Chapter 9

Naruto grunted as he screwed in the sockets of the bulbs on the wooden board. He's already on the 20th, each socket requiring two screws for it to be locked in. It was a hard thing to do as it was proven that the board was hard. He'll probably have blisters by the time he finished all of them.

Hinata who was sitting beside him looked with worry. She was finished with placing the wires on the sockets Naruto has secured and after that she also tried to screw a socket on it but her strength proved to be not enough. Her hands were more delicate and Naruto immediately suggested she let him do it for her because he didn't want her to get hurt. That made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. Naruto cared for her enough and even verbally stated his concern.

Right now however, she thought it was better if Naruto took a rest because she could clearly see the strain on him. Like him, she also didn't want him to hurt himself. And besides, it was nearly 6 in the evening and considering they still have classes the next day and that homework in Physics to do, maybe it was time to call it a day. Not that she wants Naruto to go, of course not, but he has to sooner or later.

"Uhm, Naruto-kun?" she called for his attention. The strongly focused Naruto looked up at her as he still struggled to screw the socket tightly.

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking that maybe we should call it a day. You look like you're really having a hard time with that."

"Oh, don't worry about me Hinata. I can do this." he shrugged off.

"I'm sure you can but it is getting late. Your parents might be looking for you."

Naruto glanced at his watch. 5:58. It was getting late like she said. "Oh, you're right. I suppose we can continue it tomorrow."

"Of course. Anyway, I was thinking if there's anyway to make it easier for us to put the screws in. Can we maybe just stick them with superglue?" she suggested. Afterall, all they needed was to put it in place. The screws' other function was to take the ends of the wires and they would still be able to do that.

"Hmmm, I think superglue will be able to hold them, but then the screws go past the socket so we still have to screw them to the board. If only we had an electric drill we can use."

"Well, I think we may have something like that. Since we have a large house, father has bought a lot of hardware tools so if there's anything that needs to be done, someone here will be able to do it."

"Really? That's great!" Naruto exclaimed as his eyes lighted up. That was trully a relief to hear. That screwdriver was killing him and he'd definitely get blisters if he tried to finish all those sockets. Why did he even design the project to be a sign board anyway? There were too many bulbs involved.

"I'll ask Kō if he knows whether we have a drill or not. Sometimes he fixes stuff in the house."

"Okay. Well then, I better get going." Naruto stood up and stretched his arms, also giving out a long yawn. Thankfully he didn't sit on a nerve that time. "We better clean up our workplace."

And so the two of them did. It didn't take quite long and soon Naruto was ready to go with his backpack already on his shoulder.

"I suppose I'll see you again tomorrow." Naruto said, a bit awkwardly. The truth was, ever since they came back from the koi pond, he found it hard to keep Hinata off his mind. He felt an urge to take glances at her. Scratch that, not only glances but to gaze at her when she tried to screw the wires in.

He looked at her, studied her. Her long, dark hair which had a shade of blue. Her eyes with that unusual and yet captivating pale lavender color. Her face that was so smooth that there wasn't a hint of any freckle nor pimple. Her cute, small hands as they held the screwdriver and the expressions she made when she had trouble keeping the wires in place as she screwed them..

His heart thumped in his chest. He's never felt that way before with another girl other than Sakura. Could he be having a crush on her? Hinata? Someone he's only ever interacted with interest or purpose because of a project? That began just 6 days ago?

He felt a bit scared of the thought of that. Just as when they were at the pond, he thought of Kiba again. Kiba's the one who likes her. The reason he was talking to her like this was for him to find answers to the questions Kiba wanted answers to. This wasn't supposed to be him being too close to Hinata, to spend so much time with her that he'd end up seeing her in a different way. But the more time he spent with her, the more he saw her differently. Karin telling him that Hinata might possibly like him only contributed to it.

That was why he focused hard on screwing the sockets himself. He didn't want to be distracted by Hinata doing it too because it ended with him watching her. With him doing the strenous job of twisting the screws, it helped clear off his mind a bit. He didn't notice how the time flew by and was only brought back to the real world when Hinata called out to him.

Then he was made to look at Hinata again. This time it made him nervous. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. Last week when he first spoke to her on what they had to do with the project, he didn't feel a bit nervous even if he didn't interact with Hinata much before. But realizing that he may be feeling something for Hinata shook his confidence in speaking with her. It made him feel a bit shy inside. It was all he could do to keep a straight face as Hinata talked to him about just continuing the work for the next day.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Hinata also said. She accompanied him to the front door and Kō was just a few meters away from the house, waiting for Naruto so he could take him home.

"Bye Hi-hinata." Did he just stutter? He sure did and he damn hoped she didn't notice it.

"B-bye." she stuttered too. Naruto sighed. Maybe Hinata was just influencing him of that habit of stuttering. That was probably it and not because of him liking her. He turned around and was about to walk towards the direction of the car when Hinata surprisingly called him.

"Uhm, Naruto-kun."

"Yeah?" He turned around.

"Uhm, I uh, just want to remind you of the Physics homework." Hinata said to him out of the blue. "It's uh... popped in my mind and I kinda see you fo-forgetting to do some homeworks in the classes we share."

"Oh that? Yeah, I almost forgot." And he did forget. He was so busy with the project that it slipped his mind, especially now that he was going home and all he could think of was laying on his bed then eating dinner when his parents got home. "Wait, what was it about again?"

"The one about resistors."

"Aw man, I didn't even understand a thing about it." Naruto complained after being reminded of the work he still had to do. He was doomed. He really didn't know how to answer a single question about that topic. He probably would have to ask Karin for help even if it will hurt his pride..

"Uhm, if you want I can help you with your homework." Hinata then offered to him. If Naruto's ears could blink it probably would because he might have just heard Hinata say that she was willing to help him with his homework.

"You'd help me?"

"Ye-yes. I mean, I understood it pretty well in class. I can teach it to you."

"That would be nice Hinata. But it's due tomorrow and like you said, I have to get home. I can't stay for you to teach it to me." Naruto told her. The help would really be great but the nervousness he was feeling around her was getting stronger by the minute. He'd have to sort his feelings out later and maybe the next day he would probably see Hinata in the way he used to before. Things would go back to normal.

"We can talk on phone. We already have each other's numbers and I can guide you through the problems." she suggested.

"Uhm, that's uh, great." Naruto forced an enthusiastic sounding reply. He didn't want to take Hinata's help but he didn't want to reject the offer. It might make her feel bad. "I'll uhm, call you later."

"Okay." Hinata smiled at him. Naruto said a goodbye once more and headed for the car.

Back at home, Naruto was met with a sight that really surprised him. The front door was unlocked so he didn't have to knock for Karin to open it so when he opened the door himself, he was met with seeing Sasuke and Karin sitting on the couch together and watching a sit-com. And not just sitting near other. They were sitting side by side with Karin's head slightly leaning on Sasuke's shoulder while Sasuke had his left arm wrapped over Karin's shoulders.

"What the heck?" Naruto uttered out loud, alerting the two to his presence. They turned back to face him.

"Naruto?" Karin said surprised by the sudden voice sounding in the room.

"Wh-what's... you... why do you have your arm wrapped around my sister like that, teme?!" Naruto pointed at Sasuke. The Uchiha only smirked at him though.

"Well the question is, why shouldn't I?" he retorted smugly. "After all, Karin is my girlfriend."

"Gi-girlfriend?" Naruto's jaw dropped. Never had he expected he'd hear that word from Sasuke and especially not when it's associated wth his sister's name. "What the hell, you've been like talking to each other just this Monday. And it's only Thursday."

Naruto couldn't believe it. Sasuke Uchiha, his sister's boyfriend. He knew Karin was head over heels for him but Sasuke never showed interest in any girl before. He always found them annoying and from what he remembered Sasuke didn't even like interacting with Karin in the previous years, especially when she would always come up to him and tell him she likes him.

"You don't approve of it?"

"Heck no I don't."

"As if your opinion matters." Sasuke dismissed him and stood up. "But the fact is, I'm now dating her and we plan to announce it tomorrow at school."

"Yeah Naruto. Don't be such a whiny bitch about it." Karin added while she held onto Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun is now my boyfriend."

Naruto looked at how Sasuke was letting Karin hold him just like that. He knew if it was any other girl he'd have flung them to the other side of the room but he wasn't doing it to Karin. No showing of any desire of avoiding her. Could he really have taken a liking to his sister? In just four days? Or did he actually like her way before?

Sasuke on the other hand looked at his watch to check the time. Actually he and Karin have finished their Physics project over an hour ago and they've decided to just spend the time cuddling with each other. Now that Naruto was here though, he supposed he'd just go and see Karin again tomorrow.

"Well, look at the time. It's already half past six. I better get going." Sasuke announced.

"Right now?" Karin asked with a bit of disappointment.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, pick you up at 7." Sasuke promised. That put a smile back in Karin's face, knowing starting tomorrow she would be going to school with the company of her boyfriend.

"Okay." Karin agreed. Sasuke took his backpack and walked towards the door, passing beside Naruto.

"You should thank me you know." Sasuke said.

"What? Why should I?"

"You like Sakura right? Now that I'm dating Karin, maybe that bitch will finally give up on her delusional infatuation with me. She's goddamn annoying." Sasuke whispered to him.

"What did you say about Sakura?!" Naruto raised his voice at him after he just talked badly about the girl Naruto wanted.

"Hn." Sasuke looked at Naruto unfazed, smirking actually. "I don't even get what you see in that girl. Better stay off someone like her. She only cares about herself, what she wants."

And then Sasuke walked pass him and out the door and said goodbye to Karin again. Naruto wanted to respond back to what Sasuke said to him but he was left with nothing to say. Because deep inside, what Sasuke said made a bit of sense. More so after what just happened between him and Sakura earlier. He heard the door close and now he was left with in the house with Karin who was looking at him.

"Why'd you have to go ruin the moment? I didn't want him to leave yet." Karin complained..

"Like I'd know about what's going on between you two. So what, he's really your boyfriend now?" Naruto asked again, wanting to make sure if this was no joke because it was hard to believe.

"Bro, how many times do you have to hear it? Sasuke is my boyfriend." she said with pride.

"Since when?"

"Since today."

"I don't believe it. It's been four days since he's been coming here. He can't just suddenly like you enough to be your boyfriend. He used to be annoyed with you." Naruto reminded her.

"Well that was long ago. I've changed. I'm not fangirling over him anymore and ever since Monday, I tried my best to not push myself into him like before. You know, like Sakura who he's really annoyed with." Karin said, repeating what Sasuke has told Naruto just before he left.

"I don't like Sasuke."

"Who said you should? He's not your boyfriend."

"Come on sis, he's a bastard, arrogant prick. A lot of guys don't like him. And he's never even shown any interest in girls before. For all you know he could just be using you for something." he warned.

"Ugh, don't talk like you know him Naruto. You guys who hate him are probably just jealous of him cause he's handsome, smart, and a lot of girls like him, especially since Sakura is one of them."

Naruto frowned upon hearing that. She was right. Sakura liking him was part, if not most of the reason he didn't like Sasuke. Cause if Sasuke didn't even exist maybe he's already dating Sakura.

"Ain't got anything to say about that, do you?" Karin raised one brow at Naruto. "If not, I'm gonna go to my room and do our Physics homework."

That reminded Naruto of his earlier conversation with Hinata. She offered to help him work on it through the phone. He just didn't feel it he should be doing it. Maybe Karin can help him.

"Hey uh, about that. Do you think you can teach me about that homework?" he asked Karin as she walked away, making her turn back at him and give him a confused look.

"Wait, you're really asking me for help on your homework?" she clarified.

"Uhm, yeah." Naruto confirmed with an embarrassed tone.

"I can teach you about the homework," Karin said making Naruto smile. "But I don't want to." And this put a very annoyed frown on Naruto's face. Just as expected from his sister. Maybe it was because of him saying all those things about Sasuke.

"But come on, that shit's so hard to understand. I don't have anyone to help me with it ezcept you."

"Not my problem. Maybe you could ask Hinata for help. She's smart and I bet she'll be willing to tutor you. She does like you a lot." Karin gave a wink to Naruto and it triggered a reddening of his cheeks hearing her name mentioned especially the word 'like'. Karin noticed this and decided to tease her brother for it.

"Oh my, you're blushing. You like her too don't you? After I told you, you probably noticed it and..."

"I do-don't like Hinata like that." Naruto cut her off but stuttered in the process, making it even more obvious to Karin that she's right on her hunch.

"You're denying it. You just stuttered. You do like her."

"I don't." Naruto insisted, sounding like a five-year old. "And besides, Kiba likes Hinata. So why would I like someone who my bestfriend already has dibs on?"

"Haha. You do like her. Bringing Kiba as an excuse for you not liking her seals it. You wouldn't be this flustered and defensive if you don't like her a bit."

"I said I don't like her!" Naruto stressed one more time. He groaned at his sister and announced he'll be going to his room too and that he didn't want to hear anymore of 'him liking Hinata' because he didn't. There's no way.

The time was 7:10 and after half an hour on his study table trying to understand his notes regarding resistance, parallel and serial curcuits, voltage and current, he finally sighed in defeat knowing full well he wasn't gonna get that stuff no matter what he did. Even the videos on YouTube couldn't help him even if the title said it was the easiest to understand explanation.

Maybe he should just give up and try to copy someone's answer tomorrow. Maybe Kiba knows it. He could call him. But if he did then he'll ask about Hinata. Then he'd have to explain why there was still no progress with his questioning and thinking about that made him remember the two of them feeding the kois together.

Naruto felt a pang in his stomach and his heart beat rise. Now even just thinking about Hinata was giving this reactions to his body. He didn't feel this when he started seeing her for the project and now after those many instances during the times he spent with her, he was beginning to see her differently.

'Ah shit, am I really beginning to like her? Is Karin right about me?' he asked himself with concern. 'I can't like her. She's Kiba's... and he's gonna be hell lot of pissed if he finds out I'm having a crush on her. Ah damn it, I can't believe I said that.'

Naruto grabbed his blond locks and tugged on it, thinking hard of what he was supposed to do. He didn't want to call Hinata for help. He was too nervous. But the homework, it was just impossible to understand. He's already failed to answer two Physics homework before and he's failed at least 4 quizzes. His grade was dropping and that was one of the reasons he took the project seriously. If he fails to understand the lesson and correctly answer the homework, he'll likely fail the quiz that will follow it.

He had no choice but to call Hinata. He opened his phone and searched for her name in the contacts. There it was and it even showed the log of the call she made two days ago when she informed him that they could study at her house. He took a deep breath and pressed the call button.

It rang. On the third ring it was picked up.

"He-hello?" Hinata now familiar voice said.

"H-hi Hinata. So uhm, about that Physics homework..."

TBC.

A/N:

Three months. And that was after chapter 8 took 4 months. I took 7 months to write 2 chapters. Shameful. It's just I'm having a hard time writing this story. Like I've mentioned before, this is my first time writing a straight multichap fic. It's been like 8 years since I've gotten a crush on a girl and I'm finding it hard to remember what made me develop a crush on those girls I previously had a crush on. I just know they didn't happen at first sight. They always took time to develop and I usually need to have a lot of encounters with them. Right now though I'm inclined to looking at guys and I kinda forget what made me like girls before because I don't see them in the same way as before.

I also have been busy writing Soul Insert, a multichap lime and lemon story of possessing bodies. Then I also started this KibaNaru multichap called Right Here For You. I have three multichaps to go around writing for their next chapters.

For those still staying with this story, thank you and my apologies for being so unproductive with this story. I do what I can. Leave your comments.