Reborn as Sakura and Hinata: Lost in the Wind

Cheating?

I waited apprehensively outside of the cafe. This is where he wanted to meet right? He was serious right? This wasn't some joke? Was I actually doing this? Why was I doing this? Okay, I knew why I was doing it: to find out what he was after. I mean, it's only been a few months. Was he already over her? Sakura seemed sure she was coming back right? So was he, like, cheating or something? I didn't get that feeling from him. Maybe he didn't see it that way?

He was so... comfortable, confident, but not like... too confident. It was a refreshing change from the way most boys looked at me. They'd either act like they were all that or be a horrific, stuttering mess. I knew that I was hot; I wasn't going to be coy and pretend like I wasn't. I knew it, and I acted like it. I was expecting him to be in the 'too confident' category, but he was shockingly self-aware. Maybe being with Hinata taught him a few things.

And then he called me 'beautiful', not, like, 'hot' or 'pretty' or other grosser things that I've been called.

"Hey, Ino!" Kiba called from down the street. So he did show up after all. Wait- Did he-? Did he dress up for me?

I found myself momentarily rendered speechless. He was wearing a dark red button up, untucked though it was, and brown slacks. Obviously he wasn't the most dressed up guy I'd ever seen, but this was still a step above what he normally wore.

He paused as he reached me, looking down at himself in confusion, "Something wrong? Anything on backwards?"

"N- No!" I gestured at him, "When did those get added to your wardrobe, Mr. 'I only own, like, one pair of pants and am inseparable with my hoodie'?"

"Oh, these?" he scratched the back of his hand with a sheepish smile, "A friend went clothes shopping for me a while ago. Thought I'd give the new clothes a spin finally."

Who did he think he was fooling? Anyone with a functioning brain would know the 'friend' was Hinata! I'd call him out on it if he did it again.

"Jeez," I scoffed, a blush colouring my face without my consent, "You should dress up more."

"Y'think?" he chuckled, "You're looking really nice too."

I blushed again. Dammit, why did he have to walk the line between being confident but also being respectful. I suppose if he was able to date Hinata though he'd have to do that. She seemed like a girl who wouldn't take any shit.

"So, should we head in?" he gestured to the door.

"Yeah, we probably should." I agreed.

After we were seated, there was a moment of silence.

"I, um," I smiled embarrassedly, "This is actually my first time on a 'date', so... I'm not sure what to do."

"Yeah?" he chuckled shyly, "Me too. Not exactly sure what the 'protocol' is or whatever."

"What!?" I gawked at him in disbelief, "What do you mean you've never been on a date!? You were dating Hinata!"

"That- We were-" he glared at the table as he tried to figure something out, "It wasn't like that." he decided on.

"I'm sorry?" What on earth could he mean by that?

"We didn't think of it like that." he explained, "We didn't call each other 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend' really," he grimaced as if just saying the words disgusted him, "It never felt right, and we never went on 'dates' either. We just... I dunno, hung out? We trained and stuff, and when we did see each other outside of our teammate duties it was just super casual... and... normal." he dropped off, staring at his hands distantly. I noticed he still had his bracelet on. Now I felt a little guilty.