Sasuke's birthday came around, but even then Hinata couldn't find him.

By that point, it had been almost two weeks since the last time she saw him. It was all good and nice to give him space if he seemed to need it, but in Hinata's eyes, two weeks was too much time for him to disappear. Ever since they became closer, it was normal for them to see each other almost every day. This long period of time without knowing anything of him was honestly worrying Hinata.

And so, the day after his birthday she went in search of him once again, dumplings from the day before tucked in a bento box covered by a folded handkerchief.

I'll be sure to talk to him today. I definitely need to make sure he's ok!

She arrived at his apartment and sat down in front of the door after he failed to open when she pressed the doorbell. And then she waited.

The sun had been high up when she arrived, but night had started to fall by the time she started seriously considering staying the whole night to wait for him. Maybe he was actually in his apartment but had just not answered. Hinata should've thought of that possibility. Debating whether to use her Byakugan or not to make sure, she finally opted in favor of it once a soft, but slightly chilly breeze grazed her face, making her bangs dance against her eyes.

Murmuring a small apology to Ko, who had warned her time and again not to make use of her doujutsu in the village for personal matters, she activated her Byakugan and looked inside. She found the apartment empty, no sight of Sasuke around, but what surprised her wasn't his absence that she had already come to expect.

What surprised her was the state of disarray it was in, particularly his room.

Sasuke had never been one much for decorations. It made his place feel like somewhere he was just passing by, rather than a home, but Hinata could understand this perhaps unconscious decision of his to keep the place he inhabitated as minimalistic as possible. Right now, however, there was a mess everywhere. Papers strew across the floor, things knocked over and some even broken. The wallpaper of his bedroom was teared off, lying in ribbons all around, with his bed a mess, the stuffing of his matress and pillow strew all around.

Hinata covered her mouth in a state of shock. What happened?

"Who gave you permission to peek into my apartment?"

Her body jerked upon hearing his voice. Quickly deactivating her byakugan and turning to Sasuke, she saw him standing there, hands in the pockets of his white shorts and a disinterested, almost bored expression on his face. He didn't look angry at all at her simply poking uninvited, but Hinata couldn't reassure herself on that alone.

She bowed deeply. "I am so sorry! I didn't-! I-! It's been so long since we saw each other and yesterday was your birthday but you didn't appear and so I was worried and-!"

"I need space and time alone sometimes. I thought you understood that" he interrupted as dispationately as before. Hinata gulped, straightening and looking at his face that still held the same emotionless expression.

Somehow, that worried her more than if he had become angry at her nosiness.

"I… I understand, it's just that it's been two weeks and…"

"You brought me something this year again."

He didn't allow her to explain anything, instead pointing at the bento box in her hands. She closed her mouth, lifting the box until it was at chest level, offering it to him silently.

"It's… dumplings. They're from yesterday, so I hope that's not a problem…"

"'s fine" he grabbed the bento, tucking it under an arm. "I already accepted you won't simply not give me anything for my birthday, so food's alright as far as presents go" he walked past her, opening the door of his apartment and stepping inside. "You should go home before it gets too late."

"Ah, I…"

He closed it before she could even finish.

Hinata sighed, letting her head fall against her chest. She wondered if he would have invited her inside or at least talked to her, had he not found her using her byakugan.

I'm such an idiot…

"Hey."

"Yes?" she automatically raised her head at this unexpected call. Sasuke was standing at the threshold of his door, holding one of the wooden edges as he looked at her with what almost seemed like an insecure frown. Hinata had not even noticed when he opened the door again. Her face got a little warm thinking how pathetic she must have looked just a moment ago. She cleared her throat. "Did you need anything?"

"You can come tomorrow if you want… when it's not so late" he said slowly, his frown deepening as he talked. Hinata's mouth fell open, and it was at that moment that he stepped back. "You took me by surprise, alright? But tomorrow I could… we could talk, I guess."

And without waiting for an answer he closed the door again, leaving Hinata stunned.