Okay, loves, here's how this works. First posted Naruto fic. I love this anime to pieces. Just a little story of my absolute favorite pairing. Title belongs to Jimmy Buffett, from his song by the same name. Naruto belongs to people with a hell of a lot more money and power than me. As it is, I'm barely able to afford college, let alone being sued. We see how this works, don't we loves?
I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever
She knows he doesn't see her. She always sees him, no matter what else is happening, but he rarely notices her. She doesn't mind. She is content to watch him. That's why she's here, at Ichiraku, when she really ought to be home before her father wonders why she's not there. She doesn't care. She wants to watch him.
He is oblivious to her. He doesn't mean to be, but when his hunger takes over, well…he doesn't notice much of anything then. He is finishing his eighth bowl of ramen when she sees something out of the corner of his eye. That combination of colors, that could only be…
"Hinata!" he calls out, startling her. She blushes and drops her gaze, tapping her fingers together nervously.
"K-konnichiwa, N-Naruto-kun," she replies softly. He looks at her, head tilted in puzzlement, wondering why she is there. Being himself, he says so.
"Ano sa, Hinata, what're you doing here?" The question only makes her blush harder as she stares at anything but him, her eyes darting around the small restaurant. She racks her mind for some kind of excuse.
"Ano…I-I'm eating l-lunch," she answers, her voice barely above a whisper. He grins, being himself, accepts her answer.
"Well, why don't you come and sit with me? It's always nice to eat with friends." He gestures to the stool next to his. She can find no way to refuse him and shyly slides onto the stool, unable to look at him for fear of giving away her feelings.
The cook, having watched the whole thing, smiles to himself. Without a word he makes a bowl of the restaurant's noodle dish for the girl in hopes that maybe his favorite customer won't be eating alone so often now. When he places it in front of her she gives him a shocked look. He merely nods his head towards the boy with a smile. She returns it and breaks her chopsticks with a soft "Itadakimasu."
They eat in silence…well, as silent as he can eat. She never stops blushing; she has never been this close to him for so long before. No words are spoken. He is too busy slurping his noodles; she is too nervous to make the first move.
Afterwards, the cook doesn't charge them nearly enough, but she makes no protest, afraid of his reasons. They walk out together, standing awkwardly in front of the stand. She knows he didn't notice the price cut. It's not in his nature to notice things like that, life's subtleties.
He looks uncomfortably at the ground, fidgeting slightly. "Ano sa…I guess…I'll see you tomorrow?" His boldness is gone; he is unsure of the next move. She notices, smiles softly at him.
"For lunch?" she offers quietly. He looks up at her, meeting her eyes, grins.
"Hai! I'll see you tomorrow, Hinata-chan!" With an emphatic nod and proclamation, he is off down the street, running back to his training, spirits lifted. She blushes at his use of the familiar, a small smile on her face. Maybe, she muses, lunch will last a little longer tomorrow.
Owari