The last day of academy before summer vacation, Hinata made an extra bento for Naruto.

She had not talked or even tried to approach Sasuke in all that time. Likewise, Sasuke had been ignoring her. Hinata thought maybe he would start glaring at her or make his dislike somehow known, but that didn't happen. There wasn't any difference in the way he treated her. But Hinata knew that even if Sasuke behaved like he normally did, there was now some kind of wall between them she hadn't realized wasn't there until he pulled it up.

It honestly made her depressed. It was her fault the wall was there in the first place, but she didn't want to impose her presence upon him. Her father had said the same. Her mission with the bentos was over. She had proved herself insufficient to create any kind of relationship with the boy. The obvious distance and that the only difference between their dynamic now was that she no longer gave him bentos, were clear signals any friendship she might have deluded herself into thinking they had was nonexistent.

So she decided to keep her mind occupied with other things. One thing led to another, and suddenly she had a new bento for Naruto and was eating lunch with him in their now usual spot under the plum tree.

"And Iruka-sensei now makes me eat these green things that taste really sour! I liked it better when he took me out to ramen, but that happened only sometimes and he still buys me ramen so I guess it's cool. I mean, at least now I'm not hungry all the time anymore, and you bring me bentos too! So I get to eat every day and good food too! But I don't know how to make him stop giving me the green things…"

Hinata smiled softly. Naruto spoke a lot, about many different things. For some it might be annoying, but she liked hearing his voice. Especially when he was talking to her.

"W-what green t-things, N-Naruto-kun?" she asked. Naruto pouted.

"I don't know its name. It's some kind of leaf, though. Who eats leafs, anyway? Leafs are for animals, not humans!"

Hinata blinked, but decided not to say anything. Naruto wasn't the first, and definitely wouldn't be the last kid who disliked eating vegetables. At least he always ate everything she prepared enthusiastically, even things like carrots and spinach. It always made her happy whenever he would empty his bento and thank her for the food with that wide, bright smile of his…

"Anyway, what's up with you and that bastard? I mean, Sasuke. It's like there's this strange feeling between the two of you lately."

And just like that Hinata's good mood was gone.

"B-B-B-Between S-S-Sasuke-kun and I-I-I…?!" she asked, unconsciously letting go of her chopsticks, which landed on top of her half-eaten rice.

Naruto nodded, too concentrated on scraping the last of his food to see her face becoming pale upon his words. "Yeah! I mean, I know the two of you have some kind of relationship; you're the only person he doesn't glare at! And sometimes he kinda looks at you with this frown like he's thinking how to approach you… but lately he doesn't even look your way. Almost like he's making himself not look at you, you know? It's weird, and I wanted to know if something happened so can you tell me if something happened?" he finished by sending her one of his blinding smiles. Hinata stuttered, her body shaking slightly out of… of what? Embarrassment that Naruto noticed? Surprise that her assumptions were incorrect and they actually did have a relationship of sorts? Sadness she had offended him so much in the end she truly soured what they had?

Hinata didn't know, so she simply gulped, glancing down and picking up her chopsticks with trembling hands. "I… I d-did something that m-made him m-mad… s-something I s-s-shouldn't h-have… a-a-and he h-hasn't been t-talking to me s-s-since t-t-then…" she explained vaguely, no longer eating but only playing with her food. She heard Naruto hum, but before he could say anything, Hinata raised her voice, asking in turn. "I-I'm s-surprised N-Naruto-k-kun noticed… w-was it that… o-obvious?"

She didn't hear a response immediately, which wasn't normal for Naruto. She raised her eyes, and was surprised to see a pensive look on his face, his brows furrowed while he seemed to think it over.

"I wouldn't say it's obvious… I think no else noticed, because you are so quiet, Hinata-chan! And the bas-ehem, Sasuke doesn't make a big show of it… it just so happens I pay a lot of attention to the bas-Sasuke! So I can see-!" and suddenly he stopped talking, his face becoming red while he sputtered; "I mean! I don't care about the bas-Sasuke! At all! I don't watch him all the time or anything, so don't get any weird ideas! If I noticed it's because… because… ah!" he made a face as if he had just thought of something incredibly intelligent, and grinned cheekily; "because I want to beat him, so I have to keep a close eye on aaaaaallllll of his weaknesses! Yes, that's how it is!"

He finished with a proud huff, and for a moment Hinata was taken aback. Naruto… really cared about Sasuke, didn't he? Even after all the times Sasuke had so coldly rejected him… Naruto still kept an eye on him out of worry. Her heart warmed at such a display of kindness from the object of her affections. She smiled, softly, without realizing it.

"I-I u-understand… N-Naruto-kun…" she said, knowing he was waiting for her answer to confirm she had bought his lie. Naruto beamed harder after hearing her response.

"That's right! So, he's angry, huh? Tch, what an idiot, what could you possibly have done to make him angry? Are you sure he's not just exaggerating?"

Hinata glanced down, and that must have given Naruto the clue. He closed one eye, a hand under his chin as he pondered over it.

"Oh, I know! Why don't you just apologize? Iruka-sensei always tells me to own up to my mistakes or something like that, so if you did something bad, you only have to show him you're sorry! That way, everything will be alright, right? Though I still think it's probably not your fault and the bas-ehem, is just being dramatic!"

Well, what do you know. Hinata had not even asked for advice but Naruto had given it anyway. She was thankful of course, but it wasn't as simple as her ball of sunshine thought. The way Sasuke looked at her then… the hatred and pain and sadness in his eyes… this wasn't something that could be easily fixed with an apology. Would Sasuke even accept it if she were to say sorry? No… would she even have enough courage to face him again, with the possibility of him still being angry and dismissing her violently like in his district?

Hinata knew the answer. She wasn't courageous enough. Her father was right. It was her own fault things were like this, because of her inability to form a bond with Sasuke. She had failed already, what else could she do?

But… but Naruto was encouraging her. He was telling her to apologize to Sasuke to make things better. If Naruto believed she could do it, then maybe…

"D-Do you really b-believe S-Sasuke-kun will a-accept my apology…?"

"Of course! You're so nice, Hinata-chan, how could he not? Of course, if he doesn't just tell me and I'll make sure to beat him until he accepts, ok?" he said, winking at her and making a show of flexing an arm. Hinata couldn't help but giggle, feeling better than she had since the incident.

"I-I'll try, Naruto-kun…" she nodded, new determination growing on her.