After returning to Konoha, Zeyu didn't head straight home. Instead, he went to the shopping district in central Konoha, where he bought a small box, a red cord, and a few little purple crystal beads at a gift shop. After paying, he packed everything into a gift bag and left the store.
It was a graduation gift for Hinata. Zeyu had been preparing it for a long time. He was making a bracelet out of different beads, and he already had the others. All he needed was to buy a few purple crystals that Hinata liked, string them together, and it would be done.
After walking a few steps down the street, he passed a flower shop and spotted Kakashi Hatake choosing flowers.
Kakashi also caught sight of Zeyu, but didn't pay him much attention.
"Kakashi must be going to visit a grave. I might as well buy a couple of bouquets too," Zeyu thought as he walked into the shop.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei," Zeyu greeted him casually.
Kakashi, who was choosing flowers, looked completely bewildered. He wondered to himself,
"Who? Do I know him?" He racked his brain for any information about the red-haired boy in front of him, but came up blank. All he could do was answer casually.
"Oh, hey. Hello."
While Kakashi was thinking, Zeyu had already started choosing flowers. By the time Kakashi answered, Zeyu was ready to pay.
Kakashi watched Zeyu pay with his back turned to him, feeling awkward. He gave him a dead-fish stare, then lowered his head and went back to choosing flowers.
The next day, the Ninja Academy was bustling. The Third had come in person and was speaking at length from the platform in the open space, congratulating the newly graduated ninja.
"Look, that's the guy. He's the only one who didn't pass the exam."
"Oh, him. That fox demon kid."
Zeyu was nearly falling asleep listening to the Hokage's speech when he heard two classmates talking nearby. He immediately realized who they meant.
He looked at the blond boy sitting alone on the swing in the distance and sighed softly.
"Sorry, Naruto. I can't help you with this."
"If I remember right, he'll steal the scroll tonight."
As he was thinking, Hinata turned to ask,
"What's wrong, Zeyu?"
"Ah, nothing. I just feel a little sorry for Naruto, sitting there all alone." Zeyu said that aloud, but he was thinking something else.
"Sorry, Naruto. Hinata should've been feeling sorry for you at this point. Well, I feel sorry for you too." As he thought this, he casually took Hinata's hand.
"Hehe, Hinata's hand is so cool and soft. It feels great to hold." Zeyu was over the moon inside, but kept a calm expression as he earnestly said to Hinata,
"Hinata, maybe I should go comfort Naruto later."
By then, Hinata couldn't hear what Zeyu was saying. All her attention was on their hands. Her face flushed bright red, and she stammered,
"Ah, yes, Zeyu's right. Um... there are so many people here. Our hands..."
"Ah, sorry. Talking to you made me relax, and I took your hand without thinking. Sorry, Hinata." Zeyu let go, secretly delighted.
Once Hinata's hand was released, she calmed down a lot. If he'd held it much longer, she might have fainted. Even though she and Zeyu were already close and often chatted, she still couldn't help getting shy whenever they touched.
"Ah, I guess I need to make more physical contact with her and help her get used to it. Every time, I can barely hold her hand for long." Zeyu regretted having to let go, but that feeling of wanting to touch her and not being able to was addictive too.
While the two of them were still being lovey-dovey, a man in a gray-and-white kimono with pale eyes stood at the entrance, his face dark with anger.
"Who's that redhead? Whose kid is he? How dare he hold my daughter's hand?" Hyuga Hiashi thought, veins bulging on his forehead.
It was graduation day, and even Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, had managed to carve out time from his busy schedule.
He'd come to attend his elder daughter Hinata's graduation ceremony. Although his elder daughter wasn't as talented or capable as his younger daughter, Hanabi, this was still an important day, so he had to show his face.
In fact, if it weren't for the succession system between the Main Family and the Branch Family, his elder daughter Hinata wouldn't have been sent to the Ninja Academy.
It had been a stopgap measure to protect Hinata from having to bear the Caged Bird seal.
Although he was usually strict with Hinata, he cared deeply for her and had always kept an eye on how she was doing.
As Zeyu was still being affectionate with Hinata, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back. His hair stood on end, and he felt as if someone were watching him.
"What's wrong, Zeyu?" Hinata asked with concern when she saw him freeze.
"Hinata, I feel like someone's watching me," Zeyu said, swallowing nervously.
"Ah, what should we do? Did you offend someone, Zeyu?" Hinata looked worried and moved closer, coming right up beside him.
Zeyu considered her question, wondering if he'd offended anyone. He held his head with his right hand and frowned, but didn't answer right away.
Hinata was already getting a little anxious. She grabbed the hand he had against his head with both of hers and said earnestly,
"Zeyu, it's all right. You can tell me whatever's troubling you. I'll face it with you."
Zeyu was touched by the sight. All he'd done was mention that he had a bad feeling, and Hinata was already standing by his side without hesitation.
Hinata was so wonderful. So lovely!
The gloom that had just settled over him vanished, and his spirits soared.
"I'm fine, Hinata. I might just be a little tired."
"I'm glad you're all right. If anything's wrong, be sure to tell me. I want to be able to help you too, Zeyu." Hearing his answer put Hinata at ease.
Without realizing it, she was still holding Zeyu's hand.
Zeyu noticed, but didn't dare move. He was afraid that if he did, Hinata would realize what she was doing and let go. This was perfect. Just perfect!
Meanwhile, even more veins were bulging on Hiashi's forehead at the entrance.
"Who is that boy? How can my daughter be acting like this with him?" Hiashi was more than a little displeased. His precious daughter was usually timid and rarely socialized with anyone. She normally only spent time with Hanabi and the servants at home, including Natsu Hyuga. How had she gotten so close to some boy at the Academy?
The thought only made him angrier. He was almost unable to keep from activating his Byakugan.
Just then, Zeyu realized what might be going on and thought,
"Holy crap, could that be Hinata's dad?"
He didn't dare turn around. Instead, he closed his eyes and used his Mind's Eye, immediately locating a man in a gray-and-white kimono among the parents waiting outside. It wasn't that he had sharp instincts—the man was simply impossible to miss. His chakra was already faintly radiating from his body, and the chakra around his eyes was on the verge of erupting.
Who else could it be?
Then he quietly said to Hinata, who was standing right next to him,
"Hinata, did your father come today?"
Hinata was about to answer when she realized she was still holding Zeyu's hand. Her face flushed bright red, and she let go at once.
"Mm, Father should be here, right? What's wrong, Zeyu?" Hinata said, twisting the edge of her clothes between her fingers.
"Mm, I think your father-in-law is the one watching me."
Hinata blushed even more and covered her face with her little hands, trying to cool it down.
"W-w-w... what father-in-law? Honestly, Zeyu..." Though she said that, she couldn't help peeking at him through her fingers.
At that point, Zeyu had given up trying to hide. Since he'd already been spotted, there was no point in avoiding it.
He smiled at the embarrassed Hinata and asked her to hold out her left hand.
Hinata was at a loss. She hadn't noticed her father watching them before, but now that she knew, she didn't dare move. Her father was always so strict, and she was afraid he'd scold her.
But she thought Zeyu might be about to ask her for something, so she timidly held out her left hand and said,
"Zeyu, don't do anything strange, okay? Father will come after you. I don't want that."
Hinata wasn't saying this for no reason. Hiashi really might come after him.
But Zeyu didn't think much of it. They were going to become family someday anyway, so he'd have to face him sooner or later.
He took a little box from inside his clothes and placed it in Hinata's hand.
"This is a graduation gift for you, Hinata. I'd planned to give it to you somewhere private, but your father will probably take you home soon, so I can only give it to you now. Sorry." Hinata understood how he felt and didn't blame him.
"Ah, thank you, Zeyu. You don't need to apologize. I'm really happy to receive a gift. I prepared one for you too, but I thought Father would be here today, so I didn't bring it. I'll have to give it to you tomorrow."
"That's all right. Go on, Hinata, open it and see if you like it."
"Mm, okay," Hinata said, slowly opening the box.
Inside lay a bracelet strung with beads of different colors: purple crystals, pale white jade, and light blue beads. The colors looked elegant and understated, and a short length of red cord peeked out at one end, adding a bright touch.
Hinata's eyes grew moist when she saw it. She slowly lifted the bracelet and held it in her palm.
"Thank you, Zeyu. I love this gift. I'll treasure it for the rest of my life." Tears were already gathering in Hinata's eyes.
"Hey, Hinata, why are you crying? It's all right. Here, let me put it on for you. Don't cry, don't cry. I'm here." He took the bracelet and put it on her.
Hinata was delighted when she looked at the bracelet on her left wrist. She wiped away her tears and smiled.
Looking at the adorable Hinata in front of him, Zeyu couldn't help reaching out to pat her head.
Hinata didn't resist, but she was still shy. She lowered her head so Zeyu could pat it without lifting his arm too high, and used the gesture to hide her bright red face. Her little hands fidgeted against each other in front of her chest.
Meanwhile, an old man at the entrance was already ready to hit someone, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked.