DISCLAIMER: All characters from Naruto belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers
+ SAKURA +
As a long time Uchiha Sasuke fangirl, you'd think I'd be delighted over the latest developments between him and his rumored girlfriend. If it was anyone other than Hinata, I for sure would be. And even though there had been no confirmation of them dating and then breaking up, I know that the rumors are true.
It's pretty obvious.
Hinata didn't show up at the summer training camp. Then summer was over, and she showed up with that post-breakup, new perspective aura about her. Sasuke-kun, on the other hand, was super focused on basketball and working out and has not been spotted in any of the clubs or restaurants he usually frequented. There was barely any news about him or sightings until the second term started and his fans could finally see him at school or at basketball games. And that's it. He goes straight home after school, probably.
Yeah, something's going on.
A shrill noise snaps me out of my musings.
"I'm s-s-s-sorry!" Hinata apologizes profusely from behind the piano on the corner of the stage.
"Hyuuga!" Tayuya-senpai exclaims in frustration. "How many times is it now?"
"I'm s-s-s-sorry!"
Tayuya-senpai groans and looks to be on the verge of tears before stomping out of the auditorium. Hinata also looks like she might cry, but that rock star redhead approaches her and consoles her maybe. Hard to tell with his expressionless face. Naruto, who is right beside Hinata, says nothing and is staring intently at his phone. That idiot. Another reason why I think the breakup rumor is true. It's been really awkward between those two – Hinata and Naruto. They used to be friendly with each other. Always giggling and shit. Now they're just awkward.
Hence maybe why Hinata's been messing up. Between the breakup and awkwardness with her ex's best friend, kind of understandable.
But the way that idiot is treating her is kinda pissing me off. Whatever happened between Sasuke-kun and Hinata, I'm sure it's not her fault. Hinata's an angel. She has to be for forgiving me and Ino for the way we behaved during the start of her involvement with Sasuke-kun. Hinata can do no wrong. Especially considering Sasuke-kun's dating history. Or lack thereof. Yeah, there's no way it's Hinata's fault.
With Hinata going thru a breakup and Ino going through whatever, I decided it's time for a much-needed intervention. Rehearsals for today is almost over, so I walk up the stage and grab Hinata by the hand.
"S-Sakura-chan?" she squeaks in surprise.
"I'm kidnapping you."
"E-e-eh?"
Redheaded rock star doesn't say anything. Uzumaki Naruto, however, looks ready to grab Hinata's other hand. "Hey, where are you taking her?"
"None of your business!" I call back over my shoulder as I drag Hinata behind me.
"Sakura-chan," Hinata whimpers, but doesn't resist, "I'm a-already in t-trouble."
I smile at her in reassurance, "Exactly."
She looks anything but assured. She sighs in resignation, though, and follows me without further protests. Good girl. See? There's no way the breakup is Hinata's fault.
V^^V
A few hours of karaoke and a few beers later, my opinion on the matter turns out to be wrong. I would like to say I'm shocked, but not really. Well, just a little, I guess.
Hinata was very vague about it and doesn't elaborate further. She said it was her fault. That she didn't appreciate him enough. That she was inconsiderate of his feelings. And I'm just sitting here processing it all like, what? My Sasuke-kun fangirl side of brain is screaming Bitch, what?! The rational part of my brain is telling me to mind my own damn business. This is Hyuuga Hinata whose one romantic experience landed her in the hospital with a life-long trauma. Of course she's gotta be fucked up in the head.
Grimacing, I set my glass of beer on the table. I've been trying to be the bigger person or whatever. But sometimes, life tests me and I would find myself being the person I was before – a fucking bitch. That was a really mean thing to think about Hinata. Fuck. Maybe this girls' night is not such a good idea, after all. And maybe no matter how much I think I've moved on from this stupid crush… really, I'm just fucking stuck.
"Yeah, it's my f-fault," Hinata says. She only had half a glass of beer, so she's not even tipsy. Me? I wish I can say that I'm drunk, but my tolerance is great. "I'm shitty at c-c-communication and e-expressing my f-feelings and t-thoughts and that… it hurt him."
"Fuck him," Ino blurts out of nowhere.
But then again, she'd had five bottles of beer. My intention for this girls' night was for us to have fun and yeah, getting drunk was part of it. However, I was expecting it to be Hinata. The one who just broke up with her whatever-ship and not Ino whom I thought was handling her whatever well.
And once again, I feel like such a bitch for being a shitty friend.
"I mean," Ino continues, "Uchiha Fucking Sasuke probably fucking deserved it. Motherfucker slept with everyone and anyone. Except me and Sakura 'cause obviously we're not his type. Never looked at us twice. Never looked at us period. And not that we're bitter or salty or whatever, but we just wasted years pining over that motherfucker, so yeah fuck him," Ino pauses, pouring more beer to her glass and raising it, "On behalf of us sad fucks who didn't get a chance, thank you."
She downs the glass of beer in one gulp. She then pours more and fills it to the brim again. Hinata and I exchange worried glances.
"You know," Ino resumes, "I've been confessed to five times. Five! Rejected them all. Cause I was convinced that Uchiha Fucking Sasuke will look at me and think I could be the girlfriend material. Fucking delusional, right? Meanwhile, the rest of the fucking world keeps on keeping on. Moving forward. Living the life. Did you know that Shikamaru's got a girlfriend now?"
"He does?" I ask in surprise. Wow. Never thought Shikamaru was interested in relationships, but okay.
"Yeah," Ino answers glumly.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"No, it's not a good thing!" Ino screams and all hell breaks loose. "That bitch came out of nowhere. Everything was fine. Shikamaru was fine. Then that bitch showed up and suddenly I don't have my best friend anymore. My best friend who was always there for me was not there anymore. All because of that fucking bitch!"
Ino hurls an empty bottle against the wall with a scream that I'm sure everyone in the karaoke club heard. Hinata and I scramble to our feet to try and calm Ino the fuck down. Which we don't know how to do. Ino's on the floor now and sobbing like a fucking toddler whose toy was taken away from her.
"I think it's time to wrap this up," I tell Hinata after removing all the bottles from within Ino's reach, "I'll take her home. You okay going home by yourself?"
She nods, "Y-yeah, I'm not drunk. Don't worry."
"Sorry, this is supposed to be your night."
"My night?"
"Yeah, break ups are not easy. I want you to, I don't know, feel a little better. Didn't expect Ino to dump her problems on us like this," I add quietly. In case Ino hears amid her wailings.
"Oh. R-right. Thank y-you. Uhm…" she trails off, looking hesitant.
Is she also about to dump her shit on me? Well, might as well, "Yeah?"
"I… I w-want to fix it," she mumbles, twiddling her fingers. "Me a-a-and Uchiha Sasuke… I'd l-like to f-f-fix it."
Of course. Wish I can say I'm surprised. I wait for my Sasuke-kun fangirl side of the brain to voice its objections, but it's curiously quiet. And I'm fine with that. "Okay," I tell Hinata. She's stunned and I can't help but smile. "Good luck getting him back, then."
"Is that o-okay?"
Before I can give her an answer, Ino starts throwing another empty bottle. Seriously questioning my life choices now. Hinata and I manage to calm Ino a bit (at least not throw shit) and after apologizing profusely to the staff, we successfully placed her inside the taxi with minimal drama.
"Thank you," I tell Hinata, sighing heavily before getting in myself. "Message me when you get home."
"I will. Take care."
"And Hinata?"
"Y-yeah?"
"We're happy for you. We wish you and Sasuke-kun the best!" I manage to call out as the taxi starts pulling away from the curb. I don't get to hear Hinata's reply, but her smiling face is the last thing I see as we drive off. Hopefully she knows how sincere that was. Because I am being sincere. Does that mean I've finally moved on? Who knows…
+ NARUTO +
So, Sasuke's not doing well.
I mean, he's okay. Not like he's sick or anything like that. He's just heartbroken. And apparently, being heartbroken means you can't be the best at everything anymore. He's been playing really bad these last few games. So bad that for the first time in his entire basketball career, he was benched the whole match the other day. And if that wasn't weird enough, he's calm about it. You'd think he'd be throwing tantrums left and right, but no. He's strangely calm. Like he's accepted the fact that his performance has been below average. Like he doesn't care anymore. Don't get me wrong. He still attends practice and works hard. He just really sucks now. Like last week when he made a hundred (more like ten, but y'know what I mean) attempted shots and none of it went in the basket. Man, that was embarrassing.
Sure, we all have our bad days. But we get over it. Move on. Just like after a breakup. Sasuke says he's over Hyuuga Hinata. But that's bullshit. Since their "breakup", Sasuke has stopped partying and going to clubs. He just stays at home when there's no school or practice. Suddenly, he's an introvert.
Argh, whatever. He's an adult now. He can figure things out by himself. I've got more shit to deal with than Sasuke's love life.
Like this situation I find myself in. Look, I didn't mean to be a jackass. Sasuke's my best friend and I've seen how he was when he and Hinata-chan "broke up". My boy cried. I was there. And then Hinata-chan didn't even contact me after she stormed out of that club. She was gone the entire summer. No text messages, no calls, nothing. That felt shitty 'cause I was genuinely trying to help them hash things out. So yeah. After summer break Hinata-chan and I were kinda awkward. But despite everything, I still care about her. I'm not that much of an asshole.
I told myself that I'm not going to interfere anymore. But yesterday, when Pinky – I mean Sakura-chan dragged Hinata-chan out of the auditorium, I almost called Sasuke to rescue his ex-girlfriend or something. I didn't call him, though, because I'm getting good at minding my own business, believe it or not. But like I said, I'm not that much of an asshole, so I still worried about Hinata-chan.
Which is why I'm relieved to see her today and looking okay. She doesn't look like she'd been kidnapped or anything. Her eyes don't even look puffy. Do they get puffy when she cries, though?
"Uhm, N-Naruto-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"I s-said Gaara's not a-available a-anymore," she explains as she prepares the piano, "so I'll be y-your v-vocal coach a-a-again."
"Right."
When Hinata-chan didn't show up at summer camp, that Gaara dude took over my vocal training. Weirdest summer of my life. Well, I was mostly intimidated by the guy. He's like the real deal, y'know. A real musician. His single Jaywalking has just come out and there was even a celebration party for him at the camp. So, when someone like that asked me to be his vocalist, I was shocked. I was also flattered, of course. I for sure would've accepted his offer if my dream was to become the number one vocalist in Japan. But it's not, so… that and his genre of music is not really my thing, y'know.
"What happened?" I ask curiously.
"Uhm… he s-said that he's g-going to f-f-focus more on his c-career."
I nod in understanding. "Guess he's a big time now, huh?"
"If y-y-you w-want someone e-else to be your v-v-vocal coach…"
"Why would…" Oh. Right. Shit. I open and close my mouth, trying to find words to explain myself.
"It's o-o-okay, I u-understand."
"Look, I'm sorry for being such a jerk. It's just that… Sasuke's my best friend and…" He cried when you two broke up, is what I want to say. But I can't 'cause bro-code or something. "I tried to help you guys and that didn't work out, so…"
"And then I ran away," Hinata-chan says quietly.
"I mean, if you needed some time off, there was nothing wrong with that. A little heads up would've been nice."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine," I tell her, grinning. "See? Just a simple sorry will do." I hope she gets the hint that she owes Sasuke an apology. To be fair, though, Sasuke also owes her an apology.
She smiles back at me and it's not awkward anymore.
V^^V
I turn 18 next month. I will officially become an adult. Exciting time made even more exciting by my father throwing me a party. And not just any party. This one is going to be held at a hotel. I've never had a birthday party at a fucking hotel. While I did not grow up poor, we weren't stinking rich either, so birthday parties were held at home. And I didn't have a father then. But now I have a stinking rich father who wanted to make up for lost time by throwing me an extravagant birthday party.
But then I realized, it's a hotel that will probably need a lot of people and I don't know that many people. There's Sasuke, his brother and his girlfriend, their parents, Shikamaru, Choji, my godfather, Iruka and his roommate (also a professor) Kakashi… Yeah, not a lot of people. So, I decided to invite the entire basketball team and coaching staff. And since I'm also sort of kinda in the Music and Drama clubs, I invited them, too. Yeah, even Sasuke's ex-girlfriend. In hindsight, I know I should've asked Sasuke first if it's okay for me to invite his ex-girlfriend. But it is my birthday party. I can invite whoever I want.
However, in the spirit of the bro-code, I must at least warn him. Because it's my birthday and I kind of don't want them to have a moment – any kind of moment – in the middle of it. I know that Hinata-chan is not the confrontational type, but Sasuke… Who knows what he might do.
"I invited Hinata-chan to my party and she said she'd be there," I blurt out the moment Sasuke opens the door to his apartment.
He just glares at me for a moment before walking away without saying anything. Is that good or bad? I don't know. I'm not a mind reader. But at least now he knows, and I can just focus on this group project. Another group project? I know, right? It's as if group projects are required every term. I follow Sasuke inside.
"Hey, bastard! Did you hear me?" I exclaim when I reach the living room. He's already typing something on his laptop while Shikamaru and Choji are sprawled on the couch. Different group project, same group members. "Hey, guys."
"Hey," Shikamaru says lazily.
"Yo," Choji mutters with his mouth full of chips.
"I don't give a flying fuck who you invite to your stupid party." Sasuke answers quietly, typing away on his laptop.
Shikamaru and Choji look at me with questions in their eyes. I just give them a shrug as I join them on the couch. I guess Sasuke's okay with it.
"I've moved on," Sasuke continues, typing even more energetically now.
Or not okay?
"Of course she'd go to your stupid party," more vicious typing, "I never meant shit to her. Why would she attend my party, right?"
"Bro," I say in exasperation, "she didn't know it was your birthday. You didn't tell her. She's coming to my party because I told her it's my birthday party."
"Doesn't matter. I'm over it."
"And she said she'd go after I told her that you'd be there." Sasuke finally looks at me. And just stares. I feel like I'm being tested or something, so I try my best to maintain the eye contact. Is he waiting for me to say more? To elaborate? But I don't know what else I'm supposed to say. That's literally how the conversation went. I look toward Shikamaru and Choji for help. The bastards are eating popcorn.
"Do you think me and Hinata were toxic?" Sasuke asks suddenly.
"Uh… I don't know?"
"Ask Shikamaru," pipes Choji, "he's got a girlfriend now."
"Yeah, for over a month," Shikamaru argues, but then gives a sigh, "No, I don't think you're toxic. You guys just don't know what you want from each other. And then there were all those insecurities from you and her with her mental health issues. Add in some misunderstandings in the mix. I say not toxic, per se. There might be a term for it, but I don't think it's toxic. But that's just me."
I nod along Shikamaru's explanation. Makes sense. "Hinata-chan is not toxic. She's just a little frustrating," I add.
Sasuke looks thoughtful. Whether or not he's having an epiphany or something, I don't know. I can't read minds. Besides, I think my job is done as the ultimate wingman. I've set up the date and place for Sasuke and Hinata-chan to settle their issues once and for all. Up to them what to do with that opportunity.
March 30, 2024 – This chapter is not part of the original plan, but there are some loose ends that I figured I should tie up. I'm guessing there's 3 more chapters left.
THANK YOU for reading.