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Chapter 4

Hinata discovered she still remembered how to bake and cook.

She didn't remember anything about herself but once she stepped into the kitchen, she just knew what to do. It also helped that her notebook had many recipes that she believed she had developed herself.

Since Sasuke didn't like sweets, she got Naruto and Sakura to try out her cakes and they gave her great feedback. Sakura didn't seem too excited about her food but it was a great excuse to come to Sasuke's apartment anyway.

Hinata had gotten a job at a local bakery shop. The owner - Kurenai was 6 months pregnant so she had decided to hire an assistant because she couldn't do too much hard work with her big lump, and baking was a lot of hard work.

Since starting working at the bakery shop, Hinata had to wake up very early and come home quite late. She basically was running the shop all by herself now as Kurenai couldn't do much work. Hinata never complained. In fact, she quite enjoyed it as it kept her busy and stopped her from dwelling too much on her past. Hinata loved baking and it was nice to do something she loved every day and get paid for it.

"What are you making?" Sasuke asked, looking over her shoulders. They were in his kitchen early in the morning, preparing breakfast.

"Herring soba." She replied, lightly stirring the pot before turning off the stove. She poured the noodles into a bowl, stepping aside so that he could see the dish. Her smile was bright as she looked so proud of her dish, and couldn't wait for him to taste it. "Your favorite dish!"

He furrowed as he didn't understand what she was saying. "I never said I liked herring soba."

Hinata faltered. The smile slipped from her face as she processed what was happening. It was true that Sasuke never told her his favorite dish. For some strange reason, she just assumed it was herring soba. But why herring soba but not any other dishes? Why did she even assume his favorite dish in the first place?

She tried to think of a reasonable explanation but came up with nothing. "I d-don't know... I just assumed you... I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I bet herring soba tastes great anyway." Sasuke said, helping her set the table but as the girl didn't move, eyes looking so lost as if she was trapped in another university, he touched her shoulders, bringing her back to the world. Once her pale eyes were focused on him again, he calmly said. "I'm not a doctor but wanna hear my guess?"

Hinata nodded her head, looking at him expectantly. She was interested in what he had to say.

"Herring soba might be your favorite dish, so this could be a good sign that you're starting to remember your past."

No. I don't like herring soba. Hinata wanted to say but words stuck in her throat. If herring soba really was her favorite dish in the past, it should have sparked joy in her the moment she tasted it, just like the first time she tried cinnamon rolls. Instead, she didn't feel anything. It was a good dish but definitely not her favorite. The only reason she made that dish was that she thought Sasuke would like it. Then why this dish, why herring soba?

She wanted to tell Sasuke but when he was looking at her so expectantly, she realized she couldn't. She realized she wanted to keep him looking like that, all hopeful and carefree.

"You're right. It must be my favorite dish." Hinata beamed. "We should eat while it's still hot." Sitting down at the table, she took the first bite and faked a happy smile. Inside she was trembling but on the outside, she must look satisfied because she didn't want Sasuke to be worried.

Sasuke was sitting opposite her, silently trying out her herring soba. The dish was good but it left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth because she was lying. He knew an act when he saw one. Herring soba definitely wasn't her favorite dish. Her pale eyes didn't sparkle like when she tried cinnamon rolls, her lips didn't pull into a soft smile, and her face didn't light up.

"You're lying." It was not a question but a statement. His dark eyes looked at her pointedly, urging her to respond.

"N-No. I really like it. It tastes great."

"Do you know you're bad at lying?"

Silence enveloped them as Hinata looked down at her bowl, avoiding his eyes. She should have known she could never lie to him. Guilt bloomed in her chest as she tried to come up with an excuse. She lied because she didn't want him to worry but the excuse sounded terrible even to her own ears.

All he was trying to do was help her and to do that, she should be truthful to him. How was he supposed to help her if she lied to him? He needed to know what she remembered, how her head felt, and if anything evoke her memories. Besides, lying was just bad. Sasuke couldn't think of a reason why she had to lie. Did she not trust him? Did she feel she couldn't tell him this information? Or that he didn't need to know, which he absolutely did.

He needed to know, and he wanted to know even the smallest thing about her. He saved her life not for her to lie straight to his face like that.

She might think Oh, it's just a dish. You don't have to make a big deal about it. If it was just a dish, why couldn't she be truthful about it? It was how he would like to reason why he was upset but in the corner of his mind, he knew it wasn't the whole reason.

"Maybe it's the favorite dish of someone close to me."

There she said it. That was the true reason why Sasuke was upset. His chest tightened at the thought of that someone. She even thought he was that person and assumed he liked herring soba. Was she trying to use him to replace them? Sasuke knew he was being unreasonable but the thought of her thinking he was someone else made his chest tighten.

"Whoever that person is, I'm not him."

Hinata startled, looking up at him with wide eyes. "No, no. You're misunderstanding. I'm not…"

"I'm Sasuke."

Abandoning the bowl of herring soba, she rounded the table, kneeling beside him. When he refused to look at her, she mustered all of her courage, cupping his face in her small hands and turning it towards hers, making him look at her. "Wasn't your name the only thing I remembered when I woke up?"

Hinata didn't realize how close they were but Sasuke did. Did he think her eyes were pale? No, they were lavender-tinted with long eyelashes fanning over them. He could smell her lilac scent mixed with the herbal tea she made this morning, creating a pleasant smell around her. Her lips looked soft and when she spoke, he could see her pink tongue peaking between her soft lips. Her hands, as if magical, kept his face in place and he couldn't turn away.

He could feel their weight through her shirt even though they didn't touch him at all. The way she held up her arms to cup his face pushed her breasts even higher and he could see her cleavage. The skin looked soft and succulent, peaking under the fabric as if teasing him.

Sasuke was staring and he didn't hide it at all. Only when she blushed brightly and retreated her hands did he break free from her trance and turn away, clearing his dry throat in the process.

His face heated up, and his entire body was itching for something he couldn't name. This was a strange feeling he had never had before. Then he suddenly remembered something. He had never experienced this feeling himself but he had witnessed it before. It was familiar when Sakura saw him shirtless and tried to get close to him. That time he could feel the heat coming from her, her body squirming as if she wanted something. It made him uncomfortable and wanted to get away from her. Sasuke wondered if he made Hinata uncomfortable as Sakura did him.

Glancing at her, he noticed she didn't look or seem uncomfortable at all and he was grateful for that. Instead, she looked guilty like a kid caught red-handed in the cookie jar. She had her hands folded neatly in her lap, pale eyes casting down. Now both of them were feeling guilty. He shouldn't have assumed she used him to replace someone from her past like that. It was unreasonable because she didn't even remember anyone from her past.

Sighing, he gently took her chin, tilting her head a little so that she could look at him. Once he got her attention, he retreated his hand to his side, his fingertips burned at how soft her skin felt. "I'm sorry."

"N-No. Don't apologize. I'm the one who should apologize." She quickly said, hand waving a little.

"I don't know what I was thinking." He shoved his hand into his dark hair, getting frustrated at himself. Assuming she was using him to replace someone from her past was probably the most ridiculous thing he could ever think of.

He used to be a reasonable person but since he met her, he had done many unreasonable things.

"W-What is your favorite dish?" Hinata asked, blushing lightly. She had this strange urge of touching her fingers but she gripped her apron tight, suppressing it.

"Origini with tomato filling," Sasuke replied.

Nodding her head, she slowly stood up and returned to her place at the table. After finishing breakfast, Sasuke helped her wash the dishes and clean up the table.

Once done, she told him goodbye and hurried to the bakery shop. In her head, Hinata had already come up with several recipes for his favorite dish.

Once alone in his apartment, Sasuke gave a long sigh. It was too intense for a simple dish. Locking the door, he decided to take a cold shower. The thing down there was stirring and he needed a cold shower to calm it down before starting his shift at a local bookstore.

Standing under the cold shower, little droplets of water were tickling his face as he wondered what he had gotten himself into.

The following day, Sasuke didn't need to ask to know what she was making. He could recognize that dish miles away. Putting the dish on the table, she smiled brightly, looking so proud of her dish. "I made your favorite dish."

Sasuke couldn't stop the smile on his lips. So she did remember his favorite dish. Taking the first bite of her origini, he was brought back to his childhood, where his family was still alive and every morning his mother would make his favorite dish. Hinata's origini tasted just like hers. She was looking at him expectantly, waiting for his feedback and something suddenly sparked in his memories. Hinata seemed somehow familiar as if he had seen her somewhere before. Just as fast as it appeared, that familiar feeling vanished, leaving Sasuke with nothing but confusion.

"It tastes great," said Sasuke. And when her face lit up and her lavender-tinted eyes sparkled, he realized he wanted to see her like this every day.

"I also made cinnamon rolls," said Hinata, putting some rolls into a box. "I tried a new recipe with less sugar so I hope that Kurenai-san, Kiba-kun, and Shino-kun will like it."

After starting working at the bakery shop, Hinata met Kiba and Shino, who both worked at a local veterinary clinic. Shino had a passion for insects while Kiba loved dogs more than anything. He had a big, white-furred dog named Akamaru. They were about her age and therefore, they quickly became friends. Later, Hinata learned that they were also friends with Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, though Sasuke wouldn't say they were friends.

Beside Hinata's bakery shop was a flower shop of a family named Yamanaka. They had a daughter named Ino and she was the most beautiful girl Hinata had ever seen. It was also a little shocking to learn that Ino used to have a crush on Sasuke and she and Sakura used to fight over him. Ino had moved on though. Now she had a boyfriend named Sai and he was an artist. His art was beautiful just like his girlfriend.

"I'm having my first salary next week," Hinata said, pale eyes casting down. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn't dare to.

"What is it, Hinata?" Whatever she wanted to say, he would like to hear it.

"I don't know if it's too much to ask but..." She trailed off, still hesitant but when she felt Sasuke was getting impatient, she blurted out. "I was wondering if you could take me to Konoha hospital next week when I get my first salary."

"Ok." His reply was curt but it brought a bright smile to her face.

"I have done some research." She nearly squealed out of excitement. Grabbing her notebook, she practically ran to him to show him what she had found. "From what I gathered on their website, it costs around 1000 yen to book an appointment. You know, just an appointment where I can talk to a doctor, not a thorough examination. It will cost a lot more but it can wait. I just n-need to talk to a doctor to know if there is a chance that I c-can..."

Her words went past his ears as Sasuke was lost in her pale eyes. He had never seen her this happy and excited. She had smiled brightly when he told her she could stay with him, her eyes had sparkled when she first tried cinnamon rolls, but she had never looked so alive. Her whole being was shining and it made him breathless.

Naruto was bright but Hinata was radiant. Naruto carried the light with him wherever he went but Hinata shined only when she was truly happy.

Unconsciously, his hand rose to her face, brushing some of her stray hair out of her face, tucking them behind her ears. He could feel the softness of her skin brushing his fingers, the silkiness of her hair against his rough skin, and the way her head tilted a little as if leaning into his touch. But she looked quite confused.

"Sasuke, are you listening?" Hinata's voice pulled him out of the trance and he cursed under his breath. This was happening again, just like yesterday.

"Sorry." He mumbled, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "I'll help you book an appointment."

"T-Thank you." She said, titling her face a little to hide the blush on her face with her hair. Flustered, she could feel her face heated up as she couldn't look him in his eyes without feeling like she was trapped in their darkness.

Ino told her that Sasuke was the most good-looking boy in their class and a lot of girls like him, and Hinata couldn't blame them. He was really good-looking, which she hadn't noticed until now.

"Your shop is opening soon. You should go."

"Y-You're right. I should go."

Putting the box of cinnamon rolls into a bag, Hinata told him goodbye and quickly left for her shop. Today would be a busy day for sure.

Once alone in his apartment, Sasuke gave a long sigh. He leaned his back against the wall, eyes staring at the gray ceiling, wondering if he should book an appointment for himself too because these strange feelings certainly were not normal at all.

"I didn't know you like cinnamon rolls."

Neji stopped on his track upon hearing the familiar voice. His pale eyes were met with a pair of brown eyes that he had seen for most of his life. They had grown up together, went to the same classes, and even attended the same college. He could recognize her voice from anywhere.

Tenten took a few steps until she was in front of him. She was about to say something, but faltered and kept silent when he only glanced at her for a few seconds before sidestepping and resuming his walk, not replying to her question at all.

"There is a newly opened restaurant down the street. I heard that their herring soba is the best. Do you want to try it? My treat. Herring soba is your favorite, isn't it?" Tenten said, following him despite his uncaring attitude towards her.

"I'm not hungry," Neji said, politely declining her invitation.

"You're buying cinnamon rolls." She pointed out.

"That means I will eat cinnamon rolls, not herring soba."

Cinnamon rolls are Hinata's favorite, a fact that Tenten knew very well. She remembered the girl had developed 10 recipes just for her favorite sweet. Hinata practically ate cinnamon rolls every day.

"I'm sorry about Hinata." She mumbled, her steps falling into rhythm with his.

Hearing her name was like a stab to his heart and his uncaring mask faltered slightly before returning to its perfect place. "Don't say it as if you know anything. I'm getting close."

Neji knew it was a lie but would rather not let her know. In reality, he was getting nothing. The police were useless, the private detectives he hired returned with nothing, and no one contacted him for the huge bonus he promised if anyone could find his cousin. She just... vanished.

"Why are you lying?" The question made Neji stop to look at her. His abrupt movement startled her, his narrowed eyes intimidated her but she stood her ground, not backing down.

"What are you talking about?" He asked but it sounded like a challenge.

"Just look at you." She turned around, and now both of them were looking at a glass wall of a boutique shop, their reflection staring at them.

It had been a while since the last time Neji had a proper look at himself in the mirror. The man in the reflection barely looked like him. Tired, dark-circled eyes, hollow cheeks, chapped lips, fuzzy hair... He looked like a walking corpse. By all means, he had stopped taking care of himself.

"What would Hinata think if she saw you right now?"

She would be both mad and worried. She would scowl at him and then spend hours in the kitchen making him his favorite dish. She would tell him how important sleep is and make him go to bed at 9 PM every night. And she would squeak out in horror when he pulled her under the blanket and made love to her all night. But you need some rest. She would protest but eventually gave up when he brought her pleasure after pleasure.

Sometimes Neji was tempted to neglect himself so that she would treat him like a spoiled kid. It was silly, yes, but who cared?

"Please I can help you if you just let me." Tenten pleaded. As his childhood friend, seeing him like this was like a stab to her heart. "You can't live like this."

"I'm fine. Don't worry." Neji assured her. It was already exhausting enough, and seeing people getting worried for him just made him feel guilty.

At this point, Tenten couldn't bear it anymore. Him constantly brushing aside her feelings was exhausting. "You know I love you, right? Then do you know how hurt it is to look at the person you love and see them so miserable?"

"Whatever you think we're having, it's all delusional," Neji said, not trying to avoid the elephant in the room anymore.

"Even our kiss?"

Neji flinched, and for a moment words stuck in his throat. It was something he didn't want to mention or even think of. "It was a mistake." Every word got out like a cut on his throat. It was hard to look at his childhood friend and feel like an asshole.

"Hinata was your cousin, not your girlfriend. Stop acting like you love her or anything. She will not be able to find a boyfriend if you keep hoovering around her like that."

If it wasn't for years of hiding his true feelings towards Hinata, he wouldn't be able to contain his anger and lash out at her immediately. Instead, he calmly walked away, not sparing a glance at her.

Someday, a day not far from now, he would proudly announce to the world that she was his girlfriend, his future wife, and the love of his life. That day would be the day he found her and officially tied her to him for the rest of her life.

"Wait, hold on." Recovering from the initial shock of his lack of reaction, she resumed following him. She was not the kind of easy-to-give-up girl. "We should visit Lee in the hospital next week. His surgery went well." She suggested.

Lee was their mutual friend, a martial art artist. He was injured during a match against a student from Suna and had to go through surgery. They weren't allowed to visit him until next week but fortunately, she heard that his surgery went very well. It was expected from the best hospital in the country.

"Fine. Next week. Konoha hospital." Neji agreed. He also needed to meet Lee with a hope that the man could motivate him with his youthful speech.

A never-dying hope that Hinata was still alive and someday he would find her.