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IN THE calmest of mornings, right after the bakeries and the stalls had just opened for the day in Konoha, Naruto and Hinata were found together once again as the foliage from the maple trees descended slowly down to the ground, the fan-shaped red and gold silhouettes creating a rustling sea of leaves at their path.
At a morning jog they went, running at a steady pace and pants falling from their lips as they chatted lightly. Hinata’s eyes followed him as he started jogging backwards, facing her with a bright and warm grin that melted her heart almost instantly.
“Ya’know,” he sighed, ever so exaggeratedly. “It is said by experts that holding hands with someone while running will make them run faster,” his grin turned softer, blue eyes becoming half-lidded as he tilted his head. “Want to test out that theory?”
Hinata couldn’t help it; she giggled, eyes closing as her laughter surrounded them in a cocoon of warmth. “I believe I will fall if we try to do that, Naruto-kun.”
Her half-hearted protests did nothing to stop him whatsoever. “No need to worry about such things!”
He took her hand in his, interlocking their fingers together.
Hinata’s heart skipped a beat, and her face slowly turned into a lovely shade of pink. “What are you-” tug, her foot caught on a misshapen concrete block.
Before she knew it, Hinata stumbled right into his embrace, squealing when her face was buried immediately on his chest. Her eyes widened, head feeling lightheaded as his comfort consumed her.
“See…” he whispered, nuzzling his nose on the top of her hair. “I’ll always catch you.”
The birds chirped cheerily around them, and Hinata suddenly found that their surroundings had gone deadly silent. The only sounds she could hear were the sparrows tunes, the rustling of the trees, and her own heartbeat (or was that… his?)
“Relax,” Naruto closed his eyes, his hands running through the soft traces of her long midnight hair, “It’s just me.”
Hinata felt herself getting more flustered, “T-that’s the problem!” her voice came out muffled, probably because her body refused to part away from him.
“Mm,” Naruto hummed, gently rocking them left and right on their feet. “Still not used to your boyfriend? He must be a jerk…”
“No!” Hinata managed to burst out, her grip tightening around him. She peeked up at him, placing her chin on his chest. “You’re not a jerk!”
A moment passed, then two, and Naruto finally revealed his pleased and puckish smile. “Ah, there it is…” he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, “You're looking at me again.”
“Yes?” Hinata’s blush returned, but her eyes softened, a small smile tilting up her lips.
“Yeah,” he muttered, leaning his head down slowly, the hand that was on her hair trailing down the skin of her neck, “Don’t look anywhere else.”
His lips hovered over her own, blue eyes looking at her under his lashes with so much adoration it physically hurt. Her smile disappeared as he kissed her slowly, gently, his mouth parting in a way that made her feel breathless, causing the hand on his chest to tighten around the material of his orange jacket.
His affection lingered on her lips, the subtle taste of sweet mochi…
She laughed against the kiss, “Did you have oshiruko for breakfast again?”
Naruto only offered a innocent coy smile, “Don’t blame a guy for coming prepared.”