Ha ha ha ha. I'm glad to see a lot of people like this one. It's a bit of a change for something I did on a whim. To be honest, I'm more proud of Fatass than anything, but since it's under Shikamaru and Chouji and is only a friendship piece, it doesn't get a lot of publicity. What is wrong with yaoi, anyway? I mean, I like it as much as the next girl (I mean, just LOOK at Runner's High. It has GHEY written all over it.), but that's ALL people read now! It's ridiculous! Well, here's to all the girls who read het-pairings, too (or only read het-pairings). I'm sure there's boys included, so this is to them, too. 9o9 I tend to forget some boys like this site.
Ah yeah, and I feel I need to mention this. It's about what she makes Chouji. Yakiniku is pretty much meat with sauce on it or something, I dunno. I get all my Japanese dishes from Fruits Basket. So here we have Yakiniku, as mentioned in the "Sorta Cinderella" chapter, and in quite a few more with Hanajima in them. (Ha ha ha, that chapter was one of my faves. Hana was so perfect in it, as always.)
I'm sure you all know what a bento is (boxed lunch, naturally), so no worries. And of course everyone knows what ramen is, right? Ha ha.
Heh Heh. And I also bring up a topic that might just become a sequel to this, if I feel inclined and if I don't solve this sub-plot at the end of the story. If I do make a sequel, it's going to occur much in the same way as my Goth Kid fics (You know, from South Park. They're titled Mr. Brightside and Pretty in Pink if anyone's interested. But I need to warn you, it is about the Goth Kids, so I'm sure that's enough to tell you they're all annoying.)… Since those parenthesis were too long, I'll finish the method in this sentence--it'll have a conclusion in the final chapter and an Epilogue with the continuing plot line dangling at the end. And then, in the sequel, the very same Epilogue will become the Prologue for that, and the story will continue from there.
However, I really don't know if I want to make it into a sequel, so we'll have to wait and see. The question is, would any of YOU like to see it happen? If that's the case, I might be able to end it in this story by way of summing up a sub-plot and won't have to go through the trouble of starting a new story. (I will tell you this: I already started on the next chapter, and she's already become part of the subplot. So, it's all a matter of it working more as a sequel. But you'd all be a better judge at the end of Chapter Three, since it pretty much brings up everything that would be in the sequel if I were to make it into one.
His Favorite Food
Part Two -- "Ramen and a Yakiniku Bento"
Early the next morning, Chouji met up with Shikamaru at their regular training grounds. Shikamaru took a spot underneath the trees and lay down, his hands behind his head. Chouji sat next to him, munching on a few chips he'd pulled from his newest bag.
"Sorry about what Ino said the other day, Chouji."
"It's alright. It's not your fault… Besides, I felt a little bit better after Hinata gave me a pep talk. She's sounding more like Naruto every day…"
Shikamaru shrugged, not really caring one way or the other. That was just him–stoic apathy. For a long while afterwards they just sat there, staring up at the sky. Chouji, munching on a handful of chips, looked over at Shikamaru, his cheeks turning bright red. He looked back at the sky, attempting to appear as nonchalant about the subject as his friend.
"Hey, H-Hinata's pretty cute, huh?"
Shikamaru just shrugged again, feeling his eyes grow heavy, as they always did. "Yeah, I guess. Women are pretty troublesome, though. Just take it from me, Chouji–chasing after women just leaves you heartbroken."
For a while Chouji accepted it, until it started to pick at him, like a festering scab turned on its victim. "You…speaking from experience?"
Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched, and he looked away, embittered. "N-No. What makes you think that? I mean, it's not like I can help it if TenTen likes Lee for his fighting spirit and thinks I'm boring." He frowned, closing his eyes and sighing, his eyebrows returning to their normal, relaxed selves. "Not exactly, that is…"
Chouji sat there for a while, thinking. "Hmmm… D-Does it bother you?"
"Eh?" His friend opened an eye to look at him.
"Being rejected by TenTen."
Shikamaru burst out laughing. "You thought I'd told her?? No, I just overheard her talking to all the other girls one day back in school… A few of the girls were talking about the boys, and they started on me being smart, but TenTen just frowned and said I was too boring… No way I'd confess…that's just way too troublesome…" His cheeks turned slightly pink, but that soon passed. "But, like I said, girls are troublesome, so don't even bother going after her or anything, Chouji."
Chouji made a slight humming sound, like he was a bit disappointed, and Shikamaru grimaced, mentally berating himself. Trying to lessen the blow he may have caused, he mumbled– "Besides, she likes Naruto, doesn't she? You've got no chance against him, Chouji. She's been in love with him since we were all in diapers, practically! Don't even risk getting rejected, Chouji. It'll just make you feel bad."
Chouji hummed again, thinking to himself. 'I dunno… I think I'd feel worse if I lived with regret…' He turned red again, suddenly realizing what Shikamaru was implying. "W-Wait! I don't even like her! I just…I just think she's cute…is…is all…" He trailed off dumbly, soon realizing he was convincing himself more than anything.
He groaned, putting his head in his hands. He didn't even feel like eating right now.
--
She sighed, looking up at the ceiling of the kitchen. He said she sounded like Naruto… It was the best compliment she'd ever received, and she had to repay him somehow. But when it came to boys, she was clueless. What would a boy want? She knew Naruto liked ramen, but aside from him, she was clueless to the other boys in Konoha…
"Th-Think, Hinata-chan!" She groaned, turning red and looking to the stove. Minutes passed, and nothing came to mind. She sighed, making a small whimper of despair.
So that was it. She'd make Chouji some ramen…as a proper thanks…
--
Shikamaru glanced back over at Chouji, sitting up finally. "Don't look so down, Chouji. Don't even worry about girls. Ehhh…" He looked at Chouji's uneaten bag of chips–he hadn't been eating at all for the past thirty minutes. "Chouji, really, don't get so upset about this… It's just a girl, right? A Hyuuga, at that. They're all a bit iffy anyway…"
Chouji stood up, leaving his chips on the ground. "There's really nothing wrong, Shikamaru. I'm just…tired. I need to get home, so…bye."
"Chouji, wai…t…" Shikamaru trailed off, realizing it'd probably be better for his friend to work things out on his own. He sighed, flopping back down on the ground, disgruntled again.
"Ah, what do I care anyway? It's just a stupid girl problem…"
As Chouji walked off, he stumbled into the square, feeling bad. He felt drained and tired, and all he wanted to do right now was go lie down. Shikamaru probably wouldn't understand; he was too laid-back to care about girls, or to really give him any meaningful advice on the subject. I mean, he was upset about TenTen, but he'd recovered from that so easily! Sure, he'd said to stay away from Hinata…but what if he didn't want to stay away? Hinata was a nice girl, and even if she was more in love with Naruto, it didn't change the fact that he wanted to see her right now…
"Ch-Chouji-kun!"
His head whirled around, his strength and appetite suddenly returning. That was Hinata's voice! Why'd she want to talk to him?? He caught sight of her petite form stumbling over to him awkwardly through the throng of people separating them. When she was within range, he noticed a small thermos of some kind, and a little bag around her arm.
She walked towards him, but someone pushed by her, nearly knocking her over. She gave a slight squeaking sound, and Chouji bumbled over, catching her arm before she fell. She looked up at him, face red from embarrassment. She turned away, stuttering, but he couldn't hear her clearly.
He looked around, spying a secluded-looking spot a few buildings down, by the park. "Uh…c-come on…" He dragged her off, towards the park, and she followed, eager to get out of that giant crowd of strangers.
Once there, he sat down on a bench nearby. She took a seat next to him handed him the thermos. "Uh…I…I wanted to thank you p-properly…for yesterday…"
Chouji blinked wondering what on earth she meant. "I didn't do anything. I should be the one thanking you!" He smiled a little, but her face just fell.
"O-Oh…I… S-Sorry. I didn't…realize…"
He paled, realizing he'd said something wrong. So, he tried to change the subject. "Th-Thanks for this, but what is it?" He opened the thermos, spying ramen noodles inside. "R-Ramen?" His face fell, suddenly remembering. "Oh… …I'm not Naruto, you know…"
Her face flushed, and she stuttered again. "D-Do you not like it? I-I-I'm sorry… I thought…"
He frowned, sure he wouldn't let her down a third time. So, he lifted the thermos, tilting it down and letting the entire contents fall into his mouth. He devoured the entire meal she'd prepared in one bite, and he turned to her, smiling. "Ah… that was very good, Hinata. You're a pretty good cook."
Her eyes were wide, and she was staring at him, slack-jawed. Her expression was so comical, he couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "S-Sorry… I probably should've warned you ahead of time I ate like that…" Suddenly guilt washed over him–she probably felt like she hadn't made enough now.
She shook herself out of it and busied herself with the bag she'd carried. "Ah, but–! I…I was making it, and I…I realized you'd probably like something to go along w-with it…" She pulled out a box from the bag, along with a pair of chopsticks. She handed them to him, and he took it eagerly, excited to see what was inside.
He opened it to find yakiniku and rice, along with a small plum. He looked at the dish, then back to her, then finally back to the dish, his eyes watering up at the beauty of it. He gave her a big smile. "W-Wow, Hinata! It looks delicious!" He took a bite, grabbing a slice of meat from it and chomping down. The sheer taste of it nearly brought tears to his eyes. "It is delicious! D-Do you cook often, Hinata??" He settled down to finishing off the rest of it, making sure to save the plum for last.
Hinata turned pink, smiling a little. "Th-Thank you… I…I cook for K-Kiba and Shino sometimes when we go out on missions…but…but I've never tried cooking for anybody else b-before. I want to try and cook s-something for Naruto…but I'm afraid he won't like it…"
"Of course he'd like it! Your cooking's amazing, Hinata! You should totally give him a boxed lunch! Anyone'd fall for you if they tasted your cooking!"
Her face turned red, and she smiled a little. "Y-Y-You really think so…? Th-Thank you…" Chouji had always been so nice; he was probably just being polite again.
"You cook better than my mom, and that's saying something! My mom's pretty much the best cook in our clan, and she's twice your age! You've got talent, Hinata!"
She turned even deeper red. She put her hands on her cheeks, trying to keep herself from fainting. He was complimenting her. How many dishes would she have to cook to repay him for all these nice compliments he was giving? He was so nice, it was staring to look like she'd have to spend the rest of her life– Her face turned even darker, and she stood up, feeling woozy.
'Hinata, what are you thinking?? That sounds like marriage! Ooooh, don't go thinking like that! Just one more dish, and you'll be done. Just one more dish for that talent comment, and that's it… Oh, but there was also that comment about anyone falling for you if they tasted your cooking… Two more dishes, then! Two more dishes and you'll be even, Hinata. Just remember, you're practicing for Naruto!' She screamed at herself mentally, trying to calm herself down.
"That was embarrassing…" she whispered, and Chouji looked up at her.
"Did you say something, Hinata?"
She turned red again, stuttering. "N-N-N-Nothing… Y-You can keep the box… I really have to go now!" As she dashed off, she kept repeating that mantra in her head– 'It's all practice for Naruto; it's all practice for Naruto; it's all practice for–'
And that's when it happened. She ran straight into that orange-garbed blond she loved so much. She fell over, landing on her rear, and looked up in shock. Naruto turned around, rubbing his head.
"Ow! That was rude, you–" He broke out into a grin when he saw who it was. "Oh! It's you, Hinata! You okay? Sorry about that!"
She gasped, realizing she'd come into contact with him. 'I…I t-t-t-touched him… I touched…N-N-Naruto!!'
And he looked back where she'd come from. "I saw you running around with a bunch of bags and a thermos, and I see Chouji's got them now. You made lunch for Chouji?" He grinned. "You must like him a lot, huh?"
Instead of turning red, she paled, blurting out the first words that came to her mind. "N-No! I don't like him at all!!"
Naruto looked back at Chouji and shrugged. "Ah, well, that's a shame. I'm sure a nice girl like you would get along with him pretty well…" He reached his hand down, grabbing her hand and pulling her up. She turned bright red and the second he let go, she doubled back over again, her knees buckling under her.
'He grabbed my hand! He grabbed my hand!! He said I was nice, I touched him, and now he's touched me and said I was nice!'
Her face turned redder and redder, until finally Naruto laughed, bending down towards her again. "Looks like you forgot how to walk, Hinata! Let me help you up again."
She screamed, standing up and dashing away in terror before she fainted in the square or worse--landed on him when she fainted. Naruto just watched her leave, scratching his head. "Huh…usually she passes out…"
She reached her house in record time, she ran so fast. As she panted and wheezed her way onto the porch, she couldn't get those words out of her head.
'No! I don't like him at all!!'
She whimpered, feeling tears prick at her eyelashes. That was so mean of her… She didn't mean it. She made it sound she hated him, but she didn't hate him at all. He'd complimented her so many times and he was really, really nice. She had no right to say she didn't like him at all–that was cruel. But she was so panicked that Naruto thought she liked Chouji like that that she blurted out something stupid.
Finally, she wiped the tears away before they dripped down her cheeks and rolled over onto her back. She looked up at the sky, sighing.
Three dishes. Three dishes and she would be even. She just hoped he didn't compliment her too much tomorrow or she'd have to add on another dish.