Hinata stood outside Sasuke's apartment, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow on the village streets. She had just returned from a long, grueling mission, her body aching for rest, but her heart had guided her here. It had become a habit of sorts—visiting Sasuke after their missions, sharing stories over home-cooked meals, and just... being together. It was something that felt safe, almost like a ritual, one that had deepened their bond over time.

She knocked softly, the door creaked open, revealing Sasuke's familiar figure. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, as if he had just woken up from a nap, and his expression was as stoic as ever—though his eyes seemed to soften when they met hers.

"You're back," he said simply, stepping aside to let her in.

Hinata smiled, a gentle warmth spreading through her chest at the sight of him. "Yes. It was a long mission."

"You look tired, a difficult one?" His voice was low, but there was a touch of concern hidden beneath his usual stoic tone.

Hinata nodded, giving him a tired smile as she stepped inside, her sandals clicking softly against the wooden floor. "kinda, but I'm glad it's over."

Sasuke grunted in agreement, following her into the kitchen. She had always liked the simplicity of his apartment—bare walls, minimal furniture, just enough to live comfortably. It was quiet, just like him, and it felt... peaceful. She had become familiar with every corner of this space, from the tiny dining table where they often sat to the stove where they would cook theirs shared meals .

Setting her bag down near the counter, she said "I thought I'd drop by since I finished earlier than expected. Hope that's alright…"

Sasuke gave her a sideways glance as he leaned against the counter. "You don't have to ask."

Hinata's smile deepened a little, though she still felt the weight of exhaustion in her limbs. She excused herself to freshen up, heading toward the small bathroom.

But as soon as she stepped inside, something unusual caught her eye—a small, black hair tie sitting on the edge of the sink.

Hinata froze, staring at the hair tie as if it were a foreign object. It wasn't hers. She didn't wear her hair like that. A knot formed in her stomach, twisting tighter the longer she looked at it. Her thoughts raced—why was it there? Did someone else come here while she was gone? Had someone been spending time with him?

She swallowed hard, trying to keep her breathing steady. There was no reason to jump to conclusions. She and Sasuke were just friends, after all—close friends, but nothing more. And yet... the thought of someone else being here, someone close enough to leave something behind, made her chest ache.

Sasuke wasn't the type to talk about his personal life openly, and maybe… maybe there was someone she didn't know about. She felt a sharp sting behind her eyes as her thoughts spiraled, her emotions unraveling faster than she could control. She tried to take a deep breath, tried to calm herself, but the sight of that hairtie was enough to make the doubt and hurt settle deep within her.

With trembling hands, she gently placed it back down, forcing herself to leave the bathroom as if nothing was wrong.

When she returned to the living room, Sasuke was already heating something on the stove, his back to her. She moved quietly, sitting at the small table, her hands folded in her lap. Her mind was in chaos, but she tried to stay composed, tried to keep herself from saying something impulsive. She didn't want to jump to conclusions—what if there was a simple explanation? But the ache in her chest wouldn't let her rest.

Sasuke glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes immediately noticing the change in her demeanor. He could always tell when something was off, especially with her.

"Hinata."

His voice pulled her from her thoughts. She blinked, realizing she'd been staring at the floor too long. "Y-Yes?"

He turned off the stove, wiping his hands on a cloth as he approached her. "What's going on?"

She hesitated, her mind scrambling for an answer. "I—It's nothing, really. I'm just tired from the mission."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You're a bad liar."

Her cheeks flushed. He had a way of seeing right through her, always. She knew he wouldn't let it go now, but the idea of voicing what was bothering her felt too embarrassing. She couldn't tell him—not without sounding ridiculous.

But Sasuke wasn't the type to back off, especially when something was wrong. He took a seat across from her, crossing his arms as he waited. "Just tell me."

Hinata bit her lip, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "I-It's nothing important…"

He leaned forward slightly, narrowing his eyes. "Hinata."

His tone was enough to make her shoulders tense. After a long pause, she finally exhaled, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "I—I saw a hair tie in your bathroom. It's not mine."

Sasuke blinked, his expression shifting from confusion to something unreadable. "A hair tie?"

She nodded, feeling the heat rise to her face, her voice growing softer. "I just… I didn't know if someone had been here while I was gone."

There was silence. Sasuke stared at her for a long moment, and for the first time, Hinata felt completely vulnerable, her emotions raw and exposed. She looked down, too shy to meet his gaze, her fingers twisting together anxiously.

And then, to her surprise, Sasuke's lips twitched—just the slightest hint of amusement. He leaned back in his chair, a small, rare smirk appearing on his face.

"Hinata…" He shook his head, his tone almost playful now. "That hair tie isn't what you think."

She blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Sasuke sighed, as though the explanation was so obvious. "Shikamaru lost it here. The guys were over a few nights ago. They just invited themselves, mainly Naruto, after we got back from a mission."

Hinata's heart stuttered. "Shikamaru…?"

Sasuke nodded, clearly holding back his amusement. "Yeah. He took a nap here and lost it, I guess. He's been looking for that damn thing for days."

Hinata felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, and she immediately looked down, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. "Oh... I-I see. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to assume—"

Sasuke chuckled softly, stepping closer to her. "So, you were jealous?"

Her eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. "N-No! I wasn't... I wasn't jealous. I just—"

But Sasuke wasn't letting her off the hook that easily. "You thought there was another girl here, didn't you?"

Hinata could feel the heat rising to her face, her pulse quickening as his teasing words sank in. "I wasn't... I just..."

Sasuke's smirk softened, and he tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "You don't need to worry, Hinata. There's no one else."

Her breath hitched at his words, and for a brief moment, all the noise in her mind quieted. She looked up at him, meeting his gaze, and something unspoken passed between them—something that had always been there, simmering beneath the surface.

Hinata's heart fluttered in her chest, but she quickly looked away, her face burning with embarrassment. "I-I wasn't..."

But Sasuke just chuckled again, his voice low and warm. "You're a terrible liar, Hina."

She covered her face with her hands, mortified. "I-I wasn't jealous! I just… I didn't know what to think…"

Sasuke leaned back on the table , clearly enjoying her flustered state. "You don't have to worry about stuff like that."

Hinata slowly lowered her hands, peeking up at him, her cheeks still burning. His expression was softer now, less teasing but still amused. And for a moment, she felt something shift between them, a quiet understanding, something deeper than words. He hadn't brushed off her feelings—he hadn't mocked her. If anything, he seemed almost… reassured by her reaction.

"I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions," she whispered.

Sasuke shook his head. "Don't be. But next time, just ask. You don't have to keep things bottled up."

Hinata nodded, feeling her heart settle, the earlier ache dissolving into something lighter. Despite her embarrassment, she felt closer to him now, as if the misunderstanding had somehow deepened their bond.

As she glanced up at Sasuke, who had gone back to preparing their meal, she couldn't help but smile softly, a warmth blooming in her chest.

Even in moments like this, they were learning about each other, step by step.

And she liked it.