"Now tell me again why we're doing this in my tiny kitchen instead of the nice one you have, and not to mention two days early?" Sakura asks, perched on the counter next to the stove.
"Because," Hinata reaches over, grabbing the heart molds she bought the year before, "last year Hanabi was going on for days about how I made candy for Naruto. And I'm just not in the mood to deal with it. I have a stressful mission to leave for this evening so I'm making his early and being a cheat and buying Shino and Kiba something that'll keep in my bag to give them while we're out."
"And you're making them just for Naruto?"
"Yes"
"And you thought, I wouldn't make fun of you?" Sakura says with a grin. "What are you going to tell him when you give them to him?"
"Gods, I don't know Sakura. 'Here ya go Naruto, remember that time I told you I loved you cause I still feel that way. Take these chocolates, and maybe ask me out on a damn date when I get back to the village.' how's that sound?"
"I mean, maybe be a bit nicer. But asking him to take you on a date sounds like a good idea." Sakura pops one of the candy melts into her mouth.
"To be honest Sakura, I'll probably shove it into his hand, tell him 'Happy Valentine's Day', and walk off. This mission sounds like it's going to be a long one, Kiba's freaking out about something with food pills and there's clan stuff going on. I just couldn't not make him something cause I thought hey, what if some other girl makes him something and I don't so he forgets I exist."
"Hinata, for the very last time. He likes you too, I promise." The girls continue to bicker, as the candy cools on the countertop. Sakura openly gapes when Hinata tells her about sitting in the cold at Neji's grave, and how they held hands while Naruto cried.
Later that day, Hinata knocks on Naruto's apartment door, she almost leaves the candy at the door until she hears footsteps behind the door. Naruto answers, hair wet, towel in hand.
"Hinata! Come in."
"Hi, I can't stay, I have a mission." Naruto looks down realizing that she's in her mission gear. "I wanted to drop this off" She holds out a package wrapped in light blue fabric.
"Oh, did I leave something at the Hokage's office or something?"
"No," Hinata kicks herself, it had been easy last year, giving it to him with Sai there. "It's for, um, Valentine's Day." She pushes the package into his hands, turning to leave.
A hand grabs hers, stopping her in the hallway. "Thank you." Naruto holds her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers, squeezing her fingers. "Last years were great. Hinata, you're um, you're um, great too, ya know. So, thanks."
Hinata's face flames, her arm falling back to her side. "You're welcome, Naruto-Kun." She mummers to the floor, leaving for real this time.
"Good luck on your mission!" He shouts after her, as she runs down the stairs. Walking back into his apartment and unwrapping his gift. Naruto notices a note flutter to the ground. Picking it up, reading, heat coming to his cheeks.
'Happy Valentines Day Naruto' followed by a small heart drawn next to Hinata's name. He hadn't thought much of it last year when his candy had been made of rectangles and hearts while Sai's were just rectangles. This year they were all glossy chocolate hearts, made of different types of chocolates and he knew they'd have the same delicious fillings he remembered.
Hinata. She is a good friend.