AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Before I wrote this story, I had written one inspired by my own personal journey. The story sat on a Notes draft, which I could not bring myself to share to the world as it contains too much familiarity and vulnerability. While rewriting Finding Neji, an idea sparked that I could share my personal memoir if it was told in a fanfiction. I quickly rewrote the narrative, changed the perspective, characters, of course weaved new scenes and developments.
Initially conceptualized as a five-chapter story inspired by the five stages of my own experience, this story soon took shape on its own. Hinata, Sasuke, Shino and Kiba, the characters I've grown to love while writing Finding Neji breathed new life into this, transforming this into something on its own.
Initially, the setting for this is just a typical corporate office. I had been rewatching the K-drama Misaeng, a corporate slice-of-life drama with an ensemble cast. I imagined the characters to have the ensemble's dynamics. I also wanted to incorporate my experience working in Architecture, hoping that it would reignite the passion I've been missing for it. Thus, this story will revolve around the lives of Team 8 (and Sasuke) as they navigate long hours, deadlines and office politics in an architecture firm.
The scenes that unfold in this story are entirely fictional, but I would like to think them universal-the experience of the first stages of love, the pining, the anxiety, the internal battles of having unraveling emotions.
While my own romantic story fizzled out in real life (laughs), and despite the uncertainties, I'd like to relive the first bloom of romance all over again-at least in this story.
CHAPTER 01
Sasuke first noticed her on her first day in the office, just like everyone else. It was impossible not to. She carried herself differently. She was quiet but poised, reserved but not timid. There was something graceful with her movements, deliberate and controlled like a carefully crafted blueprint come to life. He overheard the usual office chatter: she had transferred from another branch, came from a well-known family in the industry, and spoke in a tone softer than most. She was easy on the eyes but wasn't particularly remarkable. Sasuke had no business or interest. People came and went. She was just another new face.
But that didn't stop others from talking.
"She's a Hyuuga," Kiba muttered as he leaned against Shino's desk, arms crossed. "Her father is the—HYUGA HIASHI, the CEO of Hyuga Construction, That's one of the largest construction firms in the country. Makes you wonder what she's doing in a smaller firm like ours?"
Shino adjusted his glasses and replied with a quiet certainty, "Some people prefer smaller firms, Kiba. You get more hands-on experience, more responsibility. Not everything is about name and status."
The new hire, Hinata, had been with the firm for a few weeks now. He'd kept his distance, as he did with most of the staff, preferring to maintain the structure and order of the studio. But there was something about her—something that made her different from the others. She wasn't loud or demanding attention, but whispers always trail in her wake. Despite her quiet nature, attention seemed drawn to her, as if she carried an invisible force that tend to attract curiosities.
The studio had been under a hiring freeze for some time, making her sudden arrival more conspicuous and enigmatic. It wasn't long before speculations spread.—people murmured that she must have used connections to secure her spot. Unlike most of their colleagues, Hinata had graduated from an obscure college—nowhere near the ranks of the country's top three. The contrast between her prestigious lineage and her unremarkable alma mater only deepened the mystery surrounding her.
Maybe she's not smart enough to get into a good school.
No way? Despite her family's money?
Maybe she was disowned by her parents.
But Sasuke had no patience for office gossip. Her background was irrelevant to him—what mattered was competence. As long as she didn't disrupt their work, he had no reason to care.
The low hum of voices filled the studio as Sasuke passed by the break room. Normally, he tuned out the idle chatter, but one particular conversation drew his attention.
"I'm just saying," a junior architect scoffed, leaning back against the counter, a cup of coffee in hand. "How does a Hyuuga—with all that money and influence—end up in a community college? What, she couldn't get into a real school?"
A few chuckles followed.
"Maybe she flunked out of entrance exams," someone else chimed in.
Sasuke didn't bother stopping at the doorway—he simply turned his head slightly as he passed. His voice was calm, but razor-sharp.
"And yet, despite that community college degree, her drawings don't look like a toddler sneezed all over the paper."
The breakroom went silent.
Sasuke took a slow stride inside, eyes locking onto the junior architect who had made the initial remark. "Speaking of which, I just reviewed your drawings." He placed a folder down on the table with a deliberate thud. "Tell me, did you draft these with your eyes closed? Because even a freshman from a community college could manage cleaner line work than this mess."
The junior architect's face darkened, and he opened his mouth, but Sasuke didn't give him the chance.
Sasuke's team rarely had projects that overlapped with Hinata's current tasks, but as he is a Senior Architect, there were days when she was assigned to assist him with urgent tasks. He had little expectations, nothing more than just a reliever, but Hinata surprised him.
She asked thoughtful questions. She came prepared with solutions whenever she consulted him about a problem. And when he assigned her to create a sketch of a simple studio layout, Sasuke had been quietly impressed. Her precision to detail, her crisp linework—no unnecessary flourishes, no careless errors. It was the kind of technical accuracy he valued.
And yet, here were a bunch of arrogant fools—his own juniors from his alma mater—mocking someone else's abilities while failing to match even a fraction of her discipline.
Sasuke's gaze swept the room, cold and unimpressed. "Maybe instead of running your mouth about someone else's education, you should focus on proving your own prestigious degree wasn't a waste of tuition."
With an urgent deadline looming, Sasuke's team—comprised of Kiba and Shino had to extend their work hours to finalize the last details of their project. The overtime was grueling, compounded by unforeseen clashes that the site architect failed to address. As the team poured over CAD works, fueled by endless cups of black coffee, frustration built with every passing minute.
Kiba, visibly exhausted and still bitter that he had to cancel his date, leaned back in his chair with a dramatic sigh. "Why did I choose this job? I'm gonna die single at this rate!" His voice is strained, laden with a tinge of existential crisis. Despite his complaints, his eyes remained fixed on the monitor, hands scrolling through the mouse. He couldn't afford a moment of respite. They need to finish this job, or they'd be compelled to report to the office on a Saturday.
"Can I help you with anything?" A soft voice interrupted his complaints.
Hyuga Hinata stood tentatively in front of Sasuke's desk, unsure whether she should be intruding. It was well past 9pm—far beyond office hours. She was almost like a phantom as they didn't even notice her presence.
As the new hire, Hinata hadn't been assigned to a particular team yet. Sasuke knew she was still in the midst of on-boarding, getting a feel for the firm's workflow, and familiarizing the office standards. She had no pressing deadlines, no reason to be here this late. And yet, here she was, standing in the middle of the overtime chaos. The calm amidst the storm.
"You're still here, Hyuga-san?" Shino asked, quiet and observant.
Hinata shrugged, her expression gentle. "I had dinner plans, but they fell through last minute. Since I lived in the suburbs, I thought I'd just wait out the rush hour." She paused, glancing at the piles of work scattered on their desks—printed a3 sheets, annotated prints and color markers. "I'm not doing anything, so if you need help, let me know."
Kiba didn't even hesitate. "Can you help sort through the blueprints?" he asked, his tone more direct than usual, clearly grateful for the extra pair of hands.
Hinata nodded. "Of course."
By the time they wrapped up, it was already past 1 AM. The office felt jarringly quiet, with only the hum of the AC and the soft tapping of keyboards filling the air. Hinata had worked alongside them, arranging the printed blueprints, stacking them neatly on Shino's desk.
Sasuke glanced over the stack, then gave a nod of approval. "Shino, have the courier pick these up first thing on Monday," he instructed, the exhaustion of the late night starting to settle in.
With a collective groan of relief, the team gathered their things.
"Ramen?" Kiba suggested, stretching his arms. His stomach growled, making the decision for them.
Sasuke didn't object. Neither did Shino.
As they walked toward Ichiraku, Kiba hesitated, glancing at Hinata. "Uh—are you okay with this, Hyuga-san? This place is kinda… shabby. Not really your vibe."
Hinata blinked at him, her gaze soft and steady. Then, to his surprise, she smiled—a small, gentle curve of her lips, but it was enough to warm the cool night air around them. "I like ramen," she said simply, her voice unbothered.
Kiba blinked. That shut him up. He fell silent as they entered the restaurant, watching her with new curiosity.
They slid into their seats at the counter, the familiar clink of chopsticks and the steamy aroma of broth filling the air. Hinata scanned the menu briefly, her focus calm and unhurried. She didn't hesitate before ordering, her voice easy and sure, as though she had done this a hundred times before.
When the bowls arrived, Kiba expected some delicate, reserved eating style—something refined, maybe even a bit demure—but instead, Hinata dove into her bowl with the same enthusiasm as the rest of them. No fuss, no pretension—just the satisfying act of enjoying a meal. She slurped her noodles comfortably, as if this was exactly what she needed after a long, exhausting day.
Kiba nudged Sasuke. "Huh."
Sasuke barely glanced up. "Hn."
Kiba chuckled. "Didn't think we'd be spending our Friday night like this. Sorry you got roped into overtime, Hyuga-san."
Hinata sipped her broth, unfazed. "I didn't mind. I wasn't in a rush to go home."
Sasuke, who had been quiet most of the meal, finally looked at her. "You didn't have to stay," he said. "But… thanks."
When the bill arrived, Sasuke reached for it without a second thought.
Hinata, however, immediately protested. "Wait—I should pay for mine. I'm not technically part of your team."
Sasuke barely looked up as he pulled out his wallet. "Doesn't matter."
She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could, Kiba waved a dismissive hand. "Just let him pay, Hyuga-san. It's not a big deal. Besides, he gets paid more than the rest of us."
Sasuke shot Kiba a look, but didn't bother denying it. Hinata hesitated for a second before finally relenting with a quiet, "Alright. Thank you."
Sasuke arrived at the office, his bag slung over one shoulder. The weekend had been uneventful, and he was already mentally sorting through his tasks for the day. Without preamble, he turned to Shino, getting straight to business.
"Did the courier pick the documents?"
Shino, standing close to Kiba's desk, took a sip form his cup before nodding. "Yes. He came by before 8am this morning."
Sasuke gave a short nod in acknowledgment as he set his things down and began unpacking his laptop.
That was when Kiba cleared his throat. Loudly.
Sasuke ignored it at first, pulling out his notes, but Kiba did it again—more pointedly this time.
Sasuke barely spared him a glance. "What?"
Kiba leaned forward with a smile. "Noticed anything yet?"
Sasuke frowned. "What do you mean?"
With an exaggerated sigh, Kiba reached across the desk, grabbed a cup, and shoved it into Sasuke's hand.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "I can get coffee myself."
Kiba clicked his tongue. "Ah, but this isn't just any coffee." He lifted his own cup, bringing it close to his nose with a dramatic inhale. His eyes fluttered shut as he let out an exaggerated, almost dreamy sigh.
"Mmhh. You smell that? That's the rich, bold aroma of specialty beans—sourced all the way from Ethiopia."
That made Sasuke pause. His team had never bothered to get him coffee before, and Kiba didn't exactly strike him as the type to care about specialty beans. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Why the sudden generosity?"
Shino took a slow sip from his cup before answering, his tone as matter-of-fact as ever. "Hinata brewed it herself."
Sasuke stiffened slightly, fingers tightening around the cup. His gaze flickered across the room.
On the other side, Hinata was seated at her desk, typing away as if she hadn't just been the subject of discussion. As if sensing his stare, she glanced up—only to immediately duck behind her computer monitor, nearly knocking over a stack of papers in the process.
Weird.
His brows knit together slightly, but he said nothing as he finally took a sip.
The first taste caught him off guard.
It wasn't the usual overly bitter sludge he tolerated every morning. This was different—smooth, mild, with a subtle complexity that reminded him of tea. It wasn't overpowering, yet it lingered pleasantly on his tongue.
His fingers tightened around the cup.
This was… good.
Too good.
His eyes flickered back toward Hinata.
Why?
She was sure considerate.
Over the following weeks, a pattern emerged. At every late-night overtime, every casual after-work gathering, Hinata somehow found her way to their team. Shino and Kiba didn't seem to mind—in fact, they welcomed her presence without a second thought. But Sasuke couldn't shake the unease that settled in his chest.
She lingered in a way that felt unsettling, not because she was intrusive, but because she wasn't. She slipped past the carefully maintained barriers without effort, without force—simply by being there. And somehow, that was more disarming than anything else.