CHAPTER 07
The next morning, sunlight poured through the windows of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, casting golden light on the fresh blooms Ino had painstakingly arranged the previous evening. Despite the serene setting, Ino felt far from peaceful. She stood behind the counter, her hands absently fiddling with a rose stem as her mind wandered back to what happened yesterday.
What the hell was that? she thought for the hundredth time. Neji Hyuga, of all people, had kissed her. And not just a kiss—that kiss. Her lips still tingled, her heart still raced whenever the memory surfaced.
Shaking her head, she pushed the thought away. She needed to focus. Customers would start arriving soon, and she didn't have time to be distracted by… well, him.
The bell over the door jingled, startling her out of her thoughts. She plastered on a bright smile, ready to greet whoever walked in.
"Ino," came a soft, familiar voice.
Her smile softened into something more genuine when she saw Hinata stepping into the shop. The shy Hyuga looked as demure and as breathtaking as ever, her hands clasped nervously in front of her as she approached the counter.
"Hina! What brings you here so early?" Ino asked, leaning forward on the counter with an easy grin, though her stomach twisted with unease.
Hinata clasped her hands nervously in front of her, her usual shy demeanor intact. "I… I wanted to thank you," she said, her cheeks pink. "Kiba told me he saw you with Neji-niisan last night. I… I appreciate you keeping him distracted. If he had found me…" She trailed off, looking away, her blush deepening.
Ino blinked, caught off guard. She knew she had done a pretty good job of distracting Neji—maybe a little too good—but hearing Hinata acknowledge it so openly made her feel strangely guilty.
She forced a smile, her fingers gripping the counter for support. "Oh, that? Don't worry about it, Hina. It was no big deal," she said lightly, though her heart gave a little jolt at the memory of how "distracting" things had gotten.
Hinata shook her head earnestly and gave her a grateful look. "No, really. I don't know what would have happened if he'd caught me with Sasuke. He's… well, you know how protective he is."
Ino nodded, her stomach sinking. She could imagine exactly how protective Neji could get—he'd practically radiated that energy all day yesterday. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but her thoughts were spiraling.
"I haven't seen him since last night, though," Hinata continued, her voice tinged with worry. "After I came home, I heard he locked himself in the Reflection Hall."
Ino blinked. "Reflection Hall?"
Hinata nodded, her expression both worried and confused. "Yes, it's something he does when he's… troubled or conflicted. He hasn't come out since. I… I don't know what happened, but it must have been serious."
Ino froze, her heart skipping a beat. Troubled? Conflicted? Was it because of her? Because of the kiss? Her mind replayed the moment over and over—his calm yet intense gaze, the way he kissed her like he'd been holding back for years, and then the way he'd left, his parting words lingering like a ghost.
"Well, maybe he's just overthinking things," Ino said quickly, forcing a breezy tone. "You know how Neji is—always so serious, always so… disciplined." She waved a hand vaguely, hoping Hinata wouldn't press further.
Hinata offered a small, tentative smile, though the worry in her eyes didn't fade. "You're probably right. I just hope he's okay. Thank you again, Ino. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"Don't mention it," she said, waving her off with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes.
As Hinata turned to leave, she watched her go, her smile faltering the moment the door closed. She slumped against the counter, her fingers toying with a stray petal on the counter.
He's locking himself away because of me, she thought, her chest tightening with a strange, unfamiliar ache. She didn't know what Neji was feeling—hell, she didn't even know what she was feeling—but it was clear that yesterday had shaken both of them.
She sighed, running a hand through her hair as she stared at the flowers surrounding her. For all her charm, for all her confidence, Ino Yamanaka felt completely out of her depth. She had no idea what to do next. All she knew was that she couldn't stop thinking about him, and that scared her more than anything else.