#saburo felt bold ig

[tragedyloved]

“  you deserve good things.  ” To Sab from Hinata :")

@bestninjaclub // ten years later

He had been downplaying his feelings again. Not an unusual occurrence for Saburo, who usually didn't speak about his emotions in the first place. But Hinata seemed to draw him into these kinds of conversations simply by being a good listener, by being there with a kind word. He had become accustomed to spending some amount of time with her-- at the tea shop, near the Ueda post HQ where Saburo had showed her a hidden alcove he usually disappeared off to when things were too much, various benches. He wasn't sure how it happened, only he found himself wanting to see her when he could. When she could.

He was recovering from lightning step overuse. The whole of his body hurt, it felt like his nerves were lit with electricity. He should have been laying down, sleeping, but being home was impossible, so he'd done a few deliveries that weren't time constrained.

It was second nature to use his kekkei genkai, though. And even though he could have told her "rain check", Saburo had wanted to see her more than he wanted to hide out in his apartment. He'd wiped blood from his nose, checked himself over in a window. Too pale, and tired, but that wasn't unusual. He let his hair down to assuage the headache. He was fine. He was always fine.

Which came to their little conversation. Saburo admitting he was a tired of feeling isolated. But it wasn't a big deal.

And yet here she was with her simple words. Saburo stared at his hands, glanced up like a shy child through his bangs. She watched him with a small, little sad smile on her face and he realized something right then. Saburo blinked, straightened up in his seat. Again, the tea shop with two mugs between them.

He deserved good things. Could he count her among those things?

"... You always say nice things." To everyone, he was certain. But Saburo could pretend she saved the softest things for him. Like the salve she'd once shared when they were younger. "Hinata..."

He paused, uncertain.

"... would you like to go out with me?" Saburo leaned forward a little. "For dinner. On a date."