Although Sakura looked at her with bemusement, Naruto seemed to take her fainting as a sign that she was truly really sick, and insisted she asked the teacher to let her go home early. Hinata naturally did not do that, but she reassured him everything was alright and that she would get the family doctor to check on her later.
It wasn't the last time they ate lunch together.
For the next few weeks, Sakura took the initiative to invite Naruto over during recess. She had chided her for not immediately saying yes to Naruto when he had asked her last year, but after she explained how at the time Sakura wasn't very fond of him and she didn't know about her crush, her friend was a little more understanding, if not pouty because she had inadvertently been hindering Hinata's progress with Naruto.
It was a little funny to hear about it in those terms, when Hinata's reasons to remain silent had been far more selfish.
Apparently Sakura had no idea Naruto liked her.
Hinata didn't know how to feel about that.
She also didn't know how to feel about the fact Sakura's opinion of Naruto seemed to be getting better by the day. She was still annoyed at times with him, but Hinata could see her glares softening and her sighs of exasperation becoming scarcer. She was afraid of what this could mean, but in the end, she did nothing about it.
Sakura beginning to like Naruto as a friend was good. He needed as many friends as he could get.
"Stop pouting."
Hinata blinked, raising her head to look up at Sasuke, who was sharpening his kunai next to her under the shade of a tree which leaves were slowly turning orange. Although every day kept getting colder, they were on their usual training grounds. The boy had currently hit every single one of the targets Hinata had carefully hidden, impressing her in the process because of how much better he was becoming.
It didn't surprise her though. Sasuke had always been amazing.
"I'm not pouting" she replied after a second of hesitation. She schooled her features into a neutral expression, but Sasuke snorted, showing her the attempt came too late.
"What's going on now? Problems with that cousin of yours?" he asked, not looking up. At the mention of Neji, Hinata bit her lip, remembering their last interaction. A simple crossing in the hallways of the Hyuuga compound, where he hadn't even bothered to look her in the eyes as he walked past. It had been a while since the last time she attempted to get closer to him. Although she was eager to mend their relationship, she had also realized pestering him bore no results, and in fact made everything worse, so she had been left at a loss about what to do.
She didn't think the current state of affairs was good, but with no other options, it was the only thing left to her.
"It has nothing to do with Neji-niisan" she finally answered. When she didn't elaborate, Sasuke stopped what he was doing and turned to look at her. Hinata blushed under his gaze. She didn't want to tell him her worries because she knew he would only make fun of her or get angry or both, but his eyes were so intense, even without him speaking, that in the end she couldn't help but to give in. "It's… lately Sakura-chan and I had been eating lunch with Naruto-kun…" she started, preparing herself for whatever his reaction was going to be.
He didn't disappoint. "Ah, again with that loser?" he rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to his kunai. Hinata sighed at his choice of words. "Yeah, I've noticed the three of you had been getting together for lunch lately. I'm pretty sure the whole academy noticed too" he said.
Hinata frowned. "Is it such incredible news for everyone to know about it?" she asked sincerely.
Sasuke snorted. "Naruto's a pariah, so you tell me" he finished with his kunai and stowed it away, before leaning back against the trunk of the tree, his work done. "I guess people weren't as surprised about seeing you with him as they were about seeing Sakura with him. She's never had a lot of patience with him."
Unable to deny that, Hinata just hummed pensively. "Sakura-chan's been coming around lately. She's finally realizing how amazing Naruto-kun actually is" she declared with a small, pained smile.
A short silence followed. Hinata looked up when Sasuke didn't say anything after a while. She found him glancing away, face turned in the other direction where she couldn't see.
"Sasuke-kun…?"
"Is that the reason you're pouting then?" he interrupted her. Hinata quickly closed her mouth. "Are you afraid of Sakura's opinion about him changing to the point she might begin to like him?"
The question was sharp and to the point. She swallowed and glanced down.
"I mean… it's good if she changes her mind about Naruto-kun, because…"
"Objectively speaking, that might be so. But it's not what you really feel, is it?"
Interrupted once again, Hinata was beginning to get a little annoyed.
"I… what are you implying, Sasuke-kun?" she asked directly, disliking this game he was playing.
He sighed, as if tired, and then looked at her, eyes hooded. "I don't imply anything. I was very clear with what I said. You'd need to be blind not to realize that idiot's feelings for Sakura, and you'd have to be stupid not to notice you fear her starting to like Naruto back and the two leaving you behind."
Hinata's heart thumped hard in her chest. Sasuke had been direct as always, his tone leaving no room for questioning. It was difficult to ascertain exactly how he felt about the situation but… one thing was for sure.
He was deeply annoyed.
Just as she had expected.
Still… was he annoyed at her insecurities? At her trying to deny it at first? Hinata knew her heart, and even if she didn't want to admit it she knew that Sasuke was right, and that she was afraid of Sakura beginning to take a liking to Naruto, but at the same time…
Was it so wrong if she felt insecure? Was it so wrong if she didn't want to admit it?
Sasuke had no right to be annoyed at her because of that…
"Hey" he spoke again, tone startled. He leaned forward, his eyes showing anxiousness. "You're not… you're not going to cry, are you?" he asked, afraid.
Hinata pursed her lips, finally feeling the tears rising after he pointed them out. She sniffed and shook her head. "No…" she said weakly, just as one fell.
Sasuke's whole body jerked with it.
"Stop that! Why are you crying? I didn't say anything wrong did I?"
"No… it… it wasn't wrong…" she bit her trembling lip, glancing at the clasped hands on her lap. "It wasn't… w-wrong at all…"
Sasuke stared at her, both conflicted and at his wits end. He raised a hand, but before it could touch her he pulled it away, instead roughly mussing his hair with it.
"Listen, I…" he started, reluctant. Hinata sniffed as she quickly dried her eyes with her sleeves, and he flinched at the sound. "I'm not wrong. I'm definitely not wrong…"
"You said that already!" she pulled down her arm and glared, causing Sasuke to glance away.
"But it's because…! Ugh" he lowered his head to his hands, supporting his forehead with them, and then shook it with annoyance, this time likely at himself. "It's not the way to say things, I know that! But it's also not… not…"
He mumbled for a while longer, Hinata just letting him do as he pleased. She was also hurt, and she wasn't going to help him even if she knew he always struggled with this type of thing.
In the end, he leaned his head back, letting it thump lightly against the trunk of the tree, and stared at the orange leaves with an impressive frown she had only seen from him whenever he got into a fight with Naruto.
"Sorry, ok? I need to… I need to moderate my words better… even if I was right and what I said wasn't wrong… there are better ways to say things, no?" he said softly.
Hinata twirled her thumbs, the words resonating inside her.
It was the first time he apologized for something. The first time he actually used the word.
Only because of that, she thought she could forgive him, even if his attitude still left a little to be desired.
"I… I accept your apology, Sasuke-kun. Thank you" she said, eyes spying him from the side. He nodded, an almost imperceptible sigh of relief leaving his chest. "Promise you will be more tacful next time?" she couldn't help but prod.
He laughed at that, just a small sound that could barely be described as such. "Ahh, fine. I'll try" he conceded, not glancing down.
She smiled, although after a second, another frown overcame her, one she tried to hide.
Because, regardless of everything, Sasuke was right.
She was afraid.