February came fairly quickly...
"Thank you for coming!" Hinata chimed brightly.
Picking up the empty bowls, she turned around to begin washing them. The owner gladly accepted her after his last assistants could cause nothing but trouble. It was an enjoyable job that kept her occupied seeing as she was on reserves. Someone approached and seated themselves at the bar.
"Welcome," She offered a friendly smile. "Oh, it's you Uchiha. I didn't know you liked ramen..."
"Teuchi, I'll have the usual," Sasuke shrugged. "I have it occasionally..."
"I see," Hinata nodded and was able to serve him the bowl in no time. "Are you perhaps... meeting someone here? Naruto maybe?"
Sasuke broke his chopsticks apart and pinned her with his stare. Hinata blinked and began to blush, maybe she was too forward in asking. She probably shouldn't have bothered him seeing as he was so nice to keep her plan a secret for her crush himself.
"He's always late," He muttered, turning his attention to the bowl in front of him. "He'll probably show up in a few minutes."
"I see," A relieved smile spread across Hinata's face and she looked around. "Do you like naruto?"
Sasuke stopped mid noodle and raised a questionable brow at her. She laughed a little and made a swirling motion with her finger, indicating she meant the swirled pattern of the fish cake in the ramen. He sucked the rest of the noodle into his mouth before chewing and swallowing.
"I don't hate it," He moved the pieces around in his bowl.
Just as he moved in for another bite, a slice of naruto dropped into his bowl with a tiny splash. Sasuke jumped back with slight surprise and looked at Hinata. She was laughing again.
"I'm sorry, did I get you?" She inquired, pointing at his noise.
Sasuke didn't know how to reply, so he simply reached for a napkin to dab on his nose. It was then that he noticed that there was suddenly someone sitting next to him.
"Sorry I'm late, Sasuke," Naruto said. "I was halfway here when I realized I forgot my money." He held up a worn out frog wallet that everyone knew he's had for years.
"W-welcome, Naruto," Hinata stammered with a faint blush.
"Oh, Hinata!" He grinned. "I didn't know you worked here! Do you like ramen that much too?"
"It's been a while, Naruto," Teuchi said and pat Hinata on the shoulder. "I got Hinata to replace those two idiots that I had before, isn't that great?"
"Yeah!" Naruto beamed as a bowl of ramen was set down before him. "Hinata, I'm sure you'll do a great job here."
"Thanks..." She looked down as her cheeks darkened and nodded with a meek smile. "I'll do my best, Naruto."
He broke apart his chopsticks and began to inhale the ramen as he always did. Sasuke looked at Naruto and simply shook his head.
"Idiot." He muttered under his breath and poked at the extra naruto Hinata had dropped in his soup moments ago. When he glanced up at her, she was poking her fingers together in a shy manner. She hadn't changed much since the last time he saw her.