Hinata sat at the small table, she poured over a series of scrolls spread out before her. She furrowed her brow in concentration, the delicate brush in her hand hovering over a blank piece of parchment as she tried to make sense of the intricate symbols and statements written before her. The room was quiet, save for the soft scrape of metal as Sasuke sharpened his katana nearby, the rhythmic sound grounding her despite the mental knots she was tying herself in.

For a while, they had both existed in their own separate spaces, each absorbed in their respective tasks, yet somehow finding solace in each other's presence. The atmosphere between them had shifted in recent weeks—less strained, more peaceful—but still tinged with an unspoken feelings that neither felt the need to fully articulate.

Sasuke, sitting across the room, was polishing the edge of his blade, his movements precise and steady. His attention wasn't entirely on the sword, though. He had been subtly glancing in Hinata's direction every so often, noticing the small furrow in her brow deepening as time passed. It wasn't like her to struggle so visibly, and yet, she had been staring at the same section of the scroll for the last several minutes.

"Something wrong?" His voice broke the silence, calm but with a hint of curiosity.

Hinata startled slightly, blinking as if pulled out of a trance. She looked up at him, her soft lavender eyes meeting his for a brief moment before shifting back to the scroll. "Ah, no… well, yes. I'm just… having a bit of trouble with this particular passage." Her voice was quiet, tinged with the slightest hint of frustration, though she tried to mask it.

Sasuke put down his katana and leaned back on his hands, studying her intently. "What's the problem?" he asked.

She bit her lip, her fingers tracing the edge of the scroll in front of her. "It's confidential," she said softly. "I can't share the details, but…" She hesitated, unsure of how much she could even explain without breaking the trust placed in her.

"Hmm." Sasuke shifted closer, his eyes narrowing as he tried to gauge the situation. He wasn't the type to push for information, especially when he knew it was restricted. But he could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her normally calm demeanor had been replaced by uncertainty.

"If you can't share it, you can't share it," he said simply, his voice neutral, though there was a slight edge of teasing in his tone. "But I can still help."

Hinata looked up at him, her confusion evident. "But how can you help if—"

Sasuke smirked slightly, cutting her off before she could finish her thought. "You underestimate me, Hyūga. I don't need to know the specifics to know when you're overcomplicating things."

Hinata blinked, her cheeks warming at the subtle jab. She looked down at the scroll again, her mind spinning with the problem at hand. The text before her was full of contradictions—phrases that seemed to cancel each other out, and instructions that felt like they were at odds. It was like trying to solve a puzzle where none of the pieces fit.

"I just don't understand how these two statements can coexist," she admitted after a moment. "They're saying two completely different things, but both are supposed to be correct."

Sasuke's eyes flicked to the scroll, though he didn't ask for details. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand as he studied her expression. "Conflicting statements aren't always contradictions," he said, his tone more thoughtful now. "Sometimes, they're two parts of a bigger picture."

Hinata's brow furrowed again, and she glanced up at him, unsure of what he meant. Sasuke's eyes softened slightly as he saw the confusion on her face. He reached out, tapping his fingers lightly against the table next to her.

"You're thinking too literally," he continued. "Maybe the answer isn't about choosing one statement over the other, but about seeing how they fit together. There's usually a reason for conflicting instructions. One might apply in one situation, the other in a different one. Or maybe they're both true, but only if you look at them from different perspectives."

Hinata stared at him, her mind turning over his words. "Different perspectives…"

Sasuke leaned back again, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're overthinking it. Don't try to force it to make sense all at once."

She blinked again, and a light seemed to click in her mind. "You mean… instead of looking for a single answer, I should consider both could be valid, but in different contexts?"

Sasuke shrugged casually, but the faint glimmer of approval in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by her. "You're getting there."

A soft blush crept onto Hinata's cheeks as she looked down at the scroll again, her mind already beginning to shift its approach. She hadn't thought about it like that—she had been so focused on finding one clear answer that she hadn't considered the possibility that both could be right in different circumstances. She let out a small sigh, a mix of relief and frustration.

"I've been staring at this for hours," she murmured, more to herself than to him.

"Too long," Sasuke agreed, leaning back and crossing his arms. "You'd be better off stepping back sometimes. It's easier to see the solution when you're not looking too closely."

Hinata couldn't help but smile at that, though she shook her head lightly. "You sound like a teacher."

He scoffed softly. "I'm just practical."

A small laugh escaped her, and for a moment, the tension that had been building inside her eased. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, realizing that even in moments like these—where they were both in their own worlds, working on their own tasks—Sasuke still noticed her. He always did.

Sasuke glanced at her, his sharp eyes softening for a brief moment as he watched her shoulders relax. "So, what's the plan?" he asked after a moment.

Hinata smiled, the warmth of his support making her feel lighter. "I think… I'll try approaching it from another angle. Maybe I was too focused on the wrong thing."

"Sounds like a good start," Sasuke said, a teasing note creeping into his voice again. "Though, knowing you, you'll still overthink it for another hour or two."

Hinata's blush deepened, and she gave him a playful glare. "I won't. Not this time."

Sasuke's lips quirked into a half-smile, and he leaned forward again, his tone softening as he added, "Good. I like it better when you're not stressing over every little thing."

For a moment, they simply sat there, their gazes meeting in the soft glow of the room. Hinata's heart fluttered, not from his words alone, but from the unspoken tension between them— yet it was a quiet comfort of knowing they didn't need to fill every moment with words.

"I'll try not to," she said softly, her voice filled with quiet determination.

Sasuke nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he leaned back, resuming his task of sharpening his Kunai.

Hinata returned to her scrolls, her mind clearer, her heart a little lighter. Even though they existed in their own worlds, the comfort of having Sasuke in it made all the difference.

The sun had dipped below the horizon by the time Hinata finished her scrolls. She stretched, her tired eyes wandering across the room to Sasuke, who sat sharpening his weapons with calm, precise movements. The rhythmic sound of the whetstone sliding against the blade created a soothing backdrop to their comfortable silence.

Hinata felt a small surge of appreciation toward him—his presence, his subtle support. She bit her lip, glancing between the scrolls and Sasuke. She hadn't forgotten how he'd helped her earlier, and though she struggled to put it into words, she wanted to express her thanks somehow.

Her fingers nervously played with the hem of her sleeve as she stood up, gathering her courage. Walking over to him, she cleared her throat, but Sasuke didn't look up, too focused on his work. She tried again.

"Sasuke," she began, her voice gentle yet carrying a touch of nervousness. He paused, finally glancing up at her. His dark eyes met hers, unreadable yet calm.

"I… I wanted to thank you for helping me with the scrolls earlier," she continued, feeling her cheeks warm slightly under his gaze. "So, I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner outside ? There's a nice little restaurant I know—it's quiet, not too crowded."

Sasuke's eyebrow lifted, and a teasing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Are you asking me out?"

Hinata felt her face flush instantly. "N-no! I mean… it's not a date or anything! I just wanted to… to treat you as a thank you for earlier, that's all!" She waved her hands frantically, trying to backtrack, her words stumbling over one another.

Sasuke chuckled, setting one of his kunai down on the table. "Relax, Hina. I'm just messing with you."

Hinata puffed her cheeks in frustration, her flustered state only growing. "Y-you're teasing me."

He stood up, brushing past her with a smirk. "Yeah, and you make it too easy. But fine, I'll go." He glanced over his shoulder as he made his way toward the door. "Show me this 'not crowded' place you're talking about."

Hinata blinked, her embarrassment fading into a small smile of surprise. She hadn't expected him to agree so quickly. "Okay… it's not far from here."

--

The restaurant Hinata chose was a quaint, quiet spot tucked away from the bustling village streets. It wasn't flashy or crowded, just a cozy little place where the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was peaceful. As they entered, Hinata found herself nervously glancing at Sasuke, wondering if he'd actually like it.

He scanned the room briefly, his eyes flicking around before giving a slight nod of approval. "Not bad, this is a good spot" he said.

Hinata's shoulders relaxed a little. They sat down, each looking over the menu, and for a while, it was quiet but comfortable between them again, something soothing about the way they could simply exist together, even in silence.

Their food arrived, and they ate in relative quiet, with a few small exchanges about the meal. Sasuke's teasing smirk from earlier had softened into something more laid-back, and Hinata, though still a little nervous, felt her heart flutter each time their eyes met over the table.

Once the meal was finished, Hinata immediately reached for the check. She had invited him, after all, and there was no way she'd let Sasuke pay for something that was meant to be a thank you.

But before her fingers could touch the paper, Sasuke's hand was already there, snatching it up with his usual smoothness.

"I'll handle it," he said, pulling out his wallet without even glancing her way.

Hinata's eyes widened in shock. "Sasuke, wait! I invited you, this is supposed to be my treat!"

He waved her off, handing the money to the waitress before she could get another word in. "And i decided to come, it's what matters right? ."

Hinata's jaw dropped in disbelief. "That's… that's not how this works! You can't just—"

Sasuke stood up, tucking his wallet back into his pocket. "I just did."

She huffed, her cheeks puffing in frustration as she crossed her arms. "This isn't fair. I was trying to be nice!"

He looked down at her, his smirk returning. "And I appreciate it. But I'm not letting you paying."

The walk back to the Hyuga compound was filled with Hinata grumbling under her breath, clearly upset by his insistence. Sasuke walked beside her, hands in his pockets, finding endless amusement in her pouting expression. The cool night air and the quiet streets would have been peaceful, but Hinata's frustration was palpable.

"You're impossible," she muttered, still pouting as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

Sasuke looked down at her, his smirk widening. "You're really worked up over something so small."

"It's not small!" she argued, her voice rising a bit. "I invited you, so I should pay. That's how it works."

"You're upset over a meal," he teased, clearly enjoying how flustered she was.

"I'm upset because you're stubborn," she shot back, her cheeks flushed with both embarrassment and annoyance. "I wanted to treat you. Why won't you just let me?"

"Maybe because it's more fun watching you pout like that," Sasuke said, his tone light and teasing, making her freeze in place for a moment. He looked at her with that familiar, mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're cute when you get all worked up."

Hinata's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she quickly looked away, her heart racing. "I- it's not cute!" she stammered, trying to regain her composure.

Sasuke chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. "Sure, whatever you say."

"I'm serious!" she huffed, crossing her arms tighter as they continued walking. "Next time, I'm paying, no matter what you say."

"Next time, huh?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his teasing tone even more evident now. "Already planning our next date?"

Hinata's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't meant it like that, but now that he pointed it out… "I-I just meant—"

"Relax, I'm just messing with you again," Sasuke interrupted, his smirk never leaving his face. "You really are easy to tease, you know that?"

Hinata puffed out her cheeks in frustration again, but this time, there was a hint of a smile hidden behind her pout. "You're impossible," she repeated, though her voice was softer now, her earlier frustration giving way to something lighter, almost playful.

Sasuke glanced down at her, the cool night breeze ruffling his dark hair. "Maybe. But it's fun seeing you like this."

She shot him a quick glance, her blush still lingering on her cheeks. "You're mean."

"I'm honest," he corrected, his voice low and teasing.

By the time they reached the gates of the Hyuga compound, Hinata was still flustered, though her frustration had softened into something more playful. She turned to Sasuke, still pouting slightly, but her heart felt lighter now.

"Thank you for coming tonight," she said softly, her voice more sincere now. "Even if you didn't let me pay."

Sasuke shrugged, his nonchalance returning. "It was a good meal. You're welcome." He paused, glancing at her with a small smirk. "Next time, maybe I'll let you pay. Maybe."

Hinata smiled, her heart fluttering again. "Next time, I won't give you a choice."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her determination. "We'll see about that."

With a final teasing smirk, he turned and walked away into the night, leaving Hinata standing at the gates with a soft smile on her face. As she watched him disappear down the road, she couldn't help but feel her heart swell with warmth, her earlier frustrations melting into fondness.

As she turned to head inside, she found herself smiling again, already thinking about what their next outing might be like.