Chapter 18: Stubborn As Always
"I'll see you later Kiba," Airi said as she kissed her boyfriend.
"I won't be long, okay?" Kiba said. "I just have to do some silly ninja thing."
"…Alright." She watched him leave.
"Oh, is that you Airi?"
She turned around. "Eh? Hinata?"
Hinata smiled. "Good afternoon. I see Kiba's finally going for that progress evaluation."
"Did you have to do something like that today?" The two of them started walking.
"Yeah. It was okay."
"Was…Was Shino there?"
"Hmm?" Hinata looked at her. Ever since that incident with Shino, she seems to care a lot more… "Yeah."
"Do you know how he did?"
"I'm not sure. Why don't you ask him when you see him?"
Airi blushed. "Oh, I don't know…" They remained silent for a while.
"Hey Airi, can I ask you something?"
"Uh-huh?"
"…How do you feel about Shino?"
"What? H-How do I feel about…Shino?" She looked up at the sky. "Well, he's nice and all and I really like him. I mean, he's really mysterious too, so then thinking that he would be nice wouldn't necessarily be true. But then again, Shino has been there for me so I guess that makes him nice…Oh great, now I just confused myself! Well, what I mean is, agh, I'm talking in circles! What I'm saying doesn't make any sen-"
Hinata started laughing. "Airi, Airi, stop. Why do you always get flustered when you talk about Shino?"
"H-Huh?" Airi blushed again.
"All I asked was how you feel about him, but you got all nervous."
She looked down. "…I guess you can say that I feel really close to him and he's…important to me…"
"And Kiba?"
"K-Kiba's important to me too and so are you. It's just that…?"
"You really care for Shino, don't you?" Airi remained silent. "That's really sweet that you do because Shino cares a lot about you."
"He…He does?"
"Of course he does! You mean you haven't noticed?"
"I-I have noticed, but I haven't noticed that it was that deep."
"Well, Shino cares about you so deeply that he puts aside his own feelings for yours."
"What! What do you mean?"
"Shino loves you."
Her heart skipped a beat. L-Love? Did she just say 'love'! "W-Wait, did you just say that he…loves me?"
"He does."
"H-How do you know?"
"He told me." Hinata sighed. "Shino told me not to tell, but you know how boys are. A guy never wants to tell a girl how he feels about her."
"But…But what do I do! Kiba and I are…Shino…Shino?"
"Just think about it, okay?"
"But what should I tell Shino!"
"What should you tell me?" Shino walked up behind the two girls. "Why are you talking about me?"
"Oh!" Hinata bowed. "Excuse me Airi, I must be going." She nodded at Shino. "Hey Shino." She turned on her heel and left.
"H-Hinata!" Oh God! Don't leave me here with Shino! Airi turned to Shino. "H-Hi Shino."
"Did you want to tell me something?" He looked at her curiously.
"Ah, oh…y-yes. But, not here. Let's go to that hill."
XXXX
"Okay, so we're here, what's up?" Shino asked.
"Oh…" Airi took a deep breath. "Sh-Shino, have you ever had anyone special in your life that you love dearly?"
"Wh-What? What're you trying to ask me?"
She sighed. "Ugh, beating around the bush doesn't help. Shino?" She looked at him. "Do you…Do you like me?"
"What?" He avoided eye contact. Oh shit…
"Shino, Hinata told me that you said that you liked me. So, do you like me?"
He blushed. "Do I…like you?"
"Did you tell Hinata that?"
"…M-Maybe…"
"Maybe? Ha, maybe. What's that supposed to mean, huh?" She smiled. "Is it 'yes' or 'no'?"
"…Does it matter Airi? You have Kiba and Kiba has you. Just forget it, okay?"
"No…No I can't forget it." She walked up to him and removed his sunglasses. "Shino, this is important to me."
"H-Huh? Why is that?"
"Because…Because I think that I might…W-Well…I think that I…There's a possibility that I…" She shook her head. "That doesn't matter right now. All I want to know is how you feel about me. Do you like me Shino?"
No, I don't 'like' you. I love you. "A-Ah, um…" He blushed and rubbed his head. "Maybe, I guess?"
Airi froze. "What…What the hell did you just say!" She grabbed him by the collar. "'Maybe, you guess'? What the hell kinda response it that! If you like a girl, tell her! Quit being so damn shy!" She let him go. "For your information, I don't like you at all."
"What! But I told you!"
"Oh, you told me alright. 'Maybe, I guess'! Maybe you guess that you like me. Maybe I guess I fucking like you!" She crossed her arms and looked away. "You're an ass, you know that. You're hopeless and stubborn as hell."
"Airi, why are you getting so upset!" He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Who gives a fuck whether I like you or not! You're dating Kiba for God's sake! Whether I like you or not shouldn't matter to you!"
"Shino, it's because I like you that I want to know the truth!" She gasped and covered her mouth.
Shino looked at her. "Wh-What did you just say?"
"Lemme go!" Airi pulled away.
"Airi, did you just say that-"
"Shut the hell up!" She blushed. "I-I have to go see Kiba!" She ran off.
Shino dropped to his knees. "Whoa, what just happened? Did she say that she 'liked' me?" He blushed. "…I…love her…"