Hinata found out that day that Sasuke didn't like sweets.
It was astounding. Completely unbelievable. How could he not like sweets? Hinata didn't understand it.
Among the gifts the girls had given him there were bouquets of flowers, cards and accessories. Even a book of poetry. There were also a few chocolates and other simple desserts that Sasuke immediately shoved away, claiming he didn't like sweet things.
Cue Hinata getting the shock of her life.
Hinata managed to keep him from throwing the flowers away. She filled a few glasses with water since Sasuke didn't possess any vases, and placed the flowers there, putting them on different corners of the house, excluding his bedroom and the bathroom. The apartment was soon filled with a sweet aroma that forced the boy to open his windows with a huff of distaste, but he promised her he wouldn't touch the flowers until they wilted. Like this, everything in his home looked a little more brilliant and pretty.
The cards were, unfortunately, thrown away. Hinata did take the time to read every one of them, becoming increasingly embarrassed by all the sappy things her classmates wrote. She wouldn't have done so, but Sasuke staunchly refused to read them, and so she thought the least she could do for those girls that took the time to write something heartfelt for him was reading their messages. With each one she read, she passed them to Sasuke who then put them in a garbage bag.
As for the accessories, there were a variety of them. Wristbands, necklaces, brooches, gloves and a few clothes. Sasuke put them all in a separate bag and Hinata feared he was going to throw them away. When she suggested simply giving them back to the girls that had gifted them to him, he looked at her as if she was stupid and asked her if she really thought they would accept them back.
She knew the answer already. It was such a shame though, that he didn't like anything they gave him. There was some really nice stuff there. At least she managed to convince him to donate the accessories to the civilian orphanage of Konoha instead.
As for the book of poetry, which happened to be Ino's present, Sasuke deliberately pushed it into her hands, claiming he had no use for poetry but she might probably like it. Hinata didn't deny it. Though she wasn't a fan, she liked a good poem as much as anybody else. She felt bad taking it though, but it was better than the other option, which was throwing it inside the garbage bag with all the cards. To make the action a little more palatable, she took one of the remaining flowers and pressed it neatly among the pages. Sasuke watched her with curiosity.
"Why do you do that?" he asked, eyebrows scrunched up as he looked at her. Hinata shrugged, looking away and feeling her face growing warmer for some reason.
"I-It's a way to c-commemorate this day… The flower will be p-preserved for longer if I p-put it inside… It's s-something I like to do…"
"Why?"
Hinata had to think about it. "I-I don't know… it feels n-nice, I guess, to know y-you're making a tangible memory of an important e-event…"
"And you think today is special, that's because you're pressing the flower?"
Hinata blushed, not having expected that question. She became flustered, moving her hands up and down, not knowing how to answer, but unfortunately, Sasuke didn't take mercy on her and her pitiable state, and instead waited, patiently, with a face that was too impassive for the situation, for her answer.
Finally Hinata found the courage to come up with an answer. She lowered her head, playing with her hands and refusing to make eye contact with the boy. "I-I think so. T-Today is your b-birthday a-a-and I w-want to remember this day… b-because it's the first birthday we passed t-together…"
There was silence after her words. A few seconds later, Hinata realized how what she said must have sounded, and her face became redder, if that was possible. She started waving her hands desperately, shaking her head at the same time. "I-I-I-I-I-I d-d-d-didn't m-mean t-t-that…!"
"That you would like to spend more of my birthdays with me?"
She clumped her mouth shut, nodding shyly, only to shake it a second later.
"N-No… j-just that… that you don't h-have to take it as if I w-w-want to im-impose more on you in the future…" she said, her voice a whisper. She heard Sasuke hum, and finally regained the courage to look up at his face.
He didn't look angry or bothered or anything like that. He just looked a bit pensive. After another excruciating minute of silence, he glanced at her, and Hinata had to do her best to maintain eye contact.
"I wouldn't mind if… we spend my next birthday like this. It was nice having company again… quiet company" he added the last thing with emphasis. Hinata nodded, bewildered but unable to do anymore. Sasuke had just said that he would like to spend his next birthday with her… more or less. Maybe… maybe her father's efforts hadn't been to waste and she had actually managed to form a tentative friendship with the boy?
She could only hope. And not only because it would make her father happy to know, but also because, without realizing it, she had come to start looking at Sasuke as a friend, and was glad he seemed to think the same of her… or at least tolerate her presence enough.
She smiled tentatively. "I… wouldn't m-mind either i-if we spend a-another birthday t-together…"
"Good" he said, nodding, before taking a small bag (the one where he had put all the sweets) and passing it over to her. "You take them. I won't even touch these things and you said you like sweet things, no?"
Hinata blinked, but didn't accept the bag immediately. "I-I said that, but… but I-I'm not allowed to bring in s-sweets inside the c-compound from the outside. T-The only sweets I can eat are t-those made by the cooks…"
"Really?" he asked, incredulous. "What strange customs… well, whatever" he put the bag down and opened it, taking out a single bar of chocolate and offering it to her. "Take this one at least. I doubt they'll look inside your pockets if you hide it there… as for the rest, you can come take them one at a time. Luckily there isn't much, and that way you won't raise suspicions, no?"
The girl blinked, and her mouth fell. Take them one at a time? Was he implying she come to his house every day to take a sweet and stealthily bring it home? As if reading her thoughts, Sasuke frowned, and then clicked his tongue.
"Or I can take them to you in the academy, when the next period starts, if that'll make you more comfortable. Or the training grounds at night" he looked at her, observing her countenance, and his frown deepened. "I really don't like sweets, and I won't be giving these to the children of the orphanage. It's not healthy. They would eat them all in one go. You know how children are, but if you won't take them… I guess I can only throw them away…"
"I-I-I'll take them!" she exclaimed, taking the chocolate and pushing it inside her jacket's pocket. "W-wasting food is no good… I can share t-them with Hanabi-chan… b-but! I can't also e-eat sweets every d-day…"
"I know" he said, before realizing something. "Who is Hanabi?"
Hinata beamed, thinking about her little sister with love. "S-She's my little s-sister… She's f-five years younger than me… F-Father has just started t-training her…" she explained, though she left behind the fact her father seemed to be training only her as of late. Hinata was sure it was not permanent, and soon, the three of them would be training together and everything would be fine again.
Sasuke, upon hearing her words, looked away, his expression locking up unexpectedly, causing Hinata to worry. But before she could ask anything, he spoke; "I see. I didn't know you had a little sister… and five years younger too. I'm sure that if you share the chocolate with her she will be really happy."
Hinata nodded, not knowing what to say. The atmosphere had turned suffocating all of a sudden and she had no idea why. When Sasuke told her it was getting late and she should be getting home soon, Hinata simply nodded, and bidding him farewell and another happy birthday, she made her way to her compound, hugging the book to her chest and very conscious of the weight of the bar of chocolate in her pocket.
It was only when she was alone with Hanabi in the safety of her room, watching her precious little sister eating a piece of the chocolate with bliss, that she realized what had caused Sasuke's sudden change in mood.
Of course, hadn't Itachi been five years older than Sasuke too? Had she unwittingly reminded him of his once beloved older brother when she spoke so fondly of Hanabi? Hinata could have hit herself. Because she had spoken without thinking, she had brought back painful memories for Sasuke. How thoughtless of her.
It seemed she couldn't be a good friend to him after all. Not if she couldn't even realize when she should keep her mouth shut.
Wait, how come Sasuke's fangirls gave him sweets if they know he dislikes them?! The answer is: I don't think they know at this point in time. Sasuke never really eats in front of them, and he also doesn't talk about himself. We readers know because there has already been fanbooks and interviews with Kishimoto, but the girls here don't have that source of information; that's why.