The three genin had spent the entire afternoon covering the training ground in traps. They had Hinata sketch out a map of the training ground first and marked on the map the location of each trap. They then made copies of the finished map and would memorize it tonight. The sky was turning orange as the sun began to set.
"We're going to head to Ichiraku Ramen to celebrate graduating. If you want to come with us you can." Haruka said while looking at Sasuke.
"Maybe some other time."
The two girls nod not pushing for him to come. Hinata is fine with finally getting the chance to get some privacy with Haru-chan. She's going into withdrawal from not feeling her girlfriends lips on her own. As soon as Sasuke left Hinata whirled on Haru-chan and planted her lips on the other girls.
Haruka didn't even have time to question what brought the sudden kiss on before she felt the taller girl snake her arms around her waist and pull her closer. She blushes but stands on her toes to make things easier for the girl with indigo hair, and throws her arms around the pale neck of the heiress. She feels Hina-chan poking at her lips and she parts her own, now much more used to what that means. The two remain lip locked like that for what feels like ages before finally breaking apart. "What brought that on?"
"Do I need a reason to kiss you?"
"No not really, but you typically build it up more." Hinata tended to add more drama to the kisses, leaning in first and feeling the other girls breath on her lips as they would near each other, she liked to think it made it more romantic. But she couldn't help it this time, she hadn't had even a peck all day.
"You ready to head out?"
"Almost." Haruka stands on her toes again and kisses Hina-chan one more time, it's short and sweet. "I love ramen but personally I like your lips better when they taste like cinnamon." She wanted to get one last taste before they eat perfection in food form. She grins seeing Hina-chan blush. She doesn't do it nearly as often anymore and in this context Haruka loved it. "Now we can go."
With that the two girls link hands and leave the training field making their way towards the ramen stand. Haru-chan is humming happily as she gently swings their hands back and forth. Hinata can't help but smile. She loved seeing the girl happy and nothing seemed to make her happier than going to Ichiraku Ramen with Hinata.
Her thoughts turn sour as she thinks about the ramen stand. Not because the owners were at fault. Not really. The villagers at large knew they helped Haru-chan and went out of their way to make sure the stand got as little business as possible. They only managed to get by as a result of her father having learned what was going on. He gave her a small fund to always finance her girlfriend's meals there. So every time they went they almost always cleared out their stock. Leaving just enough to ensure they can serve whatever other customers might show up, which is typically not many. Everyone benefited really. Haru-chan got to have a buffet every now and then. The Ichiraku got to stay in business without compromising their values. Hinata got to make sure her girlfriend was fed and got to see her adorable look of happiness. And her father got to protect old friends without making it seem like charity and make her happy.
The elders of the clan didn't really care about the expenditures on the heiress as she had proven her ability, some had even claimed her a prodigy on the level of Uchiha Itachi or Hatake Kakashi. Hinata knew she was no prodigy, she just had a drive and couldn't allow herself to be weak, or Haru-chan would be the one to suffer.
They arrived at the stand about twenty minutes later, having chosen to walk at a leisurely pace. Upon lifting the flaps and stepping in they are immediately greeted by the words. "Tou-chan, Haruka and Hinata are here!"
A laugh from inside calls them back followed by the words. "One of everything comin' up, along with two extra bowls of miso ramen!" They had promised Haruka a feast for graduating and that's what they were going to give her. The redhead's eyes were practically sparkling in excitement at the mention of all the delicious food she was going to get. The three girls chat about their day for a few minutes before Teuchi-ojisan calls out "Order up!" Ayame-nee steps into the stands small kitchen, which is hidden behind another wall so it's out of view of customers, they've got to protect their secret techniques, and she comes out with two steaming bowls of ramen, she sets one down in front of each girl. Before heading back in and coming back with another two bowls, placing both in front of Haruka.
The two girls say "Itadakimasu." and begin to eat. Well Hinata eats, Haru-chan inhales the food. But that's why they're here. While they were eating, Ayame asked.
"So how did your team assignments go?"
"I got paired with Hina-chan!"
"Haru-chan, chew and swallow first then answer."
The redhead does so this time before responding. "My bad Hina-chan. Oh and Nee-chan our third teammate is Uchiha Sasuke?"
Ayame winces and asks, "I've seen his fangirls, he's gotta be quite the brat right?" She couldn't see a boy that has a whole posse of girls after him being fun to work with.
"He's actually not that bad, just a bit reclusive." The white eyed girl meant it, he wasn't an awful teammate to have. There were worse options.
"Oh well that's good, I'm glad you didn't get anyone you dislike."
"Oh Nee-chan can you make something clear for me?"
"Maybe depends on what it is."
"How does it make a difference if I'm Hina-chan's wife or if she's mine?" Ayame looked at the white eyed girl and raised an eyebrow, getting the meaning of Hinata's words, curious as to why she would argue the semantics to Haruka when she knows the girl won't get it. Hinata shrugs.
"It means she wants to make it clear she's wearing the pants in the relationship."
"Well of course she's wearing pants, she doesn't like combat dresses."
"No you misunderstand, its a metaphor."
"Oh, well what does it mean?"
"You're a little to young for me to tell you that, ask again when you're sixteen."
"Oh come on Nee-chan it can't be that bad." Ayame smiles, it's really not, but it's fun to tease the girl like this. Not to mention she's pretty sure Hinata wants to be the one to explain the relationship dynamic. She wouldn't take that away from the white eyed girl.
Teuchi walks out with bowls of ramen in each hand and gives them to Haru-chan. "You wouldn't plan on marrying our Haruka without my permission would you?" He asks menacingly. Hinata shakes her head no and hurriedly answers.
"Of course not you would be the second person I ask." Haru-chan would obviously be the first. Hinata may not truly be afraid of the man, but he saw Haru-chan as his second daughter and was as protective as one might expect. And she didn't want to anger the man because she knew it would hurt the redhead if two of her favorite people were fighting. Teuchi nods his head in approval and returns to the kitchen, there was still more ramen to make.
After that the four fall into a comfortable conversation while the Ichiraku family continues to make Haruka ramen. The white eyed girl moves to pay as Haruka finally finishes her last bowl and Teuchi-ojisan shakes his head. "No this was our gift to you and Haruka. You don't owe us anything." Hina-chan looks like she wants to protest but is silenced as the man continues. "Don't worry, we didn't use any of our normal stock for this, we bought a separate stock for just today and just for her. We've been putting money away for this for a while now."
Hinata nods not willing to push harder, it would be disrespectful to Teuchi's generosity. She settles for giving a small bow and saying, "Thank you for taking care of her all these years."
"You have nothing to thank me for, I was just doing what any good cook would do when he sees a starving girl."
"No! You took it further, you protected her when I was unable to, you gave her shelter, and you made her feel like she has a family. For that you will always have our gratitude."
Haruka nodded and said, "Yeah Ojisan! If not for you and Nee-chan then I would have starved to death. You gave me a chance to live my life." Haruka smiles at him and Ayame-nee.
The man turned his back to them and said, "Get out and go and enjoy the rest of your night, you brats." The girls do just that, knowing he didn't want to be seen getting emotional.
"Are you alright, Tou-chan?" Ayame asks in concern, she had only seen her dad tear up like this a few times in her life. The first was when he got the news Minato-san and Kushina-san died. She had been five at the time so she only barely remembered them but they had always been kind to her. They also seemed to be long time friends and customers of her dad. The only other time was when her Kaa-chan died, but she had been crying herself she could only barely remember his tears.
His voice barely above a whisper, he said, "Minato, Kushina, are you watching over her? She's come so far. Your little girl you were gonna love to death is growing up. God I wish you were here to give her the family she deserves. I should have never had to find her starving." That was it, he broke out into full blown tears. "Ayame… Close the shop, we're done today." He couldn't work like this.
"Okay Tou-chan, take it easy alright?"
"Alright."