"Sakura, I'm not sure about this." The soft voice of Hinata surfaced.
Sakura held on to Hinata's hand as they walked briskly in the park. It was a sunny day and the birds chirped happily on their nest. It was a perfect day. But Sakura had a great intention for the moment. She looked behind her and winked at the shy girl she was pulling along.
"Trust me, Hinata! This would be a great chance for you and Naruto!" she said cheerfully.
Yes, Naruto. He already knew about Hinata's hidden feelings for him. And though he found her weird all the time as she stammered to talk to him, he had accepted her feelings. And now, since Sakura knew that she had confessed to Naruto, she was pairing her up so that the two would finally get together!
And besides, Sakura thought, thinking about her true intention, Sasuke is with Naruto today! While Hinata would spend time with Naruto, Sasuke would be forced to stay with me! YEAH!
Hinata's cheeks were starting to turn an obvious shade of red as she followed Sakura. She never had any intention of telling Naruto how she felt. But when she saw him, his manliness overpowering her modesty, she had stepped forward and told him…everything. From when she watched him during his late training to the time he had looked at her during the chuunin exam. And she had survived her weak state just by thinking of him. He was her world.
"There they are!" Sakura yelled, her intentions starting to flood out, "Sasuke, Naruto! Over here!"
The two men were standing beside a tree, obviously waiting and looking for them. Sasuke brought his usual pokerfaced expression as he stood beside the blonde man. Naruto smiled widely as the two girls approached them. Sakura seemed more excited than Hinata.
"Hey, Sakura!" Naruto greeted, then peeping behind her, "Hi, Hinata!"
A wave of unexplainable feelings surged through Hinata from her feet to her neck and she felt an uneasy tickle at the base of her head. She looked shyly at Naruto and bowed slightly, trying to show him that she wasn't that shy anymore, although she was.
"Hello to you too, Naruto." She said, her red cheeks flailing themselves for Naruto's attention.
And Naruto did notice. Although he had been dense over the years, he was able to see it now. Hinata had asked him the day she confessed to him, if he indeed didn't notice a thing. And he replied that he didn't. He reasoned that he "just got the wrong signals".
"Hello, Sasuke." Hinata bowed lower to the quiet man.
Sasuke nodded as recognition as if he were a king that was giving attention to some unfunny jester. He looked at Sakura and just stared, waiting for something to happen, for someone to break the ice for their real reason of being there in the first place. After a while of silence, they all looked at Sakura. After all, she was the one who had called for this "meeting". In truth, only Sakura knew the depth of this assembly. Or maybe she was the only one who had more hopes of having something romantic happen today.
"Are we just going to stand here and act like statues?" Sasuke remarked, grabbing the sudden unwanted attention of the others.
Sakura immediately blushed at his statement and shoved Hinata to Naruto. Hinata was completely caught off-guard and was thrown over to Naruto, as intended. Naruto, being his usual dense person, caught her and looked at Sakura in confusion.
"Why'd you do that, Sakura? It isn't nice to throw people around." He said in an unusual calm voice.
Sakura simply winked at him and then went to Sasuke. She grabbed his arm and slid hers into his, just like a hook, and just like a couple.
"Why don't we split up? It'd be fun if we were both alone with both boys, ne, Hinata?" she asked as she winked at her shy friend.
Naruto looked at Hinata for her answer. He still held her hands, and he felt they were cold. Never had he touched her before. And she felt extremely nice to touch. He liked that. Hinata only looked more shaken as she looked at the ground and created more lines of crimson on her pale face.
"I don't mind!" Naruto said, saving Hinata from further agitation, "Really, it would be better if Hinata and I knew more about each other! Unlike us three, we've been together since we graduated, right?"
Hinata bit her lip and looked at the ground, a wide smile creeping in her lips. Sakura and Sasuke looked at each other. And for the first time, they had smiled at the same moment. Sakura nodded and winked at Hinata.
"Naruto's right! You guys should go and…explore one another! While Sasuke and I can do anything we want! Bye, guys!" she said and strode away, Sasuke following helplessly behind her. Naruto laughed aloud and pulled Hinata the opposite direction of Sasuke and Sakura.
"Sakura is indeed a cheerful girl! Come on, Hinata!" he said and began to walk.
Hinata looked at her left hand. Naruto held her with his right hand, and she held him with her left. Something she never would have thought could happen besides in her dreams. And now, her dreams were starting to come true.
As they both strode away, Naruto began to tell such funny stories, the quiet Hyuuga never failing to laugh at his comedic antics. She had never felt so delighted in all her life! She wasn't going to just watch Naruto from afar. Now, she would try to get him to like her, even if it means being out of character! And even if it means trying to become like Naruto's ex-crush, Haruno Sakura!
