My real, crush is my cousin Neji. Though I’ve convinced everyone around me I like Naruto. It would be ‘Inappropriate’ to like my cousin so I’ve never told a soul. I act like a moron in front of Naruto to emphasize my lie. My lie to the world. I watch Neji from afar, hoping one day he’ll notice me, see me as more than a rival or a cousin. But it fails to happen. My only hope is a memory of a time when, shortly after the chuunin exams I had been training…too hard apparently. I passed out and I woke up in his strong arms. He was gazing at my face with a soft expression. When I opened my eyes, blinking rapidly, he mumbled, “I’m sorry.” I kept quiet and he carried me to my room. After laying me on the bed and pulling the blankets over me he left. I tried to go to sleep but I couldn’t. I lay with my eyes staring into the ceiling. The scene replayed in my head and I couldn’t stop it. I hear the doorknob start to turn. I roll on my side and close my eyes, faking sleep. The door opens, then closes again. I hear someone kneel by me then feel them kiss me on the cheek. My eyes snapped open.

There was Neji who had backed up, but was still only about a half inch from my face. Neither of us moved, but stayed frozen in place. In the midst of it all Hanabi was in my doorway. “Ew! Get a room!” she squeaked and ran off. My eyes darted from one side of the room to the other, looking for an escape. Neji’s however were glazed a bit and I knew he didn’t see anything in the room. He was in his own world.