10th September
*Yawn.*
Hmm?
"Mmh... Fhuwahh..."
She must be sleepy; she's dozing off right here in class.
"…"
"Fhuaahh... Ah...?"
When she yawns again, our eyes meet. Her drowsy gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment, neither of us moves.
"P-Please don't look at me..." she mumbles, her voice barely audible, as she hurriedly puts her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle another yawn. There's a hint of embarrassment in her eyes, as if she's been caught in a vulnerable moment.
I know I should be focusing on the lecture, taking notes, and paying attention to the teacher's every word. But my eyes keep drifting back to Hinata. She's been hanging her head low, her eyelids heavy. It's clear she's exhausted. Has she been staying up late studying for exams?
"Are you okay? Did you get enough sleep last night?" I ask, my concern outweighing my usual reservations.
"Yes, I didn't get enough sleep..." she admits, her voice soft and tired.
"Studying?"
"Something like that... *Yawn*..."
"You should try to get some rest, Hinata. They say even a ten-minute nap can really help you feel refreshed," I suggest gently.
For a moment, she hesitates, as if weighing my words. Then, with another small yawn, she nods slightly, her usual energy replaced with a rare, sleepy vulnerability.
"Hahaha… It's so embarrassing. Not only did you see how many times I dozed off, but you also got a good look at my sleepy face."
"Go ahead and be embarrassed all you want. I am your boyfriend, after all."
Her cheeks flush a deep red, and she narrows her eyes at me with a sharp, almost pouty glare.
"Mou… Don't just say things like that so casually, you idiot!"
She turns her face away, trying to hide her growing blush, but I can still see the corners of her lips twitching as if she's trying to suppress a smile. The way she fidgets with the hem of her shirt makes it clear she's both flustered and secretly pleased by my teasing. I can't help but chuckle at how adorable she is when she's trying to act tough.
"Why do you have to be so infuriating?" she mutters, though her voice lacks any real bite.
I lean in slightly, lowering my voice, "Because you're even cuter when you're mad at me."
Her eyes widen in surprise, and for a moment, she's at a loss for words. But then she huffs and crosses her arms, trying to keep up her facade of annoyance, though I can see the warmth in her eyes.
"You're impossible," she finally says, her tone softer now.
"And you love me for it," I reply, unable to hide the grin spreading across my face.
She rolls her eyes, but the smile that breaks through her defenses tells me everything I need to know.
…
After school, I was diligently studying for the upcoming exam. My focus was intense, but eventually, I reached a point where I needed a break. Deciding to clear my head, I got up and headed to the bathroom.
As I walked down the hallway, a glimpse of something outside caught my eye. I paused and turned to look into the courtyard.
"Is that...?"
Through the glass, I saw a familiar figure lying on one of the benches.
"...Zzz... Zzz..."
It was Hinata, fast asleep.
I had assumed she'd gone home before me, but here she was, looking so defenseless. Her usual sharpness was completely gone, replaced by a softness that made her seem almost fragile.
As I stood there, watching her peaceful face, a soft sneeze escaped her.
"*Sneeze*"
Her nose twitched slightly, but she didn't wake up. Instead, she shifted a little, murmuring in her sleep.
"Mmm...nnn...fuu..."
She sneezed again, a bit more delicately this time, and then settled back into a deeper sleep. I couldn't help but wonder if she was so exhausted that even a chill couldn't rouse her.
Lately, the mornings and evenings had been getting colder, the first hints of autumn creeping in. I hesitated for a moment, then walked towards her, feeling a small pang of concern.
Without thinking much, I took off my jacket and gently draped it over her, like a makeshift blanket. The fabric covered her small frame, and I hoped it would keep her warm until she woke up.
Standing there, I found myself lingering, unsure of why I felt the need to take care of her like this. But as I watched her breathe steadily, wrapped in my jacket, I knew I didn't want to leave her unprotected.
…
"Mmm…"
After a while, Hinata made a small sound, stirring slightly.
"Nnu…ha…"
She must have felt the chill because she adjusted my jacket, pulling it closer around herself where I had draped it over her earlier.
"Hmm…? Fhuah… what…?"
That's when she slowly opened her eyes, blinking as if noticing something unfamiliar wrapped around her.
"Good evening," I greeted her softly.
"…Fhueh? Uh…Um, this is…?"
She looked back and forth between my face and the jacket that was now wrapped around her, a confused expression on her face.
"It was getting cold, so I put it on you," I explained.
"…I see… It's already evening, huh…" She looked up at the sky, now tinged with the hues of dusk.
"Yeah, it's evening already," I confirmed, a small smile tugging at my lips.
"Yukito-kun."
"What's up?"
She sat up on the bench, turning to face me with a concerned expression.
"You said it was cold, but you look colder than I am."
Before I could respond, she took the jacket and draped it over both of us, her warmth spreading through the fabric as she huddled closer.
"Hinata…"
"I must have made you worry, right? I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret as she looked down, her expression apologetic.
"Hinata, can we go somewhere else?"
"Somewhere else? Where do you want to take me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, curiosity and a hint of hopefulness in her eyes.
…
We arrived at the café where I work part-time.
"Ah, Yukito-kun. Welcome… Ara…?"
We were greeted by Mizuha-san, who was on shift today. Her surprise was evident when she noticed Hinata with me.
"Good evening, Mizuha-san."
Hinata remained silent, her eyes wandering around the cozy interior of the café, taking in the warm ambiance and soft lighting.
"Come on, let's take a seat," I suggested.
She nodded and followed me to the counter. Since it wasn't my day to work, I glanced at Mizuha-san, silently asking for permission. She gave me a small nod, understanding my intention. I slipped behind the counter, putting on my apron.
"Wait here for a moment. I'll make us some coffee," I said, smiling at her.
Hinata hesitated before asking, "Um… Is there a reason for this treat…?"
"Nope," I replied cheerfully.
After a few minutes, I finished preparing the drinks. "It's done. Here's your coffee. It's a cappuccino, extra milk. Don't forget to add sugar if you like it sweeter."
"Alright…" she murmured, still looking a bit puzzled.
I could tell she was trying to figure out my intentions. "They say sweets are the best when you're tired. That's what the sugar's for."
She blinked, caught off guard. "I'm not tired, but…"
"You were dozing off this morning. Nothing you say will convince me otherwise, Hinata."
Her expression softened as she realized she couldn't argue. "…Well, when you put it that way… Heheh, you may be right."
Resigning to the truth, she added a generous amount of sugar to her cappuccino and took a tentative sip.
"…Nhh… Haah… It's sweet and savory… and delicious."
"Would you have preferred something sweeter?" I asked, watching her reaction closely.
"No, I think this is good too," Hinata replied with a small smile, savoring another sip.
"That's good to hear," I said, relieved.
I left the counter with my own cappuccino and settled into the seat next to Hinata.
"So, this is where you work part-time, huh?" she asked, glancing around the cozy café.
"Yeah," I nodded. "Though the boss told me to take it easy and stay away from part-time jobs before the exams… So, I've been working fewer shifts lately."
"The boss? You mean that woman over there?" Hinata pointed discreetly at the woman behind the counter.
"Nope, she's just an employee," I clarified.
As if sensing we were talking about her, Mizuha-san noticed us and walked over with a friendly smile.
"Hello there, beautiful girl," she greeted, her tone warm and welcoming.
"H-hello there," Hinata stammered, slightly taken aback by the compliment.
"Mizuha-san, let me introduce you to… uh…" I hesitated, caught off guard.
But before I could say anything, Hinata spoke up, her voice steady and confident. "Hi. My name is Futaba Hinata. I'm Yukito-kun's girlfriend."
…
She's bold.
"Ara… Nice to meet you, Hinata-chan," Mizuha-san responded, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm Yamamoto Mizuha, Yukito-kun's senpai at work."
Mizuha-san's eyes flickered between the two of us, her smile widening. "You know, Yukito-kun talks about you a lot, Hinata-chan."
Hinata blinked in surprise, her cheeks flushing slightly. "He does?"
I could feel my own face heating up. "M-Mizuha-san, don't make things up…"
"Oh, am I?" Mizuha-san teased, chuckling softly. "But it's true, you know. He always seems to light up whenever he mentions your name."
Hinata glanced at me, her expression a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. "Is that so, Yukito-kun?"
"Well… I—" I stammered, suddenly feeling very exposed. "I mean, I might have mentioned you a few times…"
Mizuha-san laughed lightly at my awkwardness. "You two are adorable. It's nice to see such a genuine connection. Reminds me of my younger days."
Hinata's blush deepened, but she smiled. "Thank you, Mizuha-san. Yukito-kun is… important to me."
Her words hung in the air, and I felt a strange warmth spread through my chest.
Mizuha-san gave us a knowing look before turning slightly. "Well, I'll leave you two lovebirds to your date. Don't forget to finish your drinks before they get cold!"
With that, she winked at us and walked back to the counter, leaving me and Hinata alone again.
There was a brief silence between us, the noise of the café fading into the background. Hinata took a small sip of her cappuccino, her eyes avoiding mine.
"So… girlfriend, huh?" I finally said, trying to keep my tone light.
Hinata finally looked at me, her eyes steady. "If you don't like it, I can take it back."
I shook my head quickly. "No, I… I like it. It's just… surprising, that's all."
She smiled softly. "Good. Because I wasn't planning on taking it back anyway."