Hinata lowered her head so far that it looked as though she wanted to bury it in the snow beneath her feet.
Aoba couldn’t see her expression at all, but the bright red tips of her ears told him everything he needed to know.
She was mortified.
He could practically imagine steam rising from the top of her head.
Is she really that embarrassed?
Then again…
Considering Hinata’s personality, she probably was.
Grrrr…
After waiting for quite a while without seeing any Hyūga guards appear, Aoba instead heard her stomach rumble again.
“…Sigh.”
He let out a quiet sigh.
“I-I’m sorry…”
Hinata immediately thought she’d somehow upset him.
“Do you have any money?”
“I-I do!”
She answered in a panic, hurriedly fumbling through her little pouch as she prepared to take out her wallet.
“Stop, stop!”
Aoba quickly stopped her.
“You’ve got the wrong idea.
I’m not asking for your money.”
Well…
He certainly wanted her money.
Just not like this.
“Let’s go get some ramen.”
Originally, he’d considered inviting her to his house since it was nearby.
But after remembering Hinata’s legendary appetite…
Forget it.
There wasn’t enough food at home for her.
Besides, the eldest daughter of the Hyūga Clan wasn’t exactly short on money.
“Huh?”
Hinata froze, looking up in confusion.
All she saw was Aoba’s back as he turned around.
“Come on.”
“…O-Okay.”
Unable to refuse anyone, the young Lady Hinata quietly followed behind him.
“U-Um…”
“M-May I ask…”
“Hm?”
Aoba thought he heard the faint buzzing of a mosquito.
He looked around.
Everything was covered in snow.
There was no way there could be mosquitoes.
Finally, he stopped walking and turned around.
Seeing Hinata’s lips moving, he asked curiously,
“Were you talking?”
Hinata instinctively tried to avert her eyes.
But after taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down and looked at him.
“M-My name is…
Hinata Hyūga…”
Her voice was so soft and gentle that it almost made people want to tease her.
“My name’s Aoba Hayashi.”
With that, he turned around and continued leading the way.
After taking a few steps, he asked,
“You’re from the Hyūga Clan, right?
You should be pretty strong.”
“So why were those three picking on you?”
Caught off guard by the sudden conversation, Hinata accidentally answered honestly.
“Father taught me…”
“…to be kind to everyone in the village.”
“They weren’t being kind to you.”
“Th-That’s because…
because…”
“Because you’re easy to bully?”
Aoba interrupted bluntly.
Hinata’s face instantly turned bright red again.
“Your father told you to treat others kindly.”
“He didn’t tell you to stand there and let yourself get bullied.”
“If you stay like this, I might’ve helped you today…”
“But the next time those boys see you, they’ll just bully you again.”
“When that happens…”
“Who are you going to wait for to save you?”
He paused before adding,
“And honestly…”
“If your father found out you wouldn’t even fight back after being bullied…”
“He’d probably be even more disappointed in you.”
The words struck home immediately.
Hinata thought of the disappointed expression Hiashi Hyūga so often wore when looking at her.
Her tiny hands unconsciously clenched tighter.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
“I…”
“I won’t be like that next time.”
Her voice was still soft and hesitant.
“I hope so.”
Aoba had only mentioned it casually.
Whether she truly took his words to heart…
That depended on her.
While they were talking, they’d already arrived in front of a ramen shop.
Looking up at the sign that read Ichiraku Ramen, Aoba led Hinata inside.
“Welcome!”
The moment they entered, Ayame’s bright, cheerful voice greeted them.
After the two children sat down in a corner, she walked over.
“Oh, it’s little Aoba.”
“Huh?
And who’s this?”
“A new little girlfriend?”
It was obvious she already knew Aoba.
Hearing the teasing as soon as he walked in, Aoba couldn’t help rolling his eyes.
“I’ve told you before.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“We’re just ordinary friends.”
“Pure friendship.”
Hinata, meanwhile, had no idea what girlfriend even meant.
She only felt that the older sister’s gaze toward her was strangely knowing.
Embarrassed, she lowered her head.
“Oh, little Aoba.”
“I’m just worried you’ll end up getting yourself killed one day.”
“In all the novels I’ve read, playboys always have miserable endings.”
“Sometimes they even lose their heads.”
Ayame spoke with the sincere expression of an older sister offering heartfelt advice.
Aoba had absolutely no intention of continuing that topic.
“I’ll have one signature tonkotsu ramen.”
Then he turned to Hinata.
“What would you like?”
“Ah?”
“I-I’ll have the same as Aoba-kun.”
Still distracted by the conversation she’d just overheard, Hinata jumped in surprise.
Her voice remained as soft as ever.
This was the first time she’d ever eaten dinner outside.
“Then two signature bowls, please.”
“Coming right up.”
After taking their order, Ayame hurried back to work.
It was the dinner rush, after all.
She’d only stopped by long enough to say hello.
Before long, two steaming bowls of ramen were placed before them.
“Your signature tonkotsu ramen.”
Aoba slid one bowl over to Hinata.
The rich aroma immediately filled the air in front of her.
“Th-Thank you.”
“Then…
I’ll eat now.”
She politely pressed her hands together before picking up her chopsticks.
Aoba skipped all the formalities.
He dug in with a grin.
Mmm…
This is amazing!
Hinata’s eyes sparkled after her very first bite.
Part of it was because she was genuinely hungry.
But the ramen really was delicious.
At home, every meal she ate was carefully planned for nutritional balance.
The flavors were usually light and mild.
She rarely had anything this rich.
Before long…
Her bowl was empty.
She stared blankly at it.
Without thinking, she lightly licked her glossy, cherry-like lips, now coated with a thin layer of broth.
The thought of ordering another bowl quietly surfaced in her mind.
She hurriedly shook her head.
No.
That would be rude.
Still slurping noodles, Aoba glanced over at her.
Then he quietly set down his chopsticks.
“Hinata.”
“Hm?”
“Are you full?”
He asked softly.
“I…”
Hinata slowly raised her head.
She wanted to say yes.
After all, she never ate this much at home.
If she ate any more…
Wouldn’t people think she was strange?
But seeing the serious expression on Aoba’s face, she began stammering again.
His expression only became more earnest.
She wanted to muster her courage.
But she was too shy.
And yet…
For some reason…
She felt happy.
This was the first time anyone had noticed she hadn’t actually eaten enough.
“N-Not yet…”
Her voice was barely audible.
But Aoba heard it.
A warm smile appeared on his face again.
“How many more bowls?”
“…”
Hinata gripped the corner of her clothes once more.
She wanted to say a smaller number.
But she was afraid Aoba would be unhappy.
The guards aren’t here anyway…
If I eat a little more…
No one will notice…
It should be okay…
“F-Four…”
“Four more bowls will be enough…”