Chapter Text
Shikamaru's gaze lingered on the Hyuga woman sitting across from him and Naruto. She had just burst into a fit of giggles after a joke Naruto had cracked, her eyes squeezed shut in delight. To be honest, Shikamaru knew Naruto was exaggerating his story just to make her laugh, so he said nothing.
He admired the bond they shared, despite the rumours swirling around the village. Even with Naruto finally promoted to Hokage, there was still no ring on Hinata’s finger. The villagers had begun to wonder if they would ever end up together at all, whispering malicious rumors about Hinata’s fertility and questioning Naruto’s loyalty. But Shikamaru knew better. He knew that his two childhood friends had not been handed a picture-perfect life. Naruto had grown up without parents, and Hinata had watched her father lose his humanity after her mother passed. It was no wonder that they didn't want to rush into marriage and eventually, parenthood. During drunken nights spent with Naruto, Shikamaru learned that both of them had been taking it slow, making sure they were ready for such a heavy commitment. Even without a label or a ring, their bond remained strong and loyal, something Shikamaru deeply admired. There was no need for grand, loud gestures or formalities. It was simply love.
Shikamaru’s thoughts were interrupted by the scraping sound of a chair.
"Thank you for having lunch with me, Naruto-kun. I’ll see you soon," Hinata said softly, gathering the utensils she had brought with her. The smile she flashed didn’t quite reach her eyes, which caused Shikamaru to raise an eyebrow.
"Thanks, Hinata! You're the best cook ever! I could get used to this every day!" Naruto grinned, his eyes shut tight, his thumb raised in a thumbs-up, completely oblivious to the storm brewing behind her eyes. Shikamaru said nothing, as it was none of his business. But he stood up and walked toward the door, ready to escort Hinata out.
"It's just a normal meal, Naruto-kun, nothing special..." Hinata blushed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Naruto walked over and pulled her into a warm embrace, murmuring sweet words into her hair. Shikamaru averted his gaze, wishing to respect their privacy. His eyes wandered to the windows, where the clouds drifted lazily by. He wondered what it must be like to be a cloud, with no responsibilities, floating aimlessly through the sky...
"Thank you for having me, Shikamaru-san. I hope you enjoyed the food I prepared. I’ll be leaving now," Hinata’s voice brought him back to reality. He nodded nonchalantly in thanks.
"Send her out, Shika! Make sure she gets out of this building safe and sound!" Naruto shouted, his volume causing both Hinata and Shikamaru to flinch. They exchanged a glance, stifling a laugh as Shikamaru opened the door for her. Escorting her out of the building was a bit troublesome, but he respected Naruto’s wishes.
Once the doors shut, Hinata’s smile faded. She took a deep, shaky breath, and her eyes welled up with tears. Before Shikamaru could react, she rushed to the corner of the lobby, her shoulders trembling with silent sobs.
He sighed inwardly. He wasn’t good at comforting people, especially women. The women in his life were straightforward. He never had to probe for their emotions; they shared their troubles willingly, sometimes to his dismay. Even his ex-girlfriend, Temari, was forthright about her feelings. A little too forthright, actually....
The Nara awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, unsure of how to handle the situation. He could see Hinata’s shoulders quaking as she sobbed quietly in the corner near the elevators. His ears perked at the sound of footsteps and laughter approaching, and in a hurry, he grabbed Hinata’s wrist, pulling her into the stairwell. The sight of Hinata crying outside the Hokage office would only fuel more rumors, and Shikamaru didn’t want to add more fuel to the fire.
Hinata looked up in shock, her cheeks flushing red at the sudden touch. She was too stunned to speak and allowed Shikamaru to guide her to wherever he was taking her. They stopped in front of a small room a few floors below where they had been. Shikamaru unlocked the door with a passcode and flicked on the light, lazily beckoning her inside. The room had small windows overlooking the village, a cozy orange sofa, a purple rug, and a white table cluttered with magazines and candy.
Hinata’s eyes scanned the room, noting the bookshelves, an armchair in the corner, and a water dispenser. She had never been in this part of the tower before. It was a cosy room with a comforting environment, and she entered the room hesitantly, her hand rubbing the spot on her wrist where Shikamaru had grabbed her.
“S-Shikamaru-san... w-what is this?” she asked shakily. Her eyes still glistened with unshed tears, and she was too afraid to speak for long, worried that her voice would break.
"I figured you might need some privacy... for whatever it is you're feeling," Shikamaru awkwardly gestured with his hands, waving them about in a vague manner.
"Feel free to pretend I’m not here. In fact, I can leave if you'd prefer. Just make sure to switch off the lights before you go," he added, nodding towards her before turning to leave. He was stopped short by her hand gripping his arm. He turned slowly, his brows furrowing. Huh?
"I'm sorry," Hinata gasped, pulling away immediately. Her sobs returned, harsh and ragged, as she looked at the floor, her bangs hiding her flushed face. She was uncertain why she had reacted this way, her usual calm composure lost in a wave of overwhelming emotion.
"Um, it’s okay," Shikamaru replied awkwardly, hand on his hip. What's going on...? He wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. One moment, she seemed happy; the next, she was crying, and now, she was hysterical—or at least, for him, it felt that way.
"C-could you please stay? So I don’t feel so a-alone?" she whispered, her head hung in shame. Shikamaru eyed the woman before him, usually so gentle and composed. It was unsettling to see her so upset, and though he didn’t want to pry, he knew he couldn’t simply leave her alone.
"Sure. I’ll just be in the corner," he replied casually, shrugging. He wasn’t one for emotional conversations, and while a strange sensation tugged at his chest seeing her cry, he figured it wasn’t his place to ask her about it. Hinata nodded, and he walked to the corner of the room, opening the window before lighting a cigarette. He zoned out for a bit, his mind drifting to the clouds in the sky, before he felt her presence beside him.
"That's not good for you, you know," she remarked softly. Her voice, though gentle, carried a teasing edge, and she managed a small, sad smile despite the tears. Shikamaru rolled his eyes, offering her a lazy grin after a yawn.
"I know, but it’s just a habit I picked up to deal with stress," he replied before immediately regretting his words. Hinata inhaled sharply, straightening her posture. She cleared her throat and blinked away her tears, her voice quiet and filled with guilt.
"I am... sorry for stressing you out," she said, her words laden with remorse.
Shikamaru winced, realising his choice of words had inadvertently hurt the gentle Hyuga.
"No, not at all," he quickly corrected, turning to face her fully. "I’m just not good with emotional situations," he explained, his eyes softening.
Shikamaru was a man, and a man with eyes. She was looking at him with those large, sad lavender eyes, her lips trembling. Her dress, pale lavender, seemed to match her delicate features, and she nervously tugged at the sleeves of her cardigan. He could acknowledge that Hinata was beautiful—a sought-after, mysterious beauty, who was full of shy smiles and mostly kept to herself. Yet, despite their long history as childhood friends, they had never been particularly close. He assumed their interests rarely aligned, and the Nara, in his usual lazy manner, had kept his distance, observing her from afar. Nothing more, nothing less. But now, standing before her, he couldn’t help but feel an unexpected pang of nervousness. It felt wrong, as she was his best friend’s partner, after all. He shook his head, trying to push the thought aside.
"Oh, I see... well, I’m still sorry to be a bother then," Hinata sniffled, her face hidden behind her hair, her voice small. Shikamaru felt his heart ache at the sight of her vulnerability, and despite his usual nonchalance, he resisted the strange urge to wipe away her tears. He was far from good at comforting others, especially women, but the situation felt... different.
"What a drag, Hinata, you’re not a bother at all," he said firmly, gripping her shoulders and gently shaking her. Hinata’s eyes widened in surprise, a startled gasp escaping her lips.
"Don’t be afraid to feel sad. Even if we’re not close, you can talk to me about anything. Never think of yourself as a bother," he added, his brown eyes locked with hers, trying to convey sincerity. She nodded slowly, her cheeks flushing at his words. They held each other’s gaze, and for a moment, Shikamaru noticed a darker shade of lavender in her eyes—a subtle, yet striking detail that had never stood out before. He released her shoulders and quickly looked away, his heart inexplicably racing.
"Thank you, Shikamaru-san," she murmured, bowing slightly. Her right hand instinctively rubbed her left shoulder, and she seemed almost embarrassed by the intensity of the moment.
"Just Shikamaru is fine," he replied with a snort, trying to ease the tension. Hinata had always been formal, despite their long-standing friendship. It was likely due to her upbringing, and he couldn’t really blame her.
"S-Shikamaru...-kun?" she ventured, her head tilting slightly to one side. Shikamaru caught the unsure smile on her face and shrugged nonchalantly, as if saying "Sure."
"So ... what's on your mind?" he tried, hoping to ease the awkwardness in the air.
"Well... there's something that's been on my mind lately," she confessed, her voice laced with hesitation. "But I don't feel like I can talk to anyone about it." She looked up at him, her gaze tracing the strong line of his jaw and the warm, sun-kissed hue of his skin. Shikamaru was a man of good qualities—dependable, astute, and deeply intelligent. Hinata felt a quiet gratitude for his presence in her life, despite their lack of closeness. From a distance, she had always admired him, silently rooting for him, though she had never quite found the words to express her respect and admiration for his brilliance.
"I'm all ears, and I don't care enough to gossip," Shikamaru responded casually, his gaze softening with curiosity. He could see the storm in her eyes, the weight of unspoken thoughts pressing upon her. Was this something to do with clan issues? With Naruto? Whatever it was, it was weighing on her quite heavily. Hinata took a shaky breath, her hands twisting together nervously.
"It's about Naruto-kun... I don't think I can be with him anymore," she murmured, her voice so faint that it barely reached him. There was a stunned silence in the air, and she felt her entire body tremble with the gravity of her words. It was one thing to harbour such thoughts in silence, another entirely to voice them aloud. But somehow, as terrifying as it was, it felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. She found herself staring into the Nara's eyes, searching for a reaction. His face shifted from shocked to neutral, and she wondered if it was the right choice to share this burden with someone so close to Naruto.
Shikamaru drew in a sharp breath, trying to conceal the shock that flitted across his features. He smoothed his expression quickly, though alarm bells started going off in his mind. Naruto was his oldest and dearest friend. Together, they had faced countless battles, shared victories and failures, and never once had they looked down on each other, no matter how the world had tried to label them. Shikamaru was fiercely loyal, and part of him knew he should tell Naruto about this conversation.
Yet, looking at Hinata, so fragile and shaken, he hesitated. Perhaps, at the moment, this was something he should keep to himself.
"I know you must be wondering why... and that I probably seem ungrateful," Hinata sobbed, pressing her palms to her eyes, as though trying to push away the swell of her emotions.
"I've chased after Naruto-kun my whole life, and now that I have him, I'm throwing it all away," She choked on the words, her breath hitching with each sob. It was no secret that Hinata had been in love with Naruto since their academy days—long before he ever realised it. Everyone knew this, except, ironically, Naruto himself.
"But... I am tired of not being a priority," she continued, her voice trembling. "Of not being committed to. I've chased him my entire life, and now that I have him, it feels like I'm still chasing him. Always trailing behind, always seeing his back," her words were laced with a profound sorrow, and tears pooled in her eyes, spilling over like a waterfall.
Shikamaru scrambled for a packet of tissues in his pocket, handing them to her with a carefully composed expression despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. She accepted them gratefully, dabbing at her eyes with trembling hands.
"I'm not defending him, but... he really is busy," Shikamaru said lamely, his voice hesitant, unsure if it was even the right thing to say. He knew he had to tread carefully to remain objective. He couldn't risk showing any sign of defensiveness or favouritism towards either one of them.
"I know ... I know that," Hinata responded in a fractured whisper, frustration lacing her words. "Which is why I'm so conflicted. I feel like I'm being selfish, but my youth is slipping away, and my clan elders are constantly hounding me about my marriage plans. I can't stay with someone who's unsure about me," her voice cracked, and another wave of sobs broke free.
Shikamaru remained silent, the weight of her words settling heavily upon him. He had always believed that the bond between Hinata and Naruto was unshakable—Hinata had always been patient, always there for Naruto as he chased his dreams. He never imagined that behind the scenes, they were facing such an invisible rift.
"But I thought... you two were waiting, just to be sure?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. His mind couldn't quite piece the puzzle together. Hinata raised her tear-streaked face to meet his gaze, her eyes filled with both sorrow and a quiet desperation.
"I have been sure about him my entire life," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
"But it's been years, and he still isn't sure about me. First, we wanted to wait until he finished his Hokage training, then we waited until he became Hokage. And now... there's still nothing. I know he loves this village and is committed to it, but what about me? Why do I always come second?" she told him sadly.
Her gaze shifted toward the window, her body turned away from him. Shikamaru watched her, his eyes following the gentle sway of her dark hair as it caught the breeze. Her nose was pink from crying, and he was struck by the delicate beauty of her vulnerability. He had never seen someone look so lovely while in tears, and it made him feel a strange tightening in his chest.
"I never knew..." he murmured softly, closing his eyes and massaging the bridge of his nose. The situation was far more complicated than he had anticipated. He had always thought of Naruto and Hinata as two souls who belonged together—so certain, so confident in their love for one another. Yet now, it seemed there were deeper struggles that no one had known about. Shikamaru let his mind spin, organising his thoughts like pieces on a shogi board, searching for the right move to make next.
After a long silence, Hinata felt his gaze on her and grew self-conscious. Had she said too much? Was she making a fool of herself in front of him? Panic began to rise in her chest as she thought of the mess she might have made. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Shikamaru stepping closer to her.
"Look, Hinata," he began, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "I don't know the full extent of what's going on between you and Naruto. I can't pretend to understand everything you're going through," he glanced briefly out the window, as if gathering his thoughts.
"But I do know that Naruto loves you. He loves this village, and to him, protecting it means protecting the people he cares about. So... please try to understand his perspective, too," Shikamaru's words were gentle but firm, hoping to offer her a new perspective, even though he could feel the weight of her heartbreak pressing heavily on both of them.
Hinata's shoulders stiffened at his words. Why does it seem like he was on Naruto's side? Perhaps she was foolish to believe that he was someone she could trust. She turned her head slightly, avoiding his eyes, her face cold, though her gaze was still tinged with sadness. Shikamaru felt a pang of sadness in his chest as he watched the subtle torment in her eyes, a quiet ache that seemed to weigh her down.
"I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you for listening anyway," the weight of her emotions was still palpable, and though she tried to smile faintly, her sadness remained.
Shikamaru felt a small knot of guilt tighten in his stomach. He hadn't given her the comforting words he thought she needed. His fingers brushed awkwardly through his hair before he reached out to her, placing a hand gently on her head. It was a strange gesture, but one that he hoped would convey the comfort he couldn’t find in words.
"H...huh?" Hinata startled, her hands reaching up to his, but she froze mid-motion, her heart racing at the unexpected touch. Shikamaru was never this affectionate with her, and it felt strange, almost disorienting. She could feel her entire body warming under his touch, her cheeks blazing red. He bent down slightly to meet her gaze, his dark eyes searching hers with a quiet intensity.
"Look, Hinata," he began softly, "what a drag—I'm not good with words. But I do care about you as a friend, and I'm not brushing off your feelings. What you're going through... it's real, and I won’t pretend otherwise. I won’t force you to feel differently. Whatever decision you make, I’ll support both of you," His voice was steady, though inside, his heart was racing—he hadn’t expected to feel so strongly about comforting her.
Hinata's pale eyes darted around the room, unable to meet his gaze. She slowly lowered her head again, her hair falling to shield her face, as if hiding from the vulnerability of the moment. Shikamaru, though still awkward in his actions, let his fingers gently lift her bangs, pushing it away from her face.
"I’m sorry... I don’t want to burden you," she whispered, her hands nervously twisting in her lap. Shikamaru sighed inwardly, wondering if she truly heard anything he had said. Time was slipping away, and he had so much work to do, but he couldn’t bear leaving her like this.
"Do you hear me, Hinata?" he prompted softly, placing a finger gently under her chin, lifting her face to meet his. His heart pounded as he looked into her tear-filled eyes, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, the world seemed to stop around them.
As Shikamaru stood close to her, his presence calm yet strong, Hinata couldn't help but notice the quiet strength that radiated from him. His typically relaxed demeanour, the way he carried himself with such ease despite the tension in the air, was something she had always admired from afar. His dark eyes, though often shaded by the weight of his thoughts, were sharp and observant. She marvelled at how effortlessly he seemed to understand her feelings, how his kindness, though rare in its expression, reached her in a way few others could. There was a gentleness in his actions, in the way he reached out to comfort her, that made her feel truly seen. Despite his usual indifference, in this moment, she could sense that he cared—deeply—and it made her heart ache in a way she wasn’t prepared for.
"I do," she whispered, her cheeks flushed bright red, her lips parted slightly in surprise.
Shikamaru's gaze inadvertently lingered on her trembling lips for a heartbeat too long, and in that fleeting moment, the world around him seemed to still. He couldn't tear his eyes away as her lips parted ever so slightly, quivering with emotion, vulnerable in a way he'd never seen before. His heart gave an unexpected jolt, a strange flutter that caught him off guard. The air between them felt thicker now, charged with something neither of them had anticipated. He quickly snapped his gaze back to her eyes, his chest tightening in that familiar, uncomfortable way he’d come to recognise as nervousness.
In that instant, something shifted within him—something he couldn’t fully understand. His mind, always so composed and practical, had stumbled, like a piece of a puzzle that didn’t quite fit. He had always seen Hinata as a friend, a fellow comrade, someone with her own quiet strength. But now, for reasons he couldn’t explain, his heart raced just a bit faster every time she glanced at him. As his thoughts scrambled, trying to regain their usual order, it hit him: he might have a small, inexplicable crush on Hinata Hyuga.
The realisation was both startling and unsettling, as if he'd uncovered a hidden truth he wasn’t ready to face. He quickly shook it off, focusing instead on her tear-streaked face, but the image of her lips—the way they trembled so beautifully with the weight of her sorrow—stayed etched in his mind, a constant reminder of the delicate shift happening inside him.
Man, what a drag.