Previously: "Cafeteria?"

"I m-mean if you weren't planning on meeting anyone else for lunch and–"

"Let's go," he added to save her from her flustered reaction.

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They got out and fortunately, the snow, which had meanwhile turned into sleet, had by then stopped falling. The outside smelt like nothing but freezing cold and Hinata wrapped her scarf even tighter around herself, covering all but her eyes. As she heard an amused huff from Sasuke's side, she buried her nose even deeper. They walked in silence, only the rhythmic sound of their steps and breaths being exchanged. She closed her eyes, feeling peaceful and–

She really shouldn't be doing this – walking next to him so carefree, as if their situation wasn't… complicated… She shouldn't be getting vulnerable. Sasuke was his best friend; and he had ended up isolating her from everyone but Sakura. Sasuke would disappear one day too, maybe even worse. Because at the end of the day he might end up having a good laugh at her expense.

Sasuke halted. "Don't you want to go to the cafeteria?" Oh, he must have caught her thoughts drifting away. She couldn't bear the intensity of his gaze and looked at her own feet. "It's okay, we can go somewhere else," he said in a gentle tone. Her heart twisted.

Now she couldn't say no. It would be rude. She sighed, defeated. And yet he waited patiently for an answer from her. Her eyes went on from staring at her own boots to study his and noticed they were soaked. He must have walked to uni. It was freezing, he must be very cold and yet she was making him wait. She was the worst.

"I just… It's not a good idea." He gave her the space to explain. Her hands gestured frantically between them, her eyes still fixed on the ground. She had to look him in the eyes when she said this. "You've been very kind, but… this can't go on. I-I… just wanted to thank you for… being understanding, but now going together for lunch… I mean… our… um– your friends… I am not able to meet them again yet."

He looked up into the bare branches of the trees and she could see the paleness of his neck, the swell of his Adam's apple, the condensation of his breath. He seemed to collect his thoughts before he finally spoke. "They're your friends too. You shouldn't give them up. Give it time, but don't let that scum bully you out of your own friend circle like that."

His eyes found hers again and she gulped. "I also don't want to impose my presence." No, he wasn't. "I can promise to not tell anyone anything, if you want to talk. If you want a break from everything and everyone you know, that goes too. I'll respect your choice. I honestly don't know… what you are dealing with. I just really want to fucking help."

There was so much emotion in his voice. She remembered his wet boots.

"Let's talk." She tilted her head towards a small café and he nodded his approval.

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Their orders arrived quickly and Hinata inquired about his schedule. She was free until the afternoon, but maybe he was in a hurry. She should have asked, really, before starting this whole loaded conversation.

"Mondays I have just this one tutorial. I then spend the rest of the day at the library," he assured. "In fact, it's the least busy day of the week. If you'd like to meet, say once a week, this day is actually the best," he added, making heat creep up to her face. He wanted to meet her regularly? "No pressure, though," he added, smiling dare she say… cockily?

"I am not sure… You see… I have told someone before." She waved her hands aimlessly, trying to explain. "Not Sakura. Even before that."

"It went wrong," Sasuke concluded, his eyes zeroing in on her again and she had to remind herself how to breathe properly.

She nodded.

"Sometimes I wonder if they were too inebriated to understand what I said. We were at a party and they asked how I was. I still hadn't come to terms seeing him, so I told them what was really on my mind." Hinata made sure to protect the identity of her childhood friend at all costs. She took a sip from the hot chocolate, closing her eyes, trying to drown the memories, to forget how Kiba had then, just minutes later, joined Naruto on the dance floor and laughed the night away together with him. She had been paranoid, thinking they were both laughing at her. Surely, Kiba must have misheard her, but it hurt.

As she reopened her eyes, she was met by his hard haze, but didn't flinch. She understood it hadn't been aimed at her.

"I felt selfish afterwards. Maybe I was somehow glad they didn't understand. At the end of the day, it would ask people to pick a side. I… have decided to remove myself from our group until I am able to hear stories of him again, maybe even look him in the eyes."

Sasuke turned his head away, staring through the window and didn't answer for a long time. It was dim outside, grey and oddly dark considering it was midday. Droplets of water adorned the glass of the window, some running down and merging with the ones underneath, leaving new droplets in their wake. He was lost in thought and she understood that whatever she was sharing was not an easy story to digest.

"But if we do keep meeting," she finally dared and his attention was back on her, ''I don't want to talk about things. I just want everything to be normal again. I don't need revenge, I just want my peace of mind back. And I don't know if I can when you look at me like that," she barely got out before she felt sobs choking her. His hand found hers and squeezed it, as she fought to recompose. Oh, she really didn't want to make a scene.

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Just then, the bells above the door of the establishment chimed, as Sakura entered. How she managed to find them was a mystery to him, but she strode towards their table. Sasuke made eye contact with her immediately. She greeted him in passing before focusing on Hinata, who excused herself to go to the restroom. What a timing. Her friend stood there as if rooted for a minute, looking in the direction Hinata had left in, before she spoke.

"Let's head out for a smoke." It wasn't a question and her tone had hardened. It was nothing like the one she had used this morning with Neji and Hinata. He grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, and proceeded to get dressed on the way outside.

"What were you talking about?" she inquired, while offering him a cigarette from her own pack. "She seemed very upset. I know only one topic which gets her like that."

There was silence as they both lit up their smokes. Her cigarettes were shit. He should have stuck to his. "I was telling her she shouldn't give up on her own friends because of what happened."

Sakura chuckled darkly. "What do you know, huh? Listen to me – thank you for not being a total dick to her, but I don't get what your deal is."

"I want to help."

"You're in no position to do that. Actually–" she then took a pull from the cigarette, "You're probably the worst person to possibly get involved."

Something got triggered in him at that statement and a burning sensation overtook his body and he felt it impossible not to snap back defensively.

"What is your deal with 'interrogating' me? If she wants to tell you what we were talking about good, if not–"

"Is this just a little detective story for you?" She pressed her pointer finger in his jacket accusingly. He felt every word sinking in and his eyes widened. "Figure out who it was for your own entertainment and then what, huh? I'll tell you, this is about her and her feelings. She wants to forget, yet you… your presence doesn't let her move on."

He felt dizzy but before he could recollect himself the bells chimed yet again, and Hinata appeared outside, his bag in tow. She must have paid their bill meanwhile. She positioned her body in between them, facing Sakura.

"Sasuke-san was nothing but nice to me. It's not his fault." Yet Sakura still glared daggers at him, daring him to say anything. Breathing had become difficult, his mind couldn't focus, but thankfully his body went on autopilot.

He had said something along the lines of 'no harm was done' and exchanged some pleasantries before bidding the two friends goodbye. Somehow, his legs managed to bring him to the library and he was glad for the distraction studying brought him.

To be continued…