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Entering the month of December, the temperature was colder than before. But, on lunch break, Naruto still went to his favorite place, Konoha High School's rooftop. Sitting on the roof of the place that connecting between the school and the rooftop, he would enjoy himself by drinking a can of refreshing soda and smoking his cigarette.
While looking at the pale blue sky, his legs were dangling and swaying over the door. The door entering the rooftop suddenly creaked, a guy he didn't know went in. Naruto rushly scrunched his legs up and tried to eliminate the cigarette smoke. His hands were still moving to fan the smoke when he saw the person who went in after the boy.
His eyes widened. It was Hyuga Hinata.
Why are they here? Naruto thought to himself.
His eyes were watching the two people cautiously.
After a short silence. They guy then started to talk, "Sorry to bother you like this. I know you'll probably be surprised with what I'm going to say. I've liked you ever since we started school and-"
"I'm sorry." Hinata interrupted his talk. She bowed apologetically.
"Huh?" They guy seem bewildered. "Oh, but if you want maybe we, uh-"
While bowing, Hinata interrupted again, "I'm flattered, thank you."
"I have movie tickets." The guy approached Hinata closer, while his hands were busy taking out the movie tickets from his pocket.
"I'm sorry," Hinata said before running towards the door.
Watching that interaction, Naruto lightly giggled.
With a sly smirk on his face, Naruto placed his cigarette on the surface of his soda can like a candle.
"Thank you so much," he whispered. His hands moved in a namaste form and put them before the cigarette.
A silly smile adorned his face.
****
Sport was the first lesson for today. Naruto had a task to bring the balls used for the lesson today. While bringing the balls in a ball cart made of metal, his eyes followed Hinata who was currently in hurdle race.
"Man. Hinata is really beautiful, right?"
Right, she is. Naruto replied to himself.
Huh? It was not him who asked the question, though.
He then saw a bunch of his classmates sitting on the staircase while talking to each other.
"Yeah. Yeah. She's so pretty."
"I heard that she's dating the football captain though."
"Are you for real?"
"I heard it was someone from the student council."
Hearing that, his hold on the ball cart loosened. The balls were pouring out and falling down towards the yard.
"Are you okay, Naruto?" One of his classmates asked.
"It's alright, I'm fine, ttebayo." He replied while running to pick up the fallen balls.
Hinata has a boyfriend? He internally sighed.
Damn.
Is it the end of my first love? He slightly pouted.
****
With Kiba, tonight Naruto visited Konoha Planet, a CD store which was opened not too long ago. Both of them were looking at the titles and trying to select the one they would rent tonight.
"Women just pick men based on their status." Kiba said, responded to Naruto's anguish after knowing that Hinata already had a boyfriend.
"You can only act out while young and stupid," Kiba continued. "Obviously, only the smart kids and jocks get all the girls in high school, you know?"
"Hinata is definitely not basic like that, ttebayo," Naruto defended her.
Tapping his shoulder, Kiba said, "Yeah, sure, but she's got a man now."
"Your fault for being too chicken to ask her out." Kiba added, not having any care that his words put salt into Naruto's wound.
Annoyed by him, Naruto slapped Kiba on his head.
"Shut up!" He groaned.
Naruto then shouted frustratedly, feeling too dejected by experiencing all these painful feelings regarding his first love.
"Hey, hey, hey. This will make you feel better", Kiba said then spelled the title of the adult film in his hand.
Agreed with Kiba's idea, they went to the cashier to rent the CD, while laughing to each other.
"Welcome." The cashier girl said. "Oh, Naruto-kun?"
Naruto who was focusing to take his money out from his wallet, suddenly moved his head at the voice he knew so well.
Seeing Hinata before his eyes, he suddenly froze. Hinata then saw the CD that Naruto and Kiba were going to rent.
"N-no, this isn't..." Naruto tried to reason.
With a blush on her face, Hinata asked, "How many nights do you need it?"
Naruto felt like his soul just went away from his body. He could not even dare to look at Hinata's face.
Knowing his friend's struggle, Kiba then replied, "Uh, just one night."
"We'll watch it today," Kiba added unnecessarily.
After that surprising encounter with Hinata, everything seemed like a blur to Naruto. He was so embarrassed. He did not want Hinata to think that he's a weird guy.
Shit.
On the way home, he just wished that he hadn't gone to that place with Kiba.
****
Like usual, today too, Naruto went to the rooftop. Not long after he lit his cigarette, he heard the sound of the door being opened suddenly. At that right moment, he then hurriedly tried to be invisible.
From his position, he could see a guy who he didn't know entered.
Then he saw Hinata.
Again?
The guy looked nerveos as hell. He was stammering so hard. He felt bad for the guy. But something connected in his mind and he could not contain his joy.
Someone was still making a confession to Hinata, it meant that she was still single. She still didn't have a boyfriend.
With a satisfied smile on his face, he watched the two amusedly. Then his hand reached for his soda can and placed his cigarette on its surface. "Thank you so much." His hands formed namaste gratefully.
"Hyuga-san!" The guy finally said.
"Yes?"
"W-what is your f-favorite food?"
Hinata seemed to be thinking. "Uhm..."
"Ah! N-never mind!" Then the guy hastily ran to the door.
Hinata was perplexed.
And Naruto could not help, but sniggered watching that scene unfold before his eyes.
Hearing the snigger, Hinata was so surprised that there was another person, other than them two. She searched where the sound coming from.
Hinata's pearly eyes widened. Seeing Naruto on the roof made her mind working for a mile, trying to find a reason.
"He asked what my favorite food was." Hinata explained, not wanting to cause misunderstanding between Naruto and her.
Caught red handed, as calmly as possible, Naruto replied, "I think asking for your favorite food means that they probably like you, right?"
Hinata then went quiet. Her hand were busy fidgeting.
After some quiet time, Hinata said with a red face, "T-then w-what about you, Naruto-kun?"
"What's your favorite food?" She continued.
"Me?" Feeling confused, but Naruto then answered with a big grin on his face. "Ramen!"
Hinata's head dropped. "Ah... I see." Her face was redder than before. "See you later," Hinata said before she ran towards the door.
Eh?
Naruto frowned. He felt that he just did somehing stupid and wrong.
****
Today, Kiba came over to his home. They agreed to play some game together, but Naruto couldn't focus at all. At the end, he let Kiba played the game by himself.
Since that day on the rooftop, Naruto barely talked to Hinata because after that they were so busy with exams. And it had been days since the winter vacation started, so obviously he could not even see Hinata in school.
He took a deep sigh.
Feeling his friend's distress, Kiba finally asked, "What did you do this time? You've been looking as if your soul is not in your body these days."
Because Naruto was still silent, Kiba looked at him from the corner of his eyes. "What? Just tell me. You look so ugly already, the frown on your face makes you uglier."
Naruto cursed lowly. But, he then started to tell Kiba about that day.
"She was confessing her feelings." Kiba finally said after hearing Naruto's story.
"Huh?"
"'Huh' what?"
"Huh?"
Frustrated by his dense friend, Kiba said, "You stupid? Put her question in its context."
Naruto nodded, tried to understand Kiba's words. "She asked about your favorite food, but before this, you guys had just talked about the meaning of this question. So, to me it's more like a confession! Even I would know that."
Naruto was speechless. He couldn't believe himself. How on earth was he this dense?!
After having the answer for his distress, Naruto hurriedly took his scarf and winter jacket.
It had been days since Hinata's confession, so who knew how was Hinata's feeling towards him now? He should at least let her know too.
Damn.
She should know his feelings. That's his goal tonight.
****
After finishing her shift in Konoha Planet, Hinata stood outside the store to wait to be picked up.
The snow was falling pretty heavy tonight. She tightened the lavender scarf on her neck. Not long after, a familiar car stopped before her.
She took a quick run towards the car, eager to feel warm inside the car.
She opened the back seat's door and took a seat beside her cousin, Neji. Ko, the one on the wheel, gave an apologetically bow to her.
"You're late," Hinata said, still feeling a little bit sullen because she had to wait for some time under the falling snow.
"We're sorry, Hinata. The snow is falling pretty hard, so we had to be careful," Neji said. And Hinata nodded, forgiving.
Neji then took a box behind his back.
"Happy birthday, Hinata. Happy birthday, Hinata. Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you," Neji and Ko sang.
Suddenly a beautiful smile appeared on Hinata's face. Her tired eyes became lively.
After that, Neji lit the candle that said 17.
"Make your wish, Hinata." Hinata closed her eyes and said her wish silently.
Then she opened her eyes and blew the candle.
"Once again, happy birthday, Hinata."
"Hapy birthday, Hinata-sama," Ko also added.
Hinata stared at them both, and said gratefully, "Thank you so much."
Hinata then took the spoon, wanting to eat the cake, "Itadakimasu." She put a bite into her mouth.
"Hmm, so sweet." She said happily. "Neji-nii-san, Ko, you should take a bite too.
"Please enjoy yourself, Hinata-sama." Ko answered.
"Okay, Ko. But, Neji-nii-san, you can't refuse. Here," Hinata then fed Neji. Hinata giggled joyfully at the sight. Seeing Hinata happy also put a smile on Neji's face.
That ride then was continued with lively conversations between the cousins. Ko also sometimes joined in the conversations.
On the road near her house, Hinata took a glimpse of someone that she knew. Even when the snow made it hard for her to see that person clearly, the orange jacket and scarf which that person wore gave the answer away. No one liked orange as much as Naruto.
"Stop! Drop me off here!" Hinata said urgently.
"Why? We're not there yet, Hinata," Neji asked confusedly.
Hearing Hinata's words, Ko slowed down the car.
"What is it?" Neji asked again.
After the car stopped, Hinta rushedly opened the door and ran towards Naruto.
****
After leaving his house, without having a single doubt, he went to Hinata's house.
He actually did not know the exact place of Hinata's house. But, all Konoha residents knew where Hyuga household was.
So, here Naruto was. Waiting under the street lamp surrounded with the snow that never seemed to stop.
He felt the cold to his bones. But, nothing could stop him to meet Hinata tonight. Not even this damn cold weather!
After quite some time, there was a car that made a stop not far from where he stood. Someone went out from that car.
His eyes widened in disbelief. It was Hinata!
Hinata ran towards him.
"Naruto-kun? What's wrong? You'll catch a cold," Hinata said with worry in her voice. Her hands then wiped the snow off of his hat and his shoulders.
Naruto could only stare at her. He still could not believe.
How did this person, his first love who was so kind, so smart, so beautiful, also feel the same feelings towards him?
He was just ... just Naruto. He didn't even feel like there was a good thing about him that could make Hinata like him.
But, here she was. Before him. While looking at him with worry.
Hinata was so beautiful. She was always. But, tonight, she was more more more beautiful. He just wanted to stare into her beautiful face.
Naruto abruptly stopped Hinata's hands from wiping off the snow off of his shoulders.
His left hand clutched to Hinata's hand which was covered by her lavender glove.
Without any word. Naruto took Hinata into his embrace.
Startled by the sudden action, Hinata's brain seemed to stop for a moment. But, her hands eventually moved to embrace Naruto back.
"Naruto-kun?" She finally asked.
"What about you, Hinata?" His voice was so close her ear.
"What?"
"Hinata... What's your favorite food? What is it?"
"Cinnamon rolls."
Naruto laughed. He pulled his body off Hinata, wanting to see her face. His hands than moved to hold hers.
"I really like you, Hinata. Ever since we first met. Can we please start dating?"
Hinata nodded. "Yes. Me too. I like you a lot. Since day one, actually."
Hearing Hinata's answer, Naruto hugged her again. This time tighter than before.
The car honked, interrupting their hug. Naruto's arms still on Hinata's arms when a guy went out from that car.
Naruto knew him. He was Hyuga Neji. Hinata's cousin. Their senior at school.
He approached them closer with a purple jacket in his hands.
"Bring her back before midnight no matter what," Neji finally said after giving the purple jacket to Hinata.
"If you do anything funny to her, I'll kill you," threatened Neji.
"Yeah. I promise, ttebayo! I never go back on my words!"
Neji then left them both and went in to the car.
Hinata giggled. Amused with the scene unfold before her eyes.
After the car left both of them. Naruto took Hinata again to his embrace.
It was so cold. His body felt so cold just then. But now, he could only feel warmth. The warmth that begin to start from his heart and spread to his whole body for having Hinata in his arms.
Hinata, his first love, in his arms. Yes, that's right. He smiled bashfully while tightening his embrace.
For Hinata, today was more than she could ever dream of. She did not only have the best night ever, but also the best birthday gift ever.
A big smile adorned her face. Pink blushes spread on her cheeks. She's happy. So happy for having Naruto, his first love n her arms.
Both of them stayed like that for quite some time. Sometimes giggles and happy laughs accompanied their silent embrace.
In their 17th year of living in this world, out of billion of people in the vast world, Naruto could find Hinata and called her his, while Hinata could find Naruto and called him hers.