This particular Sushi restaurant in Tokyo was a hidden gem, tucked away from the bustling city and tourist attractions. Many reviews touched on it, saying how it was overshadowed by how busy the streets were. Overall, the dim lights and pleasant to the eye interior was more than enough to satisfy Sasuke. The hum of conversation filled the air, which was the perfect atmosphere after a long ride.

Hinata sat across from him, her shoulders relaxed, and her lips wrapped around the straw, sipping water. They both stared at each other, at a loss for words on what to say. Yes, he did technically invite her to dinner—but where did he go from there? It's not like they were on a date; they were just getting food after a long road trip.

Not a date.

His gaze briefly left hers and met her lips, they were pink and glossy, practically sucking the straw dry—which he was making more sexual than he should've, and yes, he was to blame.

What was wrong with him? She had a fiancé—a shitty one, but a fiancé, nonetheless.

He sighed, tearing his gaze from the tempting sight. As if by miracle, a waiter approached their booth. He was tall, with brown hair, and markings on his face. Around their age, give or take a few years. Sasuke watched as the man's gaze lingered on Hinata for a moment too long, and he felt an odd sensation in his chest. His jaw locked tight, watching as the man opened his mouth.

Why was he feeling like this? Hinata was a model—she was bound to attract people. So, why was he so affected?

He'd never been jealous before, let alone over a waiter. He also didn't feel any type of way about Hinata, it was just…weird.

Right?

"Hello, what can I get you for today?" It was a question directed to both of them, but the guy's attention still remained solely on Hinata. He smiled with his pearly whites, and a blush crept on his face as Hinata offered a smile his way.

The water was long forgotten.

"Um," Hinata's gaze flickered towards Sasuke, a notion of uncertainty.

"What would you like Uchiha-San?" she tucked a hair strand behind her ears and stared at him expectantly. Though ironic, he was slightly amused by her obliviousness to his inner turmoil. The waiter stood awkwardly towards the side with his notepad in hand while he waited for Sasuke's response.

"I'm okay with whatever you get, order to your own content." It was a vague answer, but he wanted her to make her own choice. Sasuke watched as Hinata's brows furrowed slightly in confusion before she turned back to the waiter.

"We'll have this, this, and this as well," She confidently pointed at the menu, her fingers steady and decisive. Sasuke felt slight relief as Hinata took charge, he felt seriously out of it. At least someone here knew what they wanted.

The waiter nodded quickly at her pointed items, somehow getting even closer to Hinata. He jotted them down and stole a glance at her concentrated pouting face, the blush still evident on his face.

Hinata clasped her hands together once she was finished, looking pleased with herself as she handed both their menus to the waiter. She looked like she was in her element, calm and self-assured. It was nice seeing her enjoy herself.

"I hope you don't mind what I ordered," Hinata looked down before looking back up at Sasuke, her gaze filled with uneasiness. A complete shift from her earlier confident demeanor while ordering.

She was so…intriguing.

"Any drinks? We have wine, soda, tea, anything!" The waiter's excitedly high-pitched voice filled the silence, still staring at Hinata. This guy was seriously annoying.

"Wine is fine." Sasuke's reply was curt, and Hinata took note of his discomfort. The waiter, who likely sensed it as well—if Sasuke's cold gaze wasn't more than enough to tell—walked away with a slight bow. The raven's eyes followed the waiter's back as he retreated, the guy's obvious moves still lingering in his mind.

Unbeknownst to him, opal eyes were staring at him intently. She didn't have to be a mind reader to see he was clearly feeling conflicted. Hinata watched him carefully, her gaze softening. She could tell something was wrong, just not what exactly was.

"...Uchiha-San," he broke out of his daze, meeting her curious eyes. He could tell she was making an obvious effort in wanting to start a conversation.

"Are you okay?" she leaned slightly in, resting her elbows on the table. Her head tilted to the side, her expression warm and concerned. Sasuke's stomach twisted, not from the question itself, but from the fact she picked up on his discomfort. And that bothered him.

He couldn't keep the frustration from once again, creeping into his thoughts. He wasn't sure what was wrong, but he felt it—like a stubborn knot in his chest that refused to loosen. Was he upset because of the waiter's obvious attraction towards her? Or was it something else? His jaw clenched involuntarily, and hoping she didn't notice was an illusion.

It had felt odd hearing his earlier question during the car ride be directed towards him, but it also felt…nice. Still, what was he supposed to say to that question? That he wasn't okay? That he was frustrated that the waiter was attracted to her—a woman with a fiancé? None of those would be fitting for their relationship.

"I'm fine," Sasuke lied straight through his teeth. The words came out collected, like he was fine despite being the contrary. He didn't know why he felt so off, but he didn't want to talk about it. Not with Hinata, and not at a restaurant.

Her gaze lingered on him, analyzing him, and for the briefest of moments, Sasuke felt the weight of her concern—genuine, and ultimately unwavering. Why did she care so much? It bothered him, it bothered him how collected she was while he was in a mess of emotions.

"Here's your wine, on the house." The same waiter returned, with a wine bottle in hand. Sasuke leaned back on the comforter while the guy poured the wine.

"Thank you." He served Hinata first, making direct eye contact while waiting for her to say when to stop. She only raised her hand as a signal and smiled in appreciation. Sasuke ignored it. Or at least tried to.

His glass was filled to the halfway mark, and the waiter set the wine bottle down. He stepped back from Sasuke and back to Hinata, his arm scratching the back of his head as he looked sheepishly between the two. They both looked at him, confused. Though, Sasuke could tell where this was going.

How preposterous.

"Um, I'm not sure if you two are a couple but, could I get your number?" he shifted frantically on his feet, handing Hinata a piece of paper. Her eyes widened and her face flushed, clearly caught by surprise.

"I—" She struggled to find what to say, looking between the waiter and Sasuke.

"We are a couple."

They all froze.

The declaration came out impulsively, a mix of jealousy and protectiveness being the cause.

But he wasn't jealous—protective, maybe—but definitely not jealous.

Hinata's face was as red as a tomato, just as surprised as he was. The waiter looked between the two, assessing the tension.

"Um…I apologize. I'll be back with your food shortly." He slipped away quietly, and the two didn't even notice—completely caught up in their moment.

It obviously wasn't true, they weren't a couple, Sasuke just tried to…tried to what? He had no idea. It just happened. And it was too late to come back from it. They were both averting their gaze from each other, the awkwardness taking over.

Sasuke couldn't take this anymore. He had enough of it in the car and he wasn't going to let dinner go the same way.

He cleared his throat, drawing her uneasy expression towards him, "I…I'm sorry if I overstepped." It came naturally, after all, he might've pushed her boundaries.

They were barely even friends, he shouldn't have said that. It was definitely a mistake.

Hinata let out a small giggle, catching Sasuke off guard. Her face was still red, but she visibly became less uneasy. She was relaxed, with her hand resting on her cheek while looking his way.

"Sorry," Hinata put a hand over her mouth, not letting another giggle slip. "It's okay, I understand why you said that." She accepted his apology, hoping he didn't feel too bad about helping her out.

"To be honest," she sighed, looking down at the red tablecloth, "I wasn't sure what to say. So, I'm glad you took initiative" A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, her eyes meeting his unsure ones.

"Thank you, Uchiha-San." Her smile was bright, pleased with herself. He didn't expect that to be her response. To be fair, he didn't know what her response would be. Surely, he pushed her boundaries somewhat, but she handled it better than he could have.

Her giggle was cute too.

He realized briefly that he was genuinely losing it over her. Over someone he barely knew, over someone who was engaged, and over someone who was way too caring and kind. He didn't know how to feel about that at all.

"Call me Sasuke."

"Where are we going now?" Hinata's tone had become playful, excited almost for their next stop. She sat in the passenger seat again, experiencing difficulty while putting on her seatbelt.

After the eventful dinner, the pair had become comfortable with each other, settling themselves in lighthearted conversations. Sasuke glanced over at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It felt oddly comforting feeling at ease with someone, but Hinata's presence helped with it, as if all the tension from earlier had evaporated into thin air.

Her energy had become infectious, and he felt familiarity and a sense of enjoyment in her company. Today certainly didn't go as he expected or planned even. Which would've made him feel tense as someone who planned out every detail, but not this time. At least, not with her.

"Wherever you want," he replied, his voice soft and letting her choose. It was late and they should be getting to a hotel soon, but one more stop wouldn't hurt. He wasn't specifically attached to any destination, anywhere would do. More or so, after the dinner, the night had practically become a blank slate waiting for Hinata to fill it.

She had let her guard down, letting small giggles—likely because of the wine—slip and make her seem almost childlike while fumbling with her seatbelt. It was a stark contrast to the poised and reserved image she had created for herself, the only image he had seen until now. This image drew him in with unsettling warmth and care, and he wanted to practically relish in it.

Yes, the thought was selfish, but he couldn't help himself.

She was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

After a few minutes of fumbling, Hinata sighed, jutting her lower lip to form a pout. She was clearly frustrated, but Sasuke thought she looked adorable. "I'm not usually this clumsy…" Hinata laughed softly to herself, her cheeks flushed from the wine and embarrassment.

Sasuke reached over, his hand brushing hers as he helped fasten the seatbelt. His movements had been gentle, caring even, and as his fingers lingered for a split longer than necessary, they both quieted down at the provided warmth.

"Don't worry about it," he said, clearing his throat at the brief tense moment. Sasuke quickly pulled his hand back, feeling heat rising to his cheeks. He didn't even touch the wine, so why was he acting like this? He felt out of control around her, and that scared him. It was a big deal, it felt significant. Like everything between them was slowly changing, even if neither of them understood it.

Hinata's eyes flickered up at him, they were filled with undeniable curiosity and intrigue. She smiled up gratefully towards him, tracing a finger where his hand had lingered. "Thank you, Sasuke," her voice was sincere. His breath got stuck in his throat, watching her draw circles on her hand. Hinata turned her attention away, focusing on the red light ahead of them.

Sasuke was really in for it. Was this even normal? The more he spent time with her, the more her engagement left his mind, and it should've been a bad thing. But it didn't feel wrong in the slightest. He was seriously going off the deep end.

Focus, he told himself. She's going to get married, don't get attached. He kept repeating it in his head, until it clicked, and he focused on the light turning green.

He shouldn't get too close to her; in case it burned in the end.

"Sasuke-Kun," Hinata leaned in dangerously close, the smell of wine infiltrating his respiratory system. "I want ice cream." She sat back down in her seat, becoming a mess of giggles and hiccups. He should've seriously told her to not drink so much wine.

It's not like she was being unbearable, just uncharacteristically bold.

"Okay," he laughed despite her obvious drunk antics, and set the GPS towards the nearest ice cream shop. Sasuke could smell her refreshing lavender perfume, it was engraved into his mind now—he doubted he'd be able to forget even after the trip was over.

Silently, he wondered how their dynamic had shifted so rapidly. They had bordered on practically ignoring each other and tense interactions to now, giggling and smiling while leaning in a little too close for normal comfort.

Sasuke's hands tightened around the steering wheel as he followed the directions being spoken from his phone. Hinata's laughter was still lingering in the air, filling the space between them. Every now and then, she would let out a hiccup followed by a faint apology and Sasuke couldn't help the smile that escaped him when she did. He wasn't used to this, but it was…nice.

Unprovoked, his mind lingered back to when she had leaned in close to him. How his gaze faintly flickered to the opening of her shirt before he quickly drew it back, intoxicated by the whiff of lavender scent. It was still clinging to him, his clothes too probably, like an unshakeable whisper. All of it felt too significant, too normal.

He shook his head, trying to drown the memories out. She was engaged. She wasn't his to think about like that. He tried to snap himself back into reality, to realize the harsh truth. He had realized it, from the beginning, and he was really trying to contain himself. However, experiencing moments like that made it all the more difficult. It didn't help that she remained all the more oblivious to his dilemma.

He wasn't sure whether that was a good or bad thing.

"You sure you're okay, Hinata?" he asked, glancing at her while making a turn.

Hinata, who had been focused on the outside world, turned to face him. Her eyes were a little too wide, a little too intense for someone who had been sipping wine. "Of course, Sasuke-Kun," she giggled and leaned forward again.

He was on the brink of losing it.

"I'm just so happy you're here with me. I don't think I could've done it alone."

Her words hung in the air, and Sasuke's chest tightened.

He didn't know why but hearing those words from her made something in him flutter—unwelcome, uninvited. It was hard to ignore it. He had been feeling this way for a while now, this odd string that kept pulling them together like it was tugging them closer than they should ever be.

Sasuke focused on the road in an attempt to steady his thoughts. "I mean, I had no other choice but to."

Hinata laughed softly, understanding what he meant. "How modest. You're the best Sasuke-Kun."

He knew they were drunk words, they barely just met. Still, he couldn't help the smile that left him. The way she said it, the warmth and endearment in her voice—-made him feel things he knew he shouldn't be feeling.

They had reached their destination. Sasuke pulled up to the small quaint ice cream shop they had found. The neon blue sign flickered above them, casting a soft, blue shadow on the street. It was late, past ten o-clock, and there were only a few people outside, enjoying their cold treat. Sasuke parked the car and turned the engine off, turning his attention towards Hinata.

She had already unbuckled her seatbelt, her eyes bright with excitement. "Come on, Sasuke-Kun! Ice cream!"

Yup, she definitely was drunk.

He chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Alright, alright. Let's get you some ice cream."

They stepped into the ice cream shop together, the warmth from the car being replaced with the cold welcoming air. Sasuke stood behind Hinata, letting her take the lead. Her eyes flitted over the menu like she was unable to make a decision on what flavor.

"There's so many," she muttered, tapping her finger against her lips. "Do you have a favorite, Sasuke-Kun?"

Sasuke blinked, momentarily thrown off guard by the question. "Um, Vanilla is fine." he said, not thinking about it.

He wasn't a fan of sweet treats; they felt almost like poison—intoxicating to him. Even as a child, he'd rather have a tomato in the agonizing summer than a popsicle. Thinking back, he definitely seemed strange. Not that he cared, but it was certainly silly.

Hinata's eyes lit up. "Vanilla? That's perfect! I'll get that too, then."

They both placed their orders, and Sasuke made sure to maintain his distance. Hinata was perched onto the cold counter, her ass up and—-he should stop. He wasn't a horny teenager having difficulty keeping their hormones in check, though, his thoughts kept betraying him.

He sighed silently, reigning himself in. Hinata looked so different, so inviting when she had her perfect facade down. That was due to the alcohol, but it was still nice to see her not be a nervous mess. Not that she was a mess, but their interactions before were tense, palpable with uncertainty and even fear. He wasn't sure what she was afraid of but something in him wanted to dispel that. To dispel her fear from anything that could possibly harm her. He really wasn't supposed to be thinking like that.

The ice cream was ready, rooting him out of his head. They sat down on a small table near the window, him facing her. He looked at her while she took a spoonful of her ice cream and let out a hum of delight. She licked her fingers, and the sight was pushing him over the edge.

"Are you a fan of sweet treats?" he asked, wanting to know more about her. Sasuke wouldn't get a chance like this again, might as well familiarize himself while he still can. However, his mind was still in utter chaos from his conflicting feelings.

Hinata looked up at him, her eyes wide and big with surprise at his question. "Of course! I love sweet treats," she said, her voice full of innocence and genuine joy. "Cinnamon rolls are the best."

As if to prove her point, she took out her phone and showed him pictures of countless cinnamon rolls. When she was done and pleased with herself, she sat back down and messed around with her spoon.

"Is there something wrong?" Sasuke posed the question, concerned over her sudden shift in attitude.

"Yes, it's just…" she trailed off and met his gaze, "I'm not always like this, you know. I don't always let myself just…relax. But today, with you…" a blush appeared on her face, and he wasn't sure whether it was because of what she was saying or because of the alcohol.

"Sorry, never mind." Hinata averted her gaze, and a hiccup followed, making her giggle softly.

Sasuke felt something stir at her words. There was an unspoken sincerity in her tone, raw and unguarded that made him ache in an unexplainable way.

Before he could respond to anything she said, Hinata took another spoonful of her ice cream. Her eyes were narrowed as if in deep thought, the sight something to behold. "I'm glad I met you, Sasuke-Kun," it came out softly, genuine.

"I don't have many friends. I mean, I've always had people around, but it's not like this. You're…different."

Sasuke swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. Her words caught him aback, not expecting the vulnerability that came from her. How was he supposed to respond? How could he say something in return when his mind was crumbling?

"I…I'm glad I met you too," he paused in between, unsure if it was right to say. He did mean it. It was just weird to admit. The shared vulnerability made something gnaw in his chest, like this was right. Like they were right.

Hinata's eyes softened at his response, and for a moment, there was a quiet, comfortable silence between them. She finished her ice cream, while his own had long been forgotten. He began eating it in small bites, lost in his thoughts. Truthfully, they both were, but somehow together in this small place an unspoken connection grew between them.

It was dangerous. It was confusing. But right now, Sasuke couldn't fathom pulling away from it.

Pulling away from her.

As they both finished up their ice cream, mostly Sasuke, the night stretched on. There were many things hanging in the air between them, full of possibilities, full of things unsaid and feelings neither of them knew what to make of. The tension that had become so poignant earlier was replaced with something else, something much warmer, something less certain but somehow more real.

Sasuke didn't know where this was going. Or how to deal with the growing pull, the pull to get closer, to linger around her. All he knew is that he couldn't get away from it or ignore it. Every time she smiled, and her eyes crinkled adoringly, he felt…happy. Happy to see her happy. Happy to be the one causing her happiness.

But there was still a line. A line that he shouldn't cross. Much less with her. Because she was getting engaged, and he had to reason with himself. Reason that he shouldn't be feeling any sort of way towards her, because they were just…friends.

He could only hope that whatever was happening between them, whatever this was, wouldn't make things even harder than they already were.

"Do you…" Hinata interrupted his resolve, pausing as if what she was going to say would change everything. "Do you remember that night?"

The question was abrupt, and her face contorted to blissful reminiscence. Did she still remember that? That night, his actions were impulsive, more than he thought. It just came like a normal reaction, to grab her hand and get her as far away from her fiancé as possible. Even now, he still didn't know why he acted like that. They weren't friends, much less acquaintances. And even then, he wouldn't have done that if they were.

He pondered how to answer her question. Yes, he remembered that night, yes, he remembered the spark he felt when their hands intertwined together, yes, he remembered everything.

The rise and fall of her chest, her small intakes of air, her eyes blown and wide from the rush. Sasuke remembered it vividly. How confused his own actions made him feel—guilty almost—for being protective over her when it wasn't his place.

He wasn't going to tell her any of that.

"Right…" Sasuke paused, his gaze momentarily drifting toward the window, the soft chatter from an outside couple clouding his senses. His pulse had quickened, he really didn't know how to answer her question. He didn't know if he even could answer it.

He averted his gaze and looked back at her curious and inviting gaze. What did she want to hear him say? Was there even anything to say? He swallowed, trying to push the uncertainty down, wanting to drown it until there was nothing left.

"I remember," Sasuke finally spoke, his voice low and guarded. "I don't really know why I acted like that, though." He shifted in his seat, avoiding her gaze for a brief moment, his fingers tapping on the plastic ice cream cup. The words felt heavy in his mouth. He wasn't lying, but he also wasn't telling the entire truth. He had acted rashly—brazen even—and how could he explain that?

"It was just…an impulsive decision," he continued, a slight edge to his tone as he met her soft gaze. His lips twitched in the smallest semblance of a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You just looked…scared."

His words hung in the air, watching as Hinata's lips parted slightly while staring at him. Like this was the first time someone had cared for her. The thought left a panging ache in his chest. Maybe he shouldn't have felt guilty about his actions back then.

"I see," she looked down at her now empty ice cream cup, a small smile lingering on her face.

"Thank you, Sasuke-Kun." Her words were sincere and short, like she was grateful that he did something anyone should've done.

Part of him wanted her to clear up what was going on with her fiancé that time, why she had a bruise, and why the guy was so…weird. However, the more thoughtful and considerate part of him knew he should let it go. She could tell him when she was ready, if she even wanted to tell him.

He chuckled, at a loss for her appreciation for basic human decency.

"We should get going." Sasuke checked the time, it was about eleven thirty, it would take them at least twenty more minutes to get to a hotel.

What a day.