Blessings from the Blond

After leaving the Hyuga Clan Compound,

Genya held Hinata's hand as they walked along a relatively quiet riverside path lined with cherry trees.

The river shimmered, and a gentle breeze brushed their faces, carrying the scent of grass.

The two walked side by side.

After a while, she stole a sideways glance at Genya's profile, softened by the sunset, her heart filled with a sense of safety and... sweetness.

Even though she had been through something so frightening earlier,

being able to walk beside Genya-kun like this made her feel... happy.

"Genya-kun..."

Hinata gathered her courage and broke the silence.

"Today... thank you... so, so much. You did so much... for me, and... did you get hurt?"

Remembering Genya trading palm strikes with her father, she looked at him worriedly.

Genya stopped and turned to face Hinata, releasing her hand.

Hinata felt a small pang of emptiness.

But before she could react, he reached out with both hands and gently cupped her small face, still a little pale and stained with tears. His movements were tender and careful.

"I'm fine. It was just a little jolt."

Genya shook his head, his clear black eyes fixed on her.

"What about you? Does it still hurt? Does anything else feel wrong?"

He gently brushed the corner of her mouth, his eyes full of concern.

The intimate gesture instantly turned Hinata's face scarlet. She shyly tried to lower her head, but Genya held it up.

"N-no... it doesn't hurt anymore..."

Hinata's lashes fluttered.

"As long... as long as you're all right, Genya-kun."

"Silly girl."

Genya chuckled.

His smile looked especially warm in the sunset.

"Protecting you is something I chose to do. From now on... don't push yourself so hard, all right? Whether it's training or anything else, just do what you can."

"Don't keep turning other people's expectations into a weight that crushes you."

She had never heard anyone say anything like that to her.

In the Hyuga Clan, all she ever heard was, "You must become stronger," "You must be worthy of the Main Family's name," and "You mustn't disgrace the Hyuga Clan."

"Mm..."

Hinata nodded firmly, tears welling in her eyes again.

"I... I'll remember. Genya-kun... you're so good to me."

"Because you deserve it."

Genya's voice was soft but firm.

He took her hand again, and they continued slowly along the riverbank.

"If anything upsets you in the future, or if anyone dares bully you again, you have to tell me. I won't let anything like today happen again."

"Okay!"

Hinata answered a little more loudly this time. She tightened her grip on Genya's hand and rested her head on his shoulder.

Genya let her lean against him, even adjusting his posture slightly to make her more comfortable.

He could smell the fresh fragrance of Hinata's hair and feel her wholehearted trust and reliance on him.

They strolled through the sunset, nestled together like that.

The terror of earlier felt like a distant nightmare.

The sun sank below the horizon.

Genya and Hinata reached the vicinity of the Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

An enticing aroma drifted from inside, bringing a comforting warmth.

"Hinata, are you hungry? Want to have some ramen?"

Genya lowered his head to ask her.

Hinata nodded and answered softly.

"Mm... okay."

The thought of eating ramen with Genya-kun filled her heart with sweetness.

They approached and lifted the entrance curtain. Genya immediately spotted a spiky blond head bent over a large bowl, hard at work. Who else could it be but Naruto Uzumaki?

"Naruto, what a coincidence. We meet again."

Genya greeted him and walked inside with Hinata.

Naruto looked up at the sound of his voice, a few noodles still dangling from his mouth, and answered indistinctly.

"Huh? Genya! Hinata! You're here too!"

His gaze first landed on Genya.

Then, in the very next instant,

Naruto froze as though someone had cast a paralysis jutsu on him!

He even forgot to slurp up the noodles hanging from his mouth.

He saw Hinata, who normally spoke so quietly, clinging to Genya's arm with both hands. Half her body leaned against him, and her head rested on his shoulder!

A lingering blush colored her small face, and she looked more relaxed and trusting than he had ever seen her.

It was an expression... Naruto had only ever seen on the affectionate couples he occasionally passed in the street!

"Pfft-!"

Naruto abruptly sucked the noodles into his mouth, choked, and broke into a violent coughing fit.

He frantically patted his chest, his blue eyes wide as he pointed a trembling finger at the two of them in shock and disbelief.

"Ahhh!!! Genya! Hinata! Y-you two are...!!!"

He stammered, his face turning red, before finally shouting his guess.

"D-dating???!!!"

His shout even drew a curious glance from Teuchi behind the counter, a cheerful smile on his face.

Meeting Naruto's stunned gaze, Genya wore an easy smile.

He glanced at Hinata, who wanted to hide her face in embarrassment at Naruto's shouting, then nodded to Naruto in confirmation.

"Yeah, Naruto. We're together."

His admission hit Naruto like another hammer blow!

Hinata was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a hole, her ears turning completely red.

With her head lowered, she gave a soft "Mm" loud enough for those nearby to hear, affirming Genya's words.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Naruto clutched his head, looking as though he had suffered a devastating blow, though he didn't quite understand why he felt so shaken himself.

"You two... this is way too fast!!! You were just classmates before... how did you... how did you..."

Genya found Naruto's exaggerated reaction rather amusing.

At the same time, however, a thought flashed through his mind-Naruto's identity...

Perhaps I could give Konoha High Command, especially that certain evil bandaged man, a little more fuel for the fire?

Without letting anything show on his face, he led Hinata to the seats beside Naruto and sat down. Then he turned, placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, and spoke quietly with a hint of a smile while Naruto was still freaking out.

"What's wrong, Naruto? Jealous?"

He deliberately paused, his gaze teasing.

"Did this... make you think of someone? Sakura Haruno?"

"Pfft-!"

Naruto nearly sprayed out the mouthful of broth he had just swallowed. His face instantly flushed as he waved his arms in denial.

"Th-that's nonsense! I wasn't thinking about that violent girl! Who would like her, anyway?!"

Watching Naruto give himself away with his frantic denial, Genya shook his head with feigned regret and sighed.

"Oh? Really? What a shame. From what I can see, Sakura only has eyes for that cocky bastard Sasuke."

"It's Sasuke-kun this and Sasuke-kun that all day long... you don't stand a chance, Naruto."

He liked Sakura. His way of expressing it might have been clumsy, but his feelings were genuine.

And Sakura's infatuation with Sasuke was something the entire class, if not the entire school, knew about.

"N-no way!"

Naruto jumped to his feet in agitation, his neck stiff and his face bright red as he loudly protested, trying to hide his insecurity.

"Sakura wouldn't really like Sasuke, that conceited, arrogant jerk who's always scowling!"

"I, Naruto Uzumaki, am going to become Hokage! Then... then Sakura will definitely see me in a whole new light!"

His voice was full of a boy's stubborn refusal to lose, but the flicker of disappointment and uncertainty deep in his eyes didn't escape Genya.

"Really?"

Genya smiled noncommittally. Rather than tease him further, he turned to Teuchi behind the counter.

"Three bowls of your signature chashu ramen, please. Extra chashu in one."

He pointed at Naruto.

"The one with extra meat is for him. My treat."

"Coming right up!"

Teuchi answered readily.

Naruto paused, looking at Genya, then at Hinata beside him, who was shyly watching Genya with gentle eyes.

The embarrassment and disappointment of being teased gave way to a complicated feeling.

A little envy, a little happiness for them, and a little... loneliness he couldn't quite explain.

He scratched his head and sank back onto his stool, muttering quietly.

"Th-thanks..."

The ramen arrived soon afterward, and the three began eating.

Genya picked two slices of chashu from his bowl and gave them to Hinata. She softly tried to refuse, but he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Genya then gave Naruto the soft-boiled egg from his own bowl.

"Eat more, you idiot."

Genya said to Naruto.

Naruto looked at the extra egg in his bowl, then at Genya and Hinata sharing their food, and spoke indistinctly.

"Genya, you... you and Hinata had better be happy together!"

Genya smiled.

"Of course."

Hinata blushed as well and spoke softly.

"Th-thank you, Naruto-kun."