"N-Naruto-kun!" she called, her knees trembling just like her hands as she held out the bento to him. "I-I-I-I m-m-m-made th-this for y-y-you! I-I-I ho-hope you l-like it!"
Naruto blinked. It was lunch time, and the boy was just on his way out of the playground, after once again being rejected out of the group of kids playing there. He looked at the bento for a second, then at the trembling and red girl holding it, before a big smile took over his face.
"Ah, thanks a lot Hinata-chan! You don't have to do this though" he said, a note of confusion in his voice.
Hinata quickly shook her head. "I-I-I wa-want to…" she said weakly. Naruto blinked again, but took the bento and smiled at her.
"You're really cool, you know!" he said. Hinata was starting to hyperventilate. She nodded, not trusting her words again, and slowly turned around, but the voice of her crush stopped her. "Ah, Hinata-chan… don't you want to eat with me?" he asked meekly.
It was like a vinyl disc scratched in her head. She turned to look at him with scared eyes, wanting so much to take him up on his offer but also afraid she wouldn't be able to last all throughout the lunch.
Naruto however, lost his smile, interpreting her silence in a different way. "Um, sorry, Hinata-chan. I don't want to make you do something you don't want to. I just thought that maybe…" he shook his head, plastering another smile, this time a little less genuine. "I'm grateful for the bento. I'll be sure to give it back to you once I'm done, ok?"
Hinata's mouth was opening and closing, and even though she wanted to stop him, he left running off to who knows where. She hung her head, sad and ashamed at her own lack of confidence. Now Naruto probably thinks she hates him! Once again, her useless shyness was getting in her way.
She let out a sigh, turning around, despondent, but when she did, she found herself staring into a pair of black eyes.
She froze, unable to look away. Sasuke's expression was, like it had been ever since he returned, impassive. Emotionless. She had no idea what he might be thinking, but felt glad when he finally turned around, accosted once again by girls, this time with Ino at the forefront.
She sighed, walking away, reaffirming her belief it would be better to give him the bento after school.