Hinata thought that this was really bad.
Of course it was, never before had Sasuke so blatantly rejected any of her apologies, and she was at a lost as to what to do about it. She didn't know what she did wrong, even though Sasuke had apparently already told her. But the only thing she could remember him saying that day was how angry it made him that she always took Naruto's side, defending his actions while throwing all the blame at him.
That was not the case, of course, and she had told him so very clearly during the fight… and yet he still called her a fangirl, and left her with the word on the mouth.
To be honest, Hinata didn't believe completely that was the whole reason he had gotten angry with her, and it was this piece of the puzzle that concerned her. No matter how much time it passed, or how much she thought she got to know him, Sasuke would always manage to surprise her.
And so she decided to seek help.
"What do you mean he paid special attention to Ino?!" Sakura almost shrieked, as soon as she told her what had happened, or at least, in part. Her eyes looked as if they were burning, her little fists clenched in front of her chest with violent intent.
Hinata sighed. "I don't think that's the important part here…"
She wasn't sure who she should ask. Naruto was the first to come to mind, his advice that time so long ago, when she made Sasuke angry during the first anniversary of the downfall of his clan, coming to mind as one of the reasons why she should seek him out. But, as Sasuke had very well pointed out before, the whiskered boy was the primary source of the tension between the two, and so asking him for anything seemed contraproductive.
Hinata could also go to her father… but she didn't think he could offer her any good advice. He might listen to her, and he might even be sympathetic… but she found it hard to believe he could help her understand better what was going on with Sasuke, as he didn't have all the information, and she didn't really want to tell him everything either.
That only left Sakura, as she truly didn't have anyone else she could confide on. However, she was wondering if maybe coming to her was the right choice after all, seeing her becoming incenced because of the simple mention of Ino.
"Right, right, Ino isn't important here. Focus, focus" Sakura closed her eyes in concentration, before opening them and looking at Hinata with a slight frown. "But you know, I think Sasuke-kun is right, in some part."
"What do you mean?" Hinata asked, surprised.
"You always seem to pay a lot of attention to Naruto, and take his side a lot of the time, like last year when you became angry because of how I treated him… not that I'm bitter over it or anything! I was behaving badly and I understand that better now" she added while raising her hands in a placating gesture before Hinata even had an opportunity to worry about it. "And yet… even though he's the one initiating the figths, it's Sasuke-kun you go to asking him to stop… seems a bit weird to me."
"That's…"
Hinata was at a loss. It was one thing Sasuke telling her, but Sakura? Was… was she really…?
"Although, what's also strange…" Sakura continued, a hand on her chin as she glanced up in thought. "It's how often you come to Naruto's defense for everything… I don't think I've ever seen anyone doing that except for Iruka-sensei, and…" she mumbled, brows frowning in concentration. Hinata felt a little chill running down her spine. She had a feeling about this… a feeling she wasn't sure she liked.
And then it came.
"It's a little bit like me with Sasuke-kun, actually. The paying too much attention part, I mean. And that is…" she gradually stopped talking, her eyes bulging as she came to a realization. Gasping, she glanced up towards Hinata, mouth falling open, and the poor girl wanted to hide somewhere before the words even came out of Sakura's mouth. "You… like Naruto…?"
Her voice was full of disbelief. Hinata covered her face with her hands.
"Oh…" Sakura blinked, taking it in. "Oh!" she repeated, louder.
Hinata groaned. "Please don't be so surprised" she begged.
"No, it's just…" the pink-haired girl bit her lip before shaking her head. "I… didn't expect this. I didn't expect it at all… why?" she finally asked the thing that Hinata was dreading the most, and although her voice wasn't judgemental, it was very much bewildered.
She sighed, pulling down her hands and taking a deep breath to calm her erratic heart and burning cheeks. "I… why not?" she countered, looking at Sakura with some effort, who was looking at her as if she had grown another head. For some reason, that expression brought some measure of annoyance in her. "Naruto-kun is always trying his best, even with the whole world against him. I told you before, didn't I? How he inspires me in the way he keeps going despite the odds. It makes me feel… it makes me feel as if even I can do something to change and better myself" she said, chin held high and hands clasped with each other in a pose full of dignity.
Sakura blinked again, before slowly closing her mouth. She was still frowning, though this time in thought.
And then, she asked something completely unexpected.
"Does Sasuke-kun know you like Naruto?"
"Eh?" Hinata was completely taken aback, her body deflating because of the surprise.
Sakura nodded. "You heard me. Does he know?"
"He… he does" she answered, this time being the one bewildered. Sakura closed her eyes and nodded again.
"You know, Hinata-chan…" she started, crossing her arms. "Although I've seen you a lot with Naruto and so I could tell the two of you are friends… if it wasn't because I saw you and Sasuke-kun together that one time, I would have never known the two of you even talk to each other."
Hinata frowned, her head tilted to the side.
"I… don't think I understand."
"What I mean is that maybe this is part of the reason Sasuke-kun is angry with you?" she said, opening her eyes and looking at Hinata determinedly. "Not only do you always take Naruto's side, but you also show clear preference for him in all other situations… including letting everyone know about your friendship."
"But… that doesn't make any sense" Hinata defended herself, trying to think over all of her previous interactions with Sasuke. Had he ever showed signs of wanting their friendship to be public?
To be honest, it wasn't as if she was hiding it on purpose or anything. It was just that… there was never a chance to show it outwardly like there was with Naruto. Sasuke also wasn't the type of guy to make big declarations or want others' attention on him, even though he got it so effortlessly much to his annoyance…
…but what if Sakura was right?
"Think about it" her friend insisted. "He tells you that you always pick Naruto's side, he's annoyed that you would go to him to complain instead of telling Naruto off, and finally, didn't he say something about you being just like… just like a fangirl?" she said the last part softer, glancing down with an expression of sorrow that Hinata had a hard time placing. After another second, she cleared her throat and straightened her back, continuing with as much momentum as before. "It's clear to me he wants something more from you, and that's for you to be a little more forthcoming about your friendship, more mindful of him instead of concentrating only on Naruto all the time" she concluded, assured of her own words as she nodded her head again and again.
Hinata stared at her, mouth open as she processed her friend's words.
Could… could Sakura be right?
She didn't know… but it was worth trying. With what she just said, she could not deny anymore that some favoritism existed from her part towards Naruto… and that was something that was bothering Sasuke.
But then… what to do?
What you always do she told herself, closing her hands in fists as she gave a nod of determination. Looking up towards Sakura, she declared, after giving her thanks of course:
"You are right. I will… I will do my best to address this issue… and speak with Sasuke-kun accordingly."
Sakura's answering smile was a little strained, but that was something Hinata did not notice, as lost as she was in her new developing plans to approach Sasuke again.