The kitchen was less serene. Choji and Naruto seemed to be in competition for who could use more equipment in their pursuit of the perfect breakfast.

CONFESSIONAL, CHOJI: I know no better way to show someone I care about them than to make sure that they are well fed.

CONFESSIONAL, NARUTO: I want to prove to Hinata that I can take care of her! Choji started on his and his girl’s breakfast, and I thought that was a great idea!

Joining the chefs in the kitchen were Shikamaru and Kiba. Shikamaru sat hunched over the bar with his head buried in his arms. Based on his breathing, Kiba guessed he was asleep. Kiba was jealous.

CONFESSIONAL, KIBA: It sounds kinda dumb, but I chickened out of making Shino breakfast. It feels like some kind of statement that I’m not ready to make.

“DONE!” Naruto announced. Speed was also a competition, apparently. “Hinataaaaaaa! Time to eat, lady!” He flounced out of the kitchen in his pursuit of happiness. Kiba hooted after him and called good luck, laughing until another Islander replaced Naruto in the kitchen.

Kankuro passed behind him without a word and Kiba’s heart did a cannonball into his stomach. Head nods and awkward eye contact served as greetings and then Kankuro pointedly turned his back. The sound of the fridge door slamming made Kiba flinch.

Taking a deep breath, Kiba counted to ten and committed to a decision, namely the coffee pot. Unsure of Shino’s coffee preferences, Kiba stood up and filled a tray with as many options as he could find before heading to the day beds with his offering.

CONFESSIONAL, KIBA: But coffee seemed like neutral enough territory? I wanted to be out of there before Kankuro showed up, but he got out of bed early for once.

Shino was lounging on his stomach, his hand hanging off the bed to try and catch the lady bug that crawled next to him. He snapped his head over to Kiba as his heavy stomps came closer.

“This Villa has fantastic service,” Shino accepted the gift with a small, happy nod of his head. Kiba grinned. His plop down on to the daybed made Shino spill the cup slightly, but, thankfully, Kiba brought napkins.

Naruto was proud of his breakfast creation. His plating was some of his best work, which was fantastic because impressing Hinata felt crucial. The birds chirped and the sun shone, but the big smile that emerged in between bites of Hinata’s french toast was the source of Naruto’s joy.

Hinata sat across from him at the breakfast nook. She had meant it when she said the strawberry compote that was stuffed between the slices was the perfect amount of sweet, but that was several bites ago. Now she could feel a sticky residue on her teeth that made her want to drink some water. Settling for the super sweet orange juice that came with her breakfast, she forced another bite. She was rewarded with Naruto’s dimples, which were the only thing sweeter than her breakfast. He had some strawberry compote actually stuck to his teeth, which she chose to ignore.

“What should we do on our first date on the outside?” Naruto’s good mood was overflowing. It made Hinata blush.

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: I’m caught between being really flattered by Naruto’s enthusiasm, and excited, and feeling a little, uh, overwhelmed.

“Uh, go bowling?” Hinata tried to think fast and offered a preferred past time of the Hyugas.

“Bowling?” Naruto almost choked on his side raspberries. “You don’t want something more, like, romantic? You’re all dainty and elegant and everything,” he gestured to her with his fork in disbelief. “I can’t imagine you elegantly bowling. I look ridiculous, like a normal person.”

 “I don’t elegantly bowl, I bowl like a normal person,” Hinata assured him with a soft giggle. “Neji, though. Neji bowls with grace.”

“Okay, Neji I can definitely imagine bowling, holy shit,” Naruto laughed even harder. “He gets way too competitive about it, right?” Hinata mentally pulled up short. Laughing about something one hundred percent true felt mean.

“He’s not as bad as my little sister,” Hinata threw Hanabi under the bus in Neji’s place. Her ego would be fine.

“I’ll get my ass kicked in bowling as our second date, sound good?” Naruto shook his head fondly. “First date, we can . . . Get dinner! We can go wherever you want.”

Hinata resisted the urge to say she’d like to go bowling.

MIGHT GUY, AS NARRATOR: Sort of a big jump from Naruto to assume he’s getting to go on any dates. Just saying. Oh well, back to the kitchen! Kankuro is boiling over quicker than the water for Choji’s poached eggs.

Kankuro was screaming internally. Having his back to Kiba meant that he was facing Shikamaru, who was only the very slightly lesser of the two evils. Shikamaru’s voice droned on about something unimportant and unrelated as Choji and hustled about the kitchen doing the finishing touches. Shikamaru had yet to lift a finger.

 “Are you not going to assist at all in my sister’s breakfast?” Now that Kiba was gone, Kankuro decided to lash out.

“I chose the menu,” Shikamaru immediately responded. “And I am now providing moral support, which Choji says is necessary.”

“I prefer to have moral support in everything I do,” Choji reasoned. “It’s nice.” 

CONFESSIONAL, CHOJI: Also, cooking with people who don’t really know how to cook is one of the only activities that makes me truly rageful. I want to maintain my friendship with Shikamaru.

“TEXT! HE GOT A TEXT!” Before Kankuro could argue, Kiba demanded his and the rest of the Islanders’ attention. Now with an excuse to stare, Kankuro couldn't make himself look.

“Who got a text?” He asked, his voice filled with trepidation.

“Shino,” Shikamaru answered, seemingly without a care in the world. The response was unnecessary, as Shino’s voice rang out over the Villa. Shino, it’s time to show the world who you are. Choose the first Islander you want to take out on a date. #BeYourself #ButDon’tBeWeird #SoNotTooYourself

“He’s thinking, he’s thinking . . . Well, actually, he’s just pretending to think . . . Pretending to think . . .” Shikamaru began to narrate. “He’s reaching around himself for something . . . I don’t know what he’s doing . . . I don’t know . . . Oh, He gave Kiba a lady bug, I think. Kiba’s nodding his head. He’s accepting the lady bug. And the date, I guess. Cute.”

“Oh, what the fuck?” Kankruo’s distress was audible.

“Get a hold of yourself, man,” Choji’s voice was surprisingly commanding when he cooked.

“This is the least surprising thing to happen thus far,” Shikamaru said at the same time.

“Fuck all the way off,” Kankuro raised his voice. “Am I just not supposed to react?”

CONFESSIONAL, KANKURO: Look, I know I’m being a dick. But it fucking sucks watching someone you like move on to someone else and you can’t look away and are expected to not react at all. Like that sucks. Even if you just met.

“No, but if you care about Kiba at all then you won’t tarnish this experience for him,” Choji did his best to counsel as he did the final finishing touches. “Go inside if you have to. Take some bacon.”

Kankuro accepted both Choji’s bacon and suggestion to go inside.

MIGHT GUY, AS NARRATOR: Kiba and Shino have to go inside now to get ready for their date, but the rest of that was pretty good advice from Choji.

Breathing in fresh air and feeling the sun beat down on her skin would forever feel good to Hinata. She took another deep breath and listened to the birds who made their home just outside the Villa. She had finished helping Shino get ready for his first date and was now trying to unwind away from Shino’s nerves, Kiba’s excitement, and Kankuro’s anguish. Sasuke followed her lead, breathing slowly.

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: I’m not sure when Sasuke sat down, but it was nice that he did. I feel like we sort of calm each other down when the house gets chaotic.

“So, how have you been?” Hinata asked cautiously. “I feel like its been forever since the re-coupling ceremony.”

“It’s only been two days,” Sasuke pointed out dryly. “Is time with Naruto dragging?”

“Of course not! That’s not what I meant,” Hinata protested before beginning to giggle. “You’ve been counting the days?”

“Of course I was,” Sasuke was always taught to steer into the skid. “Two days with a sulking Temari projecting all of her feelings onto you and you would be too.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Hinata kept giggling. A little gasp and light touch on Sasuke’s knee marked when she noticed a deer in the distance.

CONFESSIONAL, SASUKE: Hinata is a lot . . . gentler than the women I’ve gone for before.

The pair continued baking themselves in the afternoon sun. They lounged and watched as a small family of deer came out of the woods and lounged in their own spot of sunlight.

“So you’re enjoying your time with Naruto, then?” Sasuke finally broached the subject on his mind. He was careful to keep his eyes trained forward on the deer.

“Yes, I would say that I’m enjoying my time with him,” Hinata considered him for a moment before responding.

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: It’s important to me that I’m kind with everyone’s feelings, but I feel like it makes me sound like a politician sometimes.

“More than your time with me?” Sasuke got to the point.

CONFESSIONAL, SASUKE: I considered a more casual route, but I know myself. I am not a casual person. My brother says I’m abrasive.

“Oh, don’t ask me that,” Hinata’s head, shoulders, and seemingly entire being, drooped at the question.

“Why can’t I?” Sasuke was immediately indignant. “I want to be coupled up with you. Your feelings have an effect on me. Why can’t I ask what they are?” Hinata continued to surprised him, this time by bursting out into giggles. “What? Why are you laughing right now?”

“My feelings affect you?” Hinata buried her smile into her hand to try and suppress the giggle fit. Sasuke stared at her silently while Hinata worked on regaining control of herself. “That’s sweet of you to say. I think.”

"I can be sweet,” Sasuke’s smile turned smug.

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: I think he was being sweet? He wants to couple of with me? I’m not great at reading him, I don’t think.

"I know you can be,” Hinata bumped their knees together and gave Sasuke a smile so unassuming that he immediately dropped the smugness from his.

"So if I say something sweet during the speech, will you be happy when I choose you at the next couple ceremony?” Sasuke took a sip from his water, pleased with himself.

MIGHT GUY, AS NARRATOR: Who said Sasuke gets to choose first at the next ceremony? One thing he and Naruto have in common: making assumptions.

Sasuke’s good feeling began to falter as time went on and Hinata failed to respond. “What? Do you not want me to choose you?”

"No, no, I mean, I really liked being coupled up with you,” Hinata stuttered out. “It’s just that . . .”

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: On the one hand, I have one guy who’s really sweet and seems like he really likes me. On the other, I have a guy who I feel like I can really connect with, and who maybe is a little less up front with his emotions, but I think can be really kind and attentive when he wants to be.

Several minutes went by before Hinata continued her thought. Sasuke passed the time by continuing to examine the deer siblings trot around together. They looked like they were having a much better day than him.

"It’s just, what did you mean by my feelings affect you?” Hinata finally asked. She needed clarity.

"What?” Sasuke snorted. “I was being sweet. You said it. I care about your feelings, or whatever.”

"You care about my feelings, or whatever?” Hinata raised her eyebrows. Sasuke tried his best to refuse to blush.

"Yes. I care about your feelings or whatever,” he rolled his eyes. Seeing the hesitancy still present in Hinata’s eyes made his next words die before they started.

"But, like . . . Sasuke I’m just a little worried that you mean that just, like, strategically.” Hinata got her words out after a little more stalling. “Like you just said you’re not happy with Temari. I just, I don’t want . . .” Silence settled over the pair once more as Hinata took a series of long breaths. “You said before the last couple ceremony to all the guys that you were choosing me because I was your only option. I don't want that to be the reason you choose me at the next one.” She took another deep breath.

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: I don’t know where the confidence came from. It’s like I second guess myself for every day constantly and store all the confidence all up for one confrontation every six months.

"I mean, that would be part of the reason, sure.” Sasuke responded blandly. “You’re right, I’m not happy with Temari. I think we both know you’re my most realistic option here right now.”

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: And then that confidence sort of crumbled to hear him confirm what I was saying I was scared of.

CONFESSIONAL, SASUKE: Was I supposed to lie to her?

Hinata stared at him, blinking slowly.

"Okay. I am processing how to respond to that,” she advised after a little time went by. “I’m not sure what to do with that.”

"I don’t think there’s much to do? It’s just how things have played out.” He shrugged. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t also like you. I could just choose to be by myself and wait for someone new to get sent in if I didn’t want to talk to you.”

Hinata nodded and began to process this statement as well. Sasuke waited. The deer continued to trot. The mom deer munched on some grass.

"I guess what I’m struggling with is . . . How do I know that both of those things are true?” Hinata asked. “Like yeah, two things can be true at the same time, but are these two things true right now?” Her leg was bouncing, bumping repeatedly into Sasuke’s. “I don’t know,” she added, much softer.

"Yep. That’s the struggle,” Sasuke almost made a joke. “To trust or not to trust. That decision is entirely up to you.” He gave another shrug.

CONFESSIONAL, SASUKE: My brother has also informed me that I’m bad at accepting genuine connection.

"Well, okay, I know that,” Hinata’s quiet voice sounded frustrated, Sasuke noticed. “I know its my choice. But I don’t know how I’m supposed to make it yet.”

CONFESSIONAL, SASUKE: I’m aware its only been two weeks, but its been two weeks where we have all done nothing but talk to each other, and watch each other talk to each other, and lay there and night and think about talking to each other. It’s a different two weeks than it is on the outside. It’s enough time to know I like Hinata.

"If you don’t want to couple up, you can just say that and we wont,” Sasuke’s tone was dry.

"I’m not saying that I don’t want to,” Hinata's insisted.

"You’re not saying you do,” Sasuke pointed out. He was met, again, with silence.

"No, I guess I’m not . . .” Hinata began and then trailed off.

CONFESSIONAL, HINATA: I want to trust and just go with what I feel. But I just keep hearing Neji’s voice telling me that Sasuke is using me to stay in the Villa.

Sasuke’s shift away from her felt like the end of something. Her heart dropped to her stomach.

"I’m not saying no, though?” She tried to mend the bridge. “I just . . . I don’t know. I don’t know. I miss Hanabi,” she buried her face in her hands.

“Itachi would have advice,” Sasuke agreed with a sigh. Unsure what else to do, he gave her back a series of soft, awkward pats. “You don’t have to decide right now. I guess.”

CONFESSIONAL, SASUKE: I’m a decisive person. But I think, maybe, Hinata is not.

What sounded like a perfect pratfall by a folly artist sounded through the air. The deer scattered just as Naruto’s head popped up.

“HELLO!” Naruto bellowed. If the deer hadn’t scattered before, they would have then. Neither Hinata nor Sasuke gave him a verbal response, instead just nodding their heads, so Naruto continued talking as he stood up. “Hinata! Can I steal you to come to the pool? I need someone to time me so I can practice my sprints for when Kiba and I race again later.”

CONFESSIONAL, NARUTO: I WANNA FUCKIN BEAT KIBA’S ASS NEXT TIME! EVERYONE LOVES A WINNER!

“Oh uh, I was sort of talking to Sasuke . . .” Hinata glanced between the two men. Naruto, who apparently did not hear her, offered his hand to help her up from the bench. Hinata felt herself reach out and accept it, but made no move to stand, instead staring wide-eyed at Sasuke.

“No. It’s fine,” Sasuke stood up. “No need for you to make a decision,” his voice was much tighter now. “I’m going to go work out.”

“Holy shit dude you work out more than I do,” Naruto clapped him on the back.

“Yes,” Sasuke responded as he walked away.

“Goodbye, Sasuke,” Hinata called out after him. She only got a wave in return.

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