Hinata was a bit worried.

That was because, just as she was preparing to go home the last day of school before summer vacation, Yamanaka Ino ambushed her.

Well, ambush sounded like such a strong word. True, the blond girl had been waiting for her just out of the corner she always took to get home, right outside the academy, and she had almost given her a heart attack when she appeared from the shadows out of nowhere, but that didn't mean she ambushed her.

She thought.

Still… it wasn't necessary to do all this just because she wanted to talk to her.

"So, what's the deal with you and Sakura?" she asked, the first thing she had ever said to her. Hinata pursed her lips, fidgeting from one foot to the other, not knowing what to make of this situation.

"M-my deal?" she asked, stuttering once more after a long time without it. It was because she wasn't used to Ino like the others. Her altive pose, with hands on her hips and a slight narrowing of her eyes might have had something to do with it too.

Ino snorted, flipping her now long hair over a shoulder. She used to have very short hair, Hinata remembered. Like Sakura. But they have both grown it up. In fact, a lot of the girls at the academy had grown their hair too. Hinata wondered why.

"Yes! Like… why are you so chummy with her? Is she making you or something?" she continued, taking her out of her thoughts. Immediately Hinata frowned, not liking where Ino was going with this.

"Sakura-chan… isn't making me do anything. I-I'm her friend because I want to."

Ino widened her eyes, before frowning, though it wasn't out of anger, rather confusion.

"I see…" she whispered, more to herself. Hinata simply stood there, waiting, but when nothing else came out of the other kid's mouth, she cleared her throat and bowed.

"I need to leave, Ino-san. S-See you tomorrow."

"Ah, wait" before she could straighten up completely, Ino extended an arm, halting her. Hinata looked at her with a small frown of her own. "I didn't mean that Sakura was forcing you to be her friend or anything… well, maybe I was a little" she admitted with a bit of a nervous laugh. "But, mostly I was wondering why she was with you in the first place… do you like Sasuke-kun?" she asked suddenly.

Hinata shook her head. "I don't, Ino-san, at least not romantically."

"Mmm" she nodded, crossing her arms. "And… tell me, how is Sakura?"

"Eh?" Hinata was a bit surprised at the question. Ino blushed.

"Like… is she happy? No, forget that, it sounds stupid" she cleared her throat, fumbling with the words. "Does she look like she's having fun when she's with you? She was always… she was always so very shy… I don't know how to explain it" she admitted at the end, scratching the back of her head.

Hinata simply stared at her. So… Ino was worried about Sakura? That was… unexpected. The two of them had stopped being friends for over a year already. Sakura didn't really want anything to do with Ino, and Ino was always dismissive at best and biting and hurtful at worst when she crossed paths with the pink-haired girl. And yet… was it possible that Ino still cared for Sakura?

She didn't know the reasons behind their broken friendship, had never really asked Sakura out of respect, though according to the rumors it was because the two were in love with Sasuke. However, if that was true, and Ino still cared for Sakura…

What was the point of even ending their friendship?

"Sakura-chan is… she is happy" Hinata said, watching the way Ino's face morphed from slight embarrassment to a stone-like appearance. "She's… she's a good friend to me. And I h-hope I'm also a good friend to her…" she admitted the last part in a lower voice.

Ino frowned, deeply, her lips pursing in what Hinata thought might be displeasure, though she couldn't be sure. Perhaps, there was also a bit of longing there. Then, with a huff, Ino turned around, her long hair whipping in the air and almost hitting Hinata on the face.

"A good friend? I suppose she might be, but only because I helped her through all her infinite problems. Well, if she's happy then I guess it doesn't matter. It's not really any of my business either way."

Then why did you ask? Hinata thought with a bit of annoyance. She didn't say it out loud though, and just watched as Ino made a dismissive gesture with the hand and announced she was leaving. She looked at her back as she slowly disappeared from view, and when she could no longer see her, she sighed, adjusting her backpack and finally making her way home as well.