"Hey!" Genma greeted Natsumi with a smile as he approaching her. She was prettier than ever, he couldn't believe another year had passed; that night still seemed like yesterday. "Hi, Genma-kun." Natsumi smiled politely. He winced mentally at her coldness.
"Hi, Natsumi-chan!" Hayate walked towards the two, "You just left us last year with any notice, you had me worried sick."
She grinned apologetically, "I sure do hope I didn't make you physically sick." Laughing at her own little joke, she hugged him, "I missed you so much."
"No hug for me?" Genma joked, partially, making himself feel less awkward.
Natsumi shot him a quizzical look. Did he seriously not get the hint? She didn't want to have a 'friendly' conversation, nor did she want any physical contact with him. "No." She giggled, not wanting Hayate to notice the tension between Genma and her.
Genma clucked his tongue in annoyance; this woman sure knew how to push his buttons.
After having dinner, Natsumi had offered to walk Hayate home, just to get away from the awkwardness with Genma.
"What's wrong between you and Genma?" Hayate asked.
"Nothing." She looked away, blushing. Was it that obvious?
"Natsu-chan." Hayate cooed, touching her arm, "He's not here, you want to talk about it?"
His female friend licked her lips nervously, "Alright." She told him everything; feeling slightly embarrassed, but thanks to the always sweet and caring Hayate, he made her feel comfortable with sharing their 'secret'. When she finished, the brown-haired, pale man had a smile on his face.
"What?" She put her hands on her hips, "Don't laugh," She poked him on the chest, "It's not funny. I had the courage to tell you, don't you make fun of me."
His laugh became a cough, "I'm not laughing at you, Natsumi. It's just…so obvious." She raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"The attraction between Genma and you." He explained.
She felt her face warm up, "There is no…attraction, whatsoever. We fight almost all the time."
"That's exactly it." Hayate shoving his hands into his pockets, "Lovers have different ways of…expressing their affection towards one another."
"Hayate!" Natsumi giggled, giving him a playful punch on the arm, "Since when did you become a love guru?"
Hayate blushed, coughing while admitting, "Since I met Yugao."
She lowered her head and began picking at her fingernails. "You know, I was…sort of jealous when I found out about the update on your love life. I mean…we're supposed to be best friends and you didn't even bother to share this kind of news with me!"
"Well…you were the one who decided that we shouldn't write each other letters in the year and just talk about everything in summer." Hayate pointed out. She sighed, "True. I'm sorry. I just felt left out."
He grinned, giving his childhood friend a squeeze on the arm, "Don't worry. I'm still your best friend and we shall stick together through everything till the end. I promise you that." Touched by her friend's sincerity, Natsumi beamed, hugging him for the third-hundred thousand time, "Thank you, Hayate! You're the best thing I could ever ask of."
"And perhaps I'll go to Genma and your wedding!" He joked. Well, partially.
"Hayate is a baka!" She shrieked in embarrassment, slapping him on the back several times, "Gosh!"
He chuckled and began to cough, "Okay, okay! Natsu-chan, you're killing me!" She stopped immediately, glaring at him, her face completely red. Hayate blinked innocently at her with his dark eyes. The two of them burst out laughing.
Later that evening, Natsumi strolled over to Genma's house, knocking on the door. He swung it open impatiently but had a smug, amused smirk on his face when he found out it was her. "Look…" Natsumi began, Genma stared at her intently, "Let's just put the past in the past."
"What?" He asked, dumbly.
"I don't want us to feel weird being with each other. I mean, we're friends, right?" She laughed nervously, "And last year, that was a random hookup…"
He rolled his eyes, "Woman---"
"Listen!" She stomped her foot like a spoiled brat, "We're friends so we shouldn't have inappropriate physical contact---"
"Woman," He still cut her off, "I don't even care what happened last year. This year's summer is this year's summer, let's start over fresh."
He swore he saw a sparkle of relief in her almond round eyes before she flashed him the first sincere grin since this summer, "Friends?" She held up her pinky finger.
"Friends indeed." He nodded in agreement, 'pinky-promising' with her.
"Yay!" She threw her arms around him, almost jumping up and down. "Woman…" He grunted at her merriness. He did miss the heck out of her.
The following week, the three friends went out to dinner at a luxurious restaurant. A waitress leaded them to a lounge Natsumi had previously reserved and settled down. She sat next to Hayate whereas Genma sat across from her.
Natsumi stretched her legs and they brushed against Genma's. He raised an eyebrow with a puzzled look on his face at her, but she didn't seem to notice or mind the fact that they were having physical contact. Slightly inappropriate too. Her smooth, bare legs were brushing against his unconsciously. She ignored him, continuingly chatting with Hayate about things they should order from the menu.
The waitress came back to collect their menus and order their meals. She was constantly batting her eyelashes at Genma and shooting dirty looks at Natsumi, which made her roll her eyes. Genma and Hayate both saw the silent interaction between the two and gave each other knowing glances. Women.
When the sultry waitress left, Natsumi left out a huge sigh in disgust, "Genma, that woman is so totally hitting on you."
As if he didn't know already. The waitress had touched his shoulder, flashed him flirtatious smiles and winks…"Oh." He said.
Natsumi gritted her teeth. 'Oh' was all he could say?! The waitress was practically drooling all over him! "Well…you should ask her out." She suggested. He glared at her in disbelief. She moved her calve up and down his, giving him a sweetly venom-filled smile. Genma cursed under his breath; hell, did this woman know what she was doing?
Natsumi nudged Hayate with her elbow, hinting him to play along, "Genma's being single for a pretty long time, right?"
"Uh, indeed." Hayate chuckled, "And that lady is quite…hot."
Calling a woman hot? That was so not Hayate. Natsumi bit on her lip to keep herself from not bursting out in laughter.
Genma massaged his temples, closing his eyes.
The waitress came back, rather eagerly. "Oh, are you alright?" She asked, worriedly, putting a hand on Genma's shoulder, "Sir, would you like some sake?" His eyes snapped open, "That would be fantastic." And he flashed her his trademark smirk. The waitress blushed, pouring sake into his cup.
Natsumi clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palm. She didn't know why she was feeling like this? Angry? She didn't want Genma treating other women like this, only her---No. Genma was just a friend. That's all.
She pulled her legs away from his, pretending as if nothing happened. She drank the whole cup of water, slamming it down onto the table. The loud noise startled Hayate. He tilted his head and looked at Natsumi, whose perfectly knitted brows were furrowed then at Genma, who was laughing and joking with the seductive waitress. Oh, someone's jealous.
"Oh, excuse me." Hayate cleared his throat, addressing the waitress, "May our meals begin to be served?" She stopped and wiped her hands on her apron, "Yes, of course, sir." She quickly hurried off.
"What's wrong, Natsu-chan?" Hayate asked, even though he knew exactly what was going on.
"Nothing." She mumbled, pouring herself another cup of water. She looked up at the two of them, taking a deep breath and grinned , "Cheers?"
"Cheers." Genma and Hayate said together, clanking their glasses together. The sound of Hayate's cup of tea, Genma's glass of sake and Natsumi's cup of water made a crisp 'clunk' before they drank it down.
Genma studied Natsumi's low-hung face. She was definitely upset that he was purposely flirting with that waitress---which made him smirk. She did care.
Straightening his left leg under the table, his ankle touched her right. Her head shot up, looking at him. He gave her one of his famous half-grins. She pouted.
He moved his ankle up and down her leg, making her a little giddy in her chair.
"Are you alright?" Hayate asked, curiously. Natsumi nodded.
Food was served and it sure was delicious. They began eating and Natsumi's feet were kicking gently at Genma's. He did the same back.
Hayate accidentally dropped his chopsticks and immediately bent down to reach for them and his eyes widened when he saw the scene underneath the table. Were the two of them playing footsie right there next to him?
He coughed, trying to sit up but instead banged his head on the table.
"Awe, Hayate." She patted his head gently as she lifted him back up, "Are you okay?"
"---yes, yes." He continued to cough, sounding like he was choking, "I'm perfectly fine." These two were so unpredictable.
"Best friends forever." Natsumi whispered upon Hayate's ear as she embraced him, "You take care. Don't forget your medicine."
"Don't worry," He gave her a pat on the back, "Be safe."
She turned to Genma, whose hands were stuffed in his pockets.
She exhaled, "Bye, Genma."
"H'm." He chewed on the senbon in his mouth. Natsumi rolled her eyes , snaking her hands around his waist, "I'll miss you."
"H'm." He mumbled, patting her on the back as well. He hated saying goodbye. Especially to her.
"And I do recommend you go out with that waitress lady." She murmured, letting go of him. It was his turn to roll his eyes, "I'll miss you too, woman."
She stuck her tongue out goofily. At least she got him to say it!
"See you two next year!" Natsumi waved enthusiastically before leaving Konoha once again. Little did she know next year would be completely different.