Until We Meet Again (Part 3 to the TBT Trilogy)

Chapter 9

His fingers entwined around hers, onyx eyes sparkling with a mixture of mischief and something more profound. "Do you remember how we first met, Hana?"

Hana looked over at him, her heart skipping a beat. "Of course, how could I forget?"

He chuckled, the corner of his lips rising. The park bench creaked beneath us, a comforting, familiar sound. They sat in the same spot they always did, beneath the ancient maple tree across the playground. 

"You were pouting at your aunt," He continued, a playful smirk on his face. "Wearing that ridiculous poofy blue dress with a pink bow." 

Hana rolled her eyes playfully, secretly wishing he had forgotten that she was wearing that monstrosity. Aunt Kushina just had to pick the poofiest and sparkliest dress that made her feel like she was a walking bubble. She looked over at him, chewing her gum, replying dryly. "And you were trying so hard to climb this tree until you stepped on the broken branch and fell flat on your face, Obito."

Obito's cheeks began to flush slightly, and he pouted. "I can't believe you still remember that. I only did it to impress you, you know."

"You sure did impress me." Hana grinned teasingly and paused for the dramatic effect. "With how clumsy yu were. I remember hearing a thud and seeing you on the ground. You really did that to impress me?"

"Yeah..." Obito trailed off, pink still dusting his cheeks. "I thought I could impress the prettiest girl on the playground by climbing that tree. But hey, it worked. We had a tree climbing contest after you asked if I was okay."

Hana laughed heartily at the memory: Kushina shouting about how she would ruin that dress, Obito boldly declaring that he could climb it better than her, and telling Obito that he wouldn't win because of his fall. Hana and Obito became best friends after that day.

Hana stirred awake from my slumber, the scenery changing and her heart pounding. 

Did she really dream about that memory? About him?

She felt a pang in her chest as she sat up from the bed. She hadn't thought about him in a while. That was the day they had their first kiss, and he wouldn't let go of her wearing that stupid frilly dress years later. She missed him, but she shouldn't think about him. Not when she was already seeing Ryuken. 

She moved on, so why was the boy from her past still haunting her dreams?

Hana stared at the sage-green curtain momentarily, still processing that dream. She stood up from the bed to make a cup of coffee to clear her head and get her brain back on the right track. She remembered how Naruto was training with Kakashi today, and his new teacher named Yamato was there. She hadn't met the guy, but Kakashi told her a little bit about him. 

Thinking that maybe Naruto would want some snacks while training, she tied her long crimson hair into a makeshift updo with a claw clip, and washed her hands to gather the ingredients to make Aunt Kushina's infamous ramen.

She noticed the sky was cloudy and grey outside as she stirred the broth. She looked out the window, the dream still heavily weighing on her mind. She wanted to push it away, but the memory was too stubborn and now she was lost in her thoughts about it. 

"You better not ask Aunt Kushina for pictures of me from that day," She said, smirking at him. "Because I'll burn every last one of them. No one needs to see me in that dress."