𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭

Four dumplings

Hinata couldn't take his eyes off her. It wasn't just because she was breathtakingly beautiful—though she certainly was—but because he was completely at a loss for words as he noticed her expression, her mouth slightly agape as if she, too, was unsure of what to say. The silence between them was almost suffocating, and he silently cursed himself for choosing such a quiet, intimate restaurant. The lack of background noise made every breath she took seem magnified, not so much mesmerizing as it was stifling.

Thank goodness the waitress broke the tension, offering a polite farewell and reminding them to call if they needed anything. As the server walked away, Hinata realized he needed to say something—anything—to break the ice.

"My name is Shoyo Hinata, in case Kiyoko-san hasn't already disclosed that," he finally managed, trying to sound casual despite his racing heart.

She shook her head in response, and for a moment, he wondered if that's how she intended to answer every question during the date. But then, she spoke, her voice soft and a bit hesitant. "Yachi Hitoka, in case she also hasn't disclosed that already."

He couldn't quite catch any humor in her tone, but then again, they didn't know each other well enough for him to gauge her sense of humor. Still, he let out a small laugh, relieved when she mirrored it with a gentle smile.

As she took a seat across from him, her smile seemed to waver as she pondered something, her gaze drifting downwards. He found himself liking her smile, the way it brightened her face. Then, she lowered her head in what appeared to be an apology, and Hinata thought it was possibly the cutest thing he'd seen her do in the short time they'd been together.

"I'm so sorry for being late!" she suddenly blurted out, her words tumbling over each other in a rush. "I know I don't have any excuses—I mean, I do, but I shouldn't—"

"It's okay," he interrupted gently.

Her reaction to his words surprised him. Her eyes widened as if she were astonished that he wasn't upset, and her confusion was almost palpable. It was as though this was the strangest thing she had ever heard.

"If you didn't want to come, you wouldn't have," he explained, pausing briefly when he noticed her hands trembling slightly. "You probably would have made an excuse or something. But you came—extremely late, sure—but you came. That means you must have had your reasons, and despite that, you still made the effort to be here."

He thought he heard her sniffle and hoped he was wrong. "I don't care about the reasons. What matters is that you're here now, don't you think?"

By the time he finished speaking, he noticed that her trembling had lessened, and he mentally kicked himself for not being more reassuring from the start. She must have been under a lot of stress before coming here, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt, even though he didn't fully understand why. It wasn't his fault that she was late, but seeing her distress made him wish he could have done something to prevent it. Maybe it was naive, but Hinata didn't want to live in a world where he had to question everything and everyone constantly.

"I—thank you for your understanding," she whispered, so softly that he almost didn't catch it. It was adorable, he thought.

"So, now that we're both here, what do you want to order?" he asked, steering the conversation toward safer ground.

She looked slightly startled, as if she had forgotten the whole purpose of their meeting. "Ah, sorry, give me a moment to check."

Yachi flips through the book so delicately that Hinata can't help but watch her every move. With every flip of the page, small sighs and brow scrunching as she neatly dissects the words and pictures. There was a childlike curiosity in the way he observed her, though he was most definitely no longer a child.

Eventually, she orders salmon, and he orders a stake because he can do so. 

They start with small talk, everything from mundane things, like habits and work life. Then they venture to other topics, family, and future. 

Their conversations flowed like butter slowly melting in a pan, only to sizzle with intensity when the heat was turned up. Hinata happened to be that heat.

"I want kids," He says before he can stop himself. Instant regret is evident on his face, but he covers it with a smile devoid of any embarrassment. Most people would wait- or maybe not, he isn't even sure- a couple of dates before talking about something so important. Not him, no, he had to open his mouth like an idiot.

He didn't even know why he said it. He'd never really thought about having kids, just like he hadn't thought much about dating before now. But there was a first time for everything, he supposed.

"I want some too," she responded, her voice steady. The words made his heart swell in a way he hadn't anticipated. Relief washed over him as he glanced at her, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

"Some?" He finds himself asking.

"Maybe... like four."

It wasn't so much her answer that made him decide then, but the idea of her answer. Small, tiny dumplings running around the house, maybe with her blond hair, maybe with his ginger color, it didn't matter.

Four. He stared at her, a grin spreading across his face. She's the one, he decided then.

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End of chapter.