003rd saving smile [action]

[selfdoubt]

[Action]

[It's a nice clear day and Hinata wants to take advantage of this. She has been staying in her room for days now (not that it's something she didn't initially choose) and today seems like a good day to be staying outdoors.

Of course, this doesn't mean she's engaging on outdoor activities because the moment one passes by the park, she's peacefully seated on one of the benches reading her book. There's a small smile on her lips as she turns its pages. Whatever it is she's reading, it seems interesting enough for her that any outer distraction flies over her head. Proof of this is that when the gentle wind dances along her tresses, she only tucks one stray strand of hair under her ear in a careful motion while her pearl eyes never left the text of her book.

From where she's seated, sunlight tries to peek through the leaves of the tree behind her, casting playful lazy beams on her serene form. Flipping another page, Hinata uses her pressed flower as a bookmark when the wind picks up.]

Ah-!

[The flower then escapes her grasp as it glides through the wind. She tries to catch it but it proves futile. Now if only someone will be able to find it for her.]

Comments

[avaricious]

Well it's a good thing you have replacement. Whew, I bet that thing's long gone by now! You'd have to be pretty crazy to go chase it now.

[Seriously, who KNOWS where it is now!]

[selfdoubt]

[A nod.] But, some people chased after it... [AND HER BOYFRIEND'S NOT CRAZY!!!]

[avaricious]

It's already happened before?

[Maybe Ling has done Luceti a service. Her hideous reign of making people futilely chase after a bookmark has been brought to an end.]

[selfdoubt]

Well, er... Yes, it did. They were very nice, though.

[Unlike you who think you have done Luceti a service!!]

[avaricious]

I suppose they were. [Or just kind of crazy. But he won't comment on that.] It is pretty windy, though.

[selfdoubt]

It is. [And while the wind picks up again, she tucks her hair behind her ear. She smiles, anyway.] Though, I think it's a good day.

[avaricious]

For now, anyway. I have a feeling it might rain later.

[It's all windy and fluffy clouds right now, but there's dark clouds off past the mountains.]

[selfdoubt]

[She looks up and true enough, she sees those dark clouds.]

Oh, I hope it's not too soon...

[avaricious]

You'll have to hurry to get to the ending first. Do you have much longer?

[selfdoubt]

[She looks down at her book and then smiles up at Ling.]

Not much anymore, actually. I- I think I have already arrived at the second to the last chapter.

[avaricious]

Well then, you might just make it after all. So what is it about?

[selfdoubt]

Ah, it's, well... it's about a love story despite social constraints.

[avaricious]

[Whuh oh. This might be hitting close to home.]

What sort of social constraints?

[selfdoubt]

[When she starts telling Ling about the big, her voice turns a little somber.]

The man in the story is very ambitious and for him to realize his dreams, he has to leave the only woman she loves since she is not of noble descent. [The usual guy is rich, girl isn't, they can't be.]

[avaricious]

[... wow. Really, really close to home.]

His dreams must be important, then. Whatever they were, it must be worth sacrificing his own happiness to achieve them.

[selfdoubt]

[That doesn't sit well for her, though.]

But... the poor woman who loves him much more than her own dreams. [That's just unfair.] Are there dreams that are really that important?

[avaricious]

Some dreams are bigger than just people. Love is just one sacrifice that's made to see them made reality.

[selfdoubt]

I see. [What if Naruto's own dream forces him to sacrifice things too? Like, perhaps, what they have right now? Hinata's chest begins to ache. That's probably what she fears for the most now.]

That's... very sad.

1/2

[avaricious]

I suppose it is. [He feels a little distant and conflicted himself. It's so easy to want to forget about ambition in a place like this, but...]

[avaricious]

[He brightens up immediately.]

But I wouldn't worry about it. After all, true love always prevails in the stories. I'm sure the author found a way for everyone to get what they want.

[selfdoubt]

[Hinata gives a small smile at that. So far, she had only read one tragic ending after finishing a lot of these books so that's a good sign.]

Oh, I do hope that's how everything turns out in the end.

[hisapprentice]

It's Luke! [He smiles, and lifts the brim of his hat with one hand.] Luke Triton. What's yours?

[selfdoubt]

My name is Hinata. Hyuuga Hinata. [And she smiles wide in return to his greeting.] It's very nice to meet you, Luke-kun.

[hisapprentice]

It's great to meet you too.

[Now that he gets a good look at her eyes, he thinks she can't see. That she might never have found that bookmark. That it would also be silly to try to shake her hand.]

I'm glad I could find your bookmark.

[selfdoubt]

[Oh, Luke. If only you know how far she can see!]

Mm, I'm also glad, though you really didn't have to. I am sorry if finding it was a bother.