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Anthropology from a Pragmatic Point of View
Chapter Nine: In Good Company

"…the good living that still seems to harmonize best with true humanity is a good meal in good company."
― Immanuel Kant

Neji returned Tenten's clothes via Shikamaru, who took them without preamble or comment.

"How was your trip?" Neji asked, studying the shogi board.

"Fine," Shikamaru shrugged one shoulder. They sat in silence for several turns.

"Where did you go exactly?" Neji frowned slightly as Shikamaru plucked one of his pieces from the board.

"To visit a friend," Shikamaru said, reaching for his mug of tea. "You have been busy," he raised his eyebrows to Neji, half question, half statement of fact.

"Unusually so," Neji allowed. "Hinata made me promise to come by next weekend. I have to admit," he reached for his tea, "I didn't expect your call, or to meet you here," he gestured to the quiet tea shop.

"Close to campus," Shikamaru nodded to the view out of the window, and the campus in the valley below. "It's also a good place to watch the clouds."

"Interesting."

They spent several more moments in silence before Shikamaru offered, "Konoha East and West functions as a sort of family."

"I've noticed," Neji replied dryly. Shikamaru continued.

"Tenten didn't grow up with a large support network, and it took her a while to warm up to everyone and set her boundaries. She is exceedingly loyal to her friends, but she doesn't count many people in that category. And anyone poking into her private life or decisions," he shrugged. 'It doesn't usually end well."

"Hence you saying you lent me the clothes."

Shikamaru nodded.

"Was it that out of character?" Neji considered the steam over his tea. "Offering to help me, I mean."

"Not per se," Shika sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just Tenten tends to move independently and without interfering. Calling attention to it would have no benefit. Like making a fuss over a deer that is new to a meadow."

He studied Shikamaru, their eyes meeting.

"Don't read too much into it," Shikamaru held his gaze. "I just thought it would be troublesome if others started poking their nose into Tenten's business. Historically, that is a bad choice."

Neji chuckled, then. "I can see where it might be."

"She trusts you," Shikamaru added, a hint more softly. "It isn't something to be taken for granted."

Neji nodded, a hint of something tugging at his lips, and his heart.

"I won't."

It was another two weeks before he found himself back at Konoha East.

He had found a new sushi restaurant and called Hinata to invite her and Hanabi to dinner. When he arrived, however, he was displeased with what he saw.

"You are not well," he insisted.

"I'm fine," Hinata soothed him, her cheeks pinker than usual. "It's just a little cold."

"Then I should be taking you to the doctor, not dinner," Neji crossed his arms.

Hinata started to answer him, but interrupted herself with the tiniest, most demure sneeze ever sneezed in the history of sneezes.

Neji just raised his eyebrows.

Hinata blinked over the edge of her handkerchief with a miniscule sniffle, but did not relent.

"Fine," Neji put his hands on his hips. "Where's Sakura?"

"Sakura?" Hinata blinked again.

"Yes," Neji looked around. "If she says you are fine, we will go."

"I don't know if she is here," Hinata turned and looked over her shoulder while Neji pulled out his phone and shot off a text.

"She's here," he said triumphantly. "And look at that," he raised his eyebrows. "I didn't know you had a nurse's office here. Shall we?"

Knowing her cousin was immovable, she sighed, and led the way. Sakura was speaking with a dark-haired woman when they entered.

"Ooh," Sakura sized up Hinata immediately. "Not you, too."

"Me, too?" Hinata asked, confused.

"Come on in," Sakura sighed. "There's a bug going around – Shizune and I will test you."

Within twenty minutes, Hinata had been diagnosed with the beginnings of an upper respiratory infection, and been given an excuse for classes, a Z-pak, and orders to rest. Dr. Kato smiled encouragingly at her.

"This is making its rounds. It's good we caught it so early. Get some rest, and I'll check in with you tomorrow."

Hinata looked up at Neji. "I'm sorry," she frowned. "I really was looking forward to dinner."

Before Neji could assure her all was well, both of their phones buzzed. Hanabi also had the bug, and couldn't go to dinner.

"Oh, no," Hinata sighed. "Maybe I should make some soup to take to her."

"No need," a cheerful voice interrupted them. Tenten stood at the door, her cheeks bright as if she'd just come in from the cold. "We had the bug at Konoha West last week," she nodded to Shizune. "Choji just brought over a whole bunch of soup."

"Are you ill?" Neji asked, his brows pinched together.

"Not anymore," she shrugged. "Finished my z-pak and got the all clear."

"Then maybe you can go!"

Both Tenten and Neji turned to Hinata.

"Go?" Tenten arched an eyebrow. "Do you need me to go get something?"

"Neji has reservations for a sushi restaurant," Hinata motioned to her cousin. "Hanabi and I can't go, and it would be a shame to cancel."

Tenten looked between them, caught off guard. "I wouldn't want to impose," she blinked.

And perhaps it was her confusion – seeing her wrongfooted where she was usually all ease and assurance – that made up Neji's mind.

"As my cousin has been asked to rest, I don't think it makes sense for me to stay. Would you care to join me?"

Tenten scanned Neji's face for any hint of coercion or invitation-due-to-over-politeness, but when she found none, gave another shrug.

"Sure. I love sushi. Just let me help Chōji get everything in, and we can go."

Inside of fifteen minutes, the soup was all brought in, Hinata had been given a bowl to take to her room, and Neji was driving Tenten to Konoha West to swap out her shirt.

"Thanks," she breathed as she returned to the car. "I didn't really like the idea of sitting with chicken soup on my shirt."

"Not a problem," he waited for her to fasten her seatbelt before he pulled away. "I see you changed your shoes."

"I looked up the restaurant," she admitted, holding up her mobile. "They have traditional seating options, and I wasn't sure where we'd be seated. Much easier to get out of these," she nodded to her flats, "than boots."

"I'm impressed," he smiled faintly. "I am also pleased I don't have to change our reservation."

"Excellent," she beamed. "I was hoping that would be the case!"

"You prefer the authentic dining experience?"

"Oh, absolutely," she tucked her phone away. "Whenever our family moved with my father's job, we made a point to eat from small, local places. He insisted that we should always know more about where we lived, and the people that called it home."

"Where have you lived?"

What followed was an evening of lively conversation, that Neji could have never dared to anticipate. Apparently, the topic of food had allowed Neji to learn about Tenten's life – at least on an anecdotal level. He recognized she did not divulge deep, personal information, but neither did he. It was like an appetizer; he knew enough to know he would like to know more.

They had a minor disagreement when Neji footed the bill, but it was settled with a compromise.

"You mentioned having a favorite local restaurant?"

"Ming's," she nodded. "Hands down."

Neji looked it up on his phone and showed it to her. "Is this it?"

"That's the one."

"Excellent," he nodded with satisfaction (especially when he noted it was not an expensive place to eat). "I've never been. When shall we go? Your treat, of course."

"Of course," Tenten chuckled. "Are you free next Thursday evening?"

"I am."

"Six o'clock?"

"I shall add it to my calendar."

And had his hair been pulled back, she might have seen the tips of his ears turn the slightest bit pink – but as it was not, she did not, and Neji's secret was safe.

For now.