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

[keepitcanine]

[There is no irony in the action he just performed whatsoever. None. But Kiba did just catch Hinata's wayward bookmark—without smashing it, he might add, which might be a miracle in itself.

Hinata will have to innocently lose a few more flowers for Naruto later, though, so maybe the idiot can grab romantic opportunity by the ass.]

Hey! Hinata! Man, I thought you were going to be in your bedroom forever or something.

[He peers over her shoulder, handing her her bookmark as Akamaru sits on his haunches and barks. He blinks.]

What're you reading?

1/2

[selfdoubt]

[While still worrying for her pressed flower gone astray, she spots her two teammates and this worry washes away from her.]

Ah, Kiba-kun! Akamaru-kun-!

[selfdoubt]

[This smile turns sheepish at his comment, though, even when she accepts the bookmark from Kiba.]

Oh, you found it. [And it's not crushed. Yay!] Thank you. I'm sorry if I haven't been outdoors for a while.

[And to seemingly introduce to him the culprit, she raises her book for him to glance at.] I- I began reading some of the books I found lying around during that confusing day. This is very interesting, actually, since it- it also tackles social problems. [It's still a love story, though.]

[keepitcanine]

[Like Courage for the Secretly Courageous? He glances at the title though, and can just guess what the book's about.]

You mean the day Shino was wearing that weird-as-hell hat? That was in... February or something, right? [He laughs and shakes his head.] ...Man, that was a long time ago.

[jinchuuriki]

[Any outer direction, huh? Enough that Naruto can just kind of be trying to read her book over he shoulder without saying a word or indicating that he's there, at least until the bookmark flies away? Because that's why he's going to try and do. Just how he is.]

Oh hey, your thingy flew away. [Also hello, Hinata.]

[selfdoubt]

[She has a book like that, methinks. :|a Oho, Kiba, you need to read a book like this once, at least.]

Well, um... [Her cheeks taint book as she looks down at her book briefly and then at Kiba.] There were a lot books. [This is probably second to the last of them?]

[selfdoubt]

Ah, Naruto-kun-? [She turns around in surprise and in slight nervousness because, well, this is Naruto and how did she not know he's just there? Is this book really that interesting?

Upon seeing that he's trying to get the pressed flower, she sheepishly smiles.] Oh, um, it's okay. I have other pressed flowers. [Even if she doesn't.]

[jinchuuriki]

C'mon, you can't be that ready to lose somethin' just because you've got extras! [What would you do if there were a ton of Narutos. Geez, Hinata. He's going gonna leisurely go for that bookmark before getting irritated because he's failing and making a shadow clone to get it.

Yeah, the clone can go worry about it, the wind is being a dick. Which is ironic, since that's his element. The real Naruto just goes to sit on the bench.]

[selfdoubt]

Well... I just don't want you to trouble yourself over it is all. [So there. C'mon, Naruto, you're always first in her thoughts. When he sits next to her, though, she smiles and closes her book.]

But, I suppose your bunshin can take care of that. [She continues to smile.] What are you up to today, though?

[jinchuuriki]

Today? [He leans back into the bench, looking up at the sky. He might be trying to look thoughtful.] Weeeeell, I had breakfast twice today and thought I'd go for a walk. So... not much I guess!

[That last part is emphasized with a grin.]

[selfdoubt]

[Twice? Fff oh, Naruto. Her smile continues to grace her lips as she gazes fondly at him. And then, her cheeks begin to taint pink as a thought finally occurs to her after seeing that grin.]

Um, if you're not doing anything, then... maybe we can do something. [Her heart beats faster when she pauses because the next words are harder to say.] Something... er, together, I suppose?

[And then everybody was proud of her for this.]

[jinchuuriki]

[Naruto's grin doesn't falter as he looks over to Hinata, if anything, it widens.] Yeah, I'd like that. That sounds like a load of fun.

Had anythin' in mind? [Because he was having trouble keeping up in the entire reading thing.]

[selfdoubt]

[Well, Hinata doesn't expect him to keep up with the reading either.]

Not at the moment, but... [She smiles with more certainty this time even if her cheeks are still a little pink.] M- Maybe we can stroll around the village and just find something to do? [Well, that doesn't seem like a good idea.] Or perhaps we can eat out? [But that seems an even worse idea since he just ate out.]

[jinchuuriki]

[Naruto is up to his feet already.] We could eat in a little bit -- [Because food is always good.] -- but I guess we can look around for a bit, if that's cool. Doesn't sound like that's a ton to do right now.

[Walking around with her is cool enough. Just talking. That kind of stuff. Naruto isn't always all about the action.]

[niceguypose]

[Rock Lee appears seemingly from nowhere-]

Hinata-san! Leave this to me!

[And he dashes in pursuit of this wayward bookmark.]

[keepitcanine]

Not what I was getting at. You're a faster reader than I am, so whatever. [When he reads at all.] I don't have a lot of room to talk. Just saying it's been a long time, that's all. And here I said we'd be out of this place in no time. So much for that.

[selfdoubt]

[Oh, so that's what he's getting at. Hinata's expression turns a little somber.]

We... don't have much grasp of what happens in this place. [As frustrating and disappointing that was.] So, um, I do not hold your promise against you, Kiba-kun.

[selfdoubt]

Oh, alright. That sounds... um, cool, of course. [Following him to his feet, Hinata slowly stands up, holding her book against her chest. She has a warm smile on her lips, just purely delighted that she's going to spend time with Naruto like this without any Shifts or whatnot.]

Where do you think we should start, Naruto-kun?

[selfdoubt]

Oh-! [She just watches his dashing form while blinking.] Um, Lee-san, there is no need-

[niceguypose]

[He slides along the ground and catches it.]

There! See? It was no trouble, Hinata-san.

[selfdoubt]

[She watches him catch it with a lopsided smile, though clearly she's grateful.]

T- Thank you. You really didn't have to, but thank you.

[hisapprentice]

[Luke passes by just in time to see her lose the flower. Being the young gentleman that he is, he can't just let her be in distress like that! So off he goes, running after it despite being slower than the wind.

Several minutes later he comes back to where Hinata is sitting, out of breath but carrying, carefully, the flower in his hands.]

awww so precious ;3; /drags to bosom

[selfdoubt]

[Hinata was about to call out to the young boy but he quickly disappeared. He really doesn't have to bother himself over a piece of flower, Hinata thinks. That, and she really doesn't want to be a bother to anyone.

So, when he comes back minutes after with the flower in his hands and a little out of breath, Hinata can't help but smile wide. For someone to go through that effort for her is something she greatly appreciates.]

Oh, thank you very much-! [She accepts the pressed flower with a wide smile of gratitude.] May I know your name?

[avaricious]

[Walking by, Ling sees the flower rapidly fly past him and off and away. Oh. Well that was a thing. Spotting Hinata, he points to where it went.]

I think you lost your flower.

[selfdoubt]

[Good for you that this isn't Ino or else she would have yelled something along the lines of "GO AND GET IT!!!"

but yes, since this is Hinata, she just smiles sheepishly at him.]

Oh, um, the wind's really strong today. I- It's alright. I have some others back in my apartment.