had done enough. Rubbing her chest in circles, soothing her heart, she assured herself everything will surely change.
This will work.
The door groaned and Future Hinata quickly rushed to hide beside the bed. She looked over. It was her past self, still wearing the long face.
This privileged brat...
If only this Hinata knew how she has it good.
"Wow. White roses," said Future Hinata, eyeing the hefty bouquet in Hinata's arms. "Didn't know he had that in him. Good for you."
Hinata weakly shook her head. "This isn't from Sasuke... It's from Toneri."
"I told you to do it sternly, didn't I? Sternly. People always think they can change your mind because you don't voice out your objections properly."
"I... I think I'll work for Boutiqlo."
"Come again?"
Hinata gulped, the last rays of the setting sun reflected in her opalescent eyes staring at her. "I'm working for Boutiqlo."
Oh, look at her being decisive and all.
Not for long.
Future Hinata circled the bed and stood in front of Hinata, blocking the light of the sun touching her face, filtered by the window.
"Why?" Future Hinata asked. "For the sake of your so-called friends? You don't have to worry about them. I don't think you understand it now, but they never needed you to survive. They're leeches. They will always find ways to get what they want. And if that doesn't drive my point home, in the future, they have better jobs than you. Way, way higher-paying jobs. They thrive by sleeping around. That's their main networking skill. Don't know what sleeping around means? It means they have se-"
"Stop!"
Hinata covered her ears.
"Please stop talking about people like that!"
Future Hinata narrowed her eyes. "But it's true... They don't deserve the things you do for them. You're being too kind. And they trample on your kindness every single time. When you need help in the future, you'll never get it from them."
Hinata twiddled her thumbs. "That's not my main reason. Ma, Pa..."
Future Hinata decided to change her value proposition to acts of benevolence, Hinata's sure weakness. "With your present credentials, you'll be earning more in London. You'll be able to help them more." she added, gauging Hinata's reactions like watching the movements of her prey. "In the future, Elder Brother Neji would want a tractor of his own instead of borrowing from Pa. You'll be able to help with that. And during times of poor harvest, when our relatives have no one else to borrow money from, you can help with that, too. Without a second thought..."
"But I'll be..."
"Far from them?" Future Hinata added. "I'm sure, you'll get used to it. You're with Sasuke. And you're earning more money. Everyone will be happy."
As as she crossed over to the desk, Future Hinata smiled smugly seeing the apprehension in Hinata's face turn into resignation .
"I finished everything I can do for you." She patted the neat pile of documents. "Now you do your part. Go have fun tomorrow. Congratulate Sasuke - he'll win the exhibit. If you plan on giving him something, food. I'm sure he'll be hungry. He hasn't eaten properly in days. He might end up with a fever, so watch out for that... When you get back here, I'll be gone."
Hinata remained silent and still, sitting on the bed. "Can you still speak in the Konohan dialect?"
Future Hinata raised her brow at this weird question.
"Is the reason you never talk in Konohan, because you're embarrassed by it?" said Hinata.
"No, not really," replied Future Hinata, tapping her finger on the desk. "It's just that I found no need."
"Will I continue feeling this way? ," said Hinata. "Like I constantly need to hide Konoha because better things are here... When the most beautiful things I know, and the most precious memories I have are from that place."
"You're in a contemplative mood, I see. Must be because we're finally saying goodbye..."
"Miss Kurenai told me," continued Hinata," that the only way to decide truly... is to find the answers for myself. And when I find the answer, I'll know, because it's a place that I will not trade for anything, a place where I'll strive to not to lose to anyone or anything. Because it's mine. That must've been the source of Sasuke's strength. Because he found that place inside him long before he even came to Tokyo..."
She stood up from the bed and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Future Hinata.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me until now." Hinata bowed. "I guess you're right. That place isn't Boutiqlo. And I'll properly let Toneri know," she said.
Future Hinata smiled. "That's right. I'm glad we're on the same page now."
Before she soundly shut the door, Hinata quickly added, "But it's not London either."
"What?!"
Oh no, she didn't!
Future Hinata ran out of the room, but she had been too late. Hinata had already dashed out Ayame's house, leaving behind a few fallen white petals on the floor.
She clenched her fists, her arms shuddering in rage. She screamed silently, pulling her hair out.
After she had been emptied of the initial frustration and she could be calm, she put on her cloak and set out to the city.
She didn't graduate as top the class. Apart from her shy mannerisms and naivety then, she didn't stand out from the crowd. And the truth of the matter is only a small fraction of fashion graduates end up with jobs related to their degrees; a considerable fraction flocked to unrelated careers; the rest, unemployed.
Back then, she couldn't belong to the fortunate minority. She couldn't bear going back to their village either, else Sasuke, on an apprenticeship at Alexander McKing in London, would feel even more out of reach.
Living in Tokyo was hard.
A dismal job sewing at a factory, a night shift at a convenience store, keeping up at Ayame's Ichiraku on the weekends for the convenient lodging - nothing she did seemed to be enough to save up and sustain living in London.
No... She blamed not graduating at the top of her class; she got off on the wrong foot.
Sasuke also invited her to go to London with him, but it wasn't as firm and as exclusive as prepare your visa requirements, you're coming with me—again, she wasn't top of the class. No marriage proposal happened. And even if he didn't say, she knew Sasuke thought it was impossible for her to successfully land a job related to fashion in London.
Then, air travel was banned for a time and countries enforced entry restrictions. Being with Sasuke became more impossible.
Nobody from Future Hinata's world actually recalled the pandemic. Only from the byword of Chronos Lab Co evidenced by effective time machines. It was during this time, with Future Hinata still stuck in Tokyo, that Sasuke's brand took off.
Celebrities recognized him. His Dinstagram featured pretty models and high-profile events. He was having the best time of his life.
She stopped asking how he was. This didn't urge him home. They were nothing. Only a couple of childhood friends who shared one passionate kiss in freshman year.
Then the worst happened.
She could only cry at the rumors of him dating a model actress surfacing the internet.
But that wasn't the case now. Her younger self will graduate at the top of the class. Things will work out in London.
"What more could she ask for?" Future Hinata nibbled at her lip.
She searched for Hinata at school and at the places Ino, Karin, and Tenten frequented and didn't find her. When she went back to Ayame's house at midnight, climbing up and forcing entry through the window, Hinata had left her a sticky note on the door:
Do you still have money? I left some on the desk. Please meet me at the Himawari Children's Park at 5 PM. At the bench on the far end, behind the hydrangeas. I'll tell you my final answer. If you don't know where that is, it's a block away from school.
Future Hinata tore out the sticky note. Her wristwatch flashed 17:42:16
"This isn't funny, Hinata. Not funny at all."
The next day--Hinokuni's Graduating Student Exhibit. She had thought it was a good day to vanish in peace. But this younger version of hers wouldn't grant this simple wish.
That doesn't mean she'll wait quietly and take orders from someone who isn't thinking about the future at all.
She retraced her steps from years ago where she had been at the school auditorium watching Sasuke's works on the runway. Sure enough, she found Hinata teary-eyed. The same reaction she had then.
As she moved forward, Hinata caught a glimpse of her. She panicked and pressed herself further into the crowd, sneaking out.
Future Hinata narrowed her eyes, pushing around trying to make way for herself. The situation quickly became like herding cats when the people squeezed in to see more of Sasuke's incoming piece, making its way into the runway.
Gasps sprang forth the entire auditorium, the whole world seeming to hold its breath as the the model sashayed a long flowing gown stunned with intricate flowers on the dreamy trail merging with the rigid geometric elements jutting out like steel and crystals on the bodice. On the model's arm perched the pouch she made during freshman year.
The Sasuke in her world didn't include something of hers in his exhibit. He hadn't done this piece blooming with inspiration, calling out to her.
In a trance, thoroughly affected by the gesture, Future Hinata put her hand over her throbbing heart. This distracted from ever finding Hinata at school.
Well into the afternoon, the last of the children had left the swings at the park. Dark ochre hues of the skies deepened. Future Hinata looked at her watch.
00:01:25
"That ingrate."
And liar. She couldn't even be angry anymore. She will disappear in a few seconds. When she's back in her time, she'll probably face charges for attempting to change her history. Then again, she's bankrupt. Maybe she'll face jail time. Perhaps she'll be pardoned. Because nothing much would have changed.
At least, Hinata gets to graduate top of the class. Too bad she won't see Pa, Ma, and Hanabi's proud faces.
At least, her clutch from many years ago got to be a part of Sasuke's exhibit. A piece of her somewhat becoming a part of him.
That was as close as she'll get.
"So? Why'd call me out here for no reason?"
Future Hinata's eyes went wide in shock. Hinata is truly an ingrate. She need not look up to the owner of the pair of white sneakers in front of her to know who he was.
"What's with the cloak?... Am I getting a reward or something?"
There was a mild chuckle in Sasuke's voice as he sat beside her.
"I never thought you'd be this daring. Will you show me?" he said.
What's with this lighthearted conversation? The welcoming interest in his tone, not sounding bored? The ease in his disposition?
Being top of her class really made a great difference.
"Why are you suddenly so friendly to me?" she said, unable to help herself. Hot tears weighed down around her eyes, spilling out. "Sasuke Kun... you really are too cruel."
"What are you..."
When Sasuke grabbed her shoulders to turn her to him, the hood of her cloak slipped, revealing her face already dissipating into particles of light.
"Hinata!" Sasuke gripped her face, the cool, arrogant gaze she was used to seeing from him now fraught with worry.
"I hope her happiness would matter to you even just a little," she said.
Her last gift to her past self. Who won't go to London with Sasuke. Ah, her efforts were in vain. What a thankless job these two years had been.
She was grateful, at least, to feel the strength of Sasuke's hands desperately holding on to her before she disappeared into oblivion.
(to be continued...)
Daifuku Mochiin Corner:
*whispers* hey there. so um, this is my entry for SasuHina Month's Day 2, Fashion Statements. Super late, I know. I haven't posted it on tumblr yet. Care to leave some feedback? I'd reeealllllly loooooove that.
I'll post the last chapter later. For now, I'm a bit tired.
By the way, I'll be posting a Breathless related art so if you wanna see it, check out my tumblr later. xoxo