Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Date. Was this really a date. Mito wasn't even sure. Naruto didn't give Hinata his full attention, instead dividing it among all his present company. She would be charmed if it wasn't so aggravating. All her hard work would go down the drain of this kept up. Likely, it was only the first ten minutes that had breezed by, far too many times n her humble opinion.

"The dog is pretty awesome but he kinda has a stick up his ass," Naruto told the dog lover as Hinata let her eyes widen at his choice of words. Mito felt the urge to face palm. Naruto was stealing her date, oddly she wondered if he swung the other way. It would actually explain so much in this mess she was in. To be fair, it had been her fault for dragging him in. Was she subconsciously avoiding being alone with Kiba, ridiculous yet plausible.

"I gotta say, never saw you as a dog person," Kiba laughed. They were now seated in the restaurant that the canine lover had picked. It was pretty ordinary looking but had a comfortable vibe, of not cringy.

"Neither did l, it just sort of happened. Really, l just didn't want Mito to be lonely when l wasn't around at home but the plan backfired," he laughed as the full meaning and implication of the words reached Mito's ears.

'He got it...for me?' she didn't give him a lot of credit for most things but she was touched even if she didn't show it. He had made that choice after he saw her crying and it was quite thoughtful of him to do that. Her mood seemed to brighten up as she smiled at them all.

"Why doesn't this place have any ramen," Naruto's distinct whine echoed throughout the building as all attention was drawn to them. Hinata shied away from the questioning looks and Kiba didn't mind.

"Ramen isn't everything," Mito chided as Hinata slowly nodded in an attempt to join the lively talk.

"S-she is r-right Naru-Naruto-kun," she struggled to deliver the sentence without stuttering. Naruto sulked as he looked at her, unhappy at the lack of his favorite food.

Needless to say that Naruto wasn't happy as he ate. Mito shrugged to herself. He was a big boy, he could handle it.

From the very start of this 'date', Mito had tried to find a way to get Naruto and Hinata alone. This was the whole point of her plan anyway.

"Kiba and l will get the bill, you two sit tight," she smiled at them as she dragged Kiba away. Naruto didn't look too much into it. Hinata of course, knew why Mito had done and she blushed a new shade of ripe red.

"What was that all about?" Kiba asked once they were out of earshot. Mito turned back to look at him as he rais d an eyebrow.

"I wanted to help Hinata with Naruto," the answer was straight forward and he nodded his understanding. Hinata would never get the courage to actually pursue him. There was also the boy's crush on Sakura, though he had been hearing that a lot less.

Back at the table, things suddenly went akward. Naruto didn't like this. He wasn't used to positions like this and Hinata didn't seem anymore comfortable with him than she had at the start. They had quickly run out of things to say to each other. They just seemed so different.

"l can tell you're nervous because of me," he finally said getting irritated that nothing was happening. What was taking so long with those two anyway. "Why?"

Hinata gulped as his sapphire eyes stared relentlessly at her, almost as if they were trying to coax an answer out of her. She opened her mouth as she looked for what to say. She knew he was bold but to ask flat out like that...

The Hyūga member didn't know how to respond to him. Tell him the truth? She didn't want to but she wasn't ready. She noticed he didn't seem to talk about Sakura as much these days so maybe, just maybe she had a chance.

"I l-like y-you," she stuttered out as she shyly looked to the side to avoid seeing his reaction to it. She didn't even think she could be so direct.

"l like you too," he said as he smiled. For a moment, her heart fluttered before she reigned herself in. No, this was Naruto. He was likely unaware of what she meant.

"No Naruto, l-like like you. A lot Naruto," she corrected as realization dawned on her. She watched as his brow creased in thought as he took it full force. He zeroed his eyes back onto her, locking eyes with her.

"Oh," was all he said as a thick silence descended upon the two. Suddenly, Hinata stood up, tears forming as she turned away.

"I-l just...just need to g-go to t-the bathroom," she scurried off as he watched her go. He felt guilty as he watched her go. Maybe he should have said something to her, at least answered but he was a cowered.

Mito and Kiba blinked as Hinata ran past them. Things hadn't gone as planned. Mito sighed, this wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to confess yet, Naruto wasn't ready. She snorted at the thought. When would he ever be ready for Hinata. Maybe this was for the best.

"I'll go see what's wrong," Kiba offered as he ran off without second thought, not giving her time to question it. She walked back to Naruto and saw him just sitting there. He looked so lost and he looked kinda guilty.

"Did you know?" his voice asked, though it sounded disembodied.

"Everyone in school but you knew," she wasn't one to give pity as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Wow," was it really that shocking that Hinata liked him. Maybe he was self-conscious about things like this. Nah, that couldn't be right.

"You turned her down?" she sat next to him.

"No, l didn't even reply," he told her truthfully. She involuntarily winced at that, something he noticed as he looked down.

"It's worse isn't it," he wasn't looking for confirmation, but she gave it anyway.

"Yea, she put herself out there and you didn't answer... pretty bad," she shrugged she stood and gave him her hand, pulling him up. "let's go home,"

She didn't wait to hear him say anything as she turned, Naruto in tow. It was clear he was lost in thought. The sun had already set, the stars slowly forming.

"You know, we never did get to see those stars," she told him as she looked up at the sky. He looked up as well, silently marveling at them.

Mito quickened her pace and led him to the same park that he had taken her too. It was a bit nostalgic and suddenly, she felt old. She ignored that and sat on the grass, softly patting the spot next to her. This time she would be the one to cheer him up.

He sat down and let his full weight fall so he was gazing up. Mito followed his example as a comfortable silence encompassed them.

"Why is it always this place?" he laughed at the dèja vu of it all.

"Does it have to matter?" Mito asked, eyes still on the sky. He shook his head and sighed.

"I feel terrible," he told her as he forced himself to look at her face. She looked back and offered a soft smile as she spoke.

"Yea you messed up. I'd be lying if l said l thought you wouldn't," she laughed at the look of disbelief he gave her.

".. but it's likely for the best. You probably wouldn't have been happy anyway," Mito offered.

"How do you know that?" he asked as he settled for her eyes, glimmering like the same stars they were looking at.

"I don't," she rolled out casually and he accepted it readily. Mito turned back up and let the wind blow on her crimson locks of hair.

"That was sweet of you," she started as he gave her a confused look.

"Huh?" came the intelligent reply. She smiled at his stupidity.

"The dog and me being lonely," she gave a knowing smile as he looked sheepish. He forgot he had said it out loud but he supposed it was good that he did. The stupid dog turned out to hate people. Waste of money if it couldn't even make the girl besides him smile.

Then again, it was his job now, to see that she smiled. She looked at him with an inquisitive look as he smiled at her.

"Something amusing you?" she asked as he laughed a bit and slung an arm around her.

"This is nice," he said as he smashed their cheeks together. She turned a bit pink at the contact but she didn't mind it too much. She sighed with a shake of her head and leaned into the touch and onto his shoulder.

"Yeah," she whispered as she closed her eyes. She needed to stop the habit of using him as a pillow.

Naruto watched as she closed her eyes and listened to his heart beat, lulling her to sleep. At that moment, Hinata was the farthest thing from his mind.

Now he had to carry her back again but he would never let her know that he enjoyed holding her in his arms.