If this had happened before, I wouldn't have dared to get anywhere near him...
"But that's still not enough..."
Suddenly, a voice rang out behind Hinata.
W-what...
She turned around and saw Ino smiling at her.
There were still tears on Ino's cheeks.
"I-Ino?"
Ino walked over with a bright smile and patted Hinata's delicate shoulder.
"What, surprised?"
Hinata didn't know what to say.
The two of them hadn't really spent much time together.
Hinata was introverted and quiet, while Ino was cheerful and outgoing.
Besides, Hinata only cared about Naruto, while Ino, along with Sakura and countless other lovestruck girls, was always chasing after Sasuke.
"Come on, we're classmates, after all..."
"You don't have to be so wary of me, do you?"
Hinata quickly shook her head.
"N-no, it's not that. I just..."
"Okay, okay, I'm only teasing you. You really do take things seriously..."
Hinata smiled, too.
"I-Ino, what did you mean when you said it still wasn't enough?"
Ino giggled, looking mysterious.
"Your feelings, of course..."
"M-my feelings?"
Hinata visibly panicked again.
"You like Naruto, don't you?"
Hinata felt as if she'd been struck by lightning.
"Ah... I... How did you..."
Ino smiled. "Anyone with eyes can see it. Only that blockhead Naruto has no idea..."
"But Hinata, honestly, did you think you were hiding it well?"
It was the first time anyone had so bluntly exposed her feelings. Hinata began to tremble, her face turning so red it looked ready to burst into flames.
Any redder, and she'd start smoking.
She hurriedly covered her hot, flushed cheeks with both hands and stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
"D-does everyone know?!"
"H-how could this happen..."
Ino burst out laughing.
"It's not that bad. At least, there are plenty of blockheads in our class just like Naruto."
"Someone as perceptive and understanding as me is one in a hundred, after all..."
Hinata felt a little relieved.
She lowered her head, her face still flushed.
"Ino, is Sakura... still angry with me?"
At the mention of Sakura, Ino's expression immediately darkened.
She gave a rueful, slightly sad smile.
"If anyone's angry, she's probably angrier with me..."
Hinata was just as sensitive and perceptive, and understood what Ino meant.
"I understand..."
"Because although you and Sakura seem to be at odds, you've always been best friends..."
Ino ruffled Hinata's hair and smiled.
"You really can see things clearly from the outside. When it isn't about you, you're surprisingly perceptive..."
Hinata asked worriedly, "So, is Sakura okay?"
Ino was silent for a moment.
"To her, I'm probably a traitor to our friendship..."
"After all, I took your side and Naruto's..."
"Instead of standing by her, her best friend."
Hinata fell silent, too.
But Ino smiled. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. It's just that some things haven't been going the way she wants lately..."
"But things in life don't always go the way we want, do they?"
"The world doesn't revolve around anyone..."
"Sakura needs to understand that, too..."
"Are you talking about Sasuke?" Hinata asked.
"No, not that..."
Ino shook her head. "How do I put it? It's not so much about Sasuke as it is about Naruto..."
"N-Naruto?"
"Could Sakura like him, too...?"
Ino gave her a teasing smile. "Wow, you really are sensitive whenever Naruto comes up..."
"Sakura's definitely not the kind of person who would fall for someone else so easily..."
"She'll always love Sasuke."
"It's just that Naruto used to hang around her all the time, trying to win her over. Even when she punched and kicked him, he didn't care. He kept pursuing her relentlessly. But now..."
Hinata understood what she meant.
Naruto really did seem like a different person lately...
Still, no matter how he changed, it wouldn't affect how much she liked him.
"Does she feel lonely?" Hinata asked softly.
Ino sighed. "Maybe a little..."
"People can be like that sometimes. Even if it's not someone or something they like, losing it can still leave them feeling empty..."
Hinata couldn't help covering her mouth and giggling.
Ino shot her a glare.
"What are you laughing at?"
Hinata smiled softly. "Because... you sound so old when you talk, like some middle-aged man..."
Ino huffed. "It's called being mature. Mature!"
She looked at Hinata's smiling face, and a question that had been troubling her for a long time stirred in her heart.
"Hey, Hinata..."
"Hmm?"
Walking shoulder to shoulder, Ino couldn't help turning to ask her.
"About Naruto..."
"He used to cling to Sakura all the time. Seeing that, didn't you feel hurt?"
Hinata lowered her head, cheeks flushed, but shook it without hesitation.
"No."
"Then what if he never likes you?"
The glow of dusk reflected in Hinata's eyes.
"I'll keep waiting for him."
Ino froze. "What if you never get to?"
Hinata spoke softly, shy but resolute.
"Then I'll watch him from afar..."
"And pray that he'll be happy."
Ino stared at Hinata in amazement.
The setting sun bathed her petite figure in golden light.
At that moment, Hinata seemed almost holy in Ino's eyes...
Ino couldn't help staring.
"Little Hinata, you say I sound old, but when you say something like that, aren't you the one who sounds truly mature?"
"You're so young. How can you see things so clearly?"
Hinata blushed and shook her head.
"I... I just overthink things..."
Ino fell silent for a moment, rubbing her chin as she pondered.
If it were me...
If I never got to see the day Sasuke liked me...
What would I do?
Hinata saw through her thoughts.
"What would you do, Ino?"
Ino actually blushed for once.
"Ah, well..."
"Hahaha, honestly, I don't know either..."
"But I'm afraid I'm not as noble as you, little Hinata. If I saw Sasuke-kun with someone else, I'd probably be heartbroken..."
Hinata nodded. "I-I'm sure it would hurt..."
Ino asked, "Then how can you say something so mature?"
Hinata thought for a moment.
"I think if you like someone, you should want to see them happy."
"What about us, then?"
Ino pressed, hands on her hips.
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