Sasuke rested against his bike outside the Hyuga complex, waiting for the inevitable shit storm. Hinata quietly came out with her head low to meet him. He waited a few moments for someone else to come through the door, but no one did.

"Let's not be late." Hinata prompted.

"That's it?" Sasuke asked.

Just then, the door opened again. Hiashi Hyuga looked out at him with a stern glare, then turned his head toward his car.

"I'll explain later," Hinata told him to take the helmet from him.

Hinata didn't get a chance to explain. Kiba ran out when he saw Sasuke's motorcycle pull into the parking lot, and she was whisked away. "I'll grab you at lunch," Sasuke called after her.

Sasuke headed off to his first class. He could feel his ears bleed as Sakura called for him. "Sasuke!" Sakura squealed, bouncing in front of him. "Aren't you going to ask how my interview went?"

It was too early for this. "If it went poorly, you wouldn't have nearly this high energy."

Sakura pouted. "Why can't you just be nice?"

"Because I can tell how it went." Sasuke waved his hand at her. "You're peppy. It went well. All the information I need, and it doesn't need a conversation."

Sakura put her hands on her hips. "You should take me out to celebrate."

Here we go. "Ask Naruto."

"He'll think it's a date." Sakura countered.

"Now you know why I won't take you," Sasuke said flatly. "Besides, I don't think my girlfriend is going to like me taking other girls out to celebrate."

Sakura started to whine but paused as the information hit her. "What, girlfriend? You don't have a girlfriend."

"As of yesterday, I do, and I am going to be late to class if I start talking about her, so." Sasuke waved, leaving the information with Sakura as she stood in the middle of the sidewalk. He knew he had just lit the fuse to a bomb, but she would find out at some point.

Hinata shifted uncomfortably. Ino stared at her intently, waiting for her answer. Hinata nodded. Sasuke did pick her up this morning.

"Aren't you two cute?" Ino sighed. "I didn't know Sasuke could be so sweet. I guess it just takes the right girl to bring that out in him."

"You're not upset?" Hinata asked.

"What? You thought I was still chasing Sasuke? When did I make that silly fan club? Middle school?" Ino waved her hand. "I'm happy for you. I'm glad he was able to confess to the girl he's been waiting for."

Hinata tried not to blush. The image Sasuke painted would be the end of her, but they were in this together, she reminded herself. Maybe she should find something to make this as embarrassing for him as it was for her.

"Ino!" They both turned to the screech.

Hinata immediately shrank down into her seat. Ino frowned. "I guess she just found out."

"I have been calling you!" Sakura whined as she reached them.

"I was in class." Ino excused.

"Did you know about Sasuke having a girlfriend?" Sakura asked. Ino didn't answer right away. "Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Calm down. It's not the end of the world." Ino put a hand behind her, waving, indicating to Hinata to leave.

"I'll see you later." Hinata bowed her head.

"Wait!" Sakura grabbed her arm. "Did you hear this?" Hinata pressed her lips together. "Neither of you told me?!"

"Don't blame Hinata. She wouldn't have known to." Ino tried. "Why would she think you still had that old crush? It's been years."

"Hinata understands what it's like being in love for that long, right?" Sakura turned to Hinata expectantly.

"Sakura…" Ino scolded.

Hinata felt like she was doused in cold water. She didn't want to hide from this. She just wanted it to be over. "Sasuke-san confessed to me," She bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I accepted."

"What?" Sakura squeaked.

"I'm sorry," Hinata waited to be smacked or screamed at like Sakura usually would, but Sakura just stared at her with betrayal in her eyes.

Sakura nodded, turning away. "Oh."

Hinata reached out to her, but Sakura pulled away, and three fell silent, with only Sakura's heels clicking as she turned and walked away. Hinata felt a pit in her stomach.

Sasuke caught Hinata, and she came out of class. "What's wrong?"

Hinata fell in step with him towards the cafeteria. "Uh, it's nothing."

"If it's a secret, then that makes me more curious," Sasuke prodded.

"Hinata." They looked up to find Ino standing in their way. She waved, holding up a convenience store bag. "I got you some ice cream." Before Hinata could refuse, Ino already had it in her hand. "I think it will help us both."

"Do you know what happened?" Sasuke asked.

Hinata waved her hands at Ino, trying to keep the answer from him. "Hinata had to tell Sakura the news, and it didn't feel great."

Hinata shrunk. "She's your best friend. You shouldn't be trying to comfort me."

"We aren't kids anymore. I can support you both, and she's not answering her phone." Ino told her. "Come on. I want to see the reaction when you, too, sit together!" Always there for the gossip.

Sasuke held out his hand. "Let's go." Hinata shook her head. She made enough trouble for one day. Sasuke dropped his hand. "This will pass. What's important is you and me. Okay?"

Hinata nodded. "Alright."

"If anything like this happens again, just tell me. I don't want you hiding your pain from me." Sasuke looked so serious. He started walking. Hinata followed suit, looking down at their hands. Maybe she was being silly.

Hinata slipped her arm around his, holding on to his elbow. She could see a suppressed smile cross Sasuke's face. "Don't laugh at me." She grumbled, opening her ice cream.

"I just think you are cute," Sasuke reached his neck over. Hinata held the ice cream out to let him have the first bite.

When they got to the table, Hinata hesitated. They were going to sit together, but how would they do it? They all had the same seating arrangement for years.

Sasuke went right to her usual spot and sat where Lee usually sat beside her. As their friends filtered in, they adapted to the new sitting position, moving down to fill his usual seat. There were a few confused looks, but the conversation picked up like nothing was different other than Sasuke commenting on her conversations with Shino and Kiba.

"Where's Sakura and Sasuke? They aren't eating?" They heard down the table as Naruto nodded at Sakura's usual spot by Ino.

"How long did it take him to figure that out?" Sasuke asked.

Shikamaru lifted his phone. "Twenty-five minutes."

Someone pointed down at Sasuke. Naruto waved, then frowned down at Sakura's seat. Ino leaned forward to explain.

Hinata shrank. Sasuke slid his hand into hers under the table. "Everyone has to have their reaction once, then it's over, like ripping off a band-aid."

"Seems more like ripping off the duct tape," Shino commented.

Naruto looked down at them, more confused. Sasuke turned to block her view. Hinata sighed. He was right. They couldn't skip people's reactions.

"Did you tell your dad yet?" Kiba said.

Sasuke perked up. They still hadn't had a chance to talk about it. "Uh, yeah, last night. I… wouldn't say he's happy about it."

"Wait, you told him, and he's just 'not happy about it?" Kiba pressed.

"He… didn't want to discuss it," Hinata explained. "He didn't want me to explain it. He just… told me to leave his office. I told him Sasuke-san would pick me up this morning, and he said nothing." Hinata shrugged, uncertain. It wasn't like him to let her do something without his opinions.

Sasuke's eyebrows knit together.

"Does that mean he accepts it?" Shino wondered.

"That's not like him at all," Kiba added.

Hinata had a different idea, but she wouldn't bother her friends with those troubles. With a look on Sasuke's face, he was probably thinking the same thing. This might not be the end of it.