the breakup call
chapter 2
a/n: hey guys! thank you all so much for the reviews, i'm in endless gratitude to you all. there is one review i'd like to respond to in particular since I couldn't message them directly:
Zari A: thank you so much for taking the time to review, to know my weaker and stronger points in the chapter was incredibly informative. also, i'd like to add that much more about why sakura dumped him and all of that information will be revealed much later like you said. ^^ again, many thanks, I have taken every single bit of your feedback in consideration c:
I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
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It was exactly 6:52am when Hinata arrived at her bakery cafe, hair tied up neatly in a ponytail and gathered tightly to keep odd strands from reaching her face. Rays of sunshine filtered through the glass doors of the bakery, illuminating the cafe entirely. The sun was rising. As Hinata would turn around, a kaleidoscope of hues faded in to each other; a scarlet glow bled in to an undertone of a crisp orange.
Her eyes felt heavy against their sockets and bags underneath made up most of her face; without saying, she couldn't sleep that night. At all. Her thoughts fogged her brain, wondering why she was so stupid and she did what she did so impulsively.
Still, it was over and done with. She was never going to speak to that unknown caller again, so she put the thoughts to one side, and kept it stored away as work was her priority and that was exactly what she was going to focus on for the next couple of hours, she cinched.
"TenTen!" Hinata greeted enthusiastically, seeing the brunette in her white apron in the kitchen. TenTen turned around, a warm smile radiating her face as she ran in to loving embrace Hinata.
Hinata took a glimpse at the brunette. It was as if TenTen had rolled her whole body in flour, with white patches on herself everywhere, dirtying her clothes immensely.
"Ah, this," TenTen darted her eyes to the flour on herself, "We're trying the new black forest gâteau recipe you asked us to. The rest of the employees are in the kitchen—" Hinata could very well hear the bustling of chatter resonating throughout the kitchen, coming from the numerous other employees she hired. "—I think we got carried away."
As Hinata was led in to the kitchen, wrist being gently grasped by TenTen as she roamed in, warmth overwhelmed Hinata at the vision in front of her.
"Hinata-chan!"
"Hinata, hey!"
"Hinataa! So good to see you!"
Voices fought over each other, but all saying more or less the same thing. All her employees gathered in front of her, each equally painted with flour on their faces and clothes.
"A-ah, hello! You're all looking… interesting," she giggled, referencing to the flour everywhere. They laughed alongside her, altruism coated in their eyes.
She felt touched, knowing each of these employees — including TenTen, her best friend — willingly volunteered to come to the bakery at 5am sharp to ensure all of the luxuries, cakes and delectable pastries were baked fresh for the customers' satisfaction.
Hinata clapped her hands together, and ordered, "I think it's about time we opened up for breakfast, it's almost 7am, so if you all want to get yourselves cleaned up, that'll be great. TenTen will be at the till and I will be serving tables. I'll designate each person to follow under either me, or TenTen."
The employees scurried off upstairs to get washed up, while TenTen took her apron and hairnet off and changed the sign outside the door from "closed" to "open", awaiting the numerous customers who would regularly visit to collect breakfast.
Hours later, nearing closer to the lunchtime rush, the door chime signalled yet another customer. When Hinata turned around to greet them, she felt a rush of elation as she peered at who was at the door.
"Neji-neesan!" she approached, gaining a similarly warm smile in response. "I'm guessing you got my voicemail?"
Neji nodded, facial expression transitioning to that of a stern one, "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
Upon hearing their voices, TenTen peeked from the till to the door, to see Neji conversing casually with Hinata. As there were no customers waiting in the queue, she briskly strolled over to her boyfriend, grinning at his presence.
Acknowledging her, Neji softly placed a kiss on TenTen's cheek as his girlfriend said, "Hey, sweetie!"
"Hey, Hinata and I are going to talk over by the table over there, do you want to join us?"
TenTen pouted, shaking her head. "Can't. A queue's forming by the till. I'll call you after work though."
Both Neji and Hinata nodded understandingly, perching on the comfortable, couch seats as Hinata could feel the atmosphere growing serious.
"What's wrong? Can you not take the muffins I made to Hanabi today?"
"About that," a growing silence ensued before Neji continued, "I want you to take it to Hanabi and go back to the Hyuuga household yourself."
Hinata, obviously in a state of discomfort, felt her skin prick. "N-No! I haven't gone back to that house in three years, and there's a reason for that."
"I know, but that could change."
The fear in her voice loitered in the air. "How could I go back to that house knowing I'm a shame to the Hyuuga name?" She shook her head disapprovingly, fingers curling in to a ball and eyes diverting away from Neji's.
She couldn't go back to her household, feeling the wrath of her father once again and the beady, vicious eyes of the rest of her family members who she was sure of, all absolutely hated her.
Hinata Hyuuga was not the daughter Hiashi Hyuuga wanted. She was gentle, delicate, while Hiashi needed a daughter who was bold, ruling.
He needed one of his children to take over the famous Hyuuga law firm and be in complete domination over it. Hinata Hyuuga, it was confirmed, would not be that child.
With news that the oldest Hyuuga daughter not inheriting the law firm, she was deemed as the failure, the mistake of all the family, as she was not the woman her beloved father wanted her to be. So, Hinata did she thought was best for her: moving out.
"It's been three years, Hinata-sama. You can't keep running away like this," Neji disagreed, eyes desperate. "I'll come with you, but please, at least consider it."
Hinata's eyes lit up like fireworks, ears comprehending his words. "Would you do that for me?" she murmured reluctantly, hands clammy.
"Of course."
Hinata intertwined her fingers with her locks, curling the ends in hesitation.
"Hanabi will really appreciate it, after all, you are blood-related sisters. If you don't want to go back for your father, then go back for Hanabi."
With those words vibrating in Hinata's eardrums, she felt like she had a responsibility to go back, and prove how she'd matured in to the capable, sensible woman her father was looking for. Even if it was all a meaningless facade.
xxx
It was around half noon when Naruto woke up, canvased in his own pool of drool and — though not unusual anymore — had strands of hair sticking up sideways and so dishevelled that locks would fall out if even an attempt was made to brush it.
Physical pain shot through Naruto, raising his hand to his head and overwhelmed with the pounding effect, clear that a hangover was in effect. Feeling like he'd been repeatedly bashed with a mallet, Naruto eyeballed around his bedroom in search for some aspirin, or anything that would be of aid to him.
Forcefully, Naruto compelled himself sit upwards, recollecting blurry, intoxicated memories from the previous night.
His heart leaped.
Naruto Uzumaki was no longer a single man.
He was no longer dumped, nor was his ex-girlfriend Sakura anymore. Because she was his current girlfriend, once again. He sprinted out of bed, blatantly disregarding his throbbing hangover.
Sakura was actually back in her life.
It was slightly unusual she had left him without even reason, too peculiar for Naruto to understand why she'd done it. Still, it didn't matter now. She'd taken back her words, and they were together, again.
So naturally, he'd do what any other guy would've done: called her, of course.
Grabbing his phone in a rushed manner, he searched for her in his contacts list. He pressed her at her name and put the phone to his ear patiently, a glow radiating his eyes in excitement of hearing her soft, gentle voice. He waited, and waited for the sound of her voice, his heart hammering out of his chest.
"Naruto? Why are you calling me?" Her tone was not was he was hoping for. Sakura's voice sounded like the call was completely unexpected and irrational.
Still, he pursued with his sense of enthusiasm. "Hey, Sakura-chan!" he greeted her lovingly, fearing the pause afterwards that caused his heartbeat to unnaturally increase.
"Naruto, I don't think you should be calling me…" she said, a perplexed Naruto hanging on to her every word on the other end. Had he been dreaming everything? No, that was not the case. He felt her every word, her every breath clearly through the phone.
"Sakura-chan? What are you—" he repeated, tone growing slightly melancholy.
He heard her take a long, heavy breath. "Naruto, I don't know what to say," she spoke passively, as always, "I'm sorry, but you have to understand that we're—"
This shouldn't have been happening. Why was she acting so bizarre? He'd heard her say those words, "I love you" himself, had he not?
"No!" Naruto bellowed in to the phone, mind distraught, fogged in confusion. "No, no, no… Why are you acting so distant?"
"Has it not phased you that we've broken up, Naruto? I want to do what's best for both of us, and I think that would be to stay separate for a while."
"No, but… But you said you loved me and everything last night—"
"Sorry, I did what?" At this point, her voice was no longer passive. It was extremely bewildered, almost as if last night was non-existent. "I was with Ino last night, working at the hospital…"
It couldn't be. She must have forgotten — that's right, she forgot. "No, you did. I heard your voice, and everything. Sakura-chan, it was you," he argued, so confused that tears brimmed his eyes. "You said that you were sorry and that you made a mistake!" he echoed her every word.
His throat grew tighter and tighter, voice so strangled it forcefully spat out, "It was you, why can't you see that?"
"It wasn't, Naruto," Sakura murmured, pity — the one thing he didn't want to hear — evident in every word.
His simple headache, known as his hangover, had amplified a thousand times stronger. The physical pain was growing, intensifying, the more his rejection resounded in his head.
The pain was past just a metaphor; no, it was almost fatal, to the point where Naruto's body was ready to shut down in utter devastation. Nausea shot through his organs, paining him everywhere.
No words escaped Naruto's mouth for a couple of minutes, the two simply feeding in to the silence before Sakura grew concerned at Naruto's lack of speech. "Naruto? Say something, please," Sakura's voice pleaded, "Are you alright? Oh god, have you been drinking—"
"Don't pretend you still care about me, please. Don't make me believe you still love me."
Both internal and outward pain were equally crushing Naruto, just as much as each other.
"I-I'm sorry. It's a habit."
Naruto put a hand to his forehead, groaning. "Why did you do it? Why did you break up with me? I just don't understand. I'm left so confused."
He could feel Sakura stomach down the hesitation, as she said, "Y-You should go. I bet you're probably busy," — Naruto scoffed at this — "I have a patient to deal with soon, so…" her voice lingered, as if there were unspoken words caught in her throat, except she said nothing more.
"Bye, then." Naruto heard a beep, signalling Sakura had hung up immediately. She'd entirely avoided his question, and Naruto hadn't pushed her buttons any further to ask about it. He'd beat himself up for that, later.
Running a hand through his hair, Naruto felt through the knots accumulated over the five week period, and yanked at them roughly. His hands moved from his hair to his eyes, covering them in the embarrassment of crying again and again, like an endless cycle. Naruto just didn't know what to feel anymore. Frankly, he was just so… empty. Hollow, incomplete.
But right now, more than ever, he was absolutely livid; whoever had screwed him up so seamlessly, was surely doing it for a prank, or a fucked up joke. Naruto didn't care about their reasons, except he was certain of one thing — he would fucking murder the person behind it.
He knew he was drunk that night, so he instantaneously assumed the voice behind the number would be Sakura. Except it clearly wasn't.
Scrolling through his phone log, Naruto took a note of the only number without a caller ID and identified as an unknown number to him.
A threatening scowl framed Naruto's face, a war brewing mentally.
xxx
Hinata gaped at the mansion towering over her, intimidating her, recovering memories lost in the midst of her pain after moving out. Her pale eyes travelled to the black, iron gates three times the size of her and opening widely, exposing her to yards of neatly trimmed grass.
Clusters of arranged, multicoloured roses and hedges encircled the entirety of the front yard and bushes were cut to imitate a variety of life-size creatures: tigers, flamingos, rabbits, birds.
"I-I haven't been here in three years," she painfully murmured, avoiding Neji's gaze. "And the house still scares me."
They paced — needless to rush — across the marble pathway with a fearful silence. Hinata, out of pure curiosity, observed her surroundings; marble fountains encompassed her at every corner, water sprouting out of the mouth of a statue of an angelic-looking girl perched on top.
Going up the granite steps, they finally reached the door of the extravagant house, and Neji stabbed his finger at the doorbell.
Only moments later, a lady, presumably a maid, came to greet them at the door with her hair pulled back extremely tightly in to the neatest bun she'd ever seen.
She took a glimpse at Neji, nodding at his arrival. "Welcome back, Neji-sama, and—" she tilted her head to glimpse at Hinata before her eyes gaped wide and her mouth loitered open for a few seconds. "Hinata-sama!"
The look of shock quickly transitioned to that of a pleased one, a beam radiating across her face.
"I can't believe you're back! Oh, do come in," she let them both through, observing Hinata as she saw the glimpse of pain triggered in her eyes.
Hinata watched her surroundings, from the marble, spiral staircase, to the maids enveloping her and scurrying around everywhere because it was almost time for dinner, and, without saying, Hyuuga dinners were always very busy and formal. Everything was similar to how it was three years ago.
"I should inform Hiashi-sama of your arrival, wait here—"
A booming voice interrupted the maid's, "Hinata?"
The orotund, foghorn-like voice was undoubtedly familiar to her. She whipped her head around, a crease appearing between her eyebrows and the picnic basket (which held the chocolate muffins) plunging, from her hands, to the tiled floor. The maid scurried to pick it up, ensuring no damage was made and handed it back to Hinata.
Her father was standing at the staircase, eyes sharpening at the sight beneath him.
This feeling was far too familiar for Hinata. She was too caged in, standing in the mansion, completely claustrophobic amongst the mania of the maids and the beady-eyed glare she was receiving from her very own father. Her legs twitched, almost ready to leap out of that door and run away, like she'd always done.
Neji placed his hand on her shoulder as a sign of reassurance, a reminder that she wasn't alone.
"Father," she responded, prideful at her lack of stutter.
He began to briskly walk down the wide staircase, and said, "What brings you here?"
She avoided his harsh gaze, and replied, "I-I am here to give something to Hanabi."
He nodded approvingly, watching her. There was doubt about it, she had grown miraculously, both mentally and physically. Her medium-length hair grew even longer, reaching her hips and her eyes grew warmer and more welcoming. However, many aspects of his daughter remained the same: her look was that of a startled, terror-stricken one, like a deer in headlights.
"Very well. She's in her bedroom," he informed her, "I assume you haven't forgotten where that is."
His patronising words couldn't help but resonate in her ears as she'd roam up the staircase, and she couldn't believe how quickly her talk with him ended.
It was like he stopped caring about her completely.
She walked through the numerous hallways to get to one in particular, and knocked softly on the door. As soon as Hinata heard the words, "come in", she clutched the cold, silver doorknob and walked inside.
"Who is it — Neji-neesan, Hinata-neechan!" Hanabi cheered, standing up from her desk and closing her studying books. She sprinted to embrace Hinata, suffocating her in a big hug.
"W-Woah! Hanabi, y-you're suffocating me," Hinata choked out, face flustered and almost purple.
"Hinata-neechan! What are you doing here? I missed you so much," she cried out, tears filling her eyes.
"I came to see you," Hinata sweetly said, watching stars glisten in Hanabi's eyes, "I made you some chocolate chip muffins. It sounds bizarre thinking about it, but I needed an excuse to see you."
She handed over her picnic basket, and watched as Hanabi opened it and indulged in one of delights appreciatively.
"Thank you!" A grin was written all over Hanabi's face.
"How are things around here?"
The younger sister sighed, eyes darting to the floor. "Neechan, I never stopped thinking about you after you left. None of us did. You kept the household so warm and friendly, and we lost that friendliness after you left."
Hinata embraced her younger sister, only just noticing how petite she was in comparison to her, despite being only several years younger. "I felt so bad when you moved out, because I was only ever cold towards you. I loved you, obviously, but I had a terrible way of showing it," Hanabi said, the sound of her sobs growing and muffling her words.
Still hugging Hanabi, Hinata kneeled down and stroked her silky, straight hair lovingly. "Shh, it's okay. Don't worry. What's done is done, forget about it all now," she reassured her, whispering in her ear like a tender mother. "What's important is that I'm here now; I'm not going to leave you like that again."
Hanabi jumped out of her elder sister's arms, relief coated in her expression. "Really? Are you being serious? Are you… Are you going to move back in to this house?"
Dead in her tracks, Hinata completely paused. No, she couldn't. She hadn't even thought of moving back, it hadn't even phased her once, because the idea was out of the question — too ridiculous for her to think about. However, the desperate look on Hanabi's face almost convinced her. Almost.
"Hanabi, I can't." Hanabi's expression transitioned to a disappointed one, nodding understandingly. "I have a boyfriend now. I can't leave him. Plus, there are so many things I want to achieve, and I won't be able to do that under this household."
Her teenage sister nodded understandably. "I see."
In desperation of wanting to ease the heavy atmosphere, Hinata completely dropped the topic, giving Hanabi her phone. "Would it be okay if I got your number?"
Hanabi smiled and tapped in the numbers. "Of course. We have to rely on each other since we're sisters, right?"
Just as Hinata was about to reply, a knock sounded from the door. "Hinata-sama, Hiashi-sama wants to see you!" a voice, Hinata assumed a maid, bellowed from outside.
The sisters eyed each other, and then both looked at Neji.
"You'll be fine, just be confident," Neji assured her, nodding like an older brother.
She carved his words in to her brain and ascended from her position, dusting off her clothes and walking out of the door in hope of leaving Neji and Hanabi some time to catch up. She saw the maid waiting patiently, as she said, "He's downstairs, by the dining room. He said it was important."
Hinata nodded, and trotted down the stairs for the last time before finding her way, pushing past the bustle of maids getting dinner ready, to the dining room and found her father waiting for her. His eyes grew stern upon seeing her.
"Yes, father?"
"Hinata," he said in a softer tone, "Have you got anything to do after this visit?"
"N-No, I don't, but—"
"Good. You should eat dinner with us," Hiashi suggested, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Although Hinata walked in to the household with a rocky start, maybe, just maybe, her father changed for the better in the period of time she moved out.
Warmth filled through Hinata's body entirely, her cheeks flushing in elation at the sudden suggestion.
Her father was not good at outward, physical affection, nor could he express his love through words as he stumbled greatly, not really ever sure of what to say without embarrassing himself.
After all, he was the strict, stern Hiashi Hyuuga who seldom outwardly conveyed his love, but, at that moment, Hinata could feel a wave of affection radiate through her. Maybe it was a cheesy thought, but she'd never felt his affection towards her, ever.
"It really has been a really long time, father," she replied, smile widening at his kind offer.
Dinner came, and as usual the Hyuuga dinners were extremely hectic. A larger branch of the Hyuugas than just her father and Hanabi lived under the mansion: her grandparents, some cousins, aunts, uncles.
It was an enjoyable hour for Hinata, until talk turned to her. "So, Hinata," one of her cousins began to interrogate. Most conversations in the room dimmed down and all eyes were on her. "What did you do at university?"
Hinata's nerves tingled, her sense of fear curling in to her stomach and choking up her words. "O-Oh university? W-Well, actually, I—"
"She did law, obviously," her father interrupted her. "Right, Hinata?"
"W-Well, actually, after I-I moved out, I dropped law and did business management instead…"
"What? You dropped law?"
"F-Father, I wanted to learn how to create my own business instead."
"She runs a very successful bakery," Neji quickly contributed to the conversation in an attempt to save Hinata.
"Bakery?" Her father spat, as Hinata's other relatives began nudging each other with perplexion in their eyes. "Hinata, why on earth are you running a bakery? If it's for the money, then if you just asked I would give it to you."
"It's not for the money, father! I-I found something I truly love doing. I showed I could be a successful businesswoman all on my own," she defended herself. "People doubted I could do it, and I proved them wrong."
"Is that it?" Hiashi rolled his eyes, the creases in his forehead reappearing.
"N-No, I—"
"Hinata, stop this madness. Sell your… bakery, and take law again. You're not going to get anywhere with that damn shop of yours," he lectured.
"B-But, I love baking, you don't understand—"
"I'll get one of the maids to collect your belongings from your flat back to here. It's clear that no good comes from you living alone. While we're at it, you can put your bakery up for sale as well."
Before Hinata could make an attempt to defend herself, her unfortunately boisterous, loud ringtone began to signal for her pocket. Rosy cheeked, Hinata felt embarrassment like never before as she grabbed her phone to reject the call.
"I-I'm so sorry about that! I-I—" Hinata stammered uncontrollably, flushed like a tomato, "F-Father, I really—"
Her ringtone sounded, again. And as Hinata would reject it over and over, completely clueless on how to turn the phone off, it'd vibrate in her pocket as she'd turn it on silent.
"This is shameful, Hinata, really."
Shameful. The word buzzed in her eardrums, knowing that that was the same word Hiashi used to describe her many years ago.
A rush of distress overwhelmed her, tears choking up her words because everything was going wrong.
The words of her father shooting through her, the judging gaze she sensed from her own family members, her own goddamn phone ringing on full volume five times…
"I-I think it's best if I leave," Hinata choked up, ascending from her seat, quickly collecting her belongings from the coat hanger.
Voices were calling after her as she left the dining room, presumably Neji or Hanabi, but she didn't care. She just needed to free herself and to return to her flat, gain some sense of sanity and just breathe.
The thump of each footstep pounded in her eardrums, her ragged breath heavy. Hinata launched herself away from the mansion at full speed, her surroundings blurring as her feet took her took away from her personal hell.
When she'd finally reached the iron gates and stabbed at the button beside it to open, she slowly meandered away from the mansion, her blood pounding and clogging her brain. Adrenaline had surged through her system and she'd flew away the house in mere minutes, but now, she felt terror-stricken more than ever.
Now, Hinata concluded, she wouldn't ever be able to come back to that house. Not again, not after that.
After all, it wasn't like Hiashi would even allow her back in.
Why did she drop law? How was Hinata stupid enough to disobey her father and secretly, go behind his back and take a different course? She thought she was being daring, courageous.
She cursed at herself violently, wondering how she could have screwed up so effortlessly. Strangers would look at her with that same judging gawk, watching her like a show as she was roaming streets with sobs drowning out her eyes.
Then, suddenly, a memory resurfaced: her phone, ringing. She removed her phone from her pocket again and looked at the caller ID of her call logs — except there was none. "Unknown caller", she read.
Unknown caller.
Hinata stood stationary, then flinched and put the phone to her ear as she pressed his number to call him back. It couldn't be — it couldn't have been him. The boy from the previous night. She doubted it.
"H-Hello—"
"What in the living fuck is wrong with you? Are you fucking crazy or something? Do you have a personal grudge against me?" a ringing voice roared at her. Hinata quickly withdrew the phone away from her ear, the voice overly loud against her ear drums.
It was exactly the person she was dreading most.
"Fucking answer me! Who the fuck are you, anyway?"
"I-I, I just…"
"Was this some sort of horrible, screwed up prank? Is that it? Is that why you decide to fuck up my head completely?"
Hinata's calm and composed demeanour broke down. Her wails, heard clearly on the receiving end, slurred her words and caused her mouth to quiver in utter dismay. She was exhausted, having to hear the shouting and rages of everyone around her; this was only one more person to add to the list.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" she bawled, raising her palms to wipe them against her eyes.
"H-Hey, are you crying? Shit, I, uh…." the boy panicked, continuing to hear her sobs, "Look, I was just angry… please don't cry."
Hinata ignored his pleading and felt a further of rush of tears before she found her voice to say, "I-I thought I was doing the right thing," she fumbled, panting heavy. "I knew exactly how you felt that moment, and I knew what words you wanted to hear, so, instinctively I just…"
A sigh escaped the boys lips as he said, "Maybe you understood me, but that was… cruel and deceiving."
"I-I was only thinking about that moment, I didn't even consider what would happen afterwards," Hinata said, "I messed up. Again. I'm sorry."
"'Sorry' doesn't really mean anything, though, it only serves the purpose of getting peoples' asses out of trouble."
"No, you're wrong," Hinata calmly argued, "I-I don't really know what experiences you've had with apologies, but it's human nature to be prideful. To explicitly admit that you're the person that's wrong isn't easy — you shouldn't underestimate the sincere value of an apology."
Stunned back by her argument, there was a moment of silence. Hinata could sense that the person on the other end didn't really know where to begin, or how to word himself.
"This is going to sound extremely strange considering I don't know you, but I want to meet up with you. I can tell that right now isn't exactly the best time to be forcing a conversation with you. How does tomorrow at noon sound?"
"O-Okay. If you want, we can have lunch in my bakery, it's a cafe too. I'll text you the address now."
With that plan made, they both nodded in satisfaction and said their byes. Hinata quickly got the bus back to her flat and hopelessly sighed at one of the most dreadful days she'd faced in a long while.
xxx
"Ah, it's almost time for him to arrive," Hinata recalled internally, glimpsing at her watch briefly before she scanned around the shop and settled on one of the free tables.
Thankfully, TenTen was in the kitchen that day so she wouldn't be roaming around, waiting tables and gawking too much at the appearance of this sudden stranger.
Moments later, chimes beckoned a tall, incredibly attractive man opening the door and eyes drifting around his surroundings. His eyes gradually landed on her, and the realisation that she'd been peering at him quickly hit him.
His head tilted slightly, as if to question whether that would be the woman he'd been looking for, and Hinata waved gently at him for reassurance. He sauntered closer to her table, so close that he stood directly behind the chair opposite her.
"H-Hello," Hinata fumbled for words, entirely lost in the appearance of the man in front of her. "I-I'm Hinata Hyuuga."
Her eyes traced his strong, chiseled jawline to his masculine figure, hovering tall above her. However, there was something about his profile that appeared… off. For one, he seemed exhausted. His eyes were sunken, eye bags prominent against the rest of his face.
Moreover, despite being spellbound by his cerulean hues, they were distant, cold. His gaze was entirely unfocused on her, as if preoccupied elsewhere.
"Naruto Uzumaki," he responded passively and squatted on to the seat.
That name.
"W-Would you like a drink, or something to eat first, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked; her face became slowly red — the flushed face girl couldn't believe this was the man she was talking to all along.
He'd grown so miraculously, puberty working wonders on him, so much so that she hadn't recognised him instantaneously by his appearance. However, it was clear that his memory didn't serve him as well as it served her.
Naruto shook his head. "No, I'm fine, thanks," he assured her. "I can't believe a girl so small like you can run a bakery so big," he chuckled.
A single look would send chills down her spine, urging her to lean in closer.
Unsure of whether he was insulting or complimenting her, Hinata opted for the latter as she laughed softly.
"But I think both of us would agree that it's best to end the small talk and get on with the more serious topic here, right?" Naruto proposed, "Because honestly, I think you need to realise what you've done — after all, I don't think I've ever been so infuriated or confused in my life."
His words danced on her eardrums, heating her insides like a fire.
Hinata came to the realisation that the conversation was slowly going to grow more somber, and less in her comfort zone than she'd hoped for it to be.
.
.
a/n: I originally intended this to be around 4k words, but I think I got a little carried away. it's 5.5k OTL.
anyway, I hope you enjoyed that and please do review! it does mean a lot to me. c: