CHAPTER FIVE

Sasuke had promised Hinata that they would go for a run the next morning, which was an oddity in itself because they never hung out outside of school. Sasuke figured it would be okay. Besides, going for a run with Naruto was getting a little boring. A change of ambiance would be great, too.

The Uchiha loved running. It felt as if he could release all the stress inside of him that had boiled up as endorphins rise. He wasn't really one to find someone to talk to and he certainly wasn't one to talk to his parents. Unlike Hinata, Sasuke grew up knowing his parents' expectations of him; if he wanted something, he'd better prove to them that he was capable of achieving it. It would be an okay thing for his parents if one day Sasuke decided not to pursue the family oil company, as long as the Uchiha had another reason to strive in life, and he better be successful. That kind of pressure brought forth a blessing and a curse to Sasuke, which resulted in him not feeling like he could be emotionally honest with his parents.

But they were fair. The whole oil company was built on sheer hard work that first came from a simple idea to a grande kingdom, enough to influence nations. Sasuke only knew to succeed and when he saw how Hinata was slowly giving into him, he felt very good about himself. Could it be that being around her was fulfilling because she actually made him feel good about himself? He'd wonder sometimes.

Fuck it. He could think of that some other time.

That morning was a new day, and he wanted to focus on running with her. He took a quick shower and yes, even after the run, he would shower again with cold water. He put on a long-sleeved t-shirt with a hoodie as an outer layer, along with warm joggers. The weather started getting colder and Sasuke was fond of it. It was a different season of dressing up, a new way of looking a certain way. Even on the simplest occasions in life, Sasuke had to look good. After his trip down the stairs, he went into the kitchen to open the fridge, looking into whatever was in it. He began to feel hungry and maybe the leftover pizza from last night lingered inside. As he searched through his fridge, his mother walked into the kitchen. It was 7 AM.

"Good morning, Sasuke. You're up so early." She said, taking a seat on one of their bar stools, and resting her book on the kitchen island. Sasuke grabbed a mug and poured her mother some lemon water that was resting in the fridge before he poured himself a glass of milk. Once he downed his milk, he gave his mom a peck on her head.

"Hey, mama. I'm going for a run soon with a friend."

She took a sip of her lemon water; a recipe for her graceful youth despite her age. "Naruto is coming over? Would you boys like to eat something after the run?"

But it wasn't Naruto.

Sasuke realized that he had never really mentioned the Hyūga to his parents before. Knowing their family's rivalry since decades ago, he wondered if it was okay to speak so casually about Hinata. Before Sasuke could even respond, his father walked into the kitchen as well. He seemed to have caught up with the conversation when he said, "So, Naruto's coming again." Fugaku gave his wife's forehead a gentle peck and said, "Good morning."

Sasuke rested against the kitchen counter, trying to find the best way to mention Hinata as the friend who was going to come over. It wasn't like he was scared or anything, he was just… careful, for some odd reason.

"Actually, it's not Naruto who's coming." He finally said.

Both their parents nodded, indicating that they were listening. "Who is it? The Nara boy?" Asked Fugaku.

The coffee machine made a beeping sound, signaling the exact time to pour brewed coffee. After the pot filled up, Sasuke poured both his parents their own mugs. He landed their coffee in front of them on the kitchen island, and then he said, "It's Hyūga Hinata."

Silence lingered a little bit. Mikoto glanced at her husband who frowned slightly. And upon seeing his father's facial expression, Sasuke saw how he tried his best to remain expressionless.

"I thought you two don't talk." He would say as he took a sip of his coffee.

"We didn't, but now we do."

"And I thought the only relationship you have with a Hyūga is with Neji." Fugaku continued.

"Mhm."

"Instead of leading the student council, you're only in charge of a smaller part than that Hyūga boy?" Fugaku was really trying to grill Sasuke at this point, but the young Uchiha shrugged.

"Yeah, I'm not interested in being everyone's leader."

"Hm. As long as you don't let that Hyūga surpass you."

"I won't."

"And so, why the Hyūga girl?"

"Her name's Hinata. I like her company. She's quiet and pleasant. I actually like talking to her." Sasuke said, trying to let the thoughts go of how she cried his name whenever he made her orgasm. He would find himself wanting to experience intercourse with her whenever they shared their intimate experience. But there was something holding him back from actually doing it. Maybe a part of him didn't want the thrill of torturing her to end.

"I sure hope you guys aren't—what do teenagers call it nowadays—dating?" His father said. Sasuke frowned, trying to understand why Hinata was someone he seemed to show disagreement with.

"Why?" He challenged his father.

"The Uchihas and the Hyūgas have been rivals for a long time now. If you marry an heiress, you won't have much in your power to do anything. I don't want that. But then again, you don't understand marriage." Fugaku explained, grabbing a newspaper the maids have prepared for him.

"What your father meant to say was, you deserve to be respected as the head of a family, Sasuke. An heiress will be responsible for her own family politics and you wouldn't have much say in it. You deserve to have the same power, too." Mikoto clarified.

Sasuke shrugged. "I don't really care."

"Of course, you don't. You're just a teenager. Unlike Itachi, you don't know much yet." His father said, continuing his speech after another sip of his coffee. That stung Sasuke a little bit, but he refused the rivalry between him and Itachi to grow because the two have a great relationship.

"What about that Haruno girl? She looks like she's fond of you." Fugaku continued.

Sasuke shook his head, completely turned off by the conversation when Sakura was mentioned. He was so glad that girl decided to move on. "Nope. No, thank you."

His father laughed. "You're something else. Well, my point is, things won't be complicated as long as it's not the Hyūga girl."

"Her name's Hinata."

Then the doorbell rang and the three Uchiha seemed to turn their eyes towards the front door, knowing who it was. Sasuke glanced from the kitchen exit to his parents, only to find everything within himself wanting to prove his parents wrong. He wanted them to know the Hinata he knew, not the Hinata they'd heard of. That she was actually, against all odds, his better half. Besides, if he could succeed, wouldn't they agree?

"Would you like to meet her?"

Fugaku, knowing his son's tendencies to take risks, challenged his son back. "Yes, I'd like to meet her. Bring her in." He had a fixed expression of criteria establishment; if Hinata wasn't according to the Uchiha standards, Fugaku would be more forward in showing disagreement.

But Sasuke wasn't nervous at all. As he head out of the kitchen to open the entrance door, excitement and thrill began to boil within his soul. They'll see. They'll see how she actually made him a better person the more he spent time with her. They will see that Sasuke latched himself onto the right woman. They will see and they will agree. And if it doesn't work out, then, shit. He'd think of Plan B.

What bothered Sasuke was his extraordinary effort.

Be real, idiot. You're only interested in fucking her.

When Sasuke reached for the door, he thought of all the reasons why he was fighting so hard. Again… was it the thrill? Will he get bored once he got her to be his, and his parents to agree? He would still try. He definitely will feel good when he gets to overcome this. But, to Sasuke, the spider behind the cobwebs is as important as one's emotional thrills. Maybe one day he'd understand. Just not now.

When the door opened, he saw how Hinata looked pleasant in her warm workout clothes. Her hair was neatly tucked into a high ponytail, her cheeks red from her usual shyness, and her eyes… always her eyes; filled with wonder.

"Good morning, Sasuke-kun."

She didn't stutter.

"Hey. Come meet my parents." He said, opening the door wide for her to step in. He saw how Hinata didn't expect to actually see his parents because her eyes widened in surprise.

"B-But—are you sure?" She asked, hinting about their secret relationship.

Sasuke nodded reassuringly, "Yeah, we're friends. Why not?"

The change in Hinata's expression was evident. It wasn't really a disappointment. It was as if she hoped for him to address her as someone who's closer than a friend. Well, obviously, Sasuke wasn't there yet.

"Right! Of course." She said, stepping into his entryway.

Sasuke closed the door behind her, took her hand in his, and began walking. "This way," he said.

He felt protective over her. He knew that with him holding her hand, she would feel calmer. He gave it a gentle squeeze before releasing it as they entered the kitchen. Once he was inside, he could feel the anticipation coming from his parents. Positive ones? That, he could hardly tell. But as soon as Hinata stepped into the room, his mother would stand to greet the Hyūga. It was a trait of Mikoto's to be polite and positive even when her thoughts were to be something else.

A handshake was exchanged between the two and Fugaku remained seated where he was. Sasuke knew exactly what his father was thinking. The first criterion was whether the Hyūga was brave enough to still approach the man with a greeting despite the man's disinterest. Of course, Hinata bowed to show respect, saying, "Good morning, Uchiha-sama."

Sasuke saw his father nod, a small smile appeared as if he was just being polite. Sasuke explained that Hinata wouldn't be staying for breakfast and that they were just going for a run. After conversing more, which honestly didn't feel long at all, Sasuke understood that it might be better for them to leave. When the conversation between Hinata and Mikoto died, both Sasuke and the Hyūga excused themselves and left.

His parents weren't convinced.

During the run, Hinata remained silent simply because Sasuke was silent. He loved that about her. She never forced herself in, and as a result, she didn't have to force her way out. She was just simply being herself around him in a very graceful way. So why couldn't his parents see that? Upon realizing how Sasuke wasn't even close to wanting a romantic relationship with the girl, he shoved those internal turmoiled questions aside. It was no use when nothing will go forward. She's in love with the dobe and Sasuke was an idiot to let him have too much fun. It was sort of clear that their relationship felt like it had blossomed in a new way Sasuke didn't think it could have. He'd always say to himself; that falling in love wouldn't be an issue because he wasn't interested. One could only go so far as to ignore why they are too indifferent about love.

"Sasuke-kun?"

The Uchiha stopped his run to respond to the Hyūga. When he turned, he saw her panting, apparently exhausted from running for… 30 minutes non-stop. She waved once, trying her best to catch up with her breath, her body bent over a little, her hands resting on her knees.

"I-I can't anymore."

Had he been running that long? He forgot that she wasn't Naruto.

"Sorry," he said, jogging back to meet her. "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, just-" Hinata said, taking a deep breath, "Just need to rest."

He was so lost in thought, that he didn't even keep track of time. Sasuke looked around and found a vending machine with a bench right next to it. To make up for Hinata's slight suffering, maybe he should buy her a beverage.

"Wanna sit and drink something?"

The Hyūga nodded in approval and the two walked towards the spot Sasuke led them to. He bought ginger milk for Hinata, his personal favorite. To his own surprise, Hinata found joy in that simple drink as well. He bought himself one, took a seat next to her, and began sipping the glorious taste.

"What a beautiful morning. I think I've burned a lot of calories." Hinata said, sarcastically.

"Pft, c'mon Hyūga, that was nothing."

She giggled. "You can tell I don't exercise."

Sasuke caught himself staring because Hinata had a gorgeous smile. He had to look away before embarrassing himself. His father was right; he's just a 17-year-old. What does he know about love? At this point, they were just like sad people dancing, wondering if they'd ever know what it means to be someone's compatible partner.

The problem was, for Sasuke, she was compatible.

Maybe he had to take things slow because falling in love was a little scary.

"Are you going to stay after the school festival?" Sasuke asked.

Hinata seemed like she was looking at people passing by, who was also running for their morning exercise. "For the party? I don't know."

"Why don't you know? It's either you're staying, or you're not staying."

"Okay, well, I guess I'm not staying then."

"Why aren't you staying for the party?"

"I don't really like parties. Besides, I don't really fit in."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, staring into space, maybe it was a set of trees, but who cared? The easy introverted reasons pissed Sasuke. And if there was one thing he didn't like about Hinata was her endless reasons for not wanting to meet people. Humans don't grow by merely following what they feel comfortable with. Her shyness could definitely be reduced by socializing. He wanted her to know that.

"I think what you think is wrong."

Hinata looked at Sasuke, her head tilted a little bit. "Okay? Explain?"

Sasuke shrugged. "I think you're wrong because you haven't really tried. People like Sakura, Ino, Sai, TenTen, they're all good people."

"Even Neji-nii?" Hinata tried to hide her laugh, knowing the rivalry between him and her cousin.

Sasuke grinned, "Yeah, even your beloved cousin. We all grew up together. I guess when we were kids, it was easier to blend because we weren't worried about what other people thought. Why should we be worried now? What difference does it make?"

Preach to yourself, Sasuke. He would say, knowing full well he was struggling with what his parents thought of him. "Obviously I'm not saying I've overcome that mountain. But at least, they're not bad people. I think you'd fit in." He finally finished.

When he glanced at Hinata, he saw how she looked at him; with eyes filled with… something that has to do with compassion. Sasuke didn't want to admit anything further, even within his own conscientious mind. Hinata's cheeks reddened while managing a smile.

"You know, ever since we became friends, you brought positive changes into my life."

Sasuke was trying to process that statement. In what ways? All he could think of doing to her was touching her private parts. All he wanted to do was place her in a position where she couldn't escape so he could close the distance between their genitals. He had been wanting to fuck her for weeks now. What positive change exists in these thoughts?

The Hyūga continued speaking, "I stutter less. I feel more comfortable in my own skin. And now you're encouraging me to socialize with many different people. These are all good things." She turned her eyes to fix her gaze elsewhere. For a moment it looked like she had a realization of her own thoughts, which made her laugh. And she said something that caught Sasuke off-guard,

"I wonder how I could have wasted years loving Naruto instead."

Fuck this shit. He couldn't handle it. He needed time away from her to really understand the turmoil going on inside of him. When she looked at him to seek his response, the Uchiha stood from his seat. "Let's get you home."

The school festival started at 5 PM. When they finished their run, he didn't message her, and she didn't either. He decided maybe it was best to process things by himself. As much as Sasuke loved to communicate uncertainties, he was also one to internally process first. She had shared too much of what might be hidden in her heart that confused Sasuke. She didn't really say she had fallen out of love with Naruto. But what could she really mean?

Sasuke started to imagine scenes of him finally confronting her about both their feelings for each other. It was to no surprise that he did confess his liking for her. He did like her. But did he love her? That question hurt Sasuke's head.

"Fuuuuck this. I hate complicated questions. Why can't feelings be exact like science?" He would say to himself as he dropped onto his bed. He checked his phone, it was 4 PM. How will he ever communicate his feelings? And will the conversation ever come up?

Sasuke decided it was best to get ready for the school festival to avoid his own conflicting thoughts. He wore a simple outfit, looking handsome as always as his class' matcha barista. Sasuke admitted he had the skill, so he agreed to the role. He grew up serving his parents coffee, so maybe he could make good matcha. On another positive note; he was glad he didn't have to dress a certain way that would embarrass him. School festivals tend to make people dress weirdly, and he wasn't for it. Nobody could expect how Sakura could flip the school upside-down with weird outfits…

Sasuke had also decided that he would walk to school earlier than Hinata. He didn't want to have to see her when he was battling with his own thoughts because he didn't want to seem weak. It was also a way for him to avoid confronting her.

When he got to his class, he prepared the stall. The class became busy when Sakura came in with a checklist, reminding everybody what their jobs were. When people began to move, Ino helped Sakura by overseeing everyone's duties being prepped.

"Oi, emo-boy!" Naruto said, walking over to Sasuke. The dobe was annoying, but he was a good guy. That's why Sasuke could tolerate him. "Did you get to exercise these days? We need to go on that run again and eat your mom's bacon pancakes! They're so goooooooooood." Naruto looked like he was about to drool, so Sasuke placed a cupcake in the dude's mouth.

"Don't need you contaminating our matcha. Where's your apron?"

"Oh, Sakura-chan brought it for me." He said as Sakura handed over the very thing they were talking about. Naruto received the object and smiled at her, "Thanks, babe." As a response, Haruno winked at the blonde before going back to her job of telling people what to do. Sasuke did notice something after that short encounter…

They were dating.

"Since when?" Sasuke asked as he placed the matcha Tupperwares accordingly.

"Since two days ago! We went on our first date and I confessed to her." Naruto said, grinning like the happiest blonde in Konoha.

"Happy for you, man," Sasuke said, gently giving the dobe's shoulder a punch.

"Thanks! What about you? Are you and Hinata-chan a thing, or?"

"Nope. We're friends." Sasuke would immediately say to shut down the conversation. The last thing he wanted was to cause more attention directed to them both, especially when he saw Hinata walk in with a dress.

Yes, Sasuke was staring.

Its beige-colored fabric suited her skin very well. To Sasuke's headache, Hinata's role was the class' waitress. A beautiful one, too. Her hair was braided to one side and she decorated it with small colorful flowers. He also noticed that she had some makeup on, not too much, but enough. She was breathtaking for Sasuke.

Unfortunately, Naruto noticed Sasuke staring at the girl. "Friends, huh?"

"Shut up."

"What was that, Sasuke?" Naruto teased, "You're totally crushing on her, dude. Admit it."

"Hm." He said while preparing to heat up drinking water. Naruto began helping Sasuke, while finding the situation way too amusing. It wasn't an everyday event where Sasuke denies something that was too obvious. The Uchiha could feel Naruto's annoying smirk, and so he emphasized his current problem.

"She's a Hyūga. Our parents would never agree." Sasuke blurted.

"Seriously?" Naruto glanced at Hinata who began to take orders from guests coming in. "Why would your parents disagree? If anything, they should be glad. Both you two might potentially continue your empires."

"Well, that's not the case. I went running with her this morning, and brought her into my house to meet my parents. They weren't pleased."

"What the—."

"They wanted you to come over instead."

"So… What are you going to do?"

A shrug came to Sasuke. "It's not like I'm in love or anything. I won't do anything."

Somehow the conversation stopped because the classroom felt busier. More people came in, liking the vibe of the cafe they had put up. The desks used by students were all decorated to look casual. Anyone can come and relax. There were three Matcha stands, each taking a significant amount of orders. The more time passed by, the more orders they received. Sasuke and Naruto worked their hardest as well as others. Whenever Sasuke could glance to see how Hinata was doing, she would always be greeted by new people. Most of these people would be men.

Strange. Hinata had always been in the shadows, unnoticed. And Sasuke had always been the only one who noticed her. The feeling that was incomprehensible began to boil within Sasuke because he noticed a man getting too comfortable with the Hyūga. He didn't touch her, thankfully. But Sasuke didn't like seeing him hang around just to get her attention.

Of course, Hinata was trying to take orders. Yet, she failed to see the obvious stares. When she walked over to Sasuke, she placed the piece of paper containing their orders on the barista counter. "Another one, Sasuke-kun." Then, she quickly left to clean empty tables. It ticked off Sasuke. She didn't even look at him or gave him a smile. She was busy doing things, completely oblivious to how the men were watching her. Hinata was breathtaking and it was hard not to be pissed at the guys who were staring at her.

Sasuke began to study the group of males who were possibly the same age as them. It seemed like there was an alpha male in the group. Sasuke noticed he stood to make his way toward Hinata. When he reached out a hand to touch Hinata's shoulder, Sasuke didn't know what came over him. He seemed to act too fast for his own good because before the guy could even touch her, Sasuke stopped him by grabbing his wrist.

The male turned to look at Sasuke. They both were the same height. Sasuke obviously felt like he was more intimidating than the guy, but it seemed like he didn't like Sasuke intruding. Hinata noticed the commotion and turned to look at what was actually happening. Before the guy got the chance to react, Sasuke said, "Customers don't get to touch our waitresses."

He let go of the stranger's wrist, staring at him until he decided to leave the classroom. It looked like his pride got hurt that he decided not to pay for the drink served. The rest of the crew decided to leave shortly after. Hinata watched them leave before glancing back at Sasuke because she seemed to notice that their classmates were watching the two. Sasuke had made a scene and she couldn't help but whisper, "Sasuke-kun, that wasn't needed. I could have handled it—"

"How could you have handled it, hm?" He said with his normal tone of voice, ignorant of the stares from their classmates.

"What do you mean how?" Hinata asked back, slightly irritated.

"You didn't notice him being casual around you. Rules are rules. Right, Sakura?" Sasuke would turn to look at the pinkette, his glance telling her to agree with him.

"Y-Yes, that's correct Hinata-chan. Neji created the rule for us women; male and female customers aren't allowed to touch our water and waitresses." Sakura reassured. Yes, Sasuke wasn't lying. No, not this time, because he made sure Neji agreed with the rule. It was a reason for Sasuke to protect Hinata without being obvious. Hinata seemed convinced and nodded as an approval. "Oh, okay. Well, thank you, Sasuke-kun." The Hyūga smiled at Sasuke before resuming her work.

He had hoped she would show more emotion, but then he quickly realized that their intimacy was a secret. It felt like a million years until the after-party started. Once the clock turned to 9:00 PM, the whole class was relieved from their duties. The clean-up took a whole hour and all the while they worked, Hinata didn't approach the Uchiha at all. In fact, Sasuke felt oddly ignored by her. Whenever he would search her gaze, and whenever she noticed, she would look away. Sasuke decided to shrug it off. Besides, she didn't say she was going to join the after-party, and they didn't agree to another "intimate" time after all of this was done.

When the cleaning was done, Sasuke and the rest of the boys changed their outfits in the men's restroom. He noticed that Naruto wasn't there at all. Maybe he decided to change to the other restroom. The boys were excited to look their best, some would even hope to get laid. Sasuke didn't react while others would laugh, asking which girl it would be. All Sasuke could think about was why Hinata ignored him.

"Hey, Uchiha. Got some pomade on you?" Shikamaru asked.

Sasuke reached into his backpack, grabbing his hair product before tossing it to the guy.

"Nice. Thanks."

"Keep it. See you guys in a bit." And with that, Sasuke left. He decided that he'd take a walk outside for fresh air before joining the party. The school garden was nicer without students around. When he looked up, stars were evident, and the wind was a breath of fresh air. Sasuke noticed that solitude was one thing he could enjoy. Something Hinata could relate to. It was one thing to be alone, but it was another to love solitude with someone else. That was a feeling Sasuke could never comprehend.

When his mind traveled to the thought of her, he sighed. Maybe he was pushing his needs too much. Kissing her was wrong, especially when he wasn't desiring a relationship. What their parents expressed that morning wasn't helping either. He wanted desperately to succeed in school, and possibly other aspects, just to get his father convinced to trust at least half the empire to Sasuke. It seemed like Hiashi knew Sasuke's intentions and decided to express strong emotions regarding the Hyūgas.

The more he walked, the more he entered a secluded area of the garden. There, he heard Hinata talking. With his curiosity piquing, he decided to hide behind a wall to listen to who she was speaking to.

"Thank you for meeting me here, Naruto-kun."

"Yeah! No worries. So, what's up Hinata-chan?"

Sasuke leaned against that same wall. Apparently, he wasn't so far from where they were standing. The entrance to the student hall wasn't too far ahead, so Sasuke figured none of them would find out he was there the whole time. Things got too interesting for him to reveal his presence.

"Um, so I have been meaning to talk to you for a while now."

She's gonna confess.

"I like you, Naruto-kun. I think it had been years since I first felt this way about you. I-I wanted you to know. Please don't feel the n-need to respond. In no way am I actually hoping for anything anymore because I—" Hinata paused when Sasuke heard her voice tremble. It seemed like she was about to cry. "Because I value our friendship more."

She was too selfless, but she stepped up. It was impressive for Sasuke.

There was a pause from Naruto until finally, he began to speak. "You're a great girl, Hinata. And you're definitely beautiful."

Sasuke's heart raced. He started feeling afraid of what Naruto might say. If his feelings were mutual, first of all, he'd be a total jerk to Sakura. Second, Sasuke might lose Hinata. Suddenly, Sasuke felt the need to step in, and reveal he had been listening, but at the same time, he felt like he needed to let things go organically.

"But, I am already with Sakura."

Shit. Now he was pissed at the dobe for hurting the Hyūga.

"I know—" Hinata responded, "I know. And, that's okay."

"Are you… still willing to be my friend?" Naruto asked, his voice showing concern.

"Of course, Naruto-kun! That will never change. Both you and Sakura-chan."

Naruto let out a sigh of relief. "Oh my god, that's great. You have no idea how grateful I am for this. Thank you for being honest."

Sasuke didn't hear Hinata's response.

"So, let's go to the party?"

"You go first. I need to change."

It seemed like Naruto turned to walk towards the main hall. Hinata, however, walked toward where Sasuke was standing. And when she saw Sasuke, she gasped.

"S-Sasuke-kun—"

With little to no words, the Uchiha pulled the girl into a tight embrace. "So that's why you've been ignoring me." He said. It took Hinata a while to finally hug him in return.

"I-I did it, didn't I? I did it, Sasuke. I was honest." Hinata said, seeming like she had to hold back her tears.

"Yeah, you were honest."

"I d-didn't cover anything up—" She'd say, finding herself dropping the tears that were clouding her eyes. "I didn't cover anything up." And began to sob while Sasuke's heart throbbed. For all he knew, this girl might have lost an identity. A mask. Peeling a mask that's glued to one's face is… painful. But this girl did it. She was braver than Sasuke could ever be. She chose to be vulnerable when she knew the pain was hers for the taking.

"Sasuke-kun?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

What the hell is this even? When he should have been happy about Naruto rejecting her, he was hurting over her experience. Sasuke wanted him to be written all over her. He wanted him to be the reason she cried. Not the dobe. But nothing within him gave Sasuke permission to be overwhelmed by self-centeredness. This was something completely new to Sasuke.

"Don't thank me. It's all you."

"B-But you're here," Hinata paused, his grip tightened around the Uchiha. "You are always around just when I needed someone."

And that was it for Sasuke. He kissed her and he was a jerk. When she was vulnerable with tears, he took advantage of her and kissed her. But this time, the kiss was heated. He could partially taste the tears that stained her lips. The girl would passionately respond to the kiss, moving her arms to be wrapped around the boy's neck. When the two broke off for air, the Uchiha did not waste any more minutes. He walked straight to the nearest janitor's room, with Hinata's hand in his. Once they were inside, the key was luckily hanging onto the doorknob. Sasuke locked the door from within before turning to the girl.

Hinata's face was red, tears smeared a little bit of her mascara. She looked like a hot mess, too sexy to be left untouched. Sasuke kissed her again, his hand roaming towards her shoulder, pulling the dress' strap over it. He tried to push the dress down gently, revealing Hinata's chest covered with her bra. It didn't take long for the Uchiha to remove the Hyūga's garment, revealing her breasts. Her pink nipples erected made the Uchiha trace his tongue around it.

He could hear Hinata moan softly, maintaining quietness to avoid people finding out. He had done this often to her breasts, where he would grab the mounds, focusing his tongue on her nipples. And he would always get lewd reactions from the girl. It drove the Uchiha wild. Too wild, that he used one hand to dive into her panties. He discovered how wet she had become.

His lips now tracing their way back to her neck, he spoke, "You're too much for me to handle, Hinata. I want all of you."

"T-Then take me, Sasuke."

Sasuke used his finger to give her pussy a gentle tease. Once his finger slid inside of her, Hinata rested her head against the wall, moaning out the Uchiha's name. Yes, all of her. He wanted all of her. The dobe's name never left her mouth, not ever. It had always been Sasuke, and he would make sure it stayed his name. He dug deeper into her with his finger, his other hand gently squeezing her breast. Sasuke pressed his forehead on the wall next to her face as he felt himself grow hard, too hard for the life of him. He began contemplating whether he should take her right there, in the school's janitor room.

"I can't. Not now." He finally said.

Hinata sounded like she let out a sad sigh, but she complied. "O-Okay."

With a release of his finger, she let out her last moan. He placed that exact same finger into her mouth, just like the last time he fingered her. Hinata would lick his fingers clean. How can someone reject a lady like her? She was too goddamn fine. And now that it was clearly stated to Naruto about his relationship with Sakura, he wondered if pursuing her romantically was a good idea.

The thoughts of his parents crept back into his head, and to make it go away, the Uchiha held Hinata into his embrace again. "Do you want to join the after-party?" He asked. To his surprise, Hinata nodded. "Yes."

Both had fixed their outfits before leaving the janitor's room and Sasuke held her hand all the way to the main hall. It seemed like things were perfect. But the moment they approached the main entrance, Neji had stepped out of the room. Both Sasuke and Hinata were shocked, but Sasuke was adamant in maintaining his grip around Hinata's hand. The rivalry between the two was a result of the same competition between their fathers. And in that exact moment, judging from Neji's expression upon seeing them close, Sasuke knew that the Hyūgas weren't fond of him being this friendly with the heiress, too.

Neji raised a brow, "Everything okay, Hinata?"

The girl nodded. "Yes, Neji-kun."

Sasuke walked past the Hyūga boy, his hand still gripping Hinata's.

"Sasuke."

The Uchiha turned to look at Neji.

"You know what I'm about to say."

"Yeah."

Come hell high water. Sasuke's not bending for anybody.