- 12 Days -

"Vlog number three. I thought the day would never end. The teachers have been dropping essays and homework on us like tons of bricks. Well, I guess that's the downside to being a senior, isn't it? Oh, so Hidan's bringing me to the food court today. Hopefully nothing goes wrong while we're out, and hopefully I don't do anything I'll regret tonight. After all..." Hinata paused, "Never mind. I have to go get ready. I have to bring my phone, some money, and my appetite. I'll vlog as soon as I get there. I'm sure there'll be a lot you guys will enjoy once I get there."

Hinata grabbed her phone as she shut her laptop, and conveniently at the same time, she received a text.

Babe im out here

Hinata quickly replied, Okay. I'm on my way out. Just give me a sec.

She grabbed her purse and headed out the door, "Neji, I'm going!"

No response. So she shrugged and left anyways.

________________________

"Let's sit here."

"Yeah."

After school, Naruto invited Sakura to the food court to do homework and Sasuke insisted on coming. So here they were, sitting at a large booth and setting their bags and food down. Naruto slid into the booth first as Sasuke and Sakura slid into the booth across from him.

"Mr. Kakashi thinks he doesn't give us enough homework. Heh, as if." Naruto groaned as he opened his notebook.

"Hn." Sasuke took a long sip from his soda.

"Sh, guys..." Sakura shushed them as she pointed towards another table, "I never thought they'd show up here... What are the odds?"

"One to nothing." Sasuke smirked.

"What are you doing?" Naruto hissed between clenched teeth.

"Hey, Hinata! Hidan!" Sasuke full on grinned, "come sit with us, we're just doing homework."

"Oh, uh." Hidan muttered, "we're fine, thanks."

Naruto cleared his throat, "you hear that, Sasuke? They're fine over ther--"

"Oh, but if only you guys can help us with our literature homework." Sakura silently caught on to Sasuke's play.

Hinata chuckled nervously, "well, uh, I guess we can help."

"Mhm." Hidan just shrugged as they picked up their food and joined them.

Naruto bit his lip angrily just at the thought. Hidan held out his hand to let Hinata slide into the booth first, but she grabbed him and shoved him in first, putting him between herself and Naruto.

Sasuke eyed the guy, concluding this clearly wasn't his element. He turned to Sakura, "so, should we start with Hamlet or A Mid--"

"Hey! Sasuke!"

A bubbly voice squealed not too far from them.

"Oh, crap..." Sasuke muttered as he recognized the voice. Sakura noted the stiffness in his body when they all heard the voice.

"Huh, is that..." Naruto slowly pointed as a girl about their age with red hair and red glasses ran up to their table. Most specifically ran up to Sasuke.

"Sasuke!"

"Karin..."

Naruto blinked, "Karin, what are you doing here?"

"Here to be with Sasuke!" Karin grinned, then eyed Sakura, "Sasuke, I thought you saved a seat for me."

"Ahem." Sakura crossed her arms, "I'm not moving, if that's what you're implying."

"Move!" Karin grabbed Sakura and slid her aside, making room for her to plop down on the booth in between them, "so, Sasuke..."

"Hi, Karin." Sasuke nodded bluntly, "didn't realize... You'd be here."

"I invited her." Hidan said, "though we never thought you'd be here."

"But here I am." Karin wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Oh-ho, that's great..." Sasuke managed a grin.

"Ahem..." Sakura cleared her throat as she scooted an inch or two further from the clingy girlfriend, "so... How've things been?"

"Oh they've been terrific, haven't they Sasuke?" Karin squealed as she squeezed his arm.

"Yeah, sure."

"How about you two?" Naruto turned to Hidan and Hinata.

"Oh, just peachy." Hidan shrugged, "eh, Hinata?"

"Mhm." She smiled and nodded frankly.

Sakura and Naruto exchanged looks, "well, uh... Oh look, we should probably pay now..."

"Great idea Naruto." Sakura nodded, "We can all pay together, since we're all here. Here, Naruto, why don't you pay for all of us, then? Your treat!"

"What?!" Naruto coughed. 

"Good idea." Sasuke slapped the receipt down onto the table.

"We're paying our share." Hinata said.

"Hm?" Naruto looked up at her, "nah, it's alright. I got this."

"No, Naruto." Hinata looked him dead in the eye.

"Uh... O-okay then..." Naruto handed the bill to Hidan, who handed it to Hinata.

"Eh-hem... Hidan? Shouldn't you pay for her?" Sakura chuckled.

"Oh, no, she's got the money." Hidan replied as he continued to eat.

"Ahem..." Naruto cleared his throat in an annoyed manner as he scanned through his literature notes.

Sasuke clearly saw this and smirked at the thought.

"Hey, Karin. Why don't you take care of the bill this time?"

"What?!" Sakura glared a look at the Uchiha that said he's nearly as bad a boyfriend as Hidan, and Sasuke knew it.

"Ew! What are your saying?! Of course not!" Karin scoffed, only making Sasuke sigh and shrug with amusement.

"Hm." Hinata rose an eyebrow and continued to eat silently, paying no attention to her former friends.

____________________________

"Thanks for inviting us." Hinata nodded as she and Hidan parted ways from the rest of the group after their evening at the mall.

"Sasuke, why can't you walk me home?" Karin pouted.

"Because I live in the complete opposite direction." Sasuke pointed.

"... But still." Karin crossed her arms.

"I'll walk you..." Naruto sighed.

"No, Sasuke will." Karin grabbed Sasuke's arm.

"Karin, stop being a pain in the ass. Let's go." Naruto tried to pry her away from Sasuke, who was trying to pull away as well.

Sakura cleared her throat, "I don't know whether to think you three are adorable or annoying."

"Oh, trust us, Sakura... It's hard to tell from this side of things..." Sasuke strained as he pulled away from Karin, then finally got free, "okay. Bye Karin, see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Sasuke!" Karin cried, then shoved Naruto away, "I don't need you to walk me... I can walk on my own."

"Yeesh, sorry for being a good cousin..." Naruto held up his hands in defense as he ran to rejoin Sasuke and Sakura.

The three walked in silence.

"So she really has changed." Naruto said sadly, gripping the straps of his backpack tightly.

"I really hoped that wasn't the case." Sakura sighed, "what happened to the innocent Hinata we knew long ago?"

"What a coincidence we could just run into the two of them like that." Sasuke nodded.

Sakura laughed, "and Karin. What a surprise."

"Shut up."

"It definitely wasn't as I thought it'd be." Naruto crossed his arms, "Hidan is a jerk of a boyfriend. Hinata deserves better than him."

"Well, I guess everyone sees something different in every boyfriend..." Sakura chuckled.

"Hinata's reactions to the situations were all so weird. No one would act like that. Especially if she were left to pay the bill. Honestly, who does that?" Sasuke shook his head.

"Hidan does, apparently." Naruto sighed, "he's using her just because her family owns a company and she has a lot of money. That's not love."

"At least not true love. It's just his love for money." Sakura scoffed, "does Hinata see this at all?"

"I would talk to her... But after that one year, and where we are with our friendship, you guys know I can't do that."

"I can talk to her." Sakura nodded, "I'm sure she wouldn't mind talking to me."

"You can do that." Naruto agreed, "Sasuke and I will talk to Neji."

Sasuke gave Naruto a weird look, "What? We will?"

"Yes, we will. He should be monitoring his sister at all times, anyways."

"Sounds like a plan." Sakura nodded, "so I'll see you guys tomorrow."

She waved as she turned and headed in a different direction.

"Hey."

"Hm?"

"I meant to ask, back there."

"What?"

"... What do you see in my cousin?"

"Trust me, Idiot. I ask myself that question every single day."