SasuHina: Beyond The Camera

Chapter 55

-Hinata's POV-

For the next four weeks, things went back to normal. Well, they went back to as normal as they could be, with Prestige's popularity on a steady rise. Photos, videos, and gifs of us are constantly trending, whether as a group or as individual members. A gif of Sasuke dancing during our short performance at the New Year's party stands as the most viral one to date, followed closely by one of our dance practices and a surprisingly flattering paparazzi photo of an unaware Sakura out and about with her new haircut.

When word got out that Sai and Ino were officially dating, they immediately confirmed the rumors rather than trying to hide it. When Ino first talked about getting his number, I thought she just wanted to mess around with him, but she must've fallen for him somewhere in the past month. They're super doting toward one another, and I think it's adorable either way.

To my, and likely Tenten's too, Neji finally came clean to my father about his relationship with her. Naturally, there was a lot of drama and animosity between them because of it, but Neji actually stood up to the great Hiashi Hyuuga.

Now, my refusal to join the company didn't affect it. Still, Neji thinking about leaving would potentially have millions of dollars in the balance because my father relies heavily on him. Neji said he didn't even have to threaten, and I'm not sure he would have if it came to it anyway, but Hiashi caved and ended the argument before it could get to that point.

So, their on-again-off-again pattern ended, and they've been smooth sailing since, for the most part. Tenten's only worry now is what's going to happen if and when the time comes that they've been together long enough that things become more serious. My cousin will unlikely want to go public because he already can't stand the public being in his business. If word gets out that he and Tenten are an item, he'll be constantly bombarded by paparazzi.

When I told Tenten this, not wanting to give her false hope, she pouted and seemed very disappointed. So I told her this: I never imagined Neji standing up to my father like he did for her, meaning he's changed at least a little. Maybe he'll also change when the time comes to address her concerns. None of us know what'll happen, so there's no point in worrying about it until then.

I didn't tell her that I was also trying to reassure myself with those words, but regarding Sasuke. Above all else, the Uchiha man values his career and music. They're his passion in life, easily. I've been trying very hard not to think about the future and just focus on the now because, in reality, we may never go public, even if we somehow get permission from Evolution.

Sure, Prestige's fans are lovely, and I sincerely appreciate and love every single one of them, but when it comes to seeing us date, particularly Sasuke and Sakura, they're very much against it. Gaara and I's fans don't seem to like the idea either, but the other two are borderline scary regarding the subject of dating.

On Sasuke, we've been so busy these past few weeks that we haven't had a chance to do much more than make out and sleep in one another's rooms. When he first kissed me sober, I thought he intended to treat this like everything else we do and steadily ease me into it without allowing my anxiety to get the best of both of us. However, he seems hesitant to go further in the slightest.

If I'm being honest with myself, I think I'm ready to try taking things to the next step. I don't know how big of a step that may be, I don't know, but I do know that he makes me feel brave, and he makes me feel safe. So long as it's Sasuke, things that previously seemed impossible for me no longer do. Now I just have to find the courage, not to mention the right time and place, to say something.

Gaara's eighteenth birthday, January nineteenth, also came and passed. He finally bought a car, an army green Jeep with four doors and oversized tires. At first, I was surprised, thinking it was very out of character, but that was until I saw him drive it. Somehow, it fits.