??????? ??? ???: Naruhina

6. ?????.

It was the combination of another tragic event that summer that ignited the change in Naruto's behavior.

So from the summer before college, to now, nearly three years later, Naruto engaged in frequent sexual activity with girls he barely knew. Tonight it was indeed the purple haired Konan. He went into it excited, remembering their previous rendezvous & expected to have an hour of careless pleasure. But something was off.

It's not that she wasn't pretty.

It's not that she wasn't seductive.

It's not that she wasn't performing well.

It just didn't feel right. Like something was missing. When it was his turn to take the lead on her body he found himself needing to dig up memories of an arousing moment from the past, just like with Shion girl. Naruto didn't have the heart to tell Konan he didn't enjoy it- this was their third time hooking up. He also knew she was sensitive, so he wasn't about to say something dismissive when he wasn't done with her as a playmate just yet.

So he put on his best smile, kissed her forehead & told her goodnight & he would hit her up whenever he wasn't busy.

Now, walking sluggishly down the stairs into his bedroom, he plopped on his bed wondering why this was happening.

His boys were out for the evening, he already finished his homework, & now it was just quiet. With an evident  lack of peace because his mind was trying to solve this dilema.

He tossed to the side, in view on his night stand was a blue book with white letters on its end reading "The Song of Achilles". The novel he borrowed from Hinata. He smiled, remembering her look of surprise when he asked to read it.

Realizing he has nothing better to do for the night, he stretched his arm to table & grabbed the book, skimming over the front with his finger.

This is how I'll get to know you.

Skipping the acknowledgment pages he turned to Chapter 1:

"My father was a King and the son of Kings".

                                        ***
She gently situated the last one onto the shelf. Smiling happily as she began the next one. The library was a haven for her. Going to such a great school, the university had several libraries, the main one having the best of the best. Hinata was appreciative they held new & popular novels, so whenever she took a break from reading textbooks, she could find a quiet spot here & dive into a world that wasn't her own.

He watched her pretty figure happily rearrange the book shelf in the historical fiction section. Today she was wearing black jeans and a crop top. The jeans were high waisted so you couldn't see her stomach but easily admire her curves & waist.

One random night he saw her passing by quickly at a party over the summer, instantly intrigued. When she entered the room everyone talked about her, how she was finally single, & what every horny college boy would do to get their chance with Hinata Hyuga. Of course he wasn't about to join the pack & make his interest so known. They followed her like dogs, commented on all of her posts, sent her dms, even sometimes gave her gifts randomly. They would do anything. But Toneri would do his best to be the intriguing one. So far it seemed to be working.

He made his way to the aisle behind the one she was working in, watching her through the tilted & open spaces of books on the shelf. In his mind, replayed the night from nearly two weeks ago, at the homecoming game.