Roommates

Chapter 5: Girl talk

So, Tennie-chaaan!" Sakura said in an unnaturally high-pitched, overly sweet and excited voice as she leaned nearer to me with her hands clasped in-front of her. "Have you met any cute guys yet?!"
It was silent for a moment. Then;

"...What?"

Sakura leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms over her chest and a cool look on her face.

"Meh, just making fun of the pig", she said, shrugging. I sighed in relief.

Ino again glared at the pinkette.

"I would so not ask that! I'm not stupid!" she exclaimed defensively, crossing her arms also. "Or have you forgotten who her roommates are?"

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Please, Ino", she said. "Couldn't you try just once in your lifetime not to be a retard?" Ino glared again and was about to respond when Hinata cut her off.

"So, Ten-chan, how was your day?" she asked. She saw my surprised face over the unnecessary loudness of her voice, and explained, whispering; "It's better to interrupt those two before they even start." I nodded a little.

"Well, it was fine", I said casually. "Pretty good teachers, nice school... Huge, but nice. And the most of the people I've met seem OK."

"Yeah, I saw you talking to Subaku Temari in the locker-room", Sakura said. "I've always thought she was an okay person."

"Yeah, she seems to be", I agreed. "I'm gonna be in the same team as she is!" The three looked at me, confused. "Oh, didn't I tell you?" I asked. "Neji wants me to his basketball-team."

"Really?" Ino asked. "That's great! Finally, a girl on the team!" I raised an eyebrow.

"Um, Ino", I said. "There's Temari." The blonde looked at me for a minute.

"I know that", she then said in a way too convincing voice. "I didn't forget, though we were just talking about her. Seriously, I didn't." Before I could respond, she had already turned to Hinata.

"So, Hina-chan", she said with a mischievous grin. "How's it going with Naruto?" Hinata blushed.

"Wh-what do you me-mean?" she stuttered, looking away. I rolled my eyes.

"Hinata, you already told me you've had a crush on him for years", I said impatiently. "Not that you needed to, it's obvious. I saw it immediately, and it's me we're talking about."

"Hey, wait!" Sakura said, raising an eyebrow at me. "She actually admitted it?" I nodded. "Wow, good for you, Hina-chan!" the pinkette smiled at the blue-haired cherry, that once again had appeared from nowhere and taken Hinata's place. "That's one more step against confessing!"

The cherry turned to a tomato. A steaming tomato.

"I-I-I'm not pl-planning t-to..."Hinata started, looking terrified by the thought. "I-I'll get o-over it..." she finally whispered, seeming pretty interested by the comfortable red carpet on the floor. Her expression was quite sad.
I looked at her in sympathy. That girl was – and would always be – way too shy for her own good.

I put a hand on her head comfortably.

"Don't worry, Hina-chan", I said kindly. "You don't have to confess. It's obvious that Naruto has a crush on you too, and knowing his personality, he'll do it any minute." Hinata smiled at me.

"Th-thanks, Ten-chan", she said quietly. "But I really don't think he... I mean, look at me!" Her voice raised quite a lot in the end. "Why would he ever like a person like me? He's way too good for me, I don't know why I'm even hoping..." Her voice quieted down again. "Why would he ever...?" she whispered, seeming close to tears as she fiddled with a piece of the fluffy carpet.
I, Sakura and Ino looked at her in sympathy.